My latest fic, I thank God for my talent and the inspirations, and for my friends who support me when I'm down. Happy Patriot's Day all. God bless.
Seven years ago party girl and heiress Marissa Rhodes disappeared. A young genius she had finished high school prior to her debutant ball, after which she disappeared. Rumors have been circulating about her disappearance. Some say that she overdosed, overs that she killed herself, others that she was murdered, but if she is dead than why no funeral? Where's the body? Could the heiress still be alive, and if so where has she been all of these years and why did she leave?
Like the character in the infamous series you know you love me,
Xo Xo Gossip X-Girl.
Lance Corporal Fiona O'Riley sat at the bar and rolled her eyes at the post on the infamous site. It was an obvious spin-off of the famed Gossip Girl, only it told the story of real people, some she use to know. If she were to guess Gossip X-Girl, may actually be one of the X-Men. One would think that with all the threats to both human and mutant kind they would be way too busy to update, and yet whoever they were they found the time, maybe it had something to do with their mutant power. In any case she had only logged on to check if there had been any news about Marissa Rhodes, there wasn't, and for that she was grateful.
Lance Corporal O'Riley, had been transferred to the JAG office in New York after the surgery on her hip, due to a war wound which also earned her another purple heart, not that she ever cared about medals. New York was one of the few places on Earth that she would rather not be. The idea of torture, by Hamas, Al-Quida, or the Taliban seemed preferable to being stuck here. There were a lot of bad memories here, and she would rather not be reminded. Hopefully once she had healed she would be cleared for active duty again. She sat there reading posts from the site and listening to music via YouTube while sipping a safe sex on the beach(the non-alcoholic version of sex on the beach). It was evening and the sun was barely peeking over the horizon and was continuing to sink lower. Sadly the longer she stayed here the more likely she was to run into someone she would rather not see again. Reflecting on her past the attractive redhead stared into her drink while while the instrumental version of Apologize played on YouTube. An advantage of having headphones on was being able to ignore the guys at the other end of the bar who had occasionally tried making eye contact and flirting with her. She knew the type, the sleazy pick-up artists who lived for the one night stands and couldn't commit even if their lives depended on it.
She had had enough of those types, seen too many of them as a teenager, and while she was not yet twenty-four she knew that she wasn't going to make the mistake of getting involved with one of those idiots. Taking another sip of her drink she switched to the acoustic version, just as she heard someone moving near her.
"Yes, I've been told I look like someone named Marissa Rhodes, and no I don't feel like going camping with you, and I am no angel and didn't fall from heaven. From what little I know of my father I wouldn't doubt that he was a thief though I doubt he stole any stars from the sky. And rather then run through the rest of the cheesy pick-up lines that I've already heard and don't care to hear, please leave me alone before I lose it and use my Marine Corp training to hurt one of you schmucks," Fiona said in a tired voice.
"I was just going to ask if this seat was taken," a deeper voice said. Fiona looked up shocked to see an older man though in very good shape standing beside her.
"Oh, I am so sorry, yes, I thought-" said apologetically removing her headphones and hitting the mute button on her laptop.
"Don't worry, I saw those other guys and I figured you might like one less empty seat next to you when they start getting seriously drunk."
"Thanks, I appreciate it. I'm Fiona by the way," Fiona replied introducing herself.
"Eric Lehnsherr," Eric said introducing himself.
"Pleased to meet you," Fiona said shaking his hand.
"Same to you. Marine Corp is it?" Eric asked.
"Yeah, I'm Lance Corporal O'Riley," Fiona answered lifting up the short sleeve on her shrug to show her USMC tattoo on her right arm.
"Semper Fidelis," Eric said quoting the motto.
"Always faithful."
"Not a lot of people who like to subscribe to such discipline," Eric commented. "I'll have a dry martini," he said to the bartender.
"Tell me about it."
"I wasn't aware that they had a Marine base in New York."
"They don't, I was assigned to the JAG office here."
"Ah, lawyer."
"Yeah, I studied for my law degree so in the case of a serious injury I could remain in the corp."
"May I ask what happened?"
"Bullet to the hip, had surgery, and now I'm recovering here."
"Sounds painful."
"Yeah, and it gets worse in the cold and rainy weather."
"I hope they prescribed you something for the pain."
"Can't, NA, narcotics anonymous," Fiona said showing her five year coin. "I had a problem as a teenager, and I've been clean for close to eight years now."
"Wow, that's tough."
"Tell me about it."
"So where are you from?"
"Here, New York haven't been here since I graduated from high school."
"Got any family here?"
"I guess if you can call them that. Personally I don't."
"Bad blood huh? I use to have that problem with my children."
"What did you do?"
"What makes you think it was my fault?"
"I had a crappy mother and a father who was busy jet-setting around the world and couldn't even stop by to say hi, send for us, or even send a post card. I recognize a father who isn't always there for his children if at all."
"Wow." Erik chuckled, "you really got me pegged. Yeah, I guess I wasn't such a good father. I'm trying to make up for that but they are about your age now and I'm not sure I can make it up to them now, or if they will even give me the chance."
"No offense but having no biological father around growing up I have to side with them on this one."
"What about a step-father?"
"Oh I had plenty of those, most weren't around long, and that poor excuse for a mother fleeced them for all they were worth."
"Sounds charming."
"I'm worried I might run into her or my younger sister."
"Well as a father who has made a lot of mistakes of my own and who wants to make it right with my kids, I would strongly encourage you to at least try and make the effort to mend those broken ties."
"I don't know if that would be wise, we have a very contentious relationship, and I don't think they care much for those who are in the armed forces and I would rather just not get into it with any of them."
"Fair enough, what about friends?"
"I have maybe one friend left in the world after a mistake I made in high school."
"It couldn't have been that bad."
"I slept with one of my best friends' boyfriend. Think it's that bad?"
"I suppose it is pretty bad, but people rarely ever marry their boyfriend from high school so surely they got over it or will get over with time."
"Wouldn't be too sure of that, Emma knows how to hold a grudge."
"Well it has been a few years now, people change, they grow, they learn to let go."
"Maybe you're right, after all I found my way back to God and to Jesus, maybe she learned how to forgive."
"That's good for you."
"For God and country, but I would just assume they don't know I'm alive.
"What do you mean? How can they not know you are alive."
"They sent me away, I changed my name and joined the Marine Corp without telling them about any of it. I didn't even write or call."
"Well they must be really torn up over what they think happened to you. With all due respect I think you owe them the knowledge that their daughter, their sister, is still alive and well."
"If you knew who they were, or why they sent me away, you would agree that I don't owe them a damn thing."
"It must pretty bad, but what about your little sister? What has she done to you? Don't you think you owe her the truth so that she doesn't continue mourning the loss of her older sister? Don't you owe her that?"
"Perhaps. So enough about me, what about you? What do you do for a living?"
"I work part time at a school for gifted youngsters."
"Sounds like that Xavier Institute."
"Something like that."
"What about your kids?"
"Twins from my first marriage, a son and a daughter, and a daughter from my second marriage that I only recently found out about."
"How many times have you been married?"
"Just the two times, widowed both times."
"That doesn't sound promising. I've watched enough episodes of Forensic Files, and the CSI shows to know that being widowed more than once usually indicates a psycho who kills off a spouse for either insurance or because they are a control freak who can't stand their spouse making their own decisions or want a divorce. No offense."
"None taken, but I can assure you it's nothing like that. I don't need any insurance payout, I would gladly give a divorce in the case of an unhappy marriage, and while I may like control I wouldn't kill my wife when I don't get total control."
"Well that's good to know."
"What about you? Have you ever been married?"
"And find myself in the middle of a messy divorce? No way, besides I'm either always working or lying in a hospital bed getting medical attention for a battle wound and I don't date co-workers, so not a lot of time to find Mr. Right, and I have no interest in Mr. Right-now anymore."
"Fair enough."
"Hey honey, care to dump the old geezer and go for some prime rib?" one of the guys came over.
"Sorry, but Eric and I already made plans and it wouldn't be right for me to go out with someone else before than. Now scram before I show you the kind of pain that a Marine is capable of inflicting on someone."
"Yeah right," and took the empty seat to her left and reached for her hand, she grabbed it and twisted it around.
"What is your problem bitch!"
"That is no way to talk to a lady, and the lady told you to leave her alone, she already told you we have plans," Eric said catching a hand that came at her.
"Fine, you're not my type anyways," he said leaving.
"Thanks for the help, though I have to admit I don't normally need help, but I appreciate it none the less."
"I'm glad I could help," Eric said.
"So when do you want to go out?" Fiona asked.
"Are you serious about that?"
"Yeah why not, you aren't married are you?"
"No, but are you sure you want to go out with someone you just met, someone who is old enough to be your grandfather?"
"Why not, you can't be any worse than the guys I use to date in high school."
"Perhaps, but don't you think you would rather go out with someone your age?"
"Like those guys," she asked indicating the guys that were bothering her earlier. "No thanks, I've had enough of those immature punks. No I think I would much rather give someone older with maturity and wisdom a try. Besides this is the most civil conversation I've had outside of work, and I already said I don't date co-workers."
"If you say so I guess it couldn't hurt, so where do you want to meet?"
"There is a little bookstore with a coffee shop down the street from here, do you know it?"
"Yeah, I often go there on my free weekends."
"Meet me there at around seven on Friday, hopefully I won't get held up at work."
"Sounds good."
"Here is my card, it has my cell number on it, and currently it's my home phone as well and may even remain as such since I will probably get deployed as soon as I'm better."
"Here is my card with my cell number as well which is the only sure way to reach me. If you get held up or have to reschedule, or even change your mind, call me."
"Sure thing, call me and tell me what kinda date we're having so I'll know how to dress."
"Sure thing."
"So we should probably finish our drinks, and call it a night."
"Good idea, you barely touched yours."
"Yeah, I do the same thing with my coffee when I get wrapped up in work or sewing. Same thing with beer and wine when I'm reading a book before going to sleep, I get involved in something and forget about everything else, same goes for food, which is why I'm so thin. I get busy and forget about my hunger and it passes."
"That can't be healthy." Eric said taking a swig of his drink.
"Tell me about it, they have actually threatened sticking an IV drip in my arm while I'm not looking." Fiona said taking a long sip of her drink.
"I'll get this." Erik said paying for both the drinks.
"Thanks, I'll buy the coffees."
"If you insist."
They finished their drinks and exited the bar.
"So I'll see you Friday, then."
"Sure will unless I get sick or shot." Fiona said entering the cab slipping her laptop case in first.
"Let's hope neither."
"Well, as I say to my co-worker, God bless. I'll see you Friday."
"Same to you." Eric said, closing the cab door behind her.
Thanks for reading. God Bless and Jesus Christ be with you all. Please review, tell me what you think, even if it isn't flattering.