Monologue
By: Kid Coltrane the Eternal
Disclaimer: No, I don't own these characters. A brilliant author created them a great many years ago. I just borrowed them.
This story is based on the Hardy Boys Casefiles series, set sometime after #69 Mayhem in Motion, which introduced the character of Vanessa Bender.
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Chapter 1 - I'm the Fool
I don't know why I'm sitting here talking to you like this. You don't even know me and, until today, I didn't even know you existed. I guess it's because you're the only person who'll listen to me right now. Boy did I make a mess of things.
I guess it's true that you only hurt the ones you love. God knows I've been hurt a few times by someone I thought loved me. But the pain that I caused him, I don't know if it'll ever go away and I was only hoping that you could help me wipe the hurt off his face and dry the tears he cries. You see, I'm the fool who's in love with the fool who's still in love with you.
I never even suspected anything at first. I thought I had his heart. He sure had mine, right from the beginning. I wasn't planning on falling in love, and especially not with him. He seemed so shallow, so vulgar, so rude. But his kindness, his sweetness, they changed my mind completely, the moment he spoke to me. He sure is special isn't he? But then you know that, even before we met that day you knew him, knew his heart, his soul, his very being. You must have known. And you knew his touch, his warm, gentle kisses and his soothing voice that reaches into you and draws down all defenses. I can't help but wonder if there's a special touch, a special kiss, a warm embrace that he saves just for you. I may never know now.
I didn't mean for it to happen, I mean, if he'd only told me, gave me a sign, mentioned you, I would have backed off, I would have – but it doesn't matter now. I think I've lost him for good and I wouldn't blame him one bit. I just, I got so mad when I found your picture in his wallet. Did you know he's been carrying it all this time? A picture of a dark-haired, radiant beauty and no picture of me. I flipped. I yelled at him, cursed him, tore your picture up and threw the pieces in his face. He knelt to pick them up and I cursed him some more. This was supposed to be my party and he was supposed to be my boyfriend. I got so mad I didn't notice the room go quiet, or see the shocked faces of his friends or the murderous eyes of his brother. And I didn't see your brother kneel beside Joe and help him gather up the pieces of your angelic face. As he straightened up, I told him that I wished he would just leave me and go be with you, if he loved you so much. He whispered in that broken-hearted voice of his that, sometimes, he wished he would too. Then he left so quietly, like mist drifting off the water or, even more so, like a ghost. Oh God, I hope he's all right.
His brother went after him, calling his name frantically, and Callie, good old Callie, she came over and in no uncertain terms told me the whole story. My guests all left, leaving me to sit alone in the dimming sunlight and think about him. And you.
So, here I am, sobbing out my sad tale and almost wishing you could tell me everything would be alright, that he and his brother, and everyone else will forgive me. But I know you can't promise me anything. And even you can't promise me his love. I don't think even he can do that. Everyone misses you, you know, and I couldn't because I didn't even know you were gone. So I mourn for the love you left, his love, and pray that one day he'll be able to love me back the way I love him.
Rest in peace Iola Morton, and know that he still loves you and will always love you. I regret that we never met, because to have earned a love so strong you must have been someone well worth knowing.
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A/N: This was inspired by a country song. I'm not sure who sings it and I don't know what it's called, but the chorus reminded me of Vanessa Bender and Joe. And once the idea got into my head, it wouldn't let go, demanding to be written, to the point that I stayed up until 4 in the morning to write it.
Updated A/N: Thanks to a very kind reviewer, I now know the song that inspired this story is "The Fool", sung by Lee Ann Womack. The lyrics are below:
The Fool
You don't know me but I know who you are
Mind if I sit down
Do I look familiar if I don't well I should
I'm sure you've seen me around
I know you've probably heard my name
Though we've not been introduced
I'm the fool in love with the fool
Who's still in love with you
If you've got a minute I'll buy you a drink
I've got something to say
It might sound crazy but last night in his sleep
I heard him call out your name
This ain't the first time he's done it before
And it's hard to face the truth
I'm the fool in love with the fool
Who's still in love with you
I know love is a fragile thing
And I'm trying hard to make it last
But it ain't easy holding on to my dream
When he's holding on to the past
Just one more thing before I go
I'm not here to put you down
You don't love him and that's a fact
Girl I've seen you around
But you hold his heart in the palm of your hand
And it's breaking mine in two
'Cause I'm the fool in love with the fool
Who's still in love with you
I'm the fool in love with the fool
Who's still in love with you