This story is AU.
~*~o~*~
One moment I had been talking to Luna, then without warning, I had been sucked into the past in some sort of time warp. I could hardly believe it myself when I realized I was back in my old dorm at Llanview University, hanging out with the guys on my floor. "It's Fraternity Inititation Week," Zachary Rosen was saying. "And you know what that means..."
"No, what does it mean?" I asked.
"You, me, and Powell have to get Marty's Saybrooke's bra," Zach said with a little smirk.
I shook my head. "No, I can handle this. You guys stay here," I insisted of my so-called friends as I knew that Marty would be at Rodi's that night. I didn't want Zach or Powell anywhere near her. I really did want to handle this all on my own.
"No, Todd. We wanna go, too," Powell protested.
"No," I said in a growl. "You'll only get in the way. I can take care of this..."
"Whatever you say," Zach agreed, but I could tell that he and Powell were jealous. I had to hurry to get to Marty though. I didn't have time for their games.
I hurriedly left the dormitory and headed over to Rodi's. When I got there, the action was already in full-swing. The place smelled like a brewery... and there in the thick of it was Marty, talking to the bartender Suede Pruitt.
"Come on. Gimme another beer," Marty insisted.
"No, Marty. You've had ENOUGH to drink. No more beer for you. Now let Jason give you a ride home. You need to sleep it off."
"God! You suck!" Marty said as she jumped off her barstool and nearly collided with me. I had been standing right behind her, listening to conversation. I had been hoping for the opportunity to talk to her.
"Who the hell are you?" Marty demanded of me.
"My name's Todd Manning," I stated. "I was wondering... could you and I go somewhere and talk?"
"Why would I want to talk to you? I don't even know you," Marty grumbled.
"Come on, Marty. I just wanna talk to you," I implored as I lightly lay my hand upon her arm.
She shook it away angrily. "Don't touch me!" she cried out. "Just get your hands off of me!"
Jason Webb walked up and demanded, "What's going on here?" He looked at me with an expression of disgust.
"Hey, I only wanted to dance," I remarked defensively.
Jason looked at Marty for confirmation. "Alright, I'll dance with you," Marty agreed as she no doubt wanted to get back at Ponytail for backing up Suede about her consumption of alcohol.
We ended up on the dance floor, and Marty was in my arms, snuggled up against my chest. For a moment, I did nothing more than hold her, cherishing every sweet second of having the woman I loved in my embrace. Then a sudden thought came to me. I pulled back a fraction and stared into those gorgeous, bright blue eyes. "If you agree to leave with me, I'll buy you all the alcohol you could ever want," I lied in an attempt to lure her away.
She stared back at me and didn't even blink. *Please say yes,* I was thinking.
~*~o~*~
Cole and Starr stood beside Todd's hospital bed. It was heartbreaking for Starr to see her father so pale and helpless. "Starr, I contacted my mom," Cole stated as he wrapped his arm around the woman he loved.
"When will she be here?" Blair asked. She had remained in the chair next to Todd's bed. She hadn't left his side since he'd been shot. She was afraid if she stepped out, he might die... and she didn't like the thought of Todd dying all alone.
"She said she'll be here as soon as possible," answered Cole.
"Your mom better hurry," Blair spoke. "Because Todd is dying."
"She'd want to be here to say good bye," Cole said solemnly.
"Dad can't die," Starr said tearfully.
"I'm sorry, honey," Blair said to her daughter. "All we can do is pray. Pray for a miracle."