Some things you never grow out of, but may learn to love more…
Rugrat /All grown up
Hey guys…thanks a lot for the reviews they are really helpful. Well here's chapter three, it's a bit different, more twists, more intense but don't worry it's relatively safe… please keep the reviews coming.
Chapter 3: Familiar Tastes…
Disclaimer: I do not own Rugrat/ All Grown up or any of their characters
Kimi's and Chuck's home
It was nothing like he remembered but it was homey. The interior was like an alternate universe unfamiliar to him. Nothing was where it used to be. Their furniture was different. The wall paper was different. Where was the couch that he, Phil and Chuckie used to have video games marathons on? The same couch that he and Kimi used to chat on through all hours of the night when those two monkeys used to fall asleep. He never thought he would miss the couch as much as he missed those memories. At least the staircase remained in the same position he thought with irony. He strode in the kitchen?
"You hungry?" Kimi asked when he entered. "I recall you never use to eat before a flight. Still true?"
"Still true," Tommy confirmed. Surprised she still remembered. "You cook?" He posed a little afraid.
She saw the look in his eyes and grinned, "I have gotten better you know…much to the point where I would actually get a compliment. But I was thinking more along the lines of I make you a sandwich while you take a shower. I'm sure you'd like to." She offered.
He gave her his dazzling smile, "that sounds perfect. Does Chuck have any suit that I could borrow? I've got no clothes." He reminded her.
"Oh right I forgot. Hmmm. Well he is a lawyer, so he should have plenty and I'm pretty sure he won't mind." Kimi lead him upstairs into Chuck's room. The room had a queen size bed in the center. He wouldn't call it male's territory with all the cosmetics lying on the dressing table. Must be Suzie's stuff he concluded. The room was spotless but he doubted that it had anything to do with Suzie. Chuck was a clean freak but who could blame him with all his allergies. Kimi opened the closet. It was a huge walk-in filled with suits of all colors and brands. Can only be the closet of a successful lawyer. "Let's have a look here… you slightly taller than him" her eyes trailed up his body slowly. "But you lucky he has extra length on trousers." His body started tingling at the thought of her looking over it with her two pools of pure darkness. He had to turn away. He knew if he stayed in here with her the consequences would be unfavorable.
"Urm… you pick out a colour and leave it out, I'll go take a shower." He rushed into the bathroom and shut the door with force.
"Well, sure, I was born to serve..." She said cynically. The nerve on that guy. Just because he is a big shot director doesn't mean he can direct her around. Asking to do something was one thing. Getting ordered around was another. She didn't like it one bit but she complied. Guests, what are you going to do she thought and stormed out.
Tommy entered the bedroom steam lifting off his excellently firm torso. He loved his showers piping hot. But that was only after Kimi's stares made him run a cold one first. He ran a hand through his purple hair while wiping his ears with his towel. On the bed was a black suit. A classic white shirt. Ah, yes a good selection he thought. Chuck sure did have taste. He threw the towel on the bed. Something's missing? Something important. Hmmm…underwear. He never ever went commando it was too weird and uncomfortable. Lucky he carried some in his carryon luggage. Most people would think that was weird, he just thought of it as being prepared. But where was it? He recalled leaving it downstairs on the dining table. With the towel now secure on his hip, he treaded downstairs.
Kimi just completed making him a classic PB and J sandwich. With the crust cut off, naturally. She recalled it was his favorite but she didn't make it because of that, she made it because it was convenient. Keep telling yourself that, she thought. She placed it on the table accompanied by one of Chuck's beers. Why was she having conflicts with herself inside her head. It's true, she shook her head with pity he was driving her insane by just being in the same town. Deep in thought she didn't even see Tommy walk down the stairs. His eyes were fixed on each step as he treaded down. With that they clashed into each other with no time to react. They both hit the floor hard.
"Are you okay?" He asked with concern.
Kimi felt like she got hit with a bus. She felt a bit dizzy and couldn't help but laugh, "you know I thought bumping into each other like this was an airport thing. I stand corrected. Actually I don't think I'm standing at all. " they both laughed.
Tommy was relieved until he realized the situation they were in. He was on top of her full body length against full body length. She was pressed against him. He could hear his own heartbeat racing when the laughter died down or was that hers? God help him.
Kimi was still trying to get her bearings. Her head was still spinning until gradually awareness kicked in. She stiffened when her head tilted up to eye level with him. He wasn't smiling anymore and all amusement died from his eyes. It was replaced by another type of emotion that she could only describe as hunger. She was probably imagining it. Their lips were a whisper away. Plus she just realized he was mostly naked, that's just great. Just a thin towel between them. Shut up Kimi, you not making this situation any better she thought. His weight felt unbearably great. Get up Kimi! Push him off. Do something she thought in desperation. But to no avail, her body wouldn't listen.
They couldn't speak, both so bewildered. He couldn't take his eyes off her lips. He wanted just a sample. He remembered that first time and remembered how it scarred him. Did he want to put himself through that again? He should just get up and laugh it off. It would be better for both of them if he didn't dig up lost memories. That's right, Tommy do the right thing he thought. To hell with it!
She didn't reject when his lips came down on her. Her eyes just closed and she softened. The kiss drove deeper and she wrapped her arms and legs around his body tightly. She could feel every muscle of his against her. Her taste was so familiar. He felt drunk on that intoxicating flavor that he wasn't ever able to erase from his head. It was so potent he wished he could just drown in it. His tongue entered her mouth and ignited tiny fires. She scraped her teeth over his tongue and couldn't help but want more. More she thought. The intensity rose and both of them were desperately trying to keep up. His hands pushed under her shirt reaching for that first touch of flesh and grazed a trail against her waist with his cold knuckles. The sensation was overwhelming, he swallowed her moan. She could feel him against her in the most primitive way. They were almost to the point of no return when the phone rang.
Kimi came back to earth first. No, no, this can't be happening! She pushed him off, rolled and reached for the phone. "Hello…" she panted trying to compose herself.
Tommy got up and stared in disbelief of what just happened. He lost himself for a moment and if the phone hadn't rung they both knew where it would have ended up. He couldn't explain it. What he just felt was something that was beyond him. He didn't know anything anymore. His brain felt like mush. The only thing he knew for sure was that he wanted her. Oh god he wanted her. It was scary how much he wanted her. Their eyes held for a second and he sensed the wariness in hers. She was scared too, he concurred. He had to tread lightly. He couldn't afford to make any blunders let alone lose control of a situation ever again. Damn it. Thinking hurt, so he reached for his bag and retreated upstairs to get dressed.
Kimi put the phone down. Was it Chuck on the phone? Did he say something important? She couldn't recall. Her ears were ringing through that whole phone call. She just agreed to everything he said. She could have agreed to flush her head down the toilet for all she knew. She didn't know what to think. Every inch of her was tingling. It was worse than the first time by far. She was furious with him. She was furious with herself for being so weak. Why the hell did he have to kiss her like that? Oh god to think what would have happened if Chuck hadn't called. It took forever to get over the first kiss and in time she was able to date again. She didn't like this feeling one bit. He couldn't keep doing this and running away. This time she wasn't going to turn away and pretend like nothing happened. It infuriated her that he could be so callous about this. She ran up the stairs.
She burst into Chuck's room, "Tommy Pickles you bastard!"
Tommy was taken by surprise. He expected some kind of reaction. Maybe awkwardness or avoidance or something else passive along the lines. Nothing like the fury she was emitting right now. "What the hell?" he scowled. He barely had enough time to put on his pants.
"How dare you put me through this again?"
"Put you through what!" he shouted back.
"Why the hell did you kiss me again!"
He was almost enraged as she was, but he spoke in a nonchalant tone, "I don't recall that event being one-sided, or the other for that matter."
"You arrogant bastard." She hated his condescending tone.
"I might be, but I think the person you are really angry at is yourself." She was terribly close to throwing the first thing in her reach so she folded her arms to avoid it.
She was never going to win this conversation her way so she tried it his way. She calmed down as much as she could. "Explain why it is that you think I'm angry at myself."
"Because… You have feelings for me." He said simply.
She stared at him for a full second before she started laughing, "God when did you become so full of yourself. You want to know the truth Tommy? You really want to know the truth."
He didn't like where this conversation was going, "Sure enlighten me Kimi." He started buttoning his shirt.
"I did…I did have feelings for you. Past tense. I was a kid who was in love with her brother's best friend. In love with my best friend. Then you were leaving. When we kissed at the airport, my whole life changed in that one moment. For a moment, just a moment…" her voice cracked, "I thought that maybe you felt the same way." She managed to regain control of her voice and dignity. "But that was a childish fantasy. I grew up since."
He couldn't believe his ears. She was in love with him? He spoke softly in a daze, "I did feel the same way..."
She started to laugh, "You didn't even call me…not once, not once Tommy. I had to hear from the rest of the gang of your well-being. Oh guys I got a call from Tommy, Chuck and Angelica would say. Or Lil would say Tommy emailed Phil and I yesterday. God Tommy what was I to you? A friend in the least? At least I thought so. I was in the same place for 6 years and you couldn't even pick up the phone once. And now you say you felt the same way. I don't believe you? I just don't."
Guilt was hard to swallow Tommy thought. "I couldn't call…I just couldn't hear your voice. What the hell was I supposed to say Kimi? I couldn't tell you I loved you. I wasn't coming back to this town. I knew it then. I had a dream that was my first priority at the time. I was selfish Kimi. Was I supposed to string you along like some puppet? Make promises I couldn't keep? Kimi I loved you so I let you go." He tried desperately to explain.
She shook her head in disbelief, "honestly Tommy that is the biggest load of crap that I have ever heard. Your movie dialogues might work on other woman but not on me. It wasn't your decision alone to make. We both could have decided together if you just told me. Damn it, I got a scholarship to your college for the second semester."
As if he thought nothing could shock him at this point. He sobered, "You did?"
She nodded, "I did. But no one knew. Not my parents, not my brother, not even Suzie. I decided to stay here and go to college here because if I saw you with someone else I would have been more heartbroken than I already was."
"I don't know what to say…" he stared at her feet.
"Huh… typical Tommy, he can fight evil monster for you and save your life countless of times but when it comes to expressing his feelings, he can't." She said using all her will power to hold back the tears that threatened to overflow.
"Kimi…"
She cut him off harshly, "you know what Tommy I do know what to say. I can honestly tell you now, that I don't have any feelings for you. I don't!" When she said it out of anger, she finally believed it.
He was taken aback by this statement. He refused to believe that she didn't have any feelings for him. He couldn't bare it. There was no way in hell that they could go through what they just went through downstairs and not have feelings for each other. Downstairs was way more than lust. It was, wasn't it? He was on the brink of losing control.
"Really? Then I dare you to say no." He said as he trapped her against the door. She couldn't move, he was too strong for her. She could feel his breath against hers. He simply stared into her eyes. Then he crushed his lips against hers. She embraced it and couldn't help kissing him back. He poured everything into the kiss. She could feel all the raw emotion trapped in that kiss. Some was his, some was hers. She lifted her hands between their chests and gripped his shirt as if she was hanging on for her life. There was so much fire in the kiss. She wanted the fire, she wanted to be consumed by it. She finally pushed him back, "No…no." she repeated, opened the door and walked out.
An hour had passed. He waited in the living room. She was locked up in her room. He had only been in this town for a couple of hours and he was already more miserable than he had been his whole life. He knew he hurt her. But he never knew up to what extent until today. Would she ever forgive him? Who cares, he didn't deserve it. Biggest jerk didn't cover it and top it all off he was feeling for himself. Typical, Tommy you have to snap out of it and make things right. He didn't know what he was going to say to her. He just knew that he had to say something. She had a scholarship he thought with regret. They could have avoided this whole scene if he tried to contact her then. He was selfish. But it didn't matter now. She didn't feel the same way. Frankly, he didn't know how he felt. Only time would tell.
The front door opened.
"Chuck we are going to be late…" Suzie giggled. He was nuzzling into her neck and dropped his keys into the bowel.
"I don't see your point…" He whispered into her ear teasingly. "But I can show you mine."
"We don't have time." She let out a heavy breath when he hit a nerve. "We have to shower and get ready." She sighed.
He turned her to face him, and slid his arms around her waist. She placed hers around his neck and smiled up at him. "How about we take fifteen minutes and take a shower together." He seductively suggested.
"No we will never make it to the party then. We have to be there early."
"We'll start our own party." He winked.
"No Chuck, no." she said in a relatively firm voice.
"Spoiled sport," he pouted. She laughed and kissed him. He deepened the kiss and pulled her against him.
"You do realize the honeymoon comes after the wedding, right?" Tommy spoke waiting for the couple to realize he was there. He was quite charmed at the way his best bud and Suzie flowed together. They complimented each other he thought.
"Go away Tommy, can't you see we busy," Chuck said in between kissing his wife to be. Suzie pulled out when she heard Tommy's name.
"Oh my god Tommy." She pulled away from Chuck and went into Tommy's open arms. He hugged her tight.
"Just like old times, huh Chuck? Soon as a girl hears my name, they leave you standing." He grimaced and put his arm around Suzie. Chuck was the one person who was always happy to see him he thought with relief.
"Screw you man." Chuck laughed and hugged his best friend. "Thomas Malcolm Pickles how have you been?"
Tommy cringed at the sound of his full name. "Good man, but apparently not as well off as you." he looked at Suzie.
"Damn straight…" Chuck smiled.
"I presume congratulations are in order." Tommy grinned.
Suzie shook her head, "Kimi told you?"
"It kind of slipped out." He shrugged. The two men were beaming like little boys who got a new puppy for Christmas. Suzie could sense that these two needed some alone time to catch up.
"Chuck, I'm just going to take a shower." He nodded. "Where is Kimi?" Suzie asked Tommy.
"She is upstairs getting ready," Tommy informed her.
"Okay I'm just going to check on her before I go in to the shower." She told them but doubted they could hear her. They were like old army generals swopping stories of their battle scars. She shook her head and went upstairs.
Suzie knocked on Kimi's door and opened it slightly. "Kimi sweetie, are you decent?"
"Suz? That you? Come on in. As to decent, I'm not sure." Kimi replied with a half laugh. Suzie strolled in. When she saw Kimi on the far side of the room, she would have screamed if she never lose her voice first. She stumbled in and nearly knocked the lamp off the desk. Her jaw almost touched the floor.
"So what do you think?" Kimi genuinely wanted to know. She made a revelation today so she might as well try something different.
Suzie picked up the lamp terrified, "Who are you and what have you done with Kimi?"
"God Suzie, its okay put the lamp down, it's me." Kimi rolled her eyes thinking Suzie was such a drama queen. But no one would hold it against her if they saw what she saw.
Suzie put the lamp down gently unsure what to say, "It can't be…You're HOT!"
Kimi frowned, "hey!"
"You know that's not what I mean. I mean look at you. If I swung that way I'd leave Chuck for you. Even though I don't, I think I might still consider it." Suzie was stricken. Kimi was beautiful. She knew her friend had the potential but nothing like this. The black cocktail dress flowed against Kimi nicely portraying the figure her baggy clothes usually concealed. God she had legs. Sexy legs. This was totally out of Kimi's element. Suzie bought this particular dress for her five months ago in LA in hope of a miracle, she didn't actually expect one. Man, she had to sit down.
Kimi chuckled, "it's too much isn't it?" she asked feeling a bit uneasy.
Suzie finally said when she gathered her thoughts, "No it's perfect, I told you that dress would look absolutely stunning on you. I just didn't expect to live to see the day. My god Kimi, where have you been hiding. You look absolutely amazing. I think my tongue touched the floor. I'm definitely glad I decided to buy you this dress." She saw Kimi fiddling with the hemline. "Don't even think I'm going to let you take it off now." She threatened. "But you not done."
"I'm not?" Kimi asked a little afraid.
"No I'm going to do your make up. Then you done."
"But…but I hate make up."Kimi paled at the prospect. She shouldn't have tried on the dress. What the hell possessed her to do so?
"Just a little bit." Suzie promised. As Suzie was applying the finishing touches she wondered what exactly had gone down here the hours before she arrived. She knew there had to be something. She could see it in Kimi's eyes. But she wasn't going to ask, Kimi would tell her when she was ready. No way has a girl dressed up this well unless she had one goal in mind. That goal was to punish a man. But she was sure Kimi was oblivious to what she was doing. She wasn't the vindictive type. Suzie actually felt a bit sorry for Tommy. With Kimi looking this stunning he was in for a rough night.
Downstairs Sometime later…
Both men were impeccably dressed waiting for the ladies. Chuck stared at Tommy, "that's a nice suit you got there, Tommy."
Tommy tried to hold in his laugh, he stuck his tongue in his cheek. "Thanks… it's a rental. I like yours as well."
Chuck nodded, "its Armani."
Tommy was really close to bursting. But he retained his composure, "this one too."
"I should get one like that."
He shook his head, "that you should Chuck… that you should."
Chuck checked his watch and was getting impatient. "You know what I don't get?" He asked Tommy.
"What man?"
"That I had a bath after Suzie and yet I'm still ready downstairs before her. Women." He said unable to understand the female mentality.
"It's for moments like this…" Tommy said staring at the staircase with a faint smirk. Chucky looked in the direction Tommy was staring at. He held his breath as Suzie came down in a beautiful red evening dress. Whoa… he thought.
Chuck took her hand at the bottom of the steps, "you look beautiful…" he paused. "I know I'm supposed to say that, but if I say it twice, you must know I really mean it… You look beautiful." He grinned. She laughed, only Chuck could adequately add humor into a romantic moment." Where's Kimi, we going to be late?" he looked at his watch.
She pointed to the top of the staircase. Both men stopped and turned in that direction. Kimi was walking down the steps watching each step regretting ever deciding to try the dress on. But Suzie wouldn't let her take it off now she pouted all the way down. When she reached the bottom she looked up. Both men stared right through her.
Tommy's stomach jumped and his mouth went dry. He felt his heart catch in his throat. Mother of god was his first thought. His legs felt as if they were going give any moment now. The only way to describe it was the simplest way. She was enchanting. Magnificent. He always thought of her as beautiful but he had no idea what level beauty could reach. Who was this woman? He realized with regret, he never knew. Every time he looked her tonight he knew he would feel the pain of what went down earlier. Or the pain of looking and not being able to touch. And he couldn't not look at her, she looked wonderful. He was definitely doomed.
"Kimi…" Chuck said after he got his breath back. "Is that you? I mean like really because if you told me right now that you killed her, disposed of her body and decided to take my sisters place. I'd totally believe you. Plus I'd forgive you; she was a pain in my ass anyway."
She smacked him and rolled her eyes, " You idiot…"
"Kimi…You look beautiful." Chuck stated. "Don't you agree Tommy?"
"Uh…huh." Tommy said rocking on his heels with his hands in his pocket, unable to form real words.
"Not the Kimi we used to." Chuck added.
"Not in the least…" Tommy said unable to look away.
She accepted the compliment gracefully. "Thank you… But we better leave before Angelica has our heads for being late."
Tommy looked at them a bit confused, "I thought she changed."
"Not that much," The other three fearfully said in unison.
With that said, they all rushed out the door…
That was chapter 3, it didn't end very well for Tommy and Kimi, but hey the night is still young. I promise the next chapter will be way better. Next chapter the rest of the gang joins in. Phil, Lil and naturally Angelica. Why should Tommy and Kimi have all the fun…keep the reviews or suggestions coming…thank you for reading…anyway until next time…
