Water Runs Dry and It's So Hard To Say Goodbye To Yesterday
Fall
She awakens to her alarm going off. She sees that it is 6:45. She quickly gets ready. She has a lot to do today. It takes her about two hours for her to fix her hair the way she wants. Once her hair is dry and straightened, she puts it in a high ponytail. She puts on her shoes, and grabs her purse before walking out the door. She enters the White House, to be greeted by Cyrus. "Mr. Beene." She addresses him. "You; you think you can just show up and threaten people, like its no one's business. You' re just a …" He says. "And here, I had been having a good morning. And I can do what I damn well please. Your boss hired me to handle a certain situation for him. Therefore, I work for him, not you. Best you remember that." She tells him again, while walking away.
She enters one of the many offices in the structure. She walks up to the desk. She puts the folder down. "There is no use pretending, I'm not here." The woman looks at her with disdain. She simply smirks in response. "I need you to sign these." Ashley tells her. The woman looks them over, before throwing them. Everything falls out of them in the process. Ashley takes it in stride. Sighing internally, she hadn't agreed to be a babysitter. She bends down; picking up the papers before putting them in order, and back in the folder. The woman starts speaking. "You can take those documents, and tell my (hopeful) husband, I refuse to let him leave me, especially for her."
Once she has finished organizing them again; she puts them back on the desk. "You will sign these, Mellie. There is no way around it. I have been told that refusal on your part, isn't an option. And like I told you; before you can make a scene all you want. I don't care, and neither does he. The only one who will lose; will be you if you continue with this decision/path. Now, if you will excuse me; I have somewhere I need to be." Ashley says before walking toward the door.
"NO." She turns around to see Mellie in front of her face. Ashley returns the stare (down); not blinking and maintaining a blank face. "You think your husband won't recover from this. But he will. He is running again; and I will do my hardest to see he wins. I have a plan in place. You and Cyrus will get what's coming to you, if you aren't careful." Ashley tells her with absolute certainty.
"Little girl, trying to play with grown ups." Mellie responds. "Huh." I think you have it the other way around. I may not be much younger than you; however I am not the one having a fit over this circumstance. Keep in mind, you opened this can of worms; by going on national television. And revealing that your husband couldn't keep it in his pants. I don't blame you for being hurt; no one likes to be cheated on. And yet, you must understand, you were never his choice. Nor has he ever been in love with you." Ashley says what she (Mellie) knows but is unwilling to admit.
"So, on that note, if you continue to resist; I will blow your credibility away. Tear it completely to pieces/shreds with the proof I have, so go ahead and do your worst. I will tell you right now, it won't be good enough." Ashley repeats her threat/warning for the last time. The unshed tears become evident. "Don't be sad, Mellie. You are a stronger woman than that." "Not to mention, smart enough to know when (you) one has been beaten." She smiles at her (Mellie). "It was nice doing business with you." She says as she walks out the door.
She breathes a sigh of relief. She thought Mellie would still refuse all that. Which leads her to wonder why Mr. Grant has stayed with her so long. Now that she has accomplished that. She leaves the White House for her next destination. She gets in her car; unaware that someone is watching her from their office window. They go and sit at their desk, once her vehicle is out of sight. They think of how good she is at her job. As good as Olivia.
She reaches her destination. She takes a moment to clear her head; for she is about to walk into the proverbial lion's den. But, she knows that things will be cleared up after this. It is still early that when she enters; she is only greeted by one of her associates. The man simply stares at her. She is used to getting this reaction from men. However, he surprises her the next moment. "Olivia is in the parking lot. Give her a few minutes to show up." He informs her. She internally releases the sigh she had been holding. Almost all of the men she has encountered can't form words around her when they first meet. "Thank you, handsome." She says.
He is startled by her statement. He may prefer to be the lone wolf, after everything that has happened to him. However, its been a while since someone has hit on him. Before he can respond though, Olivia walks through the doorway. When she sees who in her company's office; she almost loses it. Ashley has turned to stare at her. Anticipating what the next move will be. She is thinking of what she had witnessed yesterday. Fitz had always told/reassured her she was his only one. Yet, what she saw between him and the woman standing in her business's hallway tells another story. "I know what you are feeling. If we could just go in your office and talk, please?" She asks of Olivia.
Olivia can tell she is being sincere, despite everything. She moves to her office. Holding the door open for her. The woman takes the invitation and walks through it. Olivia goes to stand behind her desk, crossing her arms; waiting for the woman to speak first. "I know you aren't very happy with me, Ms. Pope. You should forgive him, if you haven't already. It was my fault. I came up with that plan. I knew if I pushed in the right direction/lighting a fire under both of your butts; you two would finally realize its okay to be together. Plus, it made Mellie furious. "She informs Olivia with a smirk on her face. Olivia can't help but return a smile at this statement.
"Mr. Grant loves you." Ashley says. "Are you sure, because it takes two to make out? And if he really loved me, he wouldn't have gone there." Olivia questions her. She holds her hands up, before dropping them. "You got me there, however; you must remember he is only a man. And for some reason, physically I attract men/people to me, like a siren. It doesn't excuse my actions. He is a very attractive man. And I wanted to know what kissing him would be like. Obviously, he thought the same." Ashley says.
"I don't want to make excuses. The point is, that man is irrevocably in love with you. Not even I could compete if I tried, which would actually be a first for me.I came here to tell you that his wife is no longer a threat. They are getting divorced; she can't refuse him. I made sure of it. I handled it, the same with Cyrus." She tells Olivia; while running her hand against the table, as she walks a little closer to the other woman. "The ball is in your court now. He is waiting for you and your answer." She tells her before taking her leave.
She walks outside and sees Tom standing by her car. He smiles at her with uncertainty in his eyes. She approaches him. "What are you doing here?" She asks, standing a few feet away from him. "I'm suppose to give you this, and to have you come with me." He tells her. He hands her the folder he had been holding. She follows him. He opens the vehicle's door for her. She lets herself sink into the limo's seat, watching her car leave her vision.
He is sitting opposite of her. He keeps looking at her. She ignores him. She looks at the contents of the folder. She is shocked at what it holds. "He gave this to you?" She asks. "Yes." Tom answers. She pulls her blank look up, knowing that Tom received it in confidence. Therefore, Tom wouldn't have crossed that trust, despite what happened for anything. He has always had the highest integrity of any person she has ever met.
He looks at her, wishing that she would pay attention to him. It may have only been a day. But, its getting harder for him to not want to do something. And what he saw yesterday, shattered his heart again. He will never betray his boss; and yet he can't understand why he had done that. He thought he (Fitz) had loved Olivia, and would never stray from her. The voice of reason/logical part of his mind takes over for his emotions. He knows why. He knew when he met her, and it hasn't changed since then (obviously). Any (straight) man would want to have a chance with her. He saw what Marcus meant about her many times. He just somehow got lucky. He actually came close to always having her.
For some reason, she has never talked about her family. And he has never bothered to push her. He respects her silence; she must have a reason not to say anything. Their relationship has been great. This is their only problem and he bothers to overlook it. For any time that he tries to express how he is feeling; she pulls away from him in every way (verbally, emotionally, etc).
It becomes to the point that they are like strangers. The only time she doesn't do this is when they make out and/or more. Or when he holds her in his arms, while they relax watching something. He lets the rest of her personality (for she is not an unkind person, she just refuses to show her emotions); and his love for her be enough/sustain their relationship.
He may still have his whole life ahead of him. And yet, he knows with certainty that he wants to spend it with her. Him being in his early twenties hasn't swayed him from living and exploring life, before settling down. This means that he doesn't let it prohibit him from experiencing things around him. She doesn't stop him either. After he graduated with his PhD he signed on to join the MP's in the base he had been stationed at last year. She supports him. They move into the house the military has assigned him. It is a nice two story house. She is in her last year of finishing her masters, In fact, his parents invited him home for the holidays the day before. He told them he was bringing someone with him (her).
Yet, when he asks her to join him, they get into their first argument. And they don't fare better after that. He still tries to persuade her to accompany him. And she refuses, despite the fact he had bought her a plane ticket at the time he bought his. He didn't think she would so adamantly refuse him. It is two days before he is to leave. He has had this visit planned out for five months now. His luggage by his bed, packed and ready to go. He had chosen what he wanted to wear last week. He hasn't been shipped out anywhere yet.
He finds her in the kitchen. He has just returned from his shift ten minutes ago. Therefore, he is still in his fatigues. She is in the kitchen, preparing dinner. She holds the edge of the door underneath the sink; as she bends down in order to reach for something. She knows he is there. She can always feel his stare on her. "Dinner will be ready soon." She tells him. She has made his favorites, in the hopes that he doesn't bring up the topic; they have been fighting about for almost daily for months. Since, the first moment he brought it up. He approaches her. She walks by him. She starts setting the table
He follows her. "Ashley, look at me." He asks her. She does what he wants. A look of unwavering (steel) in her eyes. "Please, tell me why; you don't want to go?" He asks her. "I don't have to explain anything to you." She insists. He finally losses his temper. He hadn't expected to. He had hoped to discover her reasoning. "Like hell, you don't." He practically screams. Grabbing the bowl she had been holding; smashing it on the ground, spilling its contents.
She gets on her knees, to clean the mess. Thankfully, it was only a salad, and not the main dish or dessert "Ashley, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it." He says standing by her, waiting for a response. She totally ignores him. He walks away feeling dejected (for what he had done), and rejected by her. He is double checking everything. Making sure he isn't forgetting anything. His back to her, as she comes to the doorway. He hasn't bothered to ask her again. In fact, they haven't spoken to one another for the last two days. Simply going through the motions. He isn't there when she gets up; and sleeps away from her. Neither unsure how to breach the gap between them.
He stops next to her, signifying he is ready. Despite, their problems; he knows she would still give him a ride to the airport. The ride is filled with no communication. She parks the car. And joins him to the entrance of the gates. He wants to take her in his arms. To let her know everything is okay, despite what has happened. And to reassure himself as well. She is looking down. "I will be here when you get back." She tells him. Her statement will have to be enough for him. He walks away from her.
He stays with his parents for three months. They tell him, they think he should break up with her; if she is going to give him such grief. He never had to tell them something was wrong. He was their son. They knew when something was wrong with/ bothering him. He eventually breaks down, while his head is in his mom's lap one night.
She strokes his hair, like she had done to him as a child. "I know you and Dad want me to leave her, to spare me from being hurt. But I love her, and I want to marry her. She's it for me." He tells her, looking up at her. "Sweetie, are you sure? You are still young. You never know there could be someone else for you." She states "I am sure. You and Dad raised me right. You two; know I have always been more mature and responsible than my peers." He tells her.
She looks down at him. Remembering when he was still a child. And needed no one, but her and her husband. "Well, if you are that sure; do you want my ring, or a new one." She asks him. This engagement ring has been passed down through the generations in his family for two hundred years now. Each male has given it to the woman they were to marry.
He gets up. She relinquishes her hold on him. She wishes the moment had lasted a little longer. For now, she knows that this is the last moment he will need her (as her baby/child). He is now a man. It saddens her, because she is unsure if he had ever actually been a child. "Mom. I'll take the ring, but how about I change the tradition a little." He tells her. And this is where the both of them are an hour later. He tells the man in the jewelry store that he wants the heirloom resized and modified a little.
"Remember, the first time you took me to the beach?" She asks. He smiles at this. He would never forget that. That moment, had been of the most memorable times he can recall. He doesn't know how he had managed that without dying. His smile causes her to smile as well. She drops it, turning to the side. It is too late though, for he has already seen it.
He wants to pressure her. But he knows, if he does she will shut him out. She is holding the folder closer to her as if it's a lifeline. The vehicle stops. He gets out first. And holds the door open for her. She gets out and starts walking. He follows her. They reach the most important office in the building. Daniel opens the door for her. He (Daniel) knows that his boss has been waiting for her. He (Tom) tries to follow her inside, but she slams the door in his face. He stands outside disheartened, waiting for her.
She walks up to his desk. He calmly looks up at her, as she slams the folder on his desk. "WHAT IS THIS? She says furious. Pictures of her and Tom when they were in a relationship, along with a dossier on them spills out. He gets up and approaches her. A knowing smile on his face. "You really think it was a coincidence that I hired you." She is actually speechless by his statement.
"I hired you; because you are as good as Olivia at what you do. That, and Tom has shown that he possesses unwavering loyalty; which makes what I did the other day bad. So, this is me repaying him (for his loyalty). You are in his life again. And also' because I didn't want to drag Olivia into this mess, anymore than I already have." He tells her.
She gets in his face. "So, you think that because I am helping you with the current shamble that is your life; it entitles you to interfere with mine." She says, the scowl never once leaving her face. "You're right, yet I also chose you because deep down inside, we are alike. You may have fooled Tom, but you don't fool me." He gets closer to her. "I see right through you." He tells her.
"You have no idea, what you are talking about?" She questions. She looks at his face, which is inches away. "You know, you loved him; you still love him. And for whatever reason, you shut him out. I like to think we could be very good friends." He tells her. She has to squash the crying that so desperately wants to come out. She is working and it is no place for such a thing. But, its too late she knows he has already seen the unshed tears.
"Listen here, I am here to do a job; which is to fix your personal (love) life. Don't drag my personal life into this. And don't get it confused, nor entangled with the current situation. Or I walk; and you and your precious Olivia will be stuck." She tells him. He puts an envelope in her hand.
She doesn't bother with it at the moment. She doesn't tell him, that she has yet to deal with two more people. For she knows, he is only concerned more with the ones she handled yesterday and today. They will wait for another day. He backs off and goes to the window, staring out of it. His back to her. "Well?" He asks. She crosses her arms. "It's done." She informs him.
We don't even talk anymore
And we don't even know what we argue about
Don't even say, "I love you" , no more
Cause saying "How we feel" is no longer allowed
Some people will work things out
And some just don't know how to change
Let's don't wait till the water runs dry
We might watch our whole lives pass us by
Let's don't wait till the water runs dry
We'll make the biggest mistake of our lives
Don't do it, baby.
Now, now they cane see the tears in our eyes.
But we deny the pain that lies deep within our hearts.
Well maybe that's a pain we can't hide
Cause everyone knows how we are both torn apart.
Why do we hurt each other?
' Why do we push love away?
Let's don't wait till the water runs dry
We might watch our whole lives pass us by
Let's don't wait till the water runs dry
We'll make rhea biggest mistake of our lives
Don't do it, baby.
Some people will work things out
And some just don't know how to change
Let's don't wait till the water runs dry
We might watch our whole lives pass us by
Let's don't wait till the water runs dry
We'll make the biggest mistake of our lives
Don't do it, baby.
Don't do it, baby.
Don't do it, baby.
How do I say goodbye
To what we had
The good times that made us laugh
Outweighed the bad
I thought we got to see forever
But forever's gone away
Its so hard to say goodbye\
To yesterday
I don't know where this road
Is going to lead
All I know is where we've been
And what we've been through
If we get to see tomorrow
I hope its worth all the wait
Its so hard to say goodbye
To yesterday
And I'll take with the memories
To be my sunshine after the rain
Its so hard to say goodbye
To yesterday
And I'll take with the memories
To be my sunshine after the rain
Its so hard to say goodbye
To yesterday
,
