cries i've burnt ma finger n it huuurts!! its making it dificult to type but i desperately wanted chappie 13 done by today!! siiiigh. righty ho...this is the next chappie...dealing with the rellies...it had to happen lol!! i've had a nap today so i'm awake enough to do this...cos crickey have i been tired lately...dunno y!! maybe i'm drinking too much water :S...like 2 and a half litres a day...thats ok right??
dances yes its that time again!! u gotta love me right...i'm so good to you guys!! it has been betaed by ellipsisoveruse...god its like school...suffer!! lol but thank yooooou!! :D. cos its all perdy now!!
ooooo omg omg omg omg guess what...angara has made a vid to go with this fic...its done up to chappie 8, you guys soooo have to check it out!! i'll stick a link in but i bet it won't show up...never does on . sooooo yeah tis on youtube: sexuality: its in the water :D :D :D!! omg talk about love...i've been grinning about it all day...i really needed something to make me smile and it did the trick!!
linky: uk./watch?vEPM-cHsmeQo testing testing one two three its h tt p: / / (without the spaces) uk(dot)youtube(dot)com/watch?vEPM-cHsmeQo we shall see if either work cos i've put up two forms of it to see if i can trick the site...i doubt it though...but yeah go look cos i is squeeing away!! lol tis soooooo goood!!
anyway...better get typing :D
hugs
Scarlett xxx
--SS--
unavoidable conversations
Another day had passed; the press were still pushing for answers - ones that Andy, of course, was unwilling to give. Miranda already assumed she'd sold her out once; there was no way Andy was giving anything else away.
She'd been meaning to clear out her desk all week, but couldn't face Runway. Going back there would be like rubbing salt in the wound. Her parents had been hounding her, calling every few minutes trying to get through, clearly wanting to question her actions, and enquire about her sexuality. Hell, Andy didn't even know herself. She didn't fancy girls, she admired their beauty and elegance, but her previous relationships had always been with men, and Miranda had just managed to bulldoze her way into her life and over every belief she'd had about who she was. Andy no longer recognised herself when she looked in the mirror, a while ago that would have saddened her, but now, all the alterations had been at the hands of Miranda, and Andy wouldn't change them for the world. This woman had turned her head, for once she'd fallen head over heels without even realising it till it was too late.
Her phone rang again, ripping through her thoughts. With a defeated sigh she snatched it up, clicking the green button, knowing she'd have to face the music one way or another, and now was a good a time as any.
'Hello?'
'Andy!' her mother's voice sounded frantic, tinted with anger from being ignored and surprised at the fact she'd finally answered.
'Hey Mom.'
'I've been trying to call you for days!' Andy rolled her eyes, like she wasn't aware of that fact. 'What's going on? Our phone has been ringing off the hook, apparently all this stuff with Miranda and her mystery woman…they saying you're the other one in the photos. Why would they say such a thing?'
Andy sighed, weighing up her answers. She could lie, but it wouldn't get her anywhere. The truth was out and there was no denying it. 'Because its true, Mom. It is me.'
Silence.
'Mom?'
'I…darling, I thought you were interested in men?'
Andy blinked, 'I was…I am.' She sighed, 'I don't know.'
'Darling she didn't…she didn't force you into this, did she, another one of her ridiculous demands? You've told us how she can be but I never suspected she'd sink this lo-'
'No!' Andy jumped in, shocked at her mom's thought process. 'No, Mom. I instigated it.' Well, it was half the truth at least - if she hadn't been getting herself off with Miranda only a few meters away, Miranda wouldn't have had any excuse to lay a hand on her. She blushed, not wanting the think about it with her mom on the phone.
'Why? I thought you hated this woman.'
Andy felt a stab at the thought, she'd never hated her, sure she'd been furious at the woman on a number of occasions letting the word fall from her lips a little too often, but she'd never honestly meant it. She laughed to herself - besides, weren't love and hate often a little too intertwined? When her emotions crossed over she didn't know, but it wasn't hate that flooded her when she thought of Miranda. Right now, though, all her thoughts of Miranda were tainted with the bitter knowledge that she'd never lay another finger on her. The only woman she wanted, and she'd lost her within days.
'I've never hated her, Mom. She's frustrating, stubborn and demanding, but after all this time, I thrive on the challenge. Do you think I would have remained by her side all this time if I hated her? I've had many opportunities to leave and never did. I think that told me everything I needed to know before I'd even admitted it to myself. All this time, I've willingly remained by her side. And it's true, she's the devil everyone says she is, but that's the icon. Behind the scenes, she's different, and I want to know that woman.'
Her mom sighed, the sound making Andy feel guilty, having her parents find out through the news. She'd barely had chance to come to terms with it herself, and here she was coming out to her mom, this was insane.
She heard a scuffle in the background; her mother's muffled mumbling most likely trying to stave her dad off, hands flapping ordering him away from the phone. For that she was grateful. Suddenly her attention returned.
'So, what happens now? Are you two together?'
'No, she thinks I'm responsible.' It felt nice to have someone to talk to, her mom holding back any judgment for the time being, reading her well as always. She didn't know how her dad would feel, but she had a feeling her mom might help a little on that score.
'Responsible?'
'Yeah, for this all coming out in the papers.'
'But…but this wasn't you, was it, Andy? I mean, you'd never do such a thing.'
'No Mom, it wasn't me, I'm surprised you even have to ask.'
'Then why?'
'Miranda has trust issues, ones which I was well aware of before any of this began. She turned on the easiest assumption, many people within her life would sell her out, and I guess she just believed I'd screwed her over like everyone else.' Andy hoped her mother would ignore the pun in that statement, this conversation was difficult enough as it is. Her mom was attempting to be understanding, which was sweet, but she had a feeling she hadn't quite come to terms with it, and wouldn't be overly accepting of Miranda straight away. Andy held back a sigh, the latter fact didn't matter if Miranda remained angry at her. She needed to sort this out.
'hmmmm?'
'It was my choice, Mom, honest.'
'Oh Andy, you've got yourself into a mess haven't you?'
She laughed, a sad lost little laugh, a light layer of humour ebbing through her at her mothers summing up of the situation. Curling under the covers, she was finally thankful she'd answered the phone, able to talk to her mom over everything, just to hear a kind, understanding voice on the other end of the line was exactly what she needed right now. With no serious friends, she didn't have anyone else to turn to. Although Nigel had left a message a moment ago, one which she intended to return as soon as she got off the phone with her parents. So with a deep sigh, she hid for a final few hours, knowing that she was going to finally have to face up to facts. She couldn't hide in here forever; but she intended to sort out the situation very soon.
Because she may not have been responsible, but she was now well aware of who was, and she intended to make them pay.
………………….
Miranda sat in her study looking over the Book, her eyes couldn't help but trail over to the small notebook seeming so unassuming lying on her table. She hadn't opened it, frightened to read what it contained, not that she'd admit that fact to herself, as far she was concerned she just hadn't had the time, consumed by work as always.
She sighed, laying the Book aside, slipping her glasses off, fingers massaging the bridge of her nose trying to ease the tension. Photographers and reporters waited outside her house around the clock, hounding her every time she went out for anything. She was relieved to have assistants to do everything for her, but that didn't help when she had to head to work in the mornings. Irv had been on her case, demanding to meet with her. It had soon been sorted - a quick order to Emily and she'd had a detailed chart on Runway sales, clearly indicating the increasing profit. They'd easily broken even for the current month, and sales were still on the rise. The shareholders would be happy, receiving more than comfortable dividends for their investment, share prices were also on the increase. Irv had nothing to complain about, apart from the fact she'd 'nailed her assistant', as he'd so eloquently put it. But said assistant didn't seem to be issuing any complaints, so the matter was over within minutes. He'd given a brief demand that she tighten the belt of the upcoming shoots trying to emphasise the fact that he was the boss, (even though everyone within Runway was well aware that it was in title only) and that she should ensure she keep her activities well out of camera range in future. A low blow.
The twins' voices echoed up the stairs, calling her down for dinner, startling her out of her reverie. She descended the stairs, plastering a smile on her face as she entered the kitchen. Trying to act as normal as possible for the twins' sake. They looked up as she entered the kitchen, and for some reason her expression made them seem even more concerned. Cara placed the dishes on the table, giving Miranda a strained smile before backing away. With a quick glance around the kitchen, Cara ensured everything was clean, before hanging her apron up, waving to the girls, and darting out of the house, dismissed for the evening.
The silence was awkward around the table. The girls' normal chatter absent, their eyes drifting to each other. Miranda was well aware what the look meant, but she waited it out, knowing one of them would break eventually.
With a sigh and subtle roll of her eyes Caroline finally cracked. 'Mom, are you - ow, Cassidy!' Caroline glared at her sister, but continued with her question, 'Mom, are you gay?'
'Shut up, Caroline!'
'It's a legitimate question!'
'Not now,' Cassidy hissed.
Caroline's mouth opened, twisting into another retort.
'Girls! Enough! Now.' Miranda stepped in, already infuriated with the bickering. She didn't wish to bear witness to her girls fighting, even though it happened often. They were teenagers. But right now, it wasn't what she wished to hear, the stress of the day already weighing heavily upon her shoulders. She knew the questioning would come, and refusing to answer wouldn't help in any way. Her girls were growing up and they deserved answers, if only she had some to give. She still hadn't come to terms with everything herself, her emotions for Andrea blamed on other things before they finally whipped her away and up into the whirlwind that had turned her life upside down.
They twins both eyed her guiltily, but curiosity still tinted their gazes.
Miranda sighed, 'No, I'm not gay.'
'Then what was it with Andrea, Mom, a mid life crisis?'
'Caroline!', Cassidy exclaimed.
'What? That's what the papers are saying.'
'And when did we start paying attention to what the papers say?'
Caroline blushed but fought on, 'The moment it turned out the papers knew more than we did.'
Miranda felt a stab of guilt at those words. She would never willingly leave her children out of anything. She would have told them about the… situation… between her and Andrea as soon as she'd known it was something more permanent. But now she'd never find out.
'Girls!'
'It was not an early mid life crisis, as you so eloquently put it, Caroline.' The girl had the grace to blush; having omitted the 'early' she'd accidentally delivered an unforgivable insult, insinuating her mother was old. 'It was…a momentary lapse judgment.' Her hand waved the subject over.
'Mom, you don't make momentary lapses of judgment.' This time it was Cassidy to speak out. Cassidy had more tact than Caroline, but still couldn't deny her curiosity.
'Well in this instance, I did.'
'Then you must really like her.'
Miranda frowned, wishing this conversation was over and done with, but her daughter was as determined as ever. Cassidy had inherited her own stubbornness, and once she wanted to know something, she didn't rest until she got the answers they wanted. Miranda could dismiss the twins' questions, but she knew that that would not go down well, and she hated being on bad terms with her daughters. 'Why would you think that?' her tone was light, but enough to tell Cassidy she was treading on thin ground. The young girl swallowed, eyes flicking to Caroline for strength before ploughing onwards.
'Well, you don't…make momentary lapses of judgement, like, ever. Everyone knows you're always in control. You never lose control, not with Steven or with Dad, even with Caroline and I. So…for Andy to shatter it completely... well…it says…something.' She petered off, probably preparing for the onslaught after such a comment. Miranda remained silent; letting Cassidy's words sink in. Trust her daughter to point out something she was trying to deny. She'd been attempting to write Andrea off as a pointless fling, something that she could recover from, but in all honesty, the young woman had made her feel things no man ever had, in and out of bed.
She looked up at her daughters, a light laugh breaking out, 'What did I ever do to deserve you two?'
'I don't know, but you certainly got the best side of the deal.' Caroline grinned.
'We, on the other hand, are obviously being punished for something.' Cassidy joined in.
'Homework! Now!' Miranda narrowed her eyes at them, attempting to hide her amusement. Her daughters may give everyone hell on the outside, but they could always improve her mood.
The twins shared a glance with each other, one Miranda knew well. The 'that proves our point' expression.
'I'll be up to check on you in an hour, and if I'm not happy with your homework, you'll be home all weekend.'
Quick as a flash, the twins vanished, giggling their whole way up the stairs; thankful they'd got their answers and lived to tell the tale.
Miranda let her eyes roam around the kitchen. The girls had deposited their plates in the dishwasher on their way out. Miranda stood, sliding hers in also. Twisting on her heel she made her way out into the hall, and began ascending the stairs. She had some questions of her own, and she guessed all the answers were all contained within the little book lying upstairs just waiting to be read.
tbc
--SS--
PLEASE REVIEW!! and check out the vid...i order you to glares...look into my eyes...go...now...watch!! :P tis sex on legs...mmmmm
