Picking Up The Pieces
Chapter 21: Unsweet 16, Part 2
Author's Note: Here we are... just in time for Thanksgiving. Happy holidays, everyone!
As always, thanks to the reviewers... Amanda, Maria, Rachel, Katie, Tanya, grumpy22 and the "live ones"- M, R, & V.
Chapter 21: Unsweet 16, Part 2
"Katie..." Tommy's shocked voice drifted off uncertainly.
"Hello, stranger." she replied, with surprising confidence.
"Care to dance?"
"Uh- sure!" he said.
As if on cue, the tempo of the music slowed. A remix of a very familiar song came on.
"Oh, I was adrift on..."
"An ocean all alone..."
"You came and rescued me..."
"When I was far from home..."
"Chaz did this... Set this up..." Tommy realized.
He focused completely on the willowy brunette, swaying in his arms.
"Say something..."
"How did you get here?" he asked.
"Chaz invited me." Katie confirmed for him, adding.
"I live in Toronto now. We moved here to be near my grandmother. She had a stroke... And my dad got offered a partnership in an animal hospital here..."
"Talk about your family..." she thought. "It's safer. Easier..."
As if he read her mind, Tommy asked.
"And how are your parents?"
"Great! And how's your mother?"
"Great. So busy."
"Yes..."
An uneasy silence lasted for a few minutes, then both simultaneously blurted out.
"How are you?"
"Jinx!" they automatically chorused. The old routine made them both relax and smile.
"Ladies first." Tommy offered gallantly.
"I'm good." she told him.
"What are you doing with yourself?" he asked, with genuine interest.
"Nothing spectacular. I go to school. Hang out with my friends... The usual."
"So, you're a freshman now?"
"Actually, I skipped a grade!" she announced proudly.
"Wow!" Tommy replied, impressed.
"So, I'm a sophomore. Just like you!"
"Not exactly..." Tommy thought, considering his spotty education. He doubted he'd mastered even ninth-grade work in any subject. Somehow, Darius had staved off the educational board who was supposed to monitor the "Boyz" schooling. Bruno, JP, Ryan and Chaz had all discontinued their "studies" with the tutor after turning 16. Tommy planned to do the same. But he didn't share this with Katie. It surprised him to discover how much he still cared what she thought of him.
"She must hate me!" he thought. "But then, why is she here? And looking like that..."
"Still writing?" he asked.
"Yeah. School stuff mostly. Newspaper. Yearbook. You know..."
He didn't, but nodded anyway. Katie quickly turned the tables.
"What about you? Still composing?"
"A little..." Tommy told her, thinking about the work he had done with his mother's song earlier that day.
"That's good!" Katie said quickly.
Another girl approached Tommy, but he adroitly steered himself and Katie in another direction. They stared at each other, not sure what to say next. The DJ changed the music again; it's tempo accelerated, as did it's volume, making speech impossible. Gratefully, Tommy welcomed this, just dancing with her and enjoying her presence.
"This feels... so right... But how? Why?"
Unfortunately, he wasn't given any time to ponder these questions. Georgia was beckoning to him from across the crowded dance floor. She stood there with an editor from "Solid" magazine, which Darius had recently purchased.
A wave of deja-vu engulfed him as he whispered apologetically.
"Katie... I have to go..."
"Some things... can't change..."
"But... I do want us to talk some more." Tommy added, quickly taking control of the situation.
"So, can I see you later? Back at the house?"
"Yes. I'll be there." she promised.
"Chaz has already invited me."
"No need to thank me!" Chaz smiled smugly at them, sauntering over.
"T! Georgia's gonna explode if you don't get your butt over there right now!"
Looking at their publicist, Tommy saw that Chaz was right.
"Don't worry!" the other boy grinned.
"I'll take care of this beautiful woman for you!"
"Would you like a drink?" he asked Katie.
"Love one!" she replied, smiling warmly at Chaz. "It's so hot in here..."
"Well, then... Permit me to fulfill your every wish!" he told her, leading her towards the bar on the other side of the room.
Tommy heard her giggle as she walked away. He headed in the opposite direction, to charm yet another reporter.
The remainder of the party flew by. Tommy was kept very busy by the hundreds of guests there, all needing personal attention. Periodically, he scanned the crowded room, always seeing that Chaz had kept his word, and was lavishing all his attention on Katie. Enviously, Tom watched the pair laughing and dancing together. But then he lost track of them completely. He expected to catch up with them at the end of the night, when they would all return to the house together.
They were nowhere to be found. Only Bruno, JP and Ryan were there, waiting for their limousine to arrive.
"Where the hell is he..." Tommy wondered, but didn't want to ask.
Ryan had no such qualms, demanding.
"Where's Blackburn?"
"He went off with some chick. Brought her back to the house already!" JP smiled knowingly.
"That's Chaz!" Bruno grinned.
"Doesn't waste time! Not that I blame him! Did you see that girl?"
"Nice party favor!" JP said derisively.
"Who was she?" Tommy insisted.
"How would I know. Just another groupie..." JP said dismissively.
Tommy shot him a hostile look.
"What did she look like?"
"Geez, will you just chill!" JP replied.
"Conceited ass!" Tommy thought, not for the first time about JP.
"Can you just answer a simple question for once?" Tommy barked at him.
"Well... since it is your birthday... She was hot! Long brown hair, white top... Nice legs... Nice everything..." JP said lustfully.
"Don't even think about it!" Tom warned.
"Why not? She your sister or something?" JP asked nastily.
Tommy's hands automatically stiffened into fists. But he suppressed his need to hit the other boy.
"He's not worth the sweat!"
"No" he replied simply.
"Whatever!" JP answered, not really caring.
Tommy iced his emotions, until the car pulled up outside their mansion.
"They'd better be in there!"
He exited the car and went straight upstairs to their top-floor recreation space.
Chaz and Katie were there, already seated on one of the large sectional couches, large drinks in front of them.
"Happy Birthday!" Katie squealed, running up and hugging Tommy.
"Thanks." he replied, holding her close.
"So, birthday guy!" Chaz smirked. "What can I mix for you?"
"What are you two having?"
"What else? My specialty! Chaz's Combo! A blend of seven secret ingredients!"
Tommy nodded. Naturally, he was very familiar with their "House Drink". It was potent, but no one but Chaz knew exactly how it was made.
"It's great! So fruity!" Katie cried out, taking a big sip of hers.
He stared at her, a little shocked to see the sweet wholesome girl he had known, drinking. She smiled knowingly.
"I'm not twelve years old anymore."
"I guess not!" Tommy thought.
"There's plenty more in the blender!" Chaz suggested.
Tommy smiled at him.
"Pour me some!"
Chaz grabbed the biggest cup they had and completely filled it. It didn't take Tommy long to finish it. Instantly, he was handed another. Pitcher after pitcher of their "house drink" emptied, as more and more guests arrived, mostly females. The crowd grew louder and rowdier; the music reflected and enhanced their mood.
"Unsweet 16!" Chaz screamed, as the popular "Wakefield" song came on.
"JP! Crank that up!"
He jumped on top of a table and yelled.
"I'd like to dedicate this to the man of the night! Happy birthday, Tommy!"
Drunkenly, he began to sing.
"Bang, bang, on the bathroom door."
"You say- you can't take it anymore."
"I say-let's even up the score!"
"I'm sorry"
"Ring, ring, who's that calling?"
"Stop, stop, stop your bawling."
"I'm sorry..."
"Unsweet 16..."
"Always acting like a beauty queen."
"Like you're posing in a magazine.
"My unsweet 16..."
"Unsweet 16..."
"Homecoming queen"
"Breaking down my self-esteem!"
"My unsweet 16..."
The guests roared with laughter. Bolstered by their obvious admiration of his antics, he segued into the next verse.
"She, she, she only smiled..."
"Smile, smile, cause that's my style..."
"But you acted like a child..."
"Neurotic!"
"You won't let this whole thing go away."
"Cause you thought that I was out to play."
"I just don't know what to say..."
"You're psychotic!"
"Unsweet 16!"
"Always acting like a beauty queen."
"Like you're posing in a magazine.
"My unsweet 16..."
"Unsweet 16..."
"Homecoming queen"
"Breaking down my self-esteem!"
"My unsweet 16..."
"Unreal!" Katie screamed into Tommy's ear. "Is he always like this?"
"No." Tommy told her truthfully. "This is one of his good days."
"I bet!" she laughed, as she was pushed from behind, landing flat against Tommy's chest.
Instinctively, he reached out and caught her.
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah..." she whispered softly.
"Having fun?"
"Yeah... it's a great party..." Katie began. But she hadn't come for that. Drinking gave her courage.
"Just go for it..."
"I was hoping we could talk..." she said bravely, taking his hand.
Unconsciously, Tommy intertwined his fingers with hers. He only knew he felt better, more at peace with himself than he had in a long time. Looking into her melting, doe-like eyes, he knew he could not refuse her anything.
"Yes" he agreed.
"Can we go somewhere quiet?" she asked.
Tommy surveyed his party. It was in full swing. Yet he knew no one would really notice if he left.
"Let's go downstairs to my room."
He guided Katie to the second floor where his suite was located, quickly closing the door behind them. The chaos of the party could still be heard overhead, but the room itself was quiet, a welcome haven.
They sat down side by side on the edge of his large bed. Staring deeply into each other's eyes, neither knew quite how to begin.
"I missed you..." Katie said softly.
"I missed you too..."
"Why wouldn't you talk to me?" she asked sadly.
"I don't know..."
"Yes. You do." she encouraged him.
"You can tell me. You used to tell me everything. Anything..."
"I know..." Tommy whispered.
"Have I changed so much?"
"No" he said honestly.
"You've only gotten more beautiful..."
Katie studied him carefully.
"Say it, Tommy. Just say it..." she urged.
"You've... gotten even more beautiful..."
"No..."
"Yes." he insisted forcefully. "I don't even know why you're here..."
"Well, for one thing, you still haven't answered my question..."
"Tell me. Why did you stop calling me?"
"Things got... so crazy." Tommy began.
"It's true. You didn't change. But I did. I didn't look the same. Or act the same. I couldn't..."
"Yes. That's all part of the image. I understand..."
"No. It's more complicated than that..." he interrupted. It was so hard to explain it. For years, he had struggled to ignore these feelings. With her, he couldn't.
"Tell her the truth... It's what she deserves..."
"When you constantly put on a show like that, acting a certain way, it's hard to tell what's real..." he explained to her.
"The persona... starts to feel like who you really are. Who you've become..."
"The group... changed me... I became "Little Tommy Q"..."
"And you don't completely like it..." she whispered understandingly.
"How do you know that?" he replied, amazed.
"The way you just said it... I could always tell. I'd watch you on TV... in interviews. You always seemed happy... But there was something... frozen...about you."
"Frozen..." Tommy thought.
"No one else... has ever said anything like that to me..." Tommy whispered incredulously.
"Well... maybe if they'd known you as long as I have, they would."
"Maybe if they cared enough to know..." Tommy thought.
"Maybe, if they knew you... the real you..." Katie's soft voice echoed.
"Maybe..." he answered doubtfully.
"Anyway... deep down... I bet you haven't changed so much." she said, spying his guitar lying just a few feet away on the plush carpet. She smiled.
"Will you play something for me?"
"A private concert. Every girl's fantasy..." Tommy teased her.
"No" she insisted.
"Play me... something of yours... Like you used to..."
"I don't know... if I have anything..."
"Yes, you do. I know you do."
"I do..." Tommy realized.
Picking up his guitar, he began crooning gently.
"Baby, baby..."
"I'm taken with the notion..."
"To love you with the sweetest of devotion..."
Her eyes grew brighter with every line. When he finished, she sighed.
"That's... amazing..."
"Yes... Although... I can't really take credit for it. My mother wrote it..."
"But you performed it. You made it yours..." she told him.
"It's so much better than anything "Boyz Attack's" ever done..."
"Don't let anyone hear you say that!" Tommy said, only half-jokingly.
"Nothing... no one can ever do better than the "Boyz". They'd kick you out of here in a second! "
"But you're not kicking me out, are you?"
"No..."
"Never..."
"Besides..." she began. "Deep down, you know I'm right..."
Tommy's eyes again locked with hers and he shook his head.
"It doesn't matter..."
"But it does. You matter." Katie insisted.
"Never let them make you think anything else..." she whispered, leaning closer to him.
Tommy leaned in too, and brushed his lips against hers. It was a gentle, affectionate kiss that demanded nothing.
And made him want to give her- everything.
He reached for her and kissed her again. Passion erupted and Tommy pushed her down on the bed. All thoughts, all logic fled their minds as their lips met again and again . Tommy's hands wandered expertly over her body, removing her sweater and tossing it on the floor. He toyed with the straps of her top, as his lips wandered down her slender neck to her shoulders. Fire burned hotter as she continued to kiss him and caress his bare back.
Her response spurred him on further.
His hands then slid under the silk to stroke her stomach, then her breasts. Gently, he drew the top over her head. His mouth explored her chest, pressing against her rapidly pounding heart, beating in perfect sync with his own.
Katie felt this too, as she lay beneath him, excited and nervous. She had had two other boyfriends, but had never felt anything like this with either of them.
"It's going to happen... With him... Just as I always dreamed..."
"Tommy..." she breathed.
Her voice drifted through his mind, penetrating the romantic fog that shrouded it.
"Katie..."
"It's ok" she whispered, returning her lips to his.
Tommy had heard those words before, dozens of times, under the same circumstances. Usually, they were enough. Tonight, it was different.
"You can't... Can't do this... Can't have her... You don't deserve it! No matter... how much you want her..."
"Katie..."
"It's okay..." she whispered desperately. "Really, it is..."
"Really, it is..."
"No!" Tommy suddenly burst out.
Summoning every ounce of willpower he possessed, he dragged himself away from her.
Katie looked at him with tears in her eyes.
"I'm so sorry..." he whispered.
"I'm not." she replied, quickly pulling on her clothes.
"I'll never be sorry. I got as close to you as I could..."
"Katie... I do care about you." he told her tenderly.
"I know." she replied, with wise understanding.
She slipped on her shoes.
"Goodnight, Tommy."
Without another word, she left him.
Cursing silently, Tommy collapsed on the bed. His troubled thoughts chased him into sleep, seeping into his dreams. He awoke again just after daybreak, heart racing and head throbbing relentlessly.
Automatically, his hand reached into the nightstand drawer for his pill bottle. Picking up the vial, he immediately saw that it was empty.
"Damn!" he muttered.
He tried to ignore the aches in his body and to go back to sleep, but it proved impossible. Finally, dizzily, he struggled to his feet and headed across the hall to Chaz's room.
Tommy knocked on the door, but there was no response.
"Probably passed out..." he realized, desperately needing his pills.
"I'll just go in and grab some... He's asleep... And like he always says, it's not like "I'm interrupting anything important..."
"He'll never even know I was here."
Quietly, he slipped inside the suite and approached the bed. A white sweater and silk shirt lay crumpled, on the dark carpet.
"No" Tommy recoiled, completely horrified.
"It can't be..."
His worst fears were realized when he looked at the bed. Heavy blankets shrouded their bodies. But their faces and bare shoulders were in full view.
Chaz's... and Katie's.
Author's Note 2: Shock therapy, anyone?