Ugh. I had the kind of writer's block where you know what you want to say, but your brain won't translate it to your fingers. Hence the delay... And, this is not one of my favorite chapters so far... Arghhhhh. Writing is hard.
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Chapter Thirteen
(A couple weeks later.)
Mimi stood in front of her full-length mirror, making sure to critique every miniscule detail of her appearance. She was being introduced to Jason's parents tonight as his girlfriend, and she just wanted to make a good impression. As if things with his parents weren't on shaky ground already, the last thing he needed was a girlfriend his parents didn't approve of.
She smoothed down the sides of her emerald green dress, which really deepened the color of green in her eyes. It fell right above her knees, and was simple and tasteful. Something that would hopefully get the parental stamp of approval. She wore her hair up and off her shoulders, making sure that not a single hair was out of place. Mimi had a bad feeling she would screw up no matter what, so she did her best to take care of the very few things that were in her control, including her appearance.
Mimi turned around and Rory looked her up and down, nodding appreciatively. "Very nice... Just one more thing."
Mimi's eyes widened in fear. "Oh... Oh God... What did I miss?"
Rory got up off the bed and went to her closet grabbing a black sweater out and handing it to her. "You look perfect, I just thought you might want a sweater."
"A -- a sweater? Why? Are my arms too fat?"
Mimi held up her arms and inspected them closely and Rory couldn't help laughing at her. "No, your arms are NOT too fat. But, it is December and I don't want you to get cold."
She breathed a sigh of relief and slipped her arms into Rory's sweater. "Oh good... I just... I want everything to be perfect. I don't want them to hate me. Do you think they'll hate me?"
Rory put her hands on Mimi's arms and looked her in the eye. "They are parents. Parents always hate the people their kids date. There's nothing you can do about that. But... If you just be the wonderful Mimi that I know and love, you will win them over in no time. And, if you don't, then Mr. and Mrs. Masters are completely crazy."
Mimi smiled nervously and nodded. "Thank you... For being my cheerleader."
"You're welcome... That is what I'm here for. Now remember, if things get too tense and miserable, you just get your butt back here and we'll all go do something *fun*."
"Yes, please... Rescue me..."
Rory let go of her and went over to sit back on her bed. "We will. I mean, all I'm doing tonight is helping Nick out with some class project. That's *my* exciting Friday night. So, while you think I'm rescuing you, you might just be rescuing me from a evening of boredom."
Mimi put her earrings in and turned to look at Rory. She rolled her eyes and shook her head at the same time. "Rory... You're nuts. You and Nick are never boring, at least not to each other."
"Ehhh... He's alright. It's better than spending a Friday night alone, that's for sure."
"He is more than just 'alright', and you know it. Come on, Ror... You know that Nick has a thing for you, right?"
Rory waved her hand dismissively. "Pshhhh... He does not."
Mimi sat on her bed, across from Rory and stared her down. "Well, you're the one that's always saying he does..."
"Oh Meems, I only say that to embarrass him. I don't actually believe that Nick wants me. I just think it's funny to say all that stuff."
"Well, he DOES want you. He just won't admit it. He'd never give you the satisfaction of telling you that you're right every time you make a joke about him 'wanting' you... But, you are. You two said you knew that Jason and I belonged together before we did. Well, Jase and I see the same kind of thing with you two."
Rory's jaw dropped in shock, and Mimi tried to suppress a giggle at the expression on her face. "What are you talking about? Me and Nick? I... Mimi... Are... What... What?"
Rory's complete loss of her cool did Mimi in, and she burst into a fit of giggles. "Oh my, what is this? Rory Bennett is at a loss for words. Quite a rare occasion... Let me mark this on my calendar. The unflappable Rory has been... uhm, flapped? I don't know, but the point is, you're bowled over."
"Of course, I'm bowled over. How else should I react?"
"I don't know... But you have to admit... there is something there between you. Chemistry, Magic... whatever you want to call it, it's there."
Rory sighed softly and frowned. She couldn't deny being attracted to him, but she had no idea that he could feel the same. "Well... Then... why won't he ask me out?"
"Because, he's never asked a girl out in his entire life. I'm sure he wants to ask you, but he has a huge fear of rejection."
"But... But, I wouldn't reject him."
Mimi clapped her hands together happily, her eyes lighting up with joy. "You wouldn't?"
Rory paused, not realizing she had even said that until Mimi questioned her. "I guess not... I mean, it's Nick. Look at him. Have you seen him recently? Because, maybe it's just me, but he just keeps getting hotter every day..."
Mimi laughed and nodded. "Well, you better snatch him up before some other campus bimbo steals him away."
"Some *other* campus bimbo? Meems... Are you calling *me* a bimbo?"
Mimi giggled and covered her mouth in embarrassment. "That's not what I meant... I'm just saying, Nick is attractive, smart, sensitive, creative, and funny... All of those things that girls tend to go for. Don't let him get away, that's all I'm saying."
"No, no, no... I can't. I can't." Rory shook her head and absentmindedly chewed on the edge of her pinky fingernail.
"You can't? I have never heard the words 'I can't' come out of your mouth. What's the problem?"
"Because... Nick needs to get over this whole shy-boy, insecurity routine. He has to make the first move."
Mimi stared at her in confusion. "Why? What difference does it make if he asks you or you ask him? Maybe I'm stupid, but I don't see the big deal."
Rory groaned in frustration. "Because, Mimi... I am *always* the aggressive one in my relationships. Guys have said yes to me because I scared them into it. I want to know for sure that he wants to be with me because he likes me, not because he's afraid to say no to me. I wouldn't want our relationship to end the way all my other ones have -- very very badly. Nick is too sweet to reject my advances, and I want to be sure that he really does want me before we even think of taking it to that level."
"Well, I am *sure* that he does."
Rory stomped her foot into the floor and growled. Her normal cool and confident demeanor had been crushed because of Nicholas Cooper and his soft brown eyes. She muttered quietly to herself, "Damn him... Damn him and his eyeballs!"
Mimi laughed at Rory's frustration. She had never seen her friend be this flustered by anything. Apparently, Nick had an even greater affect on her than Mimi had initially realized. "Uhm... Rory... Calm down."
"I don't want to. I'm just... erghhhh. I was doing just fine before he came around. I could have had a bunch of immature, completely superficial, college relationships if I hadn't met him." Rory stood up and crossed her arms over her chest, pacing the floor as she ranted on. "But, no, no, no... He had to come along with his stupid puppy dog eyes, and those lips, and that little smirk that's just so cute. And, his hair... it's all wavy and a little too long. It's TOO LONG. Of course, I still want to run my fingers through it all the time... But, why won't he just get a haircut? I mean, if he shaved it off, I wouldn't want to touch it. Don't you think he needs a haircut?"
Mimi nodded in understanding. Once you opened up the floodgates, Rory could probably go on like this for hours. If Mimi didn't know better, she would have thought that Rory suddenly developed another personality, this one a bit more manic and definitely in love. "I... I guess... I guess he could use a haircut."
"Of course he could! And it's not just the way he looks. Oh no, he couldn't be pretty and stupid. Or smart and ugly. No, no... He has to be gorgeous and a brain. He reads books, Mimi. He reads a lot, and most guys don't read. Not the ones I usually date. I mean, come on... They say they read Playboy for the articles, but you know they don't. I don't even think most of them are aware that Playboy *has* articles. It''s just an automatic response drilled into them from birth by a smut-peddling patriarchal society. But, Nick... He likes all the same subjects that I do, and we have intelligent discussion about everything. I hate him... I absolutely hate him. He's far too perfect."
Rory finally ran out of breath and threw herself back on to the bed. She put her hands over her face and groaned in frustration. There was a long moment of quiet, and Mimi finally decided to speak up.
"So... This is what *love* looks like on Aurora Bennett."
Rory sat straight up and stared at Mimi, her expression softening instantly. "Love?"
Mimi smiled and nodded. "That's what I said... You are in love."
"I -- I've never been in love."
"I know. And, that explains why you're channeling one of your multiple personalities. You are in love with Nick and it's driving you crazy. Even crazier than normal, that is."
There was a soft knocking at the door and Mimi jumped up to answer it, adjusting her dress as she went to the door. She opened it to Jason on the other side, who looked quite handsome in a dark blue dress shirt and black pants. Mimi smiled happily at him and went on her toes to give him a brief kiss.
"Hey Meems... You look... so beautiful."
"Thank you, you look pretty tasty yourself."
Jason stepped into her room and noticed Rory was grimacing as she sat on the edge of her bed. He looked to Mimi and questioned her. "What's wrong with her?"
"She's in love with your roommate."
"Oh. Is that all?"
"That's all... But, she refuses to make a move on him. I'll explain the rest in the car."
Rory nodded in the affirmative and sighed softly. "The boy needs to grow a pair before I can go out with him. He needs to ask *me*."
Jason shook his head and snickered at her. "Then you're going to be waiting a very long time. By the time, Nick gets up the nerve to make the first move, you'll be sharing adjoining rooms at the nursing home."
"Gee, thanks for the encouragement, Jase."
"I'm just calling it like I see it. By the way, he's back from the art supply store and he said you can come over whenever you're ready. That is, if you can keep your hands off of him for the rest of the night."
Rory laughed and rolled her eyes. "Did HE say that last part, or are you?"
Jason grinned and replied. "Oh no, HE said that."
Mimi grabbed her purse off the desk and looked at her roommate with concern. "Rory... Are you sure you're going to be able to keep your 'cool' around Nick tonight... I mean, after our little conversation..."
"Oh, come on. It's me. It's Rory. I can keep my cool without a problem. Did you forget who you were talking to here?"
"Well, a few minutes ago, yes... You sounded more like me with all your insane ramblings..."
Rory nodded in agreement and smiled. "That's true... But, I will be just fine. I got what I needed to say off my chest a few minutes ago, so now I'm good to go. You two get out of here and enjoy your dinner."
Mimi cringed and grabbed on to Jason's hand. "I don't know if 'enjoy' is an appropriate word to be using in this situation."
Jason laughed and kissed Mimi on the forehead. "It's going to be just fine."
Rory waved them off and they began the walk to the parking lot hand in hand. Mimi could feel the butterflies in her stomach turn into hummingbirds. They weren't even halfway down the hallway and she was already freaking out. It was going to be a *very* long night.
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Mimi stared at the large wooden door in front of her and frowned. She just knew that his parents would disapprove of her, and that made the walk from the car to the door like walking the Green Mile. Jason turned to glance at her and squeezed her hand tightly.
"Have I told you yet how beautiful you look tonight?"
Mimi chuckled and turned to look at him. "Exactly eight times. Plus four different, 'Wow, Mimi'-s since we got in the car."
"Oh. Well, you do. God... I'm having a hard time figuring out who is more nervous. Me or you."
"Tough call. Maybe you should ring the doorbell and we'll find out."
Jason nodded and leaned forward to tap the doorbell, thinking it a bit strange that he was ringing the doorbell at the house he grew up in. He shot Mimi an encouraging glance, and moments later the door opened to reveal Jason's mother, Rachel Masters. She was a petite blonde woman, who had obviously passed down her hair color and smile to her son. Mimi cocked her head curiously for a moment. *On second thought, Rachel Masters must have gotten her hair color from Clairol because she could see a little gray at her roots.*
She welcomed them inside and politely shook Mimi's hand as Jason introduced them. "Mom, you've met Mimi Lockhart before, I'm sure."
Rachel nodded in agreement with her son and let go of Mimi's hand. "Of course, but I believe she was much younger than... And so was I."
Mimi smiled and laughed softly. "It's nice to meet you again, Mrs. Masters."
"Please, call me Rachel. Jason's father is upstairs; he should be down in just a minute. Now, why don't you follow me to the dining room, dinner is almost ready."
Jason and Mimi followed her to the formal dining room and took seats across from each other. Jason's father entered moments later and shook Mimi's hand before sitting at one end of the table. He was tall and handsome for an older man, with the same green eyes as Jason. "Mimi Lockhart... I presume?"
Mimi smiled and nodded as he sat down. "Yes... Yes, sir."
"You don't have to call me sir, Miss Lockhart. Just call me Douglas."
"Oh... okay, Douglas. Thank you."
Rachel sat down at the other end of the table, and one of the Masters' servants came in to begin serving the first course salads. The arrival of a servant made Mimi even more nervous. Growing up, she had always enjoyed spending time at Belle's house more than Phillip's. The Blacks were one of the wealthiest families in town but never had a staff of servants catering to them like the Kiriakises did, and that made Mimi much more comfortable.
There was awkward silence throughout the first course and the main course, the kind of silence that Jason had warned her about. He had told her that his family wasn't exactly the most talkative of families, and conversation didn't usually start until after the main course was finished. Mimi remained as quiet as everyone else as they ate their dinners, but wondered to herself if this was another reason why Jason used to be the 'bad seed'. A family who hardly talked to each other had to be pretty dysfunctional.
The maid cleared their dinner plates and Jason's father was the first one to break the silence. "So... Son, how are your classes going?"
"Uhm... Very good. I really like all of my classes, and Mimi has been a big help keeping my grade up in Psych class."
Mimi smiled bashfully and shook her head. "That's not true. You do just fine in that class without me."
Rachel took a sip from her wine glass and began the interrogation that Mimi had been expecting. "So, Mimi... Have you chosen a major yet?"
"No, ma'am... Not yet. I'm not really sure what I want to do, but that's what freshman year is for, to find out exactly where strengths and weaknesses are."
"And what exactly are your strengths dear?"
Jason cleared his throat and answered on Mimi's behalf, thankfully saving her from saying something stupid this early in the conversation. "Mom, Mimi is talented at lot of things, I'm sure she'll be able to do anything she wants. She's very smart, tenacious and has a beautiful heart... She can succeed at anything she decides to do."
Mimi smiled gratefully at him and Jason smiled back. He was determined not to let his parents make Mimi feel unworthy or unimportant. It was bad enough that Mimi made herself feel that way sometimes.
Douglas looked at her thoughtfully, as if he was trying to figure out some sort of great mystery about her. "Lockhart... Hmmm... Wasn't it your family that was part of the Habitat project?"
"Yes... We had a house built for us a couple of years ago as a volunteer project with the school and Habitat for Humanity."
"And how is that working out for you? I assume your father is now gainfully employed again... Correct?"
Mimi wanted to crawl underneath the table and cry. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. The Masters were truly snobs, no wonder nothing that Jason did was good enough for them. "I... Yes, he's got a very good job now. And, the house is very lovely. Everything is going very well."
Rachel stared at her curiously. "His job pays for your tuition and fees at school then?"
"Actually -- actually, no. Uhm... The Toscano Foundation awards a full scholarship to one Salem student every year, so I applied, and I got it..."
"So, John Black, who is the father of one of your friends, is paying for your college education?"
Mimi blinked her eyes rapidly, shocked that his parents would be asking these kinds of questions. "I wouldn't say that... John Black is on the board of the foundation, but he didn't select me. I was selected by a committee of people I don't even know."
Douglas interjected his own question. "But surely, knowing the Black family must have given you some advantage over the other applicants?"
Jason's face was red, and Mimi could tell he was getting frustrated with his parents and their relentless interrogation. "Mother... Father... Mimi got her scholarship based on her grades, her school activities and the fact that her family was in need of financial help. It has nothing to do with her friends or anything else you might think. Please drop it."
Rachel rolled her eyes and set her wine glass down. "Fine, Jason... Now, Mimi, didn't you used to hang around with Jan Spears?"
Mimi's face went as white as a ghost. One more question that would no doubt lead in a negative direction. God forbid, these people even give her the slightest of chances to prove herself. "I -- I guess you could say that. But, only briefly... We weren't very close or anything."
Douglas leaned forward in his chair and sneered accusingly. "But you were involved in the whole Chloe Lane website incident, were you not?"
"Well, yes, but... That was a year and a half ago. Things have changed since then. I -- I've changed."
Both of his parents were nodding with interest, and Mimi began to wonder why they didn't just roast her over an open fire or burn her at the stake. She looked over at Jason and tried to gauge his own feelings, but he was just looking downward and frowning. Mimi folded up her napkin and laid it at the edge of the table.
She stood from the table and looked at both Rachel and Douglas with her best phony smile. "If you'll excuse me for a moment... I need to use the restroom."
Rachel's tone was sugary sweet, and as phony as her Lady Clairol hair color. "Do hurry dear, you wouldn't want to miss dessert..."
Mimi made a quick exit and found her way into the bathroom, shutting the door behind her. She stared at her reflection in the mirror and mocked it, doing a high-pitched impression of Jason's mother. "Do hurry dear, you wouldn't want to miss dessert... Blehhhhhhh."
She stuck her tongue out at herself and shook her head in frustration. Mimi really didn't need to use the bathroom at all, she just wanted to take a breath and get away from Jason's parents. They were much worse than she had imagined. Mimi had expected some pleasantries, some casual conversation, not the Spanish Inquisition.
Mimi took a few minutes to calm herself down, trying to prevent whatever else they had in store for her from turning into World War III. She wanted to stand up for herself, but she just couldn't do it without completely disrespecting her boyfriend's parents. She smoothed her hair down and reapplied her lipstick, saying a quick prayer for God to give her calm and patience before heading back to the dining room.
She heard voices behind the door to the dining room, and paused before going in, letting her curiosity get the best of her as she listened in.
"Mom, Dad... Why are you being like this? Why is nothing I do good enough for you? Why won't you give Mimi a chance?"
"Because, Jason... Your mother and I never approved of Jan Spears, and this Lockhart girl... She's Jan but without the money and the family name. And, that makes her even worse."
Mimi's heart sunk in her chest. How could two people this shallow even be allowed to have children?
"Your father is right, Jason. She's just a poor girl who is only interested in the money and security you can offer her. I certainly hope you don't see this relationship lasting very long. You'd be a fool to involve yourself too deeply with trash like the Lockharts."
Mimi held back her tears as Rachel Masters' words stabbed at her through the closed door. Maybe they were right, maybe she wasn't good enough for Jason, but that wasn't up to them to decide. It was up to Jason.
She coughed loudly and clicked her heels on the wood floor, making them know that she was returning and it was time to stop talking behind her back. She re-entered the dining room, and her gaze immediately turned to Jason. He looked stricken, as if he had just found out he had a deadly disease. He laid his hands on the table and pushed his chair out so he could stand.
Jason turned to Mimi, his anger over his parents flashing in his green eyes. "Mimi, grab your purse and your sweater. I think we should leave."
Mimi nodded and backed off slowly. Rachel looked at her son in shock and protested. "But, Jason... What about dessert?"
Jason threw his napkin to the angrily and glared at both of his parents. "Screw your dessert, mother. We're leaving."
Mimi walked out of the dining room with Jason right behind her. She grabbed her sweater and purse out of the foyer and they quickly headed to Jason's car, as a soft snow fell over them. Mimi got in the car and buckled her seatbelt with a sigh. She looked over at Jason who was gripping the steering wheel tightly, but had yet to turn the key in the ignition.
"Jase... What's going on?"
"I'm sorry, Meems. I'm sorry that my parents behaved that way... I'm used to it by now, but you're not. It wasn't fair what they did to you."
Mimi reached over and laid her hand on his arm. "It's okay... I understand... Parents are sometimes too much to handle."
Jason snickered slightly and nodded. "Especially mine. I'm sure if it had been one of Josh's girlfriend, it would have been a much more pleasant situation."
Mimi sighed deeply and sunk down in her seat as Jason started the car and began to drive. They spent the rest of the ride back to the dorm in silence, each of them deep in thought about what had transpired over dinner. It had only taken ten minutes of conversation for his parents to decide that she wasn't good enough for their son. Mimi knew she wasn't as awful as they were making her out to be, but part of her had to agree with them. She certainly didn't know what she did to deserve Jason, and every day that they were together she wondered how he chose her over all the other billions of girls in the world.
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Rory and Nick were sprawled out on Nick's bed, his back was against the wall, and she had her legs thrown over his lap, with his sketchpad resting on her knees. Mimi and Jason walked in like a couple of zombies in an old horror movie.
Rory stared at them in surprise. "Wow... You two look awful. What happened? Mimi... You didn't kill Jason's parents, did you?"
Jason shook his head and answered on Mimi's behalf. "No, but I almost wish somebody would."
"Wow... That bad, huh?"
Mimi took a seat on the edge of Jason's bed and nodded. "Worse than bad. So... uhm... What are you two up to?"
Nick poked Rory's bare foot with the edge of his pencil and grinned. "I'm drawing her feet."
Jason joined his girlfriend on the bed and looked at him in confusion. "You're drawing her FEET?"
"Uh-huh. My assignment is to pencil sketch three different parts of the body close-up. It's supposed to make us appreciate the minute details of the human form, blah blah blah. It's a fairly lame assignment. So, I already did her hands and her shoulders, and now I just need to do the feet and I'm done."
Rory grinned and looked over at Mimi and Jason with a wink. "I uhm... offered to show him some other parts, but the prude declined."
Jason shook his head with shame. "Geez, man... Live a little. If an attractive girl offers to show you some skin, you don't refuse her."
"Thank you, Jason... That is exactly what *I* said to him."
Mimi held back a laugh, noticing Nick's cheeks were flushed a little red. He was obviously flustered by Rory's physical nearness to him, and her offer to show him a little bit more. "Don't worry, Nick. I'm on your side. The last thing we need is to turn Rory into an exhibitionist, and add to her list of quirks.
Rory ignored her comment completely and came up with a suggestion. "Hey... It's still early. After Da Vinci is finished sketching my beautiful feet into the next Mona Lisa... We can all go out and do something. You two definitely look like you need cheering up."
Mimi stood and nodded in agreement. "Good idea... I think I'm going to go change into something more comfortable real quick. I'll be right back."
Mimi kissed Jason on the cheek and gave him a weak smile before quickly heading back into her own room. She shut the door behind her with a sigh and felt one stray tear head down her cheek.
It had been an absolutely miserable night, and Mimi's self-esteem was fragile enough without having to listen to the garbage being spewed out by Douglas and Rachel Masters. She went to her closet and grabbed a pair of jeans and a sweater out and threw them on her bed. Try as she might, she could not get their words out of her head. But she knew that a night out with her friends would help lift her spirits, at least for the time being.
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If you couldn't tell we're getting into the less than 'light and fluffy' chapters of the story. Not that I'm going to turn this into something totally depressing, but who am I if I do not write a little angst in my stories? Anyone familiar with my work knows I can't live without a little angst... ;)
-Hope-
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Chapter Thirteen
(A couple weeks later.)
Mimi stood in front of her full-length mirror, making sure to critique every miniscule detail of her appearance. She was being introduced to Jason's parents tonight as his girlfriend, and she just wanted to make a good impression. As if things with his parents weren't on shaky ground already, the last thing he needed was a girlfriend his parents didn't approve of.
She smoothed down the sides of her emerald green dress, which really deepened the color of green in her eyes. It fell right above her knees, and was simple and tasteful. Something that would hopefully get the parental stamp of approval. She wore her hair up and off her shoulders, making sure that not a single hair was out of place. Mimi had a bad feeling she would screw up no matter what, so she did her best to take care of the very few things that were in her control, including her appearance.
Mimi turned around and Rory looked her up and down, nodding appreciatively. "Very nice... Just one more thing."
Mimi's eyes widened in fear. "Oh... Oh God... What did I miss?"
Rory got up off the bed and went to her closet grabbing a black sweater out and handing it to her. "You look perfect, I just thought you might want a sweater."
"A -- a sweater? Why? Are my arms too fat?"
Mimi held up her arms and inspected them closely and Rory couldn't help laughing at her. "No, your arms are NOT too fat. But, it is December and I don't want you to get cold."
She breathed a sigh of relief and slipped her arms into Rory's sweater. "Oh good... I just... I want everything to be perfect. I don't want them to hate me. Do you think they'll hate me?"
Rory put her hands on Mimi's arms and looked her in the eye. "They are parents. Parents always hate the people their kids date. There's nothing you can do about that. But... If you just be the wonderful Mimi that I know and love, you will win them over in no time. And, if you don't, then Mr. and Mrs. Masters are completely crazy."
Mimi smiled nervously and nodded. "Thank you... For being my cheerleader."
"You're welcome... That is what I'm here for. Now remember, if things get too tense and miserable, you just get your butt back here and we'll all go do something *fun*."
"Yes, please... Rescue me..."
Rory let go of her and went over to sit back on her bed. "We will. I mean, all I'm doing tonight is helping Nick out with some class project. That's *my* exciting Friday night. So, while you think I'm rescuing you, you might just be rescuing me from a evening of boredom."
Mimi put her earrings in and turned to look at Rory. She rolled her eyes and shook her head at the same time. "Rory... You're nuts. You and Nick are never boring, at least not to each other."
"Ehhh... He's alright. It's better than spending a Friday night alone, that's for sure."
"He is more than just 'alright', and you know it. Come on, Ror... You know that Nick has a thing for you, right?"
Rory waved her hand dismissively. "Pshhhh... He does not."
Mimi sat on her bed, across from Rory and stared her down. "Well, you're the one that's always saying he does..."
"Oh Meems, I only say that to embarrass him. I don't actually believe that Nick wants me. I just think it's funny to say all that stuff."
"Well, he DOES want you. He just won't admit it. He'd never give you the satisfaction of telling you that you're right every time you make a joke about him 'wanting' you... But, you are. You two said you knew that Jason and I belonged together before we did. Well, Jase and I see the same kind of thing with you two."
Rory's jaw dropped in shock, and Mimi tried to suppress a giggle at the expression on her face. "What are you talking about? Me and Nick? I... Mimi... Are... What... What?"
Rory's complete loss of her cool did Mimi in, and she burst into a fit of giggles. "Oh my, what is this? Rory Bennett is at a loss for words. Quite a rare occasion... Let me mark this on my calendar. The unflappable Rory has been... uhm, flapped? I don't know, but the point is, you're bowled over."
"Of course, I'm bowled over. How else should I react?"
"I don't know... But you have to admit... there is something there between you. Chemistry, Magic... whatever you want to call it, it's there."
Rory sighed softly and frowned. She couldn't deny being attracted to him, but she had no idea that he could feel the same. "Well... Then... why won't he ask me out?"
"Because, he's never asked a girl out in his entire life. I'm sure he wants to ask you, but he has a huge fear of rejection."
"But... But, I wouldn't reject him."
Mimi clapped her hands together happily, her eyes lighting up with joy. "You wouldn't?"
Rory paused, not realizing she had even said that until Mimi questioned her. "I guess not... I mean, it's Nick. Look at him. Have you seen him recently? Because, maybe it's just me, but he just keeps getting hotter every day..."
Mimi laughed and nodded. "Well, you better snatch him up before some other campus bimbo steals him away."
"Some *other* campus bimbo? Meems... Are you calling *me* a bimbo?"
Mimi giggled and covered her mouth in embarrassment. "That's not what I meant... I'm just saying, Nick is attractive, smart, sensitive, creative, and funny... All of those things that girls tend to go for. Don't let him get away, that's all I'm saying."
"No, no, no... I can't. I can't." Rory shook her head and absentmindedly chewed on the edge of her pinky fingernail.
"You can't? I have never heard the words 'I can't' come out of your mouth. What's the problem?"
"Because... Nick needs to get over this whole shy-boy, insecurity routine. He has to make the first move."
Mimi stared at her in confusion. "Why? What difference does it make if he asks you or you ask him? Maybe I'm stupid, but I don't see the big deal."
Rory groaned in frustration. "Because, Mimi... I am *always* the aggressive one in my relationships. Guys have said yes to me because I scared them into it. I want to know for sure that he wants to be with me because he likes me, not because he's afraid to say no to me. I wouldn't want our relationship to end the way all my other ones have -- very very badly. Nick is too sweet to reject my advances, and I want to be sure that he really does want me before we even think of taking it to that level."
"Well, I am *sure* that he does."
Rory stomped her foot into the floor and growled. Her normal cool and confident demeanor had been crushed because of Nicholas Cooper and his soft brown eyes. She muttered quietly to herself, "Damn him... Damn him and his eyeballs!"
Mimi laughed at Rory's frustration. She had never seen her friend be this flustered by anything. Apparently, Nick had an even greater affect on her than Mimi had initially realized. "Uhm... Rory... Calm down."
"I don't want to. I'm just... erghhhh. I was doing just fine before he came around. I could have had a bunch of immature, completely superficial, college relationships if I hadn't met him." Rory stood up and crossed her arms over her chest, pacing the floor as she ranted on. "But, no, no, no... He had to come along with his stupid puppy dog eyes, and those lips, and that little smirk that's just so cute. And, his hair... it's all wavy and a little too long. It's TOO LONG. Of course, I still want to run my fingers through it all the time... But, why won't he just get a haircut? I mean, if he shaved it off, I wouldn't want to touch it. Don't you think he needs a haircut?"
Mimi nodded in understanding. Once you opened up the floodgates, Rory could probably go on like this for hours. If Mimi didn't know better, she would have thought that Rory suddenly developed another personality, this one a bit more manic and definitely in love. "I... I guess... I guess he could use a haircut."
"Of course he could! And it's not just the way he looks. Oh no, he couldn't be pretty and stupid. Or smart and ugly. No, no... He has to be gorgeous and a brain. He reads books, Mimi. He reads a lot, and most guys don't read. Not the ones I usually date. I mean, come on... They say they read Playboy for the articles, but you know they don't. I don't even think most of them are aware that Playboy *has* articles. It''s just an automatic response drilled into them from birth by a smut-peddling patriarchal society. But, Nick... He likes all the same subjects that I do, and we have intelligent discussion about everything. I hate him... I absolutely hate him. He's far too perfect."
Rory finally ran out of breath and threw herself back on to the bed. She put her hands over her face and groaned in frustration. There was a long moment of quiet, and Mimi finally decided to speak up.
"So... This is what *love* looks like on Aurora Bennett."
Rory sat straight up and stared at Mimi, her expression softening instantly. "Love?"
Mimi smiled and nodded. "That's what I said... You are in love."
"I -- I've never been in love."
"I know. And, that explains why you're channeling one of your multiple personalities. You are in love with Nick and it's driving you crazy. Even crazier than normal, that is."
There was a soft knocking at the door and Mimi jumped up to answer it, adjusting her dress as she went to the door. She opened it to Jason on the other side, who looked quite handsome in a dark blue dress shirt and black pants. Mimi smiled happily at him and went on her toes to give him a brief kiss.
"Hey Meems... You look... so beautiful."
"Thank you, you look pretty tasty yourself."
Jason stepped into her room and noticed Rory was grimacing as she sat on the edge of her bed. He looked to Mimi and questioned her. "What's wrong with her?"
"She's in love with your roommate."
"Oh. Is that all?"
"That's all... But, she refuses to make a move on him. I'll explain the rest in the car."
Rory nodded in the affirmative and sighed softly. "The boy needs to grow a pair before I can go out with him. He needs to ask *me*."
Jason shook his head and snickered at her. "Then you're going to be waiting a very long time. By the time, Nick gets up the nerve to make the first move, you'll be sharing adjoining rooms at the nursing home."
"Gee, thanks for the encouragement, Jase."
"I'm just calling it like I see it. By the way, he's back from the art supply store and he said you can come over whenever you're ready. That is, if you can keep your hands off of him for the rest of the night."
Rory laughed and rolled her eyes. "Did HE say that last part, or are you?"
Jason grinned and replied. "Oh no, HE said that."
Mimi grabbed her purse off the desk and looked at her roommate with concern. "Rory... Are you sure you're going to be able to keep your 'cool' around Nick tonight... I mean, after our little conversation..."
"Oh, come on. It's me. It's Rory. I can keep my cool without a problem. Did you forget who you were talking to here?"
"Well, a few minutes ago, yes... You sounded more like me with all your insane ramblings..."
Rory nodded in agreement and smiled. "That's true... But, I will be just fine. I got what I needed to say off my chest a few minutes ago, so now I'm good to go. You two get out of here and enjoy your dinner."
Mimi cringed and grabbed on to Jason's hand. "I don't know if 'enjoy' is an appropriate word to be using in this situation."
Jason laughed and kissed Mimi on the forehead. "It's going to be just fine."
Rory waved them off and they began the walk to the parking lot hand in hand. Mimi could feel the butterflies in her stomach turn into hummingbirds. They weren't even halfway down the hallway and she was already freaking out. It was going to be a *very* long night.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Mimi stared at the large wooden door in front of her and frowned. She just knew that his parents would disapprove of her, and that made the walk from the car to the door like walking the Green Mile. Jason turned to glance at her and squeezed her hand tightly.
"Have I told you yet how beautiful you look tonight?"
Mimi chuckled and turned to look at him. "Exactly eight times. Plus four different, 'Wow, Mimi'-s since we got in the car."
"Oh. Well, you do. God... I'm having a hard time figuring out who is more nervous. Me or you."
"Tough call. Maybe you should ring the doorbell and we'll find out."
Jason nodded and leaned forward to tap the doorbell, thinking it a bit strange that he was ringing the doorbell at the house he grew up in. He shot Mimi an encouraging glance, and moments later the door opened to reveal Jason's mother, Rachel Masters. She was a petite blonde woman, who had obviously passed down her hair color and smile to her son. Mimi cocked her head curiously for a moment. *On second thought, Rachel Masters must have gotten her hair color from Clairol because she could see a little gray at her roots.*
She welcomed them inside and politely shook Mimi's hand as Jason introduced them. "Mom, you've met Mimi Lockhart before, I'm sure."
Rachel nodded in agreement with her son and let go of Mimi's hand. "Of course, but I believe she was much younger than... And so was I."
Mimi smiled and laughed softly. "It's nice to meet you again, Mrs. Masters."
"Please, call me Rachel. Jason's father is upstairs; he should be down in just a minute. Now, why don't you follow me to the dining room, dinner is almost ready."
Jason and Mimi followed her to the formal dining room and took seats across from each other. Jason's father entered moments later and shook Mimi's hand before sitting at one end of the table. He was tall and handsome for an older man, with the same green eyes as Jason. "Mimi Lockhart... I presume?"
Mimi smiled and nodded as he sat down. "Yes... Yes, sir."
"You don't have to call me sir, Miss Lockhart. Just call me Douglas."
"Oh... okay, Douglas. Thank you."
Rachel sat down at the other end of the table, and one of the Masters' servants came in to begin serving the first course salads. The arrival of a servant made Mimi even more nervous. Growing up, she had always enjoyed spending time at Belle's house more than Phillip's. The Blacks were one of the wealthiest families in town but never had a staff of servants catering to them like the Kiriakises did, and that made Mimi much more comfortable.
There was awkward silence throughout the first course and the main course, the kind of silence that Jason had warned her about. He had told her that his family wasn't exactly the most talkative of families, and conversation didn't usually start until after the main course was finished. Mimi remained as quiet as everyone else as they ate their dinners, but wondered to herself if this was another reason why Jason used to be the 'bad seed'. A family who hardly talked to each other had to be pretty dysfunctional.
The maid cleared their dinner plates and Jason's father was the first one to break the silence. "So... Son, how are your classes going?"
"Uhm... Very good. I really like all of my classes, and Mimi has been a big help keeping my grade up in Psych class."
Mimi smiled bashfully and shook her head. "That's not true. You do just fine in that class without me."
Rachel took a sip from her wine glass and began the interrogation that Mimi had been expecting. "So, Mimi... Have you chosen a major yet?"
"No, ma'am... Not yet. I'm not really sure what I want to do, but that's what freshman year is for, to find out exactly where strengths and weaknesses are."
"And what exactly are your strengths dear?"
Jason cleared his throat and answered on Mimi's behalf, thankfully saving her from saying something stupid this early in the conversation. "Mom, Mimi is talented at lot of things, I'm sure she'll be able to do anything she wants. She's very smart, tenacious and has a beautiful heart... She can succeed at anything she decides to do."
Mimi smiled gratefully at him and Jason smiled back. He was determined not to let his parents make Mimi feel unworthy or unimportant. It was bad enough that Mimi made herself feel that way sometimes.
Douglas looked at her thoughtfully, as if he was trying to figure out some sort of great mystery about her. "Lockhart... Hmmm... Wasn't it your family that was part of the Habitat project?"
"Yes... We had a house built for us a couple of years ago as a volunteer project with the school and Habitat for Humanity."
"And how is that working out for you? I assume your father is now gainfully employed again... Correct?"
Mimi wanted to crawl underneath the table and cry. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. The Masters were truly snobs, no wonder nothing that Jason did was good enough for them. "I... Yes, he's got a very good job now. And, the house is very lovely. Everything is going very well."
Rachel stared at her curiously. "His job pays for your tuition and fees at school then?"
"Actually -- actually, no. Uhm... The Toscano Foundation awards a full scholarship to one Salem student every year, so I applied, and I got it..."
"So, John Black, who is the father of one of your friends, is paying for your college education?"
Mimi blinked her eyes rapidly, shocked that his parents would be asking these kinds of questions. "I wouldn't say that... John Black is on the board of the foundation, but he didn't select me. I was selected by a committee of people I don't even know."
Douglas interjected his own question. "But surely, knowing the Black family must have given you some advantage over the other applicants?"
Jason's face was red, and Mimi could tell he was getting frustrated with his parents and their relentless interrogation. "Mother... Father... Mimi got her scholarship based on her grades, her school activities and the fact that her family was in need of financial help. It has nothing to do with her friends or anything else you might think. Please drop it."
Rachel rolled her eyes and set her wine glass down. "Fine, Jason... Now, Mimi, didn't you used to hang around with Jan Spears?"
Mimi's face went as white as a ghost. One more question that would no doubt lead in a negative direction. God forbid, these people even give her the slightest of chances to prove herself. "I -- I guess you could say that. But, only briefly... We weren't very close or anything."
Douglas leaned forward in his chair and sneered accusingly. "But you were involved in the whole Chloe Lane website incident, were you not?"
"Well, yes, but... That was a year and a half ago. Things have changed since then. I -- I've changed."
Both of his parents were nodding with interest, and Mimi began to wonder why they didn't just roast her over an open fire or burn her at the stake. She looked over at Jason and tried to gauge his own feelings, but he was just looking downward and frowning. Mimi folded up her napkin and laid it at the edge of the table.
She stood from the table and looked at both Rachel and Douglas with her best phony smile. "If you'll excuse me for a moment... I need to use the restroom."
Rachel's tone was sugary sweet, and as phony as her Lady Clairol hair color. "Do hurry dear, you wouldn't want to miss dessert..."
Mimi made a quick exit and found her way into the bathroom, shutting the door behind her. She stared at her reflection in the mirror and mocked it, doing a high-pitched impression of Jason's mother. "Do hurry dear, you wouldn't want to miss dessert... Blehhhhhhh."
She stuck her tongue out at herself and shook her head in frustration. Mimi really didn't need to use the bathroom at all, she just wanted to take a breath and get away from Jason's parents. They were much worse than she had imagined. Mimi had expected some pleasantries, some casual conversation, not the Spanish Inquisition.
Mimi took a few minutes to calm herself down, trying to prevent whatever else they had in store for her from turning into World War III. She wanted to stand up for herself, but she just couldn't do it without completely disrespecting her boyfriend's parents. She smoothed her hair down and reapplied her lipstick, saying a quick prayer for God to give her calm and patience before heading back to the dining room.
She heard voices behind the door to the dining room, and paused before going in, letting her curiosity get the best of her as she listened in.
"Mom, Dad... Why are you being like this? Why is nothing I do good enough for you? Why won't you give Mimi a chance?"
"Because, Jason... Your mother and I never approved of Jan Spears, and this Lockhart girl... She's Jan but without the money and the family name. And, that makes her even worse."
Mimi's heart sunk in her chest. How could two people this shallow even be allowed to have children?
"Your father is right, Jason. She's just a poor girl who is only interested in the money and security you can offer her. I certainly hope you don't see this relationship lasting very long. You'd be a fool to involve yourself too deeply with trash like the Lockharts."
Mimi held back her tears as Rachel Masters' words stabbed at her through the closed door. Maybe they were right, maybe she wasn't good enough for Jason, but that wasn't up to them to decide. It was up to Jason.
She coughed loudly and clicked her heels on the wood floor, making them know that she was returning and it was time to stop talking behind her back. She re-entered the dining room, and her gaze immediately turned to Jason. He looked stricken, as if he had just found out he had a deadly disease. He laid his hands on the table and pushed his chair out so he could stand.
Jason turned to Mimi, his anger over his parents flashing in his green eyes. "Mimi, grab your purse and your sweater. I think we should leave."
Mimi nodded and backed off slowly. Rachel looked at her son in shock and protested. "But, Jason... What about dessert?"
Jason threw his napkin to the angrily and glared at both of his parents. "Screw your dessert, mother. We're leaving."
Mimi walked out of the dining room with Jason right behind her. She grabbed her sweater and purse out of the foyer and they quickly headed to Jason's car, as a soft snow fell over them. Mimi got in the car and buckled her seatbelt with a sigh. She looked over at Jason who was gripping the steering wheel tightly, but had yet to turn the key in the ignition.
"Jase... What's going on?"
"I'm sorry, Meems. I'm sorry that my parents behaved that way... I'm used to it by now, but you're not. It wasn't fair what they did to you."
Mimi reached over and laid her hand on his arm. "It's okay... I understand... Parents are sometimes too much to handle."
Jason snickered slightly and nodded. "Especially mine. I'm sure if it had been one of Josh's girlfriend, it would have been a much more pleasant situation."
Mimi sighed deeply and sunk down in her seat as Jason started the car and began to drive. They spent the rest of the ride back to the dorm in silence, each of them deep in thought about what had transpired over dinner. It had only taken ten minutes of conversation for his parents to decide that she wasn't good enough for their son. Mimi knew she wasn't as awful as they were making her out to be, but part of her had to agree with them. She certainly didn't know what she did to deserve Jason, and every day that they were together she wondered how he chose her over all the other billions of girls in the world.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Rory and Nick were sprawled out on Nick's bed, his back was against the wall, and she had her legs thrown over his lap, with his sketchpad resting on her knees. Mimi and Jason walked in like a couple of zombies in an old horror movie.
Rory stared at them in surprise. "Wow... You two look awful. What happened? Mimi... You didn't kill Jason's parents, did you?"
Jason shook his head and answered on Mimi's behalf. "No, but I almost wish somebody would."
"Wow... That bad, huh?"
Mimi took a seat on the edge of Jason's bed and nodded. "Worse than bad. So... uhm... What are you two up to?"
Nick poked Rory's bare foot with the edge of his pencil and grinned. "I'm drawing her feet."
Jason joined his girlfriend on the bed and looked at him in confusion. "You're drawing her FEET?"
"Uh-huh. My assignment is to pencil sketch three different parts of the body close-up. It's supposed to make us appreciate the minute details of the human form, blah blah blah. It's a fairly lame assignment. So, I already did her hands and her shoulders, and now I just need to do the feet and I'm done."
Rory grinned and looked over at Mimi and Jason with a wink. "I uhm... offered to show him some other parts, but the prude declined."
Jason shook his head with shame. "Geez, man... Live a little. If an attractive girl offers to show you some skin, you don't refuse her."
"Thank you, Jason... That is exactly what *I* said to him."
Mimi held back a laugh, noticing Nick's cheeks were flushed a little red. He was obviously flustered by Rory's physical nearness to him, and her offer to show him a little bit more. "Don't worry, Nick. I'm on your side. The last thing we need is to turn Rory into an exhibitionist, and add to her list of quirks.
Rory ignored her comment completely and came up with a suggestion. "Hey... It's still early. After Da Vinci is finished sketching my beautiful feet into the next Mona Lisa... We can all go out and do something. You two definitely look like you need cheering up."
Mimi stood and nodded in agreement. "Good idea... I think I'm going to go change into something more comfortable real quick. I'll be right back."
Mimi kissed Jason on the cheek and gave him a weak smile before quickly heading back into her own room. She shut the door behind her with a sigh and felt one stray tear head down her cheek.
It had been an absolutely miserable night, and Mimi's self-esteem was fragile enough without having to listen to the garbage being spewed out by Douglas and Rachel Masters. She went to her closet and grabbed a pair of jeans and a sweater out and threw them on her bed. Try as she might, she could not get their words out of her head. But she knew that a night out with her friends would help lift her spirits, at least for the time being.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
If you couldn't tell we're getting into the less than 'light and fluffy' chapters of the story. Not that I'm going to turn this into something totally depressing, but who am I if I do not write a little angst in my stories? Anyone familiar with my work knows I can't live without a little angst... ;)
-Hope-