A Single Yellow Rose - Chapter 22
Strong arms instinctively wrapped around her and Mimi found herself grabbing onto them trying to keep her balance. She felt the strength of his legs pressing hard against her own keeping the both of them from falling to the ground.
"Don't you know you should look in the direction you are heading when you walk, especially around a corner?"
Taking a moment to catch her breath, she looked up and found his lips only inches from her own, pressed in a thin angry line. Offering a sly smile in return, Mimi continued her perusal of his face until she reached his eyes. "Don't try to play tough me with me…I know you too well."
"Not as well as you think," he growled unable to stop the corners of his mouth from turning upward in answer to her smile.
"Don't forget I knew you when you used to dance around the house in nothing but your BVD's and one of your dad's button down business shirt singing "Old Time Rock 'n Roll" ala Tom Cruise."
"You better take that to your grave young lady."
"Don't worry," Mimi said with a quick wink, "you secret is safe with me."
"Me too."
Mimi turned and felt her smile slip from her face when she saw Jason standing in the doorway of the men's room, one hand holding the door open and the other braced against the jam. Stepping back, she pressed against the upper arms holding her close, silently asking to be let go.
"Well Jase I trust you," Brady answered, releasing Mimi. "But this one here…I'm not so sure."
"Funny," Jason answered his eyes never leaving Mimi's face as he stepped forward letting the door close behind him, "I've got the same feeling."
Brady looked back and forth between Jason and Mimi and wisely decided to stay out of whatever was going on. "Umm…I'm looking for Belle. Marlena said the two of you were shopping together?"
"Yeah, she's out there with Shawn."
Offering Mimi a quick smile, Brady slipped between the two of them and disappeared around the corner. Taking a steadying breath, Mimi watched as Jason's eyes traveled down the length of her, losing their hardness as they retraced their original path until they reached her face again. It took two more breaths before she found her voice. "Excuse me."
But he sidestepped in front of her just as she reached the door to the ladies room, propping his arm on the doorframe forming a barrier. "Oh no…I don't think so."
"Jason what are you doing?"
"What are you doing? I thought you were going to be buried under the books all weekend. But apparently you've found time for shopping and for hanging out here."
"And your point is?"
Jason dropped his voice to a low whisper and reached out, gently trailing his index finger down the side of Mimi's cheek. "How come you can't find the time to go out with me?"
"I'm out with you now." Mimi answered and with a slight move of her head, pulled away from his touch and her eyes dropped from his gaze.
"That's not the same thing and you know it." Jason refused to let her move away from him as he placed his fingers under her chin, forcing her to return his stare. "What do you want from me Mimi?"
"I want you…" Mimi's voice faded away as she watched the blue of Jason's eyes deepen at her words. "I want you…to let me go to the bathroom."
Quickly ducking under his arm, Mimi pushed open the door and slid inside closing it behind her before Jason could say another word. Leaning against the door, she wondered if he was going to let her get away that easily. After a few moments of silence Mimi released her held breath and headed towards the row of sinks stopping to look at her reflection.
"So
are you playing the game?" she asked the girl in the mirror as she quickly
fixed the combs that held her hair up in a tousled bun. "Or are you being
played?"
Brady
headed towards the booth where he saw Belle, Shawn and Philip sitting trying to
shake off the memory of Mimi's body pressed so close to his own. Don't even go there, he thought, she's like a sister to you.
But she's not your sister, his inner voice teased, and she sure didn't feel like your sister.
Drop it, Brady told him silently, you've gotten me into enough trouble as it is.
Brady watched as Philip caught sight of him and a stone like expression came over his face. His footsteps faltered for a moment but he had promised her and the least he could do was keep it.
"Hey sis…you okay?"
"Hey Brady…yeah I'm fine. What are you doing here?"
"Just taking a break from the books. I came over to get something to sustain me for a long night of studying," he answered, nodding hello in Shawn direction pretending not to notice how high on his leg his little sister's hand laid. "How's the eye?"
Belle shot a quick glance at Shawn and was rewarded with a warm smile before she leaned in against him, hiding the bruising on her face against his shoulder. "It's there."
Brady nodded in response before turning towards Philip staring down at him until he had no choice but to look up at him. "Kiriakis."
"Black."
"You got a minute?"
Philip turned away. "I've got nothing to say to you."
"Good," Brady reached down and grabbed him by the arm pulling him from the booth. "You'll just listen and I'll do all the talking."
Philip easily shook off his arm and stood next to the table. "Back off man."
"I'm not leaving until we talk so we can nice and quiet about this or we can take it outside…your choice."
Looking at Shawn and Belle's curious expressions, Philip decided against creating a scene. He did not want what Brady had done to Chloe at the party to come out. Nodding to a corner of the room, he waited until Brady turned and headed in that direction before following him.
"Spit it out and do it quickly." Philip said, once they were away from the majority of the action going on inside the store.
"You're not going to make this easy for me are you?"
"Not on your life."
Brady shoved his hands deep into his pockets and muttered under his breath. "That's okay…she didn't either."
"What did you say?"
"I owe you an apology for my behavior last week out at Nick's. What I did was inexcusable and-"
"Your damn right it was."
"Look I was drunk and pissed off and lonely…"
"And that's supposed to make it okay?" Philip stepped closer. "You scared the hell out of her and this was after, for some insane reason, she told you what she'd been through!"
"No it doesn't make it okay! Nothing is going to make it okay but an apology is all I can offer."
"This conversation is over." Philip pushed past him and headed back towards the booth. "I'm not the one that needs to hear your apology."
"I know that!" Brady whirled around. "That's why I already spoke with Chloe and she made me promise to talk to you-"
Philip froze at Brady words. "You what?"
"I promised Chloe that I would apologize to you for my actions that night."
Slowly turning around, Philip stared at Brady. "When did you talk to Chloe?"
"Tuesday night. At first she refused to see me but she finally relented and-"
"Stay away from her," Philip advanced again in Brady until they were standing toe to toe. "I don't want you anywhere near her. My god, after what you own sister went through and you stand here and think a simple 'I'm sorry' is going to make everything all right-"
"Don't even go there Philip. You can't compare a misguided kiss against what some bast*rd did to Belle. I've had feelings for Chloe from the first day I met her but she's so wrapped up in you that she doesn't even see anyone else."
"And you can't stand that can you?"
"No I can't," Brady answered, "but I have to because she has made her choice Philip. All I can do is say I'm sorry and ask for Chloe's forgiveness."
"Did she give it?"
Brady nodded his head. "Yeah she did. Even now I still can't believe it but she did."
"Well, that doesn't change anything for me. I don't want you anywhere near her."
"Don't you get it man? She chose you…you already won." Brady walked past Philip. "I know it and Chloe knows it. Are you the only one who can't see it?"
"I wonder what that is all about?" Belle asked, watching her brother and Philip talking in the corner standing toe to toe.
"What what's all about?" Jason said as came back to the booth and sat down.
"Nothing man, just Brady and Philip being Brady and Philip." Shawn answered, noticing that Jason seemed more interested in his coffee than in what he was saying. "You okay?"
Giving the steaming liquid a quick stir, Jason tapped the spoon against the rim and set it aside before lifting the cup to his lips. "Yeah…I'm just peachy."
Shawn shared a glance with Belle before he finally realized what had happened. "Wait a minute…you didn't have a run in with-"
"Hi guys!"
Everyone looked up as Mimi headed towards the booth. Philip returned at the same time and he offered her the seat next to Jason that she quickly slid into as he grabbed a spare chair from an empty table and turned it backwards. Straddling it, Philip glanced over his shoulder at Brady up at the counter.
"What's up man?" Shawn whispered.
Philip only shook his head as he continued to watch Brady.
"Oh, is this mine?" Mimi reached out for the untouched cup of hot chocolate and swiped her finger across the mound of whipped cream floating on top and quickly licked it off.
Jason swallowed the groan at the sight of her pink tongue wrapping around her finger and proceeded to swallow a mouthful of coffee as well. "Arruuggh," he yelled slamming the mug back down on the table.
"Hot stuff?" Mimi asked, turning a wide-eyed innocent gaze onto Jason.
Pressing the back of his hand against his mouth, Jason only glared at her before shooting his gaze to Shawn who struggled to hide his amusement and even Philip was struggling to contain a grin.
"Yeah, it's a little warm," Jason answered.
"Well, you better be careful. We don't want anything to happen to you before opening night."
"Speaking of opening night," Belle said, "how are the rehearsals going?"
"They're going," Jason answered dully.
"Don't be modest Jason," Mimi said, laying a hand on his arm before turning to their friends. "He is doing great! I mean we need more practice of course but he is really good."
"How about a sneak peek?" Belle asked.
"A what?" Jason said.
"Come on, give us a little demonstration of how things are going. Just one scene."
Jason picked up his coffee and carefully took another sip before answering. "Forget it!"
Mimi spooned up another mouthful of whipped cream and noticed that as much as tried to appear not to, across the room Jan was hanging onto every word being said in their booth. Knowing she had the advantage Mimi reached out and pulled the rolled script out of Jason's back pocket. "Oh, come on Jase, let's give them a little sample of the art."
"Now?"
"Sure," she answered flipping through the book until she found the page she was looking for. "Here, let's do this scene…it's a small one."
"I don't know about this…"
"Come Jase…we really want to see this," Belle pleaded.
"Yeah…come on Jason," Shawn added and Philip nodded in agreement.
"Okay I guess."
"Okay…I'll start…bottom page 78," Mimi said, turning in her seat to face Jason and he did the same.
"It'll never happen!"
Jason quickly scanned down the page looking for his line.
"M-make it happen. Lizzie, why don't you think pretty?
Take…and take down your hair."
"No!"
"Please Lizzie…now close your eyes, Lizzie…cl-close 'em."
Jason looked up from the book and saw that Mimi, in character had done as he requested.
"Now – say: you're pretty…umm, I mean…now – say:
I'm pretty."
"I'm…I'm…I can't!"
"Say it, say it Lizzie."
"I'm…pretty!"
"Say it again."
"Pretty!"
Jason stared at Mimi, amazed at how easily she slipped in the character of Lizzie, a plain girl whose family was worried she would grow into an old maid. From the first time he'd see her in a rehearsal, he'd been astonished as the emotion and feeling that she portrayed while in character. He saw one eye open a crack to look at him and he realized she was waiting for him to say his next line.
"Say it…mean it."
"I'm pretty, I'm pretty, I'm pretty."
Suddenly Mimi leaned forward, laid her hands against his face, and gave him a quick kiss.
"What did you do that for?" Jason asked.
"Because the script calls for it," Mimi answered giving him a quick smile before turning back to face her friends.
"Hey, that wasn't too bad," Belle said.
"Wait a minute," Jason hastily reread the scene. "You're wrong Mimi. Actually, I'm supposed to kiss you. I mean, Starbuck is suppose to kiss Lizzie."
"Really?" Mimi leaned over and pressed against Jason's shoulder, looking at the script. "Well, let's do it again. Only this time lets try it standing up. It's hard to get into character sitting in his booth."
"Standing up?" Jason repeated, looking around the crowded interior of Dotcom. "Everyone will see us."
"Everyone is going to see us in five days up on stage," Mimi said, scooting out of the booth and moving to stand behind it. "What's the difference?"
"Okay," Jason answered following her out of the booth, "you guys sure you want to see this again?"
"Yes!" Belle answered.
"Why not?" Philip agreed with her.
"Practice makes perfect they say," Shawn said.
Mimi glanced quickly around the room and watched as Heather tapped Jan on the shoulder and pointed the two of them out to her. Her eyes narrowed and Mimi was sure that if she had the ability she would be shooting daggers in her direction right now. But all she could do was see back and watch the show. "Okay, let's start a little bit farther up on the page so you'll have a chance to get a little more into it." She watched as Jason quickly buried his nose into the script. "And try not to look at the words so much…just go with the feeling."
Jason visibly swallowed and took a deep breath.
"I'll start okay?"
"…there are all kinds of dreams Mr. Starbuck! Mine are small
ones – like my name - Lizzie! But they're real like my name – real!
So you can have yours – and I'll have mine."
"Lizzie…"
"Please…"
"I'm sorry Lizzie! I'm sorry!"
"It's all right – let me go!"
Mimi watched as Jason finally looked up from the script and gazed at her. The longer he stared at her the more calm and relaxed he seemed to be. She didn't know if he needed prompting for his next line or if he was trying to continue with the scene from memory. She had decided to repeat her last line when he finally spoke.
"I hope all your dreams come true Lizzie – I hope they do!"
"They won't – they never will!"
Jason took a step towards her, now standing as close as they should be while in character. He towered over her and Mimi found herself having to drop her head back into order to meet his gaze.
"Believe in yourself and they will!"
"I've got nothing to believe in!"
"You're a woman! Believe in that!"
"How can I when no one else will?"
"You gotta believe it first! Let me ask you Lizzie – are you pretty?"
"No- I'm plain!"
"There! You see? You don't know you're a woman!"
"I am a woman! A plain one!"
"There's no such thing as a plain woman! Everyone woman is pretty!
They're all pretty in a different way – but they're all pretty!"
Although it wasn't in character, Mimi found herself turning away from Jason's intense stare. She couldn't believe he was actually reciting the words without taking one look at the script. She took a quick breath before saying her next line.
"Not me! When I look in the looking glass-"
"Don't let Noah be your looking glass! It's gotta
be inside you! And then one day the looking glass
will be the man who loves you! It'll be his eyes maybe!
And you'll look in that mirror and you'll be more than
pretty – you'll be beautiful!"
"It'll never happen!"
Jason reached out and touched Mimi lightly on the arm, turning her back to face him.
"Make it happen! Lizzie, why don't you think 'pretty' and take down your hair?
Jason reached out for her hair.
"No!"
"Please Lizzie!"
Pulling out the combs, he watched as Mimi's hair tumbled to her shoulders. Slowly he took her in his arms.
"Now close you eyes, Lizzie – close them! Now…say; I'm pretty."
"I'm…I'm…I can't!"
"Say it! Say it Lizzie!"
"I'm…pretty."
"Say it again!"
"Pretty!"
"Say it – mean it!"
"I'm pretty, I'm pretty, I'm pretty!"
Crushing her to him, Jason lowered his head his mouth covering hers hungrily. His tongue immediately sought out hers and Mimi felt her knees tremble as her heart began to pound from the power of his passionate embrace.
Her hands lay flat against his chest and she could feel the wild beating of his heart as he pulled her closer, deepening the kiss. She wanted this…no matter what he had done to her she wanted him, and his kisses and the acknowledging that fact torn at her but she couldn't stop herself from responding to his fervent kiss unaware of the silence that had enveloped the room.
Slowly, Jason eased his hold on her as he lifted his head but Mimi could feel that his reluctance to end the kiss matched her own as she realized what she had done…what she had given away in that one, single kiss. "Oh my god…what have you done?"
"Mimi…" Jason breathed as he felt as if a weight had been lifted from his shoulder.
"What have I done?" Mimi backed away but Jason refused to let go of her.
"Mimi…wait."
"It wasn't suppose to be this way…." Mimi spoke in hushed tones, looking away from Jason, unable to face him. But when her gaze collided with Belle and Shawn's she found herself unable to look at them as well. "I tried to forget what you did…how much it hurt…but you did it anyway…"
"What?" Jason swayed back and front trying to get Mimi to look at him. "What did I do?"
"You got through!" Mimi's wild gaze locked onto Jan's hate filled face and with a sickening dread as she realized what depth she had sunken to. "And that makes me no better than her!"
"Her? Who's her?" Jason tried to follow Mimi's stare. "What are you talking about?"
"Let me go!"
Her desperate cry caused Jason to let go of her the moment his gaze locked onto Jan's and she returned his stare by lifting one eyebrow in a silent mocking. Jason blinked in disbelief as he turned back to Mimi. "Jan? Are you talking about Jan? What do you mean 'no better than her'? What kind of games are you playing?"
Reaching over the booth, Mimi grabbed her jacket and pushed Jason out of her way. "I've got to get out of here."
"No! You've got to stay and talk to me!"
But Mimi raced past him and ran from the building. Jason started after her but Philip jumped up from the chair and stopped him.
"I think you should just let her go Jase."
"Let her go? I want to know what the hell is going on!"
"I'll go after her," Belle said, pushing Shawn out of the booth. "I don't understand any of this but she is really upset."
"I'll go with you," Shawn said, handing Belle her jacket. "We know her usual hangouts but we'll check at her house first. You better calm down Jason before that temper of yours takes you off the deep end."
"Forget it," Jason said. "I'm going with you."
"I don't think so."
Everyone turned around to see Belle's father standing there with Brady next to him. It amazed Belle as she noticed how much they looked alike when their faces were still and serious.
"Dad…what are you doing here?"
"Belle…I need you and Jason to come with me down to police headquarters."
Shawn instinctively reached for Belle's hand and it felt ice cold against his fingers. "What's going on Mr. Black?"
"You father just called me Shawn. They've got a suspect in the attack." John turned back to his daughter, and reached out to caress her cheek wanting desperately to spare her this and it was killing him that he couldn't. "The police need you and Jason to come down and see if you can pick him out of a line up."
"Now?" Belle whispered.
"Now."