Chapter Six: Under the Stars

Author's Note: Just a Tina/Chris interlude... for a little bit, at least. Dedicated to Hannah, to save her from dying, and to Kate, cause she reads this and reviews even though she's never seen MR (poor lass...).

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"Turn here." Chris quickly flicked on his blinker and turned onto a narrow dirt road.

"Again I ask, where are we going?" They had been driving for nearly an hour. It was already dark, but she had refused several times to answer him.

She shook her head, her red curls bouncing slightly. "Not telling. The road curves a bit here."

He glanced over at her, a smile playing across his lips. "I hope you're not taking me to your secret hideout where you'll seduce and murder me, because I really feel that Mike should know about it beforehand."

She laughed. "Don't be silly." She glanced out the window to hide her smile. "Of course he already knows."

A chuckle erupted from his mouth. "Well then, lead on. I'm in total cooperation now."

"Good. I hate having to use the whip." She winked at him. "Okay, now turn off here and go between those two big trees."

"Okay..." Slowly, he guided the vehicle between the oaks. "Should I be looking for a cave or a shack where you keep your victims?"

"Just drive."

"As you wish."

"Okay, Westly."

He glanced at her. "You watched Princess Bride?"

"Of course, but the book is so much better."

"It's my favorite!"

"Mine too! I'd do anything to get the unabridged version. I've looked all over for it, but I can't find it anywhere."

"Same here."

They shared a quick smile before Tina directed him to stop. "Now roll down the hood."

He did so. "Wow."

She smiled proudly, standing and leaning on the top of the window. "Isn't it beautiful?" They were on a cliff overlooking the city from a distance. The bright city lights were but a dim glow against the backdrop of the stars. He had never seen stars so brilliant. She seemed to read his mind. "They aren't so bright in the city. All the lights block them out." She sighed happily. "They're like diamonds."

Tina looked so happy, he hated to disturb her. "Why did you bring me here?"

"To talk. This is where I come to think... and to get away from all," she gestured below to the city, "that." Chris watched as the night wind played with her long hair. "You don't understand what it's like to be here, Chris. You're new. They haven't poisoned you since birth with what they expect you to be and do."

"And what do they expect you to be?"

"Another cheerleader, with a boyfriend who's the best jock in school. They expect me to be happy and peppy all the time and never say what I feel or think. They expect me to be this," she touched a hand to her chest. "They want me to be Tina- this person I pretend to be." She shook her head. "I don't want to pretend, Chris."

He touched her hand. "Then don't."

Her sad eyes looked into his. "But I have to."

"Why?"

"Because, Chris... who would I be if I wasn't what I am now? You can't just change who you are. It's not that easy. Besides, I don't even know what I would be if I wasn't... me."

"You'll never know unless you find out."

"True." Her eyes had a faraway look, as if she were lost in some other world. "Do you know the real reason I don't want to stop pretending?" She didn't wait for an answer. "Because I would be nothing, a nobody. I'm nothing without Mike and nothing without the girls. I'm not even a decent cheerleader, but with them there, no one notices." She sighed heavily, seeming to come back to herself. "If I wasn't who I was... no one would notice me."

Chris wrapped his fingers around Tina's hand, squeezing it gently. "I would."

He spoke but two words, but they melted her heart with the effectiveness of a powerful ballad. "Chris..." She turned to him, leaning into his open arms and melting in his embrace. He wrapped his arms around her with a desire to protect her from all her troubles. "How are you so sweet?"

"It's a gift," he murmured into her soft hair.

"Why weren't you here long ago? Then I wouldn't have ever had to pretend. I could have been me." She clung to him like a lifeline.

"I'm sorry. I'll try to make it up to you." He kissed her forehead, her cheek, then paused to look into her eyes for permission to continue. She kissed him instead, pressing her lips tenderly against his. This kiss was different than their first. It was just between them, private and personal. It was tender and passionate, soft and furious, all at the same time.

Before he had time to put up the hood, she had him in the back seat. She planted hot kisses all over his neck and face, and his hands held her close. He was hardly able to believe what was happening. Tina grabbed the bottom of his shirt and was about to pull it over his head when he forced himself to stop.

"Wait."

"Don't worry," she whispered, kissing his neck. "I have condoms in my purse."

"No... that's not it."

She looked up at him from her position, straddled across his waist. "Then what is it, Chris? Don't you want to?"

He couldn't believe what he was about to say. "It's not that either. You have no idea how much I want to... but we can't."

"Oh." She sat up, adjusting her shirt. "I see."

"No... Tina... don't do this. Don't be mad."

"I'm not mad."

He wanted to smack himself. How could he be so stupid? "You have a boyfriend, Tina... I don't want to make you do something you'll regret later."

"I won't regret it."

"Yes, you will. You know it's true." He kissed her cheek gently. "I'll always be here, Tina. I'm not leaving you."

Finally accepting his answer, she snuggled against him, resting her head on his shoulder. "I'm sorry, Chris."

"Don't be."

She cast her eyes downward. "I feel so stupid now..."

He smiled tenderly at her. "Don't. No one'll know."

A harsh laugh interrupted their reverie. "That's what you think, darling."

The two visibly jerked away from each other, turning to see who had spoken. The starlight illuminated the dark-eyed face. "Nina!" gasped Tina.

"That's right, dear. Thought you were alone, did you?"

"What are you doing here?"

She smiled haughtily. "I think I should be the one asking you that. Lying in each other's arms in the back of a car in a secluded forest, clothes rumpled, smeared lipstick... looks a bit suspicious to me. I can imagine how it would sound if the news happened to leak out to Mike..."

Tina lunged for the girl. "You wouldn't."

There was another laugh. "You wanna bet? I've been thinking... you've fucked him long enough... it's time for you to step aside and let someone else have a turn."

"Please, Nina... don't do this. You don't understand."

"Oh no, Tina. I understand. I understand how easy it is to let a little secret slip at just the right moment..." She turned away to stalk back into the woods. She glanced back over her shoulder. "Unless, that is, there's something in it for me."

END CHAPTER SIX