Notes: Disclaimer is with the first chapter. 'Can't Smile Without You' is a Barry Manilow song. Sorry it took me so long to update, but with the exceptionally bad weather of the last week, my arthritis was acting up. Yes, I'm in my mid-twenties and yes, I have arthritis…usually it only gets bad when it's icky looking outside. Bad arthritis pains are not conducive to typing so I didn't do any typing though I did think up plots and junk. But today it was a nice, clear day outside and behold, no arthritis pains so I took advantage and churned out this little story. Oh, and I have no idea if Barry Manilow is in-character or not because I've never met him or even seen him so go easy on Barry Burning.
P.S. I want a MONOCLE now...Finch is corrupting my mind.
Friday, July 14, 2002, Backstage at the Concert Hall
Dennis Finch was stopped by a security guard as he attempted to proceed into the backstage area. "Sorry sir, but only those with passes can go past this point."
Finch replied, "Yeah, yeah…hold on a sec." Turning to Maya, he said, "Come on and get out the passes, girlie. We haven't got all night." Maya, who was still in a daze from the concert, just looked at him in confusion. Finch sighed in irritation and said, "Maya, the passes that are in your purse." After another couple of seconds, the guard started to lose his patience. Shaking his head, Dennis said, "It'll be just a moment." Grabbing Maya's purse, he started to dig through it searching for the backstage passes.
Moments later, Maya snapped out of her daze to see Finch rooting around inside her purse. She narrowed her eyes and asked, "Finch, what do you think you're doing going through my purse."
"I'm looking for the backstage passes since you were off in la-la land and apparently didn't hear the guard when he asked for them." Finch started pulling random objects out of Maya's purse and handing them to Maya to hold. *Compact, wallet, checkbook…where in the hell are they.* He then pulled a tampon out of the purse. Finch's face screwed up in a look of distaste as he muttered, "Ewww…" He quickly shoved the tampon into Maya's hand and surreptitiously wiped his hand on his shirt. A blush began creeping up Maya's neck as she hastily placed the tampon into her pocket. When Maya noticed the guard smirking at her in amusement, her face burned bright with embarrassment. Finch suddenly exclaimed, "Houston, I think we have lift-off." With a flourish, Dennis pulled the backstage tickets from the purse. Shoving them under the security guards nose, he said, "There ya go! Happy now?" Rolling his eyes, the security guard simply waved them by.
Finch handed Maya's purse back to her. She quickly shoved everything back inside her purse and then grabbed Finch's arm pulling him after her through the doors leading to the backstage area. *God, that was so embarrassing. People besides me saw my feminine hygiene products. That's just wrong.* The back stage area was utter chaos with the roadies running back and forth breaking down the equipment. Maya glanced at Finch and asked, "Why are they rushing so much now? I mean, the concert is already over. Why don't they slow down a bit?"
Finch and Maya turned when a voice behind them said, "I have a concert tomorrow in Baltimore, and they have to take all the equipment down here, transport it, and then put it all back up there. Just because the concert is over doesn't mean the job is over." Barry Manilow smiled at them, and said, "Nice to see you again."
Maya blushed and started talking so fast that no one could get in a word edgewise, "Loved the concert. It was great…really great. It was like a dream when you picked me to go up on stage. I can't believe that I forgot my own name, how embarrassing is that. And you sang one of my top favorite songs when I was up on stage, 'Can't Smile Without You.' That is such a wonderful song."
Maya's rambling was suddenly cut off when Finch's hand covered her mouth. "Maya, you're blabbering, and you haven't taken a breath since Barry greeted us." Looking into her eyes, Finch instructed, "Breathe, Maya…breathe. Come on and breathe. Inhale, then exhale." Out of the blue, Maya started laughing and pointing at Finch between snickers. Finch stared at her in bewilderment as he thought, *What the hell is that all about. Well, at least she's breathing again.*
When Maya's laughter had tapered off to giggles, Maya said, "Finch, you sounded like you were my lamaze coach. Breathe, inhale then exhale. Just the idea of you being someone's lamaze coach…" Maya started snickering again when she noticed Finch glaring at her.
"Hey! I'll have you know that I'd make a great lamaze coach," Finch retorted with indignation.
With a coy grin on her face, Maya asked, "So you'd be my lamaze coach, huh Dennis?" Finch just stared at her with a slightly pained expression. His eyes widened and his jaw dropped as his gaze lowered to her stomach. Maya's expression turned to one of confusion as she thought, *Why does Finch look like someone stole his favorite toy?* She suddenly realized that Finch had taken her last jest to mean that she was, in fact, pregnant. "Oh god Finch! I'm not pregnant! I'm not even seeing anyone right now. God!"
Finch's heart started beating again as Maya's words sank into his muddled brain. *Jeez…of course, she's not pregnant you idiot. This is Maya, not Elliott. I've gotta learn how to take a joke, but god, did that hurt. Thinking about someone else with my Maya.* Looking at Maya with a sheepish smile, he said, "I never said you were pregnant, Maya."
Rolling her eyes in exasperation, Maya exclaimed, "You were thinking it. I've become an expert in reading Finchisms."
Barry Manilow stood behind them shaking his head in amusement. A small smile played over his lips as he thought, *They've completely forgotten that I'm here. They've just zoned out to their own little world.* With a small chuckle, Barry asked, "Should I leave you two alone…to sort out your differences?"
Barry Manilow's voice snapped both Maya and Finch back to the real world. Maya looked mortified as she said, "Oh my god, I'm so sorry. We have just been totally ignoring you." Shaking her head in exasperation, Maya thought, *How humiliating. We just totally ignored Barry Manilow…BARRY MANILOW.* Maya sighed and said, "We do it all the time. We get in these dumb little arguments and tend to block out everything else."
Barry just waved off the apology. "Actually, I found the whole thing rather amusing. You all also seemed to rather enjoy your little spat so no harm done. Those trivial little disagreements often lend a bit of spice to our relationships. Don't you agree?"
"Uh, I guess, but Finch and I aren't exactly involved that way."
A smile blossomed on Barry's face as he responded, "You don't have to be. Relationships don't have to be romantically-based to be relationships. You have some type of a relationship with everyone in your life." Barry let out a chortle as he said, "Ok, that is the end of my sagely advice. I hope I haven't scarred you for life. So onto other topics…did you all enjoy the concert?"
Both Finch and Maya nodded enthusiastically and started to yammer away about how great the concert had been. They lauded everything from the music, to the playing, to the stage props. They especially expressed their excitement about being able to go up on stage with him. Dennis Finch said it best, "It has been the highlight of my life so far and I have many. I was married to a supermodel after all."
When Barry could finally get a word in edgewise, he sheepishly admitted, "Well, actually one of the reasons that I picked you to go onstage is because I know your mother, Maya. She's one of my biggest fans. When she asked for concert tickets and backstage passes for you and a friend, I simply couldn't refuse her. I noted where you were going to be seated so I could make sure to pick you to go up on stage."
Maya's brow knotted in confusion. "Ok, I know you're friends with my mother and she told me she asked for the tickets directly from you, but she never mentioned anything about any backstage passes. Dennis got those, and they probably cleaned out his entire savings too."
A look of puzzlement crossed Barry's face as he responded, "That's strange. I know I gave her two backstage passes." He suddenly noticed that Finch had a slightly flustered look on his face and that he was trying to distance himself from the on-going conversation. Suddenly realizing what had become of the backstage passes, he simply uttered, "Ohh…"
"What do you mean oh," Maya asked. Her eyes followed his gaze to Finch who was standing there fidgeting and refusing to meet her eyes. Understanding suddenly flooded through her and she nicely asked, "Finch, where exactly did you get those backstage passes?"
Resignedly, Finch raised his eyes to meet Maya's, *Aww hell, she's already figured it out anyways. Might as well tell her.* Gathering his courage, he replied, "Umm…your mom gave them to me." Maya just threw her hands up in complete exasperation. Finch lowered his eyes and said, "I think your mom felt sorry for me because she knew I'd never be able to afford doing something that nice for you so she gave you the tickets and me the backstage passes." Finch rubbed his temples before continuing, "I just wanted you to think that I was a nice guy who doted on his friends. I know that everyone at Blush thinks that I'm a royal screw up. Hell, they're probably right. Sorry if I ruined your evening Maya." Dennis shoved his hands in his pockets and sullenly walked over to a bench to sit down. *You sure did it this time, genius. Now she'll never want to speak to me again. I should have told her the truth to begin with, but nooo, we had to try and impress her instead.* Finch just rested his head in his hands and stared somberly at the ground.
Barry shook his head and sighed. Turning to Maya, he asked, "Aren't you going to go over there and talk to him?" When he received no response, he said, "Maya, this isn't worth throwing a good friendship away over. So he didn't tell you that your mother gave him the backstage passes. Is it really that big of a deal? You're acting like he revealed one of your deep dark secrets that you entrusted to him or something, but it's really nothing like that." Laying his hand on Maya's shoulder, he said, "I've known your mother for years. I think she just wanted to boost his self-esteem. He seems to think rather lowly of himself…and frankly, your not helping matters any. He's over there moping because he thinks he lost one of his best friends tonight over something pretty stupid. He's has to be thinking that if his friendships can be ended over such trivial matters that he must really not mean that much to people."
Glancing at Barry, Maya said, "I don't hate him…I could never hate him. He's still my friend, but yes, I am angry. He lied to me. I just can't accept it when people lie to me."
Raising his eyebrows, Barry asked, "Did he tell you that he bought the backstage passes or did you just assume that he did?"
"I guess…I just assumed, but I did say how the passes would have wiped out most of his savings and that he shouldn't have bought them. He didn't say anything to contradict that. He led me to believe he bought them."
"Or you led yourself to believe that. If he didn't say anything, then you can't make an assumption one way or the other. Maybe he just didn't want you to know where the passes came from so he was keeping quite." Barry's eyes drifted to Finch's form which was still slumped dejectedly on the bench. Looking back at Maya, Barry said, "I have one final question. Did you tell Finch that your mother gave you the front row passes, or did you not really say anything and just allow him believe that you had bought them?" Maya's widened eyes and her mouth dropped open slightly as she considered Barry's question. Barry looked at Maya's expression and thought to himself, *Gotcha.*
Maya nervously bit her bottom lip as she glanced at Dennis. Turning her gaze back to Barry, she said, "I guess I should go talk to him, huh?"
Barry smiled at her and said, "Good luck, Maya. Make sure that you two come and say goodbye before you leave. See you later." With that Barry turned and walked away to greet some of his other guests.
Taking a deep breath, Maya walked over and sat down next to Finch. Using her elbow, she lightly jabbed Finch in the ribs as she said, "Hey Finch." He raised his eyes to hers. His eyes were filled with a turmoil that she knew she had created. Sighing loudly, Maya said, "I'm sorry Dennis."
Finch looked at her like she was nuts. "Why the hell are you sorry. I'm the one that lied." *Why is she apologizing for something I did?*
Shaking her head vehemently, Maya said, "No, you didn't lie Finch. You never said you bought the passes. I just assumed that you did." Finch looked like he was about to retort, but Maya placed her fingers over his lips to keep him quiet. "Yes, maybe you did nothing to contradict my assumptions, but you never lied about it. And actually, I did the same thing. I didn't tell you that my mother bought the concert tickets. I figured you probably thought I bought them, but I didn't say anything to the contrary." Maya looked down as she thought, *There I said it. I did it. I apologized. That wasn't as hard as I thought it would be.*
"But Maya, there is a difference. I knew that your mother gave you the tickets. She told me, but you didn't know that your mother gave me the backstage passes. So I'm just a big fraud."
"Finch, I didn't know that you were aware that my mother gave me the tickets. I just sort of assumed that you would think I bought them and I didn't give it much thought. I didn't think it was very important so I don't know why I blew this situation out of proportion." Maya softly snorted as she thought, *Oh, yes, you do…because you're a control freak. Maya Gallo always has to be in control. Take no prisoners.* Maya sighed and said, "By the way, Dennis, you're not a fraud…well, maybe a bit. You certainly know how to manipulate a situation into your favor. I've seen the genius of Dennis Finch at work many times. But in this, you aren't a fraud."
Finch gave her a tentative smile and whispered, "Thanks. That means a lot." Tears started to form in his eyes so he averted his eyes. *I thought I had completely ruined the best friendship I have, and here she comes apologizing to me instead. What did I ever do to deserve a friend like her?*
Maya tousled his hair and said, "Besides, this is a really stupid argument to lose my best friend over. It's just not worth it." Maya hooked her arm through Finch's arm and snuggled up next to him resting her head on his shoulder. A large, goofy smile broke out on Finch's face as he rested his cheek against the top of Maya's head.
Barry Manilow looked across the backstage area and saw Finch and Maya sitting on the bench resting against each other with small, content smiles on their faces. Nodding in approval at what he saw, he turned and continued talking to his other guests.