Wow, I'm nervous! Hope you like this chapter. I was gonna jump straight to
my next idea but I felt more info was needed on Roxie's background. It
turned out to be much longer than I thought. Maybe I should write a novel
instead of torturing all of you with this fanfiction! Lol. Anyway, keep
reviewing! I need you guys!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As Reeny and Roxie approached the Athenaeum Theatre, where the competition was being held, Reeny became more and more nervous. With each step that she took, the butterflies in her stomach multiplied. Oh my God, she thought. The whole city is gonna be there! She could feel tiny droplets of perspiration slide from her forehead to her nose and temples. Sure, it was easy to perform in front of her mother and a few close friends, and she could handle her recitals at dancing school...But practically the whole city! She began to feel faint.
When Roxie looked over at her, she easily spotted her daughter's multiple signs of pre-performance paranoia. She knew what Reeny was going through. On opening night at the Chicago Theatre when she performed with Velma, she had suffered two blackouts and a fainting spell in addition to a minor concussion caused by the fall. She remembered the look on Velma's face when she had come to. Instead of being concerned or worried about her welfare, Velma had been ready to kill the dumb blonde for almost ruining her act. Lucky for me I was able to perform, or I could have been Velma Kelly's next victim. She laughed out loud.
Gee, I wonder how the old girl is, thought Roxie. Wonder how her kid is too. Boy, wouldn't she be surprised to know what happened to me right after she left.
It had been quite a pitiful state of affairs of how the killer dillers' infamous act had come to an untimely end, complete with more drama than a Shakespearean tragedy. If Velma hadn't of gone and gotten herself knocked up by her latest flavor of the week--Roxie paused in her train of thought. Well, she couldn't put all the blame on Velma. She knew that when Velma left she could have carried the torch on her own but...DAMN Billy and his animal magnetism! Again she had followed in Velma's footsteps! At this point she had begun to believe that maybe Velma was not the most positive of role models.
But looking at matters logically, it was a very unfortunate situation. Things were just getting good for the both of them. Neither could believe how the cash was flying in, even from the first night. They were literally living the dream!
The day Velma came to break the news to her, the clouds were angrily black and it was raining cats and dogs, but Velma's demeanor was gloomier. When she spoke of her "problem" Roxie noticed a different type of sorrow in Velma's eyes, which was very unfamiliar to her. Had Velma fallen victim to loving some one again? Better yet, some one who had decided on destroying whatever faith in romance that remained in the hoofer? Maybe Velma's heart wasn't a black hole after all.
When Velma told her she was planning on returning to her hometown of Boston, Roxie was immediately crestfallen. Although they were total opposites in almost every way and they had never really gotten along in the past, and that was just to say the least, over time they had begun to get used to the other's presence. Going together like peanut butter and jelly or bacon and eggs, they reveled in how they seemed to bring out the worst and the best in each other. And right there and then, Roxie felt like they could have weathered the storm together. But who was she to tell Velma what to do. Unwillingly forced into love yet again, Roxie figured, she shouldn't have to stay here and be exposed to the creep whoever he was. Velma's been through enough, and Chicago really doesn't need to see another murder at this point. There's more than enough entertainment to suffice for a while. So Roxie threw her hands up and said goodbye.
What in time, had ended any chance for Roxie to return to the spotlight, was her own string of catastrophic occurrences. Once Velma had withdrawn to Boston, Roxie noticed she had a lot more time on her hands, mostly because without Velma she no longer had a job. Without true friends, a husband, or a boyfriend, Roxie had nowhere to go, nothing to do, and no one to spend time with, and soon grew despondent.
That's when about 3 months after her friends departure, her former lawyer Billy began calling on her. At first she humored him. She would go out with him, thinking she had nothing better to do and that he felt sorry for her. But things changed. His lawyer nature no longer took affect around her. They sincerely enjoyed spending time together, even just doing nothing. Reading, eating, dancing, talking, touching...screwing. It all meant something for once. For the first time in her life, the wall around her heart dropped, and the way ivy takes over the side of a house, Billy began to take over her soul.
As their bodies lay entangled on her bed that first night, she looked over dreamily at him and said, "You know, I've never been in love before, and it scares me. I've been through too much to loose something else. Promise me you'll never leave me." He wrapped his strong arms around Roxie. "It scares me too. But when you're holding something in your arms, something that in this infinite universe, you feel as though God created especially for you; which drives you to breathe, to live, to WANT to live, you're just not as afraid anymore. No, my cherub, I will never leave you." Could this be the same calculating, hard-hearted lawyer that had served the guiltiest of prisoners their freedom on a silver platter? She thought. She laughed through her tears. "You know you have a way with words?" "So I've been told." Replied Billy with an affectionate smile. But this wasn't one of his famous court room acts, thought Roxie. This time it was for real. While still in his arms she turned to look at him. What a bull's eye, huh? She said to herself with a grin before lulling off to sleep.
Then it happened. Like all the happiness she had ever possessed in her past, it was snatched away. After a week of persistent calling at his home and the office, Roxie became disoriented. Where could he be? What's going on? She thought. Then all of a sudden she heard the familiar sound of his Buick Packard pulling up to the apartment building. When she opened the door for him, he went no further than the hall even as Roxie gestured for him to follow her to the sofa.
She looked him over. He was carrying a brief case in one hand and a large suitcase in the other. "I can't. I'm on my way to the train station. I'm leaving for California in about an hour. I had to come to talk to you first." "WHAT?!" Roxie couldn't believe what she was hearing. She was shattered. "We're all complicated people, Rox." Said Billy. "You know I care for you more than anything. These past five months have been amazing." "Well then tell me, Billy. What's the problem?" Roxie asked biting her lip to keep from crying. Her legs felt like jelly.
"Its just that I'm experiencing a lot of different emotions right now, Roxie. Something I'm not used to. I have to take some time to sort out my feelings." She seized his overcoat as liquid sorrow gushed from her eyes. "What about your promise to me?! What was that? How could you do this to me?!" "I'm sorry, honey, honestly...You have no idea how hard this is for me." Suddenly a burning in her heart took over her mind and actions. "Hard for you?! This is so hard for you! Of course it is. Because God knows you've been through what I have in my life!" She pounded her fists against his chest. "YOU LYING BASTERD!" she cried. Billy grabbed her wrists and slowly she succumbed.
"Listen to me," he spoke unsympathetically. "You don't know everything I've gone through, Roxie. You're not the only one who's suffered in this lifetime. And to call a spade a spade, you're no angel, honey. I think we're forgetting who committed a cold-blooded murder here. Roxie sunk lifeless to the floor.
"Roxie listen," he bent down. "I love you, with every bead in my heart, I LOVE YOU...but I have to go. I can't tell you everything right now. But I promise I'll be back for you. " She nodded. "Oh and here." He handed her a small paper bag. "Think nothing of it, love, it was my pleasure." And with that he left her alone, in her cold, dingy, one-room apartment.
She sat there on the floor in a state of sullen amazement, still nodding to his long departed professions and promises. He promised, she said over and over again in her mind. Promises mean nothing. Billy proved that to me. That's the last time I fall for any man. Still... True, untainted love cannot be kicked to the curb that easy. In her heart of hearts she knew she still loved him.
The next day she woke up in a hot flash. She had barely made it to the bathroom in time before she had begun to vomit profusely. "Oh no," she said to herself. At the time she had thought nothing of it, but now the notion was grossly real. "I'm late." Through her weakness and nausea she called the doctor and made an appointment for later that day. This appointment would determine the future of the rest of her life. She put the kettle on and attempted to calm herself with a cup of green tea, of course to no avail. As she sipped her tea, more thoughts than she fathomed possible spun through her head.
When she returned from the doctor's that evening, her mind had relinquished back into its familiar state of drifting in and out of reality. She couldn't believe the truth, she didn't want to. If she could have only found out one day earlier. But now it was too late. She was completely alone and Billy was already half way to California. "Heaven, nowadays," she chuckled facetiously. "What a joke."
Then she remembered the small paper bag he had handed her before he left. When she reached into the bag she pulled out a note. It read: Here you go, doll. All $5,000. I don't need it...because when I think of you, I feel like a millionaire. She looked inside the bag. She gasped. There it was, all 5000 dollars cash!
She thought about it for a while reading the note over and over. "I rather have you." She whispered solemnly into the darkness.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As Reeny and Roxie approached the Athenaeum Theatre, where the competition was being held, Reeny became more and more nervous. With each step that she took, the butterflies in her stomach multiplied. Oh my God, she thought. The whole city is gonna be there! She could feel tiny droplets of perspiration slide from her forehead to her nose and temples. Sure, it was easy to perform in front of her mother and a few close friends, and she could handle her recitals at dancing school...But practically the whole city! She began to feel faint.
When Roxie looked over at her, she easily spotted her daughter's multiple signs of pre-performance paranoia. She knew what Reeny was going through. On opening night at the Chicago Theatre when she performed with Velma, she had suffered two blackouts and a fainting spell in addition to a minor concussion caused by the fall. She remembered the look on Velma's face when she had come to. Instead of being concerned or worried about her welfare, Velma had been ready to kill the dumb blonde for almost ruining her act. Lucky for me I was able to perform, or I could have been Velma Kelly's next victim. She laughed out loud.
Gee, I wonder how the old girl is, thought Roxie. Wonder how her kid is too. Boy, wouldn't she be surprised to know what happened to me right after she left.
It had been quite a pitiful state of affairs of how the killer dillers' infamous act had come to an untimely end, complete with more drama than a Shakespearean tragedy. If Velma hadn't of gone and gotten herself knocked up by her latest flavor of the week--Roxie paused in her train of thought. Well, she couldn't put all the blame on Velma. She knew that when Velma left she could have carried the torch on her own but...DAMN Billy and his animal magnetism! Again she had followed in Velma's footsteps! At this point she had begun to believe that maybe Velma was not the most positive of role models.
But looking at matters logically, it was a very unfortunate situation. Things were just getting good for the both of them. Neither could believe how the cash was flying in, even from the first night. They were literally living the dream!
The day Velma came to break the news to her, the clouds were angrily black and it was raining cats and dogs, but Velma's demeanor was gloomier. When she spoke of her "problem" Roxie noticed a different type of sorrow in Velma's eyes, which was very unfamiliar to her. Had Velma fallen victim to loving some one again? Better yet, some one who had decided on destroying whatever faith in romance that remained in the hoofer? Maybe Velma's heart wasn't a black hole after all.
When Velma told her she was planning on returning to her hometown of Boston, Roxie was immediately crestfallen. Although they were total opposites in almost every way and they had never really gotten along in the past, and that was just to say the least, over time they had begun to get used to the other's presence. Going together like peanut butter and jelly or bacon and eggs, they reveled in how they seemed to bring out the worst and the best in each other. And right there and then, Roxie felt like they could have weathered the storm together. But who was she to tell Velma what to do. Unwillingly forced into love yet again, Roxie figured, she shouldn't have to stay here and be exposed to the creep whoever he was. Velma's been through enough, and Chicago really doesn't need to see another murder at this point. There's more than enough entertainment to suffice for a while. So Roxie threw her hands up and said goodbye.
What in time, had ended any chance for Roxie to return to the spotlight, was her own string of catastrophic occurrences. Once Velma had withdrawn to Boston, Roxie noticed she had a lot more time on her hands, mostly because without Velma she no longer had a job. Without true friends, a husband, or a boyfriend, Roxie had nowhere to go, nothing to do, and no one to spend time with, and soon grew despondent.
That's when about 3 months after her friends departure, her former lawyer Billy began calling on her. At first she humored him. She would go out with him, thinking she had nothing better to do and that he felt sorry for her. But things changed. His lawyer nature no longer took affect around her. They sincerely enjoyed spending time together, even just doing nothing. Reading, eating, dancing, talking, touching...screwing. It all meant something for once. For the first time in her life, the wall around her heart dropped, and the way ivy takes over the side of a house, Billy began to take over her soul.
As their bodies lay entangled on her bed that first night, she looked over dreamily at him and said, "You know, I've never been in love before, and it scares me. I've been through too much to loose something else. Promise me you'll never leave me." He wrapped his strong arms around Roxie. "It scares me too. But when you're holding something in your arms, something that in this infinite universe, you feel as though God created especially for you; which drives you to breathe, to live, to WANT to live, you're just not as afraid anymore. No, my cherub, I will never leave you." Could this be the same calculating, hard-hearted lawyer that had served the guiltiest of prisoners their freedom on a silver platter? She thought. She laughed through her tears. "You know you have a way with words?" "So I've been told." Replied Billy with an affectionate smile. But this wasn't one of his famous court room acts, thought Roxie. This time it was for real. While still in his arms she turned to look at him. What a bull's eye, huh? She said to herself with a grin before lulling off to sleep.
Then it happened. Like all the happiness she had ever possessed in her past, it was snatched away. After a week of persistent calling at his home and the office, Roxie became disoriented. Where could he be? What's going on? She thought. Then all of a sudden she heard the familiar sound of his Buick Packard pulling up to the apartment building. When she opened the door for him, he went no further than the hall even as Roxie gestured for him to follow her to the sofa.
She looked him over. He was carrying a brief case in one hand and a large suitcase in the other. "I can't. I'm on my way to the train station. I'm leaving for California in about an hour. I had to come to talk to you first." "WHAT?!" Roxie couldn't believe what she was hearing. She was shattered. "We're all complicated people, Rox." Said Billy. "You know I care for you more than anything. These past five months have been amazing." "Well then tell me, Billy. What's the problem?" Roxie asked biting her lip to keep from crying. Her legs felt like jelly.
"Its just that I'm experiencing a lot of different emotions right now, Roxie. Something I'm not used to. I have to take some time to sort out my feelings." She seized his overcoat as liquid sorrow gushed from her eyes. "What about your promise to me?! What was that? How could you do this to me?!" "I'm sorry, honey, honestly...You have no idea how hard this is for me." Suddenly a burning in her heart took over her mind and actions. "Hard for you?! This is so hard for you! Of course it is. Because God knows you've been through what I have in my life!" She pounded her fists against his chest. "YOU LYING BASTERD!" she cried. Billy grabbed her wrists and slowly she succumbed.
"Listen to me," he spoke unsympathetically. "You don't know everything I've gone through, Roxie. You're not the only one who's suffered in this lifetime. And to call a spade a spade, you're no angel, honey. I think we're forgetting who committed a cold-blooded murder here. Roxie sunk lifeless to the floor.
"Roxie listen," he bent down. "I love you, with every bead in my heart, I LOVE YOU...but I have to go. I can't tell you everything right now. But I promise I'll be back for you. " She nodded. "Oh and here." He handed her a small paper bag. "Think nothing of it, love, it was my pleasure." And with that he left her alone, in her cold, dingy, one-room apartment.
She sat there on the floor in a state of sullen amazement, still nodding to his long departed professions and promises. He promised, she said over and over again in her mind. Promises mean nothing. Billy proved that to me. That's the last time I fall for any man. Still... True, untainted love cannot be kicked to the curb that easy. In her heart of hearts she knew she still loved him.
The next day she woke up in a hot flash. She had barely made it to the bathroom in time before she had begun to vomit profusely. "Oh no," she said to herself. At the time she had thought nothing of it, but now the notion was grossly real. "I'm late." Through her weakness and nausea she called the doctor and made an appointment for later that day. This appointment would determine the future of the rest of her life. She put the kettle on and attempted to calm herself with a cup of green tea, of course to no avail. As she sipped her tea, more thoughts than she fathomed possible spun through her head.
When she returned from the doctor's that evening, her mind had relinquished back into its familiar state of drifting in and out of reality. She couldn't believe the truth, she didn't want to. If she could have only found out one day earlier. But now it was too late. She was completely alone and Billy was already half way to California. "Heaven, nowadays," she chuckled facetiously. "What a joke."
Then she remembered the small paper bag he had handed her before he left. When she reached into the bag she pulled out a note. It read: Here you go, doll. All $5,000. I don't need it...because when I think of you, I feel like a millionaire. She looked inside the bag. She gasped. There it was, all 5000 dollars cash!
She thought about it for a while reading the note over and over. "I rather have you." She whispered solemnly into the darkness.