Hey you guys~
Here's chap 11/20. Thanks all of you who read and reviewed, and especially
Bac210 and J who've reviewed almost every chapter.
Ren117
*********
He was energized. Everything was spontaneous with Lauren. Nothing was logical.
This is what college is supposed to be about. Every night and all night since he broke up with Tawny two months ago he'd been partying, drinking more alcohol than he ever had in his life. He only went to class when he felt like it, and all the ties to his past had vanished; Sacramento, Tawny, Ren, his parents, and Twitty, which he hadn't talked to since that one night in the pizza parlor.
He swallowed another mouthful of beer, making the thoughts go away.
*
The phone rang. Louis's head was spinning. He stumbled over to the phone, his sense of balance missing.
"...Hello."
"Oh, hi dear, how are you? It's mom."
He searched his brain. "...oh yeah. Hey mom."
"What's wrong honey, you sound kind of tired."
"...Oh, I was up late studying again." He concentrated so his words wouldn't slur.
"That's my boy! I'm so happy that you're finally serious about school. Your father and I are so proud."
"Yeah...thanks mom."
"Oh honey, can you come down for Christmas as soon as your break comes up? Your father and I haven't seen you in ages."
"Oh, I don't know Mom. I'm really busy lately." He could almost see the disappointment on her face.
"Ren is coming down on the 21st after she does her finals, and Donnie is coming Christmas Eve." She added hopefully. Pause. Nothing.
"Please, Louis. I want us to have a family Christmas again. You missed Thanksgiving. It wasn't the same without my little boy there." She held the sob in.
Louis groaned. Guilt trip. How can he feel so free, but yet still be a prisoner of his own conscience? This is not what he needed now.
"Ok mom, I'll come."
"That's great Louis! When shall we expect you?" she wanted to jump up and down.
"Um...I dunno. I'll be there." He heard the door open and shut. Lauren's here, hopefully wearing something sexy.
"Listen Mom, I gotta go. I'll see you at Christmas."
Click. Dial Tone.
"I love you son." Eileen solemnly hung up the phone.
******************
Jason came up behind Tawny and slid his arms around her waist. Since they had to act like a couple so much for the play, they had naturally just gotten closer. Or at least he was. It was obvious he liked her. He was really nice, but she couldn't feel close to him, at least romantically. She didn't want to discourage him either. Maybe it's for the best. It's time to move on. She smiled slyly, but couldn't help but be tense.
"Whatcha doing, Jeremy?" She used his stage character's name.
"Practicin'." He turned her head and kissed her on the cheek.
"Ok, everybody. Tonight's the big night. This is your time to shine. Is everybody ready?" he paused a bit and waited for a response. "Ok great." He looked at Tawny. "Miss Dean, are you ready?" She nodded. "Great then. Everybody into their costumes!"
*******
"Remind me again why we're going to this stupid play." Louis was dragging his feet. She said she had someplace special to go tonight. This was not his idea of special.
She put her hands on his face, and moved his head childishly. "Oh come on honey. An old friend of mine is directing the play and I promised him I would go. He used to have a thing for me and who's a better body guard then my little honeybun?" Louis groaned in defeat. If she weren't beautiful, he would dump her.
They sat down and the lights dimmed. A short bald man walked out onto the stage. "Welcome to the most exciting part of your day. This play will enchant you..."
Louis toned him out and began looking through the program. Lauren elbowed him. "Louis, that's the guy. Travis Nickils. I used to be in the drama field before I took up painting. I thought he was gay, but actually he was hitting on me all throughout the semester."
Louis gave him a second look. Old, short, strangely skinny, eccentric, and horny. What a creep. It sickened him to think of that thing with Lauren.
He looked down at his program again. A name caught his eye.
"...and our leading lady, Tawny Dean as Maryanne." He paused dramatically. "Enjoy the show."
Applause rang through the auditorium.
"Hey Bruno, did you hear that? Tawny's in the play!" Louis shifted in his seat uncomfortably.
*
Lauren was thoroughly enjoying the painful epic romance. She elbowed Louis and whispered something in his ear about the play. He wasn't really paying attention to her.
He couldn't tear his eyes from the stage.
It was the last scene. Memories flooded back of a pretty young girl onstage and a funny jealous boy rushing onstage in his friend's pants to keep her from kissing "John Adams".
Tawny was sitting in a buggy, about to go back to her mother's house for good. Jeremy came running onstage right as the buggy was starting to pull away.
"Maryanne! Wait!" The carriage halted and Maryanne poked her head out.
"Jeremy? What are you doing here?"
"Maryanne, please don't go. I know I've been a fool. Stay with me here and be my wife."
She smiled slightly through her tears.
"Please don't go back." He paused.
She got out of the cart, 'mud' splashing on her feet. He slowly walked to her.
"I love you Maryanne, I've always have. I was blind not to see it."
Tawny paused, then smiled. "I love you too."
They kissed and the curtain fell, this time no one stopping them.
Applause rang once again, followed by a standing ovation.
The cast filed back onstage, hand in hand.
Lauren punched him in the arm to get up.
Louis remained seated, watching Tawny and Jason smile and bow arm in arm.
**
The crew filed back offstage and people started to get up and leave. The bald old man came running down from the stage. Lauren saw him and waved. He waved back and headed towards them.
"Well hello Lauren! Thanks for coming! I didn't expect you to come!" Lauren blushed slightly. "I've missed you so much! Now why did you have to go change majors on me?" He put his arm around her and stroked her arm. Louis tensed.
Lauren laughed. "Oh yeah, did I introduce you two?" she pointed from Travis to Louis, who was much taller than the older man.
"Travis, this is my boyfriend, Bruno." She beamed.
"Louis Stevens." The two shook hands. Louis gripped his hand firmly, feeling the bones in his hand smash together.
"Nice to meet you Louis." Travis smirked back.
"Well shall we go?" He reached for Lauren's hand. Louis's eyes bulged. "Wait a sec. Lauren, may I have a word with you?" He grabbed her arm and pulled her to the side.
"What's going on? He was all over you!" His face flushed.
"Oh Bruno, come on, he's just an old friend." She scrunched her face. "Very old."
"An old friend doesn't just come up to you and stroke your arm!" He clawed the air, imitating him. "AND WHERE ARE YOU GOING WITH HIM?"
"Oh please." She rolled her eyes. "We were just going to get a drink to reacquaint."
"YOU NEVER TOLD ME ABOUT GETTING A DRINK WITH HIM!"
"I said you were going to be my bodyguard. You're coming too." She looked at him nonchalantly.
"No, I don't think so!" He shook his finger in her face.
"Fine. I'll go alone then." With that, Lauren turned and walked over to Travis, who was waiting at the door. He smirked back at Louis, and shut the door behind Lauren.
Louis exploded and kicked his chair, screaming as he did it, both from anger and pain from his foot.
People stared at him as they passed.
Louis took a breath and sat back down, holding his head in his hands.
*
Tawny got off the stage beaming. She grabbed Jason by the arm and jumped up and down.
"Oh Jason, that was so great! I mean wow! Everybody loved it." Her cheeks flushed with excitement.
"Yeah, you did amazing." He tried to carry her enthusiasm. "Come on. Do you want to go somewhere, like get a drink or something?"
Tawny stopped jumping, but kept smiling. "Yeah, I could go for a drink."
He looped her arm in his and they walked back to the dressing room to change.
***
Louis looked up, hearing a familiar laugh. It was Tawny.
She was leaving. A guy was with her. The same guy she stared with in the play. Somehow he seemed really familiar.
********************************************
Thanks! R&R!
Ren117
Ren117
*********
He was energized. Everything was spontaneous with Lauren. Nothing was logical.
This is what college is supposed to be about. Every night and all night since he broke up with Tawny two months ago he'd been partying, drinking more alcohol than he ever had in his life. He only went to class when he felt like it, and all the ties to his past had vanished; Sacramento, Tawny, Ren, his parents, and Twitty, which he hadn't talked to since that one night in the pizza parlor.
He swallowed another mouthful of beer, making the thoughts go away.
*
The phone rang. Louis's head was spinning. He stumbled over to the phone, his sense of balance missing.
"...Hello."
"Oh, hi dear, how are you? It's mom."
He searched his brain. "...oh yeah. Hey mom."
"What's wrong honey, you sound kind of tired."
"...Oh, I was up late studying again." He concentrated so his words wouldn't slur.
"That's my boy! I'm so happy that you're finally serious about school. Your father and I are so proud."
"Yeah...thanks mom."
"Oh honey, can you come down for Christmas as soon as your break comes up? Your father and I haven't seen you in ages."
"Oh, I don't know Mom. I'm really busy lately." He could almost see the disappointment on her face.
"Ren is coming down on the 21st after she does her finals, and Donnie is coming Christmas Eve." She added hopefully. Pause. Nothing.
"Please, Louis. I want us to have a family Christmas again. You missed Thanksgiving. It wasn't the same without my little boy there." She held the sob in.
Louis groaned. Guilt trip. How can he feel so free, but yet still be a prisoner of his own conscience? This is not what he needed now.
"Ok mom, I'll come."
"That's great Louis! When shall we expect you?" she wanted to jump up and down.
"Um...I dunno. I'll be there." He heard the door open and shut. Lauren's here, hopefully wearing something sexy.
"Listen Mom, I gotta go. I'll see you at Christmas."
Click. Dial Tone.
"I love you son." Eileen solemnly hung up the phone.
******************
Jason came up behind Tawny and slid his arms around her waist. Since they had to act like a couple so much for the play, they had naturally just gotten closer. Or at least he was. It was obvious he liked her. He was really nice, but she couldn't feel close to him, at least romantically. She didn't want to discourage him either. Maybe it's for the best. It's time to move on. She smiled slyly, but couldn't help but be tense.
"Whatcha doing, Jeremy?" She used his stage character's name.
"Practicin'." He turned her head and kissed her on the cheek.
"Ok, everybody. Tonight's the big night. This is your time to shine. Is everybody ready?" he paused a bit and waited for a response. "Ok great." He looked at Tawny. "Miss Dean, are you ready?" She nodded. "Great then. Everybody into their costumes!"
*******
"Remind me again why we're going to this stupid play." Louis was dragging his feet. She said she had someplace special to go tonight. This was not his idea of special.
She put her hands on his face, and moved his head childishly. "Oh come on honey. An old friend of mine is directing the play and I promised him I would go. He used to have a thing for me and who's a better body guard then my little honeybun?" Louis groaned in defeat. If she weren't beautiful, he would dump her.
They sat down and the lights dimmed. A short bald man walked out onto the stage. "Welcome to the most exciting part of your day. This play will enchant you..."
Louis toned him out and began looking through the program. Lauren elbowed him. "Louis, that's the guy. Travis Nickils. I used to be in the drama field before I took up painting. I thought he was gay, but actually he was hitting on me all throughout the semester."
Louis gave him a second look. Old, short, strangely skinny, eccentric, and horny. What a creep. It sickened him to think of that thing with Lauren.
He looked down at his program again. A name caught his eye.
"...and our leading lady, Tawny Dean as Maryanne." He paused dramatically. "Enjoy the show."
Applause rang through the auditorium.
"Hey Bruno, did you hear that? Tawny's in the play!" Louis shifted in his seat uncomfortably.
*
Lauren was thoroughly enjoying the painful epic romance. She elbowed Louis and whispered something in his ear about the play. He wasn't really paying attention to her.
He couldn't tear his eyes from the stage.
It was the last scene. Memories flooded back of a pretty young girl onstage and a funny jealous boy rushing onstage in his friend's pants to keep her from kissing "John Adams".
Tawny was sitting in a buggy, about to go back to her mother's house for good. Jeremy came running onstage right as the buggy was starting to pull away.
"Maryanne! Wait!" The carriage halted and Maryanne poked her head out.
"Jeremy? What are you doing here?"
"Maryanne, please don't go. I know I've been a fool. Stay with me here and be my wife."
She smiled slightly through her tears.
"Please don't go back." He paused.
She got out of the cart, 'mud' splashing on her feet. He slowly walked to her.
"I love you Maryanne, I've always have. I was blind not to see it."
Tawny paused, then smiled. "I love you too."
They kissed and the curtain fell, this time no one stopping them.
Applause rang once again, followed by a standing ovation.
The cast filed back onstage, hand in hand.
Lauren punched him in the arm to get up.
Louis remained seated, watching Tawny and Jason smile and bow arm in arm.
**
The crew filed back offstage and people started to get up and leave. The bald old man came running down from the stage. Lauren saw him and waved. He waved back and headed towards them.
"Well hello Lauren! Thanks for coming! I didn't expect you to come!" Lauren blushed slightly. "I've missed you so much! Now why did you have to go change majors on me?" He put his arm around her and stroked her arm. Louis tensed.
Lauren laughed. "Oh yeah, did I introduce you two?" she pointed from Travis to Louis, who was much taller than the older man.
"Travis, this is my boyfriend, Bruno." She beamed.
"Louis Stevens." The two shook hands. Louis gripped his hand firmly, feeling the bones in his hand smash together.
"Nice to meet you Louis." Travis smirked back.
"Well shall we go?" He reached for Lauren's hand. Louis's eyes bulged. "Wait a sec. Lauren, may I have a word with you?" He grabbed her arm and pulled her to the side.
"What's going on? He was all over you!" His face flushed.
"Oh Bruno, come on, he's just an old friend." She scrunched her face. "Very old."
"An old friend doesn't just come up to you and stroke your arm!" He clawed the air, imitating him. "AND WHERE ARE YOU GOING WITH HIM?"
"Oh please." She rolled her eyes. "We were just going to get a drink to reacquaint."
"YOU NEVER TOLD ME ABOUT GETTING A DRINK WITH HIM!"
"I said you were going to be my bodyguard. You're coming too." She looked at him nonchalantly.
"No, I don't think so!" He shook his finger in her face.
"Fine. I'll go alone then." With that, Lauren turned and walked over to Travis, who was waiting at the door. He smirked back at Louis, and shut the door behind Lauren.
Louis exploded and kicked his chair, screaming as he did it, both from anger and pain from his foot.
People stared at him as they passed.
Louis took a breath and sat back down, holding his head in his hands.
*
Tawny got off the stage beaming. She grabbed Jason by the arm and jumped up and down.
"Oh Jason, that was so great! I mean wow! Everybody loved it." Her cheeks flushed with excitement.
"Yeah, you did amazing." He tried to carry her enthusiasm. "Come on. Do you want to go somewhere, like get a drink or something?"
Tawny stopped jumping, but kept smiling. "Yeah, I could go for a drink."
He looped her arm in his and they walked back to the dressing room to change.
***
Louis looked up, hearing a familiar laugh. It was Tawny.
She was leaving. A guy was with her. The same guy she stared with in the play. Somehow he seemed really familiar.
********************************************
Thanks! R&R!
Ren117