Zach peered out his window and surveyed the foreboding night sky. Though
the steady rain had temporarily lightened to a fierce sprinkle, there was
no doubt that the brunt of the storm had yet to hit. Glancing at his
companion with uncertainty, he suggested, "We can either stay put or try to
make it to shelter before the weather gets even worse."
Nervously biting her lip, Belle carefully weighed the options Zach had presented to her. "And, you're absolutely sure that you can't get the car moving again?"
"Sorry, Belle, but there's nothing I can do to fix the transmission during a rain storm. In fact, it'll cost me at least a cool grand to get it repaired again."
"Again?"
Zach smiled sheepishly. Though the gesture was surely meant to be taken as endearing, even Belle could not deny the innate sexiness of the simple expression. "I've had a few minor problems . . . okay quite a few problems – that weren't so minor."
"Then, why keep this old thing?"
"Belle, this thing is a '66 Ford Mustang. It's a classic."
A smile fell across Belle's face and erased her attempts at exasperation. Even in the dimly lit car, the petite blonde's lovability was easy to see. "You really love this car, don't you?" Smiling almost devilishly, Belle added, "In fact, I think you probably show this thing more affection than the girls you're always surrounding yourself with."
"What can I say? No matter how many problems I may have with this car, it's still more loyal and reassuring than any woman." Zach said the comment with a laugh that just didn't meet his blue eyes. For a fleeting moment, Belle felt a twinge of recollection, a sense of familiarity, but the feeling was gone as quickly as it had arrived.
Again, Belle found herself anxiously pulling her bottom lip between her teeth. Her gentle face was dominated by a contemplative look as she glanced out the car window. "We're not too far from the Brady Pub. If we cut through the park, we might be able to make it back there before the rain picks up."
Looking out his own window, Zach had his doubts. However, he would be the last person to turn away from a possible adventure. Besides, he was afraid if he and Belle were trapped in the car much longer, she might begin chattering about her recent troubles with Shawn Brady. And, Zach would rather face death by lightning than listen to Belle recount heart-warming stories of her beloved beau. Barring some type of life-altering event, Zach guessed the couple would be back in each other's arms before school began on Monday.
Zach pushed aside what he considered to be thoughts more dreary than the weather. Wrapping his finger around the door handle, Zach commanded, "Let's make a run for it."
As Zach and Belle ran along the muddy path through the park, it was as if the sky above unleashed its damp fury upon them. A loud rumble of thunder clambered through the heavens as the rain began to fall with a newfound intensity.
Nearing a picturesque gazebo, Zach slowed to a jog and took hold of Belle's hand. Over the sound of the falling rain, he loudly suggested, "Let's duck in there until the rain stops!" Without waiting for a sign of compliance, Zach began to quickly pull Belle toward the shelter. As much as he usually adored unpredictable escapades, Zach had great difficulty seeing the appealing side of pneumonia.
While the torrent of rain continued its brutal attack on all in its path, Zach and Belle finally found a small measure of safety in the gazebo. The duo gladly welcomed even the limited amount of shelter and dryness.
There was something innately arresting about the falling rain and its distinct ability to wash things away, thought Zach. He would have sold his own soul for merely the chance to start over and do things right. Of course, such regrets were best kept hidden from the judgmental eyes of the outside world.
Zach's personal reflections were interrupted by the hushed mutters of his companion. Turning away from the dark night, Zach found himself looking toward Belle's beautiful, though scowling, face. "Problems, princess?"
Belle gave her wet coat pockets one last pat before lifting her head to meet Zach's curious gaze. "I was going to call my dad to come get us, but my cell phone's gone. It must have fallen out of my pocket when we were running."
Though Zach was sincerely listening to Belle, he found himself distracted by her vain attempts to keep warm. As the blonde changed the subject to her parents' probable worry, Zach's eyes were transfixed on her petite hands rubbing together in an attempt to generate even mild warmth.
Interrupting Belle mid-sentence, Zach coyly stated, "You know, I hear close, bodily contact is a great way to keep warm."
Belle's mouth fell open as Zach charmed her with his most dazzling smile. With a bemused shake of her head, she declared, "I really should hit you for a comment like that." Truth be known, had any of her other male friends made the remark, she would have resorted to violence. "Just because I had a fight with my boyfriend, it doesn't mean I'm going to just melt into another guy's arms."
"No one said you would," Zach replied, any hints of amusement gone from his face.
As the fury of the storm increased, so did the awkwardness of the silence that fell between the two teenagers.
Zach turned his back to Belle, releasing a unmistakably displeased sigh. He had known sooner or later Belle would bring Shawn into the conversation. He had been surprised when they had finished eating at the pub without Shawn's name being uttered. Even in the car, Belle had restrained from speaking of her saintly boyfriend. Yet, Zach had surely known that his good fortune would come to an end. And, it had.
Breaking the silence to voice his thoughts, Zach casually asked, "What's so great about Shawn Brady, anyway?"
Belle remained silent for a moment, unsure if Zach was truly seeking an answer.
Keeping his back to Belle, Zach contemptuously prompted, "Well?"
A pensive expression fell across Belle's face as she carefully observed Zach. With his feet firmly planted about a foot apart and his arms crossed over his chest, he was clearly taking a defensive stance.
"I know you and Shawn never really got to be close friends, but you really should give him a chance. Shawn is a great guy - and an amazing friend. If you'd quit trying to be the constant center of attention, you just might see that . . . and a lot of other things."
At Belle's cryptic remark, Zach's eyebrows raised with reluctant curiosity. Turning to face her, he replied, "I'm not the only one."
"What's that suppose to mean?"
Zach gave an arrogant roll of his eyes, his level of assurance increasing as Belle's sank. "You are so consumed with being some perfect little daddy's girl that you're screwing yourself out of seeing the obvious things."
"Zach, what are you talking about?"
As he stared into Belle's eyes with a fierce determination, his usual lighthearted charm all but evaporated. "Answer a question for me. Who is head over heels for Mimi? Who does she really belong with? Who makes her breath catch in her throat? Who consumes her?"
Belle looked at Zach as though she was trying to read his thoughts, feeling her way through the draped trickery in the question. Continuing to rub her hands together, she answered, "Jeremy."
With a scornful laugh, Zach loudly stated, "Wrong! And, if you weren't so wrapped up in your little fairy tale with Shawn, you'd see the truth, too."
"Jeremy does care for Mimi, and I know she likes him, too," Belle defensively responded. She had become so accustomed to Zach's charming demeanor that even a small glimpse at his darker, more blatant side was enough to unnerve her.
"Yeah, and I care about Mimi, too. But that doesn't mean that I should have sex with her or even date her. It's not love." Shaking his head with frustration, Zach began to pace around the gazebo like a caged animal. He combed his fingers through his wet hair and sighed unhappily as his normally styled locks fell flat onto his forehead.
Watching Zach in such an agitated state, Belle realized that his anger and dissatisfaction had been building up for quite some time. "And, what do you know about love, Zach?" The softness of Belle's voice countered what might have otherwise been taken as a challenging question. It was clear that she wasn't trying to further their disagreement. Like Zach, she was looking for answers.
"Not a damn thing."
Belle nodded with silent understanding as Zach merely stared at her. For the first time since she's met him, the young man looked almost helpless. Whatever struggle was taking place within him, it was one that he was not quite ready to share.
Just when the returning silence was becoming almost unbearable, Zach lowly stated, "It's Jason, you know." Seeing the uncertainty apparent on Belle's face, he continued, "Jason is the one that stole Mimi's heart. Jeremy Horton is just someone she thinks she belongs with, so she'll settle."
"I'm not sure I believe that. Mimi is a great girl; she'd have no reason to settle for just any guy. If she's with Jeremy it's because they belong together. Besides, the idea of her and Jason is just ridiculous."
Zach again shook his head, this time with a mixture of annoyance and pure fatigue. "You honestly go around like a little girl with rose tinted glasses. Sure, I guess it would make things a hell of a lot easier if Mimi was in love with Horton. But, that's just not the way it is. In the real world, fairy tales don't exist. Yeah, Mimi will probably stay with Jeremy. Wouldn't surprise me if she gives it up to him - if she hasn't already. And, Jase, he'll probably wind back up with Jan or Cynthia or some other trashy cheerleader . . ." Taking note that he was actually pleading his case to a cheerleader, Zach added, "No offense."
"None taken," Belle muttered, her thoughts racing. Though she was not entirely sure she really wanted an answer, Belle asked, "Is that how you really see me? As some blind little girl?"
Zach immediately diverted his gaze. After all, if he was to actually look at Belle, her face frowning and body shivering from the cold, there would be no way to be objective. Mimicking Belle's earlier action by rubbing his hands together, Zach replied, "Aren't you?"
When Belle remained silent, Zach reluctantly lifted his steely blue eyes to look at her. And, she appeared just as vulnerable and forlorn as he had feared she would. Closing the distance between their bodies, Zach softly tried to make amends. "You're one of the few people I really consider my friend. I don't want to fight with you, Belle."
While nodding, Belle asked, "Do you really think that Mimi belongs with Jason?"
"Yes."
Once again Belle responded with a simple nod. She silently chided herself for not having paid closer attention to her friends. If Zach was correct, that meant Belle had completely ignored a spectrum of signs that Mimi was committing herself to the wrong guy. Even worse, it was obvious that Belle had been so consumed with her whirlwind romance with Shawn that she had ignored Zach's problems.
Seeing the tears well up in Belle's eyes, Zach wrapped his soaked arms around her small body. In the distance, thunder boomed and violent strikes of lightning lit up the dark, stormy sky.
When Belle lifted her downtrodden head to look at Zach, she discovered that his eyes were already upon her. She found herself reluctantly enthralled by the intensity she found in his gaze. And, before she could analyze the rights or wrongs of the moment, Zach sent his lips crashing into hers.
~ * * ~ * * ~ * * ~ * * ~ * * ~
The rain attacked the city in heavy sheets as Jason and Philip made a hurried dash toward the building's entrance. Rushing through the stately glass doors, the young men released matching sighs of thanks.
While Philip gave a courteous nod to the evening security guard, Jason peevishly stated, "I can't believe I let you drag me out into a frickin' rain storm."
Philip struggled to not lose his patience with his irritable friend. However, Jason's petty complaints had been all Philip had heard on the car ride to Titan. Philip placed a strained smile on his face and punched the elevator button. "Well, I'm really glad you didn't let the weather stop you from helping me."
Jason gave an irritable grumble as his response, wordlessly following Philip to the elevator. He had already been in a disgruntled mood as of late due to his unpleasant non-relationship with Mimi Lockhart. Add an overdose of rain and lightning on a Friday night, and Jason became absolutely abominable.
After an agonizingly slow elevator ride up to the lower level Titan offices, Philip sighed once more with relief. Stepping out of the elevator and onto the expensive flooring, Philip quickly peeked down the side hallway. He was relieved to see a light coming from the typically empty storage room.
Suppressing his grin, Philip said, "Come on, Jase. Let's get started."
"And, what exactly are we getting started?" Jason asked, following a few feet behind his friend. "You never did tell me what this oh-so-important project was."
"Oh, you know, the usual."
As the boys neared the light at the end of the corridor, Jason realized that their footsteps were not the only sound to be heard. His brow furrowing with confusion, Jason asked, "Is that humming?"
"I don't hear anything," Philip blatantly lied. His mission was not to convince Jason, only to quiet him.
When the two young men finally reached the open door, Philip motioned for Jason to enter first. Rounding the corner, the handsome youth found himself in the presence of the last girl he wanted to see. "Meems?"
"What are you doing here?" Hurriedly shifting her scrutinizing glare away from Jason and to Philip, Mimi continued, "And, where is Jeremy? You said that he would be here tonight."
Philip flashed Jason and Mimi his adorable dimples before replying, "Um, yeah, about that . . . I lied."
Before Jason or Mimi had the chance to move, Philip swiftly stepped back out of the room, closing and locking the door as he went.
Philip merely laughed as Jason and Mimi began to anxiously bang on the opposite side of the door, vigorously demanding an immediate release.
"Philip, open this door now!" Jason demanded, his fists slamming against the door in a hurried action. The door remained sealed shut, but the sound of Philip's amused laughter still managed to filter through the thick wood. Losing what little patience he had possessed, Jason began an angered, more fierce assault on the door. "That's it! When I get out of here, I'm going to kick your butt! Hear that, K-man?"
By the time Jason finally stopped shouting and pounding on the door, Philip's muffled laughter had ceased and Mimi had taken a seat on a blanket on the floor. Also on that blanket were all the makings of a romantic indoor picnic. From the fine cloth napkins to the cider-filled champagne flutes, every detail paid a special homage to the art of seduction. To complete the setting were a series of candles strung across the room.
Glancing around the room with more disdain than he truly felt, Jason grumbled, "What's all this?"
"Well, I thought it was supposed to be a romantic dinner for me and Jeremy," replied Mimi, mimicking Jason's forced disdain. "Of course, since I've been locked in here with you, the night will be anything but romantic."
Jason remained silent but could not restrain from rolling his deep green eyes. As was usually the case, Mimi was able to stir up a variety of conflicting emotion. Though her faith in Jeremy annoyed Jason, he was unable to actually be annoyed with Mimi herself. Instead, he repeatedly found himself thinking that she was everything from amusing and entertaining to sweet and endearing. Until he had begun to see Mimi in a different light, Jason had never believed he could or would be with such a good girl. Yet, even when he wanted to hate Mimi, Jason still adored her.
He was torn out of his reverie by Mimi stating, "Hmm, this cider is actually really good."
Looking down at his companion, Jason discovered that she had given into the temptation of her thirst. "What are you, doing?"
"Making the most of a bad situation," Mimi answered. Taking another sip of the cider, she added, "It's just too bad that I have to share it with you instead of Jeremy."
"Yeah, well, you're not exactly the person I most want to spend my Friday night with either." Before he could stop himself, Jason vindictively added, "I could be with any hot cheerleader I wanted - why would I ever want to be stuck in here with you?" The moment the words left his mouth, Jason closed his eyes with silent shame. He knew the words he had spoken were little more than a sad attempt to prove his independence and deny his heartache. Mimi, however, was far from seeing that lurking truth.
"You are such a jerk," commented Mimi, using her anger to mask the pain caused by Jason's thoughtless comment.
Jason chose to give no reply. Instead, he back himself up against the door and tried to avoid looking at Mimi. He silently wondered if he would ever learn the art of keeping his mouth shut.
As time began to dwindle away, so did the frustration felt by Jason and Mimi. An air of nonchalance began to slowly develop in the confined space of the 8 x 8 room.
Sipping her second glass of cider, Mimi reclined against the lackluster gray wall. She shifted uncomfortably against the hard cement blocks for several minutes before Jason threw his jacket into her lap.
"Put that behind you as a cushion. Maybe you'll quit squirming."
"Thanks," answered Mimi, doing as Jason had instructed. Blowing a strand of hair away from her face, Mimi questioned, "How long do you think we've been locked in here?"
Quickly glancing at his wristwatch, Jason guessed, "Twenty minutes, maybe?"
Again, Mimi blew a stray strand of hair away from her face. "It feels like hours." Rather sheepishly, she suggested, "I'm starting to get hungry. Maybe we should just go ahead and eat."
Jason alternated his gaze between Mimi and the feast on the blanket. Unable to ignore the rumblings of his own stomach, Jason finally responded, "Yeah, we might as well chow down on the food. After all, it's at the K-man's expense."
Gently sitting down on the blanket, Jason reached into the basket and began to rummage through its contents. Meanwhile, Mimi taste tested the food that was already laid out on the plates.
"Mmm," Mimi half-groaned. "This is so good. I have no idea what it actually is, but you should definitely try it." Without really thinking about her actions, Mimi offered Jason her plate and fork.
Jason wisely chose to not question Mimi's peaceful offering. Wrapping his fingers around the fork, he stabbed a piece of Mimi's food and brought it to his lips. Swallowing the morsel, Jason returned the fork to the plate and placed both back on the blanket. "Mussels. More specifically some type of mussels vinaigrette." Picking up a small bowl from the picnic blanket, Jason casually dipped his hand in and scooped up some of the dessert.
Mimi watched with curiosity as Jason dropped the sweet findings in his mouth.
"Damn, that is good."
Looking at the sauce-covered berries, Mimi asked, "What exactly is that?"
"Blackberries and strawberries topped with zabaglione."
Mimi stared at Jason almost suspiciously. "Zabba what?"
"Zabaglione. It's Italian, Meems. You should try it."
Slipping her forefinger into the bowl, Mimi scooped up some of the custard- like dressing and quickly licked it off her finger. Her immediate smile wordlessly showed her satisfaction. Turning her gaze back to Jason, she demanded, "What? Are you some sort of food connoisseur all of a sudden?"
"Not quite," responded the teen as he began to finally sip his own cider. "I just know what all this is because its from Tuscany. And, before my mom went back to her advertising firm a few years ago, she worked as the manager at Tuscany."
"Are you serious?"
"Yeah. When I was in junior high, I used to go there after school when she was working and the chef would let me taste test all the good stuff. It was pretty cool."
Mimi sat in a state of surprise. After all the years she had known Jason Masters, she continued to find out new and interesting things about him.
Jason purposely directed his attention to the food, not wanting to let Mimi know that he saw her staring at him. Still, even as he acted perfectly unconcerned, Jason could not stop himself from wondering what was going through Mimi's mind as she gazed at him.
Her earlier anger and frustration completely dissipated, Mimi softly requested, "Tell me something else about yourself that would surprise me."
Jason tossed Mimi a skeptical glance as though to ask if she were serious. Seeing that there were no indications of jesting on her face, Jason answered, "Well, you already know about my obsession with barbeque chips and sour cream dip, so I'm not sure what else there is to tell you, Meems."
"Oh, come on, Jase. I don't believe that for a minute. I bet there are a ton of things that you've never told me."
Garnering every ounce of his courage and leaping into the moment fate had handed him, Jason answered, "How about the fact that I think I might have fallen in love with you?"
~ * * ~ * * ~ * * ~ * * ~ * * ~
Philip grinned almost gleefully as walked down the hallway. He had been sitting outside the locked door for nearly an hour and had quickly become immensely bored. Though he had been unable to hear all that was said inside the small room, Philip had been satisfied once the muffled voices dropped to a more conversational tone rather than the yelling that had first erupted after he had locked the door.
Deciding to leave Jason and Mimi alone, Philip had curiously walked down the main office corridor so he could get a clear look out the oversized window in the executive lounge. He had been surprised by the intensity of the storm on the opposite side of the glass. He then concluded that it may not be for the best to leave Jason and Mimi locked up for too much longer. After all, it already looked as if the city streets were becoming flooded by the heavy rains.
On his way downstairs to inform one of the security personnel that his friends had accidentally become trapped in a storage room, Philip approached the elevator with confident strides as he toyed with the clasp on his watch.
Just when he was within twenty feet of the elevator, Philip finally looked up at his destination. That was when he felt his heart jump into his throat.
There in the elevator stood Philip's fabled genie. The dark haired beauty's head was bowed as though in prayer, giving her the appearance of an angel. As though sensing Philip's compelling gaze upon her, the young woman slowly lifted her head. Her deep blue-gray eyes meeting Philip's, her painted lips slowly fashioned themselves into a devilish grin.
In that instant, Philip regained his mobility and darted toward the elevator. As the opening of the doors narrowed from feet to inches, Philip slipped his lean body into the elevator. Putting on his dimpled smile as comfortably as his favorite sweatshirt, Philip charmingly greeted, "Hello."
The girl kept her gaze focused solely on Philip, her eyes glittering with bemusement and adoration. Offering a half-smile, she replied, "Hey."
Time seemingly stopped as the two stood staring at each other, the slow hum of the moving elevator all that broke the silence. And, then, even that sound stopped.
As the overhead light flickered out, Philip cheerily commented, "Guess this means we're going to be stuck in here alone for a while." Extending his right hand through the darkness, Philip politely identified himself, "Philip."
Shaking her companion's hand, the girl replied, "Sinclair."
Fifteen minutes after their initial introductions, Philip and Sinclair continued to be captives of the elevator. Willing captives, but captives none the less.
Sitting side by side against the elevator wall, Philip and Sinclair casually spoke to one another as though they had been friends since childhood. Slipping her feet out of her black boots, Sinclair continued the game they had been playing. "Cheesiest thing you ever did for love?"
Thus far the duo had had kept the game of twenty questions fairly impersonal, discovering each was single, favored the color blue, and had a pitiful fondness for the Cubs.
A mild grimace on his face, Philip finally answered, "Okay, last December I went to this wedding with a girl I was dating. Anyway, we were outside and I read her this poem I had actually written for her myself."
"You wrote poetry for some girl? How'd that go over?"
"Looking back, better than it should have. She seemed to really like it, and things were pretty great . . . until that whole dead body thing happened." Drifting back to the horrid event at Bo and Hope's wedding reception, Philip mused, "Then again, my girlfriend wasn't really bothered by a corpse floating up to the surface." Snapping back to the present, Philip said, "Okay, my turn. What was your worst Christmas?"
Still in a state of awe from Philip's nonchalant corpse comments, Sinclair took a little extra time to answer. "Well, I guess it would have to be the Christmas when I caught my very first boyfriend kissing a close friend of mine." Sinclair made the confession as though it were anything but an emotional event from her past. However, lurking deep below her forced insouciance, Philip sensed that the incident had affected her far more than she would ever let on to a mere stranger. Immediately shifting the topic away from her own misery, Sinclair questioned, "Worst mistake you made in your last relationship?"
Without hesitation, Philip answered, "Jealousy. And, you?"
"Indifference."
Silence befell the couple as each pondered the repercussions of their former regretful behavior. Each knew that repeating the previous misgiving would result in the imminent death of any future relationships. Philip's severe jealousy had ripped apart his last weeks with Chloe and Sinclair's habitual indifference had cost her precious time with people she loved.
More to himself than to his companion, Philip vowed, "I'm not going to be that guy again - the guy who is so full of jealousy and hatred that he ruins his friendships. I will never let that happen again. Never." Turning to face Sinclair, Philip added, "Starting tomorrow, I'm going to step out of the past. It's time for me to quit worrying about what I lost. What I've got to do now is learn from my past screw-ups."
Her own thoughts echoing Philip's declarations, Sinclair raised a nonexistent glass and toasted, "Here's to tomorrow."
Nervously biting her lip, Belle carefully weighed the options Zach had presented to her. "And, you're absolutely sure that you can't get the car moving again?"
"Sorry, Belle, but there's nothing I can do to fix the transmission during a rain storm. In fact, it'll cost me at least a cool grand to get it repaired again."
"Again?"
Zach smiled sheepishly. Though the gesture was surely meant to be taken as endearing, even Belle could not deny the innate sexiness of the simple expression. "I've had a few minor problems . . . okay quite a few problems – that weren't so minor."
"Then, why keep this old thing?"
"Belle, this thing is a '66 Ford Mustang. It's a classic."
A smile fell across Belle's face and erased her attempts at exasperation. Even in the dimly lit car, the petite blonde's lovability was easy to see. "You really love this car, don't you?" Smiling almost devilishly, Belle added, "In fact, I think you probably show this thing more affection than the girls you're always surrounding yourself with."
"What can I say? No matter how many problems I may have with this car, it's still more loyal and reassuring than any woman." Zach said the comment with a laugh that just didn't meet his blue eyes. For a fleeting moment, Belle felt a twinge of recollection, a sense of familiarity, but the feeling was gone as quickly as it had arrived.
Again, Belle found herself anxiously pulling her bottom lip between her teeth. Her gentle face was dominated by a contemplative look as she glanced out the car window. "We're not too far from the Brady Pub. If we cut through the park, we might be able to make it back there before the rain picks up."
Looking out his own window, Zach had his doubts. However, he would be the last person to turn away from a possible adventure. Besides, he was afraid if he and Belle were trapped in the car much longer, she might begin chattering about her recent troubles with Shawn Brady. And, Zach would rather face death by lightning than listen to Belle recount heart-warming stories of her beloved beau. Barring some type of life-altering event, Zach guessed the couple would be back in each other's arms before school began on Monday.
Zach pushed aside what he considered to be thoughts more dreary than the weather. Wrapping his finger around the door handle, Zach commanded, "Let's make a run for it."
As Zach and Belle ran along the muddy path through the park, it was as if the sky above unleashed its damp fury upon them. A loud rumble of thunder clambered through the heavens as the rain began to fall with a newfound intensity.
Nearing a picturesque gazebo, Zach slowed to a jog and took hold of Belle's hand. Over the sound of the falling rain, he loudly suggested, "Let's duck in there until the rain stops!" Without waiting for a sign of compliance, Zach began to quickly pull Belle toward the shelter. As much as he usually adored unpredictable escapades, Zach had great difficulty seeing the appealing side of pneumonia.
While the torrent of rain continued its brutal attack on all in its path, Zach and Belle finally found a small measure of safety in the gazebo. The duo gladly welcomed even the limited amount of shelter and dryness.
There was something innately arresting about the falling rain and its distinct ability to wash things away, thought Zach. He would have sold his own soul for merely the chance to start over and do things right. Of course, such regrets were best kept hidden from the judgmental eyes of the outside world.
Zach's personal reflections were interrupted by the hushed mutters of his companion. Turning away from the dark night, Zach found himself looking toward Belle's beautiful, though scowling, face. "Problems, princess?"
Belle gave her wet coat pockets one last pat before lifting her head to meet Zach's curious gaze. "I was going to call my dad to come get us, but my cell phone's gone. It must have fallen out of my pocket when we were running."
Though Zach was sincerely listening to Belle, he found himself distracted by her vain attempts to keep warm. As the blonde changed the subject to her parents' probable worry, Zach's eyes were transfixed on her petite hands rubbing together in an attempt to generate even mild warmth.
Interrupting Belle mid-sentence, Zach coyly stated, "You know, I hear close, bodily contact is a great way to keep warm."
Belle's mouth fell open as Zach charmed her with his most dazzling smile. With a bemused shake of her head, she declared, "I really should hit you for a comment like that." Truth be known, had any of her other male friends made the remark, she would have resorted to violence. "Just because I had a fight with my boyfriend, it doesn't mean I'm going to just melt into another guy's arms."
"No one said you would," Zach replied, any hints of amusement gone from his face.
As the fury of the storm increased, so did the awkwardness of the silence that fell between the two teenagers.
Zach turned his back to Belle, releasing a unmistakably displeased sigh. He had known sooner or later Belle would bring Shawn into the conversation. He had been surprised when they had finished eating at the pub without Shawn's name being uttered. Even in the car, Belle had restrained from speaking of her saintly boyfriend. Yet, Zach had surely known that his good fortune would come to an end. And, it had.
Breaking the silence to voice his thoughts, Zach casually asked, "What's so great about Shawn Brady, anyway?"
Belle remained silent for a moment, unsure if Zach was truly seeking an answer.
Keeping his back to Belle, Zach contemptuously prompted, "Well?"
A pensive expression fell across Belle's face as she carefully observed Zach. With his feet firmly planted about a foot apart and his arms crossed over his chest, he was clearly taking a defensive stance.
"I know you and Shawn never really got to be close friends, but you really should give him a chance. Shawn is a great guy - and an amazing friend. If you'd quit trying to be the constant center of attention, you just might see that . . . and a lot of other things."
At Belle's cryptic remark, Zach's eyebrows raised with reluctant curiosity. Turning to face her, he replied, "I'm not the only one."
"What's that suppose to mean?"
Zach gave an arrogant roll of his eyes, his level of assurance increasing as Belle's sank. "You are so consumed with being some perfect little daddy's girl that you're screwing yourself out of seeing the obvious things."
"Zach, what are you talking about?"
As he stared into Belle's eyes with a fierce determination, his usual lighthearted charm all but evaporated. "Answer a question for me. Who is head over heels for Mimi? Who does she really belong with? Who makes her breath catch in her throat? Who consumes her?"
Belle looked at Zach as though she was trying to read his thoughts, feeling her way through the draped trickery in the question. Continuing to rub her hands together, she answered, "Jeremy."
With a scornful laugh, Zach loudly stated, "Wrong! And, if you weren't so wrapped up in your little fairy tale with Shawn, you'd see the truth, too."
"Jeremy does care for Mimi, and I know she likes him, too," Belle defensively responded. She had become so accustomed to Zach's charming demeanor that even a small glimpse at his darker, more blatant side was enough to unnerve her.
"Yeah, and I care about Mimi, too. But that doesn't mean that I should have sex with her or even date her. It's not love." Shaking his head with frustration, Zach began to pace around the gazebo like a caged animal. He combed his fingers through his wet hair and sighed unhappily as his normally styled locks fell flat onto his forehead.
Watching Zach in such an agitated state, Belle realized that his anger and dissatisfaction had been building up for quite some time. "And, what do you know about love, Zach?" The softness of Belle's voice countered what might have otherwise been taken as a challenging question. It was clear that she wasn't trying to further their disagreement. Like Zach, she was looking for answers.
"Not a damn thing."
Belle nodded with silent understanding as Zach merely stared at her. For the first time since she's met him, the young man looked almost helpless. Whatever struggle was taking place within him, it was one that he was not quite ready to share.
Just when the returning silence was becoming almost unbearable, Zach lowly stated, "It's Jason, you know." Seeing the uncertainty apparent on Belle's face, he continued, "Jason is the one that stole Mimi's heart. Jeremy Horton is just someone she thinks she belongs with, so she'll settle."
"I'm not sure I believe that. Mimi is a great girl; she'd have no reason to settle for just any guy. If she's with Jeremy it's because they belong together. Besides, the idea of her and Jason is just ridiculous."
Zach again shook his head, this time with a mixture of annoyance and pure fatigue. "You honestly go around like a little girl with rose tinted glasses. Sure, I guess it would make things a hell of a lot easier if Mimi was in love with Horton. But, that's just not the way it is. In the real world, fairy tales don't exist. Yeah, Mimi will probably stay with Jeremy. Wouldn't surprise me if she gives it up to him - if she hasn't already. And, Jase, he'll probably wind back up with Jan or Cynthia or some other trashy cheerleader . . ." Taking note that he was actually pleading his case to a cheerleader, Zach added, "No offense."
"None taken," Belle muttered, her thoughts racing. Though she was not entirely sure she really wanted an answer, Belle asked, "Is that how you really see me? As some blind little girl?"
Zach immediately diverted his gaze. After all, if he was to actually look at Belle, her face frowning and body shivering from the cold, there would be no way to be objective. Mimicking Belle's earlier action by rubbing his hands together, Zach replied, "Aren't you?"
When Belle remained silent, Zach reluctantly lifted his steely blue eyes to look at her. And, she appeared just as vulnerable and forlorn as he had feared she would. Closing the distance between their bodies, Zach softly tried to make amends. "You're one of the few people I really consider my friend. I don't want to fight with you, Belle."
While nodding, Belle asked, "Do you really think that Mimi belongs with Jason?"
"Yes."
Once again Belle responded with a simple nod. She silently chided herself for not having paid closer attention to her friends. If Zach was correct, that meant Belle had completely ignored a spectrum of signs that Mimi was committing herself to the wrong guy. Even worse, it was obvious that Belle had been so consumed with her whirlwind romance with Shawn that she had ignored Zach's problems.
Seeing the tears well up in Belle's eyes, Zach wrapped his soaked arms around her small body. In the distance, thunder boomed and violent strikes of lightning lit up the dark, stormy sky.
When Belle lifted her downtrodden head to look at Zach, she discovered that his eyes were already upon her. She found herself reluctantly enthralled by the intensity she found in his gaze. And, before she could analyze the rights or wrongs of the moment, Zach sent his lips crashing into hers.
~ * * ~ * * ~ * * ~ * * ~ * * ~
The rain attacked the city in heavy sheets as Jason and Philip made a hurried dash toward the building's entrance. Rushing through the stately glass doors, the young men released matching sighs of thanks.
While Philip gave a courteous nod to the evening security guard, Jason peevishly stated, "I can't believe I let you drag me out into a frickin' rain storm."
Philip struggled to not lose his patience with his irritable friend. However, Jason's petty complaints had been all Philip had heard on the car ride to Titan. Philip placed a strained smile on his face and punched the elevator button. "Well, I'm really glad you didn't let the weather stop you from helping me."
Jason gave an irritable grumble as his response, wordlessly following Philip to the elevator. He had already been in a disgruntled mood as of late due to his unpleasant non-relationship with Mimi Lockhart. Add an overdose of rain and lightning on a Friday night, and Jason became absolutely abominable.
After an agonizingly slow elevator ride up to the lower level Titan offices, Philip sighed once more with relief. Stepping out of the elevator and onto the expensive flooring, Philip quickly peeked down the side hallway. He was relieved to see a light coming from the typically empty storage room.
Suppressing his grin, Philip said, "Come on, Jase. Let's get started."
"And, what exactly are we getting started?" Jason asked, following a few feet behind his friend. "You never did tell me what this oh-so-important project was."
"Oh, you know, the usual."
As the boys neared the light at the end of the corridor, Jason realized that their footsteps were not the only sound to be heard. His brow furrowing with confusion, Jason asked, "Is that humming?"
"I don't hear anything," Philip blatantly lied. His mission was not to convince Jason, only to quiet him.
When the two young men finally reached the open door, Philip motioned for Jason to enter first. Rounding the corner, the handsome youth found himself in the presence of the last girl he wanted to see. "Meems?"
"What are you doing here?" Hurriedly shifting her scrutinizing glare away from Jason and to Philip, Mimi continued, "And, where is Jeremy? You said that he would be here tonight."
Philip flashed Jason and Mimi his adorable dimples before replying, "Um, yeah, about that . . . I lied."
Before Jason or Mimi had the chance to move, Philip swiftly stepped back out of the room, closing and locking the door as he went.
Philip merely laughed as Jason and Mimi began to anxiously bang on the opposite side of the door, vigorously demanding an immediate release.
"Philip, open this door now!" Jason demanded, his fists slamming against the door in a hurried action. The door remained sealed shut, but the sound of Philip's amused laughter still managed to filter through the thick wood. Losing what little patience he had possessed, Jason began an angered, more fierce assault on the door. "That's it! When I get out of here, I'm going to kick your butt! Hear that, K-man?"
By the time Jason finally stopped shouting and pounding on the door, Philip's muffled laughter had ceased and Mimi had taken a seat on a blanket on the floor. Also on that blanket were all the makings of a romantic indoor picnic. From the fine cloth napkins to the cider-filled champagne flutes, every detail paid a special homage to the art of seduction. To complete the setting were a series of candles strung across the room.
Glancing around the room with more disdain than he truly felt, Jason grumbled, "What's all this?"
"Well, I thought it was supposed to be a romantic dinner for me and Jeremy," replied Mimi, mimicking Jason's forced disdain. "Of course, since I've been locked in here with you, the night will be anything but romantic."
Jason remained silent but could not restrain from rolling his deep green eyes. As was usually the case, Mimi was able to stir up a variety of conflicting emotion. Though her faith in Jeremy annoyed Jason, he was unable to actually be annoyed with Mimi herself. Instead, he repeatedly found himself thinking that she was everything from amusing and entertaining to sweet and endearing. Until he had begun to see Mimi in a different light, Jason had never believed he could or would be with such a good girl. Yet, even when he wanted to hate Mimi, Jason still adored her.
He was torn out of his reverie by Mimi stating, "Hmm, this cider is actually really good."
Looking down at his companion, Jason discovered that she had given into the temptation of her thirst. "What are you, doing?"
"Making the most of a bad situation," Mimi answered. Taking another sip of the cider, she added, "It's just too bad that I have to share it with you instead of Jeremy."
"Yeah, well, you're not exactly the person I most want to spend my Friday night with either." Before he could stop himself, Jason vindictively added, "I could be with any hot cheerleader I wanted - why would I ever want to be stuck in here with you?" The moment the words left his mouth, Jason closed his eyes with silent shame. He knew the words he had spoken were little more than a sad attempt to prove his independence and deny his heartache. Mimi, however, was far from seeing that lurking truth.
"You are such a jerk," commented Mimi, using her anger to mask the pain caused by Jason's thoughtless comment.
Jason chose to give no reply. Instead, he back himself up against the door and tried to avoid looking at Mimi. He silently wondered if he would ever learn the art of keeping his mouth shut.
As time began to dwindle away, so did the frustration felt by Jason and Mimi. An air of nonchalance began to slowly develop in the confined space of the 8 x 8 room.
Sipping her second glass of cider, Mimi reclined against the lackluster gray wall. She shifted uncomfortably against the hard cement blocks for several minutes before Jason threw his jacket into her lap.
"Put that behind you as a cushion. Maybe you'll quit squirming."
"Thanks," answered Mimi, doing as Jason had instructed. Blowing a strand of hair away from her face, Mimi questioned, "How long do you think we've been locked in here?"
Quickly glancing at his wristwatch, Jason guessed, "Twenty minutes, maybe?"
Again, Mimi blew a stray strand of hair away from her face. "It feels like hours." Rather sheepishly, she suggested, "I'm starting to get hungry. Maybe we should just go ahead and eat."
Jason alternated his gaze between Mimi and the feast on the blanket. Unable to ignore the rumblings of his own stomach, Jason finally responded, "Yeah, we might as well chow down on the food. After all, it's at the K-man's expense."
Gently sitting down on the blanket, Jason reached into the basket and began to rummage through its contents. Meanwhile, Mimi taste tested the food that was already laid out on the plates.
"Mmm," Mimi half-groaned. "This is so good. I have no idea what it actually is, but you should definitely try it." Without really thinking about her actions, Mimi offered Jason her plate and fork.
Jason wisely chose to not question Mimi's peaceful offering. Wrapping his fingers around the fork, he stabbed a piece of Mimi's food and brought it to his lips. Swallowing the morsel, Jason returned the fork to the plate and placed both back on the blanket. "Mussels. More specifically some type of mussels vinaigrette." Picking up a small bowl from the picnic blanket, Jason casually dipped his hand in and scooped up some of the dessert.
Mimi watched with curiosity as Jason dropped the sweet findings in his mouth.
"Damn, that is good."
Looking at the sauce-covered berries, Mimi asked, "What exactly is that?"
"Blackberries and strawberries topped with zabaglione."
Mimi stared at Jason almost suspiciously. "Zabba what?"
"Zabaglione. It's Italian, Meems. You should try it."
Slipping her forefinger into the bowl, Mimi scooped up some of the custard- like dressing and quickly licked it off her finger. Her immediate smile wordlessly showed her satisfaction. Turning her gaze back to Jason, she demanded, "What? Are you some sort of food connoisseur all of a sudden?"
"Not quite," responded the teen as he began to finally sip his own cider. "I just know what all this is because its from Tuscany. And, before my mom went back to her advertising firm a few years ago, she worked as the manager at Tuscany."
"Are you serious?"
"Yeah. When I was in junior high, I used to go there after school when she was working and the chef would let me taste test all the good stuff. It was pretty cool."
Mimi sat in a state of surprise. After all the years she had known Jason Masters, she continued to find out new and interesting things about him.
Jason purposely directed his attention to the food, not wanting to let Mimi know that he saw her staring at him. Still, even as he acted perfectly unconcerned, Jason could not stop himself from wondering what was going through Mimi's mind as she gazed at him.
Her earlier anger and frustration completely dissipated, Mimi softly requested, "Tell me something else about yourself that would surprise me."
Jason tossed Mimi a skeptical glance as though to ask if she were serious. Seeing that there were no indications of jesting on her face, Jason answered, "Well, you already know about my obsession with barbeque chips and sour cream dip, so I'm not sure what else there is to tell you, Meems."
"Oh, come on, Jase. I don't believe that for a minute. I bet there are a ton of things that you've never told me."
Garnering every ounce of his courage and leaping into the moment fate had handed him, Jason answered, "How about the fact that I think I might have fallen in love with you?"
~ * * ~ * * ~ * * ~ * * ~ * * ~
Philip grinned almost gleefully as walked down the hallway. He had been sitting outside the locked door for nearly an hour and had quickly become immensely bored. Though he had been unable to hear all that was said inside the small room, Philip had been satisfied once the muffled voices dropped to a more conversational tone rather than the yelling that had first erupted after he had locked the door.
Deciding to leave Jason and Mimi alone, Philip had curiously walked down the main office corridor so he could get a clear look out the oversized window in the executive lounge. He had been surprised by the intensity of the storm on the opposite side of the glass. He then concluded that it may not be for the best to leave Jason and Mimi locked up for too much longer. After all, it already looked as if the city streets were becoming flooded by the heavy rains.
On his way downstairs to inform one of the security personnel that his friends had accidentally become trapped in a storage room, Philip approached the elevator with confident strides as he toyed with the clasp on his watch.
Just when he was within twenty feet of the elevator, Philip finally looked up at his destination. That was when he felt his heart jump into his throat.
There in the elevator stood Philip's fabled genie. The dark haired beauty's head was bowed as though in prayer, giving her the appearance of an angel. As though sensing Philip's compelling gaze upon her, the young woman slowly lifted her head. Her deep blue-gray eyes meeting Philip's, her painted lips slowly fashioned themselves into a devilish grin.
In that instant, Philip regained his mobility and darted toward the elevator. As the opening of the doors narrowed from feet to inches, Philip slipped his lean body into the elevator. Putting on his dimpled smile as comfortably as his favorite sweatshirt, Philip charmingly greeted, "Hello."
The girl kept her gaze focused solely on Philip, her eyes glittering with bemusement and adoration. Offering a half-smile, she replied, "Hey."
Time seemingly stopped as the two stood staring at each other, the slow hum of the moving elevator all that broke the silence. And, then, even that sound stopped.
As the overhead light flickered out, Philip cheerily commented, "Guess this means we're going to be stuck in here alone for a while." Extending his right hand through the darkness, Philip politely identified himself, "Philip."
Shaking her companion's hand, the girl replied, "Sinclair."
Fifteen minutes after their initial introductions, Philip and Sinclair continued to be captives of the elevator. Willing captives, but captives none the less.
Sitting side by side against the elevator wall, Philip and Sinclair casually spoke to one another as though they had been friends since childhood. Slipping her feet out of her black boots, Sinclair continued the game they had been playing. "Cheesiest thing you ever did for love?"
Thus far the duo had had kept the game of twenty questions fairly impersonal, discovering each was single, favored the color blue, and had a pitiful fondness for the Cubs.
A mild grimace on his face, Philip finally answered, "Okay, last December I went to this wedding with a girl I was dating. Anyway, we were outside and I read her this poem I had actually written for her myself."
"You wrote poetry for some girl? How'd that go over?"
"Looking back, better than it should have. She seemed to really like it, and things were pretty great . . . until that whole dead body thing happened." Drifting back to the horrid event at Bo and Hope's wedding reception, Philip mused, "Then again, my girlfriend wasn't really bothered by a corpse floating up to the surface." Snapping back to the present, Philip said, "Okay, my turn. What was your worst Christmas?"
Still in a state of awe from Philip's nonchalant corpse comments, Sinclair took a little extra time to answer. "Well, I guess it would have to be the Christmas when I caught my very first boyfriend kissing a close friend of mine." Sinclair made the confession as though it were anything but an emotional event from her past. However, lurking deep below her forced insouciance, Philip sensed that the incident had affected her far more than she would ever let on to a mere stranger. Immediately shifting the topic away from her own misery, Sinclair questioned, "Worst mistake you made in your last relationship?"
Without hesitation, Philip answered, "Jealousy. And, you?"
"Indifference."
Silence befell the couple as each pondered the repercussions of their former regretful behavior. Each knew that repeating the previous misgiving would result in the imminent death of any future relationships. Philip's severe jealousy had ripped apart his last weeks with Chloe and Sinclair's habitual indifference had cost her precious time with people she loved.
More to himself than to his companion, Philip vowed, "I'm not going to be that guy again - the guy who is so full of jealousy and hatred that he ruins his friendships. I will never let that happen again. Never." Turning to face Sinclair, Philip added, "Starting tomorrow, I'm going to step out of the past. It's time for me to quit worrying about what I lost. What I've got to do now is learn from my past screw-ups."
Her own thoughts echoing Philip's declarations, Sinclair raised a nonexistent glass and toasted, "Here's to tomorrow."