Author's Note: And the plot thickens…
Disclaimer: FOP rules! But, alas, I do not own it…and I'm quite sure of this, as much as I'd love to clean otherwise. (sings "Rest in Peace")
Chapter Twelve: Foggy Fabrication
"So you think you're entitled to her just because someone finally slapped you hard enough for it to penetrate?" A.J. hisses, arms folded across his chest. All right, certainly Timmy is a friend of his, but the way he's been treating Tootie is unforgivable. He thinks just because he rescued her now, that he's going to get the girl. No way in hell.
"What are you talking about?" Timmy asks, clueless as he sits, stroking her face, beside Tootie. Heat rises- she has a temperature…
"Don't play dumb, Turner," He retorts, sitting on her other side. He offers no explanation of where he's been nor feigns to. If Timmy really wanted to know, as if he cared, he'd tell him the truth, that his parents were sending to him college classes five hours after school. Although he'd known about Tootie's plight, it was only recently, after finishing all his college work, that he could really do anything about it.
"She has a fever…" Timmy remarks idly, bending down to kiss her cheek. A.J. shoves him away- he isn't worthy to lick her shoes, much less come onto her. And he's only doing it because he's on the rebound.
"Brought on by everything Vicky and Ricky put her through." Tenderly, A.J. cradles her head in his arms, relishing the soft apple scent of her hair. They really need to call an ambulance and get her to a hospital pronto.
Glowering at him, he nods but makes no effort to move towards the phone. An awkward hush fills the room- who will call and leave Tootie? It's a competition for her heart and the best man, by far, has yet to be seen in the competition. If he wants to make himself known, he'll have to be there for her every step of the way, driving the latter away.
"Well?"
A pink face appears on Timmy's watch: say hello to Wanda. Shaking her head at him, she indicates that it matters little who places the call, just as long as someone phones. This may be a life or death situation, and she will not rescue Tootie only to lose her again.
"I'll go…" Timmy grumbles, reluctantly leaving them to dial. One battle lost.
Smirking, A.J. smoothes her hair, thinking of all the turmoil she must have endured. Damn Timmy…he was the only one who could have prevented it from escalating this far and he just sat there and slept around with his girlfriend. Trembling in anger, he can scarcely think save for the pleasure of Tootie's head in his arms.
How could she have withstood all that without breaking? Then again, she is breaking down, fundamentally. Her body can't take any more abuse without failing completely…
Which returns him to his previous point, that Timmy was the only one who could have prevented it and yet, he was too wrapped up in his supposed fairy tale to even listen to him. Even though he'd always behaved like this, when it came down to it, he'd put her life on the line because he was having too much fun to think about her. He'd better thank his lucky stars Tootie's also in the room, because if she weren't, Timmy'd be in for it.
He has no idea what on earth Timmy's saying to them, nor does he care. For now, he'll concentrate on convincing Tootie her knight in shining armor is a sham and work from there. If he can dispel the illusion, it'll damage Timmy more than he thinks.
Tootie, moaning and crying, stirs in his arms. Instantaneously, his heart skips a beat- if he cranes his neck, he can hear her call someone. Foolishly, he hopes it's him, that she's completely forgotten Timmy.
"Timmy…" Ugh, never mind. Damn pink hatted loser- he never took care of her, and he just comes barging in here like he owns the place…and her heart. What nerve!
Rasping, she struggles to regain consciousness and, for a brief second, he wishes she would remain unawake and unaware. She'll soon figure out he isn't Timmy and…secretly, he isn't terribly certain he's the first person she'd want to see. Predictably, she'd want to see the person (and, unless it changed, he knows who it is) who she's in love with.
"You dick…leaving me to die…" Wracked with convulsions, she screams his name, fury stitched in every syllable. It makes the hairs on his arms stand on end (as well as the thought she could have enough strength to do so). Maybe she isn't as in love with him as he thought…
Looks like I won't have to convince her of the faults of her knight in lucky armor, A.J. thinks with a smirk, stroking her hair. Now, her eyelids flutter frantically, trying to determine who exactly cradles her. He doesn't blame her- he'd do the same if he were in her shoes.
"A.J.?" She murmurs weakly, all energy dissipating when she howled Timmy's name. Her brow furrows in bewilderment- he knows she's wondering just what the hell he's doing here. Of course, he knows she knows he cares, but to what extent?
Unwittingly, the whole story unfolds, explaining his actions much more efficiently than Timmy ever could. To wrap it up, he gently raises her head, so she can look him directly in the eyes…and for another reason, a more selfish one. Even though he's aware she has a fever, he still yearns to kiss her.
"Where's Timmy?" She whispers, analyzing the look in his eyes. If she's correct, and she's rarely otherwise these days, when she has enough sustenance to think clearly, there's more than a friendly concern written within. The idea of someone loving her is so alien, so unfathomable, it makes her shiver.
"He's calling the ambulance. You need to go to the hospital…" Before you die of exhaustion, illness, and lord knows what else. I hope to God they come soon, or she might really die…
"No…just leave me here, to die…it's what everyone else does…" Moaning again, she lays her head into the crook of his arm and shuts her eyes tightly. She's weary of fighting, of losing herself repeatedly- part of her just wants to rest in peace…permanently. Which is why she almost wishes Timmy were too late…
"Absolutely not!" Charily, he lifts her head up further, and kisses her tenderly on the lips. She's so stunned, she doesn't object. Not even the fact that her first kiss on the lips comes not from Timmy but from his friend crosses her mind.
Timmy, having finally located the cordless phone, drops it in shock. From his standpoint, he's just lost the race before it began…unless she didn't initiate the kiss. C'mon, Turner, think clearly. Why would Tootie, who's clearly in love with me, kiss him? And he's propping her head up, too…Damn, I always jump to conclusions…
"Here!" Scooping up the phone, he all but shoves it in his face, praying to God the kiss will be broken soon. The longer they kiss, the more insecure and uneasy, and agitated he grows. He can't understand why he suddenly feels jealous, but he does. He wants Tootie to himself.
Angrily, since the phone squawks indignantly, A.J. reluctantly releases her lips and grabs the phone. Before he knows it, Timmy has weaseled his way onto the bed, snatches Tootie from his arms, and presses her into his chest. All of these happen so quickly, she merely rolls her head back in forth in confusion, waiting for the room to stop spinning.
Frustrated beyond belief but unable to properly vent, he leaves the room, leaving Timmy and Tootie alone. He only regrets she didn't kiss him back…but maybe she'll change her mind in time. After all, what does Timmy have to offer her? Absolutely nothing.
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The world is a thousand degrees, his touch like a cool caress on a sultry day. In the back of her mind, she fears she may be dying…but at least Timmy will hold her one last time before this happens. She won't be able to tell him everything, nor will she be able to remain angry with him for very long, because…what's the point? The world doesn't want her…she doesn't want her…
"I love you, Timmy…"
"You weren't kissing A.J., were you?" He inquires, utterly oblivious. If she had a little more upper body strength, hell, if she had any strength at all, she'd hurt him for even thinking of saying that. God, what a moron.
Trembling, she decides not to hit him (she doesn't want his last memories of her to be of violence) and lethargically reaches for him. One last kiss…on the lips…just to taste him…and remember him before she dies…
However, before she can drape her arms around his neck, she passes out. Her energy has vanished for the meanwhile…and it'll be a while before she recovers fully…if she ever does…
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