A DAY IN THE LIFEThe Beatles

Chapter 1 – Picking up the pieces?

Picking Up the Pieces, 2000 – Starring Kiefer Sutherland as Bobo

A – A day in Michelle's life

BILL

Maybe it was my conscience.

Maybe it was the fact that she was drunk and I wasn't far behind and I wanted it to be special, not a one night hook-up.

It probably was what she said. Had she not said that we probably would have had sex. Or maybe not.

Of course, what she said shouldn't have bothered me: she was asleep and dreaming. Hell, what am I talking about? It did bother me… A LOT.

At exactly ten past eleven, I put the key in the lock of my apartment. In my head, it was all clear. Michelle Dessler was drunk; so was I: it was my chance to score with her. I never was greedy or cheap with women but this was Michelle. MICHELLE. Michelle that I had been charmed by the moment she walked into the office wearing a white shirt and a blue skirt (I even remember what color her necklace was). Michelle that took me four months to convince to come out with me. Michelle whose husband was famous for risking thousands of citizens' lives to save her. But that last thought was way out of my mind by the time we entered the apartment.

I turned on the light as she struggled to take off her shoes.

"I'll get you something to drink?" I said or rather asked.

She shrugged. "If you want."

I practically ran into the kitchen and tried to make the coolest, most aphrodisiac drink ever. It indeed took me quite some time.

It took me so much time that when I came out Michelle had fallen over the arm rest of the couch and was asleep.

My first thought was major disappointment. Then a small part of me I'm very ashamed of now said: "Hey Bill. She's asleep. She'll let you do what you need." So I put down the martinis on the coffee table and picked her up in my arms with every intention of bringing her into my bedroom and making hot, passionate love to her.

Well. God sure must not like me.

The moment I started walking towards the hallway, she started snuggling against me and mumbling weird stuff.

"William (my full name), don't wear a green tie (which was exactly what I was wearing)."

Hey I thought. This isn't going to be so hard.

Wrong! I don't think I would have hurt more if she ripped out my heart of my chest and threw it on the floor before stamping on it with stiletto heals (Not that I've ever seen her wear stiletto heels. Yeah, I'm that desperate). The next things she said almost made me drop her on the floor (fortunately for her, I didn't)

"No, not oatmeal… I love you too Tony."

Damn. That bloody hurt, god damn it, fucking hell. Yes, as you can see, that made me want to swear my head off. But I didn't. All I did was stop for a moment before I opened my bedroom door and put her under the covers.

And I closed the door, shattering all my plans of blue-eyed (me), curly haired (her) babies that I thought would soon populated my (our) house.

MICHELLE

I was so afraid of what would happen when I entered Bill's apartment. I was not ready for this (I don't think I'll ever be). Bill was nice but he was not sexy (Tony was but that's another story). Okay, even if he had been sexy, he was not Tony. Nobody was. And, as much as I hated him, I needed him more than ever. That's why I accepted to go on this date. Only, I didn't know I would end up here.

"I'll get you something to drink?" asked Bill awkwardly as if he was afraid of scaring me away.

"If you want." I really didn't care.

Ah! I tossed my too tight shoes in the entrance not really caring what Bill what think. I was drunk and I had every right to have it my way.

Okay maybe not.

But, anyways… I entered the dimly lit living room and looked at the well assorted furniture.

Tony's furniture never matched.

"Yeah," I thought bitterly. "You had to match it for him, that's how useless and idiotic he is. Now shut up: you're with Bill now."

But I didn't listen to me. It's a good thing I fell asleep or I would have been fighting with my inner conscience all night.

I don't remember being that tired. I just know I leaned against a couch and next thing I knew I was in a hammock. Then, it started raining and Bill appeared wearing nothing a green tie. He was smiling mischievously and tried to kiss me but, stupid me, I found nothing better to say than: "William (which was his real name, I had read it in his file), don't wear a green tie." Which could mean two things. One- Take of your clothes or rather your cloth or Two- I'm so freaked out by this that I have nothing better to say. I think it was the latter. Bill then started literally sobbing and threw carrots at me. I tried to say sorry but it wouldn't come out. What happened afterward convinced me that the moment I "landed in a hammock", I was dreaming. Or having a nightmare.

What happened afterward made me want to cry. Or laugh. Or both. (I was having a lot of dilemmas that night) Bill faded away and Tony appeared. He was wearing a black shirt with rolled up sleeves and the two top buttons detached… the way he always wore it. (You think after all that happened to me I would forget stupid details like that but, no, I forget dentist appointments instead) He came into the hammock with me and whispered in my ear: "I'll make you oatmeal." My first thought was What? You haven't seen me for eight months and all you can say is that you're going to make me oatmeal? So I answered angrily: "No, not oatmeal!" And then I heard something I had been waiting for so long. Or had been not waiting for so long. (whatever, you get the idea) He said "I love you." Like he loved me. Like he and me equal love. Like love love. Not father daughter love. (maybe he did mean that but I don't think so…) The words came out of my mouth as fast as a rocket (nice metaphor considering the circumstances)

"I love you too Tony."

B – A day in Tony's life

TONY

I hated nights. Yeah, I also hated days but I hated nights the most. Nights meant no sleep. Nights meant remembering. Nights meant thinking of Michelle while Jen slept soundly next to me.

Damn you Michelle. Leave me alone.

Of course, it wasn't her fault I was always thinking of her. It was mine.

It was during one of those sleepless nights that it came to me… One of those weird souvenirs I was always trying to forget.

It happened during the first night Michelle slept at my apartment. Michelle was asleep next to me and I was watching her, thinking how lucky I was to have her. Before I could even stop it from coming out, I asked the most stupid question ever.

"What's your favourite movie, Michelle?"

I thought she would continue sleeping or better, wake up and slap me out. But she didn't. She snuggled up to me and answered in a sleepy voice:

"American Beauty."

That took me by surprise: both her reaction and her answer. "Oh. Okay…"

"Why?"

"I just wanted to know."

By then, she was fully awake. "You're so funny… and cute."

I smiled. "Thank you, thank you."

"What about you?"

"Me what?"

"Your favourite movie."

"The Godfather."

"How come?"

But it was too late. I was the one asleep.

I don't know why I did it but that night I shook Jen from her sleep. She mumbled curse words and when she finally did wake up, she looked ready to claw my eyes out.

"What do you want Tony?"

She looked so hostile I had a bad feeling about asking her so I shut up. "Nothing. Never mind."

She sighed. "What is it, Tony?"

"What… What's your favourite movie?"

"What?"

"I told you, never mind."

"YOU WOKE ME UP FOR THAT?" She fell back onto her pillow.

"I'm sorry."

"Whatever."

The saddest part of it all was that we were way past the definition of first date. I don't think I ever found out what her favourite movie was.