(Sorry for the delay, we're getting to midquarter and I've got a Lit class and a Comp class where the teachers have had me writing 3 to 4 papers a week! GAH! Anyway, I felt guilty so...here's the next chappy...enjoy...)
D.C. I RENT...
Chapter Six: Trusting Desire
I invited Emily over for dinner a few days later while Eva was at practice for her school's spring musical, Into The Woods. She was cast as Little Red Riding Hood and was so excited she could barely contain herself when I dropped her off at school that morning. It was refreshing to spend some time alone with another grown-up for once.
"So, Eva's a little drama queen, huh?" Emily asked as we sat on the couch after we finished eating.
"Well, she's no Maureen, but she does love the theatre. No surprise with her parents though." I told her.
"Maureen--wait, she's your ex, right?"
"Yeah, she's with Joanne now."
"Oh, okay...you just have so many friends. I can't keep them straight." she laughed.
"I know what you mean." I said, twirling the red wine in my glass in circles. "Apparently I couldn't keep Maureen straight either." Emily cracked a small, sympathetic smile, unsure if she should laugh or feel sorry for me.
"So," she said, breaking the odd silence. "Collins was--"
"A philosopher and anarchist. Roger played guitar, Mimi was a dancer and Angel was--"
"The drag queen drummer. Hard to forget that one."
"Yeah I guess." I laughed.
"And you, Mark Cohen, are a filmmaker."
"Correct."
"So, what does a girl have to do to see one of your films?" Emily asked, scooting closer to me.
"What?" I asked, confused.
"Well, do I have to sleep with you first or something?"
"I--uh..." I could feel my face warm and turn red.
"Marky, I'm kidding!" she laughed, putting her hand on my arm. "You're kindacute when you blush." she added with a smirk.
"Right. Thanks...How about you tell me about yourself and then we'll see about my films."
"Okay, well I already told you I'm from New Jersey."
"Yeah...continue...What brings you here?"
"Broadway. I'm an actress. In fact I'm on my night off before our big opening night tomorrow."
"What show?"
"La Boheme at the Nederlander. I'm Mimi."
"Really?" I said, surprised. "We have tickets for that show tomorrow night. Eva's been obsessed with it ever since she learned to play "Musetta's Waltz" on her dad's old guitar."
"I've never heard of a thirteen year old who liked opera."
"She's certainly one of a kind...whenever I see her with that guitar she just reminds me so much of her father..."
"What was he like?"
"Quiet, moody. He was always lost up in his head. He always had a look on his face when he'd play like if he could write one great song he'd find the meaning of life or solve all the world's problemsor something...Like her." I sighed. "I mean, I guess I don't find it odd after what she's been through, but sometimes I think she thinks too much."
"Well, it's understandable. She's growing up and becoming a woman and she doesn't have a mother around to help her through it. My mom died when I was twelve, I know what Eva's feeling right now."
"What about your dad?" I asked.
"He was a good guy...a great guy even, but that's just it; he was a guy. He couldn't understand how confused I was, even though he tried. It's scary growing up sometimes."
"So it's not me?"
"Not at all. I'm sure she's just scared and confused. Luckily she's got two aunts around to explain stuff to her."
"Yeah, I guess. Seeing as I'm obviously not much help."
"Mark, she's luck to have you. I've never met such a caring guy before. I mean, she's not even your biological niece and yet you treat her like she's your own daughter." Emily said softly, looking me straight in the eye and leaning in close to me. I took a chance and leaned forward, pressing my lips against hers. Before I knew what was happening, we were in my bedroom, on my bed. My fingers tangled in her hair, her hands deftly removed my shirt, then hers. Neither of us gave any thought to what we were doing, it just happened. "You don't have to pick Eva up, do you?" she asked, pulling back from my kisses for a moment.
"No--carpool." I gasped before she pulled my mouth down on hers again.
It wasn't until later, when she was curled up next to me under the covers, asleep with her head on my chest, that I realized just how much I'd missed being in love, how much I missed having someone to keep warm at night. I dozed off with my face buried in her hair, holding her tightly.
I woke to the streams of light pouring through the windows and rubbed my eyes, reaching for my glasses on the nightstand. When I slid out of bed, Emily groaned her dissatisfaction at my leaving her alone, then sat up with a grin on her face.
"Good morning." I smiled.
"Morning." she yawned, pulling the sheet up to her neck modestly.
"You hungry, or--"
"Starving, actually." she said, rolling out of bed and wrapping the sheet around her. I watched her pick up her clothing piece by piece off my bedroom floor and when she caught me staring I turned red and looked away quickly. "Why so shy? You certainly weren't last night." she giggled as she started to get dressed. I shook my head and pulled on a t-shirt. Emily finished dressing and walked over to me, kissing my neck, my cheek, my lips. "So, that breakfast you mentioned sounds really good right now." she whispered in my ear.
"Yeah?" I said, trying and failing to sound sexy.
"Yeah." she laughed.
"Alright, come on." I said, taking her hand and opening my door. We giggled like children all the way down to the kitchen.
"Good morning, Uncle Mark." Eva said from behind the Local/State section of the New York Times.
"G--good morning...You're up early." I stuttered, embarassed from being caught with Emily by a thirteen year old.
"I take it your date went well?" Eva commented in a knowing tone as she looked from me to Emily then back to her paper.
"Yeah...you could---you could say that." I mumbled, putting my head down and going to the cupboard for food.
"I made omlettes. They're on the counter under the towel. There's enough for both of you." Eva said. I looked up, Eva sipped her orange juice and Emily tentitavely wrung her hands and stood in the middle of the room. "I'm going to ride the bus today, kay?" she added, standing up and putting on her jacket before slinging her bookbag over her shoulder.
"Yeah, okay. Have a good day at school, Hon."
"I have practice after school, so can you pick me up for the show?"
"Yeah. Sure." I nodded. "You know, Emily told me she plays Mimi in the show tonight. Isn't that cool?" Eva glanced at Emily and nodded without any show of emotion and disappeared out the door.
"Well, that was awkward." I muttered.
"She doesn't like me." Emily said.
"No...I'm sure she does...she's just---it takes awhile for her to open up, that's all. Here, eat up. You've got a big day ahead of you." I said, setting a plate down on the table in front of her.
"Thank you." she whispered.
(So, are you happy that Mark's got a girl or are you on Eva's side? Not sure where the Eva/Emily relationship is going, but I'm seeing a rebelling teenage Eva in our future...she is Roger and Mimi's daughter after all. She has to have a wild streak in her somewhere, right?)
