Chapter 7: However...

In the laws of cartoon physics, for every cause there would be an effect.

Drop a mallet? Hole on the ground.

Lit TNT? Kaboom.

Wrong someone? Well...

She followed him to the side of her yard, feeling like a prisoner stepping into her own execution.

Every action, no matter what she would choose, had an equal retaliation.

She looked down, unable to meet his eyes.

"Mina told me everything," Ash started.

"I'm sorry!" she cried.

"Huh?"

"I'm sorry I made you worry so much. I don't want you to get dragged into this mess any further," she prattled, her rabbit ears twisting anxiously. "But you still came, I'm sorry."

"Why're you apologizing for my actions?" Ash asked. Oh wait, this is familiar.

He remembered the time they were talking about pet names.

"Sometimes, I would call Charming as 'pumpkin'," he said, a hand over his heart.

He tried not to laugh at Mina who looked like she was about to puke. Rhoda laughed.

"Jared's pet name for me is 'dummy bunny'!"

Silence fell as they all look at her.

"Rhoda, that's not very nice of him."

She frowned at the disapproval in the room. Her hands cupped her elbows defensively. "He was just joking. Besides, I AM a dummy bunny in the show."

Mina turned away in disgust. Rhoda's ears wilted.

"You guys don't know him the way that I do."

Ash sighed. Rhoda barely talked about Jared after that. "Look, it's not your fault that I came. But I still have to scold you," he gently said.

Rhoda hung her head, allowing herself to be lead to the log that she used to sit on as a bench. "I'm sorry."

He sat down beside her. "You cried on the phone and when I got back, you're just gone. I don't know what's going on so I asked Mina."

She looked away, a dark cloud over her head. "I'm sorry. I don't want to be a burden."

He wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "You're not a burden," he firmly said. "You're our friend."

Rhoda wryly smiled. She stopped hanging out with Ash and Mina after work because Jared wanted her to stay at home.

"Where's Mina?" she asked. She didn't want to sound like she was poking a hole on his statement, but curiosity got the better of her.

Ash exhaled. "She doesn't want to come," he replied, holding back a grimace.

"I see." She shouldn't be surprised. Mina opened her home to her because she was her comedic partner. A long time ago, Mina started acting cold towards her for some reason. Then she started talking to her again. After that, there was a distance between them that she couldn't understand.

When Rhoda stayed with Mina after her break-up, things couldn't be anymore awkward.

"Are you still drinking a lot of coffee?" he asked.

She grinned guiltily. "Last week? But I'm dry now."

In her later years of Jared, coffee didn't let her think. Coffee just let her act with the thrill of a zeal. Rehearse. Act. Smile. Laugh. Go home. Clean. Cook. Crash asleep. Coffee never let her dwell on thoughts to what he was doing so late. Why he didn't tell her. What he thought of her. What was wrong of her.

So she would drink pitchers from the coffee maker machine.

But just like alcohol, it had stronger effects on toons than humans, including its hold.

Ash covered his face and she felt like she had let him down.

"Look, you never wanted to talk about Jared with us," he kindly said. "But you have friends who wouldn't mind hearing you out." Then his tone became dubious. "Even Jesse."

She laughed apprehensively. "C'mon, Ash. Jesse ain't that bad," she said, putting a reassuring hand on his arm.

His brows delicately pulled into a frown. "Did he even eat the carrot cake that you gave him?"

"Ash!" she laughed. "I don't know. That was a long, looooong time ago."

He shook his head but didn't say anything. He had seen Rhoda explode her own kitchen for several days and covered with burnt batter as she poured all her affection to baking her gift.

"By the way, how're you dealing with your coffee addiction?"

Rhoda puffed up her chest proudly. "I've been substituting with jasmine tea!" In truth, she didn't want Jesse to know.

He raised his brow in concern. "Are you sure that's the only thing you're substituting?"

"What do you mean?"

"It's none of my business. But I'm really not comfortable with you living with someone that looks like your ex," he said.

"He's not Jared!" she spoke out. Jared would never look for me in the pouring rain. The very thought hit her with a flash of insight. She put a hand on her forehead, her eyes widening. "Sometimes I wish I'm as happy with Jared as I am with him."

The she burst out. "But I don't want Jesse to be Jared!" She shuddered at the very thought.

They both paused, suddenly aware of the words that came out of her mouth. Ash nodded slowly, spurning Rhoda to wave her hands away.

"It's not like that! Besides, Jesse likes older ladies like Martha Acme."

A thought struck her. What if Jesse already has a girlfriend?! All this time she had been enjoying her time with someone who was already taken? She was just as bad as Jared!

Why didn't I thought of that before?! She frantically thought. What if she isn't okay with this?

"The middle-aged woman?" Ash gently but skeptically asked. Acme had died years ago in "The Will War" where she left her land for ToonTown. Many toons visited her funeral, including the whole cast of Maroon Cartoon.

"I had always seen them together," she said, uprighting a beam of reason under her claim.

Ash checked his watch. "It's almost five o'clock."

She cocked her head. "Ooookay?"

He grinned in a way that hadn't been branded in his Disney merchandise. "When are you going to admit that you still got it bad?"

From afar, Aurelius poked his head out of the window when he heard Rhoda's scream of frustration.

Ash chuckled. "See? I didn't just get the role because of my Disney prince status."

"Huh?"

He amiably rolled his eyes a little. "Jared said you told him that I'm not funny... or even witty at all." He tried not to show it but Rhoda could hear the hurt in his voice.

Her mouth hung open. "What?! I never- When did I-?" Had she really said that?

"Back when I started working with you, Jared mentioned it."

"Huh?!" She clutched her hair and rabbit ears.

He searched the shock in her face, his eyes widening. "You never said that, did you?"

She shook head frantically. "I would never!" Her hand covered her mouth. "All this time you treated me nicely even though you thought I think bad of you?" Her eyes stung.

He knelt to her eye level. "No, I should be the one apologizing," he hurriedly said. "Heavens, I never even thought you wouldn't really say that."

Ash sighed, placing the tips of his fingers on his forehead. "I was too focused being graceful at taking the slight, I never considered he might be lying."

"Maybe he just misunderstood about something I said," Rhoda replied, confused.

Did we really had that conversation? Or am I being forgetful? She tried to imagine the conversation in hopes that the memory would surface.

Stop! That's how it begins to feel like a memory. She groaned, massaging her temples. Ash held her steady.

"Remember my movie?" he asked.

They returned back to Jesse's house. Rhoda tucked a card inside her pocket.

When they opened the door, the house was sparkling clean. Aurelius and the woodland creatures greeted them with a dress in his hands.

"Ta-dah! For you, my dear," he said, showing it to her from collar to hem.

It turned out that Aurelius had whipped out a sewing machine (wearing finger sewing guards in all of his fingers) and made her a dress while she and Ash were talking.

She stared.

It was red with puffed sleeves and a ruffled skirt, tied at the back was a giant bow.

"The skirt flares when you spin," Aurelius said, rubbing his eyes.

Her eyes watered. "Jeepers, it looks like I'd be performing in a children's party," she said, realizing the effort he had made in it to the point that he got tired.

"I love it!" she dreamily sighed. Her eyes sparkled as she floated, swooning towards it

"It's for the Maroon Cartoon Anniversary Ball," Ash said. "Everyone's going to be there."

Her joy deflated and her butt crashed down on the floor. She had entirely forgotten about that. As one of the top toon stars, she was expected to come.

Jared is going to be there.

Ash touched her shoulder. "Don't worry, Mina and I will be coming too."

XOXOXOXO

She and Jesse greeted them goodbye as they stepped back inside the carriage. Rhoda each gave them a peck on the cheek.

Ash gave her one last hug. "Remember, Rhoda. We're here," he whispered in their embrace. Then after a pause, he spoke again. "Perhaps, even him."

She turned around and glanced at Jesse, who was talking with Frost, his genuine smile in his face.

Her hand waved goodbye at the departing carriage.

Did she want Jesse to know?

Her heart stopped for a moment. What would you think of me after?

But her friends were so fast to judge about Jared. They didn't even understand.

"Animals just deep-cleaned our home," Jesse casually said.

She pointedly ignored the word "our". "I know, right?" she chirped, "Wanna celebrate after dinner with milk and cookies?"

XOXOXOXO

"See? I knew you'd get along with Frost," Rhoda beamed, carrying a plate of cookies. Jacques bounded after her. In the living room, Ronnie lounged on the sofa, grateful to have her house back.

"He doesn't want to hurt animals so he knew a lot about cooking with vegetables," he replied, placing two glasses of milk on the table.

"I hope he didn't bother you much about it," she said, petting Ronnie. "Frost can be very enthusiastic with sharing."

"I don't mind. I actually asked."

Her ears straightened slightly. "Really?"

"Since you're with me in the time being, I know you prefer a vegetarian diet," he replied, his back turned.

An arrow flew in through the window and directly towards her chest. Rhoda ducked just in time and chucked it back to the trespassing cupid. She closed the window with a firm slam.

"That's so kind of you, Jesse," she smiled. She raised her glass of milk. "A toast!"

Jesse toasted his glass back. She dunked her cookie into the milk, enjoying a few minutes of peace before…

She sighed, swishing the milk in her glass. "Jesse, do you know a toon named Jared Lupin?"

"I worked with him a few times."

Her ears perked in surprise. "You did?"

"Photo shoots for magazine ads. He ignored me the whole time." He turned his nose away. "Fine with me."

"Oh.' She fell silent for a moment.

"I also know he was your long-time boyfriend."

She fell out of the sofa in surprise.

"You do?" she asked from the floor.

He shrugged. "I've seen it for years in magazines that aren't even about gossip," he said, impassive. "Then a chicken told me you have an ex."

Rhoda climbed back on the sofa, carefully watching his face. Jesse sounded more apathetic than usual. She then remembered that he didn't read rags that were obsessed with Hollywood celebrities. Perhaps, she had been silly worrying what Jesse thought of her with Jared's claims in gossip columns.

Jacques put his head on her lap, his tail thumping the floor. Rhoda petted him and looked at Jesse apologetically.

"I know you two looked similar, but I just want you to know I didn't go out with him because he looks like you."

He fell silent, his gaze on Ronnie while he petted her.

"Why him?" he quietly asked.

Rhoda chuckled. "It's a long 'tail'," she said, letting her fingers run down Ronnie's fluffy tail.

Jesse offered her the platter of cookies.

With a wry smile, she began.

"Jared," Lancy said, "this is my pal, Rhoda Rabbit."

She stared at him. He looked painfully familiar… and yet, not.

A saucy smirk graced his lips, taking her hand. "You know, I usually pick up chicks. But I don't mind picking you up," he said, tipping up her chin.

Her forehead wrinkled in confusion. Then with no hesitation, she smashed the mallet on top of her head.

Both Jared and Lancy stepped back in surprise. Tweeting birds encircled her head and Rhoda gently cupped one.

"Here," she said, handing the chirpy robin. "I'm sorry it's not a chick though."

"That was certainly an impression," Jesse commented.

"I know, right?" Rhoda said. Then she smiled. "But for some reason, he kept in touch."

The first dozen roses came during Friday filming. The crew were grinning at her as she took it into her arms.

"For me?" she asked in surprise, the scent of the roses brushing her nose.

"Who's J. Lupin?" Mina asked.

"Lancy's toon." She shrunk back when they all whistled and hooted. "Jeepers, it's not what you think!"

"Rhoda's got an admirer!" Dominic teased.

"He's just a friend of mine."

"There's a note in it," Carol said, waving a small envelope.

"Read it!"

Rhoda opened the card, then her face contorted with perplexity.

Mina snatched it from her hand. "Dearest Rhoda," she read aloud. "I hope your day is as beautiful as you." She puked.

The crew immediately declined into immaturity, wolf whistling and congratulating her. Rhoda still stood there; confused and unmindful of the slaps on her back.

"...why?" she asked, pointing at her cross-eyed self.

Then she beamed, shoveling handfuls of petals into her mouth. "He's just being nice," she decided.

Jared continued to send snacks in the form of roses every week. So every week, she would buy him dessert whenever she would meet with him and Lancy.

He was nice and charming and funny. There had been some awkward moments like the time he accidentally leaned in too close and too fast. But Rhoda was able to step around just in time.

"He was trying to seduce you," Jesse flatly said.

Rhoda opened her mouth to protest. She paused. "That might make more sense. Especially what happened after."

In the fourth time that Jared asked her to accompany him, she could tell he felt more and more frustrated.

"Jared, are you alright?" she asked.

"I like you."

"Aw, I like you too!" She froze when he took her hands.

He looked at her with those violet eyes, contrasting with the sunset in his hair. "I like you more than that. Will you go out with me?" he bluntly asked. "For real this time?"

"I know what flirting looks like," Rhoda explained. "But how would I know? He makes every lady feel special."

Jesse stared at her.

Ronnie stared at her.

Jacques stared at her.

The crickets stared at her as they chirped outside the window.

"But you know what I noticed back then?" She slid down on the rug to be with Jacques. Her ears drooped. "He never had a genuine connection." She gestured her hand around, trying to get the right words. "He's like a rake, he only gets to the topsoil."

Jacques settled down, encircling her from behind like a black, furry backrest.

"Jared once told me Lancy saw him as her 'thing'," she looked up, absentmindedly running her fingers through his fur. "And I can tell he was right."

She glanced at her open palm. "I wanted to give him something meaningful. Nobody's ever been there for him. So I decided to give him a chance."

"And what happened?" Jesse asked.

She smiled, remembering. "We were happy. I really thought he was the one."

Then he relapsed, she thought, bitterness dredging her throat. He went back to his old self.

Her ears wilted. "But I couldn't give him the love that he needed." Patient. Lasting.

Tears blurred her vision. Unconditional.

She had tried to hold on. Her friends and family only saw his flaws. But she saw what he could have been. What he had become in their first months together.

They didn't understand.

"You're the only one who gets me, darling," Jared had always said when she would get frustrated at them. "It's you and me against the world," he would say before tilting her head up for a kiss.

She rubbed her lips hard. He had given her joy. He had given her hope. But she hadn't been strong enough.

"So that's why you broke up?" Jesse asked.

Rhoda hugged her knees, shrinking back from those fifteen years.

"I just couldn't take it anymore," she whispered, her blank eyes wide.

But… was Jared right? He was the victim right from the start.

Her heart sank lower, knowing she was now a loveless scum in Jesse's eyes. Tentatively, she sneaked a glance. Jesse was looking at her like he had opened a closet and a dead body fell out.

"Did he hurt you?" he asked, his eyes darkening. Chill began to creep inside the room.

She blinked in surprise. Then hastily waved her hands about.

"No! Of course not! He never hurt… me..." she hated how she sounded uncertain in the end. Rhoda cleared her throat. "He never even raised a hand on me," she said, unable to keep the defensiveness in her tone.

She could see his shoulders relaxed.

"I'm sorry to hear about you two," he murmured.

Rhoda climbed back on the sofa beside him, still astonished at his reaction.

"I'm sorry for scaring you." She sighed, leaning on his shoulder. "And I'm sorry for dumping all this on you." She looked down on the ground. "They just don't understand Jared the way that I do."

She could feel Jesse shift, leaning back into a more comfortable position. Even though she couldn't see his face, she could hear his voice rumbling quietly. "Thank you for telling me this." His hand briefly squeezed hers. "Is that why you moved here?"

Her head nodded against his shoulder.

"So that's why you got burnt," he stated.

She turned her head slightly, not missing the sadness in his voice. "Huh?"

"When I first met you, you were fire. But I never thought fire could get burnt."

She paused for a moment before playfully punching him on the shoulder.

"Aw, Jesse! That's poetic but I'm no muse," she chuckled.

He ruffled her hair. "You're getting your spark back," he said, his head tilted with a small smile.

Rhoda laughed at the affection in his voice, remembering the days of her stay.

I haven't been this happy for a long time, she thought. Something in her wanted to tell him. But a part of her held back.

Jesse spread his arms. "May I?" he asked.

Rhoda gratefully hugged him. You're irreplaceable. Was she comforting him because he sounded sad? Or was he comforting her?

"You're going to be alright," he said, planting a kiss on her forehead while she was still in his arms.

Jacques trailed after them as they went upstairs with Jesse cradling Ronnie.

"Goodnight," she said, opening the door to the guest room. She let Jacques in before closing the door with a sigh.

Ash, Mina, everyone -they don't get it. They keep seeing me as the victim.

She finally let her face droop in remorse.

But I haven't told them everything. Even Jesse doesn't know.

Author's Notes: Is she the villain of her own story? Find out next time.