This is a shift day [see above]. There was another upload this morning: Births & Rebirths.

"The Cautionary Tale of Lucy Collins"

2. The Present

She had waited until they had gotten to his place before she would speak, and even then it wasn't easy for her to get started. She'd sat there on the couch, systematically unwrapping the stack of DVDs they'd bought earlier although he was just about positive they wouldn't be watching any of them that night. He let her go at it, watching her. It was as he did watch her that he picked up on the fact she seemed to be muttering something under her breath. He leaned in, trying to make out the words and it sounded like 'can't,' over and over.

"Lucy?" he winced, trying to get her attention. She sighed, stopping her muttering and putting the DVD down, half opened. "What happened tonight?"

"You know, I never really grasped the concept until now… a blast from the past. It wasn't just seeing something from the past, it was… seeing it… seeing it about to repeat itself," she closed her eyes. He shook his head, having no idea what she was talking about, but at least sensing it wasn't something she'd enjoy having to let him in on. "Grant was there at Breadstix tonight, you know… Grant Hastings," she specified and he saw the face flash in his mind.

"Your ex?" he asked, and she nodded.

"He was there with Anna Friedman, you know her, right?" she asked and he confirmed. After that, she grew quiet again. "He's going to hurt her," she declared.

"Did he do anything…" Artie asked, suddenly afraid of what she might be saying.

"Emotionally," she went on and he calmed, leaving her a moment to think before she went on. "You know, I've always told myself that the things that matter to me, really matter to me, shouldn't be ignored. And that went for a lot of things."

"I know," he told her. "One of the things I like about you," he told her with a smile and she returned it.

"Grant Hastings was the first boy I dated, first boy I kissed, and just… 'first base' was as far as I was ready to go. When he wanted to go further, I told him, and he said he understood, so I thought 'Wow, I've got the best guy.' He'd test the waters from time to time, to see if maybe I'd go further, but I'd say no and he'd back off." She paused. "Then one time I caught him and another girl… during…" she gestured, and he cringed. "And I ran out of there…"

"And he came after you?" Artie asked, and she shook her head.

"No… Guess he stayed to finish. When I saw him next he had this look on his face… like he wasn't sorry, he didn't care, and I just… I felt like I didn't know him anymore," her voice had been teetering on the edge of giving in to tears almost from the start and now it looked as though it was about to take a swan dive. "That day, it was pretty bad, but then it just got worse. It was in the days after that I found out what had really been going on, all this time, without my knowing. The girl he'd been with, she started spreading the word and all of a sudden they were coming out of every corner, other girls, and they all told me, basically… every time I told him no, he just went and found someone who would say yes. Everyone knew, apparently… except me, the idiot."

"You're not an idiot," he promised, hating to see her like this.

"Did you know about it?" she asked, sort of to prove her point. He hesitated.

"I didn't know it was you, I swear," he shook his head. She breathed, trying to regain control of herself.

"I know Anna Friedman. And I know she won't cave either, so then what happens to her? He gives her the runaround like he did me, he humiliates her and walks away… unscathed? She doesn't deserve that."

"Neither did you," he agreed. "But what do you want to do?"

"I don't know, warn her? What else am I supposed to do? If I say nothing then I'm just as responsible as he is because I could have stopped it. I don't like to interfere in other people's business, but he's the one who made it mine."

"Not saying you shouldn't," he started off, "But you should be careful. It could end badly," he told her and she nodded.

"I know, but I don't have a choice," she frowned, and he moved up to take her hands. She let out a breath, looking to him. "Sorry to dump all this on you."

"Happy to listen," he insisted, and she smiled, leaning to rest her forehead to his.

"Thank you," she told him, kissing his cheek, then his lips. She took another breath and then a third. "I think I should probably head home."

"My father can drive you," he offered.

"It's alright," she shook her head. "I think the air might do me some good. I think my shoes have stopped sticking," she tested.

"Call or text when you get home?" he countered, and she promised before heading out.

Artie wished he could have done more. He had never really given Grant Hastings much thought, but really just wanted to hit him right then for what he'd put Lucy through. He knew Anna, too, and he knew what Lucy meant about how she could end up in the same position she had. He'd probably known her longer than Lucy had; he was pretty sure she'd been in his first grade class. The thought of someone like Grant taking advantage of her trust and going behind her back made him feel wrong. So if Lucy wanted to tell Anna before she made a mistake, then he was all for it. But still he would worry.

TO BE CONTINUED (TOMORROW)