Not one of my greatest =[ The point of this chapter is to understand Astera's morals, and for Ria to show a small bit of her dislike for Astera in public. Next chapter should be better/ funnier.
It was a peaceful morning on Wisteria Lane. It was a morning where the robins and blue jays chirped joyfully as they sat in Bree Hodge's tree, as if they were admiring her beautiful flowers. But for some, it would be anything but a beautiful morning.
As Astera Hart stirred to wake from her late night slumber, which she would not remember when she opened her eyes, she let out a small groan. The first thing she did remember was that today her and Mike were supposed to go to the Farmers Market to get more apples and banana's.
She rolled over on her back, before opening her eyes. It took a minute for her to take in her surroundings. Normally she was used to seeing her picture of Brett Favre on the wall across from her bed. But today she didn't see it.
Her first thoughts was that it was Mike playing some kind of joke on her, but Astera realized that something else was wrong. She looked around. She wasn't even in her bedroom, unless Mike had redecorated everything while she slept.
She turned to her right and looked out the window. Since when was Susan's house so far away from her and Mike's? She looked down. She wasn't even in her bed. It was then she felt a sudden awkwardness as she laid there.
She slowly lifted up the covers and let out a small cry. She was completely naked. She drew the covers closer to her. She began to panic slightly. She didn't know how she wound up naked in the first place. She paused in thought, trying to remember what had happened last night. As she tried, all she got was an even bigger headache.
She heard the sound of approaching footsteps, and she leaned forward slightly so she could peer out the door. The footsteps began to draw closer, and Astera desperately tired to think of who it could possibly be.
It was then that Dave Williams appeared at the doorway, wearing a gray bathrobe and matching pajama pants. He smiled at her. "I didn't think you'd ever wake up…" he said.
It was then it hit Astera. She remembered asking Dave to spend the night at his and Edie's house, she now remembered Edie wasn't home. She remembered her and Dave talking about Mike, and then about Astera's date with Stephen.
Astera felt as if something inside of her died. She felt so dirty and traumatized.
Oh God…Please tell me that this didn't happen… Astera thought, although by her current position, she knew that it did.
She looked up at Dave, slightly frightened.
Dave knew she was confused, and maybe even alittle scared. But that was okay. If he told her his own version of events as to what happened, she'd believe that it was her decision for the two of them to sleep together.
"What's wrong, Astera?" Dave asked.
Astera let out a small scoff. "What's wrong? I'm lying naked in your bed. I'm extremely sore in pretty much every part of my body…and my head hurts!" Astera snapped.
Dave shrugged. "Well, that's what normally happens after two people had sex," he replied. Astera blinked in shock. "What? You mean…me and you…actually…" she trailed off.
Dave nodded once.
"W…what happened? Why?" Astera asked. She didn't know what to ask at this point.
Dave sighed. He was going to twist the truth just a little.
"Well, you see Astera….you and I got into a very…personal conversation. We started to talk about Mike's new relationship with Katherine…about my childhood issues. Then you suggested we drink off our sorrows. So we kept drinking, and you told me about your date with Stephen. You told me that you and I shared something special because we've both had to deal with bad childhood experiences. Then….you kissed me…." Dave paused.
Astera was staring up at him, blankly.
"I mean, we both were pretty wasted so I don't know if you really meant it or not. Then you basically jumped into my lap. You told me how much of a thrill it would be to get with a married man, and how we should flaunt it infront of Mike so Mike can see that you can take care of yourself. We got pretty intimate, and made our way up here…" Dave said, looking around.
"If we were both wasted, why do you remember things and I don't?" Astera questioned. Dave forced a chuckle. "Well, its not hard to forget comments like…. 'Ride me home, Cowboy' or 'I bet it'd be rougher if we do it on the floor'…." Dave said.
Astera let out a small whine, and covered her face with her hands, as she laid back down on the bed. "And…when I mentioned Mike's new relationship with Katherine…how…gone was I?" Astera asked.
"You didn't have one drink before you told me that…" Dave lied. Astera took her hands off her face, and looked at him. "What?" she asked, shocked.
"You told me that I had earned your trust, and you thought you could tell me anything now. You told me that from now on…we should share secrets about each other. About me…about you…about Edie…about Mike…" Dave said, walking towards the bed.
Astera couldn't believe it. How could she have just spilled her guts out so easily?
"We really do share something, Astera. Especially now that we've slept together, and those special feelings last forever…" Dave said, with a small smirk. He needed to sound as poetic, and believable as possible. It was the only way for Astera to fall in love with him. He needed her to believe everything he said.
"Oh….my God…" Astera said, looking away.
"I know, pretty powerful-"
"I slept with a married man…" Astera stated.
Dave raised an eyebrow. "Yea, and as I was say-"
"Oh my god! I'm a home wrecker!" Astera said, with a slightly frightened voice.
Dave slightly began to panic. This wasn't making them get closer, and he could have sworn that he felt it working last night.
"Astera…" Dave said, reaching out to her. "No! Don't you touch me! Get back….back!" Astera snapped. Dave slowly began to back up, even more panicked. His plan wasn't working.
Astera was giving him the most disgusted face he had ever seen her give. There was a look in her eyes as if she really did have a gist as to what happened, but she wasn't too sure to say it.
"Not this is how its going to work. You're going to get out of this room, and I'm going to get changed. Then I'm going to climb out the window and go back home. You will not mention this night to anyone, even a buddy from the bar talking about how you scored with the girl down the street…" Astera stated.
"Astera, but…"
"No. Stop talking! That's another thing…you will not speak to me again, unless I come up to you. Do we understand how this is going to work? Because If I find out you told so much as a dog, I will make your life a living hell. And if you talk to me first, I will take my field hockey stick and shove it up your ass," Astera growled.
Dave nodded, before backing away and out of the room. He shut the door behind him.
This could not be happening. He couldn't not talk to Astera anymore. Without her, his plan was going to fail. He couldn't make her love him if she was telling him not to talk to her anymore.
He heard the sound of the window slamming shut, and he opened the door. He looked out the window, and saw Astera running across the street. Now Dave was feeling guilty again. He was actually feeling humane.
Maybe he should apologize to her….no. No that wouldn't be good. He needed an indirect approach that he knew would grab her attention… and he was going to get her good.
…………………………..
"Alright ladies, its time for another day of Poker…" Bree said, with a smile. They were all sitting in Mike's house. Astera had agreed to host Poker this time. She desperately needed to get the thought of what happened between her and Dave out of her head.
After she came home that morning, she remembered Mike making a joke to her about having sex hair. Astera had forced a laugh, before running upstairs and knocking around her punching bag mercilessly for about three hours.
Astera had never really looked at Edie much before, but now she was trying to avoid meeting Edie's gaze at all costs.
"Thank You again, Astera. Its such a lovely thought to have us in your home," Bree stated. "Yea, Mike said he wouldn't mind. He is out all day. Plus, there are some things I need to get off my mind and what can be better than poker?" Astera questioned.
"Oh, honey. What's been on your mind? Is there a guy that's been giving you trouble?" Gabby asked, patting her shoulder. Astera stopped dealing the cards for a second. "Uh…kind of…more like something I did. Or something I think I did…" Astera stated.
The incident had happened about five days ago, and Astera was thinking about it more and more, instead of less and less.
"Oh, I hate that feeling…speaking of doing something…Ria, are you sure you won't mind watching Carlos for a few hours tomorrow?" Gabby questioned.
"I'm alittle embarrassed to admit that I was alittle…disappointed when you canceled the last time…" Ria said, looking down at her hand of cards. "I'm sorry, but Juanita was being…Juanita…" Gabby said, rolling her eyes.
Astera looked over at Ria, and narrowed her eyes slightly. Gabby was the closest to Astera on the street other than Susan. Ria better not have been trying to break up the marriage between Gabby and Carlos.
But then again, Astera couldn't really point fingers. She had slept with a married man, a married man whose wife was sitting a person away from her at the table.
Ria met Astera's gaze, and copied Astera's look. "You sure your mind is clear enough to play, Astera? You seem alittle…off…" Ria stated. "Ria!" Susan said, slightly shocked.
Astera returned Ria's hard stare, her eyes not leaving Ria's. "No, its okay Susan…Ria just doesn't know what's she's in for. I'm on my game…that's a good reason to be worried…" Astera replied.
As they began to deal out, Edie smiled slightly. "I just love the suspense of it all, but come the weekend you girls will forget all about this. You'll be the best of friends," Edie stated.
Astera let out a small chuckle, and Ria rolled her eyes muttering 'that's likely'.
"Reminds me of that guy I met at the bar…" Edie said, before staring off into space.
"Not this story again…" Lynette said, looking over at her.
"No… go on…" Astera said, suddenly interested.
"To make a long story short, I met him at a bar. We were…friendly, you know?" Edie asked.
"Oh believe me, Edie….we know…" Susan said, taking a sip of her iced tea.
Edie rolled her eyes. "Ignoring that…so I remember getting in his car. Then the next morning I woke up in his arms. Apparently we had slept together, but I don't remember…" Edie said, with a shrug.
Astera bit her lip, and held her cards tight. She looked down at the table, and tried to contain herself. She just had to ask, didn't she?
"But eventually we became friends again. You see, the thing was…we both were just so wasted. I couldn't believe I'd let myself get that drunk and let him take advantage of me," Edie stated.
"I could…" Bree muttered.
"Then we ended up doing it in his car three days later…" Edie said, somewhat dreamily.
Astera stood up. "I'm sorry, I'll be right back. I just realized we are out of iced tea. Let me just run to the store that's a mile out. I'll be right back," Astera said, walking away.
"Astera, I'm sure we will be fine. We've still got half of the carton left…" Susan said, holding it up.
"Nope, not enough…gotta go…be back in a flash…" Astera said, walking out the door. Bree leaned back in her chair slightly.
"She didn't take her car keys…" Katherine stated. Bree squinted so she could see out the window better. "Oh my god, is she running to the store?" Bree asked.
Ria sighed. "See? I told you…that girl is just not in her game…. I'll raise…" Ria said, pushing her chips forward.
Susan looked over at Ria. "Ria, I think something is seriously wrong with Astera….how can you say that?" she asked. Ria shrugged. "Because…if you ask me…Astera always seems so down," Ria stated.
Of course she is, she just lost both of her parents! Susan thought.
Susan wouldn't cause a scene, not here in the house.
Ria smiled to herself. At least she'd be doing the world a favor by killing Astera once she was done with Carlos.
…………………………………..
Astera was sprinting. Whenever she was angry, or upset…she ran. She was close to the store, just on the outskirts of town. She stopped and looked around. She was in the park, and she saw a few people playing Frisbee and such. Astera slowly made her way to the wooden table.
She sat down, and tried to steady her breathing. She could feel her throat closing up as she held back the tears. She didn't even know why she was crying. Girls got drunk and slept with men all the time, didn't they?
But to Astera it felt so wrong. Even though Edie wasn't her favorite person, she felt horrible for allowing herself to get drunk and sleep with Dave. It was so wrong to sleep with a man that belonged to another woman.
Astera also felt slightly upset for snapping at Dave, but then again it did feel right. Dave was wrong for not stopping it even though he was drunk too. They both were wrong.
Astera closed her eyes and felt herself start to tear up. She was a horrible person. She could picture her mother and father yelling at her as she sat there.
While she was imagining their angry faces…just to see their faces again…she was not aware of Mike Delfino's approaching footsteps.
"Astera?" Mike asked.
Astera slowly opened her eyes, and she saw Mike there. "Mike?" she asked.
"Astera, what's wrong?" Mike asked, sounding concerned. "I thought you were at work…" Astera said, looking at the ground. "I was, at the house across the street. What's wrong?" Mike asked, before sitting across from her.
Astera looked over at him. "I'll be fine," she said, softly. "But you're not now…Ast…you can talk to me. You know that right?" Mike asked.
Astera nodded, with a small smile. Mike reached across the table and held her hand tight. "Now, what's wrong?" he asked, in a quiet voice.
Astera sighed. She wasn't going to rat out Mike's best friend. She just couldn't.
"I'm…thinking about…Mom and Dad….and Kelly…" Astera said. Mike's gaze softened. "Astera, you can't keep letting that get you down. There was no way you could stop your parents from getting on that plane and crashing. There is no way you could have stopped Kelly from going to the mall with her friends that day when there was that shoot-up…" Mike stated.
"But…Kelly was my little sister…" Astera stated. Mike walked around to the other side of the table and sat next to Astera. He pulled her into a hug.
"It's all going to be okay now, Astera…" he said.
Astera hugged him back. She wished it would be.
