Astera stood at the sink, washing the dishes while Mike sat at the kitchen table reading the newspaper. He had given up on asking Astera if she needed help. She insisted that she do it by herself. Normally Mike would help her with the dinner dishes, but Astera was very insistent. But that wasn't what upset Mike the most.
Mike had the feeling that Astera was still hiding something from him. Lately she hadn't been her hyper old self. Instead she had seem distant and extremely quiet. It seemed as though whenever Mike had offered to take her to some kind of activity during the day, Astera would find some kind of excuse to not do it.
There was the sound of the door ringing, and Astera turned to face the door. Mike stood up, and walked towards the door. "I got it," Mike said, patting her shoulder in passing.
Astera continued to scrub the dishes. She knew Mike had a dishwasher, but she felt like doing the dishes herself. She felt as though doing something physical would help keep her mind off of what had happened between her and Dave.
She wasn't completely miserable, but she felt so bad. She hated the feeling of taking what belonged to someone else. She felt dirty.
"Oh Dave! How's it going? You know, I was just going to ask you if you still needed my help with that kitchen sink you mentioned to me," Mike's voice said, from the other room.
"Oh yea, that would be great. Maybe you could swing my house tomorrow afternoon…" Dave replied.
Astera froze, and nearly dropped the ceramic plate on the floor. She heard the footsteps approaching, and she tried to concentrate on washing the dishes again.
She heard the footsteps walk into the kitchen, and all of her muscles in her body tensed up.
"Astera look who is here…" Mike said. Astera raised her hand, signaling a wave.
Dave raised his eyebrow at this, and Mike turned to look at him. "She's…been having a rough week. Hasn't really been herself lately," he muttered. Dave nodded.
"I understand…" he replied.
"So, what's up Dave? Anything I can get you?" Mike questioned. "Actually, I just came by here for some advice…" Dave stated.
"Oh, of course…have a seat…" Mike said, motioning for Dave to sit next to him at the kitchen table. "I've got some time…" Mike continued.
"Well, my friend has been having some issues. He's been calling me lately, so upset. You see…there was thing girl in his life. They were pretty good friends. They understood each other. Eventually they started to grow closer. Turns out she even began to…lead him on…" Dave paused, his eyes darting over towards Astera's back.
He turned back to look at Mike. "Then one night, she comes to his house. They have alittle…heart to heart. They kick back a couple drinks, and they wind up sleeping together…" Dave continued.
Astera paused from washing the dishes. This story sounded all too familiar. It took Astera a couple minutes to realize that it was her and Dave that Dave was talking about. He was indirectly explaining their situation to Mike.
"So the next morning, she blames him for everything. She tells him that they need to stop talking to her. She threatens him…and they haven't spoken since. Now, my friend is extremely torn about this…" Dave bluffed.
Mike raised his eyebrows, slightly shocked. "Wow, what a bitch…" Mike stated.
Astera gaped, her back still turned to Mike. Did Mike just call her a bitch without actually saying her name?
"Hmm, yea my friend thinks so too…" Dave said, with a small smirk. Astera turned around to face him, giving him a dirty look. Dave smiled over at her. "So, glad that you agree with me, Astera…" Dave commented.
Astera turned away, and placed the dish on the drying rack, slightly angrily.
"Well…if I were you I would…" Mike paused, to look out the window. Katherine was standing outside her house, placing the trash in the garbage can. Mike smiled slightly, trying to keep it to himself.
He stood up, and looked down at Dave. "Um…sorry to interrupt Dave. But, something just came up. I'll get back to you as soon as I can. How about we talk about it tomorrow when I come over to fix that kitchen sink?" Mike asked.
Dave shrugged. "Sounds okay to me…" Dave said. "Just help yourself to anything you need…" Mike said, walking down the hallway.
Dave smiled after him. "Trust me…I will…" Dave muttered, before looking over at Astera's back. As soon as the door shut, Astera turned to face him.
"I did not lead you on..." Astera snapped.
Dave raised his eyebrows as he looked at her. "Excuse me?" he questioned.
"I never led you on," Astera repeated.
"I…wasn't talking about you, was I? I believe I mentioned my friend and this girl. Did I ever mention your name?" Dave played.
"You didn't need to. What are you trying to prove?" Astera asked.
Dave stood up from his seat, and adjusted his tie. "I wasn't trying to prove anything…" Dave stated. He began to walk towards her, a small smirk on his face.
"Oh no, you just basically told our whole story. Except for the whole leading you on part…which I didn't really do…." Astera said.
Dave chuckled as he approached her. "So the whole…feeling me all over because I was wearing a leather jacket…or the whole…flirting and hugs was nothing?" Dave asked.
"I was just being friendly and…whoa…what are you doing?" Astera asked, once Dave was about a foot away from her.
Dave's icy blue eyes stared hard into her brown ones.
"You know Astera…there are a lot of things in this world that we try to avoid. Whether it be for money reasons, morals, life…or…a forbidden want…" Dave said, stepping closer. Dave stood about five inches away from Astera.
"Oh, I see what you're trying to do now. You're trying to seduce me aren't you? Well, sorry bud…but I don't want you in any way…shape or…form…" Astera stated.
"No?" Dave asked. "Nope. You know what I just realized? I think I've figured out the reason why I don't remember anything that happened that night between us…its because you weren't good. You sucked…" Astera spat.
Dave's forehead creased in slight anger, and he scoffed. "What did you just say?" he asked. Astera looked down at the ground for a second, before looking back up at him.
"Y…You heard me. Normally I would remember sex, even though its only been about two or three times….but still. I remembered. I was drunk for one of them, and I still remembered…." Astera paused, and looked around the room.
"Why do I feel like there was a conversation like this before on this street? I'm feeling alittle Déjà vu…." Astera stated.
She turned back to look at Dave, and saw that he had a slight anger behind his eyes…or maybe it was some form of frustration.
But it was neither of these. To Dave, it was a perfect thing. If he played it right, he would get what he wanted. He would get closer to her again, and closer to Mike.
"Hmm. Well you know what, I'm glad that you don't remember. Because I remember lying there thinking that it was the biggest mistake of my life. I remember feeling that sweet relief once it was over. I couldn't even look you in the face as we did it," Dave said.
He saw Astera's eyes widen slightly, before her lip curled up in slight disgust.
"Well…you know what? You probably didn't have anything for me to remember it by anyway…" Astera said, her eyes overlooking him.
Dave was getting her agitated, and all she needed was one really good push.
"You sound like a whale when you climax," Dave said.
Astera scoffed. "How dare you! I bet you needed a supplement anyway!"
"You've got the body of a fifty year old…" Dave hissed.
"Excuse me? I've been a lifeguard my whole life. I work out every day of the week! If anyone needs to work out its you! You ab-less man!" Astera snapped.
"Man-eater,"
"Jack Ass,"
"Tease,"
"Douche ,"
Astera and Dave just stared at each other for a second, breathing heavily. Astera dropped the glass she was holding, and it fell to the floor and shattered. She stepped forward, pulling Dave closer to her by the lapels of his jacket.
She pulled him into her, while he pulled her into him. They kissed passionately, and out of pure want. After a few seconds, Astera pulled away.
"Wait, no…what am I doing? What did you just do? What…what did I just do?" Astera asked. Dave stepped closer so she was trapped in-between him and the sink.
"You just did what you've been wanting to do," Dave stated. "No, no…I don't think I did. I totally just…ugh…I just kissed you didn't I?" Astera asked. Dave smiled playfully at her. "Uh-huh…" he replied.
Astera stared at him, trying to figure out what to do. He obviously wasn't going to go away by her just throwing words and insults at him, and she really didn't want to get violent. "Fine. What do you want?" Astera asked.
Your cousin to suffer…Dave thought, but he wouldn't say that. At least not aloud.
"It's not about what I want Astera. This is about what you want…" Dave said, lightly touching her face. Astera inhaled the air, her eyes not leaving his.
"You manipulative son of a bitch. I just wasn't on my game that night, but I'm going to prove you wrong…" Astera hissed.
"Sure you will. You going to sound like a donkey this time instead of a whale? Because I've always had this secret love for donkey's….right behind Mike…" Dave said, sarcastically. Now he knew he really got her.
Astera leapt at him, wrapping her legs around his waist. "You really have no idea what your getting yourself into. You don't want to mess with me…" Astera snapped, before kissing him again.
Dave smiled in the kiss. No, he was not the person anyone wanted to mess with. Especially if you were related to the man with the name of Mike Delfino.
……………………
Ria stood in Carlos's bedroom. Gabby was out for the day, and it was time for Carlos to get his hourly injection. Ria was going to give him his regular medicine, but she had done another deed of her own. She had mixed his water with a fluid that she herself made.
It was a fluid her mom made for her whenever she swallowed something she wasn't supposed to. But if taken on a full stomach, throughout the day the person would keep throwing up until their stomach was empty. Alittle fatigue couldn't hurt, plus it would be fun.
She had furthered pondered the idea of killing Carlos while he had no sight, so there would be no witnesses. She had changed her mind. She wanted Carlos to get his sight back, so he could watch her as she tortured Gabrielle and his daughters.
Ria was relentless. She was not afraid to strike a child, and she would if she had to.
Ria approached Carlos, only to hear Juanita.
"What are you doing?" Juanita snapped. Ria closed her eyes and sighed angrily, before turning to face Juanita. "I'm giving your daddy his medicine…" Ria stated.
"He's sleeping…" Juanita said, with alittle temper. "Yes, I know…but I still have to give it to him…" Ria stated. Ria stuck the needle in Carlos's neck, and began to inject the medicine.
She set the water glass next to Carlos's nightstand, and smiled. She turned to face Juanita. "Is there something you need me to do…sweetie?" Ria asked, with a false smile.
Juanita pouted, before walking away.
"I hate children…" Ria muttered, before walking out of the room.
……………………………..
Dave stood by Astera's window, looking out over the street. Mike was still out, which was a good thing. The light was still on in Katherine's upper window, which probably meant Mike was spending the night there.
Dave looked down the street to see that Edie still had not returned from the party she was going to upstate. It was some gathering for old college buddies, but Dave didn't want to go. He would feel out of place, plus he had work he needed to finish around Wisteria Lane, and he couldn't do it with Edie always around him.
He heard Astera stir in her sleep, and he turned to face her.
She drew the sheets up around her tighter, and Dave couldn't help but smirk. He walked back over to her, and stared down at her. He was working his way into her heart, and he could tell that it was working.
After they had sex, Astera seemed to refuse to want to stop. That meant he was doing something right.
He ran the back of his hand over Astera's cheek.
"I'm sorry to have to involve you in all this…Astera…you've done nothing wrong…" he said, to her sleeping figure.
His forehead creased in anger. "But you're cousin took something away from me. Something I knew and loved. He is the reason my wife and daughter are dead…." Dave continued.
He sat down in the bed, before sliding under the covers. He slid closer to her, his faces inches from hers.
"You're going to help me get what I want…you're going to help me make sure your cousin loses what I lost….you're going to love me, want me, and need me….you're going to tell me anything I want to hear…because you are going to be the one who makes this plan a success…" Dave said.
Astera snuggled closer to him in her sleep, and Dave smiled.
"See what I mean?" he asked.
At the feel of Astera's face burying in his neck, Dave froze.
Something felt weird, but so wonderful about her touch. Something was stirring inside of him. Dave shook of the feeling, and held her tight.
"You're mine now, and there is no turning back…" Dave stated.
…………………………..
Ria turned her head to see the door opening and Gabby walked in. "Hey, are the kids asleep?" Gabby asked.
Ria put on a smile. "Yep. Juanita was a hard one to get down…I just gave Carlos another dose right now…" Ria stated.
"Oh god…whoo…its really hot in this house," Gabby said, with a small chuckle. She turned on the air-conditioning, which was right next to Carlos's nightstand.
Gabby laid her eyes on the glass of water. "What a waste…he hasn't even drank it yet…" Gabby said, picking it up.
Ria opened her mouth to protest, but she was too late. Gabby titled her head back, and basically chugged the water.
Ria bit her lip. Leave it to Gabby to mess up her plan. Gabby set down the glass and smiled over at her. "Well, thank you so much Ria…" Gabby said, hinting that Ria was free to leave.
Ria jerked her head in acknowledgement, before walking away.
It was then that Gabby clutched her stomach, and closed her eyes. She suddenly didn't feel that good.
