Chapter Twenty-Three
The Miserable
Hey everyone! I'm back with the latest chapter. Guys, I read some of your comments. Given up on true love and happily ever after? Will there be a happy ending? All I am going to say is to never give up on true love no matter how bad things seem to be. True love conquers all! I hope that answers your questions. We're in the second part of a three part story. In Part Two of Ever After, we'll finally get to see things from Darien's perspective. Katie's paternity will be revealed in the upcoming chapters. There are more twists and turns to come. Things will go from bad to worse. Secrets will be revealed. Part Two is darker and edgier than the Part One. The second part of this story took me to dark places that freaked me out. So be prepared for a crazy ride. This chapter is actually inspired by one of my favorite musicals Les Miserables and it does include the song "On my Own". Your feedback and constructive criticism are always welcome. Here's the next chapter! Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon or Les Miserables' "On My Own".
SIMPLY DISAPPOINTING
WHAT A DREARY CRAP!
CRINGEWORTHY
BORING AND UNORIGINAL
WORSE THAN THE LIVE ACTION STREET FIGHTER MOVIE!
WANTED TO LIKE IT BUT DIDN'T
MINA AINO BLEW IT!
HOW SAILOR V STOLE MY MONEY!
POORLY WRITTEN! POORLY ACTED! SAILOR V STRIKES OUT!
WHERE'S SAILOR MOON WHEN YOU NEED HER?
"SAILOR V BOMBS AT THE BOX OFFICE!"
MINA AINO IS NO SAILOR V!
One year ago…
The gloomy gray skies and rainy weather on the London afternoon reflected Mina's sour mood as she sat at her desk reading reviews online trashing her latest movie in theaters, Sailor V. It only made thirty millions at the box office. Her fans and critics alike hated the movie. Reviewers argued that she did not bring her best to the role. Her character was described as superficial, boring, and unrealistic. The critics complained that the movie should have focused more on Mina's younger sister Ariel since she was the better actress in the movie and had the better storyline. Jason did his best with the limited material he was given. After reading the reviews and the poor performance, Mina also came to the conclusion that the world still despised the Sailor Scouts for losing the war that changed the world forever.
She groaned frustrated as she shut down her laptop. She pushed herself away from her desk and spun around in her chair. She sighed as she walked barefooted across the cold floor and fell back on the sofa. She looked at the ceiling and thought about painting it a different color.
Mina cried out frustrated to herself alone in her flat, "I am Sailor V. How can I be horrible in a movie based on my life?" She tucked her arm behind her head and thought about the movie and what made it so bad.
She agreed to be in the movie before she read the script. She liked the script she was eventually given, but the script changed and went through many revisions, especially when the movie executives convinced Jason to be in the movie. She knew the greedy movie studios only saw dollar signs and wanted to milk how well fans loved her onscreen chemistry with Jason. The final draft of the script ended up with Alan and Sailor V getting together. Mina knew in real life that she was never meant to end up with Alan. He was meant to end up with Katarina. Alan loved Minako more like a little sister than a girlfriend. When it was time for Alan and Minako to get together in the movie, it seemed forced and not real. His love story with his wife Katarina was more realistic and naturally. Also, Mina's character acted more like a dumb blonde than the strong female role model she was to young girls throughout the world including Sailor Moon.
She was shocked also when saw the completed movie for the first time at the movie premiere along with the rest of the cast and crew. The movie she watched was not the one she agreed to. She could not even blame the government for how awful the movie was. The movie was already in post-production before the war started and the government approved the release of the movie as it was, since many of the younger Elite were Sailor V fans. She should have taken that as a bad omen.
Her little sister's storyline as the teenaged version of Sailor V was better because it was based off of the Sailor V's origin story. Alan and Katarina's love story was better and the audience was shocked when Katarina was brutally murdered while working undercover. When Mina came on as the adult Sailor V, she took the role too seriously. She hardly smiled in the movie and her lines were bland and cheesy and filled with bad puns. The fight scenes were horrible and badly edited like a bad seventies movies. She could have sworn she saw a cameraman's reflection in one of the scenes. Jason's daughter in the movie was a spoiled brat and a horrible actress who overacted in every scene she was in. The criminal were ridiculous and cartoonish like the Three Stooges and their reasoning for killing Katarina was just as silly. There was a completely unnecessary love scene between Alan and Minako that was not needed and it was too soon.
Mina smiled. Their love scene was Jason's favorite part of filming the movie even though they were wearing sheer underwear and dozens of prying eyes and bright lights surrounded them. Jason was a perfectionist, but he purposely messed up their love scene which required more takes to the director's disdain and film crew's amusement. The final scene was done tastefully with some cheesy pop ballad playing in the background. But the scene did not fit in with the movie. It was like they meet, fight, make up, and then twenty minutes later, they are in a love scene together. Mina tried to explain this to the film crew, but they dismissed her feelings and told her to simply do her job and read her lines.
The movie credits rolled after the dumbest ending in movie history and a generic love song that had absolutely nothing to do with the movie played during the credit since it was on the Sailor V soundtrack currently selling in stores. When the screen went blank and the lights flipped back on, the audience was speechless and everyone tried to decipher what the hell they had just watched. Someone tried to start the slow movie clap since the stars of the movie were sitting in the audience, but stopped when no one joined in. Mina shriveled in her seat and covered her face completely mortified.
Sailor V won a Razzie for Worst Movie of the Year and Mina won for Worst Actress. Every movie that Mina was a part for the rest of the year performed horribly at the box office and everyone panned her performance. Mina did not show up to accept the award.
A frustrated Mina paced back and forth in her publicist's office. She shouted at Susan who sat calmly behind her desk, "You better fix this Susan. My last five movies bombed at the box office. Everyone is saying how horrible I am as an actress."
Susan pushed herself away her desk. She rose from her chair and strode to the front of her desk and leaned against it. She folded her arms across her desk and placed on her most empathic face she could muster to let her client see that she cared about her worries. "Mina, all actors have ups and downs in their careers. Right now, you are going through a slump." Mina frowned. Susan added in a reassuring tone, "Mina, we are going to find the right project and you are going to get back on top. Okay?"
Mina stopped walking and turned to Susan. She warned her, "You better." Susan was taken aback. She was not used to Mina speaking to her in that manner. Before she could ask Mina what she meant, Mina was already gone.
Mina walked along the streets of London in disguise oblivious to the pedestrians who she passed. Mina had to confess that her life had not changed much after the war. The Western World continued to go on as if the war had not happened. Adults continued to work. Students still went to school, and people still spent time with their friends and families going to the movies. The truth was the West had adapted to the government years before the war started. Humans adapted to a society living with humanoids who were their friends, families, and neighbors. Children already were learning about the edited versions of history.
Women were losing their positions of power gradually and sneakily by the government. The only people who truly suffered were the shrinking middle class and the poor. The government no longer believed in helping the less fortunate. Anything considered socialism or entitlement programs were abolished. There was no welfare, libraries, health care, and homeless shelters. The government did not sympathized with the poor at all. It was a crime to give money or food to the poor. The children of the Elite were taught to loathe them and think of them as their servants. Many of the poor lost their jobs for minor reasons like being a minute late for work or making a complaint about unfair working conditions. The Elite become tired of paying their workers when humanoids were more efficient and cheaper labor. The business owners began to lay off their human workers by the masses. Families lost their homes and were kicked out by the military if they could no longer afford to pay their mortgages or rent. Hundreds of families lived on the streets in tents and cardboard boxes begging for food and money. The crime rate skyrocketed as people stole for what they could not afford. If caught, they were killed in board daylight like hunted prey and then reborn.
Even though her movie role options were limited now, as a member of the Elite, her life was practically same as before the war. A few police officers patrolled the streets, but it was nothing in comparison to the other quadrants. The military heavily guarded the borders so no humans without passes from the other quadrants could enter. Mina still partied with her Elite friends. Since birth control was illegal and females who became pregnant were forced to marry the father of their child, the Elite females learnt about humanoids and jokingly referred to them as sex machines. Underground sex clubs for the Elite were created and filled with humanoids decades ago. They populated half of Europe and the Americas. The government knew about these clubs, but the Elite got away with breaking many of the laws since they were the ones who created the government. Only sex clubs found in the third and fourth quadrants were barged into and shut down. Any human caught in one of these clubs was reborn.
She exhaled and seriously considered giving up acting. It's been half a year since she accepted a film role. None of the roles were starring roles or leading ladies. Most of the scripts were B-Movies scripts and most of them wanted her to play the pretty girl or the airhead. No one took her seriously as an actress anymore.
Jason's career continued to soar. Mina watched the award ceremonies on television from the privacy of her home. The war was slowly coming to an end in China and Mina did not feel up to mingling with those that she still saw as the enemy. The loss of her friends still raw and hearing people proudly chant the enemy's name and voicing their indifference to the war around her did not ease her pain. She was surprised to return home a month after Sailor Moon told them to surrender to find her apartment along with the majority of Europe and North America still intact and unaffected by the war. It was like the West had a barrier as powerful as the sailor scouts' barrier protecting them from attacks.
Jason won an Oscar, an Emmy, and a BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role for his portrayal of Henry VIII in the internationally praised and Academy Award winning drama, Henry and his Wives. His date for the award ceremony season was his mother. When his name was called for the winner for the best actor category, the audience erupted in cheer and gave him an elongated standing ovation. Jason beamed showing off his big movie star smile and leaned over and embraced his mother and gave her a kiss on the cheek. He stood up from his seat and embraced and shook hands with his fellow thespians even his favorite actor shook his hand and congratulated him as he made his way down the aisle and raced up the stairs to the stage. The audience continued to applaud him as he stood on stage before them holding the Oscar in his hand. He smiled down at the golden statute in his hand and then at the audience. He became full inside and blinked back the tears threatening to fall. He took a deep breath before he began his speech. The audience took their seats.
He grinned as he spoke in his natural British accent. He thanked the academy for the award. The crowd laughed when he told him that he was shocked that he got to shake his favorite actor Liam Neeson's hand, which cued to the camera showing the actor laughing. He praised his fellow competitors for Best Actor's work. He thanked God and his parents for his success. He spoke about growing up of modest means, his father's death and how it affected him and the saying that his father always told him. He brought his speech to a conclusion as he spoke about how he knew his father was looking down at him and how proud his father would be as Jason stared down at the golden statue in his hand. He lifted the Oscar up in the air with a fist pump and dedicated the award to his father. He then thanked the audience as they rose to give him another standing ovation as he was escorted off the stage. Mina smiled truly happy for him. Every award show he attended, his best actor speeches were one of the highlights of the night. He received a little backlash for his God comment in his speech, but his publicist quickly said he meant God as in Dragon. Mina snorted knowing Jason said exactly what he wanted to say.
Two days after the award ceremony, Mina spent her day lounging lazily around in her flat, avoiding her mother's calls and stuffing her face with junk food and Rocky Road ice-cream. She still had a pint-size cup in the refrigerator. She lingered around her apartment in her sweats stained from greasy potato chips and the salsa from the other day and watched movies and funny cat videos on YouTube. She cried when she saw a white cat jumping through hoopla hoops like a lion in the circus. She cried because the cat reminded her of Artemis as she stuffed her face with potato chips. Her hair was messy since she had not washed it or showered in two days. She wasted her days away in her flat. Her only escape was going partying with her Elite friends, getting wasted, and hooking up with cute reborn guys.
Mina lounged on the sofa watching a marathon of one of her favorite American sitcoms while stuffing her face with a big bag of Salt and Vinegar potato chips. The doorbell rang echoing through the apartment. Mina grew suspicious. She checked her phone and saw it was only a few minutes after seven. That was too early for a booty call. Mina grabbed the remote control off the coffee table and flipped off the telly. She hoped it was Aaron. He was a cute reborn guy she met at a local night club a couple of nights. She slipped him her number. He called her earlier and informed her that he was coming over tonight after his shift was over. She used reborns as sex toys every once in a while.
The doorbell rang again. Mina grumbled. She reluctantly got off the sofa as the potato chips crumbs fell off her sofa and onto the sofa cushions and floor. She rushed over to open the door. It was no other than Jason. He gave her a quick once over as he greeted the shocked blue-eyed blonde. She looked a hot mess with her messy, unkempt blonde hair tied in a loose knot. Her oversized gray shirt swamped her small frame covered with grease stains. Jason stepped in Mina's apartment without asking. The stale stench of the apartment hit his nostrils as soon as he crossed the threshold. She backed away as he strolled over to the kitchen and began searching through the cabinets and pantry for snacks.
Mina scowled at Jason as she closed and locked the door. It annoyed her how comfortable he was with her apartment. They secretly remained friends over the years even while dating other people. When Jason visited London, he always crashed on her sofa. They conversed regularly through phone calls and text messages. When he was stressed out about something or needed a break from the public spotlight, he would call her or sneak over to her place. Sometimes he would tell her about his relationships woes with his girlfriends. She would give him advice. But Mina noticed he never asked her about her relationships and she could see the disdained hidden behind his charming green eyes when he watched her with another man or tried to talk about her relationships. One weekend after getting dumped by a guy she was dated for a few months, she fell into a deep depression. She did not know whether she was more depressed about getting dumped or her dying movie career. News of her breakup splashed across the pages of the British tabloids the Daily Mail and News of the World. She sat in the loneliness of her dark and empty bedroom in the comfort of the darkness with a glass of vodka on the nightstand next to her. The only light came from her phone vibrating on the nightstand next to the vodka hurting her eyes. She groaned as she propped herself up and answered the phone when she saw it was Jason. He was back in town filming a periodic piece for BBC. He asked her how she was doing. She pretended to be happy and told him everything was fine.
"Mina, cut the bull. I know you. I could tell you are unhappy. What's really going on?"
He listened quietly as she told him about her boyfriend dumping her and complained how her career was in the toilet. He noticed she was more upset by the latter than the former. His remedy was getting out of town. He invited her to accompany him to Liverpool to visit his mum and siblings for the weekend. He was surprised when she agreed to accompany him. He thought the idea of meeting his mother would freak her out. He then realized that she only considered them as just friends and nothing more. She enjoyed visiting his family and meeting his childhood friends as much as they enjoyed meeting her. On the final day of their visit, Mina was in the kitchen helping Jason's mother clean up while Jason was out and about running errands for his mother with his brother. She joked about how many girlfriends Jason must bring home to meet her. His mother informed her that she was the first girl he ever brought home.
Jason searched the contents of the refrigerator. He looked normal unlike the movie star god he was on the big screen. He still looked hot in black Rise Against the Machine shirt, black leather jacket, fade blue jeans, and sneakers. It's been months since she spoke to him. He asked her a few months ago to be his date during the award season. Mina declined. He was so use to her rejecting him that he simply said okay and hung up in her face. She hated herself for being jealous of his success. While her career tanked, his continue to rise. He always picked the right movie roles. Even in his mediocre roles, critics praised his performance. He was King Midas and everything the king touched turned to gold. She was tired of being the eye candy and treated like a dumb blonde. It surprised her when he took his mother as his date instead of some Hollywood beauty or supermodel. Women threw themselves at him left and right. It wasn't like he could not have easily found another date to replace her.
"Hey!" He had gone too far. Mina rushed over to him as she saw him opened up the freezer section and now had the last pint-sized cup of Rocky Road ice-cream in his hand. He grabbed a spoon out of the drawer where she kept her utensils. "Back away from the ice-cream!"
Jason looked amused as he took a spoonful of the ice-cream in his mouth savoring the cold chocolate melting in his mouth. He moaned in delight infuriating the blonde more. He held the container of ice-cream in his hand out of her reach as he watched comically as Mina jumped up and down
as she strove to reach for the ice-cream but he was too tall for her. He chortled as he continue to eat her ice-cream moving pass her and into the living room.
Mina frowned as she grabbed a spoon out of the drawer and slammed it shut. She grabbed two beers out of the refrigerator and closed the fridge door with her hip.
"Oh my god! I can't believe this is happening to me. It seems so surreal." Jason exclaimed happy and in disbelief. He chugged down his beer. They were sitting on the sofa facing one another. The empty cup of Rocky Road ice-cream sat on the coffee table with the two spoons inside of it. It always amazed Mina how humble Jason was. He was a movie star with his star power alone drawing millions worldwide to the box office over the years and it still surprised him sometimes when good things happened to him.
Mina took a sip of her. "You deserved it. You made a pretty awesome King Henry VIII."
His mouth dropped as he feigned shock causing Mina to roll her eyes. "Oh my god, a compliment from Mina Aino. The world must be coming to an end."
You have no idea, Mina thought as she sipped her beer.
Mina found her jealousy dissipating as she propped her arm on top of the sofa with the side of her face resting against her fist. She listened fascinated for hours as Jason babbled on with the excitement of a little kid about how awesome the award season was and how much fun he had. He could not believe that so many of his favorite actors that he loved and admired since he was a kid loved his work too and congratulated him on his success. He gushed about how Liam Neeson spoke to him and posed for a picture with him. He offered him a role in his next movie. Mina laughed excited for him. She never saw Jason so open and happy and totally losing his cool composure as he went on and on like he was not the big star that he was.
Mina asked, "Have you finished with all of your interviews?"
Jason sighed relieved that the award season and interviews were finally over with. "Yes! I'm going to visit my mum tomorrow. I think she had more fun than I did."
Mina laughed. "Did she really take all of your rewards?" Jason nodded exposing his perfect toothy smile that would make a dentist proud.
"Yes! She has them all on her panel. She told me that I could get all of them back except Oscar if I settled down in my own home and give her a grandchild."
"Your mother is right. You're twenty-eight-years-old, filthy rich, can have any women you want, and you still live in two apartments." He had one in London and another one in Los Angeles. "You hardly used the one in London and constantly crashed over at my place." Mina playfully slapped his taut muscular thigh as he grinned at her.
Jason lowered his eyes. He muttered, "Yes, every woman but the one I really want." He leaned over and placed his empty beer bottle down next to the empty cup of ice-cream. He needed another drink. Jason rose from his seat grabbing the empty bottle and cup of ice-cream. Mina finished her beer off and handed it to him. He walked over to the kitchen and tossed the beer bottles and empty cup of ice-cream in the trash. Mina turned sideways on the sofa and rested her arms on the edge of the sofa watching him. He tossed the spoons in the sink then went over to her bar and poured himself a glass of liquid courage and wolfed it down his throat.
She joked teasingly, "And which Hollywood starlet could that be, Mr. Hunt? There have been a series of leading ladies in your life." She thought about all the actresses, models, and other women he dated over the years. To be honest, some of them were only hookups. He did not seem particularly serious about any of them. "Which one stole the great Jason Hunt's heart?" She badgered. His head shot up at her. Their eyes met and locked across the room. Mina's breath stilled as her body refused to allow her to break free of the penetrative gaze revealing love, desire, and despair. Mina suddenly felt hot and uncomfortable in her own skin. Butterflies fluttered in her stomach. She became flustered. She knew the answer now. She was the one he wanted.
He never took his eyes off of her as he rushed over to her in quick strides. She broke her eyes away from him and quickly turned back around in her seat sitting upright with her legs planted firmly on the ground and her hands on her lap. He sat on the coffee table in front of her. He spoke her name. She turned her head away from him. He took her hands with his. She flinched. He resisted the desire to let her hands go. He said softly, "Mina, please look at me…" She refused to look at him.
He stared at her and bared his soul to her. "I've been in love with you for the last six years. I liked you since I first saw you on Life with Julie. I lied." His hands trembled. He rambled, "I really took the role on Society because you were in it. I asked Jeff to allow me to play your love interest on the show. I knew Sailor V might be bad, but I wanted to act with you again." Mina diverted her eyes. He tilted his head. "Mina…"
She slowly turned to him. He blurted out impulsively, "Marry me, Mina."
Mina looked hurt. She cried shaking her head, "Why are you doing this, Jason? I did nothing to make you fall in love with me. I didn't lead you on or anything…" They were supposed to be friends and nothing more. Why was he changing things? Why was he complicating their relationship? She liked things the way they were. She looked like a slob and he was proposing to her.
Jason chuckled even though his heart was breaking, "Even at your worst, I still find you beautiful."
Mina shook her head. "Jason, we're friends." He felt a sharp pain in his chest. He wanted her to be happy about his proposal and to say yes. Women wanted him. They constantly objectified him on social media. Why couldn't the one he wanted have the same desire that every other woman had for him? He even noticed her little sister starting to look like other women did.
Jason stared at her with a dejected smile as he clasped her hands with his. He could feel his body stiffened under his touch. He was losing her. He pleaded, "I know and I'm trying to be a friend. I dated other women, but none of them, compared to you. I want you, Mina. I only want you."
Mina chuckled quietly trying to lighten to the serious mood. She teased, "We only dated about a month then you dumped me." Mina's heart raced and she was nervous. Movie star Jason Hunt was sitting on her sofa, asking her to marry him, and she was rejected him.
He begged with pain filled eyes. "I was stupid. Please Mina, marry me-"His confidence faltered and he felt as helpless as he did the day his father died and he could do nothing to save him. She shook his head as she blinked back the desire to cry because she knew she was hurting him.
He watched as the words slowly formed on her beautiful pink lips, I'm sorry, but I can't."
She started to apologize. He held out his hand stopping her. He did not need to hear her pity or bull about "it's not you. It's me." Or that "she hopes he finds happiness with someone else." The lies people tell you instead of just admitting they don't want to be with you. Mina remained silent.
He couldn't do this anymore. He couldn't pretend to play this friendship role anymore. He had been in love with her for six years. He tried to move on with other women, but Mina was the only one that he wanted. She was the only one he saw a future with. He wanted her and he was done pretending that he didn't desire her.
Jason abruptly stood up. Mina sat like a statue as he walked passed her. She bowed her head staring at her hands in her lap. His hand touched the doorknob unlocking the door. He glanced back at her. She refused to look at him. He retorted, "You're an idiot, Mina. We would have been great together, but I was stupid for hoping that someone as self-centered as you could care about anyone else besides yourself." Mina did not respond. "Our friendship is over. I don't want you in my life anymore." He struggled to keep his emotions in check. He added nearly inaudibly, more to himself than her, "I can't have you in my life anymore." Mina listened as the door opened and closed. She lifted her head staring off into the distance. A tear rolled down her cheek. She quickly wiped it away.
A few minutes later, someone knocked on the door. Her heart skipped a beat until she realized that it was not Jason. She opened the door and to see Aaron wearing a black vest showing all his six pack and a black leather pants and boots. She pulled him into her apartment and slammed the door shut.
Several months passed since that night, her career was still in the slumps while Jason and even Ariel's careers continued to rise. Ariel was now a big movie star. She starred in a sweet romantic love story about a troubled young girl who meets, befriends and eventually falls in love with a boy dying from a terminal illness after she witnessed her best friend's suicide. She was praised for her work and was nominated for Best Actress at the Academy Awards for her role in the movie. She did win the award for Best Actress at the MTV awards and Best Kiss for her onscreen girl on girl kiss in the hit raunchy teen comedy Cliques. She played the starring role of Emily, a good girl turned bad, who befriends the most popular girl in school Valentina, played by another popular Hollywood starlet. She becomes an outsider when Valentina becomes jealous of her and slanders her name. Emily plots her revenge on Valentina through a series of crazy schemes and eventually takes Valentina's place as the Queen Bee of the school in an over the top way. The girl on girl kiss appeared in a scene when the school geek Albert has a wet daydream about them in the middle of class.
Her latest role to receive recognition was in the independent film Eve. Jason directed and starred in the movie. He played a lonely and socially awkward but well-liked teacher named Steve Henry, who has an affair with one of his students after his girlfriend leaves him for another man. The student named Eve Addams was portrayed by seventeen-year-old Ariel. Jason did not want Ariel to play the role, but she insisted on played the part because she liked the role and wanted the challenge. When Ariel auditioned for the role, she had the best performance. Even though Patricia approved Ariel taking on the role, Jason called Mina telling her about the movie. It was the first time he spoke to her since the night she rejected him. He wanted to see if she was okay with her sister playing such as mature role since he starred in the movie also as the teacher. Mina acted indifferent and said she had no problems with it. Jason was slightly hurt that she was unbothered by her little sister playing such a mature role with him.
The controversial film received a lot of backlash before anyone saw the film. Many of the parents of Ariel's preteen fans were outraged that Ariel would take on such a role. People thought Jason was insane for creating such a movie and producing the film was career suicide. Jason argued that teacher and student relationship have been going on for generations and thanks to technology, everything is out in the open now. He was not trying to glamorize it. He wanted to expose the consequences when you cross that line and eat the forbidden fruit.
The movie received mixed reviews but mostly positive. Ariel's performance was praised especially when she goes from innocent to psychotic when Jason's character ends the affair after he finds an age appropriate relationship with a new teacher. She threatens to destroy him if he ever leaves her in a psychotic scene that would scare any man. The audience was surprised at how tasteful and dark the film was especially the scene where Eve seductively gives Steve the apple in class and the way she watches him taking a bite out of the apple. There were a couple of sex scenes. The first one was when he invites her with him on a camping trip after her boyfriend breaks up with her. She seduces him and she ends up losing her innocence to him on a blanket in the middle of the woods. The other scene is when he loses control and has angry sex with her in the shower in the girls' locker room. They are almost caught by some of the students and that was the first scene when Steve begins to come to his senses. At the end of the movie, Eve attempts to kill Steve's girlfriend by taking her by gunpoint into the woods to the spot where she first made love to Steve. As she tried to kill his girlfriend with the gun, Steve arrives and gets into a fight which ends with Steve killing Eve by stabbing her in the heart. He leaves the scene with his girlfriend thinking it was finally over. The surprise twist came at the end when the police received a mysterious package. They opened the package and were stunned to find love letters, printouts of text messages, photographs, and even a recording of their phone conversations exposing Steve's affair with Eve. Steve ended up getting arrested, his girlfriend dumped him, his career destroyed, his image tarnished, labelled as a sex offender, and sentenced to ten years in prison with no parole. He thinks he sees Eve in the courtroom and has a psychotic breakdown during the sentencing. The movie ended with Steve going insane and being locked up for the rest of his life in a mental institution forever being haunted by Eve's ghost.
Ariel turned eighteen when the movie premiered in February. One critic called the movie wicked fun and it already had a cult following. It remained the number one movie for four weeks in a row and surprised the industry when it made fifty million dragoons at the box office on a hundred thousand dragoon budget. Ariel had officially taken Mina's spot as the Hollywood starlet as she graced the cover of every major magazine. The press compared her chemistry with Jason to his with Mina and agreed that Eve blew it out of the ballpark. Rumors soon circulated that Ariel and Jason were an item, even though Jason was eleven years her senior. They both denied it. They were photographed by the paparazzi coming out of restaurants and hotel rooms together. Mina was devastated when a photographed surfaced online of Jason kissing Ariel on his sailboat. They were standing on the deck. Ariel sported a tiny red bikini with her hair tied up and her arms wrapped tightly around Jason's neck. Jason was clad in black swim trunks showing off his eighth pack. One hand was on her hip. The other hand was touching her butt.
It was late February and a month after Serena and Raye's funerals. Her mother wanted to throw a social gathering to celebrate Ariel's birthday that was two weeks ago. She was busy promoting her new movie and actually appeared on a talk show for her eighteenth birthday with Jason sitting next to her. The co-hosts on a popular morning talk show surprised Ariel near the end of the show with a surprised birthday cake and the musical guest was Ariel's favorite singer. Ariel broke down into tears as Jason pulled her into a side hug and kissed her golden hair causing everyone to awe. Mina rolled her eyes and flipped off the television.
Patricia invited her over to celebrate her sister's birthday with her family.
Mina asked, "Who's going to be there?"
Patricia said in a condescending tone, "Your family…Ariel's friends. Me, Charles, your grandmother Corrine, Ariel and Jason."
Mina rolled her eyes as she pranced around her apartment in a large shirt and panties. "I'll pass."
Patricia smiled as sat at a spa getting a manicure and pedicure by reborn manicurists at the same time. "Darling, your sister misses you. You haven't spoken to her in months. You cannot get angry at your sister for taking something that you did not want."
Mina grew irritated with her mother. She acted like Jason was her toy that Ariel took because her big sister did not want it anymore. "It's sick. She's eighteen and he is old enough to know better."
"Mina, he likes her because she reminds him of you. Your sister has been in awe with Jason since she met him. You could not see that?" Mina thought back and realized she never paid Ariel's adoration for Jason any mind. She thought it was just a little crush. She never would have imagined that her little sister was going to grow up and steal the man that she loved. Mina hesitated. She could not believe she thought she loved Jason. Mina scoffed. Who was she kidding? She already knew she was in love with Jason.
Patricia continued, "I knew Jason loved you from the way he stared at you at the dinner table the first time I met him. I watched him stared at you the entire night. He likes Ariel, but he loves you. He is in love with you. So if you want Jason, you have to let him know before someone else snatches him up."
Mina asked cynically, "Why are you telling me this? I thought Ariel was her favorite."
Patricia smiled. "I have no favorites. I love both of my children equally. It's simply easier to love Ariel since she doesn't hate me like you do."
Patricia said, "Yes you do, darling. My mother was overbearing also." Mina snorted.
Patricia said, "Darling, I'm in London today with your grandmother. You know the one you haven't seen since you were eighteen." Mina winced feeling guilty. She enjoyed spending time with her grandmother as much she enjoyed spending time with her mother. They were both snobbish and married into money. Her grandmother was more uppity and traditional in her views. She thought Mina was an old maid since she was not married by the age of twenty-five with a rich husband and two kids. It did not matter that Mina made millions from her movies and even if her movies bombed at the box office, she still got paid a decent paycheck. All Mina's grandmother was concerned about was for Mina to get married.
Mina said sardonically "I don't know. I don't feel like hearing Granny calling me a common whore again."
Patricia chuckled. "Darling, you were wearing too much makeup. You looked like a French prostitute from the nineteenth century."
"Mummy!"
Patricia gasped pretentiously when she remembered something. "Speaking of nineteenth century French prostitutes, Ariel is auditioning for the role of Corsette in Les Miserables in Barcelona, Spain. Jason already received the role of Marius." Mina had no idea that Jason had hopped back into theatre. Two of his movies he made came out this year and were number one at the box office. She was also surprised that the government was allowing a musical about rebellion to be played. She assumed that the powers that be must love the play to allow it to be performed.
"And…"
"You should audition for the role of Fanine…."
"Mummy, I'm not acting anymore."
"Mina, you are a great actress. You have a beautiful, angelic voice. You're just at low point in your career. Every actor goes through low points. You have to endure it and keep going on."
"Mum, I'm not landing roles with A-listers anymore."
"So what? You're still acting. Many people cannot say that. Maybe you need a change of venue and need to take a break from the movie business."
Mina was not used to her mother being motherly. Mina asked inquisitively, "Why would you want me to take a role in a musical with Ariel and Marius?"
Patricia smiled. "I'll see you at lunch darling."
"Mum! I did not agree to lunch!" Patricia had already hung up.
The following week Mina flew out to Barcelona. She stood in line with over one hundred actresses auditioning for different roles in the musical Les Miserables based on the novel by Victor Hugo. Mina smiled when some of the aspiring actresses asked for her autograph. She found herself posing for pictures and signing autograph. It gave her a confidence boost.
She walked on the large stage in an empty auditorium that could fit thousands with the directors and stage producer sitting in a few seats in seats in the audience.
The director looked impressed. He said, "Mina Aino, I'm a fan of your work."
"Thank you, sir." She smiled.
The stage producer asked, "What role are you auditioning for?"
Mina smiled. "I'm auditioning for Fantine."
"Sorry, luv. We've already cast that role."
Mina flushed. "I'm sorry. My publicist must have gotten the dates wrong."
The director said, "We're holding audition for the parts of Cosette, Èponine, and Madame Thѐnardier. So which role do you want to audition for?"
Cosette popped in Mina's head since Jason was playing the role of Marius. Marius and Cosette were lovers in the play. She wondered if she could win him back by performing with him again. Èponine, the daughter of Madame Thѐnardier, was secretly in love with Marius but her love is not reciprocated.
Mina said proudly, "Cosette."
The cast director smiled. "So what are going to sang for us?"
Mina said slightly embarrassed, "I am only prepared to sing 'I Dream a Dream'."
The director said, "Go ahead and sing it." He cued to the pianist. The music started playing.
Mina took a deep breath and began singing the song conveying as much emotion as she could possibly instilled in every lyric. The casting director smiled at her.
When she finished, the casting director said, "Well done, Miss Aino. We'll let you know when we made our decision." Mina nodded thanking them then walking off the stage.
Les Misérable Triangle: Jason Hunt in a Love Triangle between Two Sisters
Mina was disappointed but not surprised when she read the casting list in the newspaper. Her sister Ariel won the role of Cosette, and she was cast for Èponine. The reporter wrote about this being Jason's first time returning to the theatre since winning the Academy Award for Henry VIII and His Wives and Mina and Ariel's first time. An interesting twist since Jason has been romantically linked to both sisters and is rumored to be currently dating the youngest sister Ariel Brandon.
The casting director felt Ariel had more chemistry with Jason. Mina had to come back to audition with Jason. He looked slightly irritated to be acting with her. He constantly critiqued her performance as she sung "In My Life/ A Heart full of Love". She became upset when he brought Ariel on the stage and she sung the part of Cosette. They were in sync as they stared at each other with loving eyes like they were born to perform together. The director smiled as he stood up. He yelled, "Mina, sing Èponine's part." Jason grabbed Ariel's hand and brought her to center stage as they began to sing again. Mina looked at the script and started singing Èponine's part. The director smiled. Mina knew her fate was sealed.
April
Back in Tokyo, Mina tossed the paper down on the table as she sat in a booth at Lita's café with her friends Ami, Lita, Serena, and Raye. Serena had yet to ask her mother for the address. It's been four months since she spoken, saw, or held her daughters. She told herself that she was afraid to put them in danger. She placed on a happy façade for her friends.
Lita nuzzled her nose against a giggling Zayden's nose who sat in her mother's lap. Andrew was in the back dictating orders to the staff. Sarah and Josh played in the game room. Sarah missed Rini. It was an emotional good-bye the day Rini left, but she was coping okay without her best friend. She was happy that she had Josh to play with.
Mina groaned in disgust as she tossed the paper down on the table. She knew the end of the world was coming and compared to that, her problems were insignificant.
Raye swiped the paper off the table and began reading it.
Serena laughed. "Wow! You're acting the part of the jilted lover to your baby sister and your ex-boyfriend's love affair for public display in front of an audience."
Mina said not amused, "Ha ha…"
Ami smiled. "I personally love Èponine. She's my favorite character. I loved Samantha Barks' rendition of Èponine. She embodies the spirit of the character."
Raye said, "It's your fault. You should have told him how you felt."
Mina snapped back, "You're one to talk. You let Chad get married to another woman." Raye sneered.
Serena smirked at Raye with a knowing expression. Raye looked at her with disbelief and tilted her head. Serena said looking directly at Raye, "She's sleeping with him."
Raye frowned looking at Serena. "Traitor." Serena snorted.
Lita, Ami, and Mina's eyes widen. Mina asked, "Spill! Who?"
Lita asked quickly, "Sleeping with whom?" Lita totally forgot about her child on her lap for a moment. Zayden wiggled out of his mother's embrace and crawled down off of his mother's lap. He saw Josh and Sarah playing table hockey in the game room. He had just learnt to walk a few days ago. He stumbled as he stepped on the black and white checkered floor. He fell and decided to crawl into the game room passed the patrons. He was almost there before his father scooped him up and took him into his office with him. Zayden pouted.
Serena smiled sipping her soda as Andrew walked passed them tisking at Lita, who completely ignored him along with the rest of the girls. "Chad! It's been going on for months. Ever since the funeral. I came in her room to ask for a toothbrush and caught them banging on the bathroom sink."
Ami was slightly appalled looking at Raye. "That's sick! You hook up with somebody at a funeral. Your own funeral! He was grieving about your death!" Raye shrugged her shoulders.
Raye snapped back, "And you are screwing your attendee who is thirteen years older than you and works for the government." Ami's eyes widen becoming flustered.
Before Ami could ask how she knew, Raye said pointing to herself, "Psychic." Ami shut her mouth as Serena, Lita, and Mina looked at her speechless.
Serena turned to Raye. "He's married, Raye?"
Raye looked at Serena, "You screwed the painter while you were married to Darien. So you have no right to judge."
Lita, Ami, and Mina looked at a flustered Serena.
Mina asked confused, "The painter?"
Raye looked at Mina. "She slept with Jake Kelly then her husband a few days later. She doesn't know who Katie's father is. That's why Darien left her because she cheated on him. Darien and Serena are too scared to find out the truth so they never took a DNA test."
Serena frowned at Raye and lashed out, "That's enough, Raye."
She snapped at Serena, "You're not perfect Serena and have no right to judge me or anyone else. She glanced at all for her friends. "Lita slept with Andrew while technically still married to Nick." Lita looked horrified. "Mina is a slut who can't commit." Mina frowned. "Serena cheated on her husband. Ami is sleeping with her boss." Raye slammed her hands on the table looking at all of them. "And yes, I am having an affair with a married man and I am enjoying every second of it." Her eyes landed on a pissed off Serena.
Raye sighed calming down. "The world is going to end soon. We are probably all going to be dead in seven months. My life is empty and boring. I have nothing. I've never been with a guy before. Chad's my first. If my story is going to end, let it end happily. I don't care what is right or wrong. I just want to be happy instead of going home to an empty bed at night." She said softly, "Chad makes me happy."
The girls sighed as they felt sorry for Raye. She was right. None of them were perfect. They all made mistakes and did things that they were not proud off. Serena's anger melted for Raye. She smiled weakly, "Just be careful. Married men never leave their wives."
Raye looked confused. "Darien left you."
Serena laughed at herself. "You're right." For a moment, she forgot that she was once married and her husband left and divorced her for another woman. They burst into laughter at Serena. They apologized to one another and all agreed to attend Mina's play.
The night before the opening of the musical, Mina woke up to a loud banging on the door of her hotel suite in Barcelona. She got out of bed wiping the sleep from her eyes dressed in a tank top and short shorts. She yawned covering her mouth with one hand and massaging the top of her messy hair with the other. She peeped through the peephole and was surprised when she saw it was Jason. She opened the door and Jason barged in without asking if he could come in. Mina closed the door behind her and locked up. He looked agitated and frustrated. She watched him as he stood in the middle of the room composing his thoughts.
Jason stared at her with livid eyes. Mina swallowed. She was a nervous wreck inside but appeared stoic on the outside. She had no idea why he was there.
Jason asked bluntly, "Why are you doing this play?"
Mina pondered his question. Before she found out the world was going to end, she would have answered she was doing this to see if she could act, if she still had that something special that make an actor great. Now, that she knew the world was going to end soon. She wanted to give her best performance and to enjoy what could be her last performance. But she knew she could not tell Jason that.
Mina said in a deadpanned voice, "Because if I don't do it, I'll quit acting."
Jason looked surprised. "Because your movies aren't doing as well as they used to?"
Mina nodded her head. "I'm not used to getting panned so often by the critics. They used to love me."
Jason said, "If you seek the approval of others, then you'll never be happy."
Mina walked towards him. "I lost it." He knew what she was talking about. He'd been there before.
She stood in front of him. "You didn't lose it, Mina. You're not the same person that you were when you started. You started when you were eighteen like Ariel." An irritated expression came across Mina's face when he mentioned her name. She diverted her eyes to the ground. She felt a hand lifted up her chin. She found herself looking in his eyes. Jason tilted his head. "I'm not with Ariel." Was she that transparent? She thought about the picture splashed across the front pages of the tabloids with his hand on her sister's butt. "I took Ariel sailing because she feeling stressed out about work. She was exhausted so she kissed me and it caught me off guard. The paparazzi caught me at that moment." Mina looked at him unconvinced. She walked off. He grabbed her arm pulling her back to him.
He said firmly staring her directly in the eyes. "I'm not sleeping with your little sister. We're just friends."
Mina retorted, "Then why are you spending so much time with her? The restaurants, the hotel rooms…"
He replied, "She's a friend and we stayed in separate hotel rooms." Mina still did not believe him as she pulled her arm freed.
Mina sighed upset. "It doesn't matter, Jason. She likes you. She always liked you."
"I know. That's why I was reluctant to do the movie with her, but you were fine with it."
Mina yelled startling him, "What do you want from me Jason? Why are you here?"
Jason simply stared at her. He could see the rage in her eyes. Mina said in a tired voice, "What do you want from me, Jason? Do you want sex because my bedroom is right there?" She pointed to the bedroom. "And there are plenty of men that have been with me, Jason?" His face became hard and expressionless.
He hated when she attempted to trivialized their relationship. He lashed out sharply, "Stop it, Mina! I don't care about your sex life. If I wanted you for sex, I could have had you a long time ago. My feelings go deeper than a quick shag. I genuinely care about you." Jason paused. "You want to know the real reason that your career is in a slump?"
Mina rolled her eyes. "Why? Tell me, Mr. Hollywood movie star."
"People are tired of seeing you playing the same character in every role. You play yourself. You have no range. Susan has been booking movies based on your personality. In those roles where you play yourself, you excel in. Movies that you don't, you flop. Instead of being yourself in Sailor V, you played it too serious and it did not work. Even though the writing was horrible, the film was poorly edited, and the plot was stupid, if you would have played yourself then the critics would not have panned you. You can't take a superhero movie too seriously. You have to be conscious of the silliness."
"Wow! So you telling me I can't act?"
"You can remember your lines, but besides the movie you won an Academy Award for and Illegal, you play the same character over and over, and people liked your movies because they like you. Yet if you want your career to continue, you have to show the world there is more to Mina Aino than another pretty face. Don't worry about what the critics think. Take a risk and lose yourself in the role. Become Èponine tomorrow night." With that, he walked passed her, opened the door, shut it behind him, and he was gone.
The first night of the performance, Mina was a bunch of jittery nerves. This was her first play and she was worried she was going to screw up and forget her lines. She was dressed in her costume which was a brown tatty corset and a matching tatty floor length skirt a raggedly brown hat and oversized brown trench coat covering her body. Her makeup very plain and her face covered with patches of dirt. Everyone looked at her in shock. It took everyone a second to process that she was Mina and not just some average girl from the streets. She dyed her hair black last night. Well, she used her powers to change her hair but they did not need to know that. Jason and Ariel approached her dressed as their characters, Marius and Cosette and greeted her.
Ariel said bashfully, "Wow! You look amazing, Mina." It's been months since she spoke to her sister. The last time she could remember was at Serena's funeral.
Jason gave her a once over obviously enthralled with her transformation. She transformed from the glamorous movie star to a plain Jane almost invisible and unnoticeable. "Yes, you look like Èponine."
Mina simply smiled at Jason. She was still upset with him for coming to her hotel room last night and saying that she could not act. She was determined to prove him wrong. She feared she was also trying to prove herself wrong too.
Her friends arrived in fancy gowns and tuxedos. Serena, Raye, and Chad accompanied Lita and Andrew on their private jet from Tokyo. They left the children with Irene who happily volunteered to watch the children. Lita offered to pay her, but Irene declined. Lita told her that she felt guilty about burdening her with her children and Zayden constantly cried at nighttime. Irene said if she really wanted to give her something, she wanted to try her famous Lita's treats. An amused Lita agreed to give a flushed Irene free samples. Ami arrived with Eddie. She was surprised when her friends happily accepted Eddie. No one cared about the age difference. They sat in floor seats a few rows from the stage. The lights started to dim. The show was about to start.
Mina walked onto the stage that was designed like the nocturnal streets of nineteenth century Paris. Her friends sat in the audience covered in darkness. The only light shined on her. It was time for her to sing her solo. She listened as the orchestra started playing. The sound of raindrops filled the room. She was unaware that her mother and grandmother were sitting in the balcony seats watching her performance.
Les Miserables' "On my Own"
And now I'm all alone again,
Nowhere to go, no one to turn to.
Did not want your money sir,
Came out here cuz i was told to.
And now the night is near,
Now i can make believe he's here.
Sometimes i walk alone at night
When everybody else is sleeping.
I think of him, and then i'm happy
With the company i'm keeping.
The city goes to bed,
And i can live inside my head.
On my own,
Pretending he's beside me.
All alone,
I walk with him 'til morning.
Without him,
I feel his arms around me.
And when i lose my way i close my eyes
And he has found me.
Still dressed as Marius, Jason joined the production crew standing on the side of the stage watching her performance. The crew was shocked to see him. But they were completely oblivious to him. He stood completely captivated by Mina's performance as he watched her become Èponine and conveyed everything that Èponine felt for Marius.
In the rain,
The pavement shines like silver.
All the lights are misty in the river.
In the darkness,
The trees are full of starlight.
And all i see is him and me forever and forever.
Mina's friends and family choked up watching her performance. Serena's eyes sparkled with tears. She glanced around at an audience completely captivated by Mina's beautiful voice. She noticed Patricia and Mina's grandmother sitting in the balcony section. Her mouth dropped when she look at the balcony next to Patricia and Mina's grandmother and saw no other than Darien sitting there looking sharp, handsome, and regal in a dark tuxedo. His wife Karen sat next to him adorned in diamonds, her hair styled in a French twist with dangling curls. She was dressed in a beautiful pink gown with long elbow length gloves. Their ten-year-old son sat completely fascinated by the beautiful actress on stage as he watched her performance through tiny binoculars. Katie and Rini were not with them. Serena wondered where her daughters were. Darien smiled as he listened to Mina's performance. Karen leaned over and whispered something in his ear that caused him to chuckle quietly. They seemed happy together.
And i know
It's only in my mind,
That i'm talking to myself
And not to him.
And although I know that he is blind,
Still I say,
There's a way for us.
I love him,
But when the night is over he is gone.
The river's just a river.
Without him,
The world around me changes.
The trees are bare and everywhere
The streets are full of strangers.
I love him,
But every day I'm learning
All my life,
I've only been pretending!
Without me,
His world will go on turning,
A world that's full of happiness that I have never known!
I love him...
Mina glanced at Jason as their eyes met and locked with one another. His eyes widen at what he saw. Her blue eyes were filled with love, longing, sadness, and regret that caught him off guard. She was singing to him. After six years, she was finally telling him those three words that he longed to hear from her lips through an entire song. She was telling him that she loved him through the music. He felt completely vulnerable yet captivated by her at the same time.
I love him...
I love him...
She turned back to the audience for the final verse.
But only on my own...
When the music stopped, Mina received a long standing ovation from the audience many crying especially her friends. Patricia had tears in her eyes as she watched her daughter's performance. Jason smiled as he applauded her performance along with the production crew. She glanced at him for a moment. He mouthed proudly, "Well done!" Mina smirked. She turned back to the crowd still applauding her.
In a later scene, Marius held a dying Èponine in his arms. She had been fatally wounded when she was shot at the barricades. They sung "A Little Fall of Rain" then Èponine dies. Marius gently kissed her hair. After the cast sung the final song, the crowd gave them a standing ovation that last for ten minutes.
Mina glanced over at Jason who stood next to Ariel as the cast stood on the stage as the crowd gave them a standing ovation. She then turned back to the crowd. Jason glanced at Mina and smiled. He embraced Ariel who smiled as he placed a light kiss on her hair.
Mina laughed, danced and partied with her friends in her hotel room. Pitbull's "Timber" played loudly on the radio. Andrew mixed drinks as he moved his body to the beat. Lita danced with Serena and Mina. Rei and Chad danced cuddled up together. Ami and Eddie danced together. Patricia and Mina's grandmother covered their ears as they sat by the bar. Her grandmother Corrine complained about the vulgar and tasteless music as Patricia drank a glass of scotch.
The doorbell rang. Mina slightly tipsy left from Serena and Lita danced her way to the door. She was shocked when she abruptly opened the door and to Ariel and Jason standing in the hallway. Ariel wore a pretty blue wrapped dress while Jason sported a blue shirt, dark jeans, and black loafers with his black leather jacket. He had one of his hand tucked by his back. Lita turned off the radio and everyone stopped moving as they turned their attention to their door. Even Corrine was interested.
Mina gave her sister and Jason the once over with a blank expression on her face. Her eyes locked with her sister's innocent ones. Ariel became nervous and fidgety. Mina tilted her head against the door as she stared at Jason for a long time as they challenged one another. There was a movement of awkward silence. The room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Ariel and Jason looked worried that Mina was going to slam the door in their faces. Mina suddenly smiled and moved to the side allowing them to enter.
Mina happily embraced her sister, "You were amazing tonight."
Ariel pulled away from her sister looking her straight in the eyes. "I learnt from the best." Mina snorted.
Ariel asked happily, "Can I drink?"
Mina paused for a moment as she looked at a hopeful Ariel knowing her mother was listening.
Mina sighed and shrugged her shoulders. "Don't tell mum." Ariel jumped up excited as she hugged her sister before rushing to the bar only to halt when she saw her disapproving mother and grandmother.
Patricia said challenging her daughter, "I wish you would."
Ariel turned to her big sister and frowned. Mina grinned. "Now, we're even." Ariel huffed. Mina knew that she would be over it in thirty seconds.
She turned to Jason as he stepped in. She smiled when he pulled a bouquet of red roses from his behind his back. She thanked him as she happily accepted them. He said happily, "You were Èponine tonight. You were amazing." He closed the door behind himself.
Mina was flattered. "Thank you." She added quietly, "And I believe you." He looked confused. She whispered, "I know nothing happened between you and Ariel."
She could see the relief in his eyes. He found himself being dragged by her with her arm wrapped around his. She said as they walked towards her friends, "There are some people I want to introduce you too." Jason laughed.
All eyes were on Jason Hunt. Her friends discreetly checked out Jason Hunt, admiringly the beautiful man in front of them. Eddie, Andrew, and Chad became upset. Jason was slightly caught off guard when the girls referred to him in third person.
Lita said, "He's hot."
Andrew lashed out, "Lita, get your butt over here." Lita pouted like a little girl as she walked over to the bar to her husband.
Ami blushed. "He's really tall in person." Eddie cleared his throat. Ami became squeamish.
Raye said gazing into his eyes, "I love his eyes." She huffed when she found herself being pulled backwards into Chad's arms. She smiled when she felt his desire for her.
Serena said flirting with him trying to get a rise out of Mina, "I've seen all of your movies and you are amazing in all of them."
Jason smiled at her and said pointing at Serena, "Finally, some referred to me as if I am a person and not a piece of meat." He looked at all of the girls. "It's a pleasure to meet you all. Mina talks about you guys all the time."
Mina laughed, "Back off my man." Serena laughed.
Jason gave them amused smile. Mina said happily, "Guys…." She gestured to Jason. "Guys, this is my boyfriend Jason Hunt, he's a fellow thespian like me."
Lita joked, "What lesbian like yourself?"
Mina frowned at Lita. "You're one to talk." Everyone gave them an awkward look as Andrew looked at Lita perplexed. He laughed as Lita playfully nudged him. Jason laughed. "Anyway, this is my boyfriend. Jason, these are my best friends in the world. Ami, Lita, Alex, and Raven." She pointed to the each of the girls as they greeted him. She pointed to the guys. "That's Andrew, Lita's husband." Each of the guys waved. "That's Eddie; he's a cardiologist and Ami's boyfriend. That's Chad. He's Raven's friend." Jason shook hands with the guys. She turned him to her mother and grandmother Corrine. "And of course you know my mother Patricia and grandmother."
Jason said, "Of course I do." He walked over to a smiling Patricia and Corrine and greeted them with a kiss on the cheek.
Jason looked at Mina amused. "So I'm your boyfriend now?"
Mina's eyes widen. She shook her head. She turned to her friends. "Guys, I'm sorry. He's my fiancé. We're engaged. He asked me to marry him so I'm saying yes." Jason laughed amused as everyone's mouth dropped in astonishment. Patricia and Corrine looked the most pleased. Patricia grabbed Jason's arm. He turned to her. She asked happily in disbelief clasped her hands together in front of her in a praying gesture, "Please tell me prayers have been answered and you are marrying my daughter?" Jason was tickled by the situation and Mina was clearly drunk.
Jason laughed. "That was a year ago, and you're wasted." The girls' eyes widen in excitement.
Mina asked slurring over her words, "Oh… was their expiration date on when I could say yes?"
Jason paused. He leaned down and kissed her. They smiled as they broke apart. "I guess we're engaged then." Mina smiled. The girls looked happy as they screamed and jumped up and down as they embraced Mina and Jason. Patricia and Corrine pushed Mina aside and embraced Jason hugging him tightly. Mina laughed. Her grandmother hugged her, "For the first time in your life you have made me proud. Thank God!" Mina became slightly offended. She looked at Jason who shook his head smiling. She sighed and smiled back at him.
Ariel hugged Jason and her sister. Mina asked as Jason stood behind her wrapping his arms tightly around her and resting his head on top of her. Mina asked Raye, "Can't you marry us? You're a priestess. We could get marry tonight." Chad arched an eyebrow.
Before Raye could speak, Patricia cut in. She shook her head. "No way! I have been planning
your wedding since the day you were born. My daughter is not going to have some quick wedding. Your wedding will be in a church by a priest. There will be an orchestra, doves flying, white roses, and large wedding that will rival the royals' wedding."
Mina nodded. "Okay, I'll let mum plan the wedding."
Jason added, "Yeah, my mum will probably kill me too if I were to get married and she is not there.
Patricia laughed, "It's going to be the wedding of the century." Mina smiled as she hugged Jason. She looked at the girls. She remembered that the end of days was coming soon. She did not have time for a wedding that would take a year of planning.
Mina quickly added to her mother, "Mom, can you plan a wedding for October? I want it to be on my birthday." She looked at the girls for approval. "Is my birthday okay?"
Serena nodded. The interaction confused Patricia. Patricia asked, "Why rush darling? Jason and you have your whole lives to be together."
Mina embraced Jason and looked into his eyes. "Because I have wasted so much time not being with him. Life is short. No regrets." Jason smiled at her.
Patricia conceded. "Well if my daughter wants a wedding on her birthday, then she would get a wedding on her birthday. I'll work my magic." Mina rushed over to her mother and embraced her. Patricia smiled as she closed her eyes and Mina closed hers. It had been a long time since Patricia held her daughter like this.
Serena smiled at the bittersweet moment. Mina's wedding was on Judgment Day. She sighed. At least, they would leave this world on happy note.
Everyone soon departed leaving Jason and Mina alone. The celebration party for Mina's opening night had become an engagement party. Ami and Eddie flew back to the United States. Ariel accompanied her mother and grandmother to the airport as she watched them fly back to London.
Serena accompanied Lita, Andrew, Chad, and Raye to the privately owned tarmac where the private jet was stationed. The pilots sat in the cockpit and started the engine causing a powerful gust of wind raged around them. Lita and Andrew held onto the railings as they climbed up the stairs of the private jet. Chad followed. Raye turned around. The wind blew her short hair in her face. She saw Serena standing there looking at them board the plane but not moving.
Raye asked already knowing the answer, "What's going on?"
Serena scoffed. "There's something I need to take care of. I'll return home soon."
Raye smiled. "Always the procrastinator." Serena smirked. Raye nodded as she read Serena's thoughts. Serena smiled and nodded at her.
Raye turned around and boarded the plane. Raye walked over to the cockpit and gave them the order to take off. Andrew, Lita, and Chad looked puzzled when the flight attendant closed the door to the jet.
Lita and Andrew watched Raye, completely at ease, and she sat in the seat by the window next to Chad and across from them. Raye stared out the window to see Serena still standing there watching them. "She's not coming." Everyone looked shocked then calmness and understanding came over them. Andrew smirked as he relaxed his head against the seat. About time, he thought.
Raye pressed her hand on the window. Serena held up her hand. Serena watched with her hand shielding her face as her friends zoomed off on the jet heading back to Tokyo. Raye watched her until she could no longer see her and Serena stood there long after she could no longer see and hear the jet.
Serena had linked with Darien's son Derrick during the musical. She knew where Darien was. He lived there in Barcelona with their daughters. Darien and their daughters still believed along with the most of the world that she was dead. It was time for Serena to meet face to face with Darien. The fate of the world depended on it.