Steve banged on the door again, for the third time. "Rachel!" he shouted, his voice tight, "I know you're there. open up, dammit." He pounded again. Damn woman. "Rachel..." he said, his tone changing to velvet in an instant, "Open up, baby... you don't wanna leave me here standing in the hall, do ya sugar? I know you've had time to cool off. Let me in so we can work it all out, angel puss. I won't hurt you I promise.... Didn't I promise that? Didn't I say I'd never hit you again? You can believe me this time. Honey. I have roses..."
A vein popped out in Steve's temple as he tried to hold back his rage. "You know you're no good without me angelbaby. Take me back and we'll get it all worked out. " Silence.
"Damn you bitch!" he threw the roses to the floor and stomped on them with his boots, grinding the red petals into the carpet of the hallway, kicking at the door. "I know you need me! I know you want me angelbaby. The police told me I had to stay away, that you'd put a restraining order on me but I know that's bullshit because you love me and you want me and you need me. And you'll come back, or I'll find you. You know I will. Slut! You're probably with some other man, aren't you?" The image sent Steve over the edge and he ripped the mailbox off the wall of the apartment hallway, throwing it beneath his feet. Then he punched out the lightbulb above her door, before whaling on the door with his fists.
A berserk hysteria had overtaken him, and he was only barely aware of the spatters of blood coming from his cut fist. Looking down at his hand he remembered how it felt to plow it into Rachel's chin and breasts. That's what she needed. A little reminder of who the boss was. She'd be ever so grateful, and things would be rosy again. "I'll find you, angelslut. We'll make everything O fucking K."
With one more blow to the door that made the wood shudder he straightened his tie and smoothed back his hair. "Don't worry baby," he muttered. "I'll make everything OK."
++++++++++++++++++
AJ hummed a bit to himself as he made his way to the crew van. What to do? Myumi was so different that many of the women he had gone out with... he didn't want to mess up.
Under her overalls that night Myumi wore a grey velvet long sleeved scoop neck leotard, and after the show she put on a long black wraparound skirt and chunky heels. She was so nervous! There was a knock on the crew door and she grabbed a spanish shawl and her bag. She had already put her hair up in a loose chignon and touched up her makeup.
She opened the door and saw AJ. looking debonair in a bright shirt under a black jacket. He whistled. "Oooh, moonflower you look gorgeous!"
"You too." said Myumi, blushing.
"So, what do you prefer, loud and crowd or quiet?"
"Quiet, please."
"Fair enough, milady. Let's go!"
Myumi took his arm. He was just such a vital man. Looking down at her fingers on his arm Myumi's face suddenly paled. Two of her fingers were white. Dear Lord, not now... one of the symptoms of Lupus was a circulation condition, when her outer extremities went cold and numb. She pulled her hand back out and put it under the shawl, rubbing the fingers vigorously with her other hand.
"Myumi? You OK?"
"Um, yeah... just a bit cold."
"Cold?" it seemed nice enough for AJ. "Well, here." taking off his jacket he placed it over her shoulders. She was immediately surrounded by his warmth and that elusive spicy AJ scent.
Smiling up at him she said "Thanks."
They went to the same Italian restaurant that Howie had take Rachel. During dinner they made small talk, AJ making Myumi laugh often at his jokes and impersonations. He though he had never seen anything so lovely as his companion. After dinner he walked her back to the bus, arm in arm.
'Well, thanks, Myumi, that was really nice."
"Likewise." said Myumi smiling.
For a moment they just looked at each other, smiling, then AJ moved in and gently kissed her lips. It was achingly sweet for them both.
"Petals." AJ whispered. "Moonflower petals. Good night."
"Good night." she murmured as he walked away.
Myumi put her hand to her lips and smiled. Wow. She floated in to her bunk and began to get ready for bed. When she took off her nylons
she gasped: three toes on her left foot where white and numb. Swallowing hard, she rubbed them. "No... no..."
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