Before
& AfterSurprises
Michelle's diary...
"Once I felt his lips on mine I found myself. It was like before then I
didn't exist. It was the oddest experience. I thought I knew everything there
was to know about me. Then he was there and it was like being reborn. The world
was a whole new place. I saw things differently. Colors were new to me. I could
actually see and feel the color blue, and the color green, oh my God, it was
beautiful. I mean, I'll never forget the first time I had chocolate cake after
that day on the beach. It actually tasted different. It was heaven. . The
simplest most mundane things became exciting. Everything I took for granted
before...well before him, I can't explain it...It was wonderful. My senses were
heightened. He made me feel alive. Danny taught me how to breathe. I needed to
be with him..."
Michelle - The Present
Michelle stared at the note and couldn't stop trembling. Her whole body shook.
The paper twitched in her hand and then it fell to the floor. Floating to the
cool Italian tile as if in slow motion. She felt the air being sucked from the
room. Time stood still. It was hot and she needed to get out. She needed to
breathe. Without thinking of the consequences she ran to the door and left the
apartment. The elevator was too slow, she chose the stairs instead. She took the
steps in twos, at each landing she felt the past coming closer to her. Flying
past the door man and outside the building. Oblivious to the noises on the
street she ran. People saw her coming and moved out of her way. Finally she
stopped to catch her breath. She found herself in the park, near a playground
and sat on one of the swings.
Sinking into the seat, she grasped the metal chains and laughed, "Well
Danny, you remembered how much I love surprises."...
Michelle - The Past
After that first kiss, everything became a matter of measuring the time they
spent apart. She lived for the moments they could be together. In the beginning,
she never knew when she would see him. No one was aware of their relationship.
It was their secret.
It was a week later and nothing. Michelle didn't know what to expect. She was
dying to see him again. She had no idea how to find him and it was driving her
crazy. Tossing and turning in her bed, she looked at the clock and realized that
she would have to get up soon. The Lewis annual Bar-B-Que was today. She hadn't
seen Bill since the day at the beach either. Keeping him away had been
relatively easy. Claiming she had her period and wasn't feeling well had been
the perfect excuse. She covered her head with the pillow and screamed into it.
"ARGHHH!" She lay there debating the pros and cons of telling Rick and
Abby that she wasn't going to the Lewis house. She figured the argument was not
worth it and got up and headed for the shower. While she washed her hair she
dreamed about seeing him and asking him all of the questions she had piling up
in her mind. "What's your favorite color? Do you like chocolate cake? Do
you love horror movies? Do you work? What do your parents do? Tell me about your
family..."
Downstairs, Abby and Rick were getting ready to go. Abby was putting the
finishing touches on a cake.
"Hey there. I was just getting ready to go upstairs to tell you that we're
ready to leave. You've been sleeping a lot lately.
"Have I Rick?" she asked as she prepared herself a cup of coffee. I
wonder if he drinks coffee?
""Let's see, yesterday you came downstairs at noon. The day before
that I didn't see you before I left for the hospital at 2 o'clock...yeah! I'd
say you're sleeping a lot."
"Ha. Ha. Ha. I'm on vacation. Remember."
"Well, you're lucky. When I was a senior I finished school with the rest of
the students. I can't believe you only had one class this semester."
"Oh Please, Rick."
"Have you sent the papers in to Stanford, yet?"
"Riicckk.", Abby warned.
"No Rick. I have some time still. I'll do it soon."
"What are you waiting for?"
"Nothing. Give me a break."
"Okay, okay. My goodness your in a great mood. Why hasn't Bill be around
lately?"
Michelle glared at him.
"Let's go Rick. Michelle we'll see you at the party. There's some pancake
mix in the refrigerator. Eat something." Abby, always the referee, stopped
the discussion before it could become a fight.
"Thanks. I'll be there soon." She watched them leave and sat at the
kitchen table with her coffee.
She picked up the newspaper, "Getting motivated for the Lewis Bar-B-Que is
going to be harder than I thought", she said out loud.
"I bet.", the voice was behind her. An arm reached around and grabbed
the paper from her hands. Her heart did a flip flop and she forgot to breathe.
Turning around she faced him. Breathe...
"Will you ever stop doing that?"
"Doing what?" He feigned innocence.
"Surprising me!"
"I think you like surprises." , His voice was lower. Danny kneeled
down beside her chair . God he's gorgeous. Those eyes. She turned away from his
intense gaze. Her heart was pounding. She felt nervous.
He reached out with his hands turned her face towards him. He held her in a
gentle caress. She pulled back.
"What are you doing here?", she looked around, nervous that Rick or
Abby would show up and find him there.
"Relax, I made sure that they left before coming in. So tell me about this
exciting picnic at the Lewis home." That's easy for you to say...He's here.
In my house. Oh God. What do I do??
"Picnic? It's a Bar-b...", she started and realized it was a stupid
clarification that she did not need to make. She composed herself and stood up,
"Anyway, how are you?"
"I'm fine. How are you?", he smiled.
"I'm ready to jump into your arms and make you carry me upstairs.",
she felt her face turn red with her thoughts.
"Fine.", she recovered her voice.
Suddenly he was standing before her. When his lips met with hers she felt a
myriad of feelings rush through her. This was not an ordinary kiss. Her mind
opened up to the sensation of pent up hunger-- A gnawing feeling she had never
recognized in herself before. Her body felt like it was on fire as his tongue
made circles with her own and she knew that she never wanted this to end. Desire
surged through and exploded inside her. It was meant to be...
Michelle - The Present
She heard laughter and it brought her back from the depths of her memories. A
young couple ran passed her. The boy chased the girl around the jungle gym until
they collapsed on the ground in fits of laughter. Michelle turned away when they
began to kiss.
What am I going to do? How can I stay away from him? I have to see him. Even if
it means losing everything...
She didn't see Bill approaching. His face was a mask of anger. Furious, his feet
pounded the pavement until he was standing in front if her.
"What the hell is this?", he waved Danny's note in her face like a
madman.
She ripped the note from his hands and brought it to her chest. Protecting the
only material connection she had to Danny. "Give me that!"
"Are you fucking around behind my back? Michelle, I swear if you
are...", his chest heaved up and down in massive gasps for breath.
"Bill! Lower your voice.", she pleaded as she noticed the people in
the park watching.
"How long have you been fucking that low life this time?", he spit in
her face.
Before she knew what was happening her hand flew to his face making contact with
his cheek. The impact caused his face to turn. She immediately grabbed at her
hand and brought it to her mouth shocked at her action, "Oh!" She
stared at her husband bracing herself.
He turned to her and laughed. "Well, well, well, The ice queen
reacts..."
She walked away from him then. He ran after her and grabbed at her .
"Don't you dare walk away from me."
"Get your hands off of me." She yelled.
A passerby who had been jogging through the park came towards them. "Hey
buddy! Get your hands off the lady."
"Stay out of this.", Bill said as he turned to the jogger.
Michelle took the opportunity to run for the street. As she got to the curb a
cab drove up and let a passenger out. Michelle hopped in and slammed the door.
"Drive!"
"Hey lady, I don't want no trouble..."
Bill began banging on the door. "Just go!" she yelled at the driver.
"Please!"
The driver hit the gas pedal and the car sped away leaving behind Bill and the
lie of a marriage they had shared...
Danny - The Present
Danny listened to the hotel clerk drone on about the hotels commodities.
"Mr. Santos, will that be all?"
"Yes, that's fine...umm" he read the name tag on the mans
breast,"...Brett. Thank you."
"Please contact the front desk if you need anything. We hope you have a
pleasant stay." The man left and he loosened his tie.
The hotel suite was luxurious. His feet sank on the cushioned surface of the
cream colored carpet as he walked to the bedroom. Dropping his shirt on the
queen-sized bed he barely took notice of the understated elegance of the room.
All he wanted and needed was a shower to wash off the hours of travel. He could
feel how close he was to Michelle. In this large metropolis, he felt her
presence as if she were in the room with him. He removed his clothes and moved
into the bathroom. Running the water in the shower he climbed into the steamy
mist.
The pulsing water ripped at his contorted muscles and he began to relax...
Danny - The Past
He drove his silver mustang through the streets of Springfield rushing to her
house. He had to get there as fast as he could.
"Damn it.", he banged his fist against the steering wheel. He was
racing against time. Hoping, praying that Michelle had not had access to the
newspapers. Since their meeting on the beach he had been mulling over his
decision to ask her to stay in Springfield. How could I have even considered
letting this girl become part of my life? She's gonna run as soon as she figures
out who you are. And with the headlines in The Journal today...
SANTOS ACQUITTED!
Prominent Springfield businessman, Miguel Santos, has been acquitted on charges
of tax evasion. Mr. Santos, supposed head of a statewide crime family, made a
short statement on the steps of the Springfield Courthouse late yesterday
afternoon surrounded by his wife, Carmen and his two sons, Miguel Jr. and
Daniel, "I am happy to be proven innocent. My family thanks the good
citizens of Springfield. Thank you."
The State District Attorney noted the disappointment in losing such a high
profile case....
The article was accompanied by a family picture that made his father proud.
Danny knew Michelle was going to freak out once she saw he was a Santos. Why
should you care? She's part of the so called honest citizens who love to condemn
you for your last name. He watched Michelle's house for what seemed like hours.
When he saw her brother and sister-in-law leave he got out of his car and walked
to the house.
"Typical.", he muttered as he turned the door knob and the door opened
without resistance.
She looked beautiful sitting at the table with her coffee, oblivious to his
presence. He saw the newspaper on the table. She's read it...
Leave. What are you going to do? Apologize for who you are? Try to explain? He
took one last look at her. She picked up the newspaper...
He was standing behind her and reaching for the paper before he could talk
himself out of it.
"Getting motivated for the Lewis Bar-B-Que is going to be harder than I
thought."
"I bet." He had the paper twisted up behind his back before she could
face him.
"Will you ever stop doing that?"
"Doing what?"
"Surprising me!"
"I think you like surprises." Oh! That's smooth Santos. Damn! I want
to kiss her...
For the moment he forgot why he had taken the newspaper away from her. He stared
into that perfect face. The big brown eyes, plump lips and almost convinced
himself that it wasn't a mistake for him to be there.
Through the noise of the water he heard the phone ringing. He broke from his
reverie and wondered who could be calling. No one knew where he was. He had made
all of his travel arrangements personally.
He listened to the shrill ringing. Whoever was calling was being persistent. He
turned off the water. The ringing had stopped. Good...
Then it began again. Why don't they leave a message? He wondered.
He wrapped the plush hotel towel around his waist and walked towards the ringing
phone. It stopped. He picked up the receiver and dialed the front desk.
"This is Mr. Santos. Do you have any messages for me?"
"I'm sorry Mr. Santos, there are no messages."
"Thank you." He hung up. Who could be calling me here?
He felt exhausted. He lay on the bed.
"Anyway, how are you?", she asked.
"I'm fine. How are you?", he smiled at her attempts to make normal
conversation with him. Nothing about them would ever be normal. He knew that.
"Fine.", she smiled as if she had a secret she wanted to share with
him. He noticed her blush.
He closed the distance between them. Standing before her he placed his hands on
her shoulders. Inclining his head, his lips joined hers. At first hesitant,
their lips lingered together. Then he pulled on the bottom of her lip with his
teeth. Her mouth opened to his and their tongues met in a frenzy of taste,
sensation, and awe. He had never wanted to consume someone so badly. He felt
like a person dying of thirst who had been handed the gift of water. He drank
from her fountain and felt desire that burned through to his soul.
He broke the contact between them suddenly. His hands lingered on her face. He
saw the look of disappointment in her eyes. Running his hands through his hair,
he wiped at his mouth and stared at her. He was losing himself in her and he
couldn't afford that. I want her. I have to have her....
"Danny?" She positioned herself in front of him. As her arms came up
and around his neck Danny knew it was useless to fight. No matter what the cost,
he was going to have Michelle Bauer...
Danny - The Present
The ringing phone woke him from his dream. "Damn!". Shaking the cobweb
of memories from his head, he picked up the receiver, "Yes?"
