Before & After
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Michelle - The Present

The cab drove through the congested city at break neck speed. Michelle held on to the security strap and fought to keep her balance as the car wove in and out of the maze that was New York City traffic. Her heart pounding she grasped at the remnants of conscious decision-making left in her mind. There had to be a way to handle the massive flood of emotions that were beginning to overwhelm her.

"Think Michelle. Think! Where can you go? Where do you want to go?"

The music from the cabby's radio drowned her in a puddle of memories...

"Cause in Vienna - We were poetry
Yes in Vienna - Love was alive
Watching you watching me
All that our eyes could see
All of the nights
We chased into the dawn
It was the best time of my life..."*




Michelle - The Past


Her heart pounding in her chest she made her way down the trellis. Jumping down to the ground she straightened her body and looked around in the dark. As she made her way past the kitchen she heard noises inside the house and she ducked. Peering through the window she saw Rick, his hair disheveled, his face in the refrigerator. She exhaled deeply and wondered how she had managed to agree to this. The crumbled note in her hand told the whole story. She had found it on her desk earlier in the day.


M,

Midnight, the corner of Elm and Green. Bring your bathing suit.

D



She crouched close to the ground and continued her journey. As she cleared the hedges lining the driveway she straightened and quickened her pace. She was nervous, her hands were clammy. "Why are you doing this to yourself?" As she turned the corner she saw his car. She practically ran the rest of the way.

Opening the door she exclaimed, "Hey!," the smile on his face beamed at her and she knew exactly why it was all worth it.

"Hey!,"

He started the engine and drove with one hand on her lap wrapped in her own and the other on the steering wheel. Our hands look perfect together...

"How was the great escape?," he teased.

"I almost got caught by Rick." He remained silent. He looks worried...

"Soooo "D", Where are we going?," she asked to break the uncomfortable silence that had crept into the car.

"It's a surprise." He steered the car out of town. She watched the familiar scenery through the window.

"Well, we are obviously going swimming."

"Only if you want to."

"We'll see."

She sat quietly staring at her hand enveloped by his. Her eyes traced the scar on his wrist. I wonder where he got that? His thumb rubbed her palm. Soft...[/i] She looked up and took in his profile. She smiled at the curl on his neck. His hair is so dark...

They drove on.

He turned the car onto a dirt road lined with trees. He parked the car and turned to her. "Ready?"

"Where are we?"

"Come on.," he stepped out of the car and walked around to her side. He took a bag out of the trunk and turned on a flash light. What the hell's in the bag...

They walked to the edge of the property and through the bushes.

"There had better not be any snakes...," she jumped as a branch caught on her hair.

"I promise no snakes.," he laughed.

Past the bushes he stopped and placed the bag on the ground. In front of them was the lake. The moon cast a shadow across the water that rippled slowly.

"I love this place.," he said.

"It's beautiful!," she whispered.

He stood in front of her and clasped her hands. "You're beautiful."

"Tell me. Do you say that to every girl you bring here?," she challenged him.

"Always.," he retaliated.

She chuckled. "So what's in the bag?" She pointed to the ground.

"Just the necessities."

"Necessities.," she repeated. "As in rope? Maybe knives?," she joked.

He laughed. "You're crazy, but I like that.," he whispered as he moved in closer. She gazed up at him, he leaned his forehead to touch hers. "You have the most amazing lips."

"I do?"

"Yes, you do." His lips claimed hers in a soft kiss. She sighed.

She pulled away from him flustered. He reluctantly let go.

"So who's property are we trespassing on?"

"We are not trespassing. This is mine."

"Yours?," she questioned.

"Yep. I own this. It was my birthday gift."

"Wow! You certainly get better gifts than I do."

He smiled. "I've never brought anyone here. You're the first.," he said softly.

He's sharing this with me? Why me?

"Come on.," he said as he picked up the bad and walked closer to the water. She followed him.

"Why did you bring me here?"




Michelle - The Present


"Hey lady? Lady? LADY?," the cabby shouted.

"Oh! I'm sorry."

"Where do you want to go?"

She looked out the window. "One Central Park West. Take me to the Trump International Hotel."

"You got it."

She toyed with the cell phone in her hand and began dialing the number that she had memorized long ago in another lifetime. The phone rang once and then again...




Danny  - The Present



"Hello?" All he heard was the dial tone. The person had hung up.

"Damn!" He put the phone down on the base and sat on the edge of the bed.

He walked to the window and stared at the New York skyline.
"You're out there. So close..."

He saw his wallet on the dresser. He opened the leather folds, his hands searching for his most valued possession. He took the photograph out and traced the edges of her face with his finger. She had a huge smile on her face. She was laughing. Behind her he could see the water of the lake. She was wearing the navy blue bikini that drove him crazy. The picture was eight years old. The edges were frayed and the paper was thinning. He couldn't remember how many times he had held the photograph in his hands and just stared at her amazing face. This is how he remembered her. Happy. Before everything fell apart and their game was over. Why did I think we could get away with it? You made me believe...

He remembered the first time he'd taken her there...



Danny  - The Past



"Why did you bring me here?"

He watched the water. Peaceful and calm. He wondered if underneath the surface it was as chaotic as he was feeling inside. Why? Because I'm an idiot...because I can't think of anyone else to share this with...

"Danny?"

"I thought you'd like it here.," he said nonchalantly.

"I do. It's beautiful. Do you come here often?"

"Sometimes. It's quiet here. I can think."

"I know that feeling."

"Have you sent the papers?," he had to ask. God! Please say no.

"No."

"Why?" Don't ask why! She hasn't decided...let it go.

"I think you know why...," she whispered as she came to stand beside him.

"I was wrong." Why are you saying that Santos? Enjoy this one night. Then you can do the right thing.

"Wrong?" She sounds afraid.

"I-umm..I shouldn't...It wasn't right for me to ask you to stay." He dug his hands into his pockets.

"Don't." She stared at the water.

"Don't what?," he asked turning to face her. She's perfect...

"Don't ruin this." She spread her arms wide. "I want to have this night with you. I want to know why you wanted to share this with me. I want to talk to you. I want to be here with you. Nothing else. Nothing else...," she finished.

He sighed deeply. He reached with his hand to caress her face. "Why did you come?"

"Why wouldn't I?"

"That doesn't answer my question."

"You didn't answer mine.," she countered.

"I brought you here because - because I wanted to talk to you. I wanted to have you all to myself. I wanted to see you laugh. I wanted to be the one to make you laugh."

"I came because I knew that if I didn't I'd regret it for the rest of my life.," she said.

She came into his arms and he held her. His chin resting on her head.

"I don't want to play games with you.," he said. You deserve better...

"Then don't."

"You won't understand."

"I do."

"No!," he broke away from her. She shook her head.

"It's only a name.," her voice came at him. He couldn't lift his eyes to meet hers.

"What?"

"I know.," she said.

"You know?," he questioned. She knows and she's here...

"It doesn't matter. Not now. It doesn't!," she said emphatically.

"It does.," he argued.

"Just think of why you brought me here. Forget the rest."

He looked at her. "It's gonna matter."

"It doesn't now and that's what counts. Live for the moment Danny. I have a feeling this could be the best time of our lives."

She pulled her shirt over her head and unbuttoned her Jean shorts. He stared. Standing before him in a navy bikini with her hands on her hips she said, "Now let's go swimming. I'm hot."

He watched her walk into the water and began tugging his shirt off. She dove under and he followed her. They came up for air together. She swam to him.

"I like your hair wet."


"What?," he ran his hands through his wet curls.


He drew her nearer. She wrapped her legs around and draped her arms over his shoulders. "So what's really in the bag? Wine?," she asked.

He smiled. "Why would I bring wine when we drink Tequila?"

"Lemons?," she asked.

"I never forget the lemon..." He whispered into her mouth.

His tongue pressed between her lips. She welcomed the exploration. He drank of her. His teeth grazed her lower lip. Their tongues danced together. She pulled away from him, he was reluctant to break the connection. She swam away and asked with a gleam in her eyes, "Do you know any other water games?" Then she laughed.





Danny  - The Present



He smiled at the memory. "The best time of our life..."

The phone rang again.

His body tensed.



* Vienna/Music and Lyrics by Frank Wildhorn & Gary Benson