Before & After
      Love?
 

Bill - The Present


Bill stared at the cab as it pulled away and cursed himself for losing control.

"Buddy, you should learn how to control your temper.," the man said.

He glared at him began walking home. Anger coursed through him. He clenched his fists at his side. Michelle was doing it to him again and he wasn't going to let her get away with it. He reached the apartment the fury barely contained within him. Seeing Michelle's collection of Lladro figurines, elegantly displayed on the mantle he quickly walked to them and with one blow of his arm they flew to the ground. As the delicate dolls crashed to the ceramic tile and he saw the tiny flowers scatter he couldn't rid himself of the memories of that summer...


Bill - The Past

His mother stood in the den as he played with his Sony Play station berating him.

"Really Bill, I think you should take your father up on his offer. Go to work with him."

"Mom..."

"Don't Mom me. Look at you! Sitting in this house playing those ridiculous games. I won't have it. Not for another day!"

"Shit!," he threw the controller to the floor and stood up. "Can't you, for once give it up?," he stormed past her and she grabbed him by the elbow. He stared down at her hand on his arm.

"Excuse me? You listen here Bill Lewis. I don't know where you thought you could get away with talking to me this way, but it better not happen again. You're going to work and that's final."

"All right! Let it rest." He freed his arm and started climbing the stairs.

"I'm not finished.," she said forcefully. He stopped midway.

"WHAT?" he glared at her.

"Bill. Honey, I don't want to argue with you. Honestly, I'm worried. Abby tells me you haven't been by the house in weeks. Did you fight with Michelle? Is that it?"

"Mother. It's none of your business." Fight with Michelle? She doesn't have it in her...

"Why don't you come to the Spaulding Picnic with us? I'm sure Michelle will be there and she'll be happy to see you."

"Maybe I will." If it'll get you off my back...

He started up the stairs again and made his way to his room. He slammed the door shut behind him. The summer was definitely not living up to his expectations. Steve and Rich were on a vacation with their parents. Patrice was starting to act weird too. Suddenly, she had questions. "When will you call? "Bill are you like this with Michelle?" It had been a while since he'd been with Michelle and maybe she was in the mood for some fun. It was worth a try.

He changed his shirt and drove to the Park. Every summer the Spaulding Foundation had a picnic for charity. He wandered through the booths looking for Michelle. Along the way he ate a hot dog and grabbed some brownies off the bake sale table. He saw her sitting on the grass emptying a leather knapsack. A book, of course. Next the bottled water...Predictable Bauer... She placed the bottle of Evian between her legs. She was darker. She's been tanning. She looked beautiful and he felt lucky. He made his way over to her.

"Hello baby!"

"Bill!," she exclaimed as she shielded her eyes with her hand to look up at him. "How are you?," she smiled.

"Doing good Bauer. You?" He plopped himself down next to her, grabbing the book. " The Source , James A Michener," he read. "I see your taste in reading hasn't changed. Ever think of picking up a good book? Say Tom Clancy?"

She snatched the book back, but he held on to it. "You wouldn't know a good book if it kicked you in the ass Lewis." She pulled on the hard cover. He let go suddenly. She fell backwards with the sudden loss of tension. Her grip on the book loosened and it fell open. A piece of white note paper flew from between the pages. She gasped. He reached for the paper at the same time she did. Her hand covered his. "Give me that!," she said angrily.

"What do we have here?" He pulled his hand away the paper grasped between his fingers.

"It's nothing. Just some notes I wrote." Why is she so nervous? She sat up on her knees and tried grabbing the paper back. "Give me!" She's mad! WHY?

"I'll give it back on one condition."

"WHAT?," she said angrily.

"Let me take you to dinner. Tonight."



Michelle- The Present

She hit "END" and put the phone away. The cab stopped in front of the hotel. She paid and went inside. She checked in, grateful a room was available and explained to the clerk that her luggage would arrive later. As she walked through the door to her room she was taken aback with the floor to ceiling window that looked down on Central Park. She sat down on the bed. She scanned the plush surroundings in wonder. This was her first time here. Bill had always wanted to stay, but she had always begged away with an excuse. "You were right about this place Danny...," she spoke out loud. She crawled into a ball and closed her eyes. Bill's anger was fresh in her mind and her hand still stung from the slap she had given him. "Oh Bill! It's not your fault...."



Michelle - The Past



"Let me take you to dinner. Tonight."

"Just give me the paper." It has to be from Danny...

"No! Say you'll go out with me."

"BILL!"

"It'll be fun. Just like old times." He waved the note in her face, "Say yes."

She glared at him. Furious.

"Okay, let's see what this little paper says...," he began unfolding the note. He can't read that...

"All right! I'll go. Give it back!"

He considered his options. He enjoyed taunting Michelle and she was pissed. He looked from her face to the paper and then back at her. What could be so important that she didn't want him to read it?

"Here.," he handed the note to her.

"Thank YOU!," she took the note and quickly put it away.

"It's going to be fun."

"I'm sure.," she said under her breath. This is just great...

He leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. Standing up he smiled at her. He began walking backwards,"You know Bauer, you're breaking hearts today, you look awesome. I'll see ya at seven."

He turned and left. As she saw him get mixed up in the crowd she reached into her bag and opened the note.


M,

8PM. Same place. Just the water, you and me. US...

D.


She smiled and then she remembered. Tonight...

She glanced at her watch. It was almost four. She quickly stood up and shook the dust from her white shorts. I've got to let him know I won't be there. What do I do? Shit! Damn Bill and his stupid games! She packed her bag. As she straightened she saw Vanessa and Matt. They waved at her. She waved back. She hurried to her car.





Danny - The Present



He wondered where she was and what she was doing. He thought of the note he had sent her and hoped that she had been alone when she received it. Bill Lewis worried him. He hated Bill. Bill had everything that was meant to be his. He had Michelle. He had been the one waiting at the altar. Bill had been the one to share a wedding night with her. He remembered the first time he had been jealous of Bill...




Danny - The Past

Danny sat on the waters edge and waited. He glanced at his watch - 8:25. She's not coming...What if she had an accident? Or Maybe she decided not to do this anymore...Michelle!

He waited until nine o'clock and went to his car. He couldn't help but look for her car along the road side. He spent the trip back into town looking for signs of her. He never made the conscious decision to drive to her house, but he found himself on her street. As he passed by he looked into the windows. The light in her room was off. Her car was in the driveway. She decided not to come Santos...

He went to a party. At nine thirty he watched Michelle walk through the door on the arm of Bill Lewis. He retreated to a corner and drank. She hadn't seen him. The liquor was like medicine for a pain he didn't recognize. All he knew was that she looked amazing and he was itching to punch Bill Lewis out. From his spot he saw her talking to friends, smiling and laughing. He remembered the first time he had seen her. He saw her in his mind her sexy throat swallowing the tequila... She was wearing black pants tonight that fit her tightly. He thought about her skin underneath the fabric. He took another drink and closed his eyes...he saw Michelle in her bikini running in the sand away from him. He drank more. After a while a blonde had sat next to him. He stared at her and compared her to Michelle. She chattered about the music and he let her go on and on ignoring her. At ten he saw Michelle talking to Bill. He had enough. He got up and walked past them. He stopped and stood behind Bill. He took a swig from his beer and stared at her. She looked surprised to see him. Her mouth hung open. He stood there and took in the spectacle as Lewis kissed her neck. When she closed her eyes he turned to leave. He walked out with the blonde following him.




Michelle - The Past



She sat in her room waiting for everyone to got to sleep. She kept staring at the clock. She had tried calling Danny at his house before leaving with Bill. The person who answered, a maid apparently, had told her, "Mr.. Daniel is not home. Would you like to leave a message?" She had been afraid to leave her name. She had felt so stupid. How could I not have his cell phone number?

The dinner had been as expected. Bill had taken her to her favorite Chinese restaurant and throughout the evening he had made all sorts of innuendoes about how he would like the night to end. She had barely touched her food, spending most of the evening checking her watch. At eight o'clock she had excused herself and gone to the bathroom. At nine she had told Bill she had a headache and asked him to take her home. Bill had said he had to stop by a party for a few minutes and then he would take her home. Once there Bill wouldn't leave. She talked to some friends and passed the time thinking of Danny.

At ten she found Bill and told him she wanted to leave.

"Relax Michelle. Have a good time for a change."

"Bill, I want to go home."

"Michelle give me a few minutes..."

"No! I want to leave."

"Well, you can walk then because I can't leave yet."

"BILL!" Out of the corner of her eye she saw a dark figure approaching. It's him...

"Michelle, I'm not leaving.," Bill yelled.

His eyes bore into her. Those eyes... She couldn't hear a word Bill was saying. She felt so small. She wanted to explain. She tried pleading with her eyes. Understand...please understand...

Bill moved closer to her. He hung his arms on her shoulders and nuzzled her neck. "Come on baby...let's dance."

She watched Danny over Bill's shoulder. Her arms at her side. She felt Bill's wet lips on her neck and she closed her eyes to keep from seeing his reaction. Why is this happening?

When she opened her eyes he wasn't there anymore. She saw him walking out the door with a blonde behind him. Oh God! What have I done?

"Bauer? MICHELLE? What are you staring at?," Bill asked looking behind him.

"Nothing! I gotta go!," she pushed past him and ran after Danny. She heard Bill calling her name.

She got outside and looked around. The long driveway was packed with cars and people were hanging out on the lawn. She couldn't see him. Where are you?

He was gone. She stood on the marble stairs staring out into the night. Reluctantly she re-entered the house. Her eyes caught Bill talking to Patrice Silverton. They were flirting. She reached into her purse and pulled out her cell phone. She called for a cab and went outside to wait.

Once home she had tried to sneak past Rick and Abby, but it was pointless. She had answered their questions about her date and gone upstairs claiming she had a headache.

She could hear Aunt Meta in the kitchen. "I can't wait anymore!" She grabbed her car eyes and climbed down the trellis. She didn't care if they heard her leave. She started the engine and pulled out of the driveway. The lake...he's at the lake...



Danny - The Present

He picked up the phone and called room service to order a snack. He poured himself a drink. The food arrived shortly after, he ate by the windows looking at the New York Skyline. The lights from the buildings lit up the night. He loved New York. Always had. It had been years since he'd been here. Once the investigators had found Michelle in the city he had made a conscious decision to stay far away from here. He wondered if she'd ever been to the Trump Towers. He recalled telling her about this place once before. He remembered a lot of things...



Danny - The Past

At the lake he sat down in the sand. It's better this way. That's where she belongs. He ran his hands through his hair. His cell phone rang.

"Hello?"

"Danny, it's Ray. Where the hell are you?"

"No where. Why?"

"The shit hit the fan! Your idiot brother got his ass kicked tonight and your father wants to know why you weren't with him." This is my life...

"I'm not my brothers keeper."

"Yeah well, you're the one who told him that you were gonna be out with Mick tonight. Why the hell didn't you tell Mick that?"

"Why hasn't my father called me?"

"Well, your mother intervened. She told your Dad that it was better because you could have been hurt."

"Ahh. Mama coming to the rescue.," he laughed.

"Danny are you toasted?"

"Not anymore."

"Are you coming home?"

"Yeah. I'll be there."

"Stay..." Her voice startled him, but he remained seated.

"I gotta go." He hit END and terminated the conversation with Ray. "Now, Why would I do that?," he asked her without looking at her.

"The water, you and me...US.," she said quietly.

"There is no us."

She sat beside him and picked up a bottle cap from the sand. "Maybe."

"Maybe? Maybe what?," he stood up. She grabbed his hand and tried pulling him down. He looked at her then. She was looking up at him. Her hand on his forearm. He wouldn't relent. She let go.

"I don't know...maybe.," she said exasperated.

"Maybe.," he shook his head.

"He was going to read the note you sent me. I panicked." She got up and tossed the bottle cap in the water.

He waited for her to continue.

"I- don't know how to explain you. I don't know how you fit in..."

"In your world...," he finished for her.

"I like our secret. I like this. It's different. It's mine. I don't want to share it - you with anyone." I don't want to share you either...

"For once I have something that is about me. I have this gift...and I know everything will be ruined if they know." They'll think I ruined you...

She faced him clutching her arms to her chest. He remained silent.

"I think I'm falling in love with you...," her voice was barely a whisper. I know I'm falling in love with you...



Michelle - The Present

She tossed and turned in the bed and got up. It was so easy to lose herself in the memories and not face the reality. All she could see was Danny...the Danny she remembered. Was he the same? She knew her life would never be the same. There was so much to think about. There was Bill. "He wanted to talk to me about something. "What does it matter?" Marrying Bill hadn't been her first mistake, but it might have been her worst. She had destroyed her life and his by making that fateful decision. She had known then that she would never be in love with him, yet she had said, "yes", she had willingly played his game. In the process it had made their families happy. Michelle and Bill...the way things were supposed to be.

She walked to the phone. Holding the ivory base in her hand she began to dial. It was time to confront the truth. Memories weren't real. They couldn't help her.

"Damn it!," she cried as she threw the phone down.

She wanted to remember. She needed to...





Michelle - The Past

"I think I'm falling in love with you..." The world stopped. Love? Michelle you idiot! He's gonna run for sure...

"Say something!," she laughed nervously.

"What?"

"You're kidding right?"

She wrung her hands together and then turned away.

He came up behind her and put his hands on her shoulders. He inhaled the scent of her shampoo.

She leaned against him.

"It's complicated."

"I know."

"I like our secret too.," he kissed the top of her head.

"You do?" she turned in his arms to face him.

He pulled back her hair from her face. "I do.," he whispered as he pulled her tightly to him. He hugged her and whispered in her ear, "Dump Lewis."