| DON'T THINK I'M NOT FINALE |
| Over two months had gone by, and the new year rang in with fervor and grace. Still strained relationships were slowly healing, and Joey had parted ways with his fiance, hoping there was a better woman out there for him. Lance had retired to the sedated ways of Mississippi, quite enjoying the warm weather and his home. Although his sexual urges hadn't gone away, hell, they'd never go away, he did stay far away from the girl who assisted him in damaging his friendship with Joey. Sitting on his back deck, he stared out over the pool. JC and his new lady friend were out there along with Chris and his girlfriend. Lance was eyeing the cute girls from next door that he'd invited over, being a good neighbor and all. The doorbell rang, and with a frustrated sigh, Lance stood to get it. He stretched his arms over his head and blinked, rubbing his eyes which stung from the brightness of the sun. The doorbell rang again, and he groaned. "I'm coming!" He slid along the kitchen floor, which had just been waxed, loving the feel of the cool tile under his bare feet. With a grin, he walked through the foyer and pulled the front door open. His grin turned into a frown when he saw her standing there, fresh as a rose, a huge smile on her face. "Hiya!" she said, leaning in to hug him. Lance was flabbergasted. He hadn't seen her since the night she appeared in the parking garage. Not a peep had he heard from her. Now, here she stood, on his doorstep. "What are you doing here?" he gasped, pulling away from her. Her face clouded over, for a moment, before her smile returned. "I want to talk to you." He shook his head in bewilderment. "Come in, I guess," he stammered, thanking the good Lord that Joey wasn't in the house today. From behind him he heard JC's voice, icy and unfeeling. "What the fuck is she doing here?" Lance turned, shrugging slightly, then closed the door behind her. "What do you want to talk about? You flew an awful long way to chat." He padded into the game room, stopping to adjust a pool stick on the wall. He felt her stare and it unnerved him. "This is hard for me to say, Lance." His heart stopped. "Oh God, you're not pregnant, are you?" The sheer idea sent chills through him. "No, no. Nothing like that. Shit, could you imagine those complications?" Her laugh was small, but wavered just a bit. She helped herself to a seat and played nervously with the chain around her neck. "I um, have to tell you something, and I think I know how you'll react, but I need to say it okay?" Lance knelt down next to her legs, admiring the smoothness of them. Shaking his head, he scolded himself for going there again. Christ, couldn't he learn his lesson? "Okay, shoot," he said lightly. "Okay, thing is, I ah, I think I'm in love with you." The words rang in his head like an alarm clock that wouldn't shut down. His mouth ran dry and he stood up. "What?" he asked, jumping back. "I know, I know," she said, forcing a smile. "It's crazy, but, oh God, Lance. I miss you. I miss your touch and your smile, and when I should be thinking about Joey, and how distraught I am he's gone, it's your face I see and I know...." Lance held his hands up in front of him, glad that JC had returned outside. If he overheard this, there would be hell to pay. "You don't know what you're saying," he cried. "It's not love, it's just infatuation or some shit." She frowned, a pout tugging at those lips he'd once admired. "No, it's not. I'm not a teenybopper, Lance. I know what love feels like and I feel it when I think of you." She watched his expression carefully, understanding it was a long shot. "Look, I just couldn't function anymore with this feeling." Standing up, she approached him, aching to hug him but knowing better. He backed up against the pool table and shook his head. How in the world could this happen? His eyes glowered with anger, mostly at himself, but at her as well. "Why tell me? You know nothing can come of this even if I did have the same feelings, which I don't," he emphasized, biting on his nails. "I know you don't." She laughed bitterly. "I didn't expect you to." Staring at the floor, she studied the planks with intensity in an attempt to divert his hot gaze. "I just wanted to tell you, in case." Lance inhaled deeply before walking to the bar in the corner and pouring himself a stiff drink. With one gulp, the liquid was gone, and he poured another. "You have to go," he said finally, barely containing the annoyance in his deep voice. Her eyes met his briefly, flashes of hurt speckled inside. She nodded. "I'm going. I'm sorry if this upset you at all." Tears stung her and she forced a breath, taking in the man she'd grown to love. All she wanted was for him to scoop her up, carry her up to his room and make love to her for the rest of time. "Everything okay in here?" JC asked, letting himself into the room. His eyes were wary, and challenged hers. "I was just going," she said, biting her lip, trying to stop the sob that threatened to escape. "Bye Lance." JC watched the exchange with crossed arms. Lance slammed his shot glass down and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. "Later," he said casually. She turned and walked out of the game room. When Lance heard the front door click shut, he sighed, resting his head on the cool surface of the bar. "What was that all about?" JC demanded, sitting on one of the oak bar stools. "Why in the hell was she here?" "You don't want to know, trust me." JC nodded his head. "Yes, I do." Lance moved from behind the bar and squeezed the bridge of his nose. "She said she was in love with me." "Fuck me!" JC cried, jumping up. "And you told her to get lost right?" "Of course. I'm not a complete asshole." Lance rolled his eyes back. "She's gone. She's gone for good." Smiling, he nodded toward the pool area. "Now, let's get back out there before those beautiful women think we don't like them." |
| And in the stillness of the Mississippi day, she put her tears away and crept around to the back of Lance's home, settling down to watch his antics for the day. Forming a plan, she decided he would love her, no matter what. Plans to move, follow him, cook his fucking ferrett, whatever it took, he would love her. Nightmares can come true. She laughed as she saw him talking to one of the girls. "Go ahead. Have her tonight, for I am yours forever." |