(continued from this post)
“What are you doing here?”
“I need to know something,” Bob said. “Just one thing.”
Carolyn searched his gaze. “Robbie, I can’t --”
“Please.” He caught her by the shoulders and leaned down, so close their foreheads were almost touching. “I need to know. I’ve needed to know since I watched you walk away. Do you love me?”
Carolyn reached up slowly and curled a hand around the nape of his neck, gazing into his eyes. A small sound caught in her throat, like a sob, and she closed her eyes. Then she looked at him again. “Yes. Yes, I love you.”
He covered her mouth with his.
She clung to him, fingers tight against his skin, and he held her. She loved him. All this time, she’d loved him. He couldn’t believe she was real,in his arms. Five years of missing her, of hating her and wanting her, and it all came down to never wanting to let her go.
He pulled back and buried his face in her neck, breathless. “I love you. Tell me you love me,” he whispered against her skin.
She took a deep, shuddering breath. “I love you.” Then she tugged on his shirt. “Robbie, we have to go, we have to get out of here. It’s not safe.”
“But you love me, right?” He pulled back and looked into her eyes. He had to make sure.
She was trembling in his arms. “I do love you. More than my own life. Now come on.” She tugged on him again, and he saw that the emotion in her eyes was more fear than love. “We can’t stay here. Please.”
“Why?”
“They’re coming to take you, and I - I can’t kill you.”
Ice crept through Bob’s veins. “Kill me?”
“Like I’m supposed to.”
(298 words)
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Friday, October 23, 2009
Yes It Is
“I’ll be fine,” Bob insisted.
“Shut up,” Clay said gently. “You’re sick.”
“We can tour. Really. I just need a couple of days to rest,” Bob said.
Kevin reached for the phone. “So if I call the label rep --”
Bob started to nod his assent; Clay and Scott exchanged desperate looks. Why did Bob always give in?
“I don’t want to renew my contract,” Dan said.
Scott shot him an apprehensive look. “Danny --”
“I’m done. We had our fun, but I want a normal life. I want to go to college.” Dan met his father’s gaze evenly, but his hands shook. The other two triplets looked alarmed.
Kevin’s jaw tightened. “Daniel, be reasonable --”
“I’m sick of living on the road and hearing girls scream in my sleep.” Dan’s hands curled into fists.
Kevin attempted a winning smile. “The girls love you.”
Dan said, "I'm gay."
The other three froze.
Kevin’s face went blank. “What?”
“I’m gay and I have a boyfriend and we’re going to college together,” Dan said.
Rage flashed in Kevin’s eyes. “No son of mine is like that.”
“Well I am!”
Kevin swung at him.
Dan automatically moved to block, but then Bob was in front of him, one hand on his father’s wrist. Kevin looked stunned. All Clay could think was, Nice reflexes.
Bob’s eyes were dark with fury. “You promised you’d never touch them.”
Kevin swallowed hard, tugged free of Bob’s wrist. “Robert, I...”
“I think enough is enough,” Scott said quietly. “I’ve stood by and watched for too long what you’ve done to my little brothers, and it ends now.”
Kevin’s expression hardened, and he lifted his chin defiantly. “Is that your decision?”
The other three boys formed a wall around Scott, staring their father down.
Scott said, “Yes, it is.”
(297 words)
“Shut up,” Clay said gently. “You’re sick.”
“We can tour. Really. I just need a couple of days to rest,” Bob said.
Kevin reached for the phone. “So if I call the label rep --”
Bob started to nod his assent; Clay and Scott exchanged desperate looks. Why did Bob always give in?
“I don’t want to renew my contract,” Dan said.
Scott shot him an apprehensive look. “Danny --”
“I’m done. We had our fun, but I want a normal life. I want to go to college.” Dan met his father’s gaze evenly, but his hands shook. The other two triplets looked alarmed.
Kevin’s jaw tightened. “Daniel, be reasonable --”
“I’m sick of living on the road and hearing girls scream in my sleep.” Dan’s hands curled into fists.
Kevin attempted a winning smile. “The girls love you.”
Dan said, "I'm gay."
The other three froze.
Kevin’s face went blank. “What?”
“I’m gay and I have a boyfriend and we’re going to college together,” Dan said.
Rage flashed in Kevin’s eyes. “No son of mine is like that.”
“Well I am!”
Kevin swung at him.
Dan automatically moved to block, but then Bob was in front of him, one hand on his father’s wrist. Kevin looked stunned. All Clay could think was, Nice reflexes.
Bob’s eyes were dark with fury. “You promised you’d never touch them.”
Kevin swallowed hard, tugged free of Bob’s wrist. “Robert, I...”
“I think enough is enough,” Scott said quietly. “I’ve stood by and watched for too long what you’ve done to my little brothers, and it ends now.”
Kevin’s expression hardened, and he lifted his chin defiantly. “Is that your decision?”
The other three boys formed a wall around Scott, staring their father down.
Scott said, “Yes, it is.”
(297 words)
Tickets
"Has anyone else noticed how strange the commander has been acting this week?" Steve asked the other three as they sat in the dining room. None of them knew where David was; he hadn't left any note.
"Yeah," the other three answered. "I don't know what is going on, but it feels weird. First the picture, and the dinner," Bryan said.
"I heard him singing one night," Mark said quietly.
"And he invited me to watch the meteor shower with him," Joe added.
Steve was pondering over these thoughts when his phone went off. Seconds later the other three phones in the room went off also.
Flipping open the phone, they could see that it was a text message from David. All it said was an address and a time, ten hundred.
Steve looked at his watch and nodded. "Let's go men,"
>>>>>>>>>>>>
The four men were extremely puzzled as they stepped out of the car. Rising before them was a massive carnival. They could see David waiting at the front gate.
"What's up Boss?" Steve asked as they approached.
David shrugged, "Let's go have some fun," he said as he turned to buy tickets.
"Yeah," the other three answered. "I don't know what is going on, but it feels weird. First the picture, and the dinner," Bryan said.
"I heard him singing one night," Mark said quietly.
"And he invited me to watch the meteor shower with him," Joe added.
Steve was pondering over these thoughts when his phone went off. Seconds later the other three phones in the room went off also.
Flipping open the phone, they could see that it was a text message from David. All it said was an address and a time, ten hundred.
Steve looked at his watch and nodded. "Let's go men,"
>>>>>>>>>>>>
The four men were extremely puzzled as they stepped out of the car. Rising before them was a massive carnival. They could see David waiting at the front gate.
"What's up Boss?" Steve asked as they approached.
David shrugged, "Let's go have some fun," he said as he turned to buy tickets.
Dinner
"Oh, what smells so good?" Bryan asked as he came in the front door, followed by the other three.
Both Mark and Steve inhaled the scents of roasting meat that were coming from the kitchen.
"Whatever it is, is sure smells good," Mark said and he inhaled again, internalizing the scents.
Steve poked his head around the doorway and into the kitchen. He was rewarded by a powerful gust of scents as David opened the oven door. "Cooking Boss?" Steve asked in surprise.
David looked up from where he was placing the food on the counter, "Yes," he said simply.
"What are you making?" Steve asked as he stepped fully into the kitchen.
"Seared duck with a raspberry chipolte demi glace sauce, Garlic whipped potatoes, a harvest vegetable medley, a butternut squash soup, a spring mix salad with almonds, feta cheese, and dried cranberries, and a passion fruit mousse for dessert," David said, though he sounded distracted. "Dinner will be ready in twenty minutes. Go get cleaned up."
"Yes Boss," Steve said as he ushered the others out of the kitchen and towards the back of the house.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
The team sat around, groaning in pleasure at the delicious food that they had been treated to. Finally, Mark said, "I didn't know you could cook Boss."
David looked up at him from the small coffee gup he was contemplating, "A good friend taught me a long time ago. It has been a long time though since I have cooked."
"Well, it was the best I have ever eaten," Bryan piped up and the others agreed.
"Thank you," David said simply.
Both Mark and Steve inhaled the scents of roasting meat that were coming from the kitchen.
"Whatever it is, is sure smells good," Mark said and he inhaled again, internalizing the scents.
Steve poked his head around the doorway and into the kitchen. He was rewarded by a powerful gust of scents as David opened the oven door. "Cooking Boss?" Steve asked in surprise.
David looked up from where he was placing the food on the counter, "Yes," he said simply.
"What are you making?" Steve asked as he stepped fully into the kitchen.
"Seared duck with a raspberry chipolte demi glace sauce, Garlic whipped potatoes, a harvest vegetable medley, a butternut squash soup, a spring mix salad with almonds, feta cheese, and dried cranberries, and a passion fruit mousse for dessert," David said, though he sounded distracted. "Dinner will be ready in twenty minutes. Go get cleaned up."
"Yes Boss," Steve said as he ushered the others out of the kitchen and towards the back of the house.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
The team sat around, groaning in pleasure at the delicious food that they had been treated to. Finally, Mark said, "I didn't know you could cook Boss."
David looked up at him from the small coffee gup he was contemplating, "A good friend taught me a long time ago. It has been a long time though since I have cooked."
"Well, it was the best I have ever eaten," Bryan piped up and the others agreed.
"Thank you," David said simply.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Not The Same
“What do you have to say for yourself?” Ellis demanded.
Scott hugged his knees to his chest. “I didn’t start anything. I was doing my share of the ambulance check and he whacked me.” He had a black eye and a split lip, but he still wasn’t hurting nearly as much as Graham was.
“That boy-band fag was givin’ me lip,” Graham said. His voice was muffled behind the handkerchief he had pressed to his broken nose.
Scott’s eyes blazed. “I’m not a fag, and I wasn’t in a boy-band. I’m sick and tired of taking crap from you guys about what I used to do.” He stood up, scooped up his guitar. “You know what? I’m damn proud of the music I made with my brothers. I don’t care what you people think - I’m a good musician and nothing you say will ever change that.”
“I don’t care what you used to do,” Ellis said sharply. “I care about you getting along with the crew.”
“I haven’t been stepping on anyone’s toes,” Scott said. “I pitch in and do my share and don’t complain.”
“You shouldn’t be here,” Graham said. “You’re not one of us.”
Scott leaned in so they were almost nose-to-nose. “You don’t know what it’s like to be me.”
“And you don’t know what it’s like to be me either,” Graham shot back.
“I’ll tell you what,” Scott said, “when you figure out how to make it so when I close my eyes I don’t hear people screaming and dying, we can call it a mile in each other’s shoes.”
“We’re EMTs - we see people die every day,” Graham said.
“Death,” Scott said softly, “is not the same as murder.”
(288 words)
Scott hugged his knees to his chest. “I didn’t start anything. I was doing my share of the ambulance check and he whacked me.” He had a black eye and a split lip, but he still wasn’t hurting nearly as much as Graham was.
“That boy-band fag was givin’ me lip,” Graham said. His voice was muffled behind the handkerchief he had pressed to his broken nose.
Scott’s eyes blazed. “I’m not a fag, and I wasn’t in a boy-band. I’m sick and tired of taking crap from you guys about what I used to do.” He stood up, scooped up his guitar. “You know what? I’m damn proud of the music I made with my brothers. I don’t care what you people think - I’m a good musician and nothing you say will ever change that.”
“I don’t care what you used to do,” Ellis said sharply. “I care about you getting along with the crew.”
“I haven’t been stepping on anyone’s toes,” Scott said. “I pitch in and do my share and don’t complain.”
“You shouldn’t be here,” Graham said. “You’re not one of us.”
Scott leaned in so they were almost nose-to-nose. “You don’t know what it’s like to be me.”
“And you don’t know what it’s like to be me either,” Graham shot back.
“I’ll tell you what,” Scott said, “when you figure out how to make it so when I close my eyes I don’t hear people screaming and dying, we can call it a mile in each other’s shoes.”
“We’re EMTs - we see people die every day,” Graham said.
“Death,” Scott said softly, “is not the same as murder.”
(288 words)
Who Else
John’s last mission was to make sure the boys made it home safe. Luckily for him, his duties ended at the border, so he lingered on the edge of the throng of fans gathered at the airport and watched. And waited.
“I thought you and Carolyn were done with the tour,” Dinah Summers said.
John’s hand went for his gun, and he cursed himself. How the hell had he missed her?
“Nostalgia,” he said, eased his hand away from his gun.
Dinah didn’t miss the motion. “I know what really happened in Germany.”
“The boys were lucky they were out breaking curfew when the quake happened,” John lied smoothly. “Kevin just thinks they were quick on their feet.”
Dinah shook her head. “No. I know what really happened.” She took a deep breath. “It was right after Scotty was born. We needed money, so I signed up for a medical study. By the time I was pregnant, I realized something was wrong, that it was no ordinary medical study. Tell me one thing, John, will they hurt my son?”
“Not anymore,” he said. “We worked long and hard to make sure they can’t. It’s done, now. He’ll be free to live a normal life - or as normal as it can be, seeing who he is.”
A chorus of cheers and screams rose up when Scott, half-awake, stepped into the terminal laden down with his luggage and guitar case.
“You weren’t sent to kill him?” Dinah’s voice quavered.
John shook his head. “They wouldn’t have killed him either. But it was our job to protect him.”
“Who else worked with you?”
“Who else but Carolyn?”
(275 words - too many people know now, don't they?)
“I thought you and Carolyn were done with the tour,” Dinah Summers said.
John’s hand went for his gun, and he cursed himself. How the hell had he missed her?
“Nostalgia,” he said, eased his hand away from his gun.
Dinah didn’t miss the motion. “I know what really happened in Germany.”
“The boys were lucky they were out breaking curfew when the quake happened,” John lied smoothly. “Kevin just thinks they were quick on their feet.”
Dinah shook her head. “No. I know what really happened.” She took a deep breath. “It was right after Scotty was born. We needed money, so I signed up for a medical study. By the time I was pregnant, I realized something was wrong, that it was no ordinary medical study. Tell me one thing, John, will they hurt my son?”
“Not anymore,” he said. “We worked long and hard to make sure they can’t. It’s done, now. He’ll be free to live a normal life - or as normal as it can be, seeing who he is.”
A chorus of cheers and screams rose up when Scott, half-awake, stepped into the terminal laden down with his luggage and guitar case.
“You weren’t sent to kill him?” Dinah’s voice quavered.
John shook his head. “They wouldn’t have killed him either. But it was our job to protect him.”
“Who else worked with you?”
“Who else but Carolyn?”
(275 words - too many people know now, don't they?)
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Perseid
Joe threw down his pencil in frustration over his paperwork, and wiped the sweat from his face. "Perfect," he muttered, "middle of August and the cooler goes out. It has to be the most humid and hot night on record," he griped to no one. Joe stood up and walked to the kitchen, stripping off his damp and sweat soaked over shirt. He reached into the fridge and pulled out a cold soda; David didn't allow alcohol in the house, and rolled the cool can over his face and neck. As he turned to go back to his work he spotted David walking out the back door with a large cylinder over his shoulder. Curious, Joe followed him to the backyard.
Joe watched in fascination as David set up the cylinder. It looked like it was made from a cardboard tube.
"What are you doing Boss?" Joe asked after observing him for a few moments.
"Tonight is the peak of the Perseid meteor shower; it's when the earth moves through the trail left by a comet, there will be a lot of shooting stars tonight," David said as he looked at the youngest member of his team.
Joe frowned in puzzlement, "I didn't know you were into meteor showers," he said.
David smiled and brushed some dust off of the telescope, "a long time ago, I wasn't, at least not at first, but a very good friend of mine was," he said as he adjusted the angle of the lens. He looked up at Joe, "would you care to join me? It should be quite the show tonight."
Joe thought about it briefly, "okay," he said after a moment, "I would like that."
David smiled and stepped aside so that Joe could get a look at the sky.
"Wow," Joe breathed in wonder as he watched streaks of light flash past.
"Yeah," David said with a gentle smile. He stood back and looked up at the heavens, a single tear brimmed, but didn't fall.
Joe watched in fascination as David set up the cylinder. It looked like it was made from a cardboard tube.
"What are you doing Boss?" Joe asked after observing him for a few moments.
"Tonight is the peak of the Perseid meteor shower; it's when the earth moves through the trail left by a comet, there will be a lot of shooting stars tonight," David said as he looked at the youngest member of his team.
Joe frowned in puzzlement, "I didn't know you were into meteor showers," he said.
David smiled and brushed some dust off of the telescope, "a long time ago, I wasn't, at least not at first, but a very good friend of mine was," he said as he adjusted the angle of the lens. He looked up at Joe, "would you care to join me? It should be quite the show tonight."
Joe thought about it briefly, "okay," he said after a moment, "I would like that."
David smiled and stepped aside so that Joe could get a look at the sky.
"Wow," Joe breathed in wonder as he watched streaks of light flash past.
"Yeah," David said with a gentle smile. He stood back and looked up at the heavens, a single tear brimmed, but didn't fall.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
The First Time
Paul had been really patient about teaching Clay how to play the guitar, and they were celebrating Clay’s mastery of the chord hammer by getting drunk next to a bonfire on the beach.
“So.” Paul gesticulated wildly with his half-empty bottle of rum. “Tell me, Clay Timothy Summers, what is the worst thing you’ve ever seen? I mean, you’ve been a rock star since you were, like, born. So really, what’s the worst you’ve seen?”
Clay swiped the bottle from Paul, sipped thoughtfully. “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”
Paul smirked. “Try me.”
“So, Bobby and I were in love with the same girl one time.” Clay stared into the flames. The ones on the edge, the darker ones tinged with shadow, were almost the same shade as Carolyn’s eyes.
“Lemme guess - you caught Bobby and her doin’ it up against the wall after a concert!” Paul’s grin was wicked.
Clay shook his head. “No, jerk. I’m being serious here.”
“What happened, then?”
“I fell out of love with her the first time I saw her kill a man.”
Paul choked on his rum. “The first time?”
(189 words)
“So.” Paul gesticulated wildly with his half-empty bottle of rum. “Tell me, Clay Timothy Summers, what is the worst thing you’ve ever seen? I mean, you’ve been a rock star since you were, like, born. So really, what’s the worst you’ve seen?”
Clay swiped the bottle from Paul, sipped thoughtfully. “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”
Paul smirked. “Try me.”
“So, Bobby and I were in love with the same girl one time.” Clay stared into the flames. The ones on the edge, the darker ones tinged with shadow, were almost the same shade as Carolyn’s eyes.
“Lemme guess - you caught Bobby and her doin’ it up against the wall after a concert!” Paul’s grin was wicked.
Clay shook his head. “No, jerk. I’m being serious here.”
“What happened, then?”
“I fell out of love with her the first time I saw her kill a man.”
Paul choked on his rum. “The first time?”
(189 words)
Requiem
Bryan's eyebrows knitted in confusion at the sounds coming from the living room. It was three in the morning and Bryan had needed a glass of water. It sounded like low humming, a sad song. Eventually the tune resolved itself into words, sung ponderously, as if recalling a memory, or trying to forget one.
Byran was even more confused when he recognized almost instantly his commanders voice. He took a quick peek around the doorway and saw David at his desk, looking at the photo that they had found earlier that night.
Bryan listened as he hung back out of sight in the dining room. Bryan felt tears welling in his eyes as he listened to the heartbreak in his leaders voice, and had to wipe at his face. Bryan eased back from the door as David fell silent; he could hear the muffled tears from his friend, and walked, cat-silent back to his own room.
Bryan had a hard time falling asleep again that night.
Byran was even more confused when he recognized almost instantly his commanders voice. He took a quick peek around the doorway and saw David at his desk, looking at the photo that they had found earlier that night.
Bryan listened as he hung back out of sight in the dining room. Bryan felt tears welling in his eyes as he listened to the heartbreak in his leaders voice, and had to wipe at his face. Bryan eased back from the door as David fell silent; he could hear the muffled tears from his friend, and walked, cat-silent back to his own room.
Bryan had a hard time falling asleep again that night.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Four Years Since
Bob knelt in the small wooden booth, crossed himself, and waited for the screen to open.
“Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. It’s been four years since my last confession,” he said.
“Speak, my child.”
He started small - sneaking cigarettes from John’s stash, saying yes when he should’ve said no to beer cans from Captain Lyle, all the times he was horrible to his brothers and Shelley and his father.
The priest broke in. “Maybe just say you suffer from impatience and a lack of charity and do your best to work on that, okay?”
Bob nodded, then remembered the priest couldn’t see him and said, “Yes, Father.”
“What’s really on your mind, son?”
“I don’t want to die.”
(120 words)
“Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. It’s been four years since my last confession,” he said.
“Speak, my child.”
He started small - sneaking cigarettes from John’s stash, saying yes when he should’ve said no to beer cans from Captain Lyle, all the times he was horrible to his brothers and Shelley and his father.
The priest broke in. “Maybe just say you suffer from impatience and a lack of charity and do your best to work on that, okay?”
Bob nodded, then remembered the priest couldn’t see him and said, “Yes, Father.”
“What’s really on your mind, son?”
“I don’t want to die.”
(120 words)
Picture Out of Place
Steve, Mark, Bryan and Joe entered the house quietly after their night at the club. None were staggering, but they were all very light hearted at the moment. Steve, being the designated driver, herded the others through the house and towards the kitchen to get some aspirin. He was sure that they would need it in the morning.
As they walked quietly through the dining room, snickering and laughing quietly, a flash of color out of place caught Mark's notice. He turned to look at David's desk.
Their commanders desk was always scrupulously neat and exact in its order; and nothing was different now except for a single photograph lying in the precise center of the clear space. Mark fell behind as the others continued on to the kitchen; he picked up the picture and examined it closely. A very pretty young woman that he would judge to be about eighteen or nineteen was smiling, but that was not the odd part of the picture. The woman was curled around a young David, their arms would around each other, with one of David's arms going out of the frame, clearly he was taking the picture.
Mark had never seen that expression on his commanders face; happy, carefree, full of life and excitement, and love.
"What do you have Mark?" Steve asked coming up behind him with the others following.
Mark turned and showed them the picture.
"Who's that?" Joe asked, pointing at the woman, "how old do you think he is there?" as he took the photo and looking at it closely.
"Why would he leave it lying out like this?" Bryan asked, "he's in no way careless, so it was on purpose."
"I don't know," Mark said, "But I think the more important question would be, why did he stop looking like that?"
"It's Ariana," Steve said after a moment.
As they walked quietly through the dining room, snickering and laughing quietly, a flash of color out of place caught Mark's notice. He turned to look at David's desk.
Their commanders desk was always scrupulously neat and exact in its order; and nothing was different now except for a single photograph lying in the precise center of the clear space. Mark fell behind as the others continued on to the kitchen; he picked up the picture and examined it closely. A very pretty young woman that he would judge to be about eighteen or nineteen was smiling, but that was not the odd part of the picture. The woman was curled around a young David, their arms would around each other, with one of David's arms going out of the frame, clearly he was taking the picture.
Mark had never seen that expression on his commanders face; happy, carefree, full of life and excitement, and love.
"What do you have Mark?" Steve asked coming up behind him with the others following.
Mark turned and showed them the picture.
"Who's that?" Joe asked, pointing at the woman, "how old do you think he is there?" as he took the photo and looking at it closely.
"Why would he leave it lying out like this?" Bryan asked, "he's in no way careless, so it was on purpose."
"I don't know," Mark said, "But I think the more important question would be, why did he stop looking like that?"
"It's Ariana," Steve said after a moment.
Project #47: Confessions
Yes, this is out of order. And yes, it's not technically my week. Too bad! I am on fall break and full of crazy. So! This week's assignment is confessions. What do your characters have to confess? Do they want to tell? Who should they tell? How long have they been trying to get the words out? What will happen if they do? What will happen if they don't?
Write on, sister friends, for 100-300 words. Happy fall break!
Write on, sister friends, for 100-300 words. Happy fall break!
Overview #46: Anniversary Special
I had a blast this week; though I have to admit, I am terrible at Fanfiction. A couple of Nagi's posts stumped me for a while, but I was mostly able to work them out. I don't think I improved any this week, but it was good times to have a throw back to the beginning. Here's to another great year of friendship and writing, and to continued improvements.
Overview #46: Anniversary Special
So this was a lot of fun. I can't believe it's been a whole year since this started. It's been a crazy year. I've had a hell of a fun time creating a new universe to play in, I've written poetry, and I have defnitely grown as a writer. As for this week, I had lots of fun revisiting some of my old tried and true fandoms as well as some new ones. (Okay, only one new one.) It was a good exercise in POV and voice and also the details of a fandom. Knowing which details would or would not give a fandom away was hard. But I loved it. Happy anniversary, team!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)