I
I have no idea why I don't answer comments.
http://lindaleighblog.blogspot.com/2009/09/what-comes-next.html
+1+
This
section was a lot of fun because it’s told from Severine’s POV. I had a lot of
fun getting inside the head of a confident character. However this scene really takes up space but I like it so I'm keeping it in.
I can’t help but to care about people. I think I get that from my mother who always taught me to value confidence and grace even as a child. I was a girl scout, dancer, debutante, camp counselor and honor roll students all at the same time. The point is I care, I can’t help but to.
And this morning I cared about Sofia’s well-being.
“Ms. Duval”, nodded Harper the doorman as he opened the door for me.
“Thank You”, I slide in gracefully with my Lucky Brand jeans and new Kitson sweater.
I give the driver the address to the club Sofia had texted me about and sit back and enjoy the ride. Once we arrive I hand the driver my card so he can write in his own tip and go to look for my prey. I didn’t know who I was looking for but I had a pretty good description.
I walk past the wait staff and bar backs prepping for the night shift and right up onto the stage taking the mike.
Severine is so awesome.
“Hi, I’m looking for Adam Roberts ?”
“I’m right here”
I see he is standing behind me. He is cute.
“Can we talk somewhere”, I ask walking off the stage, “alone”
He leads me to a table that is isolated enough and I’m sure he recognizes my voice from the phone.
“Severine, right ?”
”The one and only, but I’m here about Sofia”
“Is she okay”
“Yes and no. I am the closest thing Sofia has to family or friend for that matter, the point is I know her and what I know about you, I like”
“You do know we are just friends”
“Right, whatever. Look I know Sofia and she would never tell you this herself but she has this way of putting her life out of context. I mean what her husband put her through a few weeks ago is only half of it”
“She mentioned something about hard times”
“He only married Sofia originally to stay in the country and maybe they were happy at first and I’m sure he is a nice guy, good looking too, but he has his problems with staying and Sofia has he own issues. She is too kind for her own good. The point is she opened up to you, something Sofia never does with anyone and I just want you to know the full story”
“Um, is that the full story ?”
“He has AIDS”, I know I’ve crossed the line, “And if it were up to me Sofia would have left a long time ago. . . I don’t want this for her.”
“What? Is this how you induct all of Sofia’s friends?” he thinks I’m crazy.
“I’m going to say no, but you had a fair warning and that’s not even half of it. I like you Adam and I know you would be good for her”
“She’s married”
“Technically”, I lean in a little closer “Besides, he doesn’t have to be the only one keeping her here”
“Sofia is a great person but maybe I’m better at accepting the way thing are than you.”
“Maybe.”, I’m not convinced
“I have to get back to practice.”
I reach into the bottom of my purse and hand him a one dollar bill.
“What’s this?” he ask
“Consider it your first good tip”
“I’m guessing that if I see you and Sofia tonight-”
“This conversation never happened”
He’s smart too.
Once again a song kind of led this scene. I really liked getting inside Severine’s head and she almost pulls of a slick one-liner. But honestly this scene was SUPER unnecessary. This whole chapter sets up for Tomfia reconciling.
.
II
“Heath Ledger makes clothes?” I toss another one of Severine’s dresses at her.
“It’s Hervé Léger . . . can you zip me up”
She steps out of her closet wearing a deep maroon dress that fits tightly to
her body but somehow looks innocent. I don’t feel the slightest bit
underdressed in my black and white wrap dress and black boots.
Anyone else think this about Herve Leger dresses ? I mean sure they are tight but something about them is oddly modest.
“Are you ready now?, I ask her
I had arrived at Severine’s apartment 3 hours ago most of which was spent helping her pick out clothes. Severine had all but jumped at the chance for us to go out together and wanted to make plans for when I would be staying with her next week.
Severine puts on a little perfume and decides she is ready.
“So, what lie are we telling hubby tonight?”, she asked.
“It’s not like that Severine”
“Relax, I was kidding. I want you to have fun.”
“I’d like to get back before midnight”, I remind her, and “I have to go to church in the morning”
Oh, Sofia you and your dedication.
She nods in agreement and takes out her phone to call the car.
I hadn’t spent many late nights outside of the apartment and just driving uptown it was obvious the city wasn’t planning on sleeping tonight. The streets were lined with good looking people in groups laughing and smiling.
Once we arrived in a more populated area Severine signals for the driver to stop. The club was located next to a few small restaurants with a simple neon sign out front
Despite it’s gritty exterior the inside of the club, Café Live, is simple; booths, tables and a beautiful oak bar. Some people flashed looks at Severine and then right back at the empty stage. I decide to follow Severine over to the bar.
I HATE that club name. I hate it when clubs have the word Café in them.
“We’ll have two Vesper Martinis”, she ordered knowing they won’t ID her, even though she’s barley 22.
Wait, that’s not right. Severine is 1 year older than Sofia which makes her 20 or 21
“Shaken not stirred”, I couldn’t help but to add
“Is that supposed to be a joke”, Adam approached us from the back
“Oh, Severine this is Adam, Adam Severine”
“Roberts, Adam Roberts”, he goes to shake Severine’s hand and I can’t help but to laugh
Cute ?
“I don’t get it”, Severine takes the drinks clearly not happy about being left
out.
“Your drink it’s from James Bond”, Adam explains
“I thought I was the only person who actually read Ian Fleming”
Sofia
and Adam are kind of mean by excluding Severine from their booky conversation.
Anywho Bond’s drink preference is never mentioned in the films just the books. It's sort of flowed over into popculture though
“Maybe we can talk about your reading habits later, Sofia, if you excuse me I have to get ready”,
“Get ready for what?”, I ask
“Sofia, I’m performing tonight”, I looked back at the empty stage finally putting two and two together, “don’t worry we’ll still have plenty of time together”
“Can’t wait”, I meant to hear him sing
“Nice to meet you Severine”, he says
“You too”, she whisks me away to find a table with our drinks in hand, “So you know Sofia if you like staying with me. . . you don’t have to leave.”
“We are not having this conversation”
The lights start dim and we turn our attention to the stage. Severine whispers something about talking about this later.
Adam walks out on stage and when I expect to see him with his guitar there is instead a piano. He takes a seat behind it and lowers the microphone a little and begins to play a few harmonic keys and with a smile begins to sing.
Turn
around,
Turn around and fix your eye in my direction
So there is a connection.
Now I can't speak,
I can't make a sound to somehow capture your attention
I'm staring at perfection.
Looking around the dimly lit room every girl and even some guys
have a smile on their face subtly nodding along.
Take a look at me so you can see
How beautiful you are.
You call me a stranger, you say I'm a danger,
But all these thoughts are leaving you tonight.
I'm broken, abandoned; you are an angel
Making all my dreams come true tonight.
So,
I didn’t write the song. Secondhand Serenade did. I'm sorry I used song lyrics. I just . . .
I looked back at the stage concentrating on his hands running over the keys, a weird uneasiness taking over, It’s a silly and ridicules thought but it’s like I’m the only one in the room, like he’s signing to me.
Right, so the song is a piano melody so he couldn’t play his guitar.
As the song ends I realize I’m holding my hand to my heart and, god, is it beating fast. He looks at me and I swear.
It stops.
Any Adam fans ? Anyone ?
+2+
“Jane Austen ?”
“I never saw the appeal”
“She has to be one of the greatest novelist to come out of your country. Okay fine, What else have you read”
Can we call this Biology-Major literature? I’ve learned that Sofia calling Jane Austen a “great novelist” is on the uncreative side. I wish I had branched out a little with her.
“Nothing else recently. . . Severine ?”
While Adam and I had been discussing our possible reading list Severine had found the time to drink two more martinis and was flirting with the bartender.
“She’ll be okay”, I tell him, “Her 2nd appletini was extra dry”
Um, Sofia that means she is more drunk. Drunkier ? Extra Slammed ?
“Good because some of my crazy fans are here”
“You have fans ?”
Oh, great here they come. Guys I apologize for the characters I’m about to unleash on this story. I don’t know why these people are in this Tomfia story.
Yes, one is inspired by one of my family members. . . but I like Terry more than them.
“Yeah, just smile and nod and they should go away.”
I start to think he is joking but a tired looking couple comes over with a pen and paper.
“Can we have your autograph!”, the woman asks barley contain herself.
He signs it and she faints gracefully into the man’s arms.
“Oh My God-“
“Calm down”, Says Adam. The woman regains consciences and they start hugging, “This is my brother and sister-in-law. They do this at every show”
“Amadeus Roberts”, the older man says extending his hand.
Adam’s brother appeared to be at least10 years older than him and had a little gray hair he was very poised. I could see how he would be a dignitary.
“We call him Robert, now ask me my name”, his wife said, she has a huge smile and short cut hair with big blue eyes to match her husbands.
Oh hi character with unusual first name who only goes by his last name. . .
“Wha-“
“Julia !”
I think about it for a minute
“Julia Roberts. . .Oh that’s cute.”
Hey guys ! I want you to meet probably the cheesiest characters I have ever written. I don’t know why they are the way they are, but I needed someone to give Adams some props.
Robert and Julia took a seat at the bar with us and asked me everything from my favorite color to where I saw myself in 10 years. Julia was a kindergarten teacher and had taught all over the world and met Robert while working with a mission in South America they had been married for 5 years.
Info DUMP !
She literally seemed to glow while telling the story and he even filled in little parts, even the bartender leaned into listen. The club was just about empty and a quick look at my watch confirmed the late hour.
“Wow, it’s almost midnight I should start heading back”, I drop a few bills down to cover the tab.
“We’ll take this”, offers Robert
I don’t protest even though Severine could have easily covered it
“It was nice meeting you”, said Julia with a third hug of the night, “ I can see why Adam likes you”
I don’t take it too personally because she hugs Severine who barley said 10 words to her and another woman because she liked her shoes.
Okay, this may or may not be inspired by a true event that happened during back to school shopping with my kids and nieces.
“I’ll see you guys tomorrow”, says Adam waving them off.
“They were nice”, I said once they were gone
No they weren’t, they were awful. I have no IDEA what purpose they have
“Yeah, I know Julia can be a bit much”
“No, she reminds me of a nurse I once knew”
“So, do you have a curfew?”
“No, but I have to go to Mass in the morning”
“Oh, you are Catholic?”
“I’m nothing really but it’s a place to be, I guess”, I break up Severine and the bartender and have her call the car, “Don’t worry Severine he would have never been able to cover your shoe habit”
“I know”, she breathes, “We can’t all be as lucky as you”
“What?”
“Nothing”
Adam walks outside with us, hailing a cab of his own.
“Wanna check out the Guggenheim sometime this week?”, Adam ask
“Yes”, interrupted Severine, “Yes she does, can we go now its freezing”
I wave good-bye to Adam and we get into our respective cars.
“Thanks for that Severine”, I say sarcastically once we are inside
“Oh, please you were waiting for me to jump in. Are you sure you don’t want to stay over tonight?
“I can’t”
I make sure Severine gets in okay before being dropped off in Brooklyn; Severine usually has the same few drivers so we chat a little till we arrive to my building.
I climb the steps and open the door to a messy kitchen and living room; all the windows are open, and Charleston is trying to warm up with my blanket.
Do cats do this ? Don’t they have like coats or whatever ?
“Tomas?”, If I had to be home early so did he.
Ever since he had finalized plans for his trip he’d actually been trying to keep everything together including taking his meds and not drinking. I listen at the bedroom door and hear choking.
I open the door, he is laying on his side with is back to me trying not choke while vomiting all over my pillow, when he lays back down he doesn’t look happy to see me. I try not to make to much noise while looking for my pajamas.
“Sofytė “
He holds up an empty glass
When I reach to take the glass from him, I can practically feel his fever radiating off him. He places his hand on my sliver of skin on my leg between the hem of my dress and boots
“Are you okay?”
“Stupid fucking question”
“Sorry”, I wasn’t, “you know how this goes you’ll feel better in the morning”
“It’s a new combination of drugs . . . it’s a little cheaper. I’m adjusting.. . I guess. I can just never get used to it.”
“I know”, I was telling him that I understood how his medicine worked but it could have come out as being comforting as well.
I bring him a water bottle from the kitchen, when I get back he is throwing up again.
“Will you please change the sheets for me?”
“Yes”
So I mean there is a stark contrast here in how Sofia night has gone. Once again I’m trying to get a few points in Adam’s corner.
I help him up out of bed and to the couch although I’m sure he doesn’t need me to. A few minutes later and I realize all the piles of laundry in the room I had neglected
“I’m going to do the laundry”
“Please”, he orders
Sometimes I can be to kind
+3+
I hadn’t even had a chance to change clothes but grabbed a few quarters and headed down to the laundry room, trying keep my heels quiet. As expected it the laundry room was empty. Waiting for the machine to fill up with water I wonder if I should check on him.
Was there any part of this disease that didn’t feel sick and twisted for the person not infected?
Note,
Sofia is starting to feel guilt that she isn’t going through what he is. Also
this is almost a one-liner . . . almost. Also chapter title drop.
I was so wrapped up in thought that I hadn’t notice someone else enter.
“Everything alright”, said a familiar male voice, the man is unrecognizable though.
“Yes”
He’s a lot older than most of the tenants here, probably in his 30’s, as he gets closer I can smell something that is distinctively bourbon.
This guy is the neighbor Tomas bought drugs from earlier (Derek) and he is the same guy who we hear getting it on in the first chapter.
Shit. Why doesn’t he have any clothes?
REAL
“Hello, Neighbor”, he said, “wondering when your friend would introduce us”
How many times had I heard that voice groaning and shouting obscene things.
“You live next door”
I turn back to the machine grabbing my keys and taking the lid off the mini-mace disguised as chapstick hanging on it.
“I’m sure you’ve heard my work”, he says I slowly close the lid to the machine. I can hear him stepping closer, “How would you like a sample?”
He puts his hand on the back of my thigh and I turn to spray him, not expecting most of the spray to burn my fingers covering the opening, some of the mace does hit the side of his face.
“Fuck”, the thin skin on my fingertips heats up and burns on contact, I hear the mace fall on the floor
REAL
“You little cunt”, I react to slow and feel his fist make contact with the bone above my jaw. I brace myself from hitting the wash machine but he pushes me down, the metal vibrating hard from contact, my vision goes black and bright white for a second.
You know. I knew I’d only use this word once MAYBE twice ? I’m glad I put it here instead of where I was originally going to. At this point I can’t remember where it was orgnially going to go. Have to make bad guys seems more bad.
I try to find his shoes with my sharp heels but he forcefully bends me over the washer, his chest weighing down my back I start to scream, warm wet blood runs into my mouth. My heel finds his foot, I lift my heel just a little and plunge the stiletto heel through what I hope is his foot.
“I like a fight”, he whispers
He lets go for a second and I slip out of my shoe and head towards the door but he catches me and throws me to the floor, my eyes are closed so I don’t anticipate the kick to the stomach. He turns me so I’m facing the ground; I see the mace I dropped within arms reach.
I just pray I can stay conscious.
I reach for the mace trying to pick it up with my swollen fingers, I feel him pulling my underwear past my knees, and put up more of a struggle.
“Ready, baby”?, he turns me around and I spray him again, this time in his eyes and down to wear his zipper is open. He is to busy screaming to call me any other names.
You know, I didn’t even look up what happens if you spray yourself with Mace in that area. I’m sure it’s awful.
With one shoe I make it up the stairs and open the door and force it shut behind me. Tomas takes on look at me and gets his revolver from the top shelf. It’s the last place I want to be but I follow him back down to the laundry room.
Revolver. Yes he has a revolver.
“Stop, let’s call the police”, I was not burying a dead body.
“What do you think the cops will find if they search our apartment”, He checks to make sure it’s loaded and continues down the stairs. The neighbor is still there putting water from the machine on his face.
Weed. They would find Weed.
Tomas forces the man down, much in the same position he had me in, this time a gun to his forehead.
“What the fuck is wrong with you”, he makes the man look at me, he looks terrified I imagine I look worse, “give me one reason why I shouldn’t fuck you up ?”
“She was asking for it-“
Seal the “bad guy is bad” with some gold ol’ fashion victim blaming.
The slight pull of the trigger stops him mid-sentence. I can’t help but to notice the blood on the machine and on the floor.
My blood.
“Go outside”, he tells me
“No, let’s just go. . . he’s drunk”
He seems to be considering it and there is no doubt in my mind that if I let him he would kill him, Tomas backs away from the man and takes my hand leading me outside. I know he is trying to be strong.
“Where are we going?”
“Let’s give him time to cool down”, is all he says
“It’s 50 degrees out here”
“I know, but we should give him some time to cool down.” he repeats himself
Because he doesn’t remember saying it the first time.
“I can’t walk around like this”, I point to my face not even acknowledging my lack of shoe
“Did he rape you?”
“No, I fought him”, I tell myself not to cry, I don’t want to look weak
“No shit”
“You need your medication and Charleston”
I can’t leave him there who knows what he would do to him, I can’t even remember if I locked the door. Tomas grabs me before I can make it back down the block, but quickly lets go
“He’ll be fine, he can go to his hiding place, come on”
We start walking a little faster when I feel a little blood from my nose dip on to my lips, I take my free hand to wipe it away.
My night just took a complete 180.
+4+
I pull my self up so I can sit on top of the counter of the restroom at the shadiest bar open at 2 in the morning. I can’t even bring myself to look in the mirror yet, so I keep my back turned to it.
“Are you in pain?”, Tomas ask running some cold water over some cheap brown paper towels.
“How bad is it?”
I try not to flinch as Tomas wipes my face, his other hand is firm on the counter supporting him. When he is finished I see all the blood on it, it’s sickening I can even smell it.
How had I let this happen? I decide to repeat my previous question, “How bad is it?”
“Nothing I haven’t seen before”, he sounds annoyed or perhaps having a personal flashback.
“Your mother?” Another conversation I didn’t want to have but I hated the silence.
“Do you think something is broken?” he ignores my question and unties my dress and tells me to stand up so he can look at the bruise on my stomach from where I was kicked. It hurts when he touches it but I don’t let it show. He chooses to ignore my ripped underwear
“No”, not that I would know
“Just remember it could be worse”, he turns away and quickly wipes his eyes.
“Don’t do that. . . I’m okay”
“No you’re not, you’re just good at taking shit.”
So this is not the first time Tom cries. He cries in FS in the last section.
I turn to face the mirror, it confirms a black eye and a clotting gash on my forehead, the blood from my nose has stained my face and I hadn’t even noticed the missing tooth. I don’t see how it could be worse. I touch my face to make sure it’s real. I briefly wonder if just giving into him would have been less painful to look at.
“I am not going back there”, I splash some more cold water on my face, hoping it will help the swelling.
“Look, we can throw out the drugs and call the cops, but they’ll make you go to the hospital and I don’t think my insurance will cover it”
“You can return your plane ticket.”
“It’s too late to get a refund.”
“What about a free clinic ?”
“There’s nothing they can do.”
Once again I get the feeling he is speaking from personal experience.
“I want to move”
“We can’t just—“
“I’m not going back”, I sound more emotional than I wanted to.
“Okay, okay. We’ll work it out”
“Let’s go to Severine’s”, I just want a bed to sleep in.
Under any other circumstances he would refuse to ask her for help, but he agrees. Neither of us has our cell phones and Tomas just has his wallet.
“I just need a minute”, I tell him.
“Okay, I need to break this 50 anyway.”
He walks out and I try to fix my hair so it covers my face, but it doesn’t look natural. I start reliving my whole day wondering what I would have had to do change things, Maybe if I’d stayed at the bar longer or wore something less revealing, after fixing my dress I decide to figure out what comes next.
Tomas is at the bar finishing a drink, I briefly wonder if I could sneak out without him noticing, the way he looks at me, like he is disappointed or something.
We head for the door and it really is too cold to be out with no coat. I don’t even remember half the trip there, just clinging to consciousness on a rattling subway wanting to crawl back into my silent tunnel again, but thirty minutes later I’m convincing Severine’s doorman to let us in.
“Oh my God”, Severine walks out the lobby and looks right at Tomas, “What did you do?”
“I’ll explain everything later”, I tell her
She doesn’t look pleased but takes us up to her apartment.
“Oh my god, you’re freezing”, Severine goes to turn the heat up.“I can’t believe you let this happen”
“I didn’t let anything happen, Severine”, Tomas is clearly offended.
I convince Severine that everything is going to be okay and we all just need some sleep. I force myself to lay down in her guest room and think of something else but I’m surprised when Tomas lays down next to me so our eyes are level.
“I wish it was me, I’m so sorry I let this happen”
“I know”, what else am I supposed to say
“I didn’t like the way you looked at yourself. You know it’s only physical”
“No ones ever. . hit me like that. . . I thought-“
“Shh, you did good, love”, he presses his lips to mine and it’s not a real kiss, which is okay because my mouth is a little swollen,” It’s just the thought of men who think it’s okay to knock women around”
“You’re really thinking of your mom aren’t you. . . I’ m sure she is fine. . .Tomas?”
Tomas’ mom is still missing from the first chapter.
He has fallen asleep. Against my usual nature I shake him awake.
“Yes”, he yawns
“I forgive you”
So this wraps up the fight from when Tom got high and stole Sof’s money.
+5+
The next morning I awaken to an empty bed and Severine doing morning yoga in her living room. It’s like last night never happened until I look in the mirror, which Severine has a lot of.
“Where is Tomas?, I had put on some clothes Severine has laid out earlier.
“He went to get some stuff from your apartment, he said you didn’t want to go back”
She hits the mute and I can see the “concerned” face Severine hardly uses.
“I’m okay, Severine. I’m just a little shaken up”
“It’s just, things like this shouldn’t happen and you don’t want to tell the police”
“I just don’t want them poking and prodding me and I had been drinking”
“You had one martini”
“One more than I’m legally supposed to have. I just want it to go away, please”
“I’m not okay with this, you’re just making excuses”
She turns the TV off and heads to the kitchen where a large bag from the Clinton St. Bakery.
Pancakes and Herbal Tea ! NOM
“I ordered in pancakes”, she explains, “I didn’t think you wanted to go out”
“Thanks”
Wow, everyone sure is catering to Sofia. Although she is constantly giving.
I know Severine would rather be talking about the club last night or about the bartender she was flirting with but she is trying to be helpful.
“So, this morning when I was giving Tomas the key he kept calling me Sofia”
So, someone else had noticed
“It’s not that bad it’s because he’s not taking all of his medicine, his doctor says he has ADC”
“Oh, God another STD ”
Another STD. I wonder if it’s fair for Severine to call AIDS an STD. It’s here to make her sound a little naivee.
“No, It’s a type of dementia”
“Oh my god, Sofia, you are only staying with him because he is sicker. You can’t put your life on pause.”
“The medication should help, and I saw worse when I was working at the hospital or do you not remember that old housekeeper Angeline used to have ?”
“Sofia, I’m worried about your happiness and I’m not the only one”
She pushes her phone over to me and it has 3 missed calls from Adam.
“I really just want to spend all day in bed.”
“Okay, but will you at least see my doctor. She makes house calls.”
“Tomorrow”
“Tomorrow”
When I make my way back to the bedroom I start to wonder how long we would be here. I want to blame myself, if I hadn’t been so selfish I could have gotten some house work done.
I hear Tomas come in little later, trading niceties with Severine but the tension is there.
“Sofie”, he has a shoe box in his hand.
“What’s in--”I realize the top doesn’t have holes in it, “No”
I take the lid off preparing myself for the worst when Charleston stretches himself out and lazily admires the room. The holes were in the bottom.
What ? You can’t have Cats on the Subway
“I also have some of your clothes and your cell phone, but I doubt Derek will try to mess with you again”
It doesn’t take me long to realize who Derek is.
“You don’t know that, I still want to move”
“Where? Where do you think we are going to find an affordable place to live in the city?”
“Stop telling me no”, I throw the shoe box at him, “We live where you want to and look what happens”
“Sorry, where do you want to move”
“I don’t know, lets’ move to New Jersey”
“New Jersey?”
He moves to sit next to me and moves my hair so he can see my still fresh bruises.
“I’m fine, I took some aspirin”
“I can cancel my trip. . . I’m worried about you”
“No, it’s already paid for and I want you to see your family”
“This is just really fucked up, you know”’
“I know you don’t like Severine but can you just stay here with me till we figure something out, it would only be a few days till you leave for Lithuania anyways?”
“Alright”
“Thank you”
I lay back down once again trying to think of something else but I can’t help but to run my tongue through the empty space where my tooth was. Just remembering feels like a weight has been added to me.
Hmm, I kind of wish I could have explored Tom spending a few days living like Severine does. He might try to resist all the nice things she has.
+6+
I didn’t leave Severine’s apartment for 3 days. The doctor came the next day and after telling her I was mugged she said that I would be fine and wrote me a note for my missed classes she also suggested a make-up to cover the worst of it.
Tomas and Severine managed around each other. He would get up at 6 am a full 6 hours before Severine and work until midnight. After a messy argument with our landlord, we were able to get out of our lease if we didn’t report what happened.
Oh, Severine you need a bit more depth. . .or at least a real job.
On the fourth day when I did decide to leave Severine and I headed up to New Jersey to go grocery shopping in a store that had aisles as big as New York City stores.
My daughter loves HIMYM. I think Marshall says something to this effect.
“So, Tomas is leaving tomorrow, right?”, Severine asked for the fifth time that day
“Yeah, but I’m determined to find an affordable apartment in a better area before he gets back so I will be plenty busy if you’re planning something”
“You know you could also return some phone calls”
“You mean Adam’s?”
“I’m just saying it might be good for you, to you know have more friends. And his family totally loved you.”
“Julia, maybe. Besides I just don’t want him to see me like this. I hate anyone seeing me like this”, I adjust the shades I’m wearing
“You look . . . decent”
No matter how much make up I used I could still feel it underneath, I still felt like people were staring at me.
Once we had paid for everything we headed back to the city. We were barley out the parking lot when my phone rang again.
It was Adam
“Answer it”, Severine orders me
It had been a while, but I was just doing this for her.
“Hi, Adam”
“Hey Sofia, I haven’t heard from you since Saturday”
“I . . .was mugged a few nights ago and I’ve just been recovering”, I can’t get over how much I wanted to tell him the truth.
“Are you okay?” I wish he sounded less concerned
“Yeah, I’m staying with Severine. “
“It’s good to hear from you”
“Yeah, I’m actually doing some apartment shopping, so if you know anything”
“I actually do”
He goes on to give me an address and I quickly jot it down. We make plans to meet on Saturday and by the time I hang up I feel better.
When we turn onto the turnpike Severine turns up the music and the song sounds very familiar.
“Is that Adams’s song?”
“I thought you might notice”
I flip over the ipod to see what it’s called
The Stranger by Adam Roberts
Adam didn’t write the song. It believe this is a Secondhand Serenade Song.
+++
The night before Kasey and Tomas leave for they decide to spend the night out with other Tattoo artist who will also be going, Eric and Maddie also stopped by. On any other circumstance I wouldn’t have gone but it was Valentine’s Day and I didn’t feel like being alone.
Grr . . Eric. . . he shows up way to much
It was a nice restaurant on the Upper West Side and after everyone made fun of me for my overall lack of tattoos I settled by the bar with Maddie who was sipping an ice water and acting as designated driver.
“Hi”, I said
She looked me over. I had over done all my make-up applying layers of foundation, blush and lipstick, it looked cheap instead of like I as covering something up.
“Hey”, she didn’t seem like she minded me joining her, “So do you really trust Tomas ?”
“What do you mean ?”
“You know how these convention things are, I mean the entire industry is about hot girls showing off their body to guys who will draw on them and being halfway across the world. . . I’m just saying”
“I’m really not worried”, I should know if he told them about the AIDS or not but I don’t.
“That’s what Siobhan, thought is all I’m saying”
“I don’t know who that is”
“She was Eric’s girlfriend, all three of us lived together with
Tomas and Terry, anyway when things got bad between them, Eric and I started sleeping
together”
I was glad I didn’t have a drink
LA
LA LA . . . I’m going to ignore that. This is also where it mentioned Eric and Sibohan used to date in FS.
“He wants to see his family and loves his work,”
“Forget I said anything”
But I couldn’t because I wondered if what I was doing with Adam
could be considered anything else. I mean the reason I didn’t tell Tomas
about him was because it didn’t matter, he never told me anything about someone
named Terry.
“Well, we should go his flight leaves early”
It’s Valentine’s day
She offers me a wave but I can tell that she thinks I’m naïve
and making a bad decision, I mean she’s the one who stole her roommate’s
boyfriend.
Severine isn’t at her apartment when we get back, and considering it’s a Friday I don’t plan on waiting up for her.
“So, do I get a box of chocolates or roses?” I ask once I’ve made sure all the doors are locked.
“Something like it, but I don’t think you are going to like it”
“Why what did you do get my name tattooed somewhere ?”, he’s quiet too quiet, “You didn’t, how did I not notice.”
“Maybe we don’t see each other naked nearly enough”, he offers removing his shirt, to show my name permanently inked on his back, fortunately it’s small
“It’s nice”
“Your turn”
“I’m sorry, you know how this week has been”
“We can make amends”
He starts to kiss me very slowly, I feel his tongue across my lips removing a little bit of my lipstick. Stepping back I nearly trip over the suitcases, but I catch myself, instead I let myself fall deeper into his embrace.
Sofia has on the cheap lipstick which is why it comes off so easily
He turns a light on and sits me down on the bed. He starts kissing me again, forcing his tongue in my mouth. He forces me down on my back, never losing contact with my mouth.
I wonder where Severine is, also Tom could have at least gotten some flowers.
His hand moves from my hair, down my shoulder, over my bruise resting between my legs. I was glad I had decided to wear pants. I break away from his kiss.
“I’m really tired”
“you can say no”, he tells me but I can pick up some resentment
“I’m looking at an apartment, tomorrow”
“Where?” he doesn’t believe me
“I don’t know, it’s written down somewhere around here”
“I won’t see you for 2 weeks”
“I know, but we can call each other”
“I have some last minute things to get together”
He gives me one last kiss and I slide out from under him and go to take all the make-up off. Looking at myself in the mirror I have to stop for a second.
“Shit”
Every ounce of make up was still on my face but my lips were bare.
Right,
So while I was re-reading FS I realized Tom kind of had a lipstick fetish so I
kind of waned to work it in here. Something Freudian about how her lips remind him of . . . something else.This chapter ends the first "Arc" if you will. Tomfia are separated after this which starts Arc #2.