Labyrinth of Emotions – 02.15 – Broken II

            Rosita looked around the empty house no paint on the walls, no flooring in some rooms. The bathroom was lacking a toilet, and a sink. She kept walking, thinking of all the work that had gone into this home. It was a minor miracle that Oscar had managed to pull this off. She turned and saw Tina dropping some paint at the door.

            She was beautiful in a way that Ro just couldn’t explain, she wasn’t a model, but there was something that exuded from the woman that made Ro looked twice. That had never happened before, only Max had made her do a double take. Now here she was hip deep in a plan to get this woman back with the woman who’d made her think twice about her sexuality.

            What was she doing? She was being the honorable Rosita Navarro; she knew she was getting something out of this too. To fulfill a dream she’d once had a long time ago, and to make a promise she’d made come to life, so to speak. She snapped back to reality, when Tina began to speak.

            “You think they are going to show up?” Tina asked and Ro laughed turning and pulling her into her arms. Tina hugged her fiercely and Ro said with her Spanish tainted voice.

            “You called them all? They will be here, trust me.” The Latina said, blowing away a strand of hair and turning to Tina, heat in her eyes. Tina saw it, and she wanted to kiss the woman, who was as sweet and sexy as they came. She was also in love with Bette and pulling Ro any deeper into this crazy plan wasn’t fair to the young lawyer.

            “Trust you?” Marina asked with a chuckle from the doorway, and Ro looked over Tina‘s head to see Marina, Jenny, Shane and Alice standing at the door. Each of them looked worse for wear Alice looked like she hadn’t slept in days. Tina was instantly worried about each one of them.

            “Of course I do.” Tina whispered to Ro turning and facing her friends. Alice went over to her, slinging an arm around her and saying with as big as grin as she could muster.

            “Ok, where do we start foreman? I think we should start in the…”

            “Bedroom.” Alex shot out from the kitchen where she’d come in from, Bette was right behind her and Alice ran to Bette. Launching herself into Bette‘s arms as Alex stepped out of the way of the bullet called Alice.

            “BETTE!” She yelled into Bette‘s ear as she hugged her and Bette was almost bowled over and Bette tried to regain her balance. She wrapped her arms around Alice, holding her up off the ground as Alice held on to her for dear life.

            “Easy Alice you are going to knock me on my back.” Alex tried to not laugh and muttered so only Tina and Ro heard.

            “She’s been on her back all week…” A sinful smile spread over her features and Tina stared openly at Alex, but the detective didn’t notice. A total contrast to the cop she’d met a few months before, Tina thought to herself. Did she even have a chance of getting Bette back?

*****

            Tina had assigned everyone to tasks, she’s also put the ‘broken’ couples together and none of them were liking it. A lot of grunting and moaning but one heated look from Rosita had sent them all to their corners. They also didn’t want to disappoint Tina, who was putting everything she had into this project.

            Dana stood on the step ladder at the far end of a bedroom; Alice was painting the trim of the room. Sam was nailing part of the floor board down, and Lara was using the roller and applying a coat of paint liberally. The room was a faint pink, and Sam was muttering to herself about the color.

            “You keep slapping it on that thick and we’ll need 6 gallons to cover four walls.” Alice growled and Sam applied masking blue masking tape to the door molding. No one said anything, and Sam looked up at Lara, catching her looking at her. Sam turned her eyes away; she just couldn’t forgive her, not yet. It pained her to not let it slide, but she was also feeling rather guilty about her own transgression.

            “Whatever.” Lara said and Sam shot her another look. She kept tossing glances to Alice, who was wearing a sexy paint splattered shirt. She was shattered between these two women, something electric had transpired between she and Alice. Alice was in love with Dana, and Sam knew that, just as Alice knew that somewhere in here killer heart, she loved Lara.

            Sam closed her eyes to the wanton images peppering her mind and Alice said something to her, acting like the three day fuck fest had never occurred.

            “Huh?” Sam asked, and sat on the floor, under Dana‘s step ladder. She looked up to see Dana staring with rapt attention at Alice, yup there was still love in her eyes for Dana.

            “I asked you to come and give me a hand.” Alice said trying not to look at Dana on the ladder. Sam got on her knees and moved to get up, she met Alice‘s eyes and there was that spark again, and Alice looked away.

            “You’re not going to talk to me, are you?” Dana blurted out and Sam looked up, seeing Dana staring hard at Alice. Oh oh, here come the fireworks thought Sam. Lara put the roller down, rubbing her hands on her jeans as Sam and Lara locked eyes, and this time, neither of them looked away.

            “No Dana, I am not doing to talk to you. You slept with her.” Alice said, pointing to Lara who blushed and turned away sheepishly.   “I can’t talk to you yet your girlfriend is pissed at you. Do you understand that? Your best friend understands WHY it happened, but your girlfriend doesn’t understand, she does not comprehend it whatsoever!” Alice finished and Dana put her hands on her hips.

            “Cuz I took some of those damn pills of yours!” Dana yelled Sam moved away, as if embarrassed and she grabbed a brush from the bucket next to Lara just as Lara was reaching for it, their fingers touched and Sam stopped.

            “Hey.” Sam said the inflection in her voice told Lara that she wasn’t angry with her. Lara was taken back not understanding why she wasn’t angry, there had to be a reason.

            “Hey.” Lara said back softly pulling away and wanting desperately to grab Sam, push her against the wall and kissing her until her lips were numb. Instead she grinned sheepishly and Sam has to smile at the look that was on her face.

            “Oh so you are going to blame it on the E? Fuck you Dana; you’ve wanted her since she stepped back into your life!” Alice yelled her face bright red and her fists clenched. Sam pretended to start painting, and Lara did the same, standing just a foot from Sam.

            “Want to get out of this room?” Lara offered and Sam shook her head, turning and watching as Alice moved towards Dana, who was still perched on top of the step ladder. Was it safe to leave them, Sam thought.

            “The fits about to hit the shan…” Sam muttered and Alice and Dana began to yell at one another, Sam and Lara watched, as they volleyed back and forth as if they were watching one of Dana‘s tennis matches.

            Dana: “I love you Alice!”

            Alice: “Love, bull shit! You did to me what you did to Lara, then to Tonya!”

            Dana: “I didn’t do anything that wrong! I’m not like you; I don’t have all the experience in the world to come by! So I played a little bit!”

            Alice: “You used me! Don’t go blaming it on me, because you were in the closet!”

            Dana: “MY MOM THINKS SHE IS GAY!”

            Alice: “My mom hit on SHANE once! They kissed! Who the fuck cares, you want your cake and eat it too.”

            Dana: “I Love YOU Alice!” Dana said in desperation.

            “I slept with SAM!” Alice blurted, and Sam closed her eyes and turned to Lara, whose mouth hung open. That was why Sam wasn’t angry with her that is why she was acting so calm about this indiscretion. Sam turned to Lara and said in a soft voice, the one she used to tell people that someone had died.

            “I can explain…” Sam began and Lara was shaking her head no, that it didn’t really matter. Nothing matter as long as they were ok with one another.

            “You bitch!” Dana said, launching herself off the ladder and into Sam‘s back, sending the tennis pro and the doctor crashing to the floor. The pink paint can falling to the floor, splattering as Dana slammed a fist into Sam.

*****

            Tina was holding the piece of wood, while Bette tried to figure out how to use the saw. She turned it over in her hand, and pushed the button. Nothing happened, she gave Tina a funny look and Tina had to smile. Bette made a face of distaste and set the saw down, and sighed ever so softly.

            “I don’t know either.” Whispered Tina and Bette burst out laughing, Alex and Ro seemed to be doing well with their project. Alex tossed the left over piece in the scrap pile and Rosita measured another section to be cut. Bette watched them, and sat down on the pile of wood. She patted the spot next to her and Tina sat down.

            “Why did you volunteer everyone to do this again?” Bette asked and Tina shrugged, trying to see just how Bette had changed.

            “I thought it was a good way for everyone to connect we’d been splintered since… You know.” Tina said, and Bette nodded knowingly. She understood wanting to see all her friends together.

            “It was a good idea, except none of us are very good at this sort of thing.” Bette stated, and Tina giggled pointing to Ro and Alex.

            “They seem to know what they are doing how is Alex doing? She’s recovering well from the ordeal?” Tina asked and Bette knew she was really asking how she herself was doing.

            “Doing well I think. We don’t talk much about…. Anything.” Bette admitted, forgetting for a moment she was talking to Tina, her wife. An impish grin spread over Bette‘s face and Tina had to look away.

            “Forget I mentioned it.” Tina said swallowing down the fear that Bette had truly moved on. She watched as Ro ran the saw and Alex pushed the wood into place. The floor was quickly getting installed she saw. Ro looked up winking at Tina and Tina felt her heart warming.

            “So Bette when are you going back to work?” Ro asked turning and seeing them sitting on the pile of wood. Alex straightened and cast one look in Ro direction.

            “In a month. I have a month left and I’m willingly taking it. Franklin is being a doll about all of this.” Tina said nothing and Bette got up and Alex tugged her into her arms.

            “A whole month? I have two days, and then back to work I go.” Alex stated and Ro chuckled under her breath. Alex gave her a harsh look, a half grin on her lips.  “What?” Alex asked and Bette went over to the radio and turned up the music, Tina was watching her like a hawk but Bette ignored it, playing it cool. She and Alex had discussed how to play this, and the best was they thought was to act like Tina was just another friend.

            “You do have to get some cases wrapped up. I go to court with the Valentine case Friday and you are supposed to testify…” Rosita eluded and Alex groaned out loud.

*****

            Carmen was in the huge bathroom to the left of the master bedroom, she was putting up a set of shelves. Shane was splattered with paint, but seemingly having a ball painting. She was ignoring the tension in the room rather well. Marina wasn’t looking at anyone; she was sanding one of the base boards. Jenny was doing the trim, very slowly as if she were concentrating extremely hard on what she was doing; silence was heavy in the room.

            “So are we going to address the elephant that is in the middle of the room?” Marina stated as she stood straight at her full height. The room looked at her collectively.

            “There is an elephant in the room?” Jenny asked blandly looking up to see Carmen coming out of the bathroom. Her hands on her hips as if she were about to charge Marina, but she didn’t.

            “This, this elephant that is between the three of us, Shane… If you could leave us alone for a few moments….” Marina said and Carmen grabbed hold of Shane‘s wrist as Shane moved to the door.

            “There isn’t anything to talk about; you two weren’t talking the other night at the club, so why should you guys talk now?” Carmen said sarcastically and Shane winced at the evident pain in her voice.

            “Non, we were not talking. We have not talked since. There is nothing to talk about between Jenny and I.” Marina stated, and Jenny‘s eyes went wide, her blue eyes looking back and forth to Marina, then to Carmen.

            “Marina?” Jenny questioned, her face a mask of confusion, and Marina put her hand up, stopping her.

            “Jenny, you have a relationship with someone who obviously cares for you. I came back into your life like a whirlwind and expected you to drop at my feet, I was wrong about that; you indeed have someone who cares for you deeply.” Marina stated, sitting down with her legs tucked under her on the floor. Shane narrowed her eyes, what was Marina doing? Shane was sure that Marina was in love with Jenny, so why was she handing Jenny to Carmen on a silver platter?

            “I…” Jenny stammered, lost and emotional, she raced from the room, tears streaming down her cheeks. Carmen looked at Marina with venom in her eyes and dropped the hammer she was holding and ran after Jenny, screaming her name.

*****

            “They want us to what?” Lenore asked Sharon, who was dressed to the nines, and Lenore was also well dressed, both women staring at the grill. Hands on their respective hips looking oddly at the grill as if they’d never seen one before.

            “To cook darling.” Sharon stated, and Lenore cocked an eyebrow, looking over at Sharon with an amused look on her face. She scoffed, taking in a long breath.

            “I don’t cook.” Lenore said and she reaching into her purse finding her cell phone. She began to dial the number of a wonderful take out place, but Sharon took the phone away and threw it into the bushes.

            “What do you think you are doing?” Lenore shot at her, and Sharon put her hands on her hips again, striking a commanding pose.

            “We are going to do this, we are worldly women, and do you mean to tell me that you can’t rise to the challenge of cooking a simple meal? Men do it all the time, why can’t we?” Sharon put out and Lenore scoffed, looking very much like Alice at that moment, grabbing the bag of charcoal and tearing the bag open.

            “Please, I have acted for the best directors and won accolade the world over; of course I can cook a simple cheese burger!”

*****

            Tim was lugging a huge bag of lawn seed; he looked over to see Ivan, Kit and Vanessa sitting on a large mound of sod. He dropped the bag, wiping his forehead and moving over to see why they were not doing any work. He was irked that they were sitting around while he worked his ass off.

            “So if we decorate the back room, we can have the ceremony there.” Kit was saying and Vanessa nodded,

            “I asked Tina if we could use Twilight for the reception, and she said she has to pass it by Jo first.” Vanessa stated, and Tim forgot that he was going to be mad at them for sitting around and wasting time. He felt his heart fill with happiness as he saw the look in Vanessa‘s eyes.

            “Nessa we should be working?” He asked innocently and Nessa rolled her eyes at him, and he sat down next to Ivan, who pushed a playful elbow into his ribs. Tim had to smile, and then Nessa was talking about the band.

            “Wait, band? Why not just have Kit DJ?” He asked and they just shot him a look, and he decided to leave well enough alone. This was her wedding, and he was keeping his mouth shut, that was until he heard yelling from the upstairs of the house.

            “I’m gonna kill you!” Came the voice of Dana Fairbanks.

*****
Broken II
5/31/04

I wander
There is no changing my mind
Life is a Mirage

Forsaken I am
Barren and Desolate
My Soul evaporating

Rain down on me
Bring on the tide
Ebbing away

Your wrath so cold
My night eternal
The moon my only guide

Hiding my hope
My will buckles
I’m standing a the abyss

Balancing my life
In Your hands
Do with me as You please