Marit sat at the little table, picking the onions out of her gyro. AJ watched in amusement as she struggled to remove the offending vegetables without ripping the whole sandwich apart.
"Why didn't you just order it without the onions?" he asked.
"Because," she explained matter-of-factly, " then it wouldn't taste like onions."
"Um, okay," he said. "Then why are you taking them out?"
"Because I don't like them." He just eyed her oddly.
"Oooookay, then." She looked up to see him shaking his head at her.
"Look," she said, as if she were explaining something simple to a small child, "I like the flavor of onions, but I don't like the texture of them. So they have to be in there to mix with the sauce, but I don't actually want to eat them. Get it?"
"Yeah, I get it," he laughed.
"Good," she said, then resumed picking at her sandwich. He laughed again and got up, walking over the table and sitting in the other chair.
"So I was thinking, we can head back to Orlando tomorrow." She didn't look up, just mumbled a reply into her sandwich. "Marit," he started.
"Look, AJ, I'm trying okay? But you can't tell me that you don't think the situation is a little weird," she said.
"Not at all," he responded, deadpan. "I'd think nothing of up and leaving with a strange guy I'd only met the day before." She looked at him, trying to hide a smile.
"Oh, really? You're in the habit of going home with random guys, then?" He grinned, glad to see a little humor in her.
"Yep, that's how I spend my weekends."
"And what would your fans have to say?" She reached down and picked up a paper bag, pulling out a magazine. "I took the liberty of stopping by the gift store to see how famous you really are. And this is what I found." AJ looked at the cover of the magazine and laughed.
"Hey, that was all Kevin's idea," he said.
"Which one's Kevin?"
"The one in the middle," he pointed. She examined the cover closely. "He's pretty hot."
"But not hotter than me, right?" he asked jokingly. She squinted her eyes and looked at the picture, then at AJ, then at the picture again.
"Sorry, I think he may be hotter," she shrugged. AJ sighed dramatically.
"Oh, I think you've broken my heart," he stated, reaching for her hand. Placing it on his chest, he looked at her in mock seriousness, trying his best to look pathetic. She bit back a giggle, and raised her head. The words she was about to speak died on her tongue as she met his eyes. She was suddenly aware of AJ's close proximity, the heat emanating from his body, his quickening pulse under the palm of her hand. Nervously, she shifted her eyes, breaking contact and attempted to pull her hand away. AJ held tightly to her hand, watching as her whole demeanor changed. Her tongue darted out briefly to touch her lower lip and, without thinking, he leaned forward, his mouth softly brushing against hers in a feather-light kiss. At the contact, she jumped back, tearing her hand away and raising it to her mouth, staring at him, eyes wide.
"What was that for?" she asked. He shrugged, trying to make light of the situation.
"No reason, you just looked like you needed it." Her eyes narrowed as her temper flared.
"Dammit, AJ, I'm not some damsel in distress that you can just waltz in and sweep off my feet," she said, stormily.
"Oh, darn, and I just got my suit of armour polished and everything," he replied.
"AJ," she warned.
"Look, Marit, I don't know why I did it, I just did, okay? It just seemed like the right thing to do. I'm sorry that you always seem to take everything in the worst possibly way. Let's just forget it all happened, okay?"
"Fine," she responded, standing up. "I'm going to go take a nap." That said, she walked out of the room. AJ sighed and leaned back in his chair. What is with her? And why do I care so much? he thought to himself.
"He's just trying to be nice," Marit said. She paced the room furiously, trying to sort the thoughts in her head.
"Yeah, but he's being a little TOO nice," she argued with herself.
"Oh, c'mon, what do you think he's trying to do, gain your confidences and then take advantage of you?"
"Yes! That's what they're all about, you know. They're all nice and friendly and you start to get comfortable, and then right when you least expect it, bam! They go all weird on you. Don't forget about him, " she reminded herself.
"Yeah, but he was... different. They're not all like that... are they?" She stopped in front of the mirror to look at herself. "No, they're not. I won't believe it," she declared, shaking her head for emphasis. She looked herself in the eye. "Admit it, there's another reason he has you running." She sighed. "Fine, okay? Maybe I like him. Just a teensy-weensy bit."
"Just a bit?"
"Maybe more than a bit. But that's it, okay? And I'm not going to do anything about it either. Right?" She looked at herself again. "Right?" she pressed.
"Right. That's not what you need right now."
She turned away from the mirror and walked over to the bed. She sat down and lay back against the pillow. Girl, how did you get to this point? Closing her eyes, she let her thoughts wander.
"C'mon, Marit, it'll be so much fun! Classes are over for us and I bet you haven't gone out in forever, and besides, when's the last time we got to hang out?" Clara begged.
"I don't know, he doesn't really like me going there," Marit responded doubtfully. "Couldn't we stay in or something? Rent a movie?"
"A movie?" Clara responded scornfully. "Ick, how boring. No, I want to go clubbing. C'mon, we'll only stay a little while, by the time he gets back from the library, we'll be home. Please?" she pleaded. Marit sighed.
"Fine, but we're coming home by 1. Okay?"
"Yay! Okay, by 1. Now go get changed!" Marit couldn't help but smile at her friend's enthusiasm, even if she couldn't share it. Running into her bedroom, she quickly changed, and the two girls headed out to hail a cab to the club.
Marit opened the door slowly, trying to make as little noise as possible, hoping that he hadn't returned yet. It was well past two, and she could have kicked herself for letting Clara convince her to stay later. Placing her keys on the table, she tiptoed into the bedroom and felt her way around the wall to the bathroom. Just as she slipped in, the lights came on. "Where have you been?" She whirled around at the sound of his voice. He was sitting in a chair in the corner of the room, watching. She bit her lip, waiting for his next action. He got up slowly, his eyes never leaving her, and walked towards her. Instinctively, she stepped back, and his jaw tightened almost imperceptibly. He approached her and stood in front her, watching her. She stood still, awaiting the inevitable. He reached out to brush the hair from her face, before letting his hand fall to her shoulder. He ran his fingertips down her upper arm, before stopping at her elbow. Tightening his grip, he pulled her close to him so that they were almost touching.
"Didn't I ask you to wait at home for me?" he whispered, just above her ear. He turned his head slightly, nuzzling her hair. "I came home and was all alone. Do you know how that makes me feel?" Letting go of her elbow, he circled her waist with his arm, raising his other hand to her jaw, titling her face up.
"I'm sorry," Marit whispered. "I swear, it won't happen again." He looked at her and chuckled softly.
"You swear, do you? On your life?" he laughed again. She looked at him uncertainly. He pulled her close and lowered his head, kissing her roughly, biting her lip. At the pain, she parted her lips slightly, and he forced his tongue into her mouth, as he pushed her back against the open door. She whimpered in protest as he roughly handled her and pulled away to look into her frightened eyes. He gave a short laugh and let go of her, stepping away.
"I'm going over to Janet's. I need a real woman tonight." He turned and walked out the door, flipping off the light. In the darkness, Marit crumpled to the floor, sobbing softly.
AJ lay on his bed listening to the sounds next door. She had been talking, to herself, he presumed, though he couldn't make out any words. When she had fallen silent, he had assumed she had fallen asleep. Picking up his sheet music again, he began to work over the lyrics again. Suddenly, a noise next door caught his attention. Putting down the papers, he stood up and walked over to the connecting door, opening his side and leaning in. Through her half- closed door, he could hear a faint whimpering.
"Marit?" he asked softly. There was no
answer. AJ pushed the door
open slowly to see her curled up on her bed,
her head in her hands,
crying in her sleep, the pitiful sight
tugging at his heart.
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