Sophia looked Roseanne up and down and smirked at her. Rosey rolled her eyes at Sophia and wondered what she wanted. It was clear that these two were off to a shaky start. RJ was still in the bathroom taking a shower while the two ladies engaged in a very heated exchange with each other.
"Hi. Is RJ here?" Sophia asked while folding up her arms.
"He's in the bathroom. Do you have a message for him?"
"You must be his maid. I always knew RJ got it made. No pun intended."
Sophia looked at Rosey and assumed that she was RJ's housekeeper. She didn't want to believe that RJ could hook up with someone other than her. Roseanne immediately corrected her.
"Do you see an apron on me?"
"It's hard to tell with those clothes you have on. My mistake."
When Roseanne got up this morning, she took a quick shower and put on some old pair of faded jeans, a t-shirt and a bandana. Sophia had on a jean jacket, Levi's pants and some sneakers. Her hair was tied up in a pony tail.
"Damn Right! You shouldn't talk with that Raggedy Ann outfit you're wearing. Who's your fashion consultant? Punky Brewster?"
"Like you're any better." Sophia put her hands on her hips. "You look like Les Miserables."
"Look Alanis Morrisuck, do you have a message for RJ."
"I have a question: who are you and why are you over RJ's house? I know there's no way he would go out with an Olive Oyl-looking skank like you."
"Who are you to come knocking on this door asking nosy questions? Anyways, RJ's taking me out to dinner tonight."
"Dinner?"
"Yes Dinner. You know, it's like breakfast but it's served at night."
"No duh."
"I see when you opened up your mouth you removed all doubt."
"And I see that you have the right to be a bitch, but you're abusing the privilege."
"Well I'm not the only one." She gets up in Rosey's face.
"Think so?" Roseanne slams the door in Sophia's face.
Sophia's face was red from the encounter with Roseanne. She was angry that RJ would have a lady like Rosey over his house. Sophia's reason for going over RJ's house was to take him for a ride on her new motorcycle that she won in a raffle, but it was obvious she wasn't going to get that opportunity, so she left the complex and went back to her home.
Meanwhile RJ got out of the shower and asked Roseanne who was at the door. He had his towel wrapped around his waist. Rosey tried to contain her enthusiasm for RJ's hot and muscular chest. Her heart was beating fast and her palms became sweaty as she looked at him.
"So who was at the door? I heard a knock." RJ asked.
Roseanne lied to RJ and said, "Oh, it was just the Avon lady. I told her we didn't want any but she wouldn't take no for an answer."
"Sales people are known for that. I'm going to get dressed. I'll speak to you when I get out of my room."
RJ goes in his room and gets dressed. Moments later he comes out wearing his usual flamboyant attire. When it came to clothing, RJ definitely was the man. Even his dreads added to his image of looking cool and confident.
Roseanne finished vacuuming the carpet by the time RJ came out of the room. He was impressed that Rosey spruced his place up. Now that he was dressed, RJ asked Rosey for a favor.
"Roseanne, I'm so happy that you took the initiative to clean up my apartment. I know you'll make some guy damn lucky one of these days."
"Thanks, RJ. If there's anything else I can do for you, feel free to ask."
RJ was so glad to hear Roseanne say those words. He quickly took advantage of the situation for his own benefit.
"Well, I want you to move back with your Aunt Tea."
"I don't think so."
"You said you would do anything for me? Don't go back on your word now."
"Ok. I'll do it. What's the catch?"
"Here's what I want you to do: I want you to take this small package and leave it for your aunt in a discreet spot within the next few days. You must never reveal where the package came from and my role in it. Here's fifty dollars for your trouble." RJ takes a bankroll from his pocket and gives it to Roseanne and she thanks RJ for the money.
Rosey asked what was in the package.
"I'm curious, RJ. What's in the package?"
"A nice and very expensive gift. That's all you need to know."
"Way too secretive, huh?"
"You'll know soon enough. Now get dressed. I'll take you over to Tea's penthouse right now. What are you doing tonight?"
"My schedule is clear. Why?"
"I want to take you out to dinner to celebrate our new friendship."
"Sounds good."
"Here's my pager number. I want you to beep me when you're ready, ok."
"Swell. I'll go and change and then get my things."
RJ's was smiling at the fact that he had Tea's niece right in his pocket. He was going to use Rosey to annoy Tea and get back at John. RJ was ecstatic about killing two birds with one stone.
The scene switches to East Llanview where a car pulls up to a run-down hotel called the Albion. The guests that frequented this hotel were usually of the lowest common denominator, but they were also a blend of decent people that couldn't really afford the luxury of the Palace, so they stayed there. The man who gets out of the Pontiac is none other than Marco Dane aka Mark Donovan. He was very fortunate enough to get a ride into town after his set of wheels broke down on the interstate.
Long before Todd Manning and RJ Gannon, Marco was Llanview's resident troublemaker with a criminal record long enough to pass for a Stephen King Novel. Dane was the type of man that got a thrill out of raising hell and taking anyone who was foolish enough to get in his way down with him. He was the devil incarnate that made RJ and Todd look like Calvin and Hobbes. Marco was ready to let the good times roll once again and Llanview was the place to rekindle the fun of times past.
He checked in at the front desk and went to the second floor. When Marco opened the door to his hotel room, he saw his contact John Sykes sitting in a chair turned backwards with a grimace on his face.
"It's about time you got here, Dane." Sykes said as he got up from his chair.
"I would've been here sooner, but my Chevy broke down. I had to hitch a ride here to Llanview. Some dame by the name of May or Rae gave me a ride here. We shared a few laughs and smoked a butt or two. She kept rambling on about some Daniel character, and that really got on my nerves." Explained Marco.
"Well I'm glad to see transportation wasn't a problem for you. Let's discuss business. I assume you got the picture I e-mailed you on the Internet, right?"
"Yeah I have the picture of the black man with the dreadlocks. What do you want me to do to him?"
"Here's the skinny: the man in the photograph is RJ Gannon. He's been a real nuisance to me as of late and I want him dealt with. I also want you to break into his apartment and look for some documents and a videotape he stole from me."
"I know where you're getting at, pal. RJ, has some blackmail stuff on ya? Well this is going to cost you extra and I want half of my payment up front."
"I don't have any money on me at the moment, but I can get you a nice Lexus." Offered Sykes.
"You can afford a Lexus on a cop's salary? IMpressive!!!"
"I have a friend that runs a car dealership. I'll arrange for a car to be delivered to this hotel in thirty minutes. I have a tab with him so the expense will be billed to me."
"Make that fifteen minutes and you got yourself a deal."
"Ok. Consider it done."
"Now why did you choose me? I'm sure you coulda hired any criminal in Llanview to take your nemesis out for you."
"I chose you because I researched your record and I know that you possess the requirements and the skills necessary for this task. After all, it takes a crook to catch a crook and I needed outside help for this job. I couldn't risk any joe shmoe blowing the whistle on my operation."
"And how do you know I won't?"
"There's an honor among thieves and if you betray me, it'll be the last thing that you do." Warned Sykes.
"Just asking. Don't you have a sense of humor?"
"I don't. What I want is for you to do this job and get out of town."
"You could've put me in a better hotel than this. I don't like this dump."
"I couldn't risk the Palace Hotel. I wanted to keep this meeting of ours private."
"I get it. You're ashamed to be seen with an unsavory character like me? You're afraid I'll ruin your reputation or lack thereof. A typical uptight snob."
"Listen you jerk-off, I'm paying you to do a job and not to ask stupid questions. I don't like you and everything you stand for. Now when the Lexus gets here, I expect you to get to work. We'll keep in contact with these cellular phones. You are to call me on this phone only and not my home number. I'll call for the Lexus and you get your stuff ready. Got it?" Yelled John.
"Loud and crystal clear." Marco puts his cigarette in his mouth and lights up and starts smoking it.
"Good. I have to leave now. I'll call you later."
John slams the door and leaves the hotel. Fifteen minutes later, Marco's Lexus arrives at the hotel. The driver from the dealership gives Dane the keys to the car and walks away. Marco went upstairs to his room and gathered his bag of tricks and proceeded to get to work on breaking into RJ Gannon's apartment.
The scene switches to the Palace Restaurant where RJ and Roseanne are enjoying a lovely evening dinner. Roseanne knew deep down that RJ would take her out this evening. Rosey was on his good side and she appreciated the advice he gave her about Christian. She couldn't wait to go down to the Gentlemen's Club and apply for an exciting and thrilling career as an exotic dancer. Visions of dollar bills were dancing in her head. RJ was thinking about his scheme to ruin John Sykes. So far everything was working smoothly for him and he was glad that he had Rosey on his side, even if she didn't know what his ulterior motive was for befriending her.
Sitting on the other side of the room was Sophia Pelligrino and her date Joey Buchanan. Sophia talked Joey into taking her out to dinner at the last minute. She was unaware that Joey went with her in order to forget about Kelly, but the more he tried to forget her the more painful it became to remember her. Sophia had one eye on the menu and the other eye on RJ and Roseanne. She was very jealous that RJ was with Roseanne instead of her. Sophia's thoughts were interrupted when Joey started to talk to her.
"Hey Sophia! You made up your mind what you wanted?" He impatiently asked.
"Yeah, I know what I want." Sophia responded in a enthusiastic voice.
Miss Pelligrino knew what she wanted and it wasn't on the menu. It was the tall, dark and handsome man with the dreadlock hairstyle sitting across the room named RJ. She was determined to steal him away from Roseanne. Joey noticed how distracted she was and tried to veer her attention span to him.
"Sophia, are you dating me or RJ?"
"I'm dating you, of course."
"Then act like it please."
"I'm sorry, hun."
Meanwhile on RJ's side of the room, Roseanne took notice of how Sophia was eyeballing RJ Gannon and she commented on it.
"Some people and their eye problems. What does that bimbozo want anyway?" Roseanne mumbled to herself.
"Did you say something, Rosey?"
"I said nothing, but since we're on a roll I want to thank you so much for taking me out." Rejoiced Roseanne.
"I always take good care of my friends. You're one of a kind Roseanne."
"You're making me blush."
As Roseanne and RJ continued talking, their order arrived. RJ ordered a sirloin steak and potatoes and Roseanne ordered the Filet Mignon with a side order of salad. While RJ was eating his steak, he noticed Sophia sitting with Joey. Earlier, he was trying to locate Sophia to tell her that he considered her offer to team-up with her at the pool tournament but he had no such luck. He contemplated going over to her and striking up a conversation about the upcoming billiards contest, but it was an awkward time for the both of them. RJ had no idea that she came over to his house this morning to see him, but he would eventually find out.
Soon after he was done eating, he excused himself from the table to go use the restroom. Little did he know that Sophia decided to follow him. She told Joey that she had to go and powder her nose. RJ ran into Sophia in the hallway. She looked at him in a jealous manner and started talking to him.
"Fancy meeting you here, RJ. You know, I came to your house and your girlfriend answered the door."
"Girlfriend? Why did you drop by?"
Suddenly it hit RJ that Roseanne lied to him about the person who knocked at the door being the Avon lady. It was Sophia that was at the door, but he wondered why she came by his apartment. Sophia willingly answered his question.
"I won a Harley Davidson motorcycle and I wanted to take you for a spin. Who was that girl you had at your house?"
"She's a friend and that's all you need to know."
"She looks like she's more than a friend to me. I see you two at the table getting extra comfy."
"And I see you and Joey Buchanan getting real cozy, but you don't see me complaining."
"But you're noticing me. I'm on your mind, ain't I ?"
"Listen, I don't know what bull you're trying to pull but it ends now."
"Omigod, RJ. Do you still think I'm trying to con you?"
"Then what is it you want from me then?"
"I'm not trying to hustle you, Gannon. The only thing I want is YOU."
"You're with Joey Buchanan and you want me? You're too devious!"
"I'm not into Joey. I thought I was, but I'm not. He's sooo boring. All he talks about is Kelly Cramer. If I hear her name again, I'm going to scream!!" Sighed Sophia
RJ decided to tease Sophia and say Kelly's name.
"Kelly Cramer." RJ playfully said.
"Shut up, RJ."
"Why don't you make me shut up?" Suggested RJ.
"Are you challenging me?"
"Are you accepting?"
"Let's make a wager. If I shut you up, you have to be my partner for the pool tournament. If I lose, I'll leave you alone."
"Sounds good to me. You're on. So what are you waiting for?" RJ got closer to Sophia's face. "Make me shut up."
"I have something to shut you up, you blabbermouth." Sophia gives RJ a very passionate french kiss on the lips.
Soon afterwards, the two go right inside the ladies room to make out. Luckily no one is in the bathroom but RJ and Sophia. That is until Tea Delgado walks in the restroom. Tea was very appalled at the lewd and inappropiate conduct displayed by RJ and Sophia, and she immediately voiced her outrage.
"Why don't you two get a room!" Exclaimed Tea.
To Be Continued....