Keeping Faith, Part 14
©2005 -Vertigo-
Dinner was quiet as everyone had things on their mind. Mrs. A insisted she do dishes and sent the girls out to walk Smudge. It had been quite some time since the two women took a walk together. Every time they went out in public, paparazzi drove them crazy.
Faith attempted to take the leash, but Reece wasn't having it. The actress smiled and watched Reece snap on the leash and scoop the tiny dog up.
"He can walk down the stairs, baby."
Reece bounded down the few steps. "They're too high for his legs."
Faith snickered. "You'd think you gave birth to him."
Reece scowled.
Faith reached up and caressed her wife's cheek. "I think it's utterly adorable."
Reece scowled harder and Faith laughed.
They walked slowly, stopping every so often for Smudge to sniff and lift his leg. Faith smiled to herself, thinking how nice it was to be out without being bothered. She felt completely at ease with Reece by her side, and wished her tall lover would stop looking over her shoulder every second. "This is nice, for a change."
"They're there, Faith. I know they are."
"Just relax, hold my hand." The actress took the larger hand and squeezed it.
Reece looked down at their hands. "This will be on the cover of the Star tomorrow."
"Fuck ‘em. We never have this kind of time together any more. Just enjoy it."
The club owner glanced surreptitiously over her shoulder. Finding it safe, she sighed. "It is nice to hold your hand and not worry about stalkers."
"Think about how nice it would be if you kissed me in public."
Reece raised both eyebrows. "Are you nuts? I know they're there."
Faith growled in frustration. "Reece you never cared. In the beginning, you couldn't keep your hands or lips off of me. Who the hell cares about a stupid tabloid any way?'
Reece knew Faith was right. She glanced all around before stealing a very quick kiss.
Faith looked amused. "Are you kidding me?
"What? I kissed you."
Faith pushed Reece against a parked car, grabbed her lover's face with both hands and really kissed her. At first Reece resisted, even tried to push Faith off, but as soon as Faith's tongue entered her mouth, she was lost.
Faith groaned, pressing her body against Reece's. Instinctively, two large hands grasped Faith's ass cheeks and pulled her even closer. Faith wrapped her arms around the taller woman's neck. Reece had to admit, it was a long time since she made out with her wife in public and it was exciting. They never used to hide their affection, in fact, made every effort to show it wherever they were. Suddenly, Reece had an image of herself fucking Faith on her bike and she growled, intensifying the kiss. Lost in their own world momentarily, everything else was gone. No people walking by, no cars blowing their horns, no flashes blinding them.
Flashes? Reece thought hazily. Flashes!
Faith jumped back, and Reece lurched forward. In a fit of rage, Reece lunged for the man, ripping his camera from his hands and grabbing him by the shirt.
"Reece! Stop!
"One fucking night alone! That's all I want asshole, one fucking night!"
Smudge's leash pulled taut as he tried to run away from the mayhem.
"You're crazy!" The photographer yelled.
Reece realized the leash was around her wrist and let the man's shirt go, walking up to him, chest to chest. "Now look! You made me scare my dog!"
"Reece!" Faith grabbed Reece by the arm and tried to pull her back. A barrage of flashes erupted around them.
The tall furious woman twisted her head around to find the photographers.
"Gimme my camera you freak!"
Reece raged, and looked at the camera. The man grabbed for it, she held it high over her head. "Beg for it, fucker."
The papparzzi went wild. "Reece! That's enough! Give him the damned camera!"
Reece looked at Faith and saw fear. "Fucking hell!" she threw the camera at the trembling man and growled. "Get the fuck away from us!" she turned around and pointed at the other photographers. "Fuck off!" Reece was trying her hardest not to strangle everybody. She was trembling with the effort.
Faith saw the shiver and acted. She took hold of her dangerously angry wife by the arm and yanked her hard. "Let's go. NOW!"
Reece growled one last time and allowed Faith to drag her away.
"What the hell was that all about? Reece! You don't want to be front page? Well you just made front page!"
"Fuck them! All I want is to be able to walk in the street with you!"
Faith ignored the outburst, and continued to drag her reluctant lover home. She was pissed also, but Reece was downright shaking. It wasn't normal. It was natural for Reece to be annoyed, angry even, but she was livid tonight.
"Stupid photographers. I hate this! I really hate this Faith!"
Faith grabbed Reece by both arms and turned her so they were facing each other. "Oh, and you think I like this? It comes with the territory. I'm an actress. A lesbian actress with a big scary wife! A lesbian actress with a big scary wife who owns a tit club! We're freaks Reece and people love to pay to watch freaks! Deal with it!"
Reece watched open mouthed as her wife stormed off down the block. Shaking her head she scooped up Smudge and took off after her. "Wait, Faith... don't run off alone!"
"Leave me alone Reece, please."
Reece followed Faith until she was safely inside the house. "What the fuck just happened to my Faith?" she asked the dog. "All I wanted was one night alone. I just wanted to hold her hand and walk like a normal couple. Left alone."
Faith slammed the door behind her, startling her mother.
"Honey?"
"Mom, please. Don't."
Mrs. Ashford followed Faith anyway. "What just happened? Where's Theresa?"
"I don't really care." Faith tried to close the bedroom door, but her mother barged through.
"You are going to tell me what happened." The older woman insisted.
"Mom! I really don't..."
"Is it the movie?"
Faith blew out a frustrated groaning sound. "Yes. Everything is about the movie. Everything."
"Well, then don't you think you may want to rethink this whole idea? There are plenty of movies to do. You don't have to do this one."
Faith bit her tongue so not to swear at her mother.
They both heard Reece come in. Faith turned her back, and Mrs. Ashford went downstairs.
"Theresa, what happened?"
"Photographers. Stupid photographers."
"I'm sure if you just stood still and posed for them, they'd have no bad things to say, they'd stop following you. You wouldn't be chased so much."
"We did that. We tried that. It didn't work. All I wanted was peace and quiet to kiss my wife!"
"Theresa dear, everything has changed now."
"No kidding. I think I just made everything so much worse too. I went apeshit on the guy, more freaking photographers jumped out of the woodwork and got pictures of me flipping out."
"Oh no!"
"Yeah." Reece said remorsefully. "Big bad dyke beats up photographer."
Mrs. Ashford rubbed Reece's arm. "I'm sorry this happened tonight. I know it's been so stressful lately. Why don't you girls go away somewhere?"
"I'd love that, but Faith has a movie meeting tomorrow."
"Oh."
Reece sat in thought for a while. A slew of emotions crossed her features. "I gotta get ready for work."
Faith didn't move when Reece entered the room. "It's behind the door."
Reece looked behind the door and found her tux hanging. "Thanks."
It was tense. Reece hated it. She was already tense and didn't appreciate her wife creating more. She quickly dressed and left for work.
Sarge wasn't surprised to see her boss storm past her. It was a normal occurrence these days. She shook her head in sadness, wishing she could help the tall angry woman with her problems, but she couldn't. However, she could count on Cori to always be there to help. Then again, sometimes the blue haired dancer made more trouble than there already was. Sarge thought, how much worse could it get? It was worth a shot. She waited impatiently for Cori to arrive.
Reece slammed the heavy door to her office and sunk down in her big leather chair. Throwing her feet on the desk hard she cursed out loud. Why was all this happening? Finally finding the love of her life, finally letting love in, and it was all of a sudden so complicated. Everything was so right, it was getting so comfortable. Then this. The television show wasn't so bad, Faith only had to kiss a guy. Reece thought how upset she became over that and chuckled dryly. Shit, that was nothing compared to this. I'd rather have her kiss a million guys than to touch Alicia Alvarez.
The tall club owner buzzed the intercom to the front bar hoping the bartender would see the flashing light. She waited, and waited, then slammed her feet on the floor. The last thing she wanted tonight was to pretend to be pleasant to the customers. Making her way through the crowd with a big scowl on her face, she blew behind the bar, growling at the poor busy bartender and reaching into her private stash. It was a no alcohol club, but Reece always had a stash for herself.
Faith grumped around the house, avoiding her mother well enough until the older woman went to bed. She thought about her father and how he was going to take this whole thing. He'd be upset, he already was and she expected that. It's not like she was seeking approval from him, or her mother for that matter. If that was the case, she'd be married to some stockbroker living on Long Island with two kids by now. But it still hurt her to have her father disappointed. She knew he was. She could hear him now, he didn't raise her to be having sex on a screen for everyone to see. Her mother was just as upset, but bless her, she was trying to accept the decision. Reece. Now that hurt her the most. Surely Reece is capable of understanding this is just play acting, she's not a moron. She's just playing the part of one. Faith was sure Reece knew in her heart Faith wasn't doing this just to hurt her. Reece just has a different way of coping. Faith grimaced. Reece was completely enraged earlier, and seemed to swallow the anger dry. It was bubbling inside of her. It wouldn't take much of anything to set her off and lord help that poor person. Faith knew it wouldn't be her but she would feel the wrath for some time until Reece let it out. She shook her head and sighed. Tomorrow morning she sits with the presumed cast to have some sort of a meeting. She'd probably have to come face to face with Alicia. A lot of mixed emotions surfaced. This is going to be something.
Sarge met Cori halfway down the stairs to the club and dragged her off to the side.
"Whassup?" Cori wondered.
"What's going on with Reece?"
"Oh please. It's a long drawn out project. Why? Is she here already?"
"Yeah, and she's in one hell of a mood."
Cori frowned. "Shit. They must have had another fight."
"Faith?"
"Yeah, and Faith's mom is there so they really can't have it out. It's this movie. I'll see what I can do."
"Thanks, Cor, I knew you'd at least try."
Cori laughed. "Yeah, I must be a bit suicidal, but hell, I love that pain in the ass."
The dancer knocked on the closed office door, not expecting a response. She didn't expect the door to be unlocked either but amazingly it was. Reece was sitting at her desk, shoulders slumped, her hands wrapped around a bottle of Jack Daniels. Cori knew Reece was aware of her. "Hey," she said quietly, "door was open."
Reece gave her a tight lipped half smile. "I was expecting you."
"And you still left it open?" Cori closed the door behind her and sat on the desk.
Reece blew out a loud breath. "Really, Cor, would you have ever stopped knocking?"
"No. So," the dancer nodded towards the bottle, "I thought I was a better friend than Jack."
"Jack doesn't ask questions."
"True. Jack doesn't care about you like I do. Talk to me."
"No."
"Reece, you left the door open, talk."
The club owner gritted her teeth. "It's hard. You just won't get it."
"Try me. I'm smarter than I look."
Reece swung her chair around and jumped out of it. She began pacing. "I just want things back to normal! I don't want cameras and magazines, and autographs. I don't want tabloid assholes sneaking into my club and fucking everything up. I just want it back the way it was! Is that so hard to understand?"
"No, it's not."
"Then why is Faith so fucking mad at me? She blew a fit tonight like she never did before. I feel like she's not the same Faith. I wan't it all to go away."
Cori pursed her lips in thought. This wasn't easy for Reece to hear and she wanted to choose her words carefully.
Reece took a big swallow of whiskey and made a sound as it burned.
"Reece, you can't go backwards. You can only go forward, the both of you together. You can't be at each others throats or it will destroy you."
Reece scowled. "Faith already hates me."
"No she doesn't and you know that. She hates the way you're acting. You're being unreasonable."
Reece blew up. "See! I knew you don't get it!"
"Then leave. If it's so hard to accept Faith's profession, and the details that come with it, leave her."
Reece's eyes widened. "Fuck off, Cori."
Cori was up in Reece's face. "Then deal with it. Like the fucking adult that you are."
Reece's nostrils flared. "I can't."
"Yes you very well can. She's gonna do this movie, and you're gonna deal with it."
"I sure am." Reece said, swallowing another mouthful of liquor.
Cori poked Reece in the shoulder. "Yeah, drunk and stupid."
"My choice, and don't poke me again."
"Or what. Reece you don't need this, and Faith doesn't either. So, you'll forget about it for one night, but it'll still be there in the morning. The last thing we all need is you drunk and out of control."
"I'm all by myself. I'm perfectly in control, and if you're so worried about me, I'll just stay here tonight."
"Oh, sure, that'll make everything better."
Reece growled. "Isn't it time you got out of here?"
"I'm going. Just remember Faith loves you with every breath in her body. She's not doing anything other than what she always dreamed of. Don't take it away from her. She'd never do that to you."
The club owner watched Cori leave and sneered at the door. "Fuck her."
Faith saw who it was on the caller ID and didn't pick up the phone. She knew Cori was going to try to appeal to her common sense and Faith didn't want to think with common sense. She just wanted to go through the script and prepare for the morning. She briefly wondered if something happened with Reece, but knew if it did, Cori would be more adamant and not hang up. Sighing, she grimaced as the phone rang again. She tried to ignore it but Cori was being persistant.
"What."
Cori grinned at the voice. "I know you know why I'm calling."
"Yeah, she's miserable isn't she."
"Beyond. Cut her some slack, Faith. This is hard for her."
"I have cut her some slack, she's being impossible now."
"She's drinking, babe. Just a heads up."
"Thanks Cori. I gotta go."
"I don't like this at all. I love you both but you're going to give me an ulcer. Just chill already."
Faith felt guilty. "I'm sorry Cor. I love you too. Thanks for trying to talk sense into me. And thank you even more for letting me know that one is drowning her sorrows."
"You're welcome. Now, I'm the one that's gotta go."
Faith scowled at the dial tone, and reached over for the dog. "So, she's getting drunk huh? She's going to want to come home and make love. Reward herself for drinking, well, not tonight. She needs to realize that making love isn't always the answer."
Reece was pretty drunk by the time she left The Lounge, but no one was able to tell. She was really good at hiding her intoxication when it counted. She made her way out into the early morning air and took a deep breath. She began walking up the avenue, deciding to take advantage of the almost empty streets. Just as she made it two blocks, she felt them behind her. Her hackles bristled.
"Hey, that's a chick in that tuxedo."
Reece smiled evilly. Come on boys, say it.
She heard snickers of laughter behind her, conspiratorial whispers and her evil grin became wider.
"I know, it's a friggen dyke."
Make me turn around, come on fuckers. You have no idea what you're doing.
"Hey, dyke, wanna meet a real man?"
Reece spun around in a flash, her fist connecting solidly with flesh and bone.
He hit the ground on his ass. One boy ran, the other stood, stunned.
"Come on dickhead, make me hit you again." She advanced on the guy and he tried to scoot back as his friend was trying to pick him up, so his friend went down behind him.
"You fucking broke my nose you dyke bitch!" Blood sprayed from his mouth as he yelled.
Reece's eyes flashed and gave the kid a glimpse of The Animal lurking beneath the surface. She yanked him up violently by the sleeve, cocking back her fist. "There's plenty more where that came from, wanna try me?"
The kid pissed himself and Reece laughed. "Stupid boy, go home before I really hurt you." She released him and he almost killed himself trying to run away.
Reece groaned loudly. That felt way too good. It would take hours to compose herself before getting home.
Faith felt her wife in the room although she didn't hear her sneak in. She sensed Reece standing behind her, and if she concentrated, she could hear her breathing. "I see you finally made it home. What time is it? Oh, it's seven, good morning."
Reece was surprised to see Faith dressed so early. She wanted to crawl in bed and make love. She walked to where Faith was facing and knelt down in a wobbly fashion. "Where are you going?"
Faith wrinkled her nose. "You're drunk."
"So?"
"I have a meeting, remember?"
"Yeah, but, I want you."
"You should have thought about that before you came stumbling home at 7."
"Kiss me." Reece demanded, leaning forward.
Faith watched her wife fall into her knees. "Charming. I gotta go, the car is waiting for me."
Reece looked towards the shadow that just appeared next to her and tried to scramble to her feet pitifully.
"Theresa, good morning."
"Morning." Reece mumbled and went after Faith. "Baby, I just needed to forget!"
"I'll call you later." Faith slipped into the big black car and was gone.
Reece leaned against the doorframe, her mouth feeling dry and hot. She scowled and made her way to the fridge for some water.
"So, you are drunk."
"Don't you start with me too. I'm going to bed."
Mrs. Ashford felt horrible for Reece. She wanted to hug her, but didn't know if she could. "Faith told me you have some new job at the gym, do you want me to wake you?"
"Shit!" Reece blurted. "I forgot about that. Yeah, please wake me at noon."
Her daughter's lover looked so sad, and wounded as she trudged up the stairs. Marsha took a deep breath and made her way to the sofa, Smudge hot on her heels. She pat the small dog on the head and flipped on the television. This was going to be a long morning.
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