Post by JRK Archiver on Mar 15, 2008 16:19:40 GMT -5
Chapter 11
“You know this thing you and Jason have.” Shoving a handful of popcorn into her mouth, Carly swallowed it down with diet coke. “It’s not gonna work.”
Swinging her eyes over to the other end of the couch Elizabeth couldn't believe her ears. Having to spend three hours watching Carly channel surf was cruel and unusual punishment. But at least up till now she’d kept her venomous mouth shut. “Carly, it may surprise you, but I really don’t put much thought into what you think.”
A slight smirk touched the blonde’s lips while she flipped through a few more channels. “I’m only telling you the truth.”
“I didn’t ask you for your opinion. No matter how warped it is.”
“Good.” Carly nodded. “Because it’s the truth.”
“I had no idea you knew the meaning of telling the truth.” Groaning when Carly paused on the Home Shopping Network, Elizabeth crossed her arms over her chest. “Much less have the ability to speak it.”
“Good one. But it doesn’t make what I said any less true.”
“Why are you still here?” Blowing out a deep breath, Elizabeth tapped her foot out of irritation.
“Because it annoys you.” Tossing a piece of popcorn into her mouth, Elizabeth hoped the hag choked on it. “I know it must hurt hearing you won’t be able to keep your sharp little claws in Jason forever. But the sooner you face facts, the sooner you’ll be out of my hair.”
“I tried.” Gritting her teeth, Elizabeth’s finger nails cut into her palms.
“That’s different.” Chuckling to herself, Carly went on. “It’s in my benefit for you to stay for right now. When Jason gets back, I know you’ll do something to ruin things with him.”
“Like having you for a friend makes his life joyous and fulfilling.” Carly wanted claws, she’d give her claws.
Carly’s mouth opened in shock. “What in the hell is that supposed to mean?”
“You’re high maintenance, and honestly a bit unstable.”
“You think I’m high maintenance?” Setting the popcorn bowl down on the coffee table, Carly twisted to face Elizabeth head on. “Have you taken a look in the mirror lately?”
“I did say unstable, right?” Reaching over to pick up Carly’s bowl of popcorn, Elizabeth made a real show of tossing a popped kernel into her mouth.
“Fine. I was trying to be nice -.”
“No, you weren’t Carly. You’re doing what you usually do. Putting someone down to make yourself feel better.”
“Then this will make me feel stellar.” Inching forward, Carly lip curled. “You’re a self-absorbed twit who can’t stand not being the center of attention.”
“Look who’s talking.” Elizabeth fired back.
“Who was leaving because she was feeling left out? All because Jason wasn’t right here lapping at your feet.”
“That’s not why.” Frowning, Elizabeth snapped her mouth shut. Though not entirely true, there was a ring of truth to what Carly was saying.
“What?” Putting a hand to her ear, Carly leaned forward. “This isn’t the lifestyle for needy little girls.”
“Then tell me why you’re in it.” Elizabeth mumbled.
“I can handle Sonny’s life. I don’t start running off whenever his work has his attention pulled in another direction.”
“No.” Elizabeth drawled. “You have other more disruptive ways of getting attention.”
A smile spread across Carly’s face. A smile most people wore when they won a battle.
“What?”
“You just admitted that you were trying to get attention.”
“I did not.” Appalled at the thought, Elizabeth sat up straight.
“Oh really? I apologize. I though you just said that I did other things to get attention.”
“I didn’t mean it like that.”
“So, when Lucky wasn’t paying attention to you and Jason was . . .”
Not needing a map to see where Carly was going, Elizabeth wanted to slap the smirk off the blonde’s face. “It had nothing to do with not getting attention.”
“Running back and forth between Jason and Lucky. With your trembling lips and big fat baby tears. It’s no wonder Jason was tying himself in knots for you.”
“You have no idea what was going on.” Defending herself, Elizabeth wished she knew what to say so she wouldn’t feel so stupid. Carly’s words were extreme, but she couldn’t discount everything she was saying. Her bags were packed because she felt like Jason had forgotten all about her. God, life really sucked when Carly started making sense.
“Thank god, or I may have been forced to poke myself in the eye with a short pointy stick.”
“No ones stopping you.” Hating how the she beast was gloating, Elizabeth refused to let it end like this. “So, what you’re saying, is I should be secure knowing that Jason wants to be with me. That his job will take him away from time to time.”
The happy, shiny look on Carly’s face faded. “No. That’s not what I’m saying.”
“You’re so right.” Shaking her head, Elizabeth bit the inside of her mouth to keep from laughing at Carly’s dismay. “I do get insecure. I should just let things play out.”
Carly looked ready to scream, when the phone cut her off. Doing the little victory dance inside her head, Elizabeth reached over the back of the couch to pick up the phone. “Morgan residence.”
“Elizabeth?” Jason’s voice came over the line like warm honey. At first the anger she’d been cultivating over the last few days started to rise up in her throat. Instead, she caught Carly’s curious look. Somewhere hidden in Carly’s waspish words held a glint of truth. It would chap Carly’s skinning hide knowing she was the one responsible for talking some sense into her.
“Hey Jason.” Tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, she sat back against the soft leather of the couch.
There was a slight pause. “I heard you were going to leave.” His voice sounded a little rough, if not a tad unsure.
“Yeah. I had a pity me moment, but don’t worry, Carly talked me out of it.” Smiling sweetly at the other woman, Elizabeth almost laughed at the way she narrowed her eyes in anger.
“Carly’s still there?”
“Yeah. We’re watching TV.” Baiting Carly with a saucy wink, Elizabeth decided that having her around may do some good for her boredom.
“If you want me to get her to leave . . .”
“It’s no big deal. How’s everything going.”
“We’re getting no where. I think we’ll be back in the next few days.” There was another pause. “It would mean a lot if you’d be there when I got back. But if you’re feeling uncomfortable, you can go back to your apartment.”
“With a guard.”
Jason laughed. “With a guard.”
“I’m fine here.” Carly made a gaging noise. It seemed that staying in Jason’s apartment was a win, win situation. “Really. I’m brushing up on my pool skills.”
“Do you need anything?”
“Not right now. But I’ll be sure to send Max off to get it and charge it to your account.”
Carly muttered something under her breath. It was hard to be sure, but it had sounded like ‘kill me now’.
“I’d like to talk when I get back.” Talking in a low voice, Elizabeth felt her heart skip a beat.
“What about that motorcycle ride?”
“Only if you behave.” Jason laughed. “If Carly gets too much just call Sonny.”
Eyeing the blonde, Elizabeth grinned into the phone. “Oh, I think Carly and I have come to an understanding.”
With a huff, Carly stood from the couch and stomped over to the door. Relaxing back against the couch, Elizabeth pulled the afghan over her legs. Carly gave her something to think about. Not that she’d ever admit that to anyone.
“You know this thing you and Jason have.” Shoving a handful of popcorn into her mouth, Carly swallowed it down with diet coke. “It’s not gonna work.”
Swinging her eyes over to the other end of the couch Elizabeth couldn't believe her ears. Having to spend three hours watching Carly channel surf was cruel and unusual punishment. But at least up till now she’d kept her venomous mouth shut. “Carly, it may surprise you, but I really don’t put much thought into what you think.”
A slight smirk touched the blonde’s lips while she flipped through a few more channels. “I’m only telling you the truth.”
“I didn’t ask you for your opinion. No matter how warped it is.”
“Good.” Carly nodded. “Because it’s the truth.”
“I had no idea you knew the meaning of telling the truth.” Groaning when Carly paused on the Home Shopping Network, Elizabeth crossed her arms over her chest. “Much less have the ability to speak it.”
“Good one. But it doesn’t make what I said any less true.”
“Why are you still here?” Blowing out a deep breath, Elizabeth tapped her foot out of irritation.
“Because it annoys you.” Tossing a piece of popcorn into her mouth, Elizabeth hoped the hag choked on it. “I know it must hurt hearing you won’t be able to keep your sharp little claws in Jason forever. But the sooner you face facts, the sooner you’ll be out of my hair.”
“I tried.” Gritting her teeth, Elizabeth’s finger nails cut into her palms.
“That’s different.” Chuckling to herself, Carly went on. “It’s in my benefit for you to stay for right now. When Jason gets back, I know you’ll do something to ruin things with him.”
“Like having you for a friend makes his life joyous and fulfilling.” Carly wanted claws, she’d give her claws.
Carly’s mouth opened in shock. “What in the hell is that supposed to mean?”
“You’re high maintenance, and honestly a bit unstable.”
“You think I’m high maintenance?” Setting the popcorn bowl down on the coffee table, Carly twisted to face Elizabeth head on. “Have you taken a look in the mirror lately?”
“I did say unstable, right?” Reaching over to pick up Carly’s bowl of popcorn, Elizabeth made a real show of tossing a popped kernel into her mouth.
“Fine. I was trying to be nice -.”
“No, you weren’t Carly. You’re doing what you usually do. Putting someone down to make yourself feel better.”
“Then this will make me feel stellar.” Inching forward, Carly lip curled. “You’re a self-absorbed twit who can’t stand not being the center of attention.”
“Look who’s talking.” Elizabeth fired back.
“Who was leaving because she was feeling left out? All because Jason wasn’t right here lapping at your feet.”
“That’s not why.” Frowning, Elizabeth snapped her mouth shut. Though not entirely true, there was a ring of truth to what Carly was saying.
“What?” Putting a hand to her ear, Carly leaned forward. “This isn’t the lifestyle for needy little girls.”
“Then tell me why you’re in it.” Elizabeth mumbled.
“I can handle Sonny’s life. I don’t start running off whenever his work has his attention pulled in another direction.”
“No.” Elizabeth drawled. “You have other more disruptive ways of getting attention.”
A smile spread across Carly’s face. A smile most people wore when they won a battle.
“What?”
“You just admitted that you were trying to get attention.”
“I did not.” Appalled at the thought, Elizabeth sat up straight.
“Oh really? I apologize. I though you just said that I did other things to get attention.”
“I didn’t mean it like that.”
“So, when Lucky wasn’t paying attention to you and Jason was . . .”
Not needing a map to see where Carly was going, Elizabeth wanted to slap the smirk off the blonde’s face. “It had nothing to do with not getting attention.”
“Running back and forth between Jason and Lucky. With your trembling lips and big fat baby tears. It’s no wonder Jason was tying himself in knots for you.”
“You have no idea what was going on.” Defending herself, Elizabeth wished she knew what to say so she wouldn’t feel so stupid. Carly’s words were extreme, but she couldn’t discount everything she was saying. Her bags were packed because she felt like Jason had forgotten all about her. God, life really sucked when Carly started making sense.
“Thank god, or I may have been forced to poke myself in the eye with a short pointy stick.”
“No ones stopping you.” Hating how the she beast was gloating, Elizabeth refused to let it end like this. “So, what you’re saying, is I should be secure knowing that Jason wants to be with me. That his job will take him away from time to time.”
The happy, shiny look on Carly’s face faded. “No. That’s not what I’m saying.”
“You’re so right.” Shaking her head, Elizabeth bit the inside of her mouth to keep from laughing at Carly’s dismay. “I do get insecure. I should just let things play out.”
Carly looked ready to scream, when the phone cut her off. Doing the little victory dance inside her head, Elizabeth reached over the back of the couch to pick up the phone. “Morgan residence.”
“Elizabeth?” Jason’s voice came over the line like warm honey. At first the anger she’d been cultivating over the last few days started to rise up in her throat. Instead, she caught Carly’s curious look. Somewhere hidden in Carly’s waspish words held a glint of truth. It would chap Carly’s skinning hide knowing she was the one responsible for talking some sense into her.
“Hey Jason.” Tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, she sat back against the soft leather of the couch.
There was a slight pause. “I heard you were going to leave.” His voice sounded a little rough, if not a tad unsure.
“Yeah. I had a pity me moment, but don’t worry, Carly talked me out of it.” Smiling sweetly at the other woman, Elizabeth almost laughed at the way she narrowed her eyes in anger.
“Carly’s still there?”
“Yeah. We’re watching TV.” Baiting Carly with a saucy wink, Elizabeth decided that having her around may do some good for her boredom.
“If you want me to get her to leave . . .”
“It’s no big deal. How’s everything going.”
“We’re getting no where. I think we’ll be back in the next few days.” There was another pause. “It would mean a lot if you’d be there when I got back. But if you’re feeling uncomfortable, you can go back to your apartment.”
“With a guard.”
Jason laughed. “With a guard.”
“I’m fine here.” Carly made a gaging noise. It seemed that staying in Jason’s apartment was a win, win situation. “Really. I’m brushing up on my pool skills.”
“Do you need anything?”
“Not right now. But I’ll be sure to send Max off to get it and charge it to your account.”
Carly muttered something under her breath. It was hard to be sure, but it had sounded like ‘kill me now’.
“I’d like to talk when I get back.” Talking in a low voice, Elizabeth felt her heart skip a beat.
“What about that motorcycle ride?”
“Only if you behave.” Jason laughed. “If Carly gets too much just call Sonny.”
Eyeing the blonde, Elizabeth grinned into the phone. “Oh, I think Carly and I have come to an understanding.”
With a huff, Carly stood from the couch and stomped over to the door. Relaxing back against the couch, Elizabeth pulled the afghan over her legs. Carly gave her something to think about. Not that she’d ever admit that to anyone.