Tragic Love Friday

It's that time again, folks; time for another Tragic Love Friday. Since last week's installment received so few comments, I'm thinking the excerpt was just too damn long to get through. Good news, though; now that most of the exposition is out of the way, we can delve right into the juicy stuff.

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CHAPTER THREE - KAYLA

After an hour of tossing and turning, I climbed out of bed, giving up on the idea of sleep. Putting a robe on over my night shirt, I headed downstairs quietly, so as not to wake my parents, sleeping in the room next to mine. [Not very good planning on Mom and Dad's part, huh?]

It was dark downstairs. Knowing that I'd be up awhile, I started a fire in the fireplace [as opposed to where, the bathtub?], then headed in the kitchen. I sighed [!] as I put milk in a small pot and put it on the stove. Lately, many nights have been ending up like this. All I could think about what David and Jenna's relationship, and about the fact that in a few months, my ex-best friend would give birth to my ex-boyfriend's child. It was enough to put me in tears.

I had so many questions that I had to have answered. Like, why would David sleep with Jenna after only a few months, while he never made love to me during our year and a half together? [I'd like to know myself. David is obviously a horndog. They should have been %$@&ing like rabbits.] What did I do wrong? The biggest question, though, was the one to myself: How could I have missed the attraction between David and Jenna? Was I that blind?

[Another loose plot point. Kayla and David had already broken up. How could Kayla spot an attraction if she wasn't physically around? Also, who's to say David and Jenna even liked each other before that?]

I still couldn't answer that one.

We used to be so happy. I loved David with my whole heart and soul. Everytime I saw him with HER, I felt nauseous and it was hard for me to breathe. As much as I tried to hate him, I still loved him so much it hurt.

Then the doorbell rang. As I ran to the door, I glanced at the clock. 11:00. Who would be coming over so late? I opened the door, and I found myself staring into the eyes of David Donovan.

"David?" I whispered, motioning him in. I felt like I would faint.

He ran his fingers through his hair and smiled nervously. "Yeah. I hope I didn't wake you. I was just drivin' around and..." he blushed, saying, "...I ended up here."

I shook my head. "I was awake." He looked relieved and took a step towards me. "Great. Could I--" He didn't finish his sentence because he fell to his knees. "Are you OK? Why did you fall?" David didn't answer, only looked at me, and that's when I noticed the glassiness in his chocolate-brown eyes. After smelling the air around his face, I knew he was drunk.

I helped him to my couch. "I was just making some warm milk. You should have some, too, so you can get warm. It's a little chilly tonight, and you don't have a jacket."

"You only drink warm milk when you can't sleep. Is anything wrong?" he asked, looking concerned.

I smiled weakly. "I'm fine. I'll be right back with the milk." I hurried into the kitchen so he wouldn't see how badly I was shaking. I leaned against the wall, closed my eyes, and took deep breaths. Calm down, it's OK, I repeated silently. Nervous tears came to my eyes. David had caught me completely by surprise. How should I act? Why was he making me so scared?

Cool it! I yelled to myself silently.

I somehow managed to pour the milk without spilling any. Then I wiped my eyes, and putting a small smile on my face, brought David his milk. [Anybody starting to really hate the word milk yet? Milk milk milk.] I sat beside him, took a sip from my cup and gazed into the crackling fire.

"So," I said softly, "how have you been?" He set his cup on the coffee table. "I've been OK. Real tired, though. Work has been keeping me busy." He chuckled. "You know what? My mom is in Hawaii with a 'friend,' and will be there for 2 weeks."

I didn't laugh back. I knew inside that David was hurt when his mother went off on vacations with different men. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be," he replied. "It's her fault, not yours."

At that moment, I asked a question that hurt to say out loud, but I knew it would cheer him up. "How's the baby doing?"

It worked. David's face lit up instantly. "Oh, terrific! [I love this word. Too bad you only see it in Archie comic books.] Jenna had an ultrasound today, and we found out that the baby's a girl."

"I'm glad you're happy, Dave. I'm sure she'll be beautiful." I bit my lip.

"I'm not, Kayla."

"Not what?"

"Happy. I haven't been happy for a while." Pain was in his voice. I squeezed his hand. "Why not?"

"I--I feel trapped. Like I've gone somewhere, and I won't be the same because I've done things and gone to places that I shouldn't have." [Insert your own sexual innuendo here.] A tear rolled down his cheek. "I'm a failure, Kayla. I bust my butt all day at work, then I go to Jenna's house and make plans about the baby. If I'm lucky, I can say a quick hello to my sister and sleep for a few hours." He gazed at me sadly. "I've let down so many people, especially myself."

I shook my head. "You're wrong. Look at yourself! Do you know how I see you?"

"How?"

"I see you as a person who is loving, hard-working, and responsible. You work so hard to make sure your fiance and daughter will be well provided for." I smiled at him. "You're a great guy."

"How can you say such wonderful things about me when I've hurt you so much?" he asked me, his hand reaching to caress my face.

"You didn't hurt me on purpose. You're in love." [That's the way...it should be...]

"Things have changed, Kayla. I love Jenna, but I'm not IN love with her." He looked so sad. My heart was aching. "I'm so sorry, David."

"No," he corrected. I hurt you. I'M sorry. I was--I am--a fool." He leaned closer and kissed me softly on my cheek, then my lips.

I almost dropped my cup. David took it from my trembling hands and put it on the table. His arms were around me. "You're so loving, so kind," he whispered, his mouth on my neck. "Too good for someone like me."

"Oh David." My arms eagerly encircled him. "I've missed you so much." Then the words I'd been longing to hear him say were said. "I love you, Kayla."

First came off David's clothes, then my own.

That night, for the first time, David and I melted into each other, in body and soul.

I fell asleep in his arms.

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The high for today is twenty-six degrees and I STILL need a cold shower.

Comments

[Squisita]

Jeez! I hope the parents don't come downstairs! Right there in the living room??

[Silly Hily]

Oh hell no you did not just leave me hangin' like that.
Did her parents seriously not hear the doorbell ring? Damn, they are some heavy sleepers.
I loved the commentary this week.
(....cause I want you to be happy.)

[MLE]

Your commentary cracks me up!

I must say, reading this every Friday is keeping me from jumping out a window at work. If we had any windows. Which we don't, because I work in a basement.

[Fraulein N]

So frig-frang-frelling AWESOME, man. The "milk milk milk" made me laugh out loud.

(you're in love ... and I know ...)

[Dawnie]

"David and I melted into each other, in body and soul."

HEEEEEE. Also, who's parents are asleep at 11? And ditto on the whole, "in the living room???" question.

[Elizabeth]

I have to echo the "parents??" sentiment. Didn't hear the doorbell? Asleep by 11?

They had to have come down in the morning and found them, right? After all, she did "fall asleep in his arms". I don't think I can wait till next week!

[Art Nerd Lauren]

My parents were always asleep well before 11, but they'd definitely have woken up if I were getting my freak on in the living room.

So, does the house burn down? Does Kayla now get pregnant too? dun dun dunnnnn.

Can't wait till next week!

[Lost A Sock]

David you scum!

I hope she ends up preggers too, and then he can move to Utah and marry them both and I can watch them on HBO on Sunday nights, right after Big Love.

Can we do some Tragic Love Monday here? Because, seriously, a week to wait?

[Angela]

DAYUM!!

That is bold...

[Erika]

TLF IS SUCH A TREAT! I can't believe you are typing all of this. It's worth it, thank you.

"...that you're not in love with meeeeee...ooooh"

[craziasian]

OMG but what about Jenna and the baby? What is David thinking? He's going to have two illegitimate children running around, playing hopscotch with each other!

I LOVE TLF.

[Lindsey]

Wow, that was so abrupt...first they are drinking milk and BAM, they are butt naked. Shocking!

I think I need a little "alone time" after that steamy post. Can't wait to hear what happens next!!!!! Is it Friday yet?

[Anonymous]

i also heart the love triangle and ensuing drama...

but where is the non-blogger blog? when is the big reveal?

[Nat]

That is precisely why I don't drink warm milk. It is an aphrodisiac, obviously, along with the beer.

Frema, listen to your fans. Post some more of the story tomorrow. It's the least you can do for us after torturing us with Wilson Phillips song fragments.

I wonder what would happen if I went upstairs right now and asked Aaron if he wanted to "melt into me, body and soul". He'd probably be all, "Hells no, woman, you just ate two bowls of black eyed peas and your breath is kickin'"

I might try it anyway. Who knows, your story could be responsible for a wave of pregancies in the near future!

Seriously, consider a hump day edition. (Dammit, now I just said hump, and I'm going to be singing My humps, my lovely lady lumps, but that's better than the damn Wilson Phillips song from earlier! Ha!)

[Isabel]

David is a dogg.

And also, no mention of birth control. Have they both not learned a serious lesson from David's previous "mistakes"? DUDE!