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Deep in Your Eyes
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In his quiet anger, Gerard insisted they stop at his sister's flat first before going to Sarah's as he knew Cassie would be slow in returning home after his last words. While there he swiftly collected all of his belongings, hoping he left nothing vital behind, and exited locking the door behind him. Part of him regretted his actions, his brutal words to his only sibling, but he knew Cassie too well to believe her innocent act. He'd witnessed too many self-serving actions of hers to accept -
'I didn't know' – over a matter this serious.
At a point during Jeff's sordid plot, Gerard strongly suspected Cassie understood something to be wrong and yet she did nothing. With his whole heart he believed her to never willingly desire pain or injury to either him or Sarah- she wasn't truly malicious, but he also knew her to be the type of person to allow indiscretions to slide if they served her purposes. He'd seen her look the other way numerous times when she gained some advantage. God help him, being the eldest, he'd even borne the brunt of a few escapades when they were children. Didn't change, however, the heaviness in his heart as they walked away from her flat, nor the strange premonition he might never see her home again.
"You okay?" Sarah asked him as they left Cassie's building walking side by side down the sidewalk toting his bags. Glancing over in the light of late morning, he really saw how haggard she looked from her all night vigil and unexpected drug trip. The fuckable leather skirt looking the worse for the wear and her make-up smudged beyond recognition. Passed the observable exhaustion in her eyes, though, he saw genuine caring and perhaps more. It made his heart a bit lighter. This was the right decision...at least for now.
"Brilliant," he deadpanned. He dared not tell her about his splitting migraine or his blurry vision. She'd only insist on returning to the hospital, and that thought chilled him more than his mysterious symptoms.
"You sure about leaving your sister's?"
He nodded, "I need time to think. I can't stay with her right now. You don't mind, do you?"
"No, in fact, I have an idea." Oh, yeah...A quick phone call to Karen then work, and she'd solve their problem of stress, at least temporarily.
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"Todd, baby, Sarah just called and you'll never believed what happened."
"What?" He sat up from his reclined position on their couch. Kathy went on to explain everything Sarah detailed from the night before starting from Sarah and Gerard's arrival at the club until Gerard's verbal altercation with his sister at the hospital.
"Oh, man...that sucks," he said, frowning as he earnestly felt for Sarah and even Gerard. Too be betrayed, even indirectly, by someone you loved and trusted. "Too bad I didn't get a chance to meet this Cassie. I'd like to get a read on her."
"Yeah...and there's another thing. She's asked me to take them to Grand Central this afternoon."
"Why?"
"Apparently, they've decided to go to Rhode Island, you know, visit the family, take a little break, get away from Cassie..." she said with a thoughtful pucker to her lips.
"And how do you feel about this?"
"I..uh...I don't really know. I mean there's your weird vibe, but then Gerard almost dies and
it is Sarah's life. Not really my decision anyhow, just gotta be her best friend, right?"
Todd draped one arm over his wife's shoulders and tucked her into his side. "I think, at least for now, that's the best decision you can make."
"So I guess I'm taking her to the train station."
"Guess so...wanna tag along?"
"I'd love one." She smiled gratefully and pecked him on the cheek, "Thanks, baby."
"Sure thing, I'll call mom to watch the girls again."
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Gerard and Sarah sat in the back seat of Kathy and Todd's only car currently en route to Grand Central. The tense atmosphere kept conversation to a minimum between all four occupants. Kathy shot nervous glances over her shoulder while Todd drove. Neither man spoke while they'd met up and loaded the car; tense glares were exchanged momentarily before curt nods. The two girl friends swapped uncomfortable hugs and a few awkward words then they were off.
Holding Gerard's hand, Sarah took immense comfort from the contact regardless of the fact that Kathy and Todd questioned his presence in her life. She knew the truth of her feelings and his. His caring eyes held her in an intense gaze; his fingers caressing hers causing those same electric zaps from the beginning of their relationship. Whatever occurred between them, these strange coincidences, this mystery; she hoped to find answers in the peaceful, loving environment of her family's home. Perhaps there they might more easily talk of last night's experience, and those leading up to it.
Even though he claimed no memory of other than dancing, she remembered his words to her –
"You're not allowed! He said it was forbidden! It's not yours anymore, not yours!" – What were they? Meaningless paranoid ravings of a drug addled mind? Paranoia certainly visited her during her high and subsequent crash. Or were they a glimpse into the inner secret of the why's of their extraordinary relationship? She didn't know but she wanted to, so very much. She hoped Gerard wanted to as well.
Circumspectly, Kathy observed her friend and her boyfriend (and he most definitely graduated to beau she decided) in the back seat. Their eyes rarely left each other's and she saw their intertwined hands. As Sarah's closest friend, she truly hoped this trip to Rhode Island was a good idea because she'd never known Sarah to invite any man home this fast before, and that distressed her. Though perhaps she should be happy for her friend; so difficult to know when faced with such contradictions.
Approximately thirty minutes later, through heavy traffic, Todd pulled into a temporary parking spot and they all piled out of the car. Todd and Gerard unloaded the bags from the trunk and they all stood about awkwardly.
"Really, you don't have to walk with us, " Sarah said.
"It's okay, Sarah, we'd like to see you off," Kathy replied touching her arm lightly.
"Well...in that case..."
Todd and Gerard glanced towards one another silently, grabbed the bags and proceeded towards Grand Central. Gerard's sense of discomfort in Todd's presence remained, and he felt the man's heavy scrutiny at his back. Only his respect for Sarah kept his tongue and actions contained. His near constant headache sharpened his irritability and he wished to unleash it, Todd currently being the most desirable candidate for a target.
Entering the train station, they located the nearest ticket kiosk, and purchased two round-trip tickets to Providence. They all stepped away to the open lobby and standing uneasily in a group, they attempted goodbyes. Finally, Kathy blurted out the thoughts most oft held back throughout the car ride.
"Sarah, I'm sorry about the other day."
"It's okay, Kathy."
"But I feel like things are...you know..." Gerard arched a brow at the ladies' circuitous conversation, suddenly realizing that more occurred between the four of them than what Todd and he discussed at the dinner previously. What girl talk had brought these two to such a state?
"I'm okay. I promise; things are good." She pulled Kathy into an abrupt hug. Kathy clung to her, tucking her head into Sarah's shoulder.
"You call me as soon as you get back," Kathy said, sniffing causing Sarah to start sniffing, too.
"I will." The ladies held on tightly while the men stood awkwardly nearby. Gerard shuffled his feet, deciding to give the women a moment of privacy before he inadvertently hugged Todd during this outpouring of emotion.
"Sarah," he touched her shoulder and she turned towards him, "I'm going to visit the loo. Be back shortly, luv."
"Oh...okay." She nodded, wiping her finger across her nose. Kathy gave him a watery half smile.
"We'll wait with her 'til you get back," Todd said.
"Right, then..." Gerard strolled off to the men's room giving the three friends, and him, a bit of a break. His head throbbed as strongly as this morning, none of the non-prescription medications, taken without Sarah's knowledge, relieving the pain.
A stroke of luck, he shared the men's room with only one occupant in a stall. He walked directly to a sink, twisted the faucet handle, and splashed cold water on his face. Pausing momentarily, he noticed his hands trembling faintly under in the running water. His nerves stretched taut the last week, Gerard hoped gaining physical distance from the City for a time might alleviate it. More than a week before he needed to meet the Board of Trustees gave him plenty of time for a mini vacation with Sarah's family.
Standing upright he checked his reflection in the mirror. Gray half-circles smudged below his eyes contrasting with the pastiness of his skin and highlighting his mismatched irises. He ran his right fingers over his face, over the bruises and his slightly swollen lip; tried to reconcile the stranger in the glass with who he knew himself to be. How much longer must he endure this? What was happening to him? Why? He'd lied to Sarah and Cassie. He remembered a bit from last night; one thing burned into his memory but without context or meaning —a woman with purple eyes.
A strobe flashed in the mirror, blinding him for a second. Once cleared, his vision presented his expressionless face, but altered: long, straight, pale hair, narrower cheeks, and upswept brows. He blinked and his likeness flickered, returned to normal, complete with gaunt, injured features.
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It is forbidden, such a pity.'A voice spoke within his mind, his voice but different, changed, mocking.
"Ah!" Gerard jerked back from the sink and mirror crashing into the only other occupant, a man exiting a stall, who shouted in alarm as they both smashed back into the open stall, nearly falling in a tangled heap.
"What the hell is your malfunction, buddy?" The man yelled, callously pushing Gerard off of him.
"Pardon me," Gerard stumbled away and spun to face the man, his hands held up in front of his chest, "So sorry..." The man brushed and straightened his clothes as he re-exited the same stall, glaring.
"Just stay away from me, freak."
"Yes, of course, of course," Gerard replied, babbling and keeping his shaking hands up placating. "Lost my balance, my apologies." Part of Gerard sneered at his weakness: this lowly man should be sniveling and groveling before him, begging forgiveness not the reverse. But he mainly felt incredibly off balance, disoriented and wished to rid himself of this man's company.
"Whatever, buddy." The man shrugged, skipped washing his hands, and left Gerard alone in the restroom. Gerard, meanwhile, tried to settle his mind and body to a calmer state before rejoining Sarah and her friends. She mustn't see him like this. He could control whatever this was, he didn't need a doctor. Taking several deep breaths and ignoring the mirrors, Gerard gradually composed himself and walked from the restroom a moderately more rational man. Thoughts of the voice and the vision safely tucked away in his subconscious for later perusal.
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Todd saw Gerard's approach before either of the ladies, and noticed his shaken appearance, but said nothing. Sarah and Kathy spoke more animatedly and seemed well on their way to reconciliation; Todd was grateful, he hated seeing them at odds.
"What took you so long?" Sarah asked once she saw Gerard.
"Bit of a wait, ready then?"
"Yeah, we need to get going."
Seeing how chatty she and Kathy were, Gerard motioned that Sarah should continue walking with her friend and he would follow with the bags. Todd sidled up next to him as they trailed their women.
"Well, if it isn't you," Gerard announced snidely.
"A wait, huh?" Todd asked ignoring his barb.
"That's right."
"You look a bit pale. Well, paler than usual." Gerard rotated his head sharply facing him. "Sure you're alright, Jer?"
"Quite well,
thank you,
Todd."
"Hmm...Good, 'cause I'd hate for anything to happen to you while you're visiting her family."
"Threatening me again? Shall I be in fear of a bogging?"
"No...No, just expressing my concern." Todd leaned closer and whispered, "There's something off about you. I don't know what it is, but I don't like it."
"Do tell."
"Look," he shoved a finger into Gerard's deltoid, "any harm comes to Sarah and you answer to me, got it?"
"You've sang that tune before," he replied through a clenched jaw refusing to look at Todd directly, "I don't care for repeat performances."
"And I don't care for smug bastards whom I can't read."
"Pardon?" Gerard said, perplexed, his eyes flicking to Todd in surprise.
"Your aura, or whatever is it," he accidentally let slip out in his frustration, "I can't get a clear read on it and that pisses me off and worries me."
"My aura? You can't be serious."
Grabbing Gerard's upper arm roughly, Todd pulled him to a stop, spinning him face-to-face, "Look, I don't tell people about this. Sarah doesn't even know, but this is important. There's something wrong with you, and I'm afraid you're going to hurt Sarah, maybe even unintentionally."
Gerard yanked his arm from Todd's grip, "Thank you
so much for your concern. I'm sure, as adults, we'll manage without further interference." Striding off with long steps, Gerard left Todd behind to catch up with the ladies who missed the men's discussion.
"Son-of-a-bitch," Todd muttered before running after. Neither man spoke further and kept the goodbyes stilted but pleasant as they all separated at the ticket gate. Frowning, Todd walked with his wife back to the car. He'd tried his best. Now more than ever he had a bad feeling, and Sarah leaving with Gerard to Rhode Island didn't make him feel any better. He prayed that her family's influence proved stronger than his.
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Cassie took her time returning home; her leaden feet as weighted as her heart. She suspected Gerard would move out, but the evidence presented so obviously by the slight disarray in her home caused a sharp pain in the vicinity of her chest. He'd done it. He'd left her. His anger hit her full force once she understood Gerard meant his threat at the hospital. Unaware of Sarah's exact address, Cassie couldn't follow him beyond her own flat. Assuming that's where he stayed and why wouldn't he?
A blinking light grabbed her attention, her answering machine. Maybe he left a message! She dove for the kitchen counter pass-through and hit the play button before she changed her mind. A click, a bleep then a man's voice spoke:
"Hey, Cass baby...umm, it's me. I'm really, really sorry about last night and I...uh...hope your brother's alright. So...uh...when you get this do you think...maybe...you could...um...come down to precinct 42 and...well...shit, Cass, I could really use your help...um...bailing me out of jail." Static for a few seconds with faint voices in the background, "Baby, I swear I'll make it up to you, please Cass?" Another voice, louder said something, "Yeah, okay...I gotta go." The message ended with a dial tone and another click.
"You've got to be kidding." She gaped at her machine; if he thought she'd go anywhere near his loser ass again after what he did, let alone help him. What she
wanted to do would get her arrested and sitting next to him behind bars, but that wasn't happening. Not while massive amounts of moping and depression filled her personal schedule. Cassie turned away from her phone, dejected. The possibility of never seeing or hearing from her brother hung over her. He wouldn't remove her complete from his life...would he? Oh hell...she needed to call Mum in California...she'd know what to do.
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Sarah sighed in relief as they settled in their seats after stowing their weekend bags underneath. Having missed her last two weekend visits, it felt good to be on their way to Pawtucket by way of Providence; to be free of the stresses of the last twenty four hours. The peaceful allure of her childhood home called her, drawing her unresistingly back.
Her labyrinth adventure changed her for the better; afterward Sarah made great strides in her relationship with her step-mother, Karen and her brother, Toby. Once her father noticed the drastic improvement in her behavior, he increased his efforts to reconnect emotionally, and her high school and college years created a strong bond between the four of them. She may remember the labyrinth and its king with varying degrees of trepidation, but it did serve to propel her out of immaturity. To that she would always be grateful.
Her parents expected their arrival this evening in Providence where they would pick them up and drive back to neighboring Pawtucket. Her step-mother having already insisted that they stay over with them. Karen was ecstatic to hear Sarah's voice then even more excited to hear her news regarding her new boyfriend, Gerard, and- yes they would love to meet him for a long weekend! Immediately, Karen informed Robert and Toby who jumped on extra phone lines and chatted with Sarah until she maintained that in order for them to make their train in time she had to hang up.
"I love this ride home."
"Why?" He asked eager to distract his thoughts from anything other than Cassie, nor remind Sarah of the aforementioned promised talk which he fully intended to participate in as later as possible.
"Besides the ending the trains they use have this really cool feature." Sarah grinned slyly, "Wanna see?"
"Yeah, alright."
With a sweeping head tilt indicating for him to follow her, they grabbed their bags, and he followed Sarah down the aisle through several cars. They ended up in a car near the front of the train, a double-decker. He followed Sarah up a narrow set of stairs, her face glancing over her shoulder exposing energized animation.
"It's right up here." She grinned and led him into a small room with a clear, blister observation roof roomy enough for them both to stand shoulder to shoulder.
"Wow..." he said admiring the landscape of urban and nature flashing by in smudges of blues, browns, greens, and grays.
"I know. It's one of my favorite places." She sighed and leaned her forehead to the Plexiglas. Gerard copied her, his eyes switching from observing her content expression to the view ahead. Her hand linked tightly with his.
"I always visit," she said, "makes me feel like I'm flying."
"Yeah..." he murmured, his breath fogging the transparent surface. "Flying..." A part of him permanently unraveled as they stood silently next to one another gazing off into the approaching path, landmarks whizzing past their view. How easily he could imagine flying while in this place...with her. He wanted to shriek with joy at the sensation, fly into the moon! His vision narrowed and sharpened until he thought he clearly spotted small animals moving along the banks of the train tracks. A strange urge to swoop towards the creeping animals swept over him and jerked back from the Plexiglas with a gasp.
"Are you okay?" Blinking rapidly to clear his vision, he turned and saw her looking at him puzzled.
"Yeah...fine."
"Sure? You look a little stunned."
"Bit dizzy, but I'll be alright, luv," he resisted running his hand through his hair.
"Maybe we should head back to our seats."
"Okay." He grabbed their bags and headed back downstairs before her. He didn't notice Sarah's quizzical frown at his pallor and sweat-beaded upper lip. She wanted to have the talk, but decided perhaps it should wait until they arrived in Rhode Island. He needed a bit of time to relax at first, get his thoughts in order.
She trailed behind then helped him locate the nearest pair of available seats, and they made themselves moderately comfortable for the long train ride. Eventually the combination of the warm, mid-afternoon sun streaking in the windows of the trundling train and its sway lulled Sarah to sleep, her head gracefully dropping to Gerard's shoulder. Meanwhile his eyes glazed over as he stared at the late sun through the window, his mind in turmoil.
"Is this seat taken?" Snapping out of his daze, Gerard tilted his head up to see a young, Goth woman with long, black dreadlocks hanging over her eyes and several facial piercings. She was speaking to him. Male hormones registered that her classical beauty remained despite her obvious attempts to disguise and distort it. He shook his head-no- indicating the seat across from Sarah and he was unclaimed.
"Thanks, man." She smiled and her lower lip piercings sparkled in the sun. Sliding onto the plastic seat, she plopped her backpack on the floor between her feet. "This train is crowded this trip."
"Quite."
"So...where you headed?"
"Rhode Island."
"Yeah?" She said cheerfully, "Me, too. Checking out a job. You?"
"Meeting family."
"Hers?" She nodded towards the sleeping Sarah, her head resting comfortably on his shoulder.
"Yes," Gerard answered warily, unsure of this gregarious stranger. The woman leaned forward in her seat inspecting Sarah.
"She's pretty, what's her name?"
After waiting a few beats, he spoke, "Sarah."
"A pretty name for a pretty girl," she whispered then met his predatory gaze. "Sorry...I'm Dee, you are?" She extended a hand. He slowly grasped and shook it.
"Gerard."
"So...Gerard and Sarah...cool, man. You go a few rounds with someone?"
"Pardon?" He asked, surprised.
"Your face: the bruises, your lip," she swirled her hand in front of her face mimicking his injury locations.
"Oh, right," Gerard lip curled self-mockingly, "lost a round with a bloody dance floor."
"You face-planted the floor? Ouch!"
"Something like that, yeah."
"You love her?"
"
Pardon?" Her unforeseen subject change to more private matters startled him.
"Sorry, sorry, I'm being too nosy aren't I. Yeah, I know, it's just I'm traveling alone and it's a long ride. Just trying to make conversation, man," she replied quickly and sat back. Silence settled and Dee ran her fingers along the window, looking out, while Gerard stared at Sarah and played with her hair. Something about this situation with this odd stranger made him want to talk. Breaking the quiet unexpectedly, he said:
"I do; I love her." Dee turned from the window.
"But you haven't told her yet."
He eyes widen slightly, "No, how...?"
"When you've been in as many relationships as I have you just get a feel for these things." Dee leaned forward resting her elbows on her knees, "Why not?"
His swollen lower lip pouted a bit as he frowned thoughtfully, "Too early, we barely know each other."
"Doesn't matter, sometimes you just know. Does she love you?"
"I...I think so...I hope so." He sounded tentative and Dee watched his confidence falter, easily reading him.
"Still...you should tell her." She leaned down and unzipped her backpack. Rummaging around for a bit, Dee pulled out a pack of cigarettes and an old metal Zippo then lit up, the snap/click of the lighter lending a vintage sound to the process. With a deep, contented sigh she slouched deep into the government designed plastic seating, "You know..." she said after her first puff, "that's what's wrong with the world today. Not enough love."
"Pardon?"
"You know what I'm talking about." She pointed her cigarette-holding hand at him, "Everyone's holding back, keeping it to themselves, afraid of rejection when they should be shouting it from the rooftops. Like the Red Hot Chili Peppers said: everyone's 'Keeping it like a Kaiser', next thing you know...total anarchy."
A skeptical expression dominated his visage as he eyed her up and down, "That's a remarkable observation from someone such as you."
"Hey!" Her slouch straightened, "No judging!"
Chuckling, he gave a small head bow, "I stand corrected, my lady."
"Damn right, you do."
"Miss...Miss," another passenger across the aisle spoke.
"Yeah? What?" With an aggressive posture, Dee answered hostilely.
"This is a no smoking car." The man said firmly but politely. "Could you please put that out?"
"Oh fuck. I haven't had a good smoke all afternoon." Dee stood up grabbing her backpack. "It's been a riot, Gerard, but I'm gonna find the smoking car."
"Pleasure's been all mine, Dee."
"Oh and if I were you," she stopped and turned back, "I'd tell her how you feel as soon as possible. Never know what'll happen and like I said, there's not enough love in the world as it is."
"Thanks," he tilted his head appreciatively, "I'll consider your advice."
"Awesome, see ya around, Jer." He started at her unexpected use of his nickname, and watched her leave but said nothing. A swift flash of unsettling déjà vu came over him, and his tremors began again. Carefully unwinding his arm from Sarah to avoid waking her, he wrung and massaged his hands until Sarah awakened nearly a half hour later, oblivious to his distress or the conversation with Dee.
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A/N: So I tried to get this out four hours ago! ARgh! But I'm on the ambulance today and apparently people are sick, lol! And kept calling 911. sigh. So finally I've gotten this chapter final edited and up The next few chapters are BIG, major plot line stuff. We find out who Dee is...we find out what Aphrodite has been doing...we learn how Zeus is involved...we discover Gerard's mystery...we learn Sarah and Jareth's connection...we even found out some info about the labyrinth and it doesn't end there!
Lots of good stuff coming up in the next 3-4 chapters! I have most of it in my head still and can hardly wait to see how it'll play on in writing! *squee*! Let me know what you think, I love to hear for ya'll! :o)
