axeslade | Come What May-END!

once more, Come What May is finished.

Come What May, Chapter 10-I Love You

James gingerly took the sheet out, then laid his head on the keys, sobbing. He'd had a chance to get back together with the woman he loved more than anything in the world and what had he done? He'd cursed her and made her cry. What the fuck was wrong with him? How could he blame her for not wanting to live a penniless existence if she could help it?
It was almost dusk now, it had taken him hours to write about that small incident since, unlike all the others, he hadn't had time to grow cold to it. It had only been a week since he'd gone to the Red Windmill and said those horrible things to Mandy. He had put off telling about it by editing and putting the other pages in order, even gone back to the club in disguises and paid to sleep with several of the girls who danced with Mandy during her final number each night, but finally he could think of nothing else to keep him from that horrible task. So he'd sat down at his typewriter with a bottle of wine, and wrote the end of their story.
When James looked up, he saw the bottle was empty. He licked his lips, turning his head to the piece of paper sitting on top of the stack, his eyes landing on one particular line. He wanted to shut out the sound of Mandy crying when he left, but the idea of her missing him had filled him with doubt. There was only one way to be sure. He had to know, he had to go back to the Red Windmill. One last time.

*****
"Hey sista, go sista, soul sista, go sista...."
Mandy sauntered out in a red corset and black panties with fishnet stockings held up by red garters and black stiletto heels. Her hair was up in a horribly whorish style, and her face was painted in neon reds and blues. She picked up a microphone and started to sing,
"He met Marmalade down in old New Orleans, struttin' her stuff on the street", she knelt down, beckoning to a drunk sitting in the front,
"She said Hello, hey Joe, you wanna give it a go, oh-oh", she stood up, stretching her leg out and letting the old boozer touch it before snapping it away and shaking her head, putting her finger to her lips in an innocent motion and walking back in line with the four other dancers, who straddled chairs or touched themselves while the men threw money at the stage. It was disgusting, really. I'd seen her do basically the same thing every night to different songs. The first songs she did each night were classy, beautiful things. But after the 'main act' finished, the bar turned into a bordello. I'd seen her strip down to nothing but a pair of high eels with a red boa covering her breasts and thighs, or pour beer all over her top, making it translucent. Right now she was walking across the stage, singing and catching things the men threw.
"He sat in her boudoir while she freshened up", she sauntered to a table off to the side, picking up a bottle of cheap wine and pouring it over her collarbone, and I have to admit it made me pant,
"Boy drank all that Magnolia wine", she picked up a piece of a black satin, running it down her legs,
"On her black satin sheets is where he started to freak, yeah."
I started to tune out then. The words didn't matter, only the actions. The men knew this, and so did the girls. They started doing things that had nothing to do with the words in the song, kissing each other while Mandy continued to sing, enticing the men by walking off the stage and holding out her hands. Some pressed bills or jewelry into her palm, while others just touched her. Me, I was so far back in the corner that all I could do was watch and wait.

After what seemed like an eternity, Mandy picked up a hand towel from the table, wiping her brow and laughing into the microphone,
"Well, that was certainly nice and steamy, wasn't it boys?", the crowd whistled and she giggled,
"So it wasn't just me. Well, I've got to go cool down before I melt right out of these clothes. I'll come see you virile gentleman before the night ends!", she grinned and the curtain went down.
Immediately, I raced to her dressing room, so I was leaning against the door when she got there. Her eyes flew open wide and she tried to get around here,
"You shouldn't-"
"Don't give me that Mand, I've just got one question."
"Not now," she grabbed my arm and fought her way between me and the door, fumbling for the knob. I let her open it, figuring that maybe she'd talk to me once she'd gotten out of her restrictive clothing. Until I saw Brian reclining on a shabby chaise lounge, smoking a cigarette and wearing nothing but a pair of tight white pants. He didn't see me, thank god, since I was standing behind Mandy. He smiled at her,
"How'd we do tonight, my little chickadee?"
Mandy giggled and I suddenly felt the urge to strangle her for doing so. She threw him the black silk bag she tossed all her gifts into and then plopped down by his feet,
"Beautifully. They were all panting like dogs."
"Hmm, we'll see", Brian opened the bag, dumping out all the bills and trinkets. He raked his fingers through them and smiled,
"Wonderful pet."
He sat up and began kissing her shoulders, unlacing her corset as he did. I backed away, sure of the answer now. But then, just before I was behind the door, she met my eyes and smiled softly. I wondered why, until I heard the raspy, sweet words that poured from her throat and melted my heart,
"Come...what...may...I will love you...till my dying day", she flashed her white teeth at me and I smiled in return. Just as I turned to walk away with my new answer, Brian looked up. I saw him out of the corner of my eye, pulling away from Mandy and twisting her around,
"What did I tell you?"
"Brian...I...", she cut off as he tore off her corset, grabbing her wrists when he was done and arching her across the back of the chaise lounge, kneeling between her legs,
"You bitch, you dirty rotten bitch. I save you from poverty and you repay me like this?"
"Brian..." I ground my teeth together when she shrieked as she yanked her fishnets and garters down, biting her neck as he did. That fucking bastard.
I stormed into the room right as he pulled his pants off, grabbing him by the shoulder and pulling him off of her. I didn't even bother reasoning with the animal, I just slammed him up against the wall, holding him by the throat,
"Listen you prick, if you ever lay a finger on her again, the world's going to find out that Tommy Stone's not the squeaky-clean all-American boy he makes himself out to be. Got it?"
He raised an eyebrow at me and this time I saw the gun in his hand. I let go of his throat and tried to back away, but he'd somehow managed to get his free hand wrapped around my arm, twisting it backwards,
"The other night you said she was mine, didn't you?"
"I also said she was a woman, not a punching bag."
Brian glanced over his shoulder at Mandy, and I looked as well. In just a few seconds, she'd changed into a long sparkling black dress, face cleaned and covered in pink lipstick and blue eye shadow.
Brian smiled at her,
"And what do you want, love? I'm sure you wouldn't want to give up all this just for some silly groupie, would you?"
She gave him a cold glance as an answer. He set down the gun and grabbed her arm,
"Did you hear me?"
Mandy looked at me and then at Brian. She broke her arm away from him,
"You know what Brian, I don't need you anymore. All these years you made me believe I was only worth what those drunks would pay for me!", she looked at me with a teary smile,
"But James loves me. He loves me Brian, and that is worth everything", she picked up her bag, dropping it into my arms,
"We're going away from you, away from this sick form of entertainment you've forced me into, away from the Windmill", she glanced at me again, clearing her throat,
"Goodbye Brian", she walked out and I began to follow her, until I heard Brian pick up the gun. I turned my head and then, sighing, he put it down. I laughed,
"Good choice."
"Get out of here before I change my mind."
I nodded and walked out after Mandy.

When she began walking over to the stage, I raised and eyebrow at her but she just smiled and walked out onto the stage. The audience cheered and hollered and Mandy beamed,
"Thank you! I know you boys were looking forward to something a little toasty to keep you warm on the way home but...", she glanced at me with a knowing smile,
"A few things happened while I was changing. I was wondering if someone could come up here with me, he knows who he is."
I stared at her, and she mouthed the words 'I love you'. I laughed softly and walked up to her. She nodded to the band and I blinked when I realized what they were playing. I picked up one of the microphones and, placing my hand against the side of her face, began to sing,
"Never knew I could feel like this, like I've never seen the sky before," I kissed her forehead softly,
"Want to vanish inside your kiss. Every day I love you more, and more," I laced our fingers together, pressing her palm against my chest,
"Listen to my heart, can you hear it sings. Telling me to give you everything. Seasons may change, winter to spring," I stared into her eyes, kissing away the tears that fell,
"But I love you, until the end of time."

*****

James tore out the last page, staring at in disbelief. It had all been so dreamlike, he still couldn't believe it had really happened.
Turning around in his chair, he smiled when he saw Mandy curled up in his bed. Softly, he got up and crossed over to her, gently getting under the covers and wrapping his arms around her, burying his head in her shoulder.
He felt her stir and tried to hold still. She turned her head, opening her eyes sleepily,
"Mmm. You finished finally?"
"Yeah."
"Good, now I don't have to listen to that infernal clicking for the rest of the night."
He laughed, kissing her cheek,
"Go back to sleep luv."
She sighed, turning over completely and nuzzling her head into his shoulder,
"What time is it?"
"Six."
"No use in trying, then. Jamie's sure to come in and wake us up soon."
James laughed. Jamie. His eight year old daughter. Yet another reason he wished that they could have found a way to stay together way back when. But even with the fact that he hadn't been there for her, she loved him passionately because, as she often put it, Brian hadn't liked her.
"Oh, and on the subject of children..." Mandy grinned, kissing James' temple and whispering in his ear. He stared at her,
"You're sure?"
"Mmm hmm," she leaned her head against his chest,
"I don't see why you're surprised, we very rarely cover up the talent."
"That was a very ineloquent way of phrasing it."
"It's true though," she laughed,
"You're...you're not upset, are you?"
James looked at her, seeing the worry in her eyes. Of course, she was used to being shoved down and beaten when this happened. She said the only reason she had Jamie was because she'd had managed to hide it from Brian until it was too late to do anything about it. He ran his fingers through her hair, kissing her,
"Of course not luv, I'm ecstatic."
She smiled, closing her eyes,
"Good," she nuzzled his shoulder, whispering softly,
"Love you..."
Safilix grinned, finishing the phrase
"Until my dying day", he kissed her hair and she smiled, letting her eyes droop shut and James smiled, holding her close, and thinking of the words he would put at the very end of the page once Mandy woke up.

This story is about love. Puppy love, unrequited love, love found, love lost, and then found again. Love that reaches beyond the bounds of reality or logic.
A love that will last forever.

The End.

oh, and I also watched the premire of Desperate Housewives last night. Surprisingly good. I had to stay up to finish Come What May because of it, since it ran from nine until my bedtime. And I'll also be watching tonite, damn abc for creating shows for me to obsess over that run late!