Dreaming of You (Chapter Twenty Three: A Shrew Left Untamed)

1

“But-he!” I shouted but Mikey cut me off.2

“Everyone has moments like that.” He said calmly.3

THWAP! My fist hit the punching bag in the garage with a satisfying sound.4

“And the way he-“, I was cut off again.5

“He just wasn’t thinking. He just assumed that you wouldn’t care where you got married, and since he had a preference-.“ This time I cut him off.6

“If all you’re going to do is defend him, you can go back in the fucking house.”7

THWAP! THWAP! THWAP! I landed a combo on the punching bag that would have sent Chuck Norris reeling. Then again, Chuck Norris wouldn’t know how to defend against a punch that was also a telekinetic push. 8

“I’m not defending him. I’m explaining.”9

THWAP! THWAP!10

“I don’t need a fucking explanation from you, bro. What I need is to get control of my temper and my powers before I kill somebody.”11

“Gerard can-” he started.12

“Gerard can go fuck himself.” I shouted. I glared at the CD player in the corner and it turned on. 13

Its just one of those days 14

When you don't wanna wake up15

Everything is fucked16

Everybody sux17

You don't really know why18

But you want justify19

Rippin' someone's head off20

The music both soothed me and built my rage. The once steady THWAP THWAP THWAP of my punches landing on the punching bag was becoming harder and more erratic. 21

“Anna, you need to stop!” Mikey yelled over the music. 22

I feel like shit23

My suggestion is to keep your distance cuz right now I’m dangerous24

We've all felt like shit25

And been treated like shit26

All those motherfuckers that want to step up27

I hope you know I pack a chain saw28

I'll skin your ass raw29

And if my day keeps goin' this way I just might break somethin' tonight...30

I hope you know I pack a chain saw31

I'll skin your ass raw32

And if my day keeps goin' this way I just might break somethin' tonight...33

I hope you know I pack a chain saw34

I'll skin your ass raw35

And if my day keeps goin' this way I just might break your fuckin' face tonight!!36

Give me somethin' to break37

Give me somethin' to break38

Just give me somethin' to break39

How bout your fuckin' face40

I didn’t see Mikey’s hand come down on the top of the CD player but I heard the CD stop suddenly. 41

“What the fuck is wrong with you? You’re as bad as you’re fucking brother.” I screamed at him. 42

Part of me wanted to just hit him. Another part of me was horrified that I could even consider it. I loved Mikey like a brother. As many times as I’d yelled and screamed at Charlie, I’d never once struck him. 43

“You need to get your shit together, Anna.” Mikey glared at me his own anger rising, whether drawn from me or his own true feelings, I don’t. “Look around you.”44

At first I didn’t see what he was talking about, but as the anger seeped out of me I saw that the garage was a mess. While I’d never kept it in perfect shape, it hadn’t been this broken the last time I was in here. Several of the windows were missing panes of glass, the door had a huge hole in it, and the punching bag the victim of my most direct furry was leaking sand all over the floor from a large split across the center. 45

“You’re right.” I sighed and sank to the floor. “You’re always right.” 46

The heat of the day combined with my exertions made me suddenly very groggy. Mikey offered me his hand and I hoisted myself up off of the floor. 47

“I’m going to shower and take a nap I think. I didn’t get much sleep last night.”48

Mikey laughed and led me towards the house by the hand. 49

“You just try to remember that every one’s an asshole from time to time, but you love him anyways.” I smiled at him and kissed his cheek.50

“Thanks, I needed that.” I headed up stairs to shower and nap feeling much happier.51

I watched as Mikey led Belle back to the house from the garage. She was sweaty, disheveled and smiling. How many times had I seen her like that last night? 52

“Thanks, I needed that.” And she’d kissed him. What the hell was wrong with her? Wasn’t one Way brother enough for her? 53

‘Belle loves you. You are an idiot for doubting her. Trust her’ My heart told me. 54

“Don’t trust anybody!” I said out loud startling myself. My mind had its say. 55

‘I repeat: You are an IDIOT!’ That was my heart’s last message. It knew it’d lost the battle. 56

I followed my brother and my fiancé staying at least one room behind them. Part of me was disappointed to hear that they were talking about me. Mikey seemed to be reminding Belle that I wasn’t perfect but that I loved her. My mind surmised that he must know that I was spying on them. 57

I stood watching them at the bottom of the stairs. I expected them to head up together, but they didn’t. Mikey left by the front door and Belle headed up the stairs. At first it confused me, and then I figured out their plan. They couldn’t let anyone from the band see them together like that. Mikey knew one of the guys, Frank especially, would say something to me. I knew better than to trust Jen Jen. 58

I decided to follow Belle to her room. I shoved the door open with out knocking. Belle was undressing with her back to the door. She didn’t show any signs that she’d heard the door open at first. Then she sighed. 59

“I was hoping to at least have clothes on when we talked.” She said with out turning around. She turned to face me. I expected to be distracted by the fact that she was mostly naked, but I wasn’t. What held me captive were her eyes. So many emotions showed through them at even with out the connection, I knew exactly how confused she was about nearly everything in her life. Something about those verdigris depths punched through the haze of suspicion and jealousy. 60

This was Belle, my precious Belle. How could I have mistrusted her? 61

“I’m sorry that I was such an asshole this morning.” 62

Belle nodded slightly. She worried her bottom lip between her teeth for a moment.63

“I’m sorry I lost my temper. I have to work on that.” 64

She looked like a lost little girl as I drew her into my arms. 65

“We both have things to work on, but we’ll do it together.” 66

The realization that Belle was once again naked in my arms hit me like a semi truck. I felt my body tense, stiffen, as a wave of lust washed over me. I was about to give into the urge to pick her up and ravage her where we stood when she pulled away from me. 67

“There’s something different about you.” 68

“Different? How?” I asked between the kisses I was planting on her neck. She whimpered softly before she answered.69

“There’s,” she paused. Her breath was coming in gasps and pants now. “a duality.”70

“I feel fine.” I ran my fingers down her spine making her shiver. “You feel even better than I remember.” 71

Whatever it was that she had been trying to explain to me was lost as we gave into our baser urges. 72

Hours later everyone was happy and smiling again though Jen Jen did seem a bit cooler towards Gerard than she usually was. At least she wasn’t trying to kick his ass again. When Frankie had told me about that, I was both horrified and very proud. Jen Jen would go to war for me. I’d do the same for her of course but knowing she’d do something like that for me further solidified our sisterhood. She sat beside me smiling smugly and glaring at Gerard every time he caught her eye. 73

I was at a loss as to what I should say to either of them and took the easy way out, saying nothing to anyone. 74

I couldn’t help but wonder if something was wrong with Belle. She wasn’t exactly the quiet type, yet she sat there silent. Everyone was oddly quiet, though there was no tension in the air, for the most part. Jen still took every chance she could to glare at me. I wasn’t about to start an argument with Belle’s best friend over something as small a black eye. 75

The heat that had plagued us for weeks hadn’t exactly broken but it seemed more bearable today. Despite the blow up this morning, everyone seemed perkier. 76

“You know what we should do?” Ray suddenly called out making every one jump a little. “There’s Shakespeare in the park today.” 77

“Easy there, Ray. Not everyone likes Shakespeare, in the park or otherwise.” I said.78

“Anna loves Shakespeare.” Jen said her voice snide and biting. 79

I caught Belle’s eye and she nodded. 80

“So, you wanna go to the park?” I asked her. I couldn’t stand her just sitting there mute. 81

“Yeah, umh, just let me go make some sandwiches and stuff. It won’t take me long.” 82

She left us to make a picnic lunch. 83

“Well, that got rid of her.” Mikey said looking around to make sure she really was gone. 84

“What the fuck, Mikey?!” I yelled a bit louder than the others would have liked.85

“Shhh!”86

“Not so fucking loud, man.”87

“Quiet!”88

Everyone seemed glad that Belle was gone, everyone except for me of course. 89

“What’s going on?” I whispered. I knew it was pointless to whisper but an air of secrecy had spread over the group. 90

“We’ve decided to throw a party for Belle.” Mikey said, still looking around the yard for Belle. 91

“That’s awesome guys. I think she could really use a good distraction.” I turned slightly to the left, blocking Jen from my view. 92

“It’s all set up.”Jen’s snide voice again. “We just need you to keep her busy.”93

“I take it, that’s how Shakespeare in the park came up.” I said to Ray. He blushed and seemed to be intently studying his sneakers. 94

“Well, not exactly. I’ve been bored, and I saw it in the paper. I wasn’t even sure that Anna liked Shakespeare.” His head snapped up and he looked earnest. “Can I still come with you guys?”95

I laughed. 96

“Sure you can. Belle would love it.” 97

Quiet, so unnatural to our group, settled over us again. Belle’s reentry was nearly silent and totally unremarked on. We sat that way until Ray popped out of his seat and grabbed Belle and I by the arms.98

“On ward, knave, we shall escort yon damsel to see the performance of The Bard.” 99

Belle giggled at his foolishness, and I once again felt a wave of jealous wash over me. 100

Don’t be silly. She couldn’t possibly like him. He’s ugly.101

Those stray thoughts ruined my afternoon before it could even begin. It was so unlike me to be so uncharitable to my friends, to be so suspicious. On the walk to the park, Belle and Ray poked each other and quoted Shakespeare at each other in terrifically bad British accents. On the surface, I joined in their tom foolery, but in reality I was castigating myself for my lack of compassion and trust. 102