PRT 393- “Chad’s Dilemma”
I was tired of sitting around my hotel room and moping. I’d
been doing that for days and I really needed to get out.
It was just about a week or so ago that I found out that my
girlfriend, Raye Hino, is also the super heroine,
Sailor Mars…not only that, she confessed to me that she also kissed another
man…not just any man either…Hunter Bradley…her friend’s ex-boyfriend. Nothing
about her was the Raye I recognized…the Raye I fell in love with. I didn’t know what to do or where
to go from here…but I did know that I couldn’t sit around this hotel room
another second.
I headed out and went to a pizza parlor I liked to eat. It
had been days since I’d had anything but room service. I went in and found a
table then I ordered a small pizza and a beer. I was waiting for my food when I
saw Adam and Rocky come in. I sighed. Adam really was the last person I wanted
to see right now. I hoped he wouldn’t see me, but of course he did and he and
Rocky walked over.
“Hey
“Hi.” Rocky echoed.
“Hey guys.” I mumbled.
“How are you doing?” Adam asked.
“As well as can be expected…all things considered.”
Adam and Rocky sat down at my table.
I sighed.
“Listen, I know you’re upset at Raye
for lying…but they are secret identities for a reason.” Adam said softly.
I looked at Adam, then Rocky,
“Wait, Rocky knows too? Does everyone know but me?”
“Rocky is…”
“Let me guess, a Ranger?”
Rocky nodded, “Yeah.”
I rolled my eyes, “Perfect. I’m so glad everyone trusts me
so much.”
“
“Oh really? Then what’s it like?”
“Raye didn’t want you involved.
She wanted her civilian life kept separate. If you knew it would have put you
in danger. She thought she was protecting you.”
“Right…and I guess her kissing Hunter was trying to protect
me too.”
Adam blinked, “Um…what?”
“Ah, something I knew that you didn’t. Shock.
Yeah, Raye and Hunter kissed.”
“Oh my god…wow.”
“Does Michelle know? That had to kill her.” Rocky said.
I rolled my eyes again, “I don’t know Rocky. I didn’t think
to ask.”
“Rocky, this isn’t the time to worry about Mich. Chad, I
know you’re upset…and I know how much it hurts when your girl is with another
man…believe me. It nearly killed me when I found out
Mina slept with Brett.” Adam said.
“How did you ever forgive her for cheating like that? I’m
not sure I can forgive Raye for kissing Hunter…how
can you forgive Mina sleeping with Brett?” I asked, easing up. I had almost
forgotten about Mina cheating on Adam. Maybe he would understand how I was
feelings…a little anyway.
“I love her. That’s really what it comes down to. I accepted
it was a slip in judgment and I really believed it would never happen again. I
trust her…but everyone is human and when you love someone I feel they are
entitled to a second chance.”
“OK, that makes sense I guess…and I do love Raye…but I love who I thought she was. She has this whole
other life I didn’t know…”
“She’s still the woman you love…but you’re right…she does
lead a double life and I’m not gonna lie…it’s hard sometimes to watch the woman you love go risk her
life for the greater good. Again, if you love her then it’s worth it.”
I shook my head, “I don’t know. It’s all so much, so fast.”
“Yeah, it is.”
“And you…a Ranger…how did that happen?”
“Semi-retired Ranger actually. I
only Morph in dire situations. I’m not part of an active team…neither Rock or I
are actually. We became Rangers back in high school
and…well…once a Ranger, always a Ranger.”
“Wow…”
“Yeah, I know. It’s a lot to take in.” Adam said as my pizza
arrived.
“Um, Ad, can we go? I really want to check on
Adam laughed, “Yeah, we’ll pick up food on the way back to
your apartment.
“I’ll be ok. Thanks.” I said.
“OK, if you need anything just give me a call.”
“OK, thanks.”
Adam nodded and he and Rocky left.
After I ate I decided I needed to pick some things up at the
store. I really wanted some food so I didn’t have to call room service every
time I wanted a snack. I walked into the store and as I turned down the chip
aisle I saw
“
“Hi.” I replied.
“I’ve been meaning to call you.”
“If you’re going to try to convince me to
forgive Raye then save it. I don’t need a
lecture from her ex-boyfriend.”
“What? Raye and I dated years ago.
It’s not like it was major.”
I rolled my eyes, “Whatever. It was major enough for her to
write about it plenty.”
“What are you talking about?”
“What do you think her new single is about?”
“What? She said she wrote it when she was a teenager…”
“Yeah…a song about a girl who feels like a guy is over
looking her for another girl…do the math Doctor.”
“Oh my god…”
“So excuse me if I don’t want advice from you.”
“
“Oh, I know. It’s Hunter I have to worry about.”
“What?”
“Guess you haven’t heard…Raye
kissed Hunter.”
“Bradley?”
“Yes, the one and only.”
“Wow…so that’s what you’re upset about? Not the Mars thing?”
“Both actually.”
“You know she only hid being Mars because she…”
“…wanted to protect me. Blah, blah, blah. Let me guess, you’re a Ranger too?”
“No actually…Tuxedo Mask.”
“Of course you are. Everyone around me is a superhero of
some kind. I just didn’t know it.”
“
“Yeah, well sometimes love isn’t enough…she deceived me and
I’m not sure I can live with that.” I said as I walked away. Now, don’t get me
wrong, I actually liked
I grabbed some snacks and after I paid I went back to the
hotel. I decided it was a mistake to have left. I put my snacks away and then
plopped on the bed and turned the TV on. I had left the TV on CMT when I’d
turned it off. When the TV came on I saw they were playing Raye’s
new video. I sighed and changed the channel. I found ‘Family Guy’ on another
station and decided that was better than watching Raye
sing about
I was lost in my thoughts when there was a knock on the
door…which was odd because I hadn’t ordered room service. I went to the door
and opened it. Andrew was standing there.
“Great…you too?” I asked.
“
“Fine. Come in.” I said moving out
of the way. I closed the door behind him.
“Listen, I’m sorry about everything but you really don’t
need to take it
out on
I rolled my eyes, “Right…and you’re going to tell me to
forgive Raye too?”
“That’s your call. I also heard about what she did with
Hunter. I’m not sure if you should forgive her or not…but I know you need you
friends.”
“Why befriend little old me? I’m just a guy, not a hero. Let
me guess…are you a Ranger? Or some other hero?”
“Actually, just a restaurant owner.
I looked at him, “Really?”
“Yeah. Really.”
“But you knew about everyone’s identities?”
“Yeah. Found out early on into mine
and Lita’s relationship.”
“So she told you?”
“Not by her choice. We were on a date and got attacked. She
had to transform in front of me to save our lives. After that the cat was out
of the bag.”
“Wow…and how did you take it?”
“I was a little freaked out of course. Anyone would be…I was
even scared at first because I didn’t want to get involved with someone that
put herself in danger daily.”
“But you stayed with her…”
“Yeah. I decided I loved her enough
to deal with it. It’s not easy. Every time she transforms I worry…but it’s like
being with a police officer or a military solider. It’s
high risk and you just have to accept it and pray that she comes home safe. And
I know you’re still in the shock phase, but if you really love Raye then you’ll find a way to deal with it. Now, the cheating thing…that’s a whole other story. I’m not
sure how I would react if I found out Lita kissed
another man. You may want to ask Adam about that. He forgave Mina for worse.”
Andrew said.
“Yeah, I talked to Adam already. And what you guys say makes
sense…but…”
“Do you love Raye?”
“I love who I thought she was. She’s a Martian princess.”
Andrew nodded, “Yes. She is. She’s also the same woman you
have loved since you were 16.”
“No, she isn’t.”
“Yes, she is. Lita is the same
person I fell for before I knew she was Sailor Jupiter. Yes, she lives a double
life…but Sailor Jupiter is not who she is…it’s just what she has to do. Think
Clark Kent and Superman…what would have happened if
“So you’re saying Sailor Mars doesn’t chance who Raye is?”
“Exactly. She has to become Sailor
Mars to help people…but it’s not the person she is. She’s still Raye Hino. Which brings me back to my question…all the crap
aside, do you love Raye?”
I nodded, “Yeah, I do…”
“Then you need to sort out your thoughts and go talk to
her.”
“I…”
“It’s your call…but if I were you, I wouldn’t walk away so
easily.”
“I’ll think about it.”
“OK. I need to get going. Lita
wants me to sample wedding cakes. If they can ever defeat Nemesis we’re going
to actually have a wedding.”
“Good luck with that.”
“Thanks. If you need to talk or anything call me.”
“Thanks.”
Andrew stood up, “Take care.” He said as he left.
I sat on my bed alone, deep in thought. I still didn’t know
what to do. Part of me want to run home and make up with Raye…but
another part of me just couldn’t forgive the betrayal and lies, no matter what
the reason behind it. I decided there was one more person I needed to talk to.
I grabbed my keys and headed out.
I knocked on the door and waited for him to open it.
“
“Hunter…we need to talk.” I said.
Hunter nodded, “Come in.”
I walked in and Hunter closed the door behind me.
“What can I do for you?” Hunter asked.
“You can explain to me what made you think it was a good
idea to kiss my girlfriend.” I said.
“
“She is your ex-girlfriend’s close friend…how could you do
it?”
“It had nothing to do with Michelle.”
“Considering you’re trying to win her back I’d say it has
everything to do with Michelle.”
“Like I said…I didn’t mean for it to happen. Raye and I were just hanging out and she was connecting
with me on a level she couldn’t with you and it just happened.”
“Right, the secret.”
“But that’s why she told you the truth…she wanted to have
that connection with you. She didn’t want anymore secrets and you’re being an
ass.”
“I’m the ass?!”
“Yes! She made a mistake. Super heroine or not, she’s still
human…she messed up but she is trying to make it right. You’re an idiot if you
don’t fix this with her.”
“She cheated on me!”
“We kissed! That’s it. She stopped it at that.”
“She what?”
Hunter sighed, “I tried to take it further. I wanted her…but
she stopped me. She felt tremendous guilt and left.”
“You tried to sleep with her?”
“Yes.”
I punched him in the face. He stumbled back.
“Ok, since I know you’re angry I’m going to let that go
without wiping the floor with you, but I think you should go.” Hunter said
rubbing his face.
“Yeah, I think I should…but one last thing…stay the hell away from my girlfriend.”
I got in my car and headed for home. When Hunter told me
what happened and about Raye walking out before he
took it further it suddenly hit me…she really did know she was wrong and was
trying to fix it. Adam was right…since she knew what a mistake this was I could
trust her to not let it happen again. Andrew was right too. Sailor Mars wasn’t
who Raye was. She was still my Raye.
Yes I was still hurt and angry but it wasn’t worth losing the love of my life
over. I needed to go home and try to fix things with her.
I pulled into my parking place at home and went up to our
apartment. Raye was in the living room watching TV.
She turned around when she heard the door open.
“
I closed the door and walked over to her and stood in front
of the sofa, “Yeah.”
“Are you back?”
“It’s going to take time Raye. I
feel very betrayed and I’m not sure that I trust you
100% right now but I do love you and I’m not willing to let go of that. I don’t
know that we can work this out but I do know that I want to try.”
“I really am sorry.”
“I know you are…and if you’d let me I’d like to move back
in.”
“Oh my god! Of
course!” Raye cried as she jumped up into my
arms.
I wrapped my arms around her and held her. I did love Raye so much and I knew it wouldn’t be easy, but we’d find
a way to make this work.