PRT 395- “Over the Line”

I was sitting in my room looking over my design notebook when I heard a scream and a loud bang. I jumped up and ran into the living room, Michele was running in from the kitchen at the same time. Ronny was sitting on the sofa with her knees to her chest and looked like she was on the verge of tears.

“Ronny, is everything ok?” I asked.

“Oh, sorry Trista.” She replied, looking over.

“What was that?” Michele asked.

“Sorry, I threw the remote against the wall.”

“Care you explain why?”

Ronny nodded and went to retrieve the remote and rewound the TV to what she had just seen. It was a piece on a tabloid news show about Hunter and Jessica Simpson. Evidently they had been seen together a lot lately and rumors were abound…of course.

“Oh wow, I’m sorry hun.” I said as I went and sat next to her and put my arm around her.

“Yeah, so am I, but can we vent without trashing the place?” Michele asked.

Ronny nodded, “Yeah, I’m really sorry. I just kinda snapped for a second.”

“I’m sure this is a shock for you.” I said.

“I expected him to get back with Michelle…whatever. I didn’t expect him to bounce back so fast with another pop diva.”

“I know honey…I’m sorry.”

“I miss him.” Ronny said as she finally started to cry. It was rare Ronny ever let anyone see her cry. I was glad she felt enough at home to let it out with us.

“Listen, Hunter is a creep. You’re better off with out him.” Michele chimed in.

“What? Why do you say that? I thought you liked Hunter.” Ronny said.

“I did, until recently.”

“Michele, don’t.” I warned. Ronny did not need to hear this.

“She deserves to know the kind of man she’s crying over.” Michele replied.

“She doesn’t need to know.”

“Yes I do.” Ronny said.

“He did try to get Michelle back, but it didn’t work. She turned him down. In the meantime he kissed Raye and nearly broke up Chad and her in the process. After that he was harassing Michelle so bad she had to threaten to call the cops to make him go away. I guess after that is when he rebounded with Jessica.” Michele explained.

“Oh wow…sounds like he’s pretty messed up.” Ronny said.

“Ya think?”

“You really are better off without him Ronny. I know it hurts but you’ll move on in time.” I said.

Ronny nodded, “Thanks guys.”

“Anytime.”

After Ronny was feeling better I went and gathered my things and headed to Lita’s bakery. She wanted me to design the dresses for her wedding and I had some preliminary designs to show her. I walked into the bakery.

“Trista, hey!” Lita said as she looked up from the counter she was wiping down.

“Hey, I just wanted to stop by and show you a couple of preliminary sketches…make sure we’re on the same page before I get too far with it.” I said.

Lita nodded, “Sure. What’ve you got?”

“Take a look.” I said as I put my sketchbook down on the counter and opened it to the page that had the wedding dress.

“Hmm, I like it…maybe have the straps off the shoulder?”

I nodded, “Yeah, I was kind of thinking the same thing. I also want the neckline to be more rounded.”

“Yeah. I think so too. I like what you have so far though.”

“Great…and this is the maid of honor dress.” I said turning the page.

Lita nodded, “Good, good. It’s simple. I like that.”

“Ok, and finally the flower girl dress.”

“That is adorable Trista. Maybe add a pink rose to the sash?”

“Oh, what a great idea. I knew it was missing something. I’ll make a note and give that a shot.” I said as I jotted down the idea.

“I love it. Awesome job so far.”

“Thanks. Still no wedding date? A deadline would be nice.”

“Hmm, well it’s really dependent on Nemesis. I can’t pick a date yet…how about we just say ASAP so it’s ready in case the wedding is short notice?”

I laughed, “Got it.”

Mia

~~~

I sat on the sofa curled up crying. I felt like a failure. I had let Kaya down and she was still a prisoner. I lost both Harley and Rini. I had yet to actually kill any of the other Soldiers. This is not how this was supposed to go!

I was pulled from my thoughts by a knock on the door. I wiped my eyes and went to answer it. JessLyn was standing at there…and she didn’t look happy.

“So you are alive.” She said bitterly.

I rolled my eyes, “What do you want JessLyn.”

“To know why you aren’t answering your phone for starters.”

“I turned it off.”

“I’ve been trying to reach you.”

“Well now you have me. What do you want?”

“Are you trying to throw your career away? You’ve been skipping shows and interviews and pretty much made yourself a hermit. This is not the way to hang on to your career.”

“There’s more important things at stake here than my career!” I cried.

“What?”

I shook my head, “Nothing…just stop booking shows. I need some personal time.”

“I thought you wanted this Mia…is the fame too overwhelming or what?”

“I do want this and I’m not overwhelmed by the fame…I just have some personal things I need to take care of. In case you haven’t noticed I’m more than you’re meal ticket. I’m a person too.”

“God you sound like Michelle.”

“Don’t ever compare me to her!” I cried as I took a step forward at Jess.

She backed up, “Hey, hey. I’m sorry.”

I took a breath and relaxed my stance, “Sorry. I’m just a little wound up.”

“You don’t say.”

“Listen Jess, just back off. Release a new single or whatever you want to do…just leave me alone for a bit. I have things to take care of.”

“Fine. I’ll cover for you…but I can’t buy you much time. If you don’t pull it together you’re going to lose it all.”

I sighed, “I know.”

Trista

~~~~

“I feel bad for her Trista, but I can’t take much more.” Michele said. We’d met up for lunch.

“I know she’s annoying you but she is going through a rough time now. She needs friends.” I said.

“Yeah? Well I think I liked it better when Amara hated her.”

“That’s a horrible thing to say Michele…and very unlike you. What’s wrong?”

Michele sighed, “I guess I’m a little jealous.”

“Jealous?”

“Of all the time Amara has been spending with Ronny.”

“Jealously is not like you at all. You’re the most confident person I know.”

“I know.”

“So what is bringing this on? You have nothing to worry about. Amara is just her friend…and besides, Ronny is straight.”

“Amara has turned women before.”

I laughed, “OK, you kind of have a point…but I still don’t think you have anything to worry about. Amara loves you. You have 14 years of history to prove it.”

“Yeah, and what if she is ready for a change?”

“You’re being paranoid…but if you’re really worried about it maybe you should sit Amara down and have a talk with her.”

“No. She would think I don’t trust her.”

“Well do you?” I asked.

Michele sighed again, “I don’t know.”

“Michele, Amara has never ever given you a reason to distrust her. She’s never cheated on your or shown any indication she ever would. What’s going on with you?”

“Ronny and Amara have been inseparable since Ronny moved in. I guess I just feel replaced.”

“I really think you need to explain to Amara how you’re feeling before you let your thoughts drive you insane.”

“Maybe…”

“I love you both too much to see something so silly come between you. Talk to her.”

Michele nodded, “Ok. I will.”

“Thank you.”

“So what are your plans the rest of the day?”

“Well, I was going to pick up some books from the library. I need some ideas for a design I’m working on for Michelle.” I said.

“What for?”

“An award show. She agreed to wear one of my designs which would be a huge break for me.”

“Totally.”

“Yeah, so I’m gonna get some books and magazines and try to get a little inspiration.”

“Good luck.”

“Thanks.”

So after lunch I did head to the library. I was waiting for the elevator to go upstairs to the magazine section. When the doors opened I saw Darien get off the elevator.

“Darien, hey!” I said with a smile.

“Trista, hi. How’s it going?”

“Pretty good. Just came to get some books and stuff. How are you?”

“Fine…want some company?”

“Sure.” I said as I got on the elevator. Darien stayed on and we rode up.

“How’s everything been? We haven’t hung out in awhile.” Darien said.

“I know, I’m sorry. Been so busy with…you know, Mia and everything.”

“Yeah, I understand. Serena has been driving herself crazier than normal trying to think of ways to get rid of Mia.”

“Yeah, Serena will think of something I’m sure. She usually does.”

“Maybe if you get a break in the insanity we can get lunch or something one day.”

“Yeah, sure. Maybe.” I said. I didn’t want to be rude but I also got uneasy around Darien. I had been in love with him for years but he was happily married to Serena…my friend and future queen. Even if I thought I could get Darien to cheat on Serena, which I didn’t think he would, but even if I could, I would never do that to Serena. Of course that didn’t keep my heart from pounding the second I saw him. It also didn’t help that for a long time he’d been one of my best friends. We used to hang out all the time, until I just couldn’t handle being around him anymore and I started to push him away. Evidently he didn’t get the hint cause he still wanted to hang out.

“Are you ok?” he asked.

“Um, yeah, fine.” I said, not realizing I’d spaced out.

“It seems like you’ve been avoiding me.”

“I haven’t been. It’s busy, you know what that’s like.”

“Of course…”

“I should probably get to work actually. Nice chatting with you.”

“Um…sure…call me later?”

“OK, bye.”

“Bye Trista.”

I sighed as I picked up a Vogue magazine and sat down to look through it. This was bad. Darien really was one of my best friends and I couldn’t handle being in the same room as him. This had to stop. I had to figure out a way to just deal with my feelings for him.

Mia

~~~

After JessLyn finished ranting at me she left and I decided to get my mind off of things for awhile. I needed to get out of the apartment before I lost my mind. I got dressed and headed to Sunset. I pretty much knew where Michelle frequented which would make it easy to just go to different clubs. I got to a club I was pretty such Mich wouldn’t be at then I went in. Inside the music was awesome so I grabbed a drink and made my way to the dance floor. It was awesome. I was having fun dancing alone but I saw this really good looking guy on the other side of the dance floor. Well, at least he looked good looking from a distance. I couldn’t see him clearly. I walked over to him and started grinding up behind him.

“Hey hottie, wanna dance?” I asked.

He turned around, “Sure ba…Mia?!”

“Diamond?!” I cried, “Just perfect. Exactly what I didn’t need. What are you doing here?”

“Trying to have fun…which I was until now.”

I sighed, “Figured you’d be helping your Sailor friends.”

“They have a handle on things. I’m just trying to rebuild my life…which you nearly destroyed.”

“Yeah, well watch your back cause I haven’t decided if I want to finish the job.”

“It suddenly got very crowded in here. I’m out of here.” I grumbled as I left the club. As I was walking out I saw this blonde girl that looked familiar.

“You’re Mia Blackwood, aren’t you?” she asked me.

I nodded, “Yeah…”

“I’m sorry, you don’t know me. I’m a fan and I think you’re friends with my sister.”

“Who’s your sister?”

“Michelle Morris. My name is Mindy Kyle.”

“Ohhh, right, Mindy. I’ve heard a lot about you. I thought you looked familiar. Yeah, Mich and I are friends. What are you doing on Sunset?”

“Hanging out. I’ve been in LA for awhile getting to know my brother Zack. I still don’t know Michelle very well at all, but she seems nice.”

“She really is. Actually I was just going to hang out with her. You want to tag along? We’re meeting up at my apartment.”

“Really?! I’d love to!”

“Great, come with me.” I said with a smirk.

We got to my place and I poured us some drinks. I put some sleeping powder in Mindy’s drink.

“Michelle should be here any second now. Make yourself at home.” I said as I handed her the spiked drink.

“Thanks.” Mindy said as she sat down and started to drink her drink.

“So, how much longer you staying in LA?”

“I’ve been back and forth between LA and home for months…I think I’m about ready to go home and resume my life though. I miss my boyfriend and I just want my life back.”

I nodded, “LA is not for the weak of heart.”

“Or any other body part. This city is insane.”

“That it is.”

We chatted for awhile more before Mindy passed out. Once she was passed out I took her and tied her up in my guest room. If this was how those Sailor brats wanted to play then this is how I’d play it. I finally felt better because I knew that I’d get Kaya back now. There is no way those do-gooders would let a civilian…especially family…die just to keep Kaya away from me. Victory was as good as mine.