<USS Avalon> A Look In The Mirror

A Look In The Mirror

by Anthony Manson and Jayden Cross

"I don't have time for this," Jayden said as Anthony approached her work 
station. The Science offices were deserted for the evening and she was making 
the most out of the quiet time. Besides, Eli had told her to go back to work. 
She didn't know when she should go home. Refusing to look up from her 
calculations, she added, "You know Eli doesn't like me talking to you."

"Screw what the bastard has to say. You're family, and that's all the excuse 
you or I need to talk," Anthony replied fiercely. The conversation hadn't gone 
well at all. It was small talk in the beginning, now it was slowly turning into 
an argument. "And," Anthony added with frowns deepening, "since when did anyone 
control you the way he does?"

"Get off it, Anthony. We're not going there again. Want me to throw Alder in 
your face?"

"What about the son of a bitch?" Anthony replied. She couldn't have noticed, it 
was concealed pretty well considering the collar was high enough. Thinking in 
retrospect, even if Jayden did, it would mean there was something left in her 
that wasn't all the way submerged.

"I saw it in your eyes from the start. For god's sake, Anthony, we grew up 
together. You've yet to hide a damn thing from me. How long you been fucking 
him again?" She finally sat the PADD down and looked at him, scrutinizing. She 
would know if he was lying.

"I haven't been fucking him, Jay. What the hell? I come up to you about that 
bastard you call a husband, and you spit back at me the bastard that I used to 
call my lover," Anthony shook his head, the subjects was changing from her to 
him. "I don't get you sometimes."

"And I don't get you. Haven't you figured out in the past three years that I 
love him? That it's not going to change? The only way to get you off my case is 
to bring up Alder. And don't tell me you found someone else to give you bruises 
like that. It's Alder, isn't it?"

"What you two have isn't love. It's one person psychologically abusing you, and 
you're taking it!" Anthony hissed, "and fuck the facts about my bruises, Jay. I 
got into another fight, that's all. Nothing you don't know about."

"You're a fucking liar."

Anthony snapped at Jayden?s persistence, "Fine, we fucked! Are you happy!? Does 
the thought that we still use each other make you feel warm and all the more 
committed to your damn husband!? Does it!?

"No," she replied in barely a whisper.

"Then dump his ass, Jayden. Just do it. He doesn't treat you right, and you 
deserve better," Anthony said with barely a soft tone through all that anger. 
To quickly change the subject, cause he knew all too well Jayden might bring 
back up again, "Alder intruded my quarters yesterday. We fought, we fucked, he 
left, end of story."

She nodded. "He's fucking Vevay. I'm pretty sure of it. I mean, for a long time 
I didn't believe it was possible... Not her. She's the only friend I have." 
Jayden clamped her mouth shut and turned back to the console, letting Anthony's 
issues go while trying not to be upset about her own.

He made a mental note, and instead softened his tone a little more, "Look, just 
divorce the swine will you? It'll be the best decision you'll ever make."

"I can't. Anthony, you don't see the good side of him too. It's there. And I 
love it. If I would just be like he wanted me to be..."

"Did you just hear yourself?" Anthony replied with a frown; abandoning the 
sympathetic tone altogether, "'just like he wanted me to be'? Where the fuck 
does he bend you to his will part of a marriage?"

"The part where I love him. Don't make me turn this around on you. You're no 
better."

"Screw that, Jayden. You're married to some pig that belittles you at every 
opportunity. Won't you at least stand up for yourself?" Anthony said with a 
softer voice and stood closer to Jayden.

The tears were already streaming down her face. "Because that's not the way it 
works. You don't just quit. I've never... ever quit."

Anthony had his nerves burn, nearly forcing him to scream at Jayden. But know 
it wouldn't, "right, never quit on a marriage that never worked. Whatever 
Jayden, you're in bed with him. Not me."

"No, I'm not. He won't touch me anymore. Not for about eight months." She 
swiped angrily at one of her tears. "It doesn't matter. Stay away from Alder."

"See, Jayden, he's good for nothing. I'll deal with Alder on my own terms. You 
know my record."

"Yeah, it's worked out real well for you," she commented, reaching out to 
gently brush the collar away from his neck, looking at the bruising. Anthony 
flinched but let her do it anyway. "So much easier when we were kids, wasn't 
it? Just running and playing and that one cave where we used to sit. Remember 
talking about flying in starships?" A smile sprang to her lips, but she choked 
it off just as quickly, withdrawing her hand and turning back to her desk.

Rubbing his neck instinctively as he nodded. "Yeah, but those are just dreams. 
Nuisances really. Im gonna go, I left some pain meds that right now I can't do 
without."

"I'm not leaving him, so stop trying," Jayden offered by way of parting.

"Yeah, he only left you." Anthony said as he walked out the door.


__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around 
http://mail.yahoo.com

Other related posts: