Noralaura
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Posts: 42
(10/29/03 4:34 pm)
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Choices
Nora stood on the doorstep in front of her house, hand poised above the doorknob, but instead of turning it she sat on the stoop. The last thing she needed right now was to have the reality of the past few weeks events staring back in her face. She only wished that Bo hadn’t interrupted her last moments with Troy and that she could have had a few more minutes to let him know how much she still loved him. She rested her head in her hands remembering the time she had found him on this very stoop, a smile crossing her face now as the memories wafted over to comfort her. She hadn’t let on to Troy of course, but there was something desperately romantic about him needing to see her as badly as he had that night. How she had found him that morning and all he wanted was to be with her, and then when she had helped him into the house, how she’d lost her footing putting him to rest on the couch, and landed softly in his arms. It was intoxicating, this connection she felt with him, like she’d known him all of her life; they just seemed to fit so perfectly. And that was why she had to try so hard these last few months to block out the memories of them together, why she didn’t reach out to him like she wanted to, and talk with him about why he’d done what he had done. It had been agony for her to see him with all of those other women on the tape, to know how far he had fallen, but in spite of it all she loved him still. She lifted her head shaking it now, and the most perplexing thing of all was that even as he had held the broken glass to her throat, she never once was truly afraid that he would harm her. She knew this in her heart because their kind of connection comes but once, and for some not at all. She came alive in his presence, even as he was threatening her she felt exhilarated, not from fear but from the longing she still felt to be with him. She stood not wanting to think about it any longer. He was locked away in Saint Anne’s and there was nothing she could do but try and forget him. She knew if she even attempted to visit him that Bo and Hank and a myriad of others would think she had lost her mind completely and who knows maybe she had. She glanced down at the too short skirt that Flash had so sweetly brought for her to wear, how would she have known that the last time she wore this she was in college, rather than going inside to change she made her way to the car. All she wanted was to forget, to get as far away from the memories as possible. As the car came to a stop in front of the bar she examined her refection in the mirror, doing her best to smooth her hair down and another coat of lipstick couldn’t hurt. As the door swung open to the bar she heard the drone of conversation mixing with the pulsating music of the jukebox. R.J. turned and was shocked to see her, he slipped from behind the bar and approached her with a hug.
“Nora, what are you doing here? They released you already?”
“Ah ya know me R.J. and my love of hospitals.”
“Don’t tell me you made another escape.”
She smiled. “Nope this time I actually followed the Doctors orders.”
Pulling out of the embrace, he looked to her arm. “How are you holding up? How’s that arm?”
She reached out with her other hand to touch the bandage. “It takes more than this to keep Nora Buchanan down.”
He laughed. “Don’t I know it. I can’t believe what that good for nothing MacIver did to you this time.”
Her eyes fell to the ground. “R.J. please, I don’t want to talk about Troy.”
“But Nora the man deserves to pay. Saint Anne’s is hardly punishment enough for what he’s put you through.”
“He’s not well R.J. And I said I don’t want to talk about it. Now are you going to serve me or do I have to go somewhere else to get a drink?”
Her stubbornness amused him. “Alright, alright what will it be.”
“A vodka martini please, straight up.”
Raising his eyebrows and giving her a discerning look. “Looking to tie one on are we?”
“So what if I am.” Her eyes glinted with determination.
“I just didn’t know if that was the wisest idea, beings that I’m sure you are on some kind of medication for your arm.”
She stood grabbing her purse. “Ya know I really don’t need this right now, you have some nerve telling me what to do.”
Coming from behind the bar again to take her by the arm. “Nora look I’m sorry, I just care about you is all.”
She laughed as she looked him in the face. “Funny that seems to be a reoccurring theme in my life, all the men who claim to care about me do nothing but hurt me. Present company included.” She turned to leave.
“Nora please, sit. I’m sorry.”
“So no more interference from you then?” She smiled as she sat.
“Damn you are good.” He teased her back. “I promise, no more interference.”
Putting her purse back on the bar, “good, now pour me that drink.”
She slid her sweater off and he couldn’t help but notice the way the skimpy tank top grazed over her thin frame, he looked away, trying to focus on the drink, he’d forgotten how truly beautiful she was.
“So tell me what’s going on with you R.J. I heard through the grapevine that you and Evangeline are seeing each other.”
He cleared his throat. “I don’t know if we’re “seeing” each other, but yes, we enjoy spending time together on occasion.”
She took a long sip and then smiled, “Ah so what you really mean, is that she’s not as interested in you as you are in her. Is that it?”
He rolled his eyes. “Can we talk about something else?”
“Okay let’s see, I don’t want to talk about me and you don’t want to talk about you.” She leaned in towards him. “How about having a drink with me then? You still miserable at darts?” she goaded.
Pouring himself a Bourbon. “If I remember correctly, I wiped the floor with you a few times as well.”
“Oh really?” Holding up her empty glass, “another please bar keep, and then we shall see who wipes the floor with whom.”
He poured her next drink and then walked over to the dartboard setting up the game. He returned to her offering the darts. “Ladies first”
She put down her drink and stepped up to throw the first dart, He stood in shock as she closed out her first round with ease.”
Turning coyly to look at him she smiled. “Your turn.” She took another long drink and then stood behind him to watch his form. “Not bad, you’ve been practicing.”
Handing her back the darts, he went to pour himself another, she lit up the board again, putting the darts down on the table when she was done and finishing her second drink. “Another please.” she motioned to him before crossing to the jukebox. Punching in some songs she started to sway to the music. He watched as she slowly rotated her hips, she was mesmerizing when she danced. He put down her drink and turned to take his shot at the board, and then joined her on the dance floor. She felt him next to her and opened her eyes, turning her back to him she rubbed up against him before moving to claim her drink. The game was close but she had the lead, as she downed the drink she started to feel a bit tipsy. Walking over towards the board she slipped a bit and he reached out an arm to prop her back up.
“You okay Nora?”
She smiled and moved in so that their noses where almost touching. “Splendid.” She played her next round and moved back onto the dance floor, the music was slow and smooth and her body moved in time with it, provocative and fluid. A near by table of men took notice as her skirt slid up higher onto her thighs. R.J. caught them gawking and shot them a disapproving look.
“It’s your turn Nora.”
Woozy with the alcohol she slid back over to the game. The delivery of her last dart ending it promptly. She crossed back to R.J. “I think you owe me another drink Mr.”
He gulped his down quickly knowing that he should stop feeding her drinks, yet he continued. He liked to see her loosen up like this. He was one of the few who ever got to see this side of her, and besides, even if he wanted to stop her now she would only go off on some sort of sermon or another. He much preferred her this way. So he poured her another drink. She sat for a moment, a strap falling off a shoulder, but she was oblivious. Her long legs attracting the attention of every straight in the room.
She took a drink and smiled seductively “Come on and dance with me R.J. like old times.” He moved from behind the bar and offered his hand, she stood taking it as he led her to the floor. They’re bodies moved together to the music, pressing his hand to the small of her back he held her tightly to him. She relaxed in his arms the effects of the alcohol melting away what little inhibitions she had left. She closed her eyes and let the moment take her over, just like she had all those many years ago. She could feel her heart beating hard against his chest. The desire stirring in her, she looked up at him and when he stared into her eyes as well she moved her mouth to kiss him. He was warm and soft and comforting, but something was wrong. She freed herself from his embrace. “I… oh god, I’m sorry R.J.” she walked quickly away from him and back to the bar. “I shouldn’t have done that.”
A bit agitated. “And why is that Nora?”
Shutting her eyes to stop the burning tears. “I just shouldn’t have, it was wrong.”
He walked up behind her. “Nora you don’t have to answer to anybody, you can do whatever you want. If you want to kiss somebody you can kiss them!”
“I know that, I do R.J. I… I drank to much and…”
“Stop it right there Nora. I don’t want to hear that you drank too much, that’s the same excuse you tried use the last time we ended up together.”
“R.J. please don’t. I don’t want to think about this now.”
He grabbed her arm spinning her around to face him. “Well I do want to talk about this. Why you never thought I was good enough for you, that I was some kind of mistake.”
The tears were welling in her eyes now as she slumped down unto the stool. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me R.J. I wish I did, but I don’t.”
“Well I have a pretty good idea that this has to do with one or more of the MacIver brothers.” The color drained from her face as he spoke, “so are you going to tell me what’s really going on or not?”
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