Written By: ©Tiffany Leigh
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Twisted Fate
Chapter 18
(C) Tiffany Leigh and Tiffany Anne 2002
***
Alexis brushed her blonde curls out of her face. She glanced into the mirror. Her jade eyes were full of happiness. She had never seen her eyes such a bright green. She let her eyes fall to the stunning white diamond that seemed to match the glow of her skin tone perfectly. Sure, it sat on another woman’s finger before, but it was on hers now. Where is should be. Alexis glanced back up into the mirror. Flashbacks the words JC so sharply spoke rang throughout her head. Was she being selfish? She knew she was. What kind of friend was she to leave her dying ‘friend’ sitting in a hospital alone and in pain while she took the man of her so-called-friend’s dreams? Alexis sighed at herself. She never used to be that person. She always looked out for everyone else’s best interest. She never thought about herself over a friend. She knew that had changed. She was very selfish. She had to be. After being pushed around for her entire life by her horror of a stage-mom, she had to start standing up for herself or else she wouldn’t have made it as far as she made it.
She glanced over at her phone that screamed a different assortment of loud noises. She grasped the phone into her hands and placed it next to her ear, “Hello?”
“Alexis, this is your mother.” An elderly voice spoke clearly on the phone. She sounded stern and unloving, as usual.
“Momma, I was just thinking about you,” Alexis sounded almost disappointed that she had to hear her mother’s voice, “What’s going on?”
“How are things?” Her mother asked. She didn’t sound like she really cared; it was just one of those questions that she felt obligated to ask just so she could start the conversation.
“Um, things are both good and bad.” At this point Alexis was back in the bedroom and sitting on the edge of the bed. Justin was almost sound asleep next her.
“Explain.” Her mother replied.
“Well, bad, AJ has leukemia and I don’t know exactly how well she’s doing. Good, Justin and I are getting married.” Alexis shot out. She knew her mother would be excited, hell, her mother loved Justin more than she loved Alexis.
“What?” She heard her mother almost drop the phone. Laughter escaped her mother’s lips as she continued, “Justin Timberlake? Little J. Randall?”
“Yes momma, little J Randall. Why is that so funny?” Alexis asked.
“Well I don’t know Lexis. I mean Justin comes from a very, uh, unspoken and extremely rich background. I mean I love Justin with all my heart but I don’t understand why he would choose you as his wife.” Alexis’s mother said almost too comfortably.
“What the hell does that mean mother?” Alexis felt that anger. She felt the pain from when she was in the 3rd grade and she lost the dance pageant. She was runner up and her mother beat her until she saw blood. She almost screamed, causing Justin to pop up out of his sleep.
“Alexandra Rae Taylor, don’t ever speak to me in that tone.” Alexis’s mother spoke so clearly and calmly it almost scared Alexis.
“No momma, you listen to me,” Alexis shouted. She was now standing up and walking furiously around the room. She caught Justin’s eyes once or twice but never enough to get a good idea of what he or she was thinking, “All my life you’ve never thought I was good enough. FOR ANYTHING. I’m going to tell you something mother; I’ve worked my ASS off just so I could stay as far away as possible from YOU. I HATE you mom. I HATE you so much. I can’t even go back in my head and think about ONE fucking time you’ve actually made me feel good about myself. Not one fucking time. When Justin and I were younger you told me I was never going to be good enough for him. NOW we plan on spending the rest of our lives together. I’m one of the most famous dancers in the world. I’m putting on a million dollar production that goes on stage in at least a month. I’m better than I’ve ever fucking been and it’s all because you are no longer in my life.”
There was silence on the other line. Alexis knew her mom hadn’t hung up because she could hear her mother’s dog, Dixie, barking loudly in the background. After a few moments Alexis’s mother gathered her thoughts and spoke. Alexis could tell her mother was choked up. She had never heard or seen her mother cry, “I’m sorry you feel that way little Lex. I love you with all of my heart. I know you don’t think I do, but I do. I’ve always felt like I needed to be tough with you so you could be a stronger person. I know you’re a strong person and it’s because of you, not me.”
Alexis almost dropped the phone. Justin could tell her face changed almost instantly from anger to a strong state of emotions. He placed his warm hand on top of her trembling fair colored fingers. Alexis fixed the tears that were just peeking out of her eyes, “Momma, I need to go. I want you to know, I love you. I don’t know what happened here but I want it to stay like this. I will call you tomorrow.” Alexis hung up the phone with out waiting for a reply.
She turned to face Justin’s curious eyes. Tears were now all over her face. She placed her shivering hand on top of Justin’s and smiled softly. He kissed her forehead and stood up, “Was that your mom?”
“Yeah.” Alexis was so taken back she almost didn’t have any words. She was so confused. In one way she was so happy and it didn’t matter what anyone else said or thought because she had Justin in her bed lying next to her, kissing her forehead, making love to her, holding her, and loving her. Then she also felt this sharp stabbing pain of guilt.
“You told her?” Justin asked.
“Yeah.” Alexis said again. She knew she was going to have to tell her father at some point. She didn’t want to. All he would do is call her a whore out of his drunken fury.
“Are you okay Alex?” Justin asked as he wrapped his comforting arms around Alexis’s crying body.
“I don’t know J, I don’t feel so good.” She responded.
***
JC placed his hands on the outer edge of the doorframe. His solid physique was covered in a blue sweater that lied on top of his dark denim blue jeans. His curious blue eyes searched for AJ. There was no sight of her. After a few moments of still standing in the doorframe he felt two almost ice-cold hands wrap around his eyes. He placed his perfectly warm hands on top of hers and whispered her name. He turned around to see the short young woman with bright eyes and smile extended across her face. JC wrapped his arms around Arianna’s little body and pulled her into his embrace. The two pulled apart and as JC pulled away he pressed his lips on her forehead, Arianna walked past JC and threw herself on her bed.
“How are things?” She plainly asked. She didn’t want to start out with hey your girlfriend is banging my ex-fiancé’ because that wasn’t the kind of person AJ was
“They’ve been better.” JC sighed. He didn’t want it to seem like he was to taken down because he really didn’t want to tell AJ that the ring Justin once so lovingly slipped on her finger was now on Alexis’ finger.
“I feel your pain,” AJ said as she climbed back into her bed. Her misty brown eyes glanced outside of the frost covered windows. Snow had just begun to flutter to floor. It was the first snow of the winter/fall. It was more like sleet than snow considering it melted as soon as it hit the ground. She let her gaze move back to JC, “Thanks for coming Jayce. I didn’t want you to feel obligated. I know Justin has responsibilities and so does Alexis, I just didn’t want to be alone.”
“What do you mean responsibilities? I though Justin and Alexis ran off together.” JX almost mumbled.
“J had to go back to work and Alexis needed to finish the winter production.” Arianna answered as she twisted the sheets of her blanket.
“Oh.” JC looked down. In a way he felt a little bad for what he said to the two but not that bad.
“Why would you think that?” AJ asked.
“Look Age…” JC paused. He fought with himself. He wasn’t sure if he should tell Arianna, especially with the state she was in. He let a sigh escape his lips, “Nothing, just you made it seem like that on the phone that’s all.”
Arianna climbed off the bed and stood in front of JC. Tears were streaming down her face, “I’m scared JC.”
“I know you are Age.” JC said as he wrapped his arms around Arianna’s shivering body. He kissed her head softly. She continued to whimper into his chest as he ran his long fingers through her thin hair. Occasionally strands of her hair would come out on his fingers from the Kimo therapy they’ve been feeding her.
“Miss Jensen?” The doctor interrupted the two.
“Yes?” She lifted her head from JC’s chest to catch the doctor’s eyes.
“It’s time to go, Renee is ready.” His blue eyes peeked over his bifocals to catch her tear-coated eyes.
“Okay, um, can he come in the room?” Arianna asked sincerely.
“I’m sorry Arianna but he can’t. We have a small room right outside of the room and he’s more than welcome to sit in there and wait for you.” The doctor answered as he scribbled down random things on the white clipboard sitting before him.
“Thank you doctor, I’ll be right there.” Arianna let her eyes trail quickly back to JC’s. He reached down to her level and pressed his lips against hers quickly. The two pulled away and he ran his index finger down her cold cheek.
“Good luck.” He said at almost a whisper.
“Thanks.” Arianna smiled as she walked past JC.
***
Chapter 19
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