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An End Has a Start – Part 15
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Tina rapped on the door of the shed and waited, shifting from foot to foot. She heard movement inside and then the door opened to reveal a grizzled pregnant figure. Stale-smelling warm air blew out of the tiny room into Tina’s face. She tried not to let her distaste show. “Hey, Max.”
Max was looking worse for wear. Too thin. He was unkempt, his hair lank and greasy. He was wearing an over-sized plaid shirt that had a stain of some kind on the front of it and baggy pajama pants. He was barefoot, his baby bump jutting awkwardly between them.
“Hi,” he said. He was holding a hunk of cheese in one hand, which he proceeded to bite into like an apple. “What’s up?”
“Um,” Tina watched him chew and swallow, thrown temporarily. She’d never seen anyone eat cheese like that, pregnant or not. When she was carrying Angie, she’d had some odd cravings herself, but nothing like this. She started to warn Max that eating too much cheese couldn’t possibly be healthy, but she checked herself and brought her focus back to the matter at hand.
“I knocked at the house. No one was home.”
“Shane comes and goes. Did you need to see her? I think she’s at Molly’s.”
“Oh, no,” Tina said. She was studying Max’s face while they stood there. She noticed the dark smudges under his eyes and the unhealthy pallor of his skin. He was probably holed up on that shed way more than he should be. “I just wanted to get something from the house.”
Max raised his eyebrows, his interest piqued. “Oh yeah? What?”
Tina debated whether to tell him the truth and instead blurted out the question that had been bothering her since she got here. “Max, are you alright?”
He shrugged one shoulder. “I’m about as ‘alright’ as I’m going to get, Tina.”
“You’re feeling okay then?”
“Fit as a fiddle,” Max smiled wanly, his disheveled appearance belying his words.
Tina stood there, unsure of what to do or say. She and Max weren’t particularly close. If it had been some other member of their circle, hell, anyone else, she would have demanded that they come and stay in her house, so she feed them, and generally be there for them whether they wanted her to or not. But Max was different, and the timing was all wrong. Bette needed her the most right now, even more than Max, who evidently needed a little care.
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The plot thickens – or is it sickens? I hope Tina can mend the gap between her and Shane on the issue of the negatives. The line about Nikki made me laugh out loud. I love how you write Tina, and especially in this chapter – wanting to take care of the people she loves, but not always knowing exactly how. The chapter ending, those sweet moments with Bette, were simply perfect. This is so well written, thank you omalley.
well written! PPS
I completely agree..what a sweet ending to the chapter – it was what both B&T needed. Omalley you are a fantastic story teller!
Really great chapter. I’m glad Bette’s not so sullen anymore. PPS
Great update. Looking forward to more.
I hope Shane gives Tina back the negatives to the movie. Max is a jerk, ’nuff said. I am happy that Bette is not so hard on herself and I hope Tina makes more time for Bette, especially in listening.
How very real and full of substance your story is. You continue and vastly improve upon S6. Can I say, “Rewrite! Rewrite by Omalley! Are you available for a feature film? Thanks!
Awesome update. The plot surely thickens. Can’t wait to see what happens. Thank you :)
I love all the elements of your story, the mystery, the fetid odors of Max and the attic. Your descriptions and dialogue are wonderful. Masterful writing, omalley.
So Omalley…this looks like another hit story! Lots of potential intrigue…what happened to Jenny…why is Shane being so protective of the negatives…Tina needs to think about if she takes the negatives back will Aaron think she was in on it afterall…so many potential paths to go down. Can’t wait to see which ones you take.
wow. Jenny, even in death, manages to fracture the relationship around her. Quite sad. Great update, omalley!
Thanks for not giving up on this story. It’s amazing, please continue.
Lovely ending there. Death makes loved ones feel so rotten especially when its an unexpected death. Pity about Max and Shane. Where is Molly? and is she on Shane’s side in this or just putting up with what Shane has decided? As for Max, he always was weird imo. Perhaps Bette can sort Shane out? Like the way u used the underlying conflict between T and Alice for Bette’s attentions. It took me right back to the shot of Al’s face when T was introduced to B and to the Dinah Shore weekend when T was telling her love story & Al chipped about she helped B find the gallery. It’s like every prior gf has a claim on her ex that the resent one doesn’t & is always made to feel a little insecure about. Very subtle female power-war gaming trick which kinda keeps the new girl in her place by reminding her that there have been others who are still willing to put out at the click of a finger. Maybe B doesn’t get all this because it’s subtle but she has considerable power over both Alice and Tina because of their respective roles in her life now and past. Wow, that was a lot. I hope u get my drift. I felt very much for Tina in this chapter. Its hard to feel that ‘one’ has to make everyone else better. Who nurtures the nurturer? Right now? Bette, that’s really good because T should not always have to be the no 1. nurturer. Great stuff. Keep writing.
Excellent…. keep them coming! :)
Damn Jenny, still causing problems and she is gone. Not sure what Shane is doing or for that matter Max either. Max still ticks me off the way that he treated Bette after jodi. I still think that Max put that display of Bette’s life together. I love how Bette is really the only one who can comfort Tina.
This is really good. My heart was pounding through out reading the story. Tina was well written. And oh, the ending was so sweet. Thanks Omalley.
This story is beyond good. So real and honest between the characters. Thank you.
whats up with shane and max… everyone at the end hated jenny an now they want a memorial… please… i hope tina can talk to shane and get those tapes… its her rep thats on the line… they think she took them as it is… she could say they came in the mail after jenny died.. pps
Great chapter. I’m worried about Tina. She has too much stress and she feels like she doesn’t have anyone to talk to about it. She is the type of person who takes on the responsibility of fixing the people she cares about but she’s not good at letting them return the favor. She needs a strong shoulder to cry on….
Bette, you have to spend more time with each other. :o) [I was chewing it during reading my fingernails.]
I think B&T need some good loving from each other..maybe Alice can take Angie for the night…. :)
What is with Shane and Max, even Shane was mad at Jenny, now why is she wanting to protect Jenny? Amd poor Max is ever the curiousity. Tina is taking on too much by herself, she too needs that shoulder to cry on and Bette is trying to be there for her. At least Bette understood that Tina needed her again to be in her corner as she has always been. They need to get to New York and leave all the problems in L.A. Thanks for posting.
Sigh…tender Tibette. Sweet! You write Tina so well. I can hear her thoughts, feel her emotions and see her actions. Your writing is so believable and real. Wow! You rock Omalley!
Tina’s got a lot on her plate just now. Hopefully she’ll see that Alice was just trying to help in her own way… Shane has got to hand those negatives over. What can Tina do to convince her? Aaron and William turned out to be pr*cks, but it’s not the rest of the crew’s fault. The film should be released. Despite her not wanting to burden Bette, Tina should maybe let Bette in on what she’s trying to do. Maybe Bette can convince Shane to do the right thing. Great chapter, thanks for posting. More when you can.
:) hugs.