"So tonight I hope that I will do just fine. And I don't see how you could ever be anything but mine."- Kenny Chesney
Prelude 2: Anything but Mine to listen the theme song please click here.
Written By: Kelly Zollo
July 30, 2004
Scene 1: 1962 Parkview Ln., West Lake, NY; Pool Area
Summer has been hot this year in West Lake and sitting pool side while her mother talks to Marion Jones, Hannah Donovan opens her eyes to met Elizabeth Jones's. She and Liz have never really gotten along, never really hung out in the same crowds, that is unless you count on her brief fling with Liz’s brother close. Liz comes from a different class in West Lake society, she wears second hand store bought uniforms and clothing and for all intensive purposes has always been an outsider.
“Hi.” Liz finally offers, as their mothers go inside the house to speak.
Shifting in her seat uncomfortably Hannah finally focuses back up at her, “Hi.”
Liz has never gotten along with Hannah, Vanessa and Kate but part of her has always wanted to be a part of their crowd. The West Lake trio, the three of them running the school and social food chain. Now three years into college and she is still barely visible to them other then a summer class that she is taking with Hannah. A side that she is coming to admire, Hannah is not as stuck up or as full of herself as she lets on.
“You normally don’t come with your mom, when she shows up for work.” Hannah states, rising up in her seat to face her.
Liz bites her lips for a moment shaking her head, “The bank sent a final notice to the house. She’s asking your mom and the others for more hours.”
Hannah’s face flies open at the realization that Liz’s mother is in financial trouble, to the point of nearly losing their home. Suddenly, feeling very rude and very remorseful for the girl in front of her, the girl she has never really been nice too over the years.
“Have you got that photo assignment done yet for Professor Henderson’s class?” Hannah asks hoping to change the subject.
Liz shakes her head, “No, I’ve been busy helping mom that’s why I came along today. I applied for a few jobs around town. I haven’t really thought about it or had the time to stake out any parties to take the glamor shots that he wanted.”
Hannah pauses for a moment rising from the chair to place her hands on her hips, ready to head inside the house and out of the sun.
“Why don’t you come to the party tonight? I can put your name on the list, bring our camera. You can relax and have some fun, plus you can get the assignment done at the same time.” Hannah offers.
Liz stares at her like she has stepped into some alternate universe where the mean girl picked her out of a crowd to play a cruel joke on her. She is a smart girl, is ranked in the top of her class as far as her grades go, she needs money for a score to get her through the summer. Yet, she can’t help but feel like Hannah Donovan’s sudden turn for generosity is hidden behind an agenda.
“Sorry, I’m late the lunch with my dad went long.” Cade says, startling both girls on his approach to kiss Hannah.
“Well?” Hannah asks, linking her arm through Cade’s and looking right at Liz.
“Um, sure. I better get inside.” Liz says, deciding to accept the offer before waving at the two of them before heading inside.
“What was that about?” Cade asked.
Hannah shrugs, grabbing her sun tanning cream before kissing him, pulling back to look at him, “Turning over a new leaf.”
Scene 2: Scene 2: The Hilton Regency Suite; New York City, NY
Austin smiles coming out of the shower after Kate, wrapping his arms around her waist to place his lips against her shoulder blade. Spending an entire weekend with her in the city while her mother is gone at a medical conference and school is out has been the perfect anniversary weekend for him. He had asked around from Hannah and Vanessa about what she was wanting to do, nailing it down to a week long trip to the city. So far they had spent their time wining and dinning throughout the city and making love in the hotel room for hours on end.
“So, you ready to head to the ballet then?” Austin asks playfully, nipping on her earlobe.
Kate can’t hep the light hearted laugh that she lets out, playfully struggling against his arms to turn around and kiss him. Pulling back with a smile and a shrug of her shoulder, before making a run for the bed in the room. The chase causes her to struggle reaching for her towel as her purse falls to the ground her acceptance letter to John’s Hopkins falling on the floor. Austin follows her out of the bathroom, leaning down to pick up the purse and then staring at the application before raising his eyes to met Kate’s on the bed.
“I didn’t realize that you were thinking about transferring,” he says quietly sitting down on the edge of the bed to hand her the letter.
Liz looks at him for a moment hoping their trip hasn’t been ruined taking a breath, “I was wait listed a few years ago. My mom thought it would be a good idea if I applied again. I haven’t even really thought about leaving or going yet. I was going to discuss it with you after we got back home.”
Austin nods his head at her honesty. They have been together for over four years and he loves her. He has never really had a stellar example of love and a relationship he can blame that on his two parents. His mother is more interested in pretending to love his father and his father is more than happy to pretend that he actually wants to relationship to work. Instead he looks over at her, brushing some wet hair out of her face and offering her a faint smile.
“Do you want to go?” he asks, quietly.
She shrugs her shoulder unsure of how she should answer the question when he moves the hair out of her face to ask the question. Leaving town would mean leaving him, leaving their life together. Even if John Hopkins is the better school she isn’t sure she can do it nor is she sure she wants to. West Lake is home to her, her mother is home to her and the same with her brother Shane.
“My mom wants me to go, it would be a good experience much better medical training than I would get staying here at home. Leaving home would mean leaving all our friends behind, leaving you behind and I’m not sure I want to do that,’ she says, pausing for a moment to bit her lip, ‘I’m not sure I’m ready to do that Austin.”
The room is silent for a moment before he nods his head, pressing his forehead against hers for a moment before his cell phone rings. Pressing his lips to her temple, he moves from the edge of the bed to answer the phone.
“Hello?” he asks.
He is greeted by his sister's bubbly voice on the other end of the line, who is trying to hush Callie in the background yet, “You give ask her to move in yet?”
Running his hand through his hair for a moment, he smiles over his shoulder at Kate before pointing at the receiver.
“Paige,’ he says, before turning his attention back to his sister, ‘No, now isn’t the best time.”
“Well for heaven’s sake why not? I didn’t spend over three hours with you around town helping you picking out an apartment for you to chicken out. Besides, you two practically live together anyways.” Paige says, relaying the information to Callie.
“Are you driving?’ Austin asks, hearing the engine in the background he is greeted with a loud laugh and shakes his head, ‘I’m hanging up now. Love you Paige.”
Kate is busy putting on an evening dress and her earrings by the time the phone call ends and she looks over at him, ‘What was that all about? Everything okay?”
Austin shakes his head laughing for a moment, rising from the bed to nod his head at her wrapping his arms around her waist.
“Yeah, I know this is bad timing, but how would you feel about moving in together?"
Scene 3: Donovan Publishing
Sitting inside Donovan Publishing Jessica Robbins adjusts her skirt again, as Alan shows her a tour of the building. Thanks to her father making a few calls, the job was easily handed to her, she can finish out her last year of college at home and everything is set into play. By the time she and Alan make their way to Jacob's office, her heart is already racing, will he remember her? It has been years since she has seen him, been with him her hopes are dashed, however when she spots the picture on his desk and his sister having lunch with him inside.
“Jacob, Hannah. You both remember Jessica Robbins correct?” Alan asks, making the introduction.
He has been having lunch with Hannah steadily over the last few weeks, talking over his upcoming decision he has to make about staying in West Lake or leaving for Europe for a year to run the overseas company. He has been trying to gauge his sister’s mind on where he stands with Vanessa and she is giving her no answer. Instead, she avoids the subject telling him it doesn’t really matter Vanessa is madly in-love with him and not to worry about it. When his father leads the blond over to them for an introduction he has to think back a few years for the name to click, a girl that he spent a few times with sexually while on break from school years ago.
“You went to school with Hannah, I remember you,” Jake says, shaking her hand.
Hannah is less than impressed that Jessica Robbins is back in West Lake society and she can’t help but notice the icy stare that she sends the picture of her brother and Vanessa.
“Jessica.” she flatly states.
Alan is pulled outside of the office, along with her brother when another editor comes to them with a problem with a client. The two girls are left to stare at one another, Hannah rising to gather her purse from the couch. Jessica in turn circling her brother’s desk, her fingers trailing on the mahogany to stop and stare at the picture again.
“It’s good to be home.” Jessica states, looking at Hannah.
Hannah has never liked her, never liked her trying to fit in where she wasn’t wanted and she sure as hell, never liked her snooping around her brother. The years have added to her, she looks older and a bit more wise underneath it all however, she still looks like a manipulative bitch. Her father and her brother are out of earshot and in doing so leaving her open to speak freely with Jessica.
“Stay away from Jake.”
Jessica looks at her and nearly laughs, until she hears the seriousness in her voice, the protectiveness. Showing her that really nothing has changed since she has been gone Hannah still thinks she is above her. Hannah and her posse of Vanessa and Kate, Hannah thinking she can tell her what to do. Hannah thinking that she hasn’t already had Jake numerous times in various ways years ago.
“Or you’ll what?” Jessica retorts.
Hannah leans into the desk looking her dead in the eyes, “He doesn’t want you, he didn’t before and certainly doesn’t now. You were simply a void until he went after what he really wanted Vanessa. I would advise you to keep your distance, or I’ll make your life a living hell here at the company and around town. Gossip is a horrible thing, people eat it up here you know that, find someone else to toy with.”
The door to the office opens and Hannah turns offering both her brother and her father a smile, before leaving the office leaning up to her brother for a hug.
“Talk to Vanessa about it. Love you and I’ll see you later,' she whispers, staring at her father coldly before speaking, 'Dad.”
Jessica watches the scene unfold, seething at the audacity that Hannah even has shown her in her threats. It only fuels her anger at the Donovan’s, fuels her hatred for them and puts Hannah herself on the list of people she must destroy. Glancing down at the photo one last time, realizing that Vanessa Harvell could very well in fact be a problem in getting Jake back. She shoves the thought back, offering Jacob a smile when Alan offers to continue the tour touching her hand to his on her way out of his office.
Scene 4: 1Shoreline West Lake; West Lake, NY
Hours later and Jacob is starting out at the bonfire and Vanessa on the beach of the lake from his spot by the stone wall, it’s warm out with a slight breeze. The water offering a cool release against the night air and a night of skinny dipping for them. She is busy putting the fire out in order to head back into town, and he realizes that he has to talk to her. He has never felt this way about anyone before and after a year of being together it doesn’t feel like enough, he hasn’t told her he loves her yet.
“My dad wants me to got to Europe for year head up the European department,” he says quietly.
His statement makes her look up from the now unlit bonfire to slightly smile at him, shaking her head and shrugging her shoulders. She has never really pushed him into anything in the last year, he wants out he just has to tell her. Her feelings wouldn’t be hurt or so she tells herself, it would hurt more than she cares to admit. She’s madly in love with him even though she hasn’t said the words to him. It has reflected in her grades slightly dropping this semester enough for her father and mother to start asking if it is serious.
“Oh, that’s good right?” she asks, knowing how lame it sounds as soon as it leaves her mouth.
“That’s it uh? Oh?” he asks, stepping away from the wall to stand in front of her.
Vanessa shrugs her shoulders digging her feet into the wet sand before looking up at him, “It’s a good opportunity for you.”
The statement is met with a bit of silence, as they walk back to his car before he opens the door for her to get inside before climbing in after she is inside. It has been the answer that he isn’t sure he is ready to hear, the answer that she is alright with him just leaving home, leaving her. They’ve put too much effort into being together to begin with for her to just rub it off. They’ve had to work at it, her still finishing up college and him working for his father. Getting into the car he leans his head against the headrest biting his lip for a moment before looking over at her.
“Do you want me to go?” he finally asks.
She pauses for a moment to fight back the flood of tears that want to come out, sticking to her guns she won’t beg him to stay. She simply can’t and even if they were still to be together the distance alone would get to her. Sooner or later he would find someone to replace her while overseas and she would rather it not come to that. Brushing her hair behind her ear, she shakes her head no before speaking.
“I want you to be happy and go if want to go because that is what you want to do then I want you to go.”
He doesn’t know when it happened exactly the moment he completely fell in love with her but it did. It could have been that summer party a year ago, or when she stood up to her father for him. He is crazy about her he would do anything for her, when he’s not around her it drives him crazy and when he is, he’s happy. Looking at her he rakes his hand over his head for a moment finally being able to say the words.
“I don’t want to go my dad wants me to go, I would rather stay here with you and my family. I love you, I’m in love with you,’ he says, pausing for a moment when she doesn’t answer, ‘Now would be a good time for you to say something.”
The declaration catches her off guard he’s never said it to her before and she has never said it to him either. She’s been in love with him for over a year, from their first night together in the pool house and now she knows he feels the same about her. She doesn’t know what really to say to it, as she glances over him before leaning over and. wrapping her arms around his neck, pressing her lips to his. His hands automatically wrap around her waist, pulling her into his lap, his body pressing into hers, her reaction being what he had hoped for minus three words.
Her hand is gripping the back of his seat, as his hips buck up underneath her and he breaks the contact long enough to let her climb into the back seat before following her. Her lips meeting his, her hand working on his belt buckle, his hands reach for the hem of his shirt pulling it over his head. He is already leaning down to her when she avoids his lips to look at him and speak.
“I love you too.”
His only reaction is to grin at her before leaning down to capture her mouth with hers again, her hands tugging at the back of his hair. His hands are already fumbling for the sweater that she is wearing, his body already aching to be with her. Moments later they’re both laying in the seat unclothed he is buried inside of her moving steadily. Her hands are digging into his back while her hips met his own. Knowing in the back of his mind that his father is going to be disappointed in his decision to stay.
Loved it or hated it? Can't wait to say something about it? Please vist our forum to leave your thoughts.