Lindsay Davis

Honestly, this is just like when he couldn't make our plans to go dancing two nights ago. And the time before that. And the time before that. Face it: he's not coming.

As if the looks from the passing waiters and the knowledge that the time was getting later and later wasn’t enough, my mind just had to scream at me to let me know what was already plainly obvious.

I squeezed my eyes shut and took a deep breath before signaling for the check. The waiter and my bill seemed to be at the ready.

It’s so pathetic.

I placed down a twenty dollar bill before I stood and pushed my seat in, prepared to leave.

And then I heard the door to the restaurant swing open and I watched as Dean Parker sprinted into the building. His rich brown hair was a disheveled mess and I couldn’t help but smile slightly as his head swiveled around and his dark blue eyes wildly searched the room. His appearance was matched by his outfit which, because he had been running, was set completely astray on his body: his tie was loose and his dark jeans were rumpled. His white Hanes T-Shirt hung tight to his toned body and his leather jacket basically completed the look. When his eyes caught mine, he jogged over and smiled slightly before he leaned forward and pulled me to him, placing a light kiss on my soft lips.

“I’m so sorry I’m late, Lindsay. The first few photos were too bright and so at the end of the shoot, we had to go back and retake them. Did you already eat?” I nodded and he made an ‘oh’ sound before falling silent. “Well, do you want to-”

“I think I just want to go home now, alright Dean?” He sighed and nodded before taking my hand and smiling softly at me. We started walking out of the restaurant in silence, the spring night closing in on us. “So how did the shoot go?” I eventually asked.

“Really well, actually. The director really liked me and Allison told me the they personally told her that I was one of the best models they’ve worked with in a long time,” Dean told me, excitedly. I smiled and squeezed his hand.

“That's so great, Dean,” I told him, honestly. “I can't believe this is really happening to you.”

“Yeah, but you wanna know whats even better?” He asked as we suddenly stopped walking.

“What?” I asked, my dark brown eyes sweeping up to meet his beautiful blue ones.

“Having you here to share this with.” I laughed at his words and felt myself blush.

“Dean.”

“No, I'm serious,” he informed me, placing his hands on my hips. “Having you here...sometimes its the only thing that keeps me going, you know? I mean, there's no guarantee that I'll make it-”

“You will, though,” I interrupted and he smiled at me.

“See? Thats exactly what I'm talking about. You're always there and...I love you, Lindsay. Don't ever forget that.”

I grinned when I felt my head become a little lighter, something that always happened whenever he told me those three words. I stepped forward to close what little space was left between us and I pulled him to me in a tight hug.

“I love you, too.”

---

“I can't believe it -we're almost college graduates!” I spoke excitedly and Tyler, my twin brother (younger by exactly one minute but taller by exactly one foot), laughed at me.

“Yep, we'll be officially done next week. And then you're doing an internship at a psychology office in Connecticut, right?”

“Yeah. I'm working for someone named Isabella de Villece...she seems really nice but nice people can be tough bosses too so whatever. We'll see how it goes.”

“And what about Pretty Boy? Is he moving to Connecticut with you?” I ignored the nickname that Tyler had come up for Dean. Dean and our freshman year at NYU. I had decided to major in psychology and Tyler was a part-time student and part-time model. Earlier this year he just dropped out of NYU altogether in order to pursue modeling and from what I can tell, he's been somewhat successful. I honestly have no doubt in my mind that Dean will make it one day, I just wish that we didn't have to sacrifice so much in order for him to make it.

His being late to last nights dinner was not the first time it had happened whether its because he couldn't get back in time due to traffic, airplane cancellations (he's started taking out of state jobs), weariness, or extended shoots.

“That's currently the plan. He's already told me that he wouldn't mind making the commute to New York everyday if he does it by train.”

“Uh-huh. And is he coming to your graduation?” Tyler asked as he leaned against a public telephone booth. I shrugged and swept my left hand through my long, dark brow curls as the wind blew it all over the place.

“Of course he is. He'll be sitting with mom and dad.”

“So he doesn't have a shoot that day?”

“He asked his agency to not book any for that day.”

“Are you sure though? Because if I know Dean Parker, and I do, he's not exactly the most reliable person when it comes down to you versus his work.”

“He'll be there, Tyler.” I assured my brother and he shrugged before looking up and waving at an oncoming car. I turned and smiled when I saw Dean's old mustang pulling up to the curb beside me.

“Hey, Linds. Hey, Tyler.”

“Hows it goin', Dean?”

“Hey.” I got into the car and kissed Dean's cheek before we both waved at Tyler and drove off.

“How was school?” He asked and I smiled as he glanced at me from the corner of his eye.

“It was good. I turned in my final paper and now I'm completely finito...I've actually never been this excited in my life.” Dean laughed at me.

“That's my girl. You're obviously going to be the best psychologist that New England has ever seen.” I giggled and Dean grinned at my laugh.

“I can only hope. Hey, Dean? You're coming to my graduation, right?” He took a moment to turn his head to face me before he turned them back to the road and reached out his right hand to hold my left one. I felt my tummy fill with tiny butterflies as his large, manicured hands held my smaller ones.

“I wouldn't miss it for the world.”

-----

Dean Parker

I whistled a nameless tune to myself as I fixed my tie in the mirror.

I had to look better then usual because Lindsay Davis, my girlfriend of three and a half years, was finally graduating from New York University today. I mean, seeing as how it's about 90 degree outside, I'll probably have a heat stroke and die in this suit but I guess for Lindsay its worth it.

After all, she has deemed this day as being the most important day of her life so far. Well, except for meeting me of course.

I grinned as my eyes landed on a picture of us that she had framed and hung on our bedroom wall. It was a nice picture, professionally done on her birthday last year. The photographer had taken at least fifty different pictures but we were drawn to this one in particular because...well, I don't know why she loves it so much. I know I love it because her brown eyes seem to sparkle in this picture.

Lindsay denies this and says that I'm being biased because I love her.

That may be true because I do love her and I guess that probably does shape my opinion on things involving her.

My thoughts were interrupted when I heard my Blackberry vibrate on the dresser.

“Hello?”

“Dean? This is Allison.”

“Oh, hey Allison. Whats up?”

“Okay, I know that you told me to not book anything for today but-”

“Allison, I'm not working today. I can't. It's my girlfriend's graduation.”

“Yeah, I know, but just hear me out, okay? You know Sophia Dane-Cresent?”

“Who doesn't?” I asked. Sophia Dane-Cresent and her husband, Matthew Cresent, were two Hollywood socialites who were, and I quote, “living the American Dream”. They have the pretty daughter, a newborn son, and basically sometimes make me want to throw up because they're such a good looking family.

“Well the male model Sophia had hired for her show came down with the flu and he recently did a show in Mexico so they're keeping him under observation in case he's caught Swine Flu. Anyway, Sophia's in desperate need of a new male model and I thought that you'd be the best candidate.”

“Oh my...are you fucking serious?” Sophia Dane-Cresent was one of the biggest names in the fashion world today. If I modeled at one of her shows and she really thought I had talent then she could even send a call-back for me in order for me to try and make myself part of her permanent modeling staff. Her permanent modeling staff only held the best of the best and if you made it into her staff then you were basically set for life.

“I wouldn't joke about this, Dean. Do you understand what this could do for your career? Even if you didn't do an amazing job tonight, the fact that you got out there to model her clothes in front of thousands of other big names...you could be getting modeling calls from all over the place after today!”

“...today?” Allison sighed at my sudden deflated tone.

“Yes, Dean -today. I'm really sorry to have to do this to you but...this is huge and you need to make a choice. Just how badly do you want to make it into this world? Because the Earth is full of beautiful people but the world you're trying to break into is only full of the best. The boldest. The most beautiful...so, how badly do you want it?”

----

When I stepped into my bedroom, I wasn't too surprised when the light switch flipped on to reveal Lindsay Davis staring angrily at me. Her dark curls were up in bun and her dark brown eyes shone with anger.

“Where the hell were you today?” She demanded, her voice sharp and quick.

“Listen, I can explain-”

“No. I don't want an explanation, I want an answer. Where. Were. You. Today?”

Beat.

“Washington D.C.”

“Washington D.C.” She repeated with a surprising air of calm. “Now, why the hell were you there instead of...oh, I don't know? In New York at your girlfriend's graduation?”

“Allison called me...Sophia Dane-Cresent had an opening in her fashion show and I went to fill in.” Silence. “I got you two presents.” I bent down and pulled out a box that held the off-white halter dress that I bought from Sophia Dane-Cresent's original line. I then pulled out the second box which I had been holding for a while; it contained a dainty music box made of gold and painted by intricate colors and stunning designs.

Lindsay didn't even glance at them.

There were a few more beats of silence before I groaned and said:

“Please say something.”

“What's there to say?” She whispered harshly and I noticed the her brown eyes were clouding over. Oh shit, she's going to cry. “You missed the most important day of my life to go and model in a fashion show. I don't think theres anything I can say to that!”

“Look, Lindsay, I get it -I made a mistake-”

“No. The only mistake made today was made by me for thinking that you would be able to think of someone other than yourself for once.” I dropped the box I was holding in shock. Lindsay blinked as salt-water droplets started to fall from her eyes. She turned her head away and sniffed as she slowly started to walk backward towards the bedroom door. “Listen, Dean. I'm so tired of this. For a while I thought it would be okay to come in second to your work and I've always accepted that you would choose it over me. Every missed dinner, every party, every meeting, every missed whatever, I've always gotten over it. But not this time. I'm fucking done. My bags are packed and in the car and I'm moving in with Tyler and his girlfriend until I leave for Connecticut.” She was at the door by now and I moved to grab her but she jumped back.

“Please don't touch me, Dean. I mean it -I'm done with this, alright?”

“No it's not alright! Lindsay, I'm so sorry and I love you...doesn't that count for anything?” I desperately pleaded. I felt my heart racing and I was about to break a sweat; was a breaking heart supposed to be so physically draining? Lindsay's hand was on the doorknob and she squeezed it as she bit her lip. She eventually lifted her head and shook it.

“It used to count for everything but I can't...I won't let it anymore.” She turned away and I listened in a stunned silence as she made her way down the stairs, through the living room, past the kitchen and finally out the door. My pocket started to vibrate and almost subconsciously, my right hand pulled it out of my pocket and clicked the 'accept call' button.

“Dean? This is Allison and you'll never guess what just happened! Sophia Dane-Cresent's secretary just called and Sophia has requested a personal meeting with you. Can you believe it? You're getting a callback from her!” I didn't listen to the rest of the details and instead simply ended the call because what use was good news without anyone to share it with? And what made it even worse was the fact that the one person who I'd ever even consider sharing it with just walked out of the door and out of my life.

And the icing on the cake?

I know she's not coming back.

My hands molded into fists and I felt my breathing quicken in order to match my accelerated heart rate. My eyes felt heavy and they were working overtime in order to barricade any unwanted water from coming through. I gulped in order to get something circulating in my dry throat and I glanced at the two boxes of presents that lay forgotten and abandoned on the floor.

I snarled as I picked up the box with the dress and angrily pulled the fabric from the box before I wound my hands in it and pulled it in two opposite directions. The torn fabric fell to the ground and in the heat of the moment, I went for the music box and pulled my arm back, prepared to launch it.

Instead, I dropped my arm and carefully held tight to the tiny box.

God knows there needed be any more broken pieces in the room tonight. I dropped to the ground and cradled the music box in my left hand.

So, according to Allison I had almost made it into the world where beautiful people ruled and at the thought, I found myself comparing me to the music box.

Two beautiful things both belonging to one person; a stunning women who left because what I wanted interfered with what she needed. The only difference was that when she left, I completely broke while the music box did not.

And so I twisted the little knob in the back of the box and listened to the tune “Romance De L'Amour” as I laid back and stared at the ceiling.

Two beautiful things alone in a room; one broken and one playing a beautiful tune while the broken one blanked out his mind and tried to force his mistakes to stop replaying in his mind.

Tomorrow would be another day but for now he wanted nothing more then for darkness and music overtake him.

And so, they did.

.Finite.

Review please! :))

Okay, well here's another back round story that may somehow be wound into 'And Along Came Cupid' which I updated today. :o

-Vi