Keeping Faith (9 page)

Faith composed herself. "It was awful. She didn't even care what I had to say, she just yelled and yelled."

"Where is she now?" Cori asked, as Violet rubbed her back.

"I have no idea, she slammed out a few minutes ago." Faith inspected the wall where the fork hit.

"What did you manage to say to her?"

"All I got out was that there was sex, that was the magic word. After that, she didn't care what I had to say. She didn't let me explain that I didn't want to do the sex either, all she heard was I liked the script and she freaked the hell out."

Cori shook her head. "Oh man... I knew this was gonna happen."

Violet leaned into the receiver and offered her opinion. "Maybe you should have started at the end first and worked your way to the middle?"

"Guys, I had no idea we couldn't talk like humans. Sure, now that sounds great, but really... who knew she'd cut me off at the knees every time I started to talk?"

Cori closed her eyes and sighed heavily. "She can't handle this. She can't handle the idea of you having sex, even if its fake, with someone else. My question is, what is she going to do about this?"

"She said her stomach hurt, Cor. She thinks I WANT to do this, it must be killing her." Faith eyes welled up imagining what Reece was feeling. "Shit, Cor, I hurt her." Faith's voice cracked with tears.

Cori sighed. "I'm coming over."

"No, you have to work, I don't know what happened a minute ago, I'm not exactly the weepy type. I'm okay now. I promise. She'll cool off and I'll be able to talk to her later."

"Faith, " Cori rolled her eyes, "Are you sure you want to be alone? I'll bring the alcohol."

Faith smiled despite her mood. "Nah, really, I'm okay. Reece is in a bad enough mood as it is. If you don't show up for work, she'll freak out on you too."

"Please. Pshaw. I can take her." She looked to Violet who's eyebrow Shot up in disbelief.

"I swear I'm fine. You're the best, Cor. Now get yourself ready for work, you're going to be late. Love you too, Vi."

Violet grabbed the phone. "Maybe I should come over? Huh? I'll bring Thelma and Louise and we can make it a family affair?"

Faith grinned. "Actually, I have a few phone calls to make, I need to fix this script or I won't be doing this movie. Then I have to think of a way to get Reece to listen to me. Once she's like this… oh boy."

"Well, okay. But if you need me, you know where I am. I can be over in a second."

"Thanks Vi, you are both the best."

Cori and Violet sat there for a few moments, holding hands. Both of them felt a little helpless not being able to be there to console Faith. Suddenly, Cori jumped up.

"Fucking Reece, I'm going to work and giving her a piece of my mind."

Violet held her lover's hand tighter, understanding her anger but not agreeing with running there half cocked. "Honey, she's already pissed, you have to let her simmer down some or you'll wind up making it worse."

"I'm not afraid of her." Cori declared.

Violet grinned. "I know baby, but just give her a little while before you start getting in her face. She has to think about this."

Cori stomped her foot. "That's just it! She's not thinking, she won't! She's going to block this out and ignore it and it may destroy them. I won't let that happen."

Violet sighed. "I can't stop you can I." she stated. "Okay, you Just call me if there's any problems."

Faith had enough time to relax through her frustrations and started to become angry. She had the phone in her hand several times, ready to tear this film maker a new asshole, but knew she had to calm down again before she really created a scandal. It was late, and she knew this guy wouldn't be at the office at this hour and that pissed her off even more. Knowing she had no choice but to wait until morning, she sat and stewed.

She was disappointed in Reece. She thought her wife would have given her enough credit to know she wouldn't do anything to hurt her intentionally. She was angry too, knowing it was going to be hell to try and talk to her about this again without another tantrum.

Smudge, who ran away and hid during all the yelling, came over to his mommy and looked at her curiously. Faith picked him up and kissed him on the nose. "I'm sorry for all that sweetie. Auntie Reece can be a big baby sometimes." Smudge settled down in Faith's lap and after a while of stroking him, the actress became much calmer. Just as her eyes were getting heavy, the phone rang. She debated picking it up but curiosity got the best of her.

"Oh, Louise! Who's the hot lesbo actress about to make another movie?"

Faith chuckled. "Hi John. You're a sicko ya know?"

"I take that as a compliment. Sooo, what's happening? Rumor has it this script is hot!"

Faith groaned. "Hot isn't the word. It's practically porno."

"Huh? Are you serious?"

"Dead serious. John, I'm not going to do it if they don't change it." Faith stuck out her chin as she spoke.

"Oh wow. What did Spike have to say about it?"

"You don't even want to know." Faith sighed.

"Mmmm. I bet it didn't go over too big." John said sympathetically. "Hey, it's been floating around that Alicia Alvarez got cast as well. She is a fine specimen isn't she?"

"Oh my god! No! Not Alicia!" Faith began to panic.

"What? And here I thought you were a lesbian. Shit, I'd even do her! What do you mean no?" John teased.

"I have a huge crush on her and Reece knows it! This is awful!"

John grimaced and covered his tracks. "We don't know what part she's been cast in, so it may not be a disaster. Besides, she's as straight as a pin, she'd never go for lesbian porn."

"You never know. It's quite chic to be queer, everyone's jumping on the bandwagon, why should she be any different?"

"Because, she's got at least a million boyfriends and is never photographed without one. All which are gorgeous by the way."

"Alicia Alvarez. Fuck. Reece hates her on principle. Says she's a pig."

"Louise, you only know Spike is mad because you think Alicia's the bee's ankles."

"That doesn't make it any better. Oh man." Faith closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "I'm going to see the producer tomorrow morning, so I'll find out who's playing my love interest. That's if they decide to clean up the script. Otherwise, I'm outta this mess."

C
ORI SAT AND stewed in the cab, she couldn't believe Reece gave Faith such a hard time. The more she thought about it, the angrier she became at Reece. Finally arriving at the club, she stomped her way up the stairs. Her face fixed in a scowl, she burst into The Lounge full of piss and vinegar.

Sarge, always looking out for the dancers, worried about Cori's mood. Knowing Reece was in rare form worried her even more. "Hey Cor, what's the face for?"

"Where's Reece?"

"Somewhere inside. I saw her wandering around earlier. You two arguing or something?"

"Not yet." Cori narrowed her eyes and stormed off in search of Reece. Banging on the office door was fruitless, it was locked and if Reece was in there she wasn't letting on. Pissed, Cori went to the dressing room, with hardly a minute to spare before she was to dance. Angry and frustrated, she changed quickly and made her way to the center stage and waited for her music to start.

The lights went dim, her intro music started and Cori began to dance seductively, her foul mood seemed to entice the men and she was picking up tips like crazy. She shimmied over to the left side of the stage when something caught her eye. It was Reece, leaning on the smaller stage, with two dancers all over her. No wonder Cori couldn't find her, she was looking for the tuxedo. Reece was still dressed in her street clothes, her baseball cap on practically hiding her face altogether. Cori saw red as the dancers rubbed all over the club owner, touching her sensuously, and Reece eating it all up with a stupid grin on her face. Disregarding her job entirely, Cori jumped off the stage in the middle of her show, and ran over to Reece. Insinuating herself between the taller woman and a half naked dancer, and shoving the other one away, Cori stood in front of Reece, chest heaving. "What the fuck is your problem?"

Reece tilted her head to the side, an amused expression on her face. "You. I was having a great time until you showed up."

"You are such an asshole Reece! I don't know what the fuck to do with you!"

A crowd had formed as most of the men watching her perform followed her when she left the stage. Once people started to recognize that it was the club owner Cori was fighting with more people crowded around.

Reece towered over the dancer. "How about, you just leave me alone and go dance." She reached out for one of the girls.

Cori exploded. "Fuck you!" She shoved Reece hard. "What the hell are you trying to prove with these girls?" She shoved Reece again.

Reece's eyes flashed and she balled her fists. She clenched her teeth as she spoke. "Get out of my face, Cori, if you know what's good for you."

"No!" Cori pushed Reece again, this time knocking her off balance. "You tell me what the hell you're doing?"

Reece grabbed Cori by the wrist and squeezed. "I... am having fun. At least these girls aren't having
sex
with me are they?"

Cori screamed in frustration. "You suck Reece. Faith doesn't even want to do that stupid movie and you're an asshole." She wrenched her wrist out of the boss's grasp and stormed off.

"That's only because I don't want her to!" Reece watched Cori as she left. "Yeah, at least I'm not having sex with them." she added to herself.

Violet was startled when Cori came flying through the door. "Honey?"

"That.. that.. ARGH!" Cori threw herself on the couch and kicked her feet.

Violet ran over and stood in front of her. "Honestly Cor, a tantrum?"

"You have no idea! Reece thinks this is a fucking game or something! She was fucking with the dancers, talking about how she’s just having fun, and she’s not having sex with them!"

Violet clenched her jaw. "While Faith is at home eating her heart out. That son of a bitch."

Cori flung herself again. "Tell me about it!"

Violet sat down and rubbed her lover's back. "Why are you home? What happened?"

"I had no choice, Reece probably would have killed me if I stayed."

Violet narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "Cori, what did you do?"

"I may have shoved her a few times."

"Cori!"

"In front of everyone." Cori added.

"Have you lost your mind? No, seriously, you shoved her?"

"I was mad!"

Violet sighed. "Okay, looks like no one is thinking rationally but me. I'll be back later."

Cori stood up in fear. "Vi! Where are you going?"

"To take care of this the right way, without yelling and scenes. That's the last thing anybody needs right now. And to get to Reece before she does something stupid."

Cori grabbed her lover's hand. "Vi, you can't go there now."