We made it…the last chapter….(in 3 parts of course you know the drill)

Previously on Mysterious Attraction…

RECAP

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Days pass on by and the fashion store comes together nicely, as everyone pitches in.

It is opening night and Lexie is a ball of nerves.

She sits in the middle of her store, scanning it over for the thousandth time, waiting to find something wrong.

Carter walks in from the back.

Carter: Hey you. You ok?

Lexie: Am I crazy to think that this is actually going to work? I mean are people actually going to take this seriously, take me seriously. Because tomorrow’s headline can easily read… “Mobster Father in Prison, Daughter monopolizes press with new Fashion line.” This isn’t going to work.

Carter: Yes it is. People like you Lexie. As much as they hate to admit it.

Lexie: Gee Thanks.

Carter: You know what I mean. You yourself know you can sometimes have a strong intimidating personality. (lexie makes a knowing face) But they like you. You’re likeable. You draw people in and they can’t help but like you. This is going to work. I promise. And I’m gonna be here every step of the way. We need to move on from what people think they know about you, about us, about our family. This is our new start.

Lexie: (sighs of relief) I know. You’re right. But I’m just so nervous. I really need this to work.

Carter: I know. It’ll be ok. (he helps her up off the floor).

Roxy walks in.

Roxy: It’s time.

Lexie: (looks at her watch) Already?

Roxy: Yup…you have quite the audience awaiting your brilliance.

Lexie peaks through the window and sees a huge line of people outside the store on the side walk.

Lexie: (smiles) Oh. See but why does that make me more nervous? I should be happy right?

Carter rubs her shoulder and smiles.

Carter: Yes. This is going to be amazing babe, I promise. (he kisses her cheek) You ready?

Lexie: (takes a deep breath) Yea. Let’s do this team…

Roxy: That’s our girl!

Brice, Dylan, Roxy, and Joe all smile and follow Carter and Lexie as they lead the way outside.

We see a grand opening sign hanging on the store front…near the name of the store “Mysterious Attraction.”

A red ribbon is tied across the front door

Lexie steps up to the podium.

Lexie: Hello everyone. Thank you all so much for being here. It means the world to me that you’d give me a chance to prove what I’m actually capable of. Ever since I was a young girl I was fascinated by fashion. I would play dress up with my mother’s clothes and try on her makeup and pearl necklaces when I thought she wasn’t looking. Even though I’m pretty sure she secretly knew. She loved to get all dolled up, and by extension I think I’ve taken on that love affair as well. In fact my mother always said “Nothing reels a man in better than a sexy red lip and a smile.” And I think she was right, Carter blushes.

Roxy smiles a red lipped smile and glances at Brice who glances by and smiles then looks away nervously.

Lexie: My mother will always be with me. And she’s been the driving force for almost everything I’ve ever done in my life. Before she passed, she was also my biggest inspiration and support. She taught me things in the few years I was fortunate to have with her, things that will last til the end of time. Things I will pass onto my daughter. (Carter smiles as her gaze meets his)This has always been a dream of mine. To be able to creatively express the relationship between women and the clothes they wear, their style, what makes us feel good. A way to express the relationship between women and men, fashion and flirtation. Love and lust. So I hope you enjoy and I hope you find something that speaks to you.

Reporter: Excuse me…could you explain the name you chose…why “Mysterious Attraction.” What does it mean?

Lexie: (smiles) Come in and find out. Without further or do…Mysterious Attraction in now open for business!

Lexie excitedly cuts the red ribbon with a pair of big scissors friends, employees, and future customers clap and file in accordingly.

The store is crowded with people picking up and buzzing about the clothes, the makeup, the accessories. There’s a small bar section, where some people gather for glasses of wine.

Displayed on the main wall across from the main entrance is a video playing in the background. A masked man and woman in a dark room. Subtle eye glances are their only communication. The words *Mysterious Attraction* are written in cursive smokey letters.

People clap after watching.

Roxy: Who the hell would have thought how you too started would actually be one hell of an interesting love story. People are eating this up. Very strategically planned my business mogul friend.

Lexie: It wasn’t a ploy. It’s a fact. Men and women are attracted to each other based on what they’re wearing. It may sound shallow at first, but it’s what gets you to look in the first place. It’s the truth. And people can relate to it. Me and Carter. You and Brice. Case in point. Nice lipstick by the way. (smiles and walks away.)

Roxy puts her hands on her hips and huffs

Carter looks at Roxy and raises his eyebrows.

Roxy: Well look who’s a little bit sassy.

Carter: Hey you had to learn it from somewhere, right?

Roxy: Ha! Make no mistake, I work alone. Lexie and I may have similarities but I’m way more ruthless when it comes to men.

Carter: Just know when there’s a cause for your ruthlessness. Because sometimes there’s no need to be. Besides I’m pretty sure this is all an act. After all you’re a lover not a fighter right?

Roxy: That’s right baby. I mean I may be crazy, but I shoot for love not just for mindless annihilation. Contrary to my previous antics.

Carter: Tired of playing the game?

Roxy: Ah, I was never a frequent player, I’ve gotten played for sure, but the few times I tried my hand at being the all around douche in the relationship, well I couldn’t stomach it. Some hearts are just born pure with the intent to love.

Carter: So then what’s with you messing with Brice?

Roxy: I’m still quirky, I’m still a woman. I don’t believe in emotional torture, but I do believe that a guy should work for it. Hey I believe in the mystery of the attraction. (She laughs making fun of everything.) Maybe I wanna play that game, the flirty game for a little while. No shame in waiting, to see if there’s actually something there, before throwing myself all in too quick. I like to make ’em squirm. It’s more fun that way. (She laughs.)

Carter: So what you’re saying is your not diabolical in destroying men, but you are into messing with their minds for a brief time…just long enough for them to realize their in love with you?

Roxy: Yup.

Carter: But doesn’t that kind of defeat the point. I mean if you keep him at arms length, and mess with him, even if it is just innocent fun, he’s not gonna fall in love with the real you? But for the conjured up version of you.

Roxy: Oh no. This is me. I do this shit all the time. I like to joke around. I like to keep light of things. Life is too damn serious all the time.

Carter: You are crazy. But right.

Roxy nods knowingly.

Carter: So you’re completely set on falling in love with him then too?

Roxy: If all goes well…it’d be nice to love one of the good guys for once. And have him love me back.

Carter: Well judging by the fact that Brice hasn’t been able to take his eyes off you, I’d say you’re on the right track.

Roxy looks at Brice and smiles happily. A genuine smile.

Roxy: You think so? (she turns back to Carter)

Carter: Yea…but don’t take my word for it, go and find out. (He nudges her toward Brice.)

Roxy: (smiles) Lexie was right about you. You’re a good one. She’s lucky to have you.

Carter: We’re all lucky to have each other. So don’t go running off any time soon, world traveler. You’ve got people who need you to stick around here.

Roxy: Don’t you worry, I’m not going anywhere.

Roxy smiles, winks and walks off toward Brice.

Roxy: Hi.

Brice: Hi.

Roxy: So…how are you?

Brice: Good, you?

Roxy: Good. (she looks away nervously.)

Brice: Would you wanna… maybe go out…with me…sometime?

Roxy: Yea. That’d be nice. I’d love to.

They exchange smiles.

Lexie walks over to Carter and hugs him.

Lexie: It’s going well isn’t it?

Carter: Yea it really is. Your speech was beautiful your mom would have been really proud.

Lexie: Thanks babe. (She kisses him) So…what’s going on over there?

Carter: Oh you know just another love story in the making. Although there’s may be a bit more conventional then ours.

Lexie: Ah. Yea. Roxy talks a good game. But I was far more damaged then her. She’s just a girl looking for love. She wears her heart on her sleeve, but sometimes it gets covered by her over dramatized antics.

Carter: You’re not damaged Lexie. As much as we think we both were, I think it’s just a shell of a story we put in our heads. People go through shit. Tough shit. It changes you. I feel like we somehow romanticized our story into this dramatic tragedy. That we some how wrecked each other. Broke each other down.

Lexie: Didn’t we?

Carter: No. We just fell in love…at the worst possible time in our lives. (he laughs) I guess what I’m trying to say is….we didn’t break each other down; we broke down walls that were in our way. That were preventing us from truly loving each other. We may have had a tough start, but we were meant to find each other…this is the way things are supposed to be.

Lexie: So we wrecked each other, for the better.

Carter: (laughs) Sure. If that’s how you wanna put it.

He pulls her into his side and hugs her, as they laugh, he kisses her forehead.

A familiar blonde walks into the store.

Carter notices.

Carter: Kelly?

Kelly: Hey Carter. Hi Lexie.

She’s nervous and fidgeting. They can both tell it’s difficult for her to be here.

Kelly: Congratulations on the store…it looks great, and on the engagement (noticing the ring) and the baby, apparently…wow! (she notices Lexie’s baby bump as well.)

Lexie and Carter exchange looks.

Lexie: Thank you.

Carter: What are you doing here?

Kelly: I just wanted to stop by and tell you that I’m sorry for everything. I realize that this isn’t the time or place to discuss our past, but I figured it was the safest place. What with it being a public event. I didn’t want to invade your personal space by stopping by or anything.

Carter: yea that probably wouldn’t have been the best idea.

Lexie: We appreciate you coming here. But there really is no need for apologies. There was a reason for why you acted the way you did. You didn’t know you were sick.

Kelly: Maybe not, but there were a few red flags that I should have paid attention to. Like my constant switch in moods for example. But I want you to know how sorry I am. Really? I realize now how crazy and out of line and dangerous my actions were and I never meant to put you through that, either of you.

Lexie: I imagine it wasn’t an easy thing for you to come to terms with…seeing your husband with someone else. I’m sorry we hurt you.

Kelly: Don’t be. Carter was bound to find someone else. After all I wasn’t always faithful either, it’s amazing he stuck around at all after that.

Carter looks at her. And then at Lexie as he pulls her closer.

Kelly: Carter I know that you may never forgive me, and I understand why…completely. But I did love you, please don’t think that I never did. But you were right, we weren’t meant to end up together….at least not forever. I realize none of this matters much now. We’ve both become different people then when we got married and we’ve both moved on from our marriage, but I hope that I left you with some decent memories. And not just the painful ones.

Carter: Kelly I’ll always have good memories of you. But it’s difficult to process what went down…I sympathize, I do. But the fact that you could become so violent, was really scary.

Kelly: I know and I’m sorry. But we all have things we’ve done that we’re not proud of right?

Carter looks away.

Lexie: We do. We all do. Carter and I aren’t perfect. We’ve had our fair share of run-ins with the law and built a once toxic relationship on organized crime. So we all have our faults. None of us are guilt free here. So I think we can all agree that we can try and make the best of a weird crazy situation and just be at peace with it and move on. There doesn’t have to be any bad blood here.

Kelly: I’d really like that. If we could all just put everything behind us.

Carter: I’d like that too.

Kelly and Carter exchange smiles.

Carter squeezes Lexie’s hand.

Carter: So how are you? How’s treatment going…I imagine well if you’re out?

Kelly: Yes very well actually I finished my aggressive stage, so now it’s just a matter of out patient therapy once a weak and monitoring my meds. Which has definitely improved my moods and over life dramatically. So you have no need to worry, I won’t be unleashing any surprises on you ever again.

Carter: Well that’s good to hear.

They all share a small laugh.

Carter: I’m really happy for you Kel…It’s good to see you back on your feet. I would never wish ill of you. Ever.

Kelly: I know. Thank you. I really wish you both, well you three (she laughs) all the best. Truly.

Lexie: That means a lot. Thank you.

Carters nods.

Kelly: And I really am sorry. (she looks at Carter)

Carter: I’m sorry too. Let’s just say the past is in the past. Good luck with everything.

Kelly: Thank you.

They share a smile and an understanding.

Lexie glances over at the crowded store, she notices Joe sitting in the corner by himself.

Lexie: Hey Kelly, why don’t you take a look around. If you find something you like, first item’s on me.

Kelly: Oh no that’s ok. I didn’t mean to intrude. I just wanted to stop by and talk to you both.

Lexie: Nonsense please stay…it’ll be part of a fresh start for all of us.

Kelly and Carter exchange awkward glances.

Lexie: Ok look I’m not saying that we all have to be best friends, that’s obviously not going to happen here, for obvious reasons, but that doesn’t mean we can’t be cordial right?

Carter: You’re right.

Kelly: Are you sure?

Lexie: Yes…besides there’s someone I think you should meet.

Lexie grabs her hand and walks over to Joe.

Lexie: Hey Joe, what’s up?

Joe: Nothing, you’ve got me working in a women’s clothing store…not much fun for a guy like me.

Lexie: Really…a single guy trapped in a sea full of beautiful women. Hmmm yea I can see your struggle. Speaking of…This is Kelly…Joe Kelly, Kelly Joe. You’ve met before. Talk amongst yourselves.

Lexie walks away.

Joe smiles.

Joe: Hi.

Kelly nervously smiles.

Kelly: Hi.

Joe: It’s nice to see you again.

Kelly: You too.

Lexie walks back over to Carter who watches from afar with a drink in hand. He smiles.

Lexie: (mouths to Carter) Are they talking?

Carter nods.

Lexie: Yes!

She gets to him and turns to watch.

Carter: That was really cool of you, Lex.

Lexie: Yea well there’s no reason why they can’t find comfort in one another. I mean there’s nothing like a fun little distraction.

Carter: Misery does love company.

Lexie: Ain’t that the truth.

Lexie smiles clinking her water bottle with his glass in cheers before taking a sip.

Carter: Our daughter is never dating…ever…she’ll be lucky if I ever let her leave our house.

They both laugh.

-<3-