Love Conflicted-Chapter 4

Previously on Love Conflicted…

Read Part 3 HERELC poster

candice-lily

The apartment is dark. To the naked eye, you cannot be sure what time of day it really is. The curtains are drawn. The lights are off. There is a silence unlike any other. Oddly enough the only sound that can be heard is the ticking of her wall clock in the kitchen, and the beeping of the landline signally she has a voice message.

Maggie lays on her bed staring up at the ceiling fan spinning slowly above her.

Losing herself in time as it ticks by; minute after minute, hour after hour, day after day.

It’s been a week since she heard the news about Ricky and digesting that reality still hasn’t happened for her. She feels it never will.

Riddling her mind with what if’s and happy memories. Last moments and conversations.

“What was the last thing I ever said to him?” She thinks.

Maggie sits up. She makes her way, begrudgingly into the kitchen. Her movements are sluggish at best, and she seems to be in a fog. The only literal comparison to such behavior would be the acts of a zombie.

The kitchen comes into view, as Maggie finally reaches into her fridge and sets to eating her first meal in days.

It’s as if in all the heartbreak, she’s withdrawn from life.

Maggie’s house phone begins to ring….and ring…and ring.

She pays no mind to it as she continues to eat her bowl of cereal. The only thing she could muster up “making.”

Her voice mail cuts into the silence.

“Hi it’s Maggie, leave me a message, if you want, or if you don’t, that’s cool too, bye.”

*Beep*

“Hi Mags, it’s Lily again. I haven’t heard from you for quite a bit and you’re not one to disappear on us. The boss has been asking why you haven’t been to work. I assume you’re sick or something. That stomach flu thing has been going around. Anyway I’m worried about you, please just give me a call back.”

Maggie’s job and her friends have been leaving countless messages, wondering where she’s been.

Maggie finishes up her cereal and throws her bowl in the sink, she then slinks back to her bed. And curls up into a ball, drowning herself in her comforter, much like the drowning her heart feels since losing Ricky so suddenly.

Maggie’s cellphone buzzes for the millionth time, it seems. She glances over to it, as it sits on her bedside table.

Maggie reaches for it and goes to her picture gallery, instinctually.

As she scrolls through her pictures, memories of Ricky overpower her. But she doesn’t care; she needed to see him, see them together. She needed to feel close to him.

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bed micky

She tears up and then comes across a video. She hits play.

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Ricky comes into Maggie’s living room, shirtless, and holding a cup of coffee.

Maggie: Sleeping beauty is finally up! Good morning my love.maggie bed

It’s evident that Ricky feels at home there, with Maggie.

It’s evident that their relationship was a very serious one.

Ricky: What are you doing? Are you video-ing me?

Maggie is off screen, just the voice behind the camera phone.

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Maggie: (laughs) Yes.

Ricky: Aww man, why?

Maggie: Because you’re cute.

Ricky: Oh really? You think I’m cute?

Maggie: Yup.

Ricky: Well I think you’re cuter.

Maggie: Oh. Just cute?

Ricky: (pretends to think about it as he walks closer to her.) I think you’re sexy. How bout that? Does that work for you?

Maggie: Maybe.

Ricky: (flirtatiously) Shut that thing off and come here.

Maggie: (giggles) No.

Ricky: (glares at her) Yes. Come here.

Ricky starts walking toward the cameratumblr_mzzbxdb3Yc1qc2poho3_250[1]

Maggie: You’re gonna have to catch me first.

Maggie laughs backing away.

Ricky laughs following her.

Ricky: Girl, you know I will chase you, come here!

She shrieks, trying to run but he grabs her.

The camera phone knocks onto the couch and it’s angled to the ceiling.

You hear him kiss her as she laughs.

The video cuts there.

Maggie stares at the video, tears streaming down her face.

She gets up out of bed and walks into her living room.

“He was just here. He was so young and full of life. He was so loving. He was the love of my life. And I miss him terribly.” She thinks.

Maggie sits on her couch and hugs a pillow close to her, looking around, remembering the events after that video cut off.

She cries until her eyes run dry. Lately that’s nothing new for her.

Her house phone rings again…straight to voicemail, as usual.

“Hey it’s Lily,… for the hundredth…probably millionth time, are you as sick of receiving these messages as I am of leaving them. I’m coming over.”

Maggie covers herself with a blanket and drifts off to sleep.

It seems like these days, sleep is her only escape. And even then Ricky finds his way into her dreams.

A little while later, a knock is heard at her door.

Maggie huffs and drags herself over to it.

She opens the door to find her best friend and co-worker; Lily.tumblr_m06ua6dNoW1r8un78o1_250[1]

Lily: Oh my god, so you are alive! Where the hell have you been? I have been worried sick!

Lily takes one look at a puffy eyed, raggedly dressed Maggie and knows something is wrong.

tumblr_noboa0kmJj1sikj1co7_500[1]Lily: Oh no. What happened?

Maggie: Ricky’s dead. And I thought I was pregnant with his child, but turns out, I’m not.

Lily looks dumbfounded.

To be continued…

* I do not take credit for any images used in my edits or otherwise,

nor do I take credit for any gifs used.*

P.S. I apologize for my crappy manips, haha, I tried!…I needed some visuals of these two together because I think they would be stunning onscreen together! 😉 And I felt like Candice Accola is the perfect “best friend” so she’s my #dreamcast “Lily.”

-<3-

Love Conflicted- Chapter 1

Sometimes a scene just pops into my head, with vague characters in mind and a greater storyline somewhere in my mind afar but still somewhere in there all jumbled up between to do lists and my obsession over Justin Timberlake. 😉 Never the less the idea usually revolves around some kind of love story. Because well that’s just my style, it’s where my mind and heart go. Sometimes those scenes get written and blossom into a full script. Most of the time they stay hidden in notebooks and notepads or scribbled on random sheets of paper and forgotten. I just stumbled upon this sneak peek scene recently, and I can’t even tell you when I wrote it, but I re-read it and now I’m thinking it has some promise for more. I tweaked it a bit and added a few scenes. I think it was intended to be the start of something longer, but like always I never got around to finishing it. Never the less, whether or not this turns into more, I thought I’d share.

Meet the guy “Ricky” and the meet the girl, let’s call her… “Maggie.”

Portrayed By: Jesse Lee Soffer & Bethany Joy Lenz #DreamCasting

Two people who fell for each other despite their differences and circumstances that should and probably will keep them apart. But like always life gets in the way, and things aren’t always what they seem.

I’ll call this one….

 

LC poster

Maggie is walking out of a drugstore, she takes a peek at her cellphone and sees a bunch of missed messages, it’s just about 9 pm.

A black discreet car pulls up alongside her, blocking her from crossing the street.

The back door opens and a hand grabs Maggie into the backseat.

Maggie is about to scream bloody murder, when a hand covers her mouth, and she hears a familiar voice.

Ricky: Shh. Hey. Hey it’s just me.

Maggie: Ricky, what the hell are you doing? Are you trying to give me a heart attack!

Ricky: No. I’m sorry. I just- I need to talk to you. And you won’t answer any of my calls.

Maggie: So you choose to kidnap me?

Ricky: I didn’t want anyone following you or us. But hey by all means, there’s the door, go. If you think you can handle things being unresolved between us, then go.

Maggie sits back in a huff.

Maggie: You have one hour.

Ricky: (smiles) Drive. (he calls to his driver)

The car speeds off.

Ricky and Maggie end up in an old abandoned house. The furniture all dusty and covered in sheets. You could hear a pin drop, the house was so quiet. It was eerie.

Maggie: What are we doing here?

Ricky: I told you, I want to talk to you.

Maggie: What else could you possibly need to say that you haven’t left on the 45 messages and texts you’ve sent me.

Ricky: Ah so you did get them?

Maggie: (rolls her eyes) We’re over, there’s nothing more I need to say. It is what it is.

Ricky: Really?

Maggie nods.

Ricky smirks and chuckles a bit looking away as he walks around the dusty old living room messing around with things as he passes them.

Maggie: So what’s with all the theatrics? Just say what you want to say and be done with it.

Ricky: Oh please, the drama…you love it… you feed off it.

Maggie: (astonished) How can you possibly say that?

Ricky: Oh, give me a break, before we happened you lived in a shell…now what you’re back with that loser you used to date, come on…you’re bored otherwise you wouldn’t be here.

Maggie: Correction, I wouldn’t be here, if you didn’t keep harassing me. Or if you didn’t abduct me off the street.

Ricky: Hey I said you were free to go. You stayed. It was your choice.

Maggie: Yea well now I’m regretting it, immensely.

Ricky: You still care, I know you do. And it’s killing you. It’s killing you to be away from me, just like it’s killing me to be away from you.

Maggie: You don’t know anything.

Ricky: (standing against the wall, lighting a cigarette) Sure I do…it’s written all over your face. (he stares at her)

Maggie: (walking toward him, her arms folded in front of her chest) Oh, so what…you think you’ve got me all figured out?

Ricky: Well let’s see…your arms are crossed over your chest which means you feel the need to protect yourself… your heart, to be more precise. But yet you’re moving closer to me…which if you ask me is a sure fire sign that you’re confused. You’re contradicting yourself. You’re not ready to give up on us. (he smiles)

Maggie rolls her eyes and laughs sarcastically.

Ricky: Ah and the sarcastic laugh, dead giveaway. It means I hit the nail on the head. The little frustrated eye roll was sexy though, points for that. (he smirks, cocking his head to the side, looking at her)

Maggie: Stop analyzing me.

Ricky: You asked. (he smiles while shrugging)

Maggie: (turning away from him) Ugh! You are just-

Ricky: (pulling her toward him) What?

Maggie: Let me go.

Ricky: Sorry. I’m just not ready.

Maggie: Well too bad, it’s really not your choice.

Ricky: That’s where you’re wrong…

Maggie: What?

Ricky: I don’t really have a choice here. I can’t stay away from you.

Ricky pulls Maggie into a kiss.

For a minute Maggie kisses him back before pushing him away, obviously annoyed.

Ricky: You really wanna know how I can read you so well?

Maggie makes a face.

Ricky: Because I happen to be in love with you. Analyzing you is my favorite past time.

Maggie: (sarcastically) Well that’s not creepy at all. (she looks away)

Ricky: Don’t do that.

Maggie: Do what?

Ricky: Act like this doesn’t mean anything. Like what I just said didn’t mean anything. Like you don’t love me back.

Maggie: (sighs) Don’t tell me what to do. You don’t get to throw around that word, not after everything I’ve heard about you, and know to be true. Not after all the things I know you’ve done. How can you honestly expect me to believe that you actually love me? That someone full of so much anger and hate could even comprehend what love is.

Ricky looks at her pained, yet confused. Didn’t she get it? He thinks.

Maggie: Just don’t say that to me.

Ricky: Why? It’s the truth. I love you.

Maggie: I can’t do this. I can’t have this conversation with you. I can’t kiss you, or be with you. I can’t act like I don’t know what I know.

Ricky: That’s fine. Stand there and lie to me, lie to yourself. Stand there and pretend, you’re good at avoiding how you feel.

Maggie: What? I avoid how I feel? You’re one to talk. You’re a cocky asshole.

Ricky: You’re cute when you get all feisty, yea that works for me.

Maggie shoots him death glare.

Maggie: God I wish I trusted my gut, when I met you. I had a feeling that told me to run in the other direction. I knew you weren’t gonna be right for me.

Ricky: So why didn’t you run?

Maggie: Because the optimist in me, thought that maybe I was wrong. But surprise surprise, I wasn’t.

Ricky: Well you know what you live and you learn.

Maggie: (shakes her head in disbelief) I guess you do.

Ricky: Oh come on, I’m kidding…

Maggie: You think this is funny?

Ricky: I think you trying to fight this is funny.

Maggie: There’s just no talking to you! I’m done.

Maggie turns, starting to walk away.

Ricky: Hey, hey. (he grabs her hand) Stop running from me, it’s only going to make me chase you faster.

Maggie: How can you possibly think that this is gonna work? We’re too different. Miles away. Worlds apart.

Ricky: I love you. And I don’t say that often, practically never. That’s how I know this is gonna work.

Maggie: Maybe that’s not enough for me to stay.

Ricky: So you don’t love me?

Maggie: (looks at him, her eyes tearing up) Of course I love you. But I believe in right and wrong. You somehow think that you and only you get to control the in between gray areas. You think you get to decide who gets to live. That’s not ok with me. That’s never going to be ok with me.

Ricky: Maggie, Maggie please. I can’t lose you. I don’t even know what I’d do if you leave me. Please just tell me there’s some way we can make this work.

Maggie: I can’t tell you how to fix this. We are who we are. And at the end of the day that puts us right back where we started. We just can’t be together.

Ricky: Maggie. I’m not going to just let you go, I’m not going to give up. You know how this is going to go. Why fight it?

Maggie: Yea I do know how this is going to go. This either ends here, now with some sort of closure, and we both can move on, or this ends with me in a body bag…caught in the crossfire.

Ricky: Don’t ever say that! I would never let that happen! I’d protect you with my life. You know that.

Maggie: And what a life, huh?

Ricky: What is that supposed to mean? I would give you whatever you want, a house, a car, anything.

Maggie: That’s not the point Ricky. None of that stuff means anything to me. I care about safety. I care about life and feeling free enough to live it. If we were to stay together I would be looking over my shoulder every second. I would be terrified that when you left you’d never come home. Your world is a world I just don’t understand. It scares me. The idea of having a life with you scares me. I’m sorry I do love you, but I just can’t be a part of this anymore.

Maggie turns to walk away yet again, but Ricky pulls her into a kiss.

Ricky: That feeling is never going to go away, Maggie. That pull you feel, it’s electric. There’s something here. We belong together.

Maggie: Maybe in another life…but not this one.

Ricky: You realize if I had a choice, I’d choose you over this life any day.

Maggie: Everyone has a choice. It may be blocked by other people’s perception and expectations, and clouded by smoke and adrenaline. But there is always a choice. It’s up to you to see it. And to make the right one. This is me making the best choice for me. Whether you make the best choice for you, is entirely up to you. (pause) Goodbye Ricky.

Ricky: I’ll get out.

Maggie stops in her tracks, slowly turning around to face him.

Maggie: They’ll kill you.

Ricky: I’d rather be dead then without you.

Maggie: But-

Ricky: No buts…This is my choice.

Maggie: Ricky…

Ricky: I choose you.

Maggie: I don’t think it’s as easy as you think…they aren’t going to just let you leave. And even if they do, you have so many enemies what makes you think they won’t come after you, after me, after- (she stops herself)

Ricky: What?

Maggie: Nothing.

Ricky: (looks her over) What aren’t you telling me?

Maggie: I appreciate what you’re trying to do, but things aren’t the same.

Ricky: What kind of things?

Maggie: Just things. Look this is just becoming a circular conversation and quite frankly it’s exhausting me and I really, I just I can’t be here anymore. (she starts to panic and Ricky notices)

Ricky: Ok ok, I’ll take you home.

Maggie: Thank you.

The car ride is silent.

Ricky’s car pulls up in front of Maggie’s Apartment.

Ricky turns to her

Ricky: Hey (he grabs her hand) it’s going to be ok.

Maggie looks at him and tries to force a smile.

He walks her up to her apartment.

Maggie: You really didn’t have to walk me all the way up here. (Taking her keys out)

Ricky: I just wanted to make sure you got in safe.

Maggie: Thanks.

Ricky looks at her, unsure how to say goodbye.

Maggie: Well it’s late, I should get in.

Ricky: (nods) Sure. Will you call me when you feel like talking?

Maggie: (Sighs) Ricky I-

Ricky: Just think about it…please?

Maggie: Ok.

Ricky: (smiles) Goodnight. (he leans in and kisses her cupping her face)

Maggie walks into her apartment, closes the door and breathes a sigh of relief.

Leaning against her front door, she reaches into her purse and pulls out a bag.

Taking out a box; a pregnancy test box.

Maggie sighs walking into the bathroom.

*Should I continue, or just leave you guys hanging? #cliffhanger 😉

Maybe I’ll make this a two parter?

Maybe a three parter?

Bethany Joy & Jesse; my #dreamcasting 😉

lc

-<3-

* I take no credit for the images used in my edits or otherwise.*

TV is BOSS.

tv_techtalk_OFM[1]I dedicate this to my continuous love of television and storytelling. Television has always been close to my heart. When I was growing up we didn’t actually have cable tv in our home, so I was a big fan of FOX and The WB (turned The CW). But when I was in junior high school I fell in love with the Disney channel and all its gloriousness; and in walked Lizzie McGuire.lm19 I remember locking myself in my Cousin’s room at my Aunt’s house and just watching for hours. They had cable and I had to take advantage. Granted I got yelled at a lot by my mom for being anti-social. But looking back now TV was an outlet. An outlet to express emotion and storytelling. I may not have known all the way back then that I wanted to be a writer of television (and film) but maybe it was my gateway to a dream that would captivate my heart for years to come.

One-Tree-Hill-Cast-one-tree-hill-34852_1024_768Then came along a little show called One Tree Hill. And this is where the idea of directing and behind the scenes stuff really became of interest to me. I was completely obsessed with this show’s story and its characters. I was interested in how they came up with the ideas and would often watch behind the scenes footage and listen to commentary. I was just as interested in what the creator had to say as I was interested in what the cast/actors had to say.  My best friend was equally obsessed, we used to have weekly viewing parties and watch together. Gosh I miss that! Time flies! Anyway, that led to the discovery of fanfiction (which if you don’t know is a place where fans write fiction stories about their favorite characters on their favorite tv shows…and then post them online to share with other like-minded fans…) No I never posted I would just write them (pen and paper, the good old fashioned way). My best friend and I began writing stories based on the One Tree Hill characters and would exchange them during school. This I think is where my love of writing really started. So thank you Mark Schwahn for paving the way, and thank you Roe for being my first critic. 😉

TV allows you to feel.

It expands reality.

It’s an escape.

It’s a new world we get to live in and love in and experience that all, as a part of the show.

As the audience we want to see the drama unfold but we also want to see realistic aspects and bits and pieces of ourselves in these characters.

That’s how we relate.

The content has to be human.

So what makes a good show (not necessarily a successful show because I’ve seen some really great stories cancelled before they got their chance)… but what I think makes a good show is finding a way to fuse the two; to incorporate real life into this television dream land of sorts.

I mean television life is way sexier but that’s just because it has to be.

What do I watch you ask?

Well let me break down *my TV show schedule* for you…

Monday

The Fosters @8 abcfamily

Eye Candy @10 MTV

Tuesday

Pretty Little Liars @8 abcfamily

Married At First Sight-First Year @9 FYI

Chicago Fire @10 NBC*

Wednesday

Melissa & Joey @8 abcfamily

Baby Daddy @8:30 abcfamily

Chicago PD @10 NBC

The Game @10 BET*

Thursday

The Vampire Diaries @8 The CW

Grey’s Anatomy @8 ABC*

Scandal @9 ABC

How To Get Away With Murder @10 ABC

Friday

Hart of Dixie @8 The CW

Glee @9 FOX

Saturday

*NONE* I take a day off 😉

Sunday

The Walking Dead @9 AMC

The Talking Dead @10 AMC

Revenge @10 ABC

Girls @9 HBO*

*– means I try to keep up with them but don’t always get the chance. The others I make sure to fit in!

**Other shows I watch that are on hiatus/available on NetFlix

Finding Carter -MTV

Awkward -MTV

Faking It -MTV

Young & Hungry -abcfamily

Bates Motel -FX

Orange is the New Black *Netflix

Lost *Netflix (still have to finish this series!)

When it comes to storytelling I become a giddy school girl. Fangirling is for real. My favorite thing about TV and movies is their ability to tell a good love story. But I love TV even more than film tumblr_inline_mx3m27wYNC1r6zibj[1]because TV is allowed the time to tell the ins and outs and ups and downs of building relationships. I’m a sucker for a well-played out love story. I love the “couple’s timeline.” You know First Meeting, First Date, First Kiss, First I Love You’s, First Time…. It’s pure magic. And when two actors really have good chemistry on screen, it’s even better! I love watching it all unfold. I love the couple names, you know when you take half of one name and combine it with the other half of the other person’s name. Watching tv is when I get to become a fan again. An audience member again, (not that I won’t critique the scenes, but I will be able to enjoy the story).

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I remember watching One Tree Hill and being at the edge of my seat or standing on my couch during scenes of The Walking Dead. I am very obnoxiously eccentric when I watch TV. And it’s not because tumblr_n1n8k06jcX1qmrg0eo7_250[1]I’m trying to be, I’m just excited about the story. I just can’t help it. I guess I’m just so absorbed, I feel I have to dance or scream to let out my happiness, lol! I really should be filmed while watching certain shows, because I am sure it would be hilarious. In fact just this week I was in a frenzyjonah_hill_1[1] watching Chicago PD, yes it’s an action show, so there’s definitely that. But Sophia Bush’s (also known as Brooke Davis from One Tree Hill) character Detective Erin Lindsay has been having this ongoing flirtation with her partner Detective Halstead (Jesse Lee Soffer) since Season 1. Now we are in Season 2, and these two have yet to get even close to starting something. They had went out once, and decided they were friends and partners and that it wouldn’t be wise to start something in the work place. P.S. their boss a.k.a. Det. Lindsay’s father figure wasn’t gonna have it in his unit. So now Lindsay traded up to a position on a task force and she and Halstead no longer work together…so what do you think happened…use Chicago-PD-TV-Series-image-chicago-pd-tv-series-36618895-500-281[1]your imagination or watch this and freak the f out like I did. #Linstead. I ship them. I was nearly standing on my bed, screaming, dancing, climbing, and jumping… all the verbs. I was so excited to see all the friendship, care and flirtation that had been building for over a season be positioned into something so great. It was a tasteful love scene too, so props! The cast does a live tweet during the show, so I was literally a frenzied ball of tweets and screams. And now I sit here dying to know what’s going to happen with them this coming Wednesday. That’s good tv, that’s when you know the people involved know what they’re doing. That is what TV does for me. And you can call it weird or obsessive but I call it passionate research.

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So I will continue being very vocal, I will continue to yell at my TV (same goes for scary films, I can’t go to see those in theaters I scream and do the running man in my seat.) My brother always laughs at me and my mom he says we are the best people to watch scary movies with because of our reactions. I got it from my momma. 😉

Notice my TV schedule as of the moment is extensive. It’s a lot to keep up with and I don’t have DVR or TiVo so thank tech gods for free on demand and the internet. YouTube is a godsend, haha. Like I said, I don’t call this obsession, I call it research. No shame. TV is where I wanna be. My ultimate dream is to write for a TV show and eventually be able to executive produce and create my own. I’ve been writing bits and bobs of one for years! Until then! 😀

**R.I.P**

to the fallen TV shows who got axed before their peak…

it’s just like they stopped and I was left wondering well what happened next? That is honestly the WORST feeling. As a writer I could only imagine how unsettling it would feel to put your whole heart into something and then not get to finish telling your story. I think that’s partly why my blog posts end up always being so damn long! haha.

Beautiful People -abcfamily0107BillyJane1[1]

Privileged -The WB

Jane By Design -abcfamily *this one still stings

The Carrie Diaries -The CW

Manhattan Love Story -ABC *its new episodes were released on Hulu and abc.com and on demand. So maybe it’ll get a second season?

One Life To Live -ABC *oh my fallen soap opera

*I do no take any credit for any images or gifs used*

-<3-