Storytelling

On The Run- Part 4

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ontherunposter

***Read Part 3 HERE

Sage hurriedly walks up to a small house with a white picket fence. The American Dream on display for all to see. Pushing the gate she proceeds to the door way. As she lifts her hand to ring the door bell, she hears a female voice screaming;    

“Help! Help me! Please.”

Followed by what one can only describe as an abnormally loud crash.

She rushes in, struck with fear, as the screaming intensifies.

Sage awakes from her nightmare, in a cold sweat, her heart pounding. The morning casts a slight ray of sun creeping through the dingy yellowed curtains. The sun serving as a daunting reminder that Sage has to endure yet another day of replaying the horrible incident she’s been running from.

As she grabs her head she tries to lie as still as possible. It continues pounding and her eyes feel heavy. It’s safe to say that Sage didn’t get that much sleep last night. She is haunted.

She scans the room in a blurry fog, as her eyes strive to focus.

Her motel room is in disarray and smells of old moth balls. Slowly she sits up in bed and makes her way to the bathroom splashing water on her face, she is soon greeted with a small knock on her motel room door.

She looks in her mirror at her reflection and sighs heavily.

She walks to the door, and figuring it is Charlie she reaches to open it, but upon hearing voices she halts.

“Excuse me officer?” She hears the familiar male voice of her recent companion.

Sage freezes ducking to the floor, avoiding windows.

“Hello Sir, is this your room?” the officer asks turning to face Charlie.

“Sure is.”

“Are you sharing it with anybody?”

“Nope just me. Can I help you with something?” Charlie asks calm and collectively.

“Why yes, we are looking for a possible suspect in a murder case.”

“A murder? Well Sir I am very sorry to hear that.”

“Aren’t we all. We have reason to believe we are looking for a female suspect, mid to late twenties, yay high (he says showing a height with his hand) dark hair; possibly brown or black, tanned complexion…. She was seen fleeing the scene late last night. Have you seen anyone matching that description come through here?”

Sage’s face fills with fear, her eyes widen, her heart begins to pound.

Who’s to say this guy can be trusted. He doesn’t owe me a thing? What if he gives me up right now, she thinks.

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“No Sir, I can’t say that I have. I haven’t seen much of anybody come through here,” Charlie answers filled with calm poise.

Sage sighs in relief, allowing her breathing to exist yet again. She stands up slowly and quietly and peeks out the peephole to see Charlie and the officer.

“What about the room over…vacant?”

“Um yea I think so. Heard a car on my way to the vending machine, might have ran into town.”

“And the hotel manager, he or she ever around?”

“Maybe mystery guest in room 7 needed a lift somewhere. The way I see it- if I worked here, I’d spend as little time as possible actually in this place. Kinda gives me the creeps. I’m just on a brief stop in between some construction work, looking to move on real soon.”

Charlie hands the officer what appears to be a business card.

The officer looks it over and nods.

“Well. Please excuse the interruption. You have a nice day now.”

Charlie nods and watches as the officer walks off.

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Sage looks on confused at how well Charlie handled that.

Charlie turns toward the door. Before he could knock, it opens for him, he walks in, finding Sage standing behind the door.

“You heard that?” he asks.

“Yea.” She says her eyes slighltly filling up.

“Are you okay?”

“They have a description. They know what I look like.”

“It appears so.”

“Oh my god. What am I gonna do? They’re too close now. It’s over. My life is over.”

“It doesn’t have to be over.”

Sage begins to let the tears fall freely. As her life and everything she’s ever dreamed of being slowly feels like it’s being ripped away from her.

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Her breathing becomes sporadic as she begins gasping for air.

“I can’t breathe. I can’t breathe.” She says pacing the motel room floor in a state of panic. Hands shaking about.

Charlie looks on nervously rushing to her side.

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“Ok hey. Hey look at me. It’s ok. You’re gonna be ok. I’m gonna make sure of it. You’re just having a panic attack. It’s going to pass. Just look at me. Ok? Stay looking at me, right here,” he says points to his eyes.

“Ok, now breathe in and out with me. Ok? Slowly. Big, slow, deep breaths. Ok. You’re Ok.”

Charlie continues coaching Sage through her panic as he grips onto her shoulders to steady her, rubbing them as an occasional calming technique. Sage’s hands hold onto his inner arms in reciprocation.

She begins to calm down as her gaze continues to lock onto Charlie’s.

His face calm, and kind and somehow oddly peaceful.

“You okay?” Charlie says cupping her face.

Sage realizes her nails are digging into Charlie’s muscular arms, as she had felt she was holding onto him for dear life.

Her eyes gaze elsewhere, breaking her trance; a mixture of panic and attraction for this new found confidant.

“I’m sorry,” she says releasing him and backing away.

Charlie’s hands drop from her face in response. He can sense she’s pulling away.

“Don’t sweat it. It happens. Did it pass? Are you feeling better?”

“Yes. Thank you,” she says looking at him as her arms fold over her chest.

“Sure,” he says looking at her with that familiar hidden flirtation.

 

It isn’t blatantly obvious but there is something causing Sage’s heart to flutter and her stomach to flip in a way that she actually finds oddly satisfying.

“Look I know you’re scared. That was a close call. But at least now you have some beneficial information.”

“That they know what I look like.”

“Yea. But see the good news is you have an advantage- you’re not the only 20 something, brown eyed brunette with a tanned complexion.”

“I guess that’s true.”

“So with that being said- you know they know-so now you can change accordingly.”

“Meaning-what?” Sage says curiously.

“Alter your appearance,” He says casually.

Sage looks at him.

“That would require money and me leaving this motel. Two things of which I am not too sure about.”

“Well I have money and a car…it’s best we keep moving, get ahead of the investigaton while we can.”

“Why do I feel like you’ve been in this situation before?”

“Because in some way…I have.”

“You’ve been on the run before?”

“Not exactly.”

“Ok so-what then?”

“Let’s just say I watch a lot of cop and crime shows.”

“Sure. If that’s your story,” she smirks and laughs slightly, her eyes sparkingly in his direction.

Charlie looks over at her matching her flirtation with his glance and a chuckle.

“So what’s the plan? I dye my hair and get some new clothes and just keep running? Eventually they have to catch me.”

“Not if we do it right. But in order for you to allow me to help you- You have to trust me. So…do you?”

“Honestly?”

Charlie nods.

“I don’t know. What I do know is that you’ve saved my ass more than I can count in the last 24 hours.”

“It was my pleasure,” he says smirking.

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Sage blushes.

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“I think that if you’re willing to risk it to help me, I’d be a fool not to take it…but with that being said in full disclosure, knowing what you know now about what happened. Do you trust me?”

“Honestly?”

Sage nods.

“I don’t know either. But I want to. And that’s enough for me to want to help you.”

They exchange glances and an understanding.

Charlie turns to leave.

“I’m gonna go grab my stuff and start up the get away car,” he chuckles.

Sage laughs and then catches herself.

Her gaze drifting as the screaming rings in her ears yet again.

“Hey…look I don’t judge people. Something tells me you did what you had to do.”

“Why does it feel so bad then?” she says looking up at Charlie.

“Because that’s proof you’re a good person. Bad people can’t feel guilt. Because well, they simply just don’t care.”

Sage ponders his words as he leaves the room.

To Be Continued….

Welcome to Michelle Leigh Writes latest short story, series…I hope you’re enjoying! Please feel free to leave a comment down below. 😀

-<3-

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

 

“Adults” Adulting…

michelleleighwrites 5 Comments
Adulting
Adulting (v): to do grown up things and hold responsibilities such as, a 9-5 job, a mortgage/rent, a car payment, or anything else that makes one think of grown ups.
Used in a sentence: Jane is adulting quite well today as she is on time for work promptly at 8am and appears well groomed. (Jane…you go girl!)
A few shy days away from my 25th birthday (Ew when did this happen?), I realize having to be an adult actually really freaking sucks.
Personally, I still feel like a kid.
And to many of my family members I’m still that “little shell.”
So learning that life takes work and that becoming an adult is an inevitable part of life, has been a whirl wind at times. I don’t know how parents do this. I go through certain short term experiences and I feel like I’m drowning in confusion and paperwork I have to re-read 5 times to fully understand. And don’t get me started on Health insurance.
Adulting has me questioning…all the questions… 

Work?

Checking and saving accounts?

You mean I have to balance my checkbook?

Loans are evil.

Credit and debit cards?

Direct deposit?

You mean I have to read things before I sign them?

I have to file taxes?

Ew.

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Why god, why?

Wait you mean I actually have to “dress for success” I just thought that was a myth.

What does wearing a blazer have to do with my brain rocking its awesomeness? I can be awesome sitting in my pjs. Let’s be real. 😉

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But can I?

For a point of reference- I recently accepted a new job and have been having to deal with a lot of adult like scenarios in preparation for my start date. These are things I haven’t really experienced much and it’s a whole new world I am stepping into. Or stumbling rather. All kidding aside, I think being an adult can at times be glamourized, as kids we think once we hit our twenties, we’ll be good to go. But once we get there, we realize we are nowhere near having our lives together. As we get a grip, we eventually find our way. We live, we learn, we handle, we deal, we conquer.

Spoiler Alert: NO ONE has it all figured out.

A year ago, I probably wouldn’t have been able to handle this situation this well. The past week I have been running around, making appointments, trying to get all my requirements done. At times, I felt like a chicken without a head, and I would get run down and exhausted both mentally and physically. That’s when I realized that being an “adult” sucks. And then my logical inner adult self would glare at me and think to herself…”Oh hunny you haven’t even skimmed the surface yet.” #Truth

However, I am excited about my new job, I fought through all the “adulting” inconveniences 😉 to get it. My persistence should have been a major sign that I wanted the job…bad.

I am finally going to be doing something related to my actual college degree. And yes I will be WRITING and inspiring others to write…. (Or at least trying to.) I am excited for my new journey. With every new venture- there are worries. There are self-doubts. And being the anxiety prone person I am, my overthinking can consume me. But in my heart of hearts, think I can rock this.

I am completely aware of the fact that I have a long road to becoming an adult. (Besides I think I can name a few “adults” that aren’t exactly adults.) Hey it happens. I am still very much dependent on my parents. But as I begin to take my first small steps into adulthood, I have to give myself some credit for holding my shit together. I’m pretty curious and organized when it comes to important matters. I don’t like to be out of the loop, or more realistically…I hate not being in control. I said it before and I’ll say it again…To Do Lists are my best friends. Being humble is one thing, but continuously not giving yourself credit can be more harmful to you than anything. So I’m going to own the fact that I can in fact handle this adult thing. It’s not going to be easy, I’m going to ask questions, and I’m going to need help. But I can do this. And you can too. You got this. 

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So here’s hoping. Wish me luck!

Happy Adulting!

For your viewing pleasure, here’s a slideshow of “adulting” memes/gifs.

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*I do not take credit for any images or gifs used.*

 -<3-

On The Run- Part 3

michelleleighwrites 4 Comments

ontherunposter

***Read Part 2 HERE

She walks into the bathroom, turning on the water in the sink, she throws her hands into the running water as the sink fills with red. Scrubbing and scrubbing away her sins, her pain. Attempting to calm her fears.

She wets her face and looks up into the mirror, her breath catching in her chest as she hears the screaming in her mind again.

“Help! Help me! Please.”

She is trapped in her mind for a second, a second that easily felt like an eternity. Finally shaking from the memory she exhales violently as she realizes she wasn’t breathing. Within seconds she rushes to the toilet and lifting the lid she throws up, hanging her head as she holds onto the sides of the toilet. Her body completely exhausted. Mentally. Physically. Emotionally. Drained.

Sinking to the floor, she pulls her knees to her chest, hugging them tightly, she tries to keep a steady breath.

*******************************************************************

The shower is turned on as she steps in, her pile of clothes are seen cast onto the cold tiled floor. The warm water kisses her skin as her body is engulfed by steam.

*******************************************************************

motel room

A little while later she is wrapped in a motel robe and is sitting on the edge of her bed. She stares blankly ahead, her mind still. Her daze focused. To any passerby, she would easily appear to be day dreaming, however, she’d tell you truthfully that she’s living in a still, dark nightmare. 

A knock is soon heard.

She jolts, looking around nervously.

Walking slowly toward the door she peaks through the peephole and sees her heroic stranger standing on the opposite side. She uncharacteristically sighs of relief.

Opening the door slightly, she peers out.

“Hey. I’m sorry to bother you. I had some old clothes in my trunk thought you could use them. And I figured you must be hungry, so I got you some things from the vending machine,” he says handing her a plastic bag.

She smiles slightly as she takes it from him.

“Thank you. So much. I’m starving… and freezing.”

He smiles, “Don’t mention it,” he says and turns to walk back to his room.

“Do you want to join me?” she asks, surprising even herself.

He turns and looks at her.

“Um, sure. If you’re comfortable with that? I can tell you are still a little bit shaken. I don’t want to pry.”

“No. That’s ok. I’d prefer the company.”

“Ok then,” he says as she steps aside to let him in.

*******************************************************************

The two strangers sit across from each other in silence. Food wrappers scattered across the room.

The young woman sits there fidgeting, she’s obviously uncomfortable in her current state of wearing baggy men’s clothes post blood bath.

“I should go,” the man says standing up.

“Please don’t,” she stands abruptly, causing the man to halt.

“I can tell you are afraid of me-of me being here with you. Why wouldn’t you be? You don’t know me.”

“I’m more afraid of you not being here.”

The man looks at her with a sensitive, yet understandably curious glance.

“The silence it’s deafening. I can’t shut my brain off, at least not for very long,” she says explaining.

“Ok well-I may be able to help you with that.”

They exchange a glance that feels like a sexually charged spark.

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Her face is instantly filtered in a red flush.

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“What do you suggest?” she says her eyes looking him over curiously.

The man reaches into his back pocket and pulls out a deck of cards.

“Gold fish?” he asks with a shrug and a sweet laugh.

She smiles and laughs. Her self-awareness recognizes how he brought on the first genuine laugh she’s been able to let out in the last 24 hours. This man. A complete stranger.

“Your laugh is something special,” he says his eyes burning into hers as if trying to read her soul.

“It’s rare is what it is,” she says holding onto his stare.

“I’m sorry to hear that,” he says sincerely.

She responds with a tightened smile as her eyes drift to look away, their connection too intense to withstand any longer.

“What’s your name?” he asks his head cocking to the side as his eyes look her over wanting to take her whole being into account as if committing it to memory.

“Do you what a real one, or a fake one?” she asks with a slight flirtation in her voice.

“Real. I can handle it,” he says with a grin and a small chuckle.

“Sage.”

“Well Sage it’s nice to meet you, I’m Charlie,” he says extending his hand to her. As Sage reaches out and shakes Charlie’s hand her whole body relaxes. However oddly enough within the next few seconds after that first physical contact the butterflies within Sage’s stomach ignite and set free. Fluttering. And fear washes away in that moment.

“Nice to meet you too,” she says not wanting to let go.

“Should we play?” he says holding up the deck of cards with his free hand.

“Sure,” she says snapping out of her fantasy and letting his hand go free.

Charlie smirks as he makes his way  over to a small table. Sitting in a chair he starts to deal the cards. Sage walks over, and sits across from him. She notices a new feeling stirring inside her.

Could this guy be her ticket to escaping the horrific events she just endured? Or is her current state just making her imagine their intense connection.  

 

To Be Continued….

Welcome to Michelle Leigh Writes latest short story series…I hope you’re enjoying! Please feel free to leave a comment down below. 😀

-<3-

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

 

 

 

On The Run- Part 2

michelleleighwrites 1 Comment

 ontherunposter

***Read Part 1 HERE

The black sleek car whizzes past vacant streets and store fronts kicking up a mist from the late afternoon rainfall.

The quiet streets eerie with a deep darkness.

Silence and stillness; a lethal combination.

The streets she’s known and walked millions of times before. The streets she called home, now so far from home, so far from safe. So far from normal.

Inside the car there is this deafening sound. A sound of strangeness and silence drenched in fear.

The air thick with concern.

“What the hell was I thinking?” she thinks.

The panic sets in. Her body breaking into a cold sweat.

Her heart begins to pound faster and faster by the second. Her whole body feels like it’s been scortched. Firey and hazy. Shaking, she finally gains the courage to look into the eyes of the mysterious stranger who just saved her ass, coincidentally. Or not? She wonders.

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As brown meets blue, there’s an electricity, that neither really understood in the moment, but will surely find out later on.

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She musters the courage to finally break the tension-

“Where are you taking me?” she says her voice raspy and barely above a whisper.

“Wherever you want to go,” he answers with complete ease.

“I don’t really have anywhere to go. At least not anywhere safe,” she looks down, feeling ashamed and lonely.

He looks at her through the rearview mirror again. Her eyes still searching. She’s visibily shaking and clearly frightened.

“I know a motel a little ways off the back highway, low traffic. I can take you there. You can lay low- until to figure out your next move.”

“Ok.”

“It’s ok. You’re gonna be ok.”

She looks up at him, and then away, obviously uncertain of her decision to trust a perfect stranger.

The car rolls into the parking lot of the old motel. The blue eyed man steps out of the car, he leans down to speak into the back window, “Stay here. I’ll check in, and be back for you in a few.”

She responds with a small fragile nod of the head.

He walks into the motel and disappears out of sight.

She sits in the back seat, caught in a daze, a trance. Her mind somewhere else entirely.

“Help! Help me! Please.” She hears in her mind, the only words she can vividly remember, from that night.

“Hey. Hey…your room is ready.” The handsome stranger opens the car door for her.

She snaps out of it, finally noticing him. Looking at him, obviously confused.

“What?” she says in a low perplexed tone.

“Your room is ready.”

“Oh. Thank you.” She says stepping out of the car and following him toward the room. See looks behind her as her eyes take in her surroundings.

Darkness. One or two scattered cars in the lot. Traffic pretty non existant on the highway at the late night hour. Flickering street lights, and a motel sign that looked like it was on it’s last hinge.

If a black cat walked across her path, it wouldn’t be a surprise.

She walks slowly behind the mysterious man. Her random hero. Or her next nightmare. Either way he’s her best bet right now. The future remains to be seen, she contemplates.

In her haze of fear and nervousness, she isn’t thinking like she normally would, reason and rationality are a blur and anything seemed safer than being where she started the night.

The handsome stranger unlocks her motel room door, and steps aside to let her in.

She staggers in, her mind finally starting to slow down at bit, her feet rooting themselves into the ground a little more, step by step.

The handsome stranger stands at the door way, looking at her.

“The woman at the front desk said the hot water is a little in and out in the mornings, she advised you shower at night.”

She nods.

“Here’s your key.” He says placing it on the dresser near the door.

Still standing on the other side of the door, as if respecting her imaginarily drawn boundries.

She reaches in her back pocket and pulls out some money.

“It’s not much, but it’s all I have,” she says extending it to him.

“That’s ok. Keep it.”

“No please take it-”

“No. Keep it,” he smiles, a smile that surprises this dark beauty on the run.

She looks at him and smiles slightly back, placing the money back in her pocket.

“Ok. Well- have a good night. I’ll be in the next room over, if you need anything,” he says turning to leave.

“Thank you,” she utters in a whisper. “I don’t know why you decided to help me, but thank you.”

“Sure.”

“Why did you decide to help me?” she finally asks the question she has thought since the minute his blue eyes met hers over the brim of that car window just a few short moments ago.

“Call it a gut feeling. I think there’s more to your story. I think there’s a very good explanation for that blood on your hands.”

She looks down, newly ashamed once again.

“I did something. Something bad.”

“We aren’t perfect. Everyone does bad things sometimes.”

“Not this bad.”

He nods, trying to read her face. She adverts her eyes from his.

He notices, but he feels for her, and wants to reach out and help her. Instead he resists and offers some words of advice.

“You should rinse that off, and chuck those clothes. Physical evidence isn’t exactly your friend.”

She looks away with a nod of understanding. The man turns to leave yet again, and the woman can’t help but express her wonder.

“You aren’t going to ask me what I did?”

“It’s none of my business. The way I see it, if I know, I can’t defend you. So let’s just keep things where they are for now.”

She looks at him in awe and confusion.

“Why would you defend me? You don’t even know me?”

“Like I said…gut feeling. If the burden gets to you, and you need to talk, I’m here. But I’m not gonna force you to tell me anything. You can come to me on your own time, or you don’t have to come to me at all.”

“Thank you. You’re very kind. I don’t know why you care. But I’m grateful.”

“Get some rest, maybe the morning will bring you some new perspective,” he says with a smile. He then walks away closing the door behind him.

She looks after him as her heart skips a beat, she wonders what it is she is actually feeling.

To Be Continued….

Welcome to Michelle Leigh Writes latest short story series…I hope you’re ready! 😀

-<3-

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

 

On The Run

michelleleighwrites 4 Comments

ontherunposter

A young dark haired, dark eyed woman is running, running fast down a darkened street like her life depends on it.

Her eyes dart from all angles, searching for something, anything. A safe haven.

She glances over her shoulder, continuing forward. Her chest growing heavy, her legs slowing down.

She’s out of breathe. Her eyes wide with fear, she keeps running.

She reaches a dead end. Sirens heard in the distance. They’re drawing closer. She’s out of time. Out of luck. What is she going to do? Is it time to surrender?

A black sleek car drives up quickly beside her, coming to a screeching halt.

The only car in site. As if it came from nowhere.

The window rolls down revealing a man with piercing blue eyes and dusty blonde hair.

“Get in,” he commands, unlocking the back door.

The woman looks around, unsure of whether or not this is a good idea.

She hears the sirens closing in on their location.

She grabs the car door knob and opens it jumping in as the car speeds off into the night.

“You must have pissed someone off?” he says looking at her very nervous reflection in his rear view mirror.

“Something like that,” she utters looking down at her shaking hands, covered in blood.

 

To Be Continued….

Welcome to Michelle Leigh Writes latest short story series…I hope you’re ready! 😀

-<3-

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

 

 

Distant Shadows

michelleleighwrites Leave a comment

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 A young woman sits at a bar alone; not drinking.

A young guy walks in and sits down next to her, his face unreadable.

“Did you tell her?”

“Yea. Unfortunately.”

“How’d she take it?”

“To say she was less than thrilled would be an understatement.”

(sighs) “I’m sorry.”

“Yea… right.”

“I am. I never meant for this to happen.”

“Didn’t you? I mean this is what you wanted all along, isn’t it…me… all to yourself?”

(whispers) “No…not like this.” (louder) “I definitely did not want this; I’m not ready for it!”

“Well…it is what it is.”

“So… she ended it?”

(sarcastically) “No, we’re still together.”

“What I meant was… did she end it… completely, like there isn’t even a chance for you guys to work it out?”

“No- not a chance.”

“But-”

“You’re pregnant…I mean its bad enough I cheated on her in the first place, but now you’re actually pregnant- she wants a divorce. So yea…it’s over.”

“I don’t really care for your attitude right now. Nor do I understand it.”

(laughs) “You come out of nowhere and destroy my life, and you don’t like my attitude.”

“You know-your reality of this situation is hilarious. This isn’t only my fault. You’re not exactly innocent here. I didn’t know you were married when we were together all those nights. You made it pretty easy for me to assume you weren’t when you hid your ring. Also if I destroyed your life so much, then why couldn’t you leave me alone. Or did I imagine the incessant calling and texting me every free minute you got.”

“You never asked if I was married.”

“Wow…you are unbelievable. I don’t blame her for wanting to divorce you; you have no respect for her or me, you have no respect for anyone. You deserve whatever comes to you. I hope she bleeds you dry… takes you for every penny.”

“Now that’s no way to talk to the father of your child, now is it?”

“You may be my child’s biological father, but make no mistake I don’t need you, or your money.”

“I’d like to see you try and make it by on that teacher’s salary of yours.”

(laughs) “Plenty of women do it every day. Don’t you worry, I’ll be fine.”

The woman gets up to leave.

“Wait…”

“What?”

(tone softens) “Where can I reach you?”

“You can’t.”

“Please?”

“No. I’ve had enough of your games…you need to learn how to take responsibility for your actions, and grow the hell up. And I won’t be your test subject. I’m done.”

“What… so you’re just gonna raise this baby by yourself?”

“Don’t worry; I’ll take care of it.”

Woman exits bar, Guy orders a drink.

*I do not take credit for the image used.*

-<3-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Unconvential Interview

michelleleighwrites Leave a comment

interview

So I randomly came across this scene saved on my computer, it was a scene I wrote in college for my screenwriting class. And I just thought I’d take a read and I actually really dug it, especially the last line. #swag #sassy So hope you enjoy!

*******************************

 Abby rushes into the prestigious looking building and runs up a large flight of stairs stumbling along the way, she reaches the front desk.

Abby: (out of breath) “Hello my name is Abby…Abigail Reeves; I’m here for an interview with-”

Secretary: “Mr. Drake. Yes we have you on the list. Mr. Drake’s last meeting is going over just a few minutes he’ll be right with you. You can have a seat.”

Abby: “Oh- ok great. Thank you,” (she breathes a sigh of relief.)

A few moments later a young handsome looking man sits down next to her and gives her a slight smile, she smiles back.

Young man: “Hi.”

Abby: “Hi.”

Young man: “Here, for an interview?”

Abby: “Yes…can you tell on account of my nervousness?”

Young man: “Just a bit.”

Abby: “I just- I really want this.”

Young man: “Why? … I mean why would you wanna work for Drake Designs? Ryan Drake is a total tool, he’s completely unoriginal and his fall line is a complete joke.”

Abby: “I- don’t mean to be rude, but I can’t say that I agree with you…no in fact you’re way off base.”

Young man: “Is that so?”

Abby: “Yes! Ryan Drake is inspiring. His fashion is like art. I look at his line and I think to myself… that is a man who knows how to design for a woman. Not a lot of guys can do that. He looks at what women actually want to wear. it’s not always high heels, and short skirts. Sometimes it’s about comfort and feeling great in your sweat pants. I mean- I guess you just don’t understand that?”

Young man: “I guess not…Maybe he’s gay.”

Abby: “Could be, but that wouldn’t change the fact that he’s incredibly talented. He has an intense gift for fashion.”

Young man: “Hmm, – so you like fashion?”

Abby: “I love it, it’s my passion. Ever since I was a kid, I loved playing dress up…I loved putting outfits together and matching different colors and patterns. Finding the perfect accessory to match. I just… it’s in my veins.”

Young man: “You know you sound like your cut out for the fashion world.”

Abby: “Oh- from your lips to god’s ears!”

Young man: “Do you have any artwork? Any sketches of your own designs?”

Abby: “Um- yea.”

Young man: “Let’s take a look.”

Abby: “…I suppose I could show you a few, my interview should be in just a moment; I wouldn’t want to make him wait.”

Young man: “We’ll make it quick…(glancing over the sketches) These are incredible; you have a definite eye for fashion.”

Abby: “Thank you so much. It’s not every day you get complemented by a perfect stranger.”

Young man: “That’s very true.”

Secretary: “Oh Mr. Drake, I didn’t realize you had finished your meeting, this is Abigail-”

Young man: “Reeves… we’ve met.”

Abby: (shocked) “Um…”

Young man: “It’s good to know you enjoy my designs; your eye for detail would be a great asset to our company.”

Abby: “Wait- Your Ryan Drake?”

Young man: “Yes.”

Abby: “But you’re so young?”

Young man: “I graduated F-I-T a year early.”

Abby: “I’m such a fan of your work; I guess I should have checked to see what you looked like!”

Young man: “Well you wouldn’t find much, I keep a pretty low profile, let’s me sneak around and get to know people as the real me. You’d be surprised how many people we get in here who just care about the celebrity of the fashion world.”

Abby: “And here I am just thinking it’s an added bonus,” (she giggles.)

Young man: (smirking) “You’re funny. That works for me.”

Abby smiles shyly.

Young man: “Well I guess now we’ll have a lot of time to get to know each other, Ms. Reeves.”

Abby: “Abby- Abigail.”

Young man: (extending his hand) “Abby. We’ll see you on Monday.”

Abby: (shaking his hand) “Thank you so much.”

Young man: “Your welcome,…Oh and just to clarify… I’m not gay,” (he says winking and heading into yet another meeting.)

Abby’s jaw drops, as her stomach flips with butterflies dancing about.

-<3-

*I do not take credit for the image used in my edit.*

 

 

“Belated Love”

michelleleighwrites Leave a comment

BLOGGER’S NOTE: I have to apologize for being MIA this past week. I think this is the longest I’ve gone without posting in quite a while. But I am recently dealing with some changes in my life and it’s seriously taking over all of my mentality. So blogging has kind of taken a back seat, while I get acclimated. It’s not something I set out to let happen, but it just had to. And instead of getting mad at myself, I decided to just accept it and move onto giving you guys fun and new content. I have had this little story waiting to be posted for you guys since Valentines Day. It was supposed to go up last Sunday on Valentine’s Day but then things got crazy and I pushed it to Monday but then I got sick last week and posting just didn’t happen at all last week. And although that saddens my heart, I am human and sometimes in times of great stress and change, we need to give ourselves a mental/emotional break to just be. So I hope you are still with me, this short is finally ready to post so I present to you “Belated Love”- A short love story following  Melanie and Grayson’s journey to finding each other again.

Poster

Mel &amp; Grayson

********************************************************

Valentine’s Day 2015

Melanie walks hand in hand with her boyfriend Grayson as the city lights twinkle alongside them.

“Did you enjoy your dinner?” he asks smiling over at her.

“I really did… but the dessert was my favorite part.”

“Oh I could tell, I know how much you love your chocolate,” he smiles letting out a small laugh.

“And Valentine’s Day is the perfect excuse for indulging with little- to no shame,” she replies, laughing.

“No shame. None. You- are perfect,” Grayson says stopping and turning to her. He takes her hands in his and pulls her toward him. “I love you. Happy Valentines Day.”

“I love you,” she says smiling brightly as Grayson kisses her.

Grayson and Melanie continue walking as they enter Central Park, the cold crisp air kissing their faces.

“Are you cold?” Grayson asks looking over at her.

“Just my hands. I forgot my gloves,” She says rolling her eyes at her own forgetfulness.

“Come here. Give me your hands.”

Melanie holds her hands out to him, he takes them in his and brings them to his lips as he breathes on them, trying to warm her up.

Melanie looks at him her eyes smiling with love.

“Thank you,” she says kissing him.

“My pleasure,” he smiles “Actually I should have a pair of gloves in my pockets somewhere. Here- let me, see, …”

Grayson begins checking his pockets. He pulls out a ring box and hands it to Melanie.

“Can you hold that a minute?”

Melanie’s eyes lock onto Grayson’s. Her face in complete shock.

Grayson continues to pretend to look for gloves.

“Oh whoops, guess I left my gloves at home too.”

He smiles looking at her, he begins to kneel down on his knee.

Melanie’s breath catches in her throat as she looks away in awe.

“Oh my god” she says, standing there- frozen.

Grayson takes the box from her hand and opens it revealing a large sparkling diamond ring.

“Mel, I love you so much. You and I are amazing together. I know that we may not always be on the same page about everything but you are the only person who I actually want to fight all my fights with. You amaze me every day, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you marry me?”

“Are you serious?” she asks as he slides the ring on her shaking hand.

“Well I didn’t buy this ring for nothing,” he laughs.

Melanie stares at the ring on her hand. Still in complete shock. Her body shivering for an entirely new reason. The winter cold has nothing on the shock of this moment. Her emotions are all over the place as Melanie tries to gain some stability.

“Hey…”

 Grayson stands up, cupping her face looking into her eyes.

“What do you say?” he asks.

Melanie looks up at Grayson and kisses him.

“Is that a yes?” Grayson says pulling away and looking up at her with a sweet laugh.

“Yes. Of course,” Melanie says smiling.

“I really caught you off guard, huh?” he says laughing.

“Well yea. I mean I really didn’t expect this, at all,” her voice stumbling.

“Well I mean, it can’t be that much of a surprise right? You know how much I love you,” he questions with concern on his face.

“Of course. Oh my god- of course. And I love you too, so much.”

Melanie cups Grayson’s face and kisses him, as he smiles brightly at her.

“I just didn’t think you were there yet,” she says.

“Really…well here we are,” he says kissing her again.

Melanie hugs him excitedly.

“Here we are,” she says with a nervous laugh.

*********************************************************

Valentine’s Day 2016

Melanie steps out of her shower into her fuzzy leopard printed slippers, as she wraps a beige fluffy towel around her body.

She wipes the mirror above her sink with her hand, revealing her reflection.

Her hair, wavy, and long, lay damply upon her shoulders. Her skin freshly washed and glowy.

She smiles and sets to brushing her teeth.

Upon rinsing, she hears her phone begin to ring and she rushes into her bedroom to grab it.

“Hello?”

“Hey girl,” her friend Kristin says.

“Hey, what’s up?”

“Nothing much just out picking up a few things for my singles girl’s night in valentines gala tonight. Are you coming, or did that cute guy Will finally ask you out?”

“He did! I’m getting ready as we speak.”

“Oh so exciting! Where’s he taking you?”

Melanie walks to her closet pulling out a dress and looking at it.

“I’m not exactly sure. He said he was going to take care of everything and that I should just be ready for 8.”

“Oh a man with a plan. Sounds like a keeper.”

“Ha. We’ll see. I’ve learned not to expect anything, since what happened with…well you know….”

“Oh yea. Well that was a complicated situation. I guess it pays to be cautious from here on out.”

“Yea. Any way I should get going so I can finish getting ready.”

“Yes. Enjoy. And if you find your date is a dud, you know where to find us,” Kristin says smiling.

Melanie laughs

“Ok, you got it. Thanks girl. Enjoy your night. Eat massive amounts for chocolate for me!”

“Done. See ya girl. ” Kristin laughs.

Melanie hangs up and starts pulling her outfit together.

*****************************************************

Grayson sits at his computer in a dimly lit living room. He sips his beer.

He scrolls through his Facebook feed as girls after girls post their Happy Valentine’s Day posts. Happy pictures of them and their boyfriends.

Grayson laughs with a snarky undertone. His eyes drift to a familiar name as he notices Kristin just posted a picture of her shopping car full of goodies. The caption reading…

Girls Night In Tonight…Um did I buy the whole store or what? We’ll miss you Mel Mel! #HappyValentinesDay

His face falls. His heart wills him to click Melanie’s name.

Her page pops up showing a smiley faced Melanie and Grayson’s breath catches in his throat.

He starts to look through her pictures as he sees what her life has been like without him.

“Dude get a grip, it’s over, it’s been over. You have to stop doing this to yourself,” Grayson says aloud as he buries his face in the hands.

*****************************************************

Melanie looks at herself in the mirror, she smiles and grabs her coat and purse and heads to her living room.

She checks her phone and sees that her date should be coming soon.

Melanie walks to her kitchen grabbing a box of chocolate with a small note on it reading “To Mel Belle, Love Dad.” She goes to sit on her couch when her apartment doorbell rings.

Smiling she walks over, opening the door.

Her face falls seeing the face of the man before her.

“Hey Mel,” he says sheepishly as he holds a bouquet of red roses and a heart shaped box of chocolates in his hand.

Melanie is speechless for a long moment.

“Grayson… What are you doing here?” She finally says.

“I know it’s been a while but I’ve been dying to talk to you. Do you have a minute?”

Melanie looks at him stunned.

“You do realize its Valentine’s Day, right?”

“Yes,” He smiles extending the gifts to her.

Melanie ignores the gesture.

“So what…you decided that I didn’t have any plans and that tonight out of all nights would be a good time to waltz back into my life. You must be joking.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t really think this through. I just- God you look beautiful,” he says, his eyes looking her over.

“What do you want Grayson?” Melanie says needing to change the subject quickly, her nerves building.

“Are you going somewhere?”

“That’s none of your business.”

“You have a date don’t you? Of course you do. I’m such and idiot,” he turns and starts to walk away.

Melanie sighs as her instincts scream for her to shut the door, but her heart just can’t.

“Grayson wait-” she calls after him.

He stops and turns, with a hopeful expression.

“You obviously came here for a reason. So I guess… I can spare you 5 minutes,” She says stepping aside and gesturing him to come in.

Grayson smiles brightly as he walks in, he hands her the roses and candy awkwardly as she takes them and closes the door behind them.

“I’ve really missed you,” Grayson says as he watches her place them on her end table.

Melanie looks at him.

“What… you don’t miss me…at all?” he says searching her eyes for answers.

“Grayson, you were the one who broke our engagement. What do you want from me?”

“I didn’t break our engagement. You gave the ring back.”

“Yes. I did. And I may have been the one to officially call things off but let’s be honest Grayson, you weren’t ready to be married. In many ways, you broke our engagement long before I did. I just said what you couldn’t say.”

“Mel. You’re wrong. You are just so completely wrong,” Grayson says with a huff and a stern yet sexy glare.

“Am I? Really? Because every time I brought up something wedding related you made light of it. It was like you couldn’t be bothered to plan it. Like you didn’t want to start building a life together. What does that tell me? That you’re not in it,” she says her arms crossing in front of her chest.

“I was in it. I was all in it. You just completely questioned my love for you based on the fact that I didn’t care what color the napkins were.”

“It wasn’t just that and you know it.”

“Then what else was it?”

“Things were just different. It was a feeling that I would get when I was with you. I could just feel how hesitant you were. You couldn’t be less interested in planning our wedding.”

“How hesitant I was? You sure you don’t mean how hesitant you were?”

“What does that mean?”

“Come on Mel. It was easy to blame me. To blame my lack of planning skills for the reason why we broke up. But let’s tell the truth here. Let’s be honest about who was the one that wasn’t ready to get married. Because I assure you it wasn’t me. My not caring about planning wasn’t meant to be an insult, I told you it was whatever you wanted. I know you, I know how important it was to have your perfect dream wedding. I didn’t care about the hype of it, all I cared about was marrying you. For me our wedding was just about you. As long as you were the one standing across from me in that church- I wouldn’t have cared what you wore, where we were, or who was there. I just wanted you. I wanted to marry you, because I loved you. I loved you so much. That’s what it was about for me. So please don’t say I wasn’t in it. And own up to the fact that you were the one who just wasn’t ready.”

“So that’s why you came here? To hash things out?”

“No. I don’t want to fight with you.”

“Then why are you here?”

“Because I miss you. Because I hate being away from you. Because I was so heart broken by your rejection that I just shut down and I didn’t fight for you. If you needed some kind of reassurance from me, I wish you would have just talked to me. I wish you would have confided in me about your doubts. Or was it just that you fell out of love with me completely? Because you never gave me an explanation you just left.”

“Is that what you think? That I didn’t love you?”

“I don’t know. I mean you seem to be recovering fine. Going on dates and smiling like nothing ever happened.”

“So you’ve been checking up on me?”

“Of course I have. What do you think? I’m not going to apologize for that. I love you. I’m always going to love you. I’m not going to stop checking in on you. So get used to it.”

Grayson walks swiftly over to Melanie and cupping her face he kisses her.

Melanie wraps her arms around his neck as she falls into his kiss.

“I shouldn’t be doing this. I have a date. He’s probably on his way.” Melanie says in between Grayson kissing her.

“You wouldn’t have let me kiss you, if you actually cared about this guy. What do you know him for like 2 minutes? I don’t care about this guy. I don’t want to know about you going out with this guy, or any guy for that matter.”

Grayson says continuing to kiss her throughout their conversation.

“Grayson…Grayson…stop,” she says pushing him away.

“Why do you fight this so much? I know that there are still feelings here. There always has been. Even if you continuously want to deny it,” He says looking at her slightly dazed.

“I don’t want to deny it. I just-sometimes, I can’t help sabotaging a good thing. And please you have to understand it was never about you. I love you. Of course I love you. But I – I got scared. Marriage is so official and I guess I was just worried that I would somehow mess it up in the long run so I ended it before you could.”

“I’m not buying it. You know how much I adore you. There was nothing you could do that would make me think any less of you, ever. You’re basically walking perfection to me.”

“That’s the problem, Grayson. I love you so much. But you leave no room for me to be human. Everything I do, you just accept. I’m not perfect. I shouldn’t be put up on a pedestal.”

“I’m sorry. I never knew that’s how you felt. Look I get that I can come on a bit strong. And maybe I’ve smothered you by loving you too much. But I can’t help if I think you’re amazing. I can’t help if everything about you turns me on. It’s the price you pay for being madly in love. For finding that person that you can’t see yourself living without. And maybe I’ve convinced myself that you feel as strongly for me as I do for you. There’s something deeper going on, that made you run away from me, something you felt you couldn’t trust me to understand. So if I’m not the guy for you, then find who is. And just be happy, because in the end that’s all I want for you.”

Melanie looks at him, as her eyes begin to fill up.

“I’m gonna go. Obviously I didn’t think this through. It’s just this day. It got me thinking-I mean not that I don’t constantly think about you- but especially today. I just had an intense urgency to see your face. I’m sorry if I ruined your night.”

Grayson heads for the door as he opens it to find a man standing there about to ring Melanie’s door bell, he’s holding pink roses and a stuffed bear.

Grayson hangs his head and then looks up.

The man seems confused.

“Don’t mind me. I was just leaving. But word of advice. She likes Red roses, not pink. And she hates stuffed animals, they creep her out. Chocolate is always a safe bet.”

Grayson walks past the guy as Melanie watches his retreating figure and smiles inside, remembering their time together.

“Am I early?”

“No. You’re right on time Will. Why don’t you come in? There are probably a few things we should talk about.”

Will nods and steps inside as she takes his flowers and bear he notices she sets them down next to a dozen red roses and chocolate.

***********************************************************

Grayson sits on a bench in Central Park. He stares straight ahead in a daze. He has a flashback of kissing Melanie from earlier that night. He can clearly remember her arms tightening around his neck, her lips kissing him back with intensity.

He sighs looking down.

***********************************************************

“Will, I’m sorry I changed our plans I just wasn’t in the mood for dealing with a crowd tonight.” Melanie says handing Will a glass of wine as they sit in her living room in front of the fire place.

“That’s ok. Does this have anything to do with the mysterious stranger leaving your apartment?”

“Yes. We have some loose ends we’re still trying to sort through.”

“Can I ask you something?”

“Sure.”

“Is it a matter of unresolved feelings?”

Melanie sighs.

“Hey it’s really ok. I mean you and I are totally at the early stages. I’d rather know now than fall for you and get my heart stomped on later.”

“His name is Grayson and he was my fiancé. I broke things off a few months ago and we never really had an honest conversation about what happened. We were both so torn we just went our separate ways.”

“Do you still want to be with him?”

“I don’t know if I can. It’s kind of complicated. I’m kind of complicated.”

The guys looks at Melanie and ponders, he leans in and kisses her without warning.

Melanie pulls away almost immediately.

“I’m sorry I just-”

“Say no more- I think you just found your answer. And with that said, I think I’m going to head out. Happy Valentine’s Day,” Will says standing up.

“Will I’m-”

“Please don’t apologize. Look I get it. Sometimes, you gotta kiss the wrong one to make you realize who the right one is.”

He leaves and Melanie touches her lips thinking.

The image of Grayson grabbing her and kissing her plays over in her mind.

Melanie rushes over to grab her coat and purse, as she opens her door, she sees Grayson standing there at her door yet again.

Melanie drops her stuff to the floor as they lock eyes.

Grayson as if reading her mind, grabs her into a kiss as they begin to walk backward into her apartment. He pushes the door closed behind them.

“I’m sorry I’m such a mess.” Melanie says kissing him again.

“You’re not a mess.” He says kissing her.

“I’m sorry for hurting you and making you think I didn’t love you.”

“I knew you still loved me. I’m perceptive like that.” He says kissing her.

“Well, then I’m sorry for-”

“Shhh.” He says continuing to kiss her.

“No but wait, we need to talk, I have to tell you-”

“We can talk later, I have other things in mind.”

“But I just think that we still have so much that wasn’t resolved we really should just sit and-”

“Baby listen to me,” he says cupping her face, “I love you. But you talk too much. Please shut up,” he laughs “so we can really get this reunion going,” he says unzipping her dress and pulling it down off her shoulders.

“Words can wait,” she says as she kisses him back and starts to unbutton his shirt.

************************************************************

Grayson and Melanie sit in front of the fireplace, drinking wine and eating chocolates.

Melanie is wearing Grayson’s white button down and Grayson is wrapped in a bunch of blankets.

Grayson feeds her a piece of chocolate. She bites it and kisses him.

He cups her face, deepening the kiss.

“I love you, I’ve missed you so much,” She whispers.

“Well I’m glad we’re on the same page,” he smiles kissing her. “So…where were you running off to when I came back?”

“To find you,” she kisses him.

“Hmm. And what happened to Will?” he asks tucking her hair behind her ear and kissing her softly.

“Well he could tell pretty quickly that my mind was otherwise occupied.”

“So he didn’t kiss you…or anything?” Grayson asks knowingly.

“Um…well…” Melanie squints, scrunching her face,  as she tries stalling.

“Of course he kissed you. How could he not.” Grayson cups her face as his thumb traces over her lips. He smirks and leans in, kissing her.

Melanie smiles against his lips, her hands covering his.

 “Just so you know the kiss didn’t even last 3 seconds. I think he knew he was just a distraction. He even said sometimes you have to kiss the wrong one to realize who the right one is. And when he kissed me the only thing I could think about was you, and how I’d rather be kissing you.”

Grayson smirks, stroking her cheek.

“So are you gonna marry me or what…because I mean if you need a little extra convincing, that can be arranged.” Grayson says looking into her eyes, as he kisses her.

“Although I’m not objecting to any of your ways of persuasion. Are you sure your not mad…about Will?”

“Will who?” Grayson smirks, pulling Melanie into a kiss.

“I’m serious.” Melanie says smiling and looking at him.

“Do I hate the idea of some other guy kissing you? Absolutely. But I’m not mad. Because at the end of the day, you’re here with me.”

“I think it’s safe to say that I am never letting you go again,” Melanie says kissing him as she pulls him closer to her.

“Ok great. So uh…answer my question,” he says smirking as his eyes sparkle looking at her.

“Um… question was that again?” she says playing coy.

“Marry. Me.” he says seriously, staring into her eyes.

“Yes.” she says grabbing his face and kissing him several times.

Grayson laughs.

“Can we just talk about how sexy you look in my shirt? Kinda makes me feel like you’re all mine.”

“Really? Cause I am. I always have been.”

Grayson kisses her.

“And hey if you play your cards right, I might just let you take it off me.”

Grayson’s eyebrows raise.

“Even better,” he say kissing her as he starts to unbutton the shirt.

Melanie wraps her hands around his neck as they fall back onto the floor, the fire flickering into the night.

kiss

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-<3-

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

BLOG UPDATE: I think posting three times a week has been difficult for me, which is probably why I haven’t been so successful in posting on Sundays . So I am going to go back to my usual schedule of Mondays & Thursday. I have a lot going on personally  (all good things) and changes happening, so some things are up in the air for me. Once I feel a little more settled I will try for a third posting day again.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Soap Opera Culture

michelleleighwrites Leave a comment

A Soap Opera can be defined as “a television drama series dealing typically with daily events in the lives of the same group of characters.”

640_gh[1]

To be more specific it’s a world where anything can happen. Where real life situations occur but are over exaggerated to the nth degree. Where people can die and come back 5 years later alive and kicking. Where kidnapping and car accidents are the norm. Where people have facial reconstruction surgery coupled with amnesia and boom you have a soap opera story.

Soap Operas get so much flack for their storytelling. And I will be honest being someone who has watched soap operas and who still likes to keep up on the happenings via YouTube, I have gotten completely frustrated with certain storylines. But then there are moments when the show can shine, and you can relate to the drama unfolding, or just find it really intriguing and entertaining.

When I was younger I used to watch All My Children with my mom. Although I don’t remember the storylines much, I do remember being interested. Then when I got a little older I developed my own personal favorite; Passions. Oh boy that one was a crazy one! It 050620_mills_hmed_3p.grid-6x2[1]had an old lady witch named  named Tabitha who had a demon baby and woman named Sheridan who was caught between loving two brothers. She was in love with and engaged to one brother named Luis then got into some boat accident went lost at sea and then was found and nursed to health by the second brother Antonio. Of course with no memory of being in love already, the woman falls in love with Antonio. So when she comes back to town with this new love interest, her old flame is both shocked and thrilled, Scan002__December_02__2002[1]causing a major love triangle. The triangle becomes a square when Luis’ current love interest Beth fakes a pregnancy to keep him around, after he finds out Sheridan is alive, he’s adamant about wanting to be with her. Well, I’m sure you can guess the rest…drama! Pretty sure she even wore a bag of flower on her stomach for months to continue the pregnancy charade. And she even kidnapped Sheridan and kid her in a sound proof basement. Can you say psycho?  There was also Theresa who was playing aimages2RZS6BTS surrogate for her ex Ethan’s baby with his new wife Gwen and ended up cheating with him and getting pregnant a second time, making her carry twins. Like what? Is that even possible. See this is my point in Soaps anything goes. Damn I can’t even believe how much I actually remember, I think I watched that soap while I was in middle school! haha.

In the Soap World you kind of have to suspend reality. They ask you to forget the nature of real life and play in their world. Soap actors are vast, each cast is pretty huge. They kind of have to be, considering the show is aired for an hour Mondays through Fridays. And usually the scenes you watch on TV are done in one take. Soap actors are some of the hardest working actors if you ask me. And sometimes there are some really amazing gems within the cast that you can just see moving on to prime time television or feature films. Soap actors are just getting better and better. Although I guess that does depend on which soap opera you watch.

My favorites used to include One Life to Live and General Hospital. Now that One Life to Live is no longer on the air, General Hospital is the only one I really keep up with, but it isn’t as consistent as I used to. Because well life kind of prevents me from being able to watch it, and most of my favorites have left. 😦 But every once in a while I’ll see something pop up on their Facebook page about a couple I used to like or a big reveal in the making and I’ll do a little catching up. It’s safe to say that if you stop watching for a few months, you can tap back in and the same storyline will still be front and center. It’s kind of hysterical. I’ll think to myself wait, hasn’t this chick been wearing that same outfit for like a year. I’m over exaggerating but seriously soap opera time rolls at snail’s pace. I’ve also dabbled in watching some amazingly cute couples on Guiding Light when it was on, As the World Turns when it was on, and Days of Our Lives.

Danny & Michelle Santos-Guiding Light The story of the mobster who falls in love with the smart studious girl during an arranged marriage.
Casey & Maddie- As The World Turns (Oh hey Matt from The Vampire Diaries!)
Chad & Melanie- Days of Our Lives (girl stole her best friend’s boyfriend)

One of the downfalls to being a soap fan, is when your favorite actor decides it’s time to leave the show. And when that said character is part of one of your favorite couples, the betrayal can feel real! I am still nursing the fact that the original Lulu Spencer left General Hospital, and this happened like a long while ago. I’m still not over it. Lulu was recast and now it leaves people having to pretend like it’s not a totally different person. You know

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The new Lulu

what I’m saying when they do the little introduction… “The role of Lulu Spencer will now be played by Emme Rylan.” GAH! It’s painful. I don’t not like her, I just was so in love with the old Lulu, she was the only one who really took over that role. Sure she was played by several younger actresses in the past, but once they age a child, (you know when they show up from boarding school 5 years later and they are all smoking hot and grown up) the actor usually remains the same.

 The old Lulu played by Julie Marie Berman was the perfect match for Dominic Zamprogna who plays her husband Dante. They had really great chemistry. I still see there is a connection with the new actress, but it’s not the same. It’s difficult to see one of your favorite couples change dramatically. Sure she’s playing the same character, but she’s a different actress, kind seems like he’s cheating. Speaking of cheating, in current General Hospital time Dante cheated on Lulu and now they are getting a divorce. Totally sucks. Like really sucks. Sometimes that’s the down side to soap operas, someone always has to cheat. And it’s usually the least likely character.

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The Original Lulu

 

In 2010, it was Patrick who cheated on Robin and they went through hell and back. And of course just when things started looking up and they were starting to rebuild the actress playing Robin-Kimberly McCullough decided she was leaving, and they killed her off, throwing us fans into a tailspin of emotions. It was great storytelling and Jason Thompson who played Patrick was phenomenal in his grieving moments. That’s who I ratrick 2meant when I said sometimes there are true soap opera gems. But as usual Robin’s character wasn’t really “burnt beyond recognition” which is the usual excuse for being able to bring a character back. Because there’s usually a whole big evil scheme that went down to kidnap said person and keep them from their loved ones for years all because of some crazy agenda or blackmail. And of course when the audience knows all the pieces to the puzzles you sit and wait months for the big reveal and for the character to make their big reveal. It can be actually really exciting. Haha.

And then there is always the whole oh we may be possibly related storyline, but we fell in love before we knew it. And now its creepy and weird. [SEE: Jared and Natalie (One Life To Live)] Or the tempered with paternity tests. That’s a fun one too!

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Now in real General Hospital time, McCullough and Thompson finished their last arc on the show for the foreseeable future as Thompson too has recently left the show to take over a role on The Young and the Restless. You’ll see actors pop up all over a bunch of soaps, it’s Drakefamily[1]like the most interchangeable business. And it’s also where many actors get their start. [See: Bethany Joy Lenz (known from One Tree Hill) on Guiding Light and also hey there Jesse Lee Soffer (known for Chicago PD) –As The World Turns.] Seriously that’s pretty frustrating too when they leave your soap for another, especially if it’s not one you watch. But I can imagine like with anything in life, you can get stuck and need to shake this up every

Bethany Joy Lenz
Jesse Lee Soffer

once in a while. Thompson played Patrick for 10 years, seems he needed a change. McCullough came back to finish off the couples storyline, which was a very cheesy but happy ending. While Robin was gone for so long, Patrick’s character went through many relationships with several women, he almost married two. It was kind of a hot mess and I wasn’t a fan of it. It wasn’t that I didn’t like him with some of the women, the two he almost married were great, but not for Patrick. In my eyes Patrick and Robin are just one of those epic soap opera love stories. It’s a shame that sometimes the best of them have to be tragically ripped about for storylines. The cheating storyline, the death storyline, the divorce storyline were all really hard to watch, because when you analyze tv couples like a fangirl is supposed to and let’s face it you ship your couples hardcore, it becomes really saddening when they split. When you refer back to good old happy times and they are now moving on from each other. Watching a soap opera is like riding a roller coaster. But day time television wouldn’t be the same without them.

What soaps do you watch?

P.S. Who else misses Soapnet? I loved that channel, they used to play all my soaps at night so I could watch what I missed turning the day! #NoIdonothaveDVR

*I do not take any credit for the images or clips used.*

-<3-

 

 

Dissect A Scene: The “Burzek” Break Continues #ChicagoPD

michelleleighwrites Leave a comment

Ok so I’m going to level with you here…this is more of a dissect an episode…based on all Burzek moments post engagement break up. This past Wednesday’s 3×13 episode of Chicago PD entitled “Hit Me,” was the first episode after Kim Burgess gave back the engagement ring Adam Ruzek proposed to her with. The break up scene was just that…breaking…heart breaking. And you can read my scene dissection on that particular moment HERE. I think this break-up is seriously crushing my soul, tumblr_nvikeoUUHL1sp3bh6o1_1280[1]because I’ve been with this couple from the very beginning- from the awkward moments, to the flirtation, to the first “I Love You’s.” It’s been a joy to watch. So now that the two have broken up my Chicago PD is missing it’s Romance factor. And you know how I love my love stories! Sure, we still have Linstead (Detectives Erin Lindsay & Jay Halstead) and I love them, but they are a different kind of couple. They are in the very early stages of their relationship, and they aren’t as out with the PDA as Burzek was. Oh how it hurts to use the past tense. I have watched these scenes over and over. I have even rewatched the episode in it’s entirety. It doesn’t get any easier seeing these two apart.  

Anyway… Here are the scenes:

In the first scene we see Burgess coming in and talking to Sergeant Platt about the agenda for the day. Burgess asks to talk to Platt in private once Platt busts out the obvious (that she and Ruzek broke up.) Now it’s been known that Platt and Burgess have had their weird bittersweet friendship since Season 1. Platt called the fact that Burgess and Ruzek wouldn’t make it to the altar, and she’s not really letting Burgess forget that. And now that Platt is engaged to Chicago fireman Mouch, she’s one upping Burgess as she plans her own wedding. But when Burgess asks Platt to sign off on a transfer out of the station, Platt throws her hands up and protests the decision. She surprisingly becomes a confident as she notices this whole situation is tearing Burgess apart. “Are you okay?” Platt asks followed by Burgess’ tearful “No.”

“You just sit here, and you feel what you need to feel,” Platt returns as she offers Burgess a chair. Marina shines in this vulnerable moment, and you can tell that underneath all the bluster and the hard times Platt gives Burgess, she actually deep down cares about her well-being and wants her to stick around. Burgess looks the part of a girl who just had her heart broken. Sure, she got up and managed to get dressed in her uniform, but her hair is in a laid back, messy, thrown up pony tail, her face and eyes are puffy and red, like she’s been crying all night. Yup sounds about right. All the while she strives to remain professional and do her job.

The second clip in this video, shows Ruzek and Atwater on an assignment for a case involving a casino. As they walk through they talk about the break up. Ruzek’s response to Atwater’s “Wait so it’s over…like over over?” is “I don’t know, you’re gonna have to ask her that. I mean she gave the ring back.” Ruzek’s later comment of “Anyway, moving on, right?” could be a red flag for our Burzek hearts, because it’s either let’s move on from this painful subject. OR I’m moving on from Kim Burgess. Judging by further scenes in this episode I’d say the first makes most sense. Adam Ruzek is clearly still very much in love with Kim Burgess.

This collection of scenes are the only interaction the two have since Burgess called things off. In the beginning we see Ruzek checking his phone, hoping for a call from her. Then we see him jump and turn at the sound of Burgess’ partner Roman’s voice, signaling he knew Burgess was in the room too. Burgess looks over at him awkwardly as he stares at her with puppy dog eyes and the saddest face ever. OH MY HEART! Seriously though Paddy is killing the puppy dog eyes this whole episode, I was just freaking out! (Legitimately kicking and screaming like a toddler.) Burgess looks away quicker than Ruzek, Ruzek’s stare lingers…which let’s be honest is WHAT WE LOVE about these break up story lines.

The following clip comes after Burgess and Roman just suffered a car crash while patrolling. Burgess is talking to a fellow cop, reporting what happened as we see a very determined Ruzek making his way toward her in a rather quick hasty fashion. He walks straight up to her, touching her face to check out the cut on her head. There’s really no hesitation on his part, as he asks her “Kim, are you okay?” Ruzek has always been very concerned about Burgess on the job since she got shot in Season 2. He always checks in on her, and he’s very protective, it’s the cutest freaking thing. You can tell that by the numerous times Ruzek’s made the same gesture when they were together.[See scenes 1, 2, & 3] The fact that he didn’t even think to do it again, shows he still loves her and still cares for her safety. Burgess on the other hand pulls back, making light of the accident and signifying she can’t take being this close to him. Ruzek grabs her shoulders and asks her how she’s doing with everything else- meaning the fact that they just called off their engagement- oh I don’t know- a day ago. Burgess again says she’s fine and asks how he is. In which Ruzek’s next response breaks Burzek hearts EVERYWHERE when he says “You’re fine. Really? Cause I’m terrible.” Let it be known that Ruzek looks kind of a wreck too, puffy face, full messy beard. Burgess responds to his honesty awkwardly by saying she’s sorry to hear that and then makes an excuse to walk away. Ruzek looks broken. Burgess looks flustered and equally broken. Though she hides it well.

This last scene is a scene between the two powerhouse women of the show; Kim Burgess and Erin Lindsay. I knew these two would be magic once they got a scene together. It’s about damn time! Look at Lindsay trying to play like she’s not also dating a fellow cop #Linstead. 😉 But seriously she did have a good point. Gender stereotypes and stigmas unfortunately do exist in many professions. Anyway what I love about this scene is how open Lindsay is. How she’s trying to be a friend to Burgess. And I love when she asks “Cause it’s that hard to see him at work every day?” And you can tell the hesitation in Burgess’ voice as she says “Cause I feel really guilty for calling it off, but it needed to be called off.” Which I think pretty much sums up the whole entire Burzek break.

I think that Burgess’ feelings are completely authentic. Her knee jerk reaction to transfer out is what anyone who just broke off their engagement would do. In fact if you watched this show since Season 1, you know that in Season 2 Burgess asks Ruzek-what if they ever broke up, and ended up hating each other, she mentions she’d probably transfer out. Of course Ruzek uses his charm to console her, as he just kisses her and tells her they aren’t breaking up. Looking back at that, AH, I JUST CAN’T. I want to cry. Poor Burzek! Oh the irony! Are you writers laughing in the writer’s room? 😉 She obviously still loves him, which is why this is so hard for her. In her mind she thinks there’s a reason behind Ruzek having such a relaxed approach to planning their wedding and their life together. And now seeing him and still having feelings for him makes it nearly impossible to try and move on (DON’T MOVE ON….PLEASE DON’T MOVE ON!) or just simply do her job. A job that basically puts your life on the line enough, she doesn’t need to be emotionally distracted and get hurt because as Voight likes to say “her heads not on straight.”

There were also a few other scenes not featured online.

Voight checks in with Ruzek-

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During the case they are working on in Intelligence, Ruzek seems preoccupied the whole day. Voight calls on him for an update and Ruzek is so busy checking his phone yet again, that he doesn’t here Voight. After Voight gets his attention Ruzek supplies the update and as the others begin to clear the room, Voight asks Ruzek if he’s got “his head on straight.” Ruzek replies “Yea. I just didn’t see this coming. I feel like I let her down.” Voight responds “That’s not what I asked you.” While Ruzek answers “Yes. My heads on straight.” Voight responds “Okay.” With a pat on Ruzek’s back in understanding. THESE POOR COPS. It’s like they have to check their emotions at the door when they come to work. My god, I can only imagine the pressure. I mean people have to do things like that every day; separate their personal life from their professional. But when dealing with heart break and when you WORK WITH THE PERSON. I CAN’T. I have to admit though, from a writer’s stand point, this angsty stuff is GOLD. I just hate that sometimes the action and drama of the cases get in the way of the relationship stuff. I’m just hoping we don’t lose out on what this storyline can be, because they are too worried about delivering crazy cases and action packed scenes. It’s like okay we get it’s a cop show, but you just put our Burzek hearts through the mud, you better deliver that story FIRST. I don’t care about criminals doing stupid things. Not after you dumped this heartache on me. SHOW ME MY BURZEK LONGING STARES. SHOW ME THE TENSION!

Roman and Burgess chat on patrol-

roman and burgess

Roman and Burgess have a very buddy type friendship. (Let’s hope it stays that way!) And so when they were on a drive to check out a suspicious situation, Roman says “Hey if you don’t wanna talk about it, that’s cool. But my cousin Matty thinks you’re hot. I told him I didn’t see it. But he wants your number.” Burgess kind of just laughs it off. (THANK YOU BURGESS!)

Mouse tries taking Ruzek’s mind off of Burgess-

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Mouse (the tech guy) sees Ruzek having a few drinks at Molly’s. Ruzek looks down in the dumps, to say the least. Mouse saunters over with two girls by his side. He says something stupid like “Hey Adam I told Brynn here that you’re licking your wounds, turns out she is too.” Brynn sits down next to Ruzek (and instantly we hate Brynn) “So you’re a cop huh? You, must have a few crazy stories.” Adam says “Yea I got a few stories.” He then looks at her and asks “Brynn is it? I’m sorry I’m just not…” And he gets up to leave. Brynn looks unphased and says “No problem.” Adam walks out of the bar. Let’s put a new spin on “Bye Felicia”…”Bye Brynn.”  I LOVE THIS SCENE and I hate it at the same time. SERIOUSLY WHAT IS UP with all the forces trying to get these two to move on from each other. They JUST broke up. Give them a minute to breathe, and you know come to the conclusion that they love each other like crazy and can’t live without each other, and have to get back together. I love the scene because ordinarily Ruzek has a pretty flirty nature. But when he and Burgess got together, it was like she become his world. He really only focused on her. Seriously you have to see how he acted with her, always kissing her, always wanting to be with her, always complimenting her. Homeboy even COOKED for her. If that’s not love, I don’t know what is! And even now that she broke things off, he still can’t fathom flirting with some other girl. Like I said before I think we may be seeing a new side to Adam Ruzek. I just hope the writers don’t pull another irony boost and let Ruzek get drunk and sleep with some rando (same goes for Burgess!) WE DON’T WANT TO SEE THAT!

In a nutshell, I think Adam is completely unaware of what is really going on with Kim. I think he’s been too caught up in the engagement bubble, that he hasn’t been noticing the signs of her growing frustration. Or at least he wasn’t taking them as seriously as he should have. While Kim feels that she needs to let him go, because this isn’t what he wants. But both are heart broken by not being together. My advice is for Burgess to play the hard to get card a little bit, I think it’s working for her for right now. I think it’s making Ruzek think. But I also give Adam so much credit for confronting Kim. I love that he was so honest about his feelings. How he feels terrible that they aren’t together. Most guys would just pretend they were cool, and just remain stoic. I think there needs to be more of that honesty (on both of their parts.) I think Adam needs to fight for Kim, get her to talk to him. I think they need a little distance, but not so much that it makes one of them do something stupid, or makes one of them start to move on. I think Kim needs to let Adam in on why she did what she did, because guys aren’t prone to realizing what they do wrong. Or at least Adam isn’t, he honestly just seems completely lost in confusion. She also needs to hear him out and there definitely needs to be more communication. They need to talk, like really talk about what went wrong and why. And I am just dying for Ruzek to just be like “But I love you…” followed by a big emotional speech. YES. PLEASE.

Anyway I know that this was a lot of emotional rambling and kind of long winded. And a less than eloquent dissection. But I just needed to vent. This Burzek break is messing with my feelings guys. I feel so bad for both of them. “But Michelle, it’s just a TV show, it’s not real,” you may say. UM, I’m sorry do you know me? I love TV! I love storytelling. I love the arcs of a love story! I am a writer! This is my bread and butter. Taking this stuff seriously is part of my love for television and my passion for creating stories myself. Like I always say watching TV is my research for when I can one day write for my own. And yes it’ll be a drama, because duh? 😉

So writers please don’t let me down here. Give me something I can work with.

I have a feeling I’ll be back here analyzing more Burzek scenes, because this is what is going to get me through this Burzek Break. When in doubt, blog about it!

Until next time, friends.

Catch this episode free on demand or on NBC.com

Chicago PD airs it’s new episode Wednesday @ 10 pm on NBC  *Although this week is a special crossover event with Law and Order SVU which starts at @ 9 pm on NBC.*

Fingers crossed for some #Burzek scenes this week!

LIVE TWEET your #Burzek feels with me! – @Shellbelle91

*I do not take credit for any images, or videos/clips used in this post.*

-<3-