PRESENT: THE SETTING OF THE STAGE II

"I haven’t told him Randy…I’m sorry. I just…" Callie and Randall were having dinner in a posh restaurant in his clubhouse at the other end of Bayport, far away from the areas that Frank would frequent. It was an expensive little place, and Callie had to dressed up in a pretty dresses when Randall brought her there all the time. Callie knew to Randall, whatever atrocious pricing the restaurant charged, it was staple menu.

"Great Cal! Just fine! Am I just a substitute to you? Or something? Because Callie, you’re being unfair to me!" Randall’s handsome face seethed immediately. Callie was startled. Her admissions of failures to come clean with her old boyfriend had never gotten Randall so worked up because he said he understood. Maybe Randall was right. She was being unfair to him.

Am I being unfair to Frank? Am I? I should have told him…

No. He should have felt it for himself! Dense pig.

"Randy, don’t be like this…people will hear…" Callie tried to shush Randall down, feeling slightly self-conscious. Some suited patrons gave them disapproving glances from the corner of their eyes. Randall was not concerned at all.

He stood up, stretching his 6 feet hunky frame full and started hollering. "I LOVE CALLIE SHAW! SHE’S MY GIRLFRIEND! AND I LOVE HER SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Callie’s jaw dropped. Now they had everyone’s attention, but in a good way. The world was kind to those who could readily profess their love. Some slightly touched customers and waiters clapped softly, giving them sweet smiles. Callie smiled back uneasily as she tried to pull her boyfriend whose face was flushed from his adrenaline rush and was now bowing to those who had admired his courage.

Please Randy, don’t create a scene…

Randall sat down finally and gestured around. "See, no nuclear bomb, no end of the world…people are happy for us for goodness sake." He took her hands into his, gazing intently into her eyes and she felt like she was drowning in a deep jade-colored sea.

"Love cannot be kept a secret Callie. I love you so much and everyday I just want to tell the whole world…you’re killing me, by not allowing to profess my feelings for you…am I a disgrace to you or something?"

I know Randall. Love should never be a secret.

Her heart melted and she tilted her face towards his tentatively. Over the table, they kissed.

Ok. I’ll tell him. I’ll have the resolution again and this time, I’ll go through with it.

And the kiss, soft and sweet, became something even more passionate, igniting Callie. She lost herself in it, enjoying the closeness, the freedom at not having any secrets to bear soon.

The two lovebirds, trapped in their own world, was oblivious to the amused glances that were thrown their way.

***

Joe drove over to Storm, hoping to plea with the manager to employ back the band. He knew it was his fault. Though he seemed callous about it, never bringing it up, never apologizing for it, he was guilty. He knew they needed the extra cash from the gigs. Wayne, Shane and Craig were all pretty tight for cash. Joe was different. He could always borrow from Frank who would never refuse him.

Yup, my fault entirely. They should not be penalized. Wayne’s a great singer. They need happier songs…they do not need to adopt someone like me…when they’re healing themselves, my darkness will only drag them down.

So I’ll leave. Until I get better. Then I’ll ask them to take me back. Because I really like being with them…maybe…hey…who’s that with my sister here? In Storm?

His sharp eyes spotted the giggling couple immediately. Craig was taking a swig of Vodka Concoction while Maggie was sipping some pinkish cocktail. His sister’s companion had this arrogant look on his face while he seemed to be re-iterating some story to Maggie and Maggie was seemingly taking it all in; her naivety had never been more annoying to Joe.

Well, I did cause it…or rather Frank did. Always censoring our cases as we regale her with one horror after another.

Time to tell my sister the world is not very pretty at night. It’s deceiving, insidious and in the form of Craig…a darkness she shouldn’t bear.

"What are you two doing here?" Joe eyed them coolly, matching Craig’s aloofness. The joy was gone from Maggie’s face. In the din of Storm with a loud metal band hammering their stupid song into the zombies that frequented the pub, no one bothered about the inevitable commotion.

Maggie tugged his sleeves. "Joe…don’t…" she spoke in a pleading little voice. Joe ignored her as his stare became a glare in Craig’s face.

"I’m dating your sister Hardy. Any problems with that?" Craig blew a puff of smoke into Joe’s face. A flashback came into his mind, unescorted, unplanned for. Caught in his own sinister veil, he landed a fist on Craig’s face that sent Craig stumbling against the bar counter.

Some turned and stared but that was all. Fights were common here while lead singers jumping off stage to tackle screaming sisters were not. So while Joe had the pub silenced just a few days back, no one cared two hoots then.

"JOE! Stop it!!! Craig…are you hurt? Craig???" Maggie rushed over to her boyfriend’s side and gently dabbed at his split lips with her sleeves only to be dragged away by Joe.

"LET ME GO!"

"HE WON’T DIE!" Joe shouted back. Now, they were garnering more attention. Craig stood up and held on to Maggie’s other hand. It was now almost comical, with Craig and Joe having a tug-of-war and Maggie as the unfortunate rope.

"Let go Anderson. She’s my sister." Joe spoke in a flat, lethal tone. Craig shook his head, resolute.

"She’s my girlfriend."

"FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT!" A group of rowdy college students chanted. The metal band was still playing, trying to win back the attention of their loss audience. To Craig and Joe though, a spell of silence had descended.

Joe let go of Maggie suddenly and she staggered backwards into Craig who was jolted backwards as well but still managed to keep his balance and he tried to support Maggie. Joe stalked over to the couple, roughly pull Maggie away and started pummeling Craig, never stopping to wonder where all the hatred was coming from.

"SHE’S INNOCENT YOU HEAR? YOU HEAR? DON’T YOU DARE TAINT HER! SHE DON’T BELONG IN YOUR MORBID WORLD!" He pushed Craig against the wall and while Craig was trying to catch his breath, Joe slammed Craig again against the wall by grabbing Craig’s collar. Craig wheezed and tried to defend himself against the madman. However, Joe was a better fighter as it came with experience. Craig’s efforts were seemingly in vain until Maggie scrambled up from the floor as she had fallen from Joe’s rough pull and held her brother from behind.

"STOP IT! STOP IT! Can’t you see Joe! He’s not tainting me! He’s bringing me happiness!!! You are tainting me with your darkness!!!! You! My brother!" Maggie screamed into Joe’s ears, tears streaking her pretty face. Joe fist stopped in mid-air. He heard every single word. Loud and clear.

"I love her Joe…I really do." Craig spoke up finally, catching his breath. Joe had not hurt him much, probably he would need band-aid for a few days but nothing was broken. Joe had restrained himself from hitting Craig’s straight nose. He stepped back and Maggie, sensing her brother relent, rushed over to her boyfriend’s side and fussed over him, crying at the same time.

Of course. My world…I don’t like Craig because he’s almost as dark as me. I don’t like what I saw in him because I despised myself so much. So much.

Maggie…I’m sorry. To me, you’re the epitome of the innocence of the sweet dew drops on leaves in the morning, the sparkles of the river, reflecting the warm rays of the sun. And I never knew my own darkness is chasing you way. You’re so very right. Very right.

He watched in silence as Craig held Maggie close to him, stroking her hair and kissing the top of her head to calm her down, with intense green eyes that were begging Joe to understand. With clenched fist, Joe walked past the both of them.

"Don’t ever bring her here again. Go somewhere brighter, happier. The beach or something. This is not a nice place." He paused by Craig’s side and hoarsely whispered. Craig smiled in understanding and nodded his head vigorously. Maggie looked up from her boyfriend’s chest and stretched out a hand to touch Joe’s own.

"I’m sorry…" Joe eyed his sister sadly and lifted her tender hand away. Her hand burned his, like how a holy artifact would always burn those with evil in them.

With a permanent dark stain.

And he walked out of Storm, his initial intentions forgotten. Probably it was for the better since Storm was really a place for the dead. And his friends were all alive. Even Craig.

Love makes them alive.

His world came crashing down just as he thought he was starting to finally reclaim back himself. He just needed to talk to someone.

He just wanted to talk to Frank.