DISCLAIMER: All My Children is the property of ABC/Disney.
Lost Scene 2
Chapter One
"So, you think you can cut JR some slack?" Maggie asked as she handed Laurie a towel, her mind really not entirely on the girl and her recent trauma. Her eyes and thoughts were on Bianca, not that she could let that be known.
ARCHIVING: Only with the permission of the author.
By Alex
"If he backs off." She replied, wiping her shirt off some more. Her dad was really going to kill her if she didn't get this beer smell off of her.
"Yeah, I don't think you have to worry about that, I don't believe that he's even gonna try to hold your hand until the next millennium." Bianca jumped in, laughing nervously. She could feel Maggie's eyes on her, and it confused her. Maggie laughed too, softly, covering up the longing look she'd been throwing the brunette's way. She couldn't keep doing this. She had to be more careful…
"And you know, you don't even smell like beer anymore, so take it home, soak it overnight, it'll be good as new." Laurie smiled at Maggie, then Bianca.
"Thanks. You know, you guys are the best." Her words caused both girls to smile, and their eyes locked. Bianca smiled shyly, looking away from Maggie's gaze.
"You know, you should, um, probably touch up your makeup, a little bit." Bianca said, desperate to change the subject.
"Oh yeah, you know what? Here." Maggie said, getting up. Bianca's eyes followed her to her bag, then quickly averted themselves, looking anywhere but at the blonde. "I happen to have some makeup. You can find something in here." She said, handing her makeup bag to Laurie. The girl smiled again.
"Thanks again." She said as she got up to leave the room.
"No problem." Maggie replied distractedly, her thoughts on the fact that she was going to be alone with Bianca now. After Laurie had left, she turned back to Bianca. She couldn't help but smile. "We are the best, huh?" She said as she sat on the arm of the couch. She noticed Bianca looking away nervously, searching for something to say.
Bianca was kicking herself for letting her hopes get up. *She's not gay, remember? She's just being friendly.*
"Actually, it was, you know, it was Tim that was so great…He came barreling right in here as soon as he heard Laurie scream." Bianca thought that pointing out Tim's higher points would help her to realize that Maggie would never want her. Maggie shrugged, inwardly sighing at the mention of Tim.
"Yeah, yeah I guess-" She started, looking down at the pillow her fingers were idly playing with. Bianca cut her off.
"I mean, he didn't even know what to expect; anything could have been happening in here." Bianca kept at it, trying to convince herself that Tim was better for Maggie, seeing as how he was male.
"Yeah, I guess he was…kind of gutsy." Maggie said unconvincingly, wondering why Bianca kept pushing for Tim.
"Yeah." Bianca said persuasively. "I mean, the guy just donated part of his liver to save his cousin's life, and then he barrels right in here to save the day again."
"Bianca, I get it alright? I'll- I'll cut him some slack…" Maggie conceded, hoping that Bianca would drop the subject. Bianca had other ideas.
"Maggie, why don't you just…admit it? You know you're attracted to Tim." Bianca said, trying to convince herself of the fact. Maggie chuckled a little.
"Bianca, don't you think it's kind of funny that you're the one telling me this?" Bianca was taken aback. Maggie *had* to like Tim. Bianca couldn't handle Maggie being single around her forever, it was too tempting.
"Maggie…you don't have to hide anything from me. If you like him, go for it. It's obvious he's into you." Maggie was getting aggravated.
"Why does that have to mean I'm into him? Bianca, I don't want Tim." Bianca struggled to quell her speeding heart.
"Then who DO you want, Maggie? You've turned down every guy who's asked you out…" Maggie sighed, knowing the answer to Bianca's question, as well as the implications of it.
"Why do I have to want anyone? Can't I just be single, and happy about it?" Maggie defended.
"You really don't see it, do you Maggie?" Bianca said challengingly. Maggie looked lost.
"See what?" She asked, confused.
"How lucky you are. You have the opportunity to be with someone who likes you, a good person *who likes you*. That's more than a lot of people have." *Like me*, she thought. Maggie threw her hands up in the air, defeatedly.
"Fine. You want me to go for it with Tim? Fine. Whatever, Bianca." She said, running her fingers through her hair, sighing inwardly. They sat there in silence until Laurie returned, not oblivious to the newly created tension in the room. It was at that moment the phone rang. Bianca reached for it, anything to take her mind off of Maggie.
"Hello, Martin residence. Oh, hi JR."
Chapter Two
The car ride to the boathouse was permeated by an awkward silence. Bianca kept her eyes on the road, trying not to think about Maggie's resistance to Tim. Laurie could sense the tension, and was starting to feel very uncomfortable sitting in the front seat, while Maggie sat alone in the back staring off into space.
"So," Laurie started nervously. "Did you guys have fun at the prom?" She asked, grasping for a topic. "I didn't see you guys after we split up."
"Oh, we bailed as soon as possible." Bianca answered.
"Yeah," Maggie jumped in. "The whole thing was just way too…high school." Laurie laughed.
"It hasn't been that long since you graduated, has it?" She asked.
"It'll never be long enough." Maggie stated, chuckling. "There was a reason I didn't go to my own prom."
"Besides," Bianca added as she parked the car. "We were just there to be seen, to stick it in Morgan's face."
"Well you two sure looked great, I'd say you made a big impression." Laurie mentioned as she stepped out of her door.
"Well come on, we went dress shopping with the almighty Erica Kane…'Only the best for my daughter'" Maggie joked, sticking her nose up in the air in an imitation of Erica. "I'd never felt like royalty before that…" Maggie started walking prissily toward the boathouse, head held high. "Yes, my darling servants, I think the black suits me just fine." Laurie was cracking up as she followed the two.
"Oh come on," Bianca said. "It wasn't *that* big a deal…" She said, slapping Maggie playfully on the shoulder.
"Yeah, right…We got to try all these dresses on, and the lady brought us over some of those fruity drinks, and you know, we got to--oh." Maggie stopped as she stepped up into the boathouse and saw JR and Tim.
"Hey." JR said nervously, forgetting all the things he was supposed to say to her.
"Hey." Laurie said back, looking at the ground.
"Thanks for coming." Bianca and Maggie could sense the tension between the two, and as if that weren't enough, both were overwhelmed by the awareness that they were standing right next to each other.
"Thanks for calling." JR laughed nervously.
"Yeah, I'm glad I took my cell phone with me before I left." He was grasping at straws here, wanting desperately to make everything okay. Maggie noticed Tim nudge JR, and he sprung into action.
"Look," he started, crushed when Laurie stopped him from taking her hand. Maggie and Bianca turned away to give the two privacy. Maggie noticed that she was standing directly behind Bianca now, and tried to keep her eyes from checking the taller girl out as JR continued. "I was a jerk. And I know that. I was- I was beyond a jerk. I was a jerk to the 4,000th power, and I know that, and I'm really sorry." He took a breath. "It's just that, well, maybe next time, I could--"
"Just ask before touching." Laurie suggested, willing to give him another chance. JR consider this thought.
"Ask. Okay, I can do that." He agreed.
"Good." Laurie smiled.
"Good." JR replied. Maggie tore her eyes away from Bianca as the brunette turned around. She followed suit, hearing that the make-up was over. JR scanned the group. "Okay, now what?" He asked, looking over at Tim.
"Yeah, what are we going to do?" Laurie reiterated. Maggie glanced over at Bianca, who was trying desperately not to look at her. An idea struck her as she gave in and glanced down at Maggie, their earlier conversation running through her mind.
"Food." Maggie looked at her, thankful for the suggestion. "I am starving." Bianca lied. "I think that we need a munchie run." She said as she moved next to Laurie.
"Cool." Tim said as he started to walk. Bianca put up a hand to stop him.
"No, you have to stay here."
"Why?" Tim asked, clueless.
"Well, with Maggie." Bianca said matter-of-factly.
"What?" Maggie laughed nervously, dread rising in the pit of her stomach as she realized what Bianca was trying to do.
"Well, the car only has four seatbelts." Bianca grasped. JR caught on to what Bianca was doing.
"Yeah, and we need a chaperone." He attempted. Maggie resisted the urge to cast an icy glare his direction. She was becoming frustrated again; she had hoped that Bianca would give it up.
"Okay, well that still leaves one seat open." Maggie pointed out, irritated. Bianca turned back to her.
"Well it wouldn't be nice to leave somebody here alone," Bianca said, turning to leave. "By himself." She added coldly.
"Riiiiight." Tim said, catching onto the plan. Maggie gave up.
"Alright, get good eats." She said, knowing she had to cover up her irritation at being left alone with this dim-witted egomaniac.
"Later." Tim said as the three left. Maggie laughed unconvincingly.
"That was her weirdest exit ever." Tim thought it odd that Maggie paid Bianca that much attention, but wasn't about to let it get to him.
"Yeah, and we both know she's not starving." He said knowingly, a smug smile on his face. Maggie cringed inwardly.
"Then why did she just leave, hmm?" Maggie asked nervously.
"Her mission? Leaving us alone." Tim said, smiling. He had to say, he was happy with Bianca's little plan, and even happier that Maggie just *had* to have had something to do with it.
"What are you talking about?" Maggie asked, feigning clueless.
"Oh, come on, don't even try to cover." Tim said smugly, moving close to her.
"Cover what?" Maggie asked, appalled that he would think she wanted to be alone with him.
"You begged her to clear everyone out." Tim said knowingly. Maggie sighed.
"And why would I do that?" Maggie asked, trying to sound as bored as possible, looking away from Tim.
"Because you want me." Maggie was shocked when she turned back and saw that he was serious. *You have got to be kidding.*
Chapter Three
Bianca sighed as she stared out the window of the back seat of JR's car, trying to ignore the happy looks JR was tossing Laurie's way in the front. *Why is she so against dating? You'd think she'd be happy that someone likes her…well, that someone MALE likes her anyway…* She remained lost in thought until they pulled up to SOS, JR pulling her out of her trance by ushering her into the club. When they got inside, they immediately ran into Edmund.
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"JR, good to see you out and about." He said, still distracted by his conversation with Brooke.
"I didn't know you were the SOS type, Edmund." JR said.
"Well there was a time." Edmund replied, laughing a little. "I'm just, uh, picking up some fajitas for the kids."
"I'm gonna go call my dad." Laurie said, anxious to get a little time away from JR.
"You can use my cell." JR offered. Laurie declined.
"I've got change." She said as she walked to the pay phone. JR watched as she walked away.
"Right." He said, disappointed and a not a little angry with himself. He turned back to Bianca as he grabbed a menu. "So, what do you want?"
"I don't know, nachos…you pick. I'm not that hungry." Bianca said, glancing at the menu, oblivious to the fact that she had just given herself away.
"Wait a minute," JR said. "You were the one who was so hungry that we had to rush all the way down here from the boathouse."
"The curly fries are really, really good here." Bianca mentioned, dodging JR's statement. JR smiled knowingly.
"You know, all guys aren't peabrains." JR pointed out. Bianca looked up from the menu skeptically. JR laughed. "Okay, all guys aren't TOTALLY peabrains, all the time." Bianca smiled.
"Actually, girls can run just as dumb sometimes…" She said, thinking of Maggie's earlier resistance. *If she's not gay, then why doesn't she want to go out with anyone?* A little voice kept repeating to her.
"Oh, you wanted to leave Maggie and Tim alone, didn't ya, huh? You saw her devouring him with her eyes too, didn't ya?" JR said, knowing it was the other way around and Maggie really hadn't shown any interest in Tim. Bianca looked up at him, hurt for a second at hearing someone else say it.
"You caught that, too, huh?" She said, plastering a fake smile on her face.
"Oh, fess up! She wanted to get some one-on-one time, right?" He asked. Bianca looked at him, taken aback.
"I have no idea what Maggie wants." She said, a little more coldly than she had intended. *Or who,* she thought, their earlier conversation still weighing on her mind.
"Okay." JR replied. "Sorry." Bianca looked down.
"Whatever. Actually, leaving her and Tim alone was MY brilliant idea." She said self-deprecatingly, looking away. "Look, let's just…order some food and go, okay?" Bianca said, shoving the menu back in JR's hands.
Chapter Four
Maggie stared at Tim, resisting the urge to completely crack up. "Oh my GOD! Attack of the major male ego!" Maggie exclaimed, cringing as she hit Tim playfully in the arm. "For your information, I am not involved in any plot to being left alone here with you." *As if,* She thought to herself as she looked away.
"Oh come on," Tim said disbelievingly. "Bianca's sudden starvation was lame." He was pretty sure of himself, Maggie noted.
"Yeah, and that's true, but I do not need anyone to help me pick someone up." *I need a miracle, is what I need…*
"Well, you've definitely got the goods." Tim said, openly checking her out.
"Thank you." Maggie said, forcing a smile even though his attention was making her cringe.
"But, uh, JR says the word on the street's you're pretty icy yourself." Maggie chuckled, not knowing that she had built up a reputation as an ice queen.
"Really?" She asked, not really interested in hearing the answer. She knew why she hadn't been exactly warm and friendly to anyone who had been interested in her.
"Yeah, apparently, you've turned down every single Pine Valley guy that's asked you out." Maggie cringed, remembering Bianca's earlier words. *Maybe I should just go for it* she thought, but she still resisted.
"And why would you care about that?" She challenged, turning away to sit on the railing.
"Oh, oh I don't." Tim said, trying to cover up the sting of the fact that she wasn't falling into his arms. "JR and I were just talking, and I happened to, uh--"
"Find out my status." Maggie said, the knowledge that Bianca would want her with HIM, of all people, making her inwardly gag. "Right."
"Hey, I am perfectly capable of scoring a date without a cheat sheet." The idea of going on a date with this Neanderthal made Maggie want to run as fast and far as she could…but she knew that if she didn't go for it, there would be questions…questions she wasn't sure she was ready to face.
"Oh, really?" She asked skeptically.
"Oh yeah, I've got, uh, stellar technique." He bragged.
"Oh, wait, let me guess--" She replied, holding up a hand for him to stop. "'Oh, look at my scar!'" She said, mocking him. "It's really old." She pointed out.
"So one-up me. Come on, demonstrate your pickup technique." Tim suggested. Maggie panicked. *It's now or never, girl…*
"I'm sorry, I only unleash it on worthy causes." Maggie said, getting in one last barb while she still could.
"Oh, that sounds like a major hedge. It's making me think there's nothing to unleash." Tim challenged. Maggie sighed inwardly, and trudged on ahead.
"Fine." She said as she stood up, moving toward him. "If I want a guy," *As if*
"Yeah?" Tim said, urging her to continue. She did, against her better judgement.
"I just, look him in the eyes." She said simply, willing herself not to look away. Tim, ever the joker, lowered himself to her eye level.
"Like this?" He asked. Maggie had to laugh.
"Yeah." She agreed.
"And then what?" Tim coaxed.
"I…measure the heat." She continued, moving closer.
"On your internal thermometer?" Maggie couldn't stop giggling- his advances were so cliché.
"Exactly."
"And then? When you've reached the boiling point? Then what?" Maggie swallowed the urge to vomit as she leaned closer to him.
"This." She said, right before their lips met. *God, I'm beginning to think it might have been easier to just face the questions,* She thought, trying desperately to create chemistry where there was none. *I bet kissing Bianca would be so much better than this.* She forced herself to put her hand on his arm, as his hands encircled her waist. When they pulled apart, she laughed shyly. "So what'd you think?" Tim was stunned.
"Your…technique is very, uh, effective." Maggie laughed, having…felt that fact already. She was all too ready to get away from this guy.
"Well I had to save myself from getting up close and personal with your scar." She joked, willing herself to continue the charade.
"Yeah, I'm definitely inspired to, uh, upgrade my stuff." Maggie laughed inwardly, noticing that he was looking down when he said that.
"Hmm…" She started, letting the smile slide off her face as she looked away. "Okay, I like your commitment."
"But, uh, I'm gonna need some help working out the kinks." Tim said, leaning in toward her again.
"You guys want some munchies?" Maggie was incredibly thankful for JR's interruption.
"We got so much food." Bianca said, trying to cover up the fact that she had seen how close Maggie and Tim were before they had made their presence known.
"We got fajitas, nachos, everything."
"Great." Maggie said, a little too enthusiastically.
"For an army." Bianca said, exaggerating the two bags of food they'd come back with.
"Yeah, perfect timing." Tim said, annoyed that he and Maggie couldn't continue what they had started.
"It's really good." Laurie said, holding out a bag to the two. Bianca turned back to them just as Maggie had rested her head on Tim's chest, knowing she had to continue the charade now that they were back. The brunette tried desperately not to show her disappointment with the success of her plot. It had been a good idea in theory, but she hadn't counted on feeling like her heart was ripped out when she saw them together.
"So, let's eat!" JR said enthusiastically.
"Oh, you know what?" Bianca said, trying to sound genuine. "I forgot, I told my mom I'd stop by before it got too late. She had something she wanted to talk to me about. Sorry you guys, I guess you'll just have to get along with out me." All eyes were on her, most believing but one pair was not. Bianca didn't care at the moment…she was beginning to understand where the term "fifth wheel" came from. Before anyone could protest, she headed to her car, getting in and driving away. Maggie noticed this, and also noticed the direction she was headed.
"Hey, Tim…" She said, flirting for all she was worth. "You think I could borrow your car real quick? I, uh, I need to go get something to drink…"
"Uh, sure…I'll go with you." Tim offered, anxious to be alone with her again.
"No!" Maggie protested, perhaps a little too much. "I, uh, I mean…there's no need. I'll be right back." Summoning every acting bone in her body, she placed a teasing kiss on his lips. "Please?"
"Okay. Here." He said, handing over the keys. "Just, uh…be back soon." He said. Maggie grinned, seemingly at his comment, but inwardly because she'd known it would work.
"I'll be back before you even realize I'm gone." She said, running off to Tim's car. She quickly started the engine and headed in the direction Bianca had gone.
Chapter Five
*I know it's around here somewhere…There!* Bianca thought as she drove down Valley Road. She pulled her car over to the side of the road and got out, walking over to the sign.
Rest Stop
Next Right
Next Stop 13 Miles
"This is where it all began." She spoke aloud, knowing there was no one around to hear her. She sat down on her front bumper, staring at the sign. "Frankie, I don't know what to do. I love you, I always will…I think you knew that. But now…I mean, it seems wrong somehow to be feeling this way about your sister...your twin, no less." She laughed humorlessly. "I'm not an idiot. I know she's straight. I mean…she told me emphatically enough on your birthday, I just…sometimes it's so confusing. SHE'S so confusing…I mean, I know I all but forced her to go for it with Tim, but I guess a part of me was hoping she wouldn't." She nervously ran her fingers through her hair, a habit she picked up from Maggie. "God, I don't even know what I want…I'm never satisfied, I guess. I thought it would be easier if she wasn't single, because then it wouldn't be like this prize dangling in front of my face…but seeing her with him…God, Frankie, it made me feel like I did when I walked in on you and JR…and she's not even with me, you know?" She sighed, a tear running down her cheek. "It would have been so much easier if you hadn't died…I miss you, so much. I--" Bianca's words were cut off by headlights approaching behind her. She wiped the tears from her cheeks and turned as Maggie stepped out of Tim's car.
Maggie froze as her eyes met Bianca's, their gaze speaking volumes that neither would speak. Finally, Bianca spoke.
"What are you doing here?" She asked, her voice still shaky. Maggie's heart broke for the girl, even though she didn't know why she had been crying.
"You told me your mom was away on business for the weekend…" A small smile broke out on her face. "Besides, Pine Valley is that way." She pointed back the way they had come. Bianca laughed.
"I guess I should think harder before I try to put one over on you, huh?" Maggie nodded.
"Yeah, you should. I think the more relevant question is, what are YOU doing here?" Maggie asked, still unable to move closer to Bianca. The younger girl sighed.
"I, uh…needed some time alone." Maggie raised her eyebrows skeptically.
"Why not go home?" She asked gently. Bianca ran her fingers through her hair again, trying to decide how much to tell Maggie.
"This…this is where my mom hit Frankie." She confessed, those words speaking volumes. Maggie nodded, understanding.
"This is where it all began for you two…" Bianca nodded, trying to keep her composure. Maggie moved closer, putting a comforting hand on Bianca's shoulder. "So, why did you come here tonight? I mean…we were having a good time, weren't we?" She asked, trying to understand. Bianca sighed again.
"Maggie, YOU were having a good time…JR and Laurie, you and-" Her throat caught as she said his name, "-Tim." Maggie nodded, reaching clarity.
"Fifth Wheel Syndrome, huh?" She asked knowingly.
"I-" Bianca started, ready to protest. She realized then that the truth would be a little too revealing. "Yeah." Maggie rubbed Bianca's shoulder reassuringly. Both girls felt the electricity from the contact.
"You'll find someone, Bianca. My sister wasn't the end for you." She said assuredly. "You've got a lot people who love you, and even more love to come. I promise." Maggie said, inwardly sighing. *I wish I could show you how much…how much love you have.* She thought desperately as their eyes met again. Bianca put her hand over Maggie's enjoying the simple contact. Their gaze intensified with the touch, and feelings passed between them as easily as electricity through water. Maggie's earlier comment about "measuring the heat" came back to her, as she felt her body reach its own "boiling point". She thought of how easy it would be…just lean in a little closer, find everything she'd ever wanted in Bianca's lips…only her fears stood between her and what she wanted-no, needed. She swallowed hard, subconsciously licking her lips as their heads drew closer. Her heart was racing, her fears speeding around in her brain.
Bianca could feel what was happening, and it confused her terribly. She thought of what she had just been saying, about Maggie being confusing…it was things like this that made her wonder. Somewhere in her mind something clicked, and she shook her head as she pulled back.
"So, did, uh…did things go well with Tim, when we left you alone?" She asked, knowing that mentioning his name would ruin any kind of mood they had going. Maggie sighed, pulling her hand back from Bianca's shoulder so she could run it through her hair.
"Uh, sure. Yeah, they did." She said, forcing a smile onto her face. "Uh, you could say they went very well."
"Yeah? What happened, huh?" Bianca continued her interrogation, forcing herself not to think of what had just almost happened.
"Uh, I kissed him." She said honestly, catching the fleeting jealous look on the other girl's face.
"Wow, moving fast, huh?" Bianca said, trying her hardest to be happy for her friends. Maggie shrugged.
"I don't know. He kind of asked for it…he was challenging my pickup technique." Maggie said lightly, trying to lift their mood.
"Well I'm glad you showed him." Bianca said, forcing a smile. Two pairs of faux-smiling eyes met, each hiding a world of hurt. A yawn broke their gaze. Bianca chuckled. "I guess I'm worn out from all the excitement…" She joked. Maggie smiled genuinely, thinking of how cute Bianca looked when she yawned.
"Maybe you should go home, get to bed…" She suggested, not really wanting to let the girl go, but not wanting to deal with the implications of her feelings. Bianca sighed.
"Yeah, I guess I should…I really am tired." She said, exaggerating her fatigue so she could get away from these overwhelming feelings.
"Yeah…I, uh, I need to bring Tim back his car, anyway…" Maggie replied. Bianca winced inwardly at the mention of his name yet again. Bianca stood nervously, unmoving.
"So…yeah, you should go do that…I'll talk to you later…" She trailed off, forcing herself to move to her car door.
"Seeya Bianca." Maggie said, watching the girl get into her car and drive away. "I love you." She said to no one.
The End