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Remember Part 19 The air was warm and muggy as we strolled through Chinatown. I stopped in a number of shops, buying little presents for friends back in Florida, including a beautiful silk shirt with a mandarin collar for Scott and a Pokemon doll for Jagger. Despite all that had happened, I still couldn’t come home empty handed. David wasn’t too pleased, and fumed silently as he followed behind me. We continued on to the teashop, where Mei-Ling and I greeted each other excitedly as her mother brewed a cup of tea for David. I think it helped him feel a little better about my gift buying. It was impossible to be unhappy in Mei’s shop; it was aromatherapy 24 hours a day. “I thought you two didn’t see each other no more?” She whispered, gesturing at David. “Sometimes things happen that you just can’t explain.” I smiled, glancing over at him. I knew he had heard me. Another customer required Mei’s attention and I walked over to David, lacing my fingers in his as I stood quietly next to him and surveyed the tea selections. He turned his head to brush his lips against my ear. “Not everything requires an explanation.” I just smiled, somewhat sadly. Familiar words that still ring true, but try telling that to the tug-of-war going on in my mind right now. He handed me the cup of tea to finish off, and I made a few selections of Chai and green teas to take home. I gave Mei a hug goodbye and we left to continue our search for more lovely, overpriced, imported items. I found the silk robe I had been searching for a few stores down; instinctively trying on the shimmering material in royal blue, turning to and fro in front of the mirror as I admired the colorful embroidered dragon on the back. David shook his head, insisting the green one would go better with my eyes. I gave him the benefit of a doubt and placed the green one on the counter before a beautiful pair of mother-of-pearl earrings distracted me. I inquired on the price, but found them a little too expensive for my vacation budget. Moving to another rack, I selected a necklace with a simple leather strap and a pewter medallion with the Chinese symbol for my astrological sign of the rat designed into it. Placing it on the counter, I went to pull out my credit card, only to have the clerk stop me. “He already pay.” She said, nodding at David. He smiled. I rolled my eyes and shook my head. “I have money, David.” “I know.” “You don’t have to do that.” “I want to.” I didn’t argue with him, but looked back at the clerk as she placed the items into a bag. “Wait a minute, not the earrings too? I didn’t--" “He buy!” She pointed at him. I thanked the lady and grabbed the bag, making a face at him as he chuckled. I do well for myself, but it's things like this that made his parents think I was a gold-digger. Well, they didn't like me much for being Catholic either, but that's another story. If they only knew about the times I had to use my money to bail him out. I have to admit I loved his generous streak, even though it embarrassed me at times. But the smile on his face when he surprises me with little gifts is more than money could ever buy. “I’m going to kick your butt one of these days for doing stuff like this!” I shook the bag at him in mock anger. “I’d prefer you to do some other things to me.” He pinched my ass as we stepped out of the store to find that a drizzle had started up again. We stood under the store awning and he took the bag, pulling out the jewelry for me to put on. After helping me tie the leather strip behind my neck, he let his hands linger, stroking my throat lightly just above the necklace. I stared into his eyes, my hands around his waist and pulling him closer to me. He touched my earlobes, admiring how the dangling pearls looked on me, and I could feel a shiver run down my spine. The way he looks at me, touches me; he always makes me feel beautiful. He pressed his lips against mine; kissing me softly, and I closed my eyes, feeling like I was transported back to another day. I smiled as we parted. “Thank you.” “Now that’s more like it.” I scrunched my nose at him and popped him on the ass with my palm. We ran the next few blocks to the restaurant as the rain started to come down harder. At least I had gotten my shopping done before the rain. We split an order of vegetarian Moo Shu and a pot of jasmine tea. We talked about our present, our past, anything but the future. Other moments we just sat and stared at one another. I never thought I would see him again, but look at us now, carrying on as if our relationship never ended. I nervously fingered my necklace with my left hand and looked down at the leaves stuck to the bottom of my cup. He reached over, placing his hand on my wrist and I lifted my eyes to him. "I wish you were coming with me tomorrow." "I know, but I have to go back to Orlando." I still couldn't call it home. It just wasn't home to me yet. "Do you?" I nodded. "With or without Scott, I have to go back. I'm not going back because of him; I'm going back because my life is down there now. I'm still the CPA extraordinaire that you met at Groovemaster studios." I smiled. "Only I was so good, they took me with them when they moved. Business is great in Florida and they're speculating about making me a partner in the firm." "Are you happy?" "Yes." I hesitated before I answered, something I'm certain did not go unnoticed by him. "Then I guess that's all that matters." "But what about you? Aren't you happy? Your band's doing great, you've won awards, you're on tour with Ozzy, you've got fans galore...you've got everything you wanted." He hesitated also before answering. "Yes, I am." "Then I guess that is all that matters." Its for the best, I kept telling myself. Its for the best. Disturbed Fanfic Page Remember - Part 20 Copyright TMS2004-6   page created with Webpage Designer (NS)