Chapter Text
:WILDWIND MANSION-PINE VALLEY, PA:
Julia Santos and Anton Lang (Marek)
"What is...exactly what is going on between you and Noah, Julia?" Anton Shatsun asks. "Are you together?"
Julia replies "Why do you care? You have a WIFE: remember KENDALL?!"
"Of course, I do--what kind of question is that?! I only married Kendall because I thought that you and him were together...which
you haven't answered the question--are you with him?!"
"Noah...is my friend; my good friend. He saved my life after I was...a-attacked. I care about him."
Anton scoffs. "As usual you are tip-toeing around the SHIT-PILE rather than answer the fucking question"-
"Anton, please don't curse me, okay? You're scaring me," Julia sniffles. A bit more calmly, her companion apologizes. "OK; sorry.
it's just...yes, I married Kendall but I've never gotten over you. I love you, Julia. What about you?"
In a whisper, her head lowered 'Jay' responds "I don't know...I...I'm real fond of you--I know THAT...and we were so close before you
left town before...I'm kinda confused, to be honest."
Stepping closer, her companion tips her chin up with a pair of fingers and murmurs "How about now?" before pressing his lips to hers.
Shocked at first, within a few seconds, she melts into the buss. She stares up at him, more confused than before. "Does that help your
'clarity'?" Dimitri Marek's son asks.
Pulling away in a sudden panic, Julia flees, calling back "I...I have to think!! Moments later Dimitri Marick--Anton's father--enters the
room pours himself a brandy, and swallows it in one go. "ANTON: I saw Julia run out of here just now; what happened, Son?" Anton downs
a brandy himself before responding bitterly. "Same old Julia: can't decide what she wants; whether she feels the same as me or not...I kiss
her and she runs out; probably back to her drug dealer boyfriend."
"NOAH KEEFER?! He rescued her; took her home and kept her safe, Anton. Whatever he is or isn't, it's HER choice to stay with him in his...
hovel. Give her some time; she'll realize what the right choice is."
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:NOAH KEEFER'S APARTMENT (DOWNTOWN PINE VALLEY):
Julia and Noah Keefer
When Noah arrives home that night he finds Julia seated on the stairs a short distance from his door in plain view (she's unafraid as the
'neighborhood' is under standing orders by the big man to leave her be). "What you doin' here?" he asks gruffly, unlocking the door and
standing aside.
She slips off her sweater, then jokes "Maybe I should keep this on; for all I know you're gonna run me outta her."
"What you want, Jay?"
Steeling herself, 'Jay' says "I needed you to know what I've been doin' all day; you left me a couple messages." After a pause, she continues
"I paid a visit to the prison...saw Louie...PLEASE DON'T BE MAD, Noah...the leader of my rape survivor's group suggested that the way to
stop these nightmares I'm havin'. And she's right: it's like I have this huge weight lifted off of me. I wanted to let you know right
away."
Nodding thoughtfully, "What's that mean?"
"I'm FREE, Noah! I took my life back, and I have permission now to open myself to all the possibilities now: I have permission to LOVE
YOU the way that I think that I always have. Aren't you...you don't look happy...what's wrong?"
Staring at her steadily, Noah mutters "Did you see Anton at Wild Wind?"
"W-What? Um...yeah; I passed through there on my way from the prison...if you know that I was there, you probably know that he-ANTON-
KISSED ME. And that I ran out. I'm here , with you."
"I guess you wouldn't tell me about it if you were hidin' somethin'. So this is real?"
'I was just...wandering' around LOST...confused...and broken...and you found me--and brought me here--and took care of me, and you're
STILL takin' care of me: no one told you to, and no one made you. I was so mixed up, but not anymore. I'm not unsure anymore about who
I am, what I want and how I feel. I'm 'Jay': YOUR JAY; I want YOU and I love you."
"Is that so? Huh...come over here."
She walks over to stand before him. "Yes, it's so," the '5 foot 2" firebrand declares defiantly. "Now kiss me, please." He does--deeply and
as much feeling as he can muster...