Orange Blossoms

Isn't That A Pickle?

This is the bit I took out concerning Michelle's talk with Rey at the safehouse. I originally was going to keep it in the story so everyone would know that Rey just wasn't thinking with his penis, that he really does love her. But in the end I decided that it wouldn't work because I didn't want the audience to know before Elina did. 

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There was a knock on the door and Michelle fumed. She told the damn guard not to bother them unless it was news about Vince. She glanced down at Em and she could feel her heart breaking for her all over again. She didn’t need Em to tell her what happened. This was all about Rey. That was painfully obvious to Michelle only because she’s seen her do this twice before. Only problem was, Michelle didn’t know how it would be fixed this time.

Everything was a mess and they were now in the unknown. That had to be getting to the siblings De Sota, Em more than Vincent. He had a way of adapting to new situations that his sister didn’t. At first Michelle thought it would be ok because Em would have both her brother and herself to help her maneuver everything. But then Rey got mixed up in it and Michelle knew that everything wasn’t going to go as smoothly as she first imagined.

Very carefully, she extracted herself from around Em and moved quietly to the door. The face on the other side wasn’t a surprise but it wasn’t until she opened the door that she connected all the dots. And instead of letting him in like she was originally planning, she took a step out into the hall and closed the door.

Rey wanted into that room, she could see that but there was no way she was letting him in. Now was the time to control the fall out and lessen the amount of hurt, if possible, Em would feel when the reality finally settled in for her.

When it became obvious she wasn’t going to let him in, Rey looked down at Michelle about to protest but the second he saw the look on her face, he closed his mouth.

“My room. Now.”

She waited for him to go first but she knew he would hesitate. If they were in love, they always hesitated and just like she thought, Rey hesitated. That didn’t make this any easier on her and she sure as hell wasn’t about cave just because of it. This was only going to work one way and he had to know it would be him walking away so Em could have a new chance at a normal life.

“Michelle…”

“Now, Rey,” she said a little bit softer. “I’m not fucking around about this.”

Finally he nodded. “Alright.” He looked at the guard. “Keep an eye on her.”

“Yes, sir.”

He let Michelle lead the way down the hallway. She was only a few doors down from Em so it wasn’t like they were going far. Rey opened the door for her, the action a little foreign to her since no one but her brothers and father usually opened doors for her. Vince was a good man but his manners were lacking in some areas.

She plopped down in the chair, wanting to control her rage, and Rey closed the door. She could tell by the set of his shoulders that he didn’t really want to be in here. This was a discussion he wanted to avoid at all costs but now found himself having. But in Michelle’s mind it was better that he was having it with her and not with either of the De Sota’s. Vince was liable to kill him and Em was…well…she would let Rey do all the talking and end up being the one hurt when it was all over.

“Take a shower recently?” she asked snidely.

Rey turned to face her, his whole demeanor snapping to attention in response to her tone.

“Something like that.”

“Funny since Em just took one too. Say,” she continued to glare at him “you didn’t by chance take one together, did you?”