The Gemini: Emancipation

9 - Mirror Mirror

September 19, 1996

An eternity's worth of minutes passed. Roger said nothing more, neither did Jody. The ten foot gap between them felt like miles instead. They both stand here in the wilderness, staring at the other. She couldn't be surprised by his claim. It's the truth. Jody had an affair.

May 1994

On the living room floor Jody lay on her back, laughing with tears misting her eyes. The source of this bout of hilarity: embarrassing tour stories. She'd told Tommy one of her worst and he one upped her with one of his own. A recounting of his first time being rigged into the magical flying harness ride.

"I'm sorry." Jody's apology quivered as an attempt to end her cackles failed. "I swear I'm not laughing at you."

An involuntary dorky snort escaped her, making the chuckles start up again.

Stopping his card shuffling, Tommy fanned them off in her direction, making them rain down over her head. Still fitted in giggles, Jody's hands flew to shield her face a little too late. Gathering her composure, she grabbed a handful of cards and flung them back at him.

"So I guess you're done with the shows and stuff." he asked, getting their topic back on track.

After ante upping in the kitchen earlier, the two returned to their Uno game. Tommy had a new determination to win and actually did. Two games. Along the third, they ventured off into conversation. The liquor in their system loosened the atmosphere.

He isn't drunk. Jody isn't either, but she's reached her favorite level. The plane where reality lost its power to factcheck her chill. Glazy is what she liked to call this state. Shiny and smooth. Smooth and shiny? Whichever. She finally feels happy.

At his question, her shoulders shrug. "The solo shows, yeah. It's not fun anymore, it's starting to feel like work. I gotta couple more to do then I don't know after that. I might retire."

He laughed, "You just started."

"It's been a year, that's good enough."

Tommy bummed, "Sucks." Sitting back against the front of the couch he tsked, "That's really too bad."

Peaking her brows, Jody put on a little grin. "Why? You wanna come see me?"

Smirking back, "Maybe so."

"Well no discounts. None of this is free."

"I got no problem paying."

Jody watched him push through his hair. Tommy watched her watching him. That's when the telephone rang.

Brown eyes didn't miss the way blue eyes tensed. Jody guessed that a call at this time of night must've been abnormal, and that could only mean one thing.

Abs pulling her smoothly forward, she sat up with her legs crossed while Tommy answered. After speaking a hello, his expression relaxed. A shake of his head let Jody know that it isn't a Paisley summons.

Tilting the receiver away, "Erica". he mouthed.

His girl toy, the groupie.

Jody did a short nod and, later, quietly snickered as she listened on at their conversation. From the sounds of it, Erica wanted to come by. Tommy suggested another night, saying he was about to leave out.

The wires of spontaneity – Foolishness? Shit stirring? – sparked within Jody. She wanted to call out liar and see how he would back himself out of it. Or better yet, maybe moan his name and watch him turn red. Both choices were so tempting, but she resisted her jokes in the end.