Reece's Faith (77 page)

"Promise."

"Okay, deal." Reece nearly crushed Cori's fingers and the dancer grimaced in pain before Reece realized what she was doing. "Oh, sorry, I'm a bit tense."

"I'll say. When's the last time you got laid?" Cori wondered.

"Last week, maybe?" Reece winced at her own admission. "I'm busting, Cor. This thing has to end or I'll spontaneously combust."

"Whassamatter? Are your fingers broken? Do it yourself," Cori shrugged. "Better yet, do it in bed while she's laying next to you. That ought to do the trick."

Both Reece's eyebrows arched high. "You know, that's not such a bad idea."

"Oh, and Reece? You may want to take a shower first," she teased.

"Freak," the club owner winked at her friend and headed towards the locker room.

 
*  *  *

"Jayme, may I have a word with you, please?"

While the normally stoic producer was ready for this moment, the tone of Faith's voice made her wince. She lifted her hand, waved the actress into her office and made short work of her phone call. Hanging up the receiver, she graced Faith with a guilty smile.

Faith smiled back, a pathetic attempt to hide her disgust. She opened the script and pointed to a particular line. "Scumbag. Can they say this on television?"

"Uh, yeah. It passed the censors," Jayme fidgeted uncomfortably.

"Just checking." Faith leafed through the script some more and came to another page. "Oh, here. You know, I find it hard to believe that on Monday, I slept with Ali's boyfriend, while on that same day, I sabotaged three cars in the parking lot. I'm not sure, but it may be overkill. What if I sleep with him on Monday and on Tuesday, I slash those tires. Cuz, Wednesday, I see I'm pretty busy breaking up Sandy and her fiancÈ. Thursday, however, I managed to get some free time between bitch slapping Barbra and convincing Holly's children of what a slut she is," Faith's smile turned to a sneer and she slammed the script closed.

Jayme nodded, her expression rueful. "Uhm, Faith, I'm sorry..."

"No, don't be silly," Faith stood up and waved the apology away. "I hardly expected you to be understanding. I mean, what else could you do to me? Making my job miserable comes with being a lesbian, does it not? I fully expected to be tortured relentlessly for loving someone with all my heart. Come on now, Jaymeister, every one should be cruelly punished for finding the other half of their soul."

If the venom in Faith's voice had been tangible, Jayme knew that she would have been dead. The producer nodded feebly and licked her dry lips. The tension rolling off the actress was palpable and it made the air heavy. Jayme nervously picked at her desk blotter in a desperate attempt to avoid eye contact.

"That's okay, Jaymes. I'll see myself out."

The producer glanced up and grimaced as the door slammed loudly. "Damn it. It's not my fault," she complained to the empty room.

 
*  *  *

John reached out and grabbed Faith's arm as she attempted to whiz past make-up. He twirled her around, sat the disoriented actress in the chair and stood before her tapping his foot. "Where do you think you're going?"

"Work."

Faith attempted to get up but John stopped her by stepping in front of the chair and leaning on the arms, trapping her. "Faith, I love you so much, you're like the sister I never had. Why didn't you talk to me about this? It's horrible. It's because you sleep with Reece that they're doing this to you. Don't you want to fight it?"

Green eyes studied the man who was being so uncharacteristically sober. Faith reached out, laid her hand on his and squeezed. "Look, I'm sorry. I can't fight everyone. As soon as I discuss this with Reece, I'm outta here. I'm no hero. I'm tired and I want to go home."

"Honey, I understand defeat. Let me make a few phone calls and I'll have the biggest, baddest butches and the draggiest of the queens here in a flash. You don't have to fight alone; you got me," he paused to smile brightly, "and one out of every ten people in New York City who would love to stand behind you. They're a lovely bunch," he snickered and kissed her nose.

Faith grinned. What did she have to lose? Reece would agree that she should leave. If her lover knew the half of it, she'd storm in here like a bat out of hell.
Oh yeah, maybe I should let her exact my revenge.

"If that evil little chuckle means anything, shall I assume that you agree with me?"

"I do, but that was brought on by just thinking about letting Reece loose in here."

"Oh, Louise! What a wonderfully delicious idea," John snickered conspiratorially.

Faith laughed with him and became serious again, "It would mean a lot to you if I fought this, wouldn't it?"

"Not just me, Faith. A lot of people have been treated a hell of a lot worse that this."

"I'll fight, John, but I'm not willing to stay where I'm not wanted."

"Who says you have to stay? Just make the grandest exit ever known. Let the world know why you're leaving. Narrow minded bigots need to be reminded that we're everywhere." The make up artist sang a rousing chorus of "We're here, we're queer."

"Thank you, John. I love you, too," Faith laughed. "Now, let's doll me up. My public awaits."

 
*  *  *

Cori was just stepping out of the shower when the phone began ringing. She grabbed a towel and yelled to Violet who was doing paint touch-ups to check the caller ID. Only special people warrant her naked attention.

"It's Reece. I'm full of paint!" the piercer hollered from the kitchen.

Cori ran to answer the phone. "You're special."

"Huh?" Reece was confused at the greeting and thought she may have dialed some religious fanatic by accident. "Cori?" she asked hesitantly.

"Yeah, what's up?"

"There's definitely something wrong with you, you know that?"

"Uh huh. I'm naked. Talk to me while I get dressed. Unless you wanna talk dirty and then I'll stay naked," she offered. "I know you could use some help lately."

"You're an asshole. I'm freaking out and you wanna have phone sex," Reece snorted.

"Okay, okay... I have my panties on and I'm holding my bra. What's wrong?"

"Oh, nothing's
wrong
, Cor. Everything happens to be
right
," Reece answered cryptically.

"What the fuck are you talking about, Reece?"

"Just got a call from Brad. Brad Rogers, remember him?"

"How could I forget, Theresa," she teased.

Reece growled, "Anyway, Corrine, guess who's had a part written specifically for her in a big budget movie?"

"No way." Cori plopped down on the bed. "No fucking way! Faith?"

"DING, give that girl a cigar!" Reece laughed, picturing her friend's shocked face.

"Oh, my fucking god. Did you tell her? VIOLET, get in here! Is she going to take it? Of course, she's going to take it! I
am
an asshole. When is she quitting? Talk to me!"

Reece chuckled. "Okay, I'll give you the excitement, I nearly fell over myself. No, I haven't told her yet; Brad is on the phone with her right now and she'd be a fool not to take it." Reece heard Violet come rushing into the room and Cori explained to her what was going on.

"AAAAHHHH!!!"

Both women screamed into the phone and Reece feared she lost the ability to hear out of her left ear.

"Whoa, easy girls. I just wanted you to know, Cori. Can I go to the studio now?"

"Yes, Reece, I think you can go to the studio now," Cori said excitedly.

The second Reece put down the receiver, the phone rang. Knowing it would be a barely contained Faith on the other line, she smiled and sat down before answering. "Yellow?"

The club owner sat on the couch with the biggest, proud grin on her face, listening to her hyperactive lover scream and yell her happiness into her ear. After Faith calmed some, Reece asked
the
question. "Faith, what about your contract? Will they let you out of it?"

"Fuck the contract, Reece. Let them sue me. I hate it here. God, a movie, Reece!"

The club owner chuckled, "I know baby, I know. They wrote the part just for you. I'm so proud of you."

"You are?" Faith squeaked.

"Of course I am. Why shouldn't I be?"

"I love you, Reece," Faith sobbed.

"Why the hell are you crying? Faith! What's the matter?" Reece practically hollered in concern.

"It's good, Reece, it's all good. I miss you right now. I want to hug you. I want you to hug me, really," she admitted.

"Then I'll be right there."

 
*  *  *

"Where's Judith? Has anyone seen Faith?"

The entire cast shrugged. They knew where Faith was and didn't care how long they waited until she appeared. While the head guys were out to get the actress, the cast and crew didn't feel the same way and backed her one hundred percent. When Reece came sauntering into the lot, they were more than happy to cover Faith's back and give her however long she needed with her partner.

"God, I wish I could have been a fly on that wall when Faith confronted Jayme," Ali whispered to Sandy.

Sandy nodded, "Oh yeah, ten bucks says she didn't curse once and it was still scary."

Ali snickered, "I agree. Oh, here comes Faith now."

"Feeling better, hon?" Sandy asked, rubbing Faith on the back.

"Much, thanks. Reece's hugs are the best medicine, nothing else matters when I'm in her arms."

"I envy you. I hope I find what you have. It must be wonderful," Ali smiled dreamily.

"You will, when you least expect it, too. Love is funny that way," Faith's lips lifted into a cute little grin. The sudden booming of the PA system startled the women.

"Jayme, please come to your office. Thank you."

"What the hell was that?"

Faith's eyes narrowed and she chuckled evilly,

"
That
, was Reece. In about five minutes, ladies, I'll be a free woman."

"What? Are you kidding?" Ali was shocked.

"Reece is buying out my contract as we speak."

"You mean she's in there with Jayme now? Oh, shit! I want to hear this!"

John flew by and grabbed Ali by the sleeve. "Then follow me, sweetheart!"

 
*  *  *

If there was one thing in this world that could put the producer's heart in her throat, it was the figure sitting at her desk.

Reece grinned wildly at the gasp Jayme emitted. Draping her leg casually over the arm of the chair, she waved her hand at the chair on the other side of the big desk.

Jayme sat down and prayed that she wouldn't pee in her pants. "Reece."

"Jayme." She rolled her piercing around behind her teeth. "Comfy?"