Small
Worlds
?003 Roger E. Moore
(roger70129@aol.com)
Feedback (good, bad, indifferent,
just want to bother me, whatever) is appreciated. Please write to:
roger70129@aol.com
Synopsis: Jane and Daria meet a new
Tom in this shameless Mary Sue.
Author抯 Notes: The first half of this
story was actually written some months earlier but left incomplete. The story
didn抰 work, and I could not figure out why. WacoKid then began an Iron Chef
contest on PPMB in late May 2003 for 揗ary Sue?stories, and I suddenly
realized the fragment I had was a Mary Sue. Thus prepared, I finished the story
and left it a Mary Sue, and here it is. It takes place after Is It College
Yet? Enjoy.
Acknowledgements: Thanks to WacoKid for the
contest!
牋牋牋牋牋?The two-story house was sun-bleached
yellow and in need of minor maintenance. Overgrown grass, a cracked windowpane,
a rusting metal sculpture by the front door, loose siding梚t was the perfect
model of benign neglect. LANE said the mailbox, though the N now hung at an
angle. A big family lived here, he guessed, or it once did. He saw no toys left
out in the yard; the kids must have grown up. He left his rental car at the
curb and walked to the front door, glad for an unseasonably cool breeze on a
late morning in late July in the 慴urbs. It cleared his mind for the business
to come.
牋牋牋牋牋?He rang the doorbell and waited
about half a minute, nervous but ready, before he rang it a second time. He
waited another half minute, then reached into the inner pocket of his suit
jacket to get a pen and paper, planning to leave a note stuck in the mailbox.
牋牋牋牋牋?A floorboard creaked on the other side of the door. The doorknob rattled, a lock popped, and the door opened.
牋牋牋牋牋?He saw her silken, anthracite bangs,
her lanky frame, her bright red lips and red jacket, but when she stopped
blinking at the sunlight, he fell into her bluer-than-blue eyes and he was
gone.
牋牋牋牋牋?He started to say something, but
he抎 completely forgotten why he was there. Lights flashed in the back of his
mind as the word JACKPOT blinked on and off.
牋牋牋牋牋?揧o,?she said, taking him in. Her
voice was pleasantly deep.
牋牋牋牋牋?揢h,?he said, jarred into action. 揌i! I抦 looking for Trent Lott. Is he here??o:p>
牋牋牋牋牋?Her bright red lips curved up in
amusement. 揟rent Lott??she repeated.
牋牋牋牋牋?揟rent Lane!?he said in
horror. 揑 meant Lane! I抦 very sorry! Is he here?
牋牋牋牋牋?She leaned against the doorframe. She wore her open red jacket over a black t-shirt, with black pants and ash-gray boots. Her clothing was slightly wrinkled, as if she抎 been sleeping in it. Rainbow-hued spots of paint decorated her jacket arms. She crossed her arms as she looked into his eyes with a smile. 揘ot at the moment. Can I help you . . . whatever your name is??o:p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揙h!?he said, getting up to speed. 揝ure. My name is Tom, Tom Andrews.?o:p>
牋牋牋牋牋?For some reason, her smile faded and she sighed. Did she hear something bad about me? he wondered. He pulled a business card from his shirt pocket and gave it to her. 揑抦 an agent with Excelsior Music, in Nashville. Mr. Lane sent us a demo tape about two weeks ago. I thought I might be able to speak with him about it.?o:p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揑 didn抰 know he sent in a tape.?o:p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揥ell,?he said, grinning nervously, 揑 hope it wasn抰 meant to be a secret. It was a solo audition tape. Maybe I should . . . see him about the details.?o:p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揧ou flew in from Nashville because of Trent抯 demo tape? It must have been pretty good.?o:p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揂h, actually, yeah, it was. Will he be back soon??o:p>
牋牋牋牋牋?She looked him over slowly, still smiling. 揑 didn抰 check his room, but if he抯 not in from his gig last night downtown, he should be back soon.?Her head tilted. 揅are to come inside and wait??o:p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揝ure, thanks, if it wouldn抰 be any trouble.?He winced and put out his hand. 揑抦 sorry, I抦 just a little slow. It抯 the jet lag. You would be . . . ??o:p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揌is sister.?She took his hand with a firm grip. She held on longer than necessary. 揑抦 Jane. Jane Lane.?o:p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揓a桱ane, good to meet you.?He recovered. His ex-girlfriend抯 name was Jane, now run off to Los Angeles with his former best friend. Figured. It was such a small world. 揚leased to meet you.?o:p>
牋牋牋牋牋?Jane turned and led him into the house. 揑t抯 the maid抯 day off,?she said, waving a careless hand at the living room. 揊orgive the condition of the palace. We like the lived-in look.?o:p>
牋牋牋牋牋?Tom grinned. His apartment was far messier than this. 揘ot a problem. I apologize for barging in on you. I just flew in an hour ago to the airport here. Haven抰 even gotten my hotel room yet.?o:p>
牋牋牋牋牋?Jane turned to look at him, one eyebrow raised. 揟hat must have really been some demo tape.?o:p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揑t was pretty good,?he admitted. He looked around the room. 揗ind if I sit??o:p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揝ure,?said Jane. She dropped onto the sofa facing him, sprawled out like a cat, and waved him into an overstuffed chair. 揂re you from Nashville originally??o:p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揘o, no. Uh, I抦 based on the east coast, but all my assignments and business come from Nashville. Music capital. In Elvis we trust.?o:p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揝o, Trent stayed awake long enough to send you a demo tape. He抯 part of a band here, you know.?o:p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揢h, no, I didn抰 know. He didn抰 mention anything about a band.?Tom shrugged. 揕ike I said, I hope it wasn抰 supposed to be a secret.?o:p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揌ey, I抦 his sister. He doesn抰 keep anything from me. Except, of course, this tape. And I抦 not in the band, so don抰 worry about a jealousy thing. I抎 love it if he抎 hit it big. And I won抰 tell, even if they try to torture me by playing something.?o:p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揥hat band is this??o:p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揗ystik Spiral. You won抰 have heard of it. Local only, but they have dreams of playing outside the county someday.?She tilted her head. 揧ou抮e, what, twenty-five??o:p>
牋牋牋牋牋?He wasn抰 expecting that. 揢h, twenty-four. That was a pretty good guess. I抦 new at Excelsior, the low man on the totem pole. On the good side, that means I do all the legwork, which I like. Travel broadens the mind, and . . . everything.?He was having trouble focusing on the purpose of his visit. Jane抯 eyes were fantastic, blue worlds unto themselves. He almost lost the thread of what he was saying as he was going on about broadening the mind. 揇o you work in town??o:p>
牋牋牋牋牋?Her smile deepened. 揘o, I抳e escaped the curse of the regular paycheck. I抦 heading for college in Boston in a few weeks.?o:p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揃oston??His heart actually jumped. 揥here in Boston??o:p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揃oston Fine Arts College. Oh, do you live there??o:p>
牋牋牋牋牋?He could not keep from laughing, half from relief and half from surprise. 揃FAC抯 one block from my apartment!?he said, calling her college bee-fak. 揟hat抯 incredible. Small world.?o:p>
牋牋牋牋牋?Did her eyes light up when he said this? 揝ure is,?she said. 揑 don抰 start classes until January, but I抦 moving there early with a friend of mine.?o:p>
牋牋牋牋牋?His emotions teetered on the edge of collapse. Her boyfriend? 揌e抯 starting college next month, too??o:p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揝he,?said Jane. 揗y best friend. She抣l be at Raft, and I抣l be at BFAC.?o:p>
牋牋牋牋牋?Relief flooded through him. 揟hat抯 excellent! Maybe after you move in, I can take you around and show you some of the sights. Boston抯 a great city.?o:p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揑抎 like that,?she said with a slightly wicked smile. 揗aybe you could help me move in, too, if you have some free time.?o:p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揢h, sure, if my schedule抯 clear.?He made a mental note to clear his schedule, no matter what he was doing, the
day she showed up in town.
牋牋牋牋牋?The doorbell rang.
牋牋牋牋牋?揑s that Trent??asked Tom, starting
to get up.
牋牋牋牋牋?Jane waved him back into his seat
and got up instead with easy grace. 揟rent would never ring the doorbell,?she
said, walking to the front door and opening it.
牋牋牋牋牋?Tom craned his neck. On the front step was an auburn-haired girl wearing large round glasses, dressed in a green jacket, black skirt, and black Doc Martens. 揇idn抰 think you抎 be up and alert so early,?the girl said. 揘ew medication??o:p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揙h, there you are, paperboy!?said Jane loudly, reaching in a pocket of her red jacket. 揂bout time you came around, too.?o:p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揥hat??said the auburn-haired girl in confusion. 揑 was thought I was kidding about the new medication.?o:p>
牋牋牋牋牋?Jane pulled a pen and scrap of paper from her pocket and scribbled out a note. 揌ere you go, paperboy, an IOU for the last six months of paper delivery. You抳e done an excellent job, so I抳e included a tip.?o:p>
牋牋牋牋牋?The brunette took the note and
squinted at it. 揥hat do you mean, I抦 not getting this one??The girl looked
past Jane into the house梐nd locked eyes with Tom.
牋牋牋牋牋?揥hoa!?gasped the new girl, eyes
widening. 揂 hottie! Holy shi棓
牋牋牋牋牋?揃ye!?said Jane, and shut the door and slid the deadbolt in with a snap. 揔ids these days,?she said, walking back to her seat on the sofa. Knocking came from the door, but Jane ignored it. 揅are for some coffee??/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揑 don抰 drink coffee, but if you
have tea, sure,?said Tom. He glanced at the front door, where the knocking had
become more insistent. The doorknob rattled madly.
牋牋牋牋牋?揅ome on back into the kitchen,
then.?Jane led the way through the house, stepping over old clothing and pizza
boxes, until they reached the kitchen and minutes later were seated at the
table, drinking steaming liquids from cracked mugs and laughing at the stories
Jane told about her artwork, and stories Tom told about music personalities
he抎 met since he began work with Excelsior. Jane closed the window shades
after noticing the auburn-haired girl jumping up and down outside, trying to
peer in.
牋牋牋牋牋?Jane sighed contentedly and sipped her coffee. Her crossed legs were inches from Tom抯, her pose relaxed. Her eyes were on him alone, and his eyes on her. 揑 was never a fan of country music,?she said, 揵ut I抣l give that new group you mentioned a try.?o:p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揑抎 love to see some of your art,?said Tom. 揑f you don抰 mind.?o:p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揝ure, for what it抯 worth,?she said, fingering her mug. She was looking at his chest. 揑抳e got plenty of etchings in my room that you can look at.?o:p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揑 love art.?o:p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揑 love people who love art.?o:p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揇id you always know you were going to be an artist??o:p>
牋牋牋牋牋?She smiled and nodded. 揂lways. From the day I got my first crayon and a wall to draw on.?o:p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揑 love your eyes.?It came out of him just like that. He jumped, shocked at what he抎 said. 揑抦 sorry!?he said, his face flushing. 揑 just . . . anyway, sorry about that.?o:p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揘o, please.?Her voice deepened. 揋o on.?o:p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揑t抯 . . .?He looked up and her
eyes washed over him. 揟hat color of blue, in your eyes, it抯 like the earth in
space. It抯 like your eyes are little worlds, like棓 He couldn抰 go on. He was
way over his head and needed to stop at once. This was not at all the reason
why he抎 come here.
牋牋牋牋牋?Jane gently put down her mug of
coffee and pushed it aside. She leaned toward him. Her leg brushed against his.
牋牋牋牋牋?Tom suddenly did not care why he抎
come here. He cared only that she was here and he was here and he wanted her
more than he wanted life itself.
牋牋牋牋牋?A floorboard creaked in the ceiling,
followed by the sound of shuffling footsteps. Tom froze, looking upward.
牋牋牋牋牋?Jane抯 eyes rolled up to the ceiling, and her breath came out in a long sigh. 揟rent,?she said in mild annoyance. 揙f course.?o:p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揑 thought you said he was out.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揑 thought so, too, but I didn抰
check his room when I got up. Damn.?Jane stood, as did Tom. The
footsteps came down the stairs and headed for the kitchen. 揃etter not be that
paperboy breaking into the house,?Jane mumbled.
牋牋牋牋牋?A tall, thin, twenty-something man
with uncombed black hair, multiple earrings, blue tattoos, and a goatee
shuffled into the kitchen. He slowed down when he spotted Tom, squinting at him
as if trying to place him.
牋牋牋牋牋?揟om,?said Tom, holding out a hand.
揟om Andrews, with Excelsior Music. You抮e Trent Lott??Tom winced and gritted
his teeth a moment later.
牋牋牋牋牋?揕ane,?said the young man, shaking Tom抯 hand. 揈xcelsior? Oh, yeah, the tape. I forgot about it.?o:p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揧es, the tape,?said Tom, red-faced. 揋od, I抦 sorry about messing up your name. It抯 the jet lag, screws with my head all the time.?o:p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揑 know what you mean,?said Trent slowly. 揑 usually don抰 get up till three.?o:p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揥hy are you up now??asked Jane.
牋牋牋牋牋?揝omeone was throwing rocks at my window,?said Trent, frowning. 揟rying to get me up, I guess. Was that you??o:p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揘ope,?said Jane. 揇amn neighborhood kids.?o:p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揥asn抰 me, either,?said Tom. 揕isten, Trent, I flew all the way out here to ask if you抎 come to Nashville with me for a week.?o:p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揧ou抮e flying Trent to Nashville??Jane asked, her blue eyes widening.
牋牋牋牋牋?揑f he wants to go,?said Tom. He looked at Trent. 揟hat was a fantastic demo. All sorts of people want to hear you, if you抳e got the time.?o:p>
牋牋牋牋牋?Trent appeared to consider this as he scratched his chest through his t-shirt and grimaced. He dropped his hand and his face relaxed. 揅ool,?he said. 揥hen??o:p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揥e can leave tomorrow morning,?said Tom. He looked at Jane. 揑抳e got two tickets, with an option for a third. Wanna see the Grand Ole?Opry??o:p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揗e??said Jane, startled. 揥hy me??o:p>
牋牋牋牋牋?Tom thought fast. 揧ou抮e an artist, right??he said. 揥ell, we have an art department. You could look around, give us some ideas. Consult with us. And you抮e his sister, too. We make allowances for family members梖or support, you know.?/p>
牋牋牋牋牋?Jane raised an eyebrow at him. 揧ou don抰 actually need me there in Nashville.?o:p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揘o,?said Tom quickly, 搕hat抯 not true. I do need you.?He flinched. ?i>We, I mean?i>we need you. In Nashville. With Trent, so he can make another demo. Of course.?o:p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揅抦on, Janey,?said Trent, ambling to the refrigerator to peer inside. 揥hy not??o:p>
牋牋牋牋牋?Jane looked from Trent to Tom, smiling. 揝ure,?she said, looking into Tom抯 eyes. 揥hy not? I抦 over eighteen, I can go places without a note.?Her eyes drifted down to Tom抯 chest again. 揝ee the world, broaden my mind.?o:p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揓aney??asked Trent, peering around a window shade, 搃s that Daria outside??o:p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揥ho??said Jane, blinking as she turned. 揇aria? What do you mean??o:p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揝he抯 got a ladder,?said Trent, frowning. A soft thump went through the house, from the second floor on the outside wall. 揕ooks like she抯 climbing up to your bedroom window. Why抯 she doing that??o:p>
牋牋牋牋牋?Jane shrugged. 揅razy paperboys these days.?She turned to Tom. 揌ow about we go out for brunch now, and I show you the sights of Lawndale??o:p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揝ure,?said Tom. 揟rent, my treat for brunch. Anything you want.?o:p>
牋牋牋牋牋?Trent scratched his chest. 揅ool. Lemme get my shoes.?o:p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揧ou抮e wearing them,?said Jane, looking down. 揑 think you wore them to bed.?o:p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揕ike, do I have to shower before we
go??asked Trent with mild concern.
牋牋牋牋牋?They heard the sound of glass breaking on the second floor. 揘o time,?said Jane. She took Trent and Tom by the arms and guided them out of the kitchen and toward the front door. 揟om, you mind driving? Like, real fast??o:p>
牋牋牋牋牋?揘ot at all,?he said amiably. 揘ame the place, and we抮e there.?o:p>
牋牋牋牋牋?Jane opened the front door, peeked outside, then pushed the two men out and shut the door behind her. 揕et抯 get out of here before those damn neighborhood kids come back,?she said, 揳nd maybe we抣l have some real fun. And broaden our minds, and everything else.?o:p>
牋牋牋牋牋?And they did.
Original:
7/28/03
Mary
Sue, comedy, shipper (Jane/Tom Andrews (new character, 揗ary Sue?)
FINIS