Life Goes On?
Leighton walks around town and lands at a coffee shop chatting away with Whitney on the phone about both of their romantic situations. Whitney and Matt are still going strong. They ran into Canaan (sans Kimberly) and it was awkward but Canaan and Whitney non verbally gave the “were alright” nod.
Whit: But back to you, Leight, what do you mean you’re being iced out?
L: There’s a crew of them, like the Plastics but they’re gay.
Whitney laughs incredulously: Are you serious, Leight? All these girls go to Essex?
L: As far as I know. This bitch Lydia pretty much told me to forget about Tatum and go back to the women’s center.
W: Wow!
L: You know how it is Whit, they’re so used to bullying people into doing what they want. Tatum said Lydia had a terrible personality and I got to see it in person.
W: What do you think her endgame is?
L: I think she wants to be the one to be there if and when Tatum wakes up. But Whit, Tatum is my girlfriend!
W: I know, Leight. Maybe you can find out what’s up.
L: Not from anybody who I saw who was at the hospital. Tatum told me several of her teammates weren’t happy we got back together. I am being pushed out because I chose a different life path than them. They don’t even know me!
Leighton starts yelling.
Whitney attempts to calm her down.
Leight, it’s all right. Relax. You did what was best for you and your evolution.
Leighton: And look what it has done?! If Tatum and I didn’t get back together, Stacey wouldn’t have stalked us, she wouldn’t have come after Tatum. Perhaps she and Tatum could have patched things up. I don’t know.
Whit: Leight, come on. You can’t blame yourself for what happened.
L: But that’s just it. I don’t think about consequences to what I do. When I got back with Alicia, I didn’t think of what would happen when the honeymoon phase was over, I only saw the good about her and not the bad. When I got back with Tatum, I didn’t think of how different we are. I saw the good. I didn’t think about outside influences and people hating me from both worlds.
Whit: Leighton, breathe. The girl has you riled up. Perhaps find an objective voice to figure out what’s going on.
L: What should I do?
Whit: You care about her, I know.
L: Yes, I do. A lot. But maybe walking away is what is best for her. And going back to Essex, Whit? I’ll be looked at with scorn.
W: Leighton, she made the choice to protect you and when she wakes up, she’ll tell you the same.
L: How am I gonna get past that Wall of Mean?
W: You’re from their world, maybe play their game.
An hour later, Leighton makes her way to the hospital.
She goes to the sixth floor lobby. A security guard and a bodyguard eye her up and down with suspicion when she comes up. Kate, Tatum’s friend and teammate tells them to relax and tells them Leighton is Tatum’s girlfriend.
K: Come, Leighton. It’s cool.
Leighton doesn’t see George or Sharon but she spots Taron and his girlfriend. She can tell he showered and shaved from the previous night. Maddie, Brenda and the other teammates are also not there. Neither is Trevor, Tatum’s younger brother.
Leighton starts to panic.
L: Kate, what’s happening?
K: Still no change. Everyone is back at their hotels resting, showering, getting food. We’ve been in shifts. I just got here about 20 minutes ago.
L: Kate, can I talk to you?
K: Sure, what’s up?
L: I don’t want her brother to hear.
K: Oh okay, let’s go over here.
Leighton and Kate move away out of earshot of Taron and his lady.
Kate: Leighton, how are you feeling?
L: Anxious, I just want to know if she’s alright.
K: Me too.
L: Kate, Lydia asked to see me this morning.
K: Oh god. How did that go?
L: Not well.
K: I’m not surprised. She’s terrible.
L: She basically told me to walk away from Tatum and go back to campus.
K: Damn, she’s bold!
L: She said you all will take care of her and I can go back to my regular life. But Tatum is a part of my life.
K: Leighton, Lydia is a bitch. A very hot one but still a bitch. She’s worse than Tatum which is why TT couldn’t take it.
Leighton raises her eyebrows: TT?
K: Yeah, it’s my nickname for her. Anyway, don’t mind Lydia. She’s wanted Tatum back for a while. I told her to take a number and go to the back of the line.
Leighton laughs.
K: It’s true a few of Tatum’s people aren’t thrilled you two reconciled but I’m not one of them. I think you’re good for her. She is a bit close minded about certain things but it’s not out of hate but more from a lack of understanding.
Leighton nods.
K: But she really likes you. She was very upset the way you broke up with her. And you know when your friend is hurting, you want to protect them. Tatum’s friends are fiercely protective of her and vice versa. They had no idea it was you until Jane spilled the beans. We saw the little brunette you dated around campus putting flyers up. When they found out you left Tatum for her, you can imagine how that went.
L: I didn’t leave anybody for anybody.
K: Doesn’t matter what the truth is, that’s the way they see it. And even if it’s a lie, you go to war on that lie. And then when one of your center people began dating another one of our teammates and wanted to make their relationship public, the feelings got worse. Your center person attempted to out our teammate. They were…stopped.
L: I don’t even want to know what that means. Why are we like this to each other?
K: I wish I had an answer, Leighton. I really do. Tatum was starting to act like that too…again. She tried to play off you breaking up with her the way you did but I could see it in her eyes…she fell for you.
Leighton sadly smiles.
K: Something about you made her fall. I mean you’re beautiful. *Kate grins* but Tatum has been with a lot of beautiful women. But you have something, kid. The break up…it got to her. I have only seen it one other time and that was with Professor…oop.
L: Don’t worry, she already told me the story.
K: Whew, okay. She masks hurt with anger and when your center friend came around practice looking for our teammate, suffice it to say, things went awry.
Leighton: I’ll have a talk with that friend. I had no idea all this was going on.
K: You know the queer community is small at Essex but there are factions. In factions, there are lines drawn.
L: And when I left Tatum, I went over the line?
Kate nods.
L: And they want me out of her life?
K: They do. But you have to decide if it’s gonna be too much for you Leighton. You’re just a sophomore, right? You don’t want to spend your time nursing her back to health…assuming she survives. We’re gonna be here with her every step of the way.
L: And they think I won’t?
K: Leighton, you dumped her after one argument.
Leighton starts to protest…
Kate holds up her hands to calm her down: I understood where you were coming from and I explained it to Tatum and everybody else but people don’t forget things like that.
Leighton puts her head down.
L: You’ve given me a lot to think about. But I just want her to be okay. I’m also a victim.
K: Believe me, I get it. You may need time on your own to heal. This is a bunch of stuff to deal with all at once. Maybe this just isn’t the right time for you two…
L: We were just starting to get it right…
Kate nods
K: I promise I will contact you if anything changes.
Leighton thanks Kate and gets up to leave. Taron sees her get ready to exit and nods his head in acknowledgment.
Leighton meets Nico for dinner and he tells her maybe she should return to Essex and go back to a routine.
N: I hate to say it sis but life goes on. She has people here who will love her and take care of her. She’s home. But do take a couple of days to decide…
After Mimi, Henry and Leighton see Nico off back to his school, Mimi looks at her daughter.
M: Honey, stay home for a couple of days. Your professors will understand.
Leighton nods in agreement.
The next couple of days, Leighton sleeps, sleeps and sleeps. She emails her professors and lets them know the situation. They all email back understanding and give her a couple of days past the deadline for her work. She talks to Kim, Bela and Whitney in a video chat. Whitney and Kim agree to be cordial for Leighton’s sake. She thinks about what Lydia said, what Kate said and what Nico said. But her heart wants her to stay. However, her head is telling her to take care of her own mental well being. I won’t be able to penetrate the Wall of Bitch if I go up there that’s for sure, she thinks to herself.
A third day goes by and then a whole week. She returns to Essex and into the women’s center. She’s comforted by Jane, Ginger, Tova, Travis and surprisingly Alicia. None of them asked Leighton (Jane knew but kept it to herself) what happened out of respect for her privacy, but they supported her regardless. Leighton appreciated that.
She goes to class and pretends to go along with everything. She has video conferences with her therapist twice a week to talk out her feelings, frustrations and thoughts. Life does go on as heartbreaking as it is to say.
Another week goes by. Leighton’s phone rings. She doesn’t recognize the number but she answers anyway.
L: Hello?
The unmistakable raspy voice speaks from the other end.
Leighton…it’s me.
Leighton’s heart drops: Tatum?
T: Yes, my sweet. I’d like to see you. Can you come this weekend?
To be continued…