175:

"All right." She said. 

Calm now, an explanation? Of what? A tabloid? Are you kidding? There was no explanation... only a tabloid writer would confront her about another tabloid, trying to scoop a reply, hopefully, a scathing incriminating one. Only another tabloid writer would be stupid enough to even pay attention to something like this. 

"So, you felt it was necessary to come here and get an explanation the minute I got home? An explanation about why I'm on the cover of a tabloid kissing Austin?"

Lisa's brows rose. "Kissing all these guys. Why Tracy? What gives you the right to parade yourself around as the Mormon mommy spokesperson, and then spend your time acting like..."

"Please don't say anything else, Lisa. Please remember you are in my home, and that we don't have the same opinions on anything. Nothing." She turned back into the living room and gave Jake a one minute sign as he looked about to have an apoplectic fit. 

When Lisa would have retorted, Tracy gave her a very stern look as well, and clamped her fingers shut. "No, Lisa, you and I are absolutely diametrically opposed on every issue there is. I absolutely abhor your ethics, your morals, and your values. You and I have nothing in common, please don't ever consider us the same in any way, all right?" she sat on the edge of the seat.

 Lisa was fuming silently, her hand squeezed tightly in Austin's, her lips a tight line. But she waited silently, hoping for the answer to her question, the explanation of a tabloid photo, in Tracy's opinion so she could go report on it and get a little extra cash. What a hypocrite. 

But Tracy had fielded some of the best in her day when she really wanted to. "The tabloids are, Lisa, in my opinion, a fair representation of the best of America's lies. No truth, no un-doctored photo exists within their pages, no, not one reputable reporter would be caught dead with their name attached to any article found inside. The tabloids are so farfetched that real people won't even bother to sue for slander and infamy because they know nobody really believes that stuff. 

"As far as your cover photos, if you are honestly bothered by something so blatantly unbelievable, I suggest you contact the people who supposedly took the photos, not the people supposedly in them. It's all absolute nonsense, and you can quote me, which I'm sure you will."

Austin had grabbed Lisa's other hand which had turned into a claw and was about to shoot out and scratch Tracy who now sat very calmly. "Tracy, at this point I beg you to explain to Lisa what happened up at the cabin after she left, that's all I ask."

Tracy shook her head, giving him a look of genuine disbelief. The truth? Was he trying to kill his relationship with Lisa? Or did he want her to lie for him? Would she? Should she? What would happen later when it all came out? A divorce? It would be her fault for lying?

She looked him square in the face. "Austin McQueen, you've been one of my best friends for the past three years. I can't deny that my feelings for you are very profound. But I'll tell you this right now, I don't owe your fiancé any explanations, it's you who owe her the explanations you choose if there are any to say. And it's up to her to trust you or not."

She shook her head as her eyes narrowed at both of them. "And I warn you right now, if you ever come into my house again, like this, ever, our friendship will be through." She sat ramrod straight, holding her temper stoically, and her hostility build as well. 

Red and gold sparkles flashed at the edges of her vision, but she wasn't quite done. "As for you Lisa, I'm never going to the Park City cabin with you again. So you don't have to worry about anything. I wouldn't be caught dead with such a conniving, debased, low life as you." Gripping the couch armrest with reddened knuckles she nodded to Jake.

Austin was on his feet yelling at her for those final words, which she smugly sat very still and repeated in her mind, trying to figure out just where they'd come from and how they'd gotten out of her mouth. 

A stern sort of reckless laughter bubbled under the surface, she hadn't meant to insult anybody there at the end, but it felt really good to finally say what she really thought. If she really thought that....conniving, yeah, she really thought that one, Lisa was conniving, but she was Austin's choice...if he couldn't see it for himself.... Debased... hm... what exactly did that mean? Maybe the same as low- life.... And she supposed that if by low-life she meant someone who would stoop to anything to smear another's name, or hurt someone else, then low-life and debased struck the right chord. 

There was a lot of yelling, but she forcefully tuned it all out and waited for the rest of Jake's team to forcibly remove the pair if need be.

Not one word, she thought, I can't hear one single word, I don't need to listen to this, not at all, nope, not at all.

She compelled herself to remain nimbly choosing a nail polish color and then got the remover and cotton and started removing the toenail polish on her toes, not looking at them at all. I will not fall apart in front of this... in front of Austin and his.... I will not fall apart....

A few minutes later there was silence and then a call. She answered her cell phone. It was Michael, laughing at something someone else had said.

"Hey." She let her bright cheery voice belay the shudders that threatened to overtake her. Confrontation wasn't her strong point, no, not at all, no, not at all.

"This is awesome, this video is terrific, very cool, are you sure you want to set it to music? Can you come in tonight?" His booming voice was excited, enthusiastic.

She nodded. "Yeah, I think I can arrange that."

"Good, I've got a ton of your music filtered, the stuff you sent me the last three weeks, must have been a landfall of emotion, you've got enough stuff for three disks here. I've booked a gig for you Friday, we'll have to talk."

The front door slammed open and Austin demanded he be let in, jerking away from Jake's iron grip. 

He stood there heaving, eyeing her critically and then took the two steps to reach her. Tracy's arm rose to ward him off, real fear clogging her throat, when he grabbed her very gently, diffusing the hostility build, and the attendant headache. She slumped back, feeling awestruck at his bizarre behavior, and then watched as he slammed the door, rattling the eaves.

****