Her Smile

by Raven Starr

  The weeks passed quickly since he’d spilled the beans about his feelings to his mother. Karen didn’t like Eve and made that fact known at every opportunity she could.

  “You look great,” she kept telling him.

  He didn’t feel great. He felt like shit most of the time, drained by crying and dreaming. Everyday away from Kylie made him feel numb. Every breath apart from her was labored. Every thought was consumed by his yearning to see her again.

  “I know what I gotta do,” Mark said to himself.

  Eve was out on another useless shopping spree. His mother had told him, no, she begged him to move large sums of his money into a separate account, away from the joint bank account he and Eve shared. All of his credit cards now bore the minimum limit. He knew once she figured this out she would be enraged. Good, this ends tonight. I’m tired of living like this. Determined, Mark grabbed his trusty overnight bag and tossed in some clothes. He knew that when she heard what he had to say it wasn’t going to be pleasant. Mark knew that trying to make her leave his house would be hard hence the packing. At this moment he didn’t care, he would always have a place to go, so that wouldn’t be a problem. His problem was Eve.

  No more frantic days of walking around on eggshells in his own damn home. No more bitchin and hollerin about why he’d stop fucking her and when he was going to start again. It had been almost six months when he made the conscious decision to stop sleeping with Eve. He never really got anything out of it anyway. After being with Kylie, he didn’t want anyone else. Mark would wait, wait until he could have Kylie in his arms again. Next time he won’t ever let her go.

  Mark trotted happily down the stairs, his feet felt so light that he stomped down the stairs just to make sure he made each step. Carefully he placed his bag the front door and waited.

  Once Eve got home the fireworks would start. It’s time to grab my balls and stop letting her run over me. He checked his Tag Heuer watch. It’s a quarter to three. Today he would change this, take back the power he had so easily given to Eve. It began with breaking it off with Eve, then he could start his new mission.

  Find Kylie.

  When Eve came the door it was like an A- bomb went off. Mark didn’t even let her close the door before he started.

  “I just wanna let you know it’s over.”

  “What’s over?” Eve said mockingly.

  “This,” he gestured to both of them. “Us. We’re over.”

  Eve opened her mouth but Mark cut her off.

  “No, you talked for over ten years and it’s my turn and I have a lot to say.” Mark stalked over to her.

  “I’m not happy and I truly don’t think I ever was. Maybe somewhere inside I felt something for you but not now.” He shook his head in disgust. “All I feel for you now is contempt.”

  “What have I done to you now, Mark? Huh? I work, I cook for you, I do everything…”

  “Liar!” Mark’s temper flared.

  “You don’t work unless you think spending my money is a job, then you’re the CEO of your own fucking company. Mark Sucker Enterprises is closed, Eve. As for your attempts at cooking, well I’ve tasted better, plus my mother taught me how to cook, so I won’t suffer when you’re gone.”

  “You’re a piece of work, Mark. You’ll just kick me out? How could you do that to me?”

  Mark heard the tone change in her voice and knew she was trying to push out tears.

  “Just stop it, Eve okay? All you want is my cock and my fucking bank account. Let’s get real. Now you don’t get either. I’m done. This…” he opened his arms encompassing the whole house. “all of this mine. I brought this; the car you drive, I paid for. The clothes on your on back, I bought. All the money you spend is mine. So tell me how you do everything. It’s not you, it’s me.”

  He pounded several times on his chest emphasizing his anger.

  “You do this all the time. We break up and you find out there is no one else around who will put up with all the shit you dish out. No one but me. You always come back. Always. So what!”

  Eve put her hands on her hips, trying to look defiant.

  Mark copied her, making his square jaw long and drawn out trying to do his best Eve impersonation.

  “You jerk! You stupid, at times frigid, man-whore. You bounce all around the country fucking whoever you like…”

  “Have you ever stopped me?” Mark shot back. “If you wanted us to work you could said something besides telling me that I could screw anyone I wanted as long as you weren’t around. How quickly you forget, Eve.”

  Mark watched Eve as she reeled from his statement as if she had been slapped.

  “I was just trying to make you happy,” Eve stammered.

  “Yeah right. You never cared about my happiness. In the years we’ve together this is the passion I’ve seen from either of us. I’ve had enough. I’m not in love with you, I don’t even know if I ever was. I just want out and I want you out. I’ll give you some time to get your stuff and get out, but I want you gone when I return. You hear me, Eve? Gone.”

  “Ha! You speak of love but you’re so damned scared of everything that you wouldn’t know love if it came up and bit ya in ass.”

  “Think what you want. Pack your stuff. Don’t go to my mother’s crying, because you will find no sympathy there.”

  “You’ll come back you always come back! No one will want to deal with your infidelities or whorish ways, Mark.”

  Mark held up his hand to cut her off again.

  “You’re just running your mouth, Eve. I’m done listening to what you have to say. I want no part of what you are offering. None. Now leave it be.”

  Mark bustled past her, grabbing his overnight bag on his way out the door. “One week, Eve. That’s all I’m giving you. One week. Get packing.”

  With that, Mark opened and slammed the door behind him, leaving Eve to stew in her juices.

  How good he felt telling Eve everything that had been weighing on his heart for ten long tedious years. I should have done this a long time ago. Mark knew leaving his house was a risk, but it was a risk he was willing to take. His plan was in motion. Other than his house, he didn’t care.

  He expected Eve to throw a bitch fit, break his stuff, damage, as much as possible, but to Mark it was all material objects that he could be always replaced. His sanity was irreplaceable. With Eve out of his life, he could pursue Kylie wholeheartedly.

  The truth of Eve’s stung deeply but for Kylie he would give it all up, for her he would anything.

  Chapter Five

  Instead of showing up on his mother’s doorstep, Mark stayed at his bachelor pad that he had convinced Eve he’d sold.

  “Good Evening, Mr. Storm.” George the doorman greeted.

  “It’s been awhile, sir.” He opened the door.

  “Yes, George it has been awhile but it’s good to be home. If Miss. Eve shows up she’s not allowed in, okay?”

  “Anything you say, sir.” George agreed.

  Mark nodded as he passed George, and from the corner of his eye, he thought he saw the old man smile. Guess no one like the bitch.

  “Only you, dumb ass.” taunted a little voice in the back of head.

  “Shut up,” Mark retorted as the elevator door closed.

  The soft tune of the Bee Gee’s floated in his head. Everything made him want to find Kylie more and more. Why did I let her go without doing something? The question had burned in his soul since the day they’d parted.

  Mark stepped off the elevator, walked to his door, and unlocked it. He stepped inside, flicked on the light, then exhaled loudly.

  “It’s good to home.”

  He closed the door and dumped his bag in the chair along with his jacket. He stood perfectly still and looked around his large apartment. His living room had beige walls that accented the tan leather couch and matching chair, with throw pillows continuing the earth tone theme. The living room also had a huge picture window with fantastic views of the rose gardens below.
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br />   Mark glanced at the empty mantle piece above the stone fireplace and sighed. He turned, grabbed his bag, and treaded slowly upstairs to his room.

  He walked into his room and placed his bag on the foot of his bed. This room was considerably darker than downstairs. The walls were painted midnight blue with black mini-blinds hanging at the windows to keep the light out. On the ceiling were painted constellations of Orion the Warrior and Cygnus the Bird. He remembered many a night staring at his starry night sky wishing for better days.

  On the right side of the room hid a mirrored closet full of designers duds, many with the price tags still attached. Across the room was his thinking window, accompanied with a ledge that he sat on to write his music. He loved sitting there in the moonlight, composing the melodies to his songs. Along the far wall was his black lacquer dresser.

  Mark flopped back on the bed, crossing his arms behind his head. For a moment he just stared at the wanna-be stars. He was free from Eve, at least for the time being. Now he could go after Kylie without baggage.

  How the hell am I going to do that? I don’t even know her last name. I only know what she looks like.

  A light bulb went off in his head. Mark leaned over grabbed the phone from the nightstand and dialed his best friend Charlie’s number.

  “Hello?” The dry, scratchy voice of his friend let Mark know that he had awoken his chum.

  “Hey man, it’s Mark. I’m sorry to wake you but I have a big favor to ask.”

  “It’s alright, Mark. Shoot, what’s up?”

  “Well do you still have that composite sketch software?”

  Mark knew that Charlie was now and had always been a paranoid freak.

  Charlie knew the news without having had watched it. He had numerous conspiracy theories about the government, the internet, you name it, Charlie had a valid reason for it existence.

  “Yup, what do you need?”

  Mark’s heart leapt for joy and he did everything he could to contain it.

  “I need to use it. I gotta find this girl.”

  “Why? You gotta Billie Jean moment going on or something? She steal your wallet?” Charlie laughed.

  “Charlie, come on man it’s nothing like that.” Mark tried to hide the desperation out of his voice.

  “I’ll be there first thing in the morning. Where are you?”

  “My apartment just outside the city.”

  “Gotcha. See ya in the morning.”

  Mark smiled as he hung up the phone. He knew he could describe Kylie but once he had the picture what would be his next step? Sitting up he began to peel away his clothes. Absentmindedly he checked himself out in the mirror. For his age, he was still in pretty good shape. His broad chest was sprinkled with tiny dark hairs. When glanced at his now flat stomach, he remembered the beer gut he used to sport.

  Good thing I met her after I worked and lost the weight.

  He turned from one side to the other somehow he looked different. He looked and felt stronger, mentally and emotionally. I should’ve cut Eve loose ages ago. Mark striped naked and walked into the bathroom to start the shower. Kylie’s sweet laughter engulfed him as he closed the frosted glass shower door.

  Mark shifted around so the nozzle pointed on the back of his neck.

  I have to get her back. She has to know how I feel.

  Wait a minute…he was semi famous. He knew how to milk the media. In a flash, Mark knew exactly what he was going to do. He would do the craziest and hopefully most romantic thing he could think of. He needed to hold a press conference and ask his fans and anyone who had ever felt real love to help him, help him to find the love of life.

  It was risky but he was willing to take it.

  Chapter Six

  The next morning Mark awoke early, feeling rested and rejuvenated. Sleeping in a bed without Eve had been so relaxing. He showered, brushed his teeth, and put on a pair of dark jeans and a white tank top. The shirt seemed to cling to his pectoral muscles. Mark’s heart felt free as if he’d been given a second chance. A second chance at life and love and this time he planned to do everything in his power to make it work.

  He bounced down the stairs and into the kitchen to make his morning coffee. Even the coffee smelled better to him.

  A loud knock on the door alerted Mark to his morning visitor. He sipped his brew as he walked to the door. His hand lingered at the knob, afraid it might be Eve, but George wouldn’t let him down. Charlie had his ways of getting past old George. Mark theorized about how he might have done it.

  “Good morning,” Mark said cheerfully as he opened the door for his childhood friend.

  “Morning,” Charlie replied entering Mark’s apartment; his laptop tucked neatly under one arm.

  Charlie was about an inch shorter than Mark and sported his brown locks in the bed head manner. Mark envisioned Charlie waking up each day running his wet fingers through his hair, apply a little gel and poof, he was done.

  Charlie’s hazel eyes had gotten them in quiet a few jams in their earlier and much wilder days. His cocky demeanor, with his sharp witty tongue had always made him the bad boy and the girls loved it, which only fed Charlie’s ego.

  Both men were older and hopefully wiser now; Charlie had finally settled down with a nice girl and had a wonderful bouncy son. Mark envied his friend’s life and hoped to one day join him on the trail to happiness.

  The one thing that had not changed about Charlie was his paranoia; it only grew as he got older. He knew things that most people didn’t, such as the so called cover-up of the missing WMD; he knew news headlines before it made the five o’clock news.

  His latest computer gadget was this composite drawing software, police issue. Funny thing, Charlie isn’t a cop. Knowing all of this was the main reason he called him. This software had to help him carry out his plan to find Kylie.

  “So what’s this all about?” Charlie asked as he sat down to set up his computer.

  “Honestly it’s about a girl. You want some coffee?”

  “I might in a bit, once you tell me what the ‘real’ deal is with all this?”

  Mark settled down next to his buddy.

  “I met a girl a while back. I want to see her again. Problem is, I only know her first name. I know what she looks like but...” he shrugged.

  “That’s it. Will you help me find her?”

  He felt Charlie’s cunning eyes pry into him, filtering out any lies or untruths.

  “A woman got you twisted up like this?” Charlie laughed.

  “I told ya it would happen to you. So you kicked Eve to the curb? That’s the best news I’ve heard in a long time. Now let’s get to work.”

  Mark and Charlie sat there for hours going through more than one pot of coffee and looking through each part of the human face making the picture perfect. Everything had to fit together like puzzles pieces. Charlie worked diligently as Mark described Kylie’s features, each feature etched within the lining of his heart. The moment she slipped out of his life, a piece of himself felt hollow. Mark caught Charlie’s inquisitive stare; he knew what the question that still lingered in the back of his mind.

  “No, I didn’t sleep with her.” Mark downed the last little bit of his coffee.

  Charlie grunted, shifted his weight, then replied, “Done.”

  Both men sat back as a face slowly began to appear on the screen. Mark’s heart skipped a beat as he stared at the face on the screen. It was her.

  “You sure about this man?” Charlie said holding back his chuckle.

  “Yes,” Mark’s voice whispered. “That’s her. That’s my Kylie.”

  “What are you gonna do now?”

  A cunning little grin pulled at the corners of his mouth.

  “You’ll see. It’s gonna be big, Charlie.”

  He wiggled his fingers expressing an explosion.

  “It’s more likely the biggest damn thing I’ve ever done. I just hope it doesn’t blow up in my face.”

  Mark popped in a memory disk
to save the picture, his plans methodically playing out in his head. He knew if he told anyone what he truly planned to do, someone along the line would try to talk him out of it. Thanking Charlie profusely, he ushered his friend out.

  Mark felt as if his life rested solely on making the right move. All his life had been a sea of uncertain chaos. He’d taken slack because he generally didn’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings. This was going to be a huge leap of faith. His time had come and now hoped he could finally get it right.

  He stared at his reflection as he fixed the pale blue button up shirt. He nervously adjusted his black blazer. He drew his breath and held it for a full minute. He steadied his shaking hands. For days, he had shut himself up in his home, freshly recovered from Eve, twisting, tweaking and working out the kinks of his plan. His heart pounded in his ears, the sound was deafening. Maybe I should’ve worn a tie, he thought messing with his shirt once more. Jesus.

  Mark knew what awaited him outside the bathroom walls, people with cameras, nosy as hell reporters and the crazed gossip hungry paparazzi. This had been his call, his decision. Mark took another deep breath, and grabbed the handle of the bathroom door; felt cold in his hand. He shivered, squeezed the handle, calling silently on his inner strength to guide him. In a flash, he opened the door to be instantly blinded by the masses of flashes.

  Mark walked to the podium, flashed a smile, and braced himself for the barrage of questions. His press conference had begun.

  Chapter Seven

  As Kylie sipped her fruity umbrella drink, she could taste the sweet strawberries dancing on her tongue. She tilted her head to the side catching her younger sister Lily’s attention.

  “Stop thinking about the one that got away, Kyle. I mean, come on,” Lily waved her hand to show the men aboard the luxury vessel. “This ship is filled with all kinds of sexy ass.”

  Kylie snickered. Lily was a lively and bold young woman, especially since their parents had died in a car accident. Kylie had taken their place, always taking care of Lily even at the price of her own dreams and goals. The death of their parents sent both women into a spiral, but after the reading of the will they learned about the inheritance. Their mother had stowed away money from her design company Rosie’s Petals; Kylie and Lily’s money problems no longer existed. Lily loved the money but Kylie still felt the intense desire to work. “You have to have a good work ethic, Kylie. Always pay it forward,” her mother’s voice echoed. So Kylie stretched herself thin by working with under privileged children as a mentor. At least three times a month, Kylie spent time in county hospital to stay with the HIV and drug addicted babies.