22: Mass Hysteria

(originally posted on 10/04/2011)

(by the way...I hate this, but it's part of the story)  

Mass Hysteria 


Finally, John turns to me.

John: What have I got to do to make you stop loving him? Lock you away? Move us half way around the world? I'll do it.... but no, he'll still be there...floating around in your subconscious. Do I have to bash your skull in to get him out?
Whoa!
Me: John, please...calm down.
wrong thing to say

John: CALM DOWN?! HOW CAN I CALM DOWN?! You're sleeping with another man!
Me: John, please, it didn't come to that.
John: Right. I don't believe a word coming out of your pretty little mouth! (He pauses) I can't believe my wife has turned herself into a whore!

Everyone has their breaking point. He just found mine.

Me: I did NOT sleep with him. All we did was kiss, and he tried to convince me to leave you! Maybe I should you mean piece of sh- 

John: You want mean? I can be mean! Teach you a lesson!

He starts to drag me into the kitchen, his obvious intent to take me upstairs..what for, I don't want to find out.

I break free so fast I land right on my butt. Don't stop moving, I tell myself.

John: Just where do you think YOU'RE going?
He grabs hold of my forearm and yanks it behind my back.
Me: Let me go! Ow! Let me go!
John pauses a minute. I can feel his chest heave with rage. I continue to beg for him to release me.
John: Oh, get out! You're not even worth it anymore!

I run outside as fast as my legs can carry me. I'm at once both glad and dismayed that it's so late at night that the park is empty. I don't want anyone to witness this, but still, I need help.

I run down the side of the house, headed for Greg's...but wait! My children! I have to get them out!

I run around the back of the house, hoping that that door is open. My stupid keys are on the dresser.
The door is locked! I bang on it, yelling at John to open the door and let me have Xavier and to let Marie go. There is no answer. I'm crying.

I've had it. I scream and faint. Now I wish all the houses around us weren't empty.

I start coming around again and I feel my phone buzzing in my pocket.

Me: H-h-h-hell-lo?
Greg: Elena! It's Greg. Are you okay?
I cry: No! John threw me out! He won't let me have the kids! I was so scared when I left I didn't think to get them first!
Greg: Don't worry about them for now. He'd never do anything to them. I'm coming to get you.
Me: I'm walking towards your house right now.
Greg: Meet you then.

(okay-the part I hate is over now)

He meets me not far from his house because I'm moving so fast. He practically carries me inside.

I think I'm ruining his shirt crying.

Me:...and the kids...what am I going to do? The worst is I can't help but think about my stupid garden, too. Huh, some mother I am.
Greg: Shh! Shhh! It's okay. It'll all be okay..... I never should have left. I only did it because you looked like you really wanted me to. At first, I just hung around the square, but it got real quiet, and I've figured out that when John gets mad, he's loud. I can't believe he did that to you. I shudder to think what he was going to do if..

I jerk back. I don't know why, but the last thing I want is for Greg to badmouth John.

Me: Hush. I don't want to think about it. He was just mad.
Greg: He was beyond mad, Elena. He was out of control.
I say in clipped tones: I don't want to talk about it!
Greg looks confused: But, you just were. 
I nearly faint again and fall forward. 

Me: Sorry. I'm just not myself. I just can't handle any of this anymore.
Greg: Don't then. You need to rest.

I put my head on his chest and cry some more. He shushes me again and lifts my face up to where I'm looking at him.

Greg: I'll never let him hurt you again.

I'm about to fuss at him for mentioning tonight again--I have no idea what is going on with me, I both want to talk about it and then I want to put it off for another day..like I've just had more than I can handle.--when he kisses me. Just a simple, sweet kiss. It's like his lips tell me it's going to be okay.
Wow, I'm tired. He finally got me to calm down. I was hysterical.

Greg: Go get some sleep. I'll rest here some more on the couch.

He starts leading me into his room. 

Me: Okay. 

He pulls down the covers - wow he made his bed - and helps me in...just taking off my shoes and undoing my hair. He kisses me on the forehead, and I pass out.

Wednesday
Well, maybe...I don't know how long I slept.

I wake up and it's semi-dark outside. I don't know if it's morning or evening. I find a note on the bedside table that Greg took the liberty of calling my work and requesting several days off. News travels fast in this town, so they already knew all about it and granted me the leave. I find a dress in my size hanging up on a nail on the wall. He bought me a dress? It's a little too dressy for a regular day, but it's pretty, and it's clean. I go into the living room to see Greg curled up on the couch, lightly snoring and wearing the same clothes. I don't know what to do, so I grab a book off the shelf and try to read. I fail miserably, so I just sit there and stare at Greg. Well, you know how you can feel a person staring at you? That apparently happened to him because he woke up, saw me and smiled. I smiled back and got up to return the book to the shelf.


Greg: How are you feeling this morning?
Me: Oh it's morning? I couldn't tell. I must not have slept as long as I thought.
Greg: Elena darling, you slept over a day.
Me: Oh...
Thursday then

Me: Thank you for the dress. It's lovely.
Greg: I'm glad you like it. (He shrugs) I got the lady in the store to pick it out. I think she overdid it, but it certainly does look lovely on you.
Me: You're sweet. Flattery will get you everywhere.

Greg: Oh it will, huh?
I chuckle.
Greg: Wanna go out?
Me: Okay.
He heads for the door.
Me: Um, aren't you going to change clothes?
He looks down at himself: What? They're still clean.
I mutely shake my head and follow him out the door.

We get in his once-was-a-car-now-is-a-pile-of-junk.
Me: How come with all the money you make you still drive around in this thing?
Greg: Are you 'dissing my car?
Me: Well....
Greg: I love this car! I've had it forever!
Me: I can tell.
Greg happily sighs: A lot has happened to me in this car...
Me: Okay, you can stop right there.
He chuckles.
Me: That reminds me.... Monday, Sue warned me that she'd seen me at your house Sunday all day long.
Greg: Nosy little...
Me: Anyway, she also mentioned that a lot of other women come and go by your place regularly.
Greg doesn't look abashed at all: Yes, I dated just about every single woman I could, trying to find another you. Yesterday was a busy day for me.
He tells me about yesterday.
Yesterday

He apparently invited all the women he'd been romantically involved with over to the house to tell them that he was no longer interested. I don't think this was the wisest way to do it, but he uses the excuse that he didn't want to do it over the phone. Well, yes, I can understand that..but having that many angry women at the house at once was not the best idea.

Ophelia Moves as well? The dancer from the trial? Geez, Greg. You really did get around.

This one acted like everything was fine. She had commitment issues, so she took it rather well -- until Greg turned his back.

(There were more, but it was getting redundant to take pics of them all. He had the reputation of dirtbag. I did the 'clean slate' thing for him. Then, wished I hadn't -that could've been fun. Oh well, live and learn.)
Back to today-Thursday

We go to the bistro across the river, sit down, and get our food brought to us outside. Greg looks at the reflection in the window and almost chokes on his food. I look up at him and see John in the corner of my eye. Oh.... he's wearing the same thing he wore on our first date, those stupid workout pants and no shirt. He sniffs the air like something stinks, glares at us, and walks by.

Greg slams his fork down at the expression on my face, I guess, and jumps up.

Greg: Can't you just leave us alone?
John: It's a public place, moron. How was I to know you were bringing my WIFE here?
(This girl really needs to stop thinking about gardening and ruining my pics lol.)

John: And who do you think you ARE anyway? Telling me where I can and can't go!
Greg: Would you just shut up and go away?

I'm looking over at the two of them, wishing they would both just stop. I kinda don't want Greg to tell John to leave. I want to talk to him.

Me: Greg, hang on just a minute.

He looks at me with a flabbergasted 'what?' on his face.

Me: John, please, please see reason. Please don't be mad at me!
John: How can I possibly NOT be mad at you? Here you are, flaunting your affair right out in public.

There is nothing I can say to that. I feel like a have a ball of lead in my stomach. So, I change the subject.

Me: Um, how are the kids?
John appears to slightly calm down: Marie should be along shortly. I got Raquel to watch Xavier for a minute. Her teenage daughter adores him. I just needed to get out and get some air. Marie wanted to go too. Now, I find you here with HIM. I think I've lost my appetite.
Me: John...
John: No. I don't want to hear it. I'm going to go see a lawyer tomorrow.

Me: No! No no no no no no! Please, John. Don't do this! You're forcing my decision.
John laughs derisively: Your decision? You've got to be kidding me, Elena. It looks like you've made it a long time ago.
Me: No.
John: It's over. Back off.
Greg: Elena, let's leave. This jerk isn't worth your time.

John just looks at him like one might look at a rotting carcass. I think I'm hyperventilating. Marie walks up.

Me: Marie, honey, I'm so so sorry you had to witness that the other night. I would've gone back in, but John locked me out. I was just going to go over to the house to talk to you after we finished here.

Greg sighs and opens up a book. Marie looks like she's trying not to cry. She's tried to put off this tough persona with the hair and everything, but I still see the little girl afraid to go off to school when I look at her.

Marie: Mom, I realize you're going through something right now, but I think you're the one that messed everything up.

Me: What are you saying? You think I did this on purpose?
Marie: Well....not exactly on purpose... Look, you're still my mom and I'll stick by you no matter what crazy thing you do. I want to stay at John's house to be with Xavier.

I say quietly as John argues with the paparazzi: Who's to say that Xavier is going to stay with John?
Marie: I don't know. I just know that wherever he is, I am. He needs me. What with John stomping around the house all day and you gone.
Me: I'm so sorry, sweetie.
Marie: Oh, I get it. Really. I just wanted you to know that I'm staying where Xavier is.
Me: Okay.

Greg closes his book really loudly and stands up, walking away. He's staring up at the sky and breathing really hard. I walk up to him.

Greg: I'm ready to leave. Are you coming?
Me: Of course I'm coming.

He looks away. I'm trying to figure out this mood swing.

Me: Greg? Are you okay?
Greg: Let's just go home.

He doesn't say anything on the way back. When we get here, he slams his car door (even harder than he has to slam it to get it to close) and trudges into the house.

(I had to pull pics from another moment because I didn't do things in the right order when I was playing, and then I didn't take enough of them...bear with it for a min.)

Me: What is going ON?
Greg: Elena, are you still in love with John? Even after all he did?
I pause: I... no, I don't think so.
John smiles slightly: Good.
He takes a big breath.
Me: Was THAT was this was all about? Oh, Greg. I'm so sorry. I'm such a dumbbutt.

Greg pulls me close: Well, as long as you're my dumbbutt, I guess that's okay.
I act shocked: Hey! You're not supposed to agree with me!

He laughs. I'm so glad. Truth is... well... I don't blame him for wondering by the way I reacted to John. It didn't help that John showed up wearing that getup. You can't just love someone and turn it off with a switch. However, I will never forget the look of pure rage in his eyes as he kicked me out of the house. If he'd been able to get me upstairs.... no, don't go there.

Greg pulls me out of my reverie: Um, Elena? Earth to Elena.
Me: Sorry, I was thinking of the other night.
Greg: Do you want to talk about it?
Me: No.
Greg: You need to deal with it.
Me: No. I just can't. Just... just be here for me when I can.
Greg: Of course. I can't stand to see you hurting.
Me: Well, right now I'm not hurting... well... not in that way...

I send out some big hints... and I know he can't help but react, but then he stops and pulls back.

Greg: Not yet, Elena.
Me: What? Why?
Greg: You are still another man's wife.
Me: But the last time...
Greg: I was divorced. We were both single.

I am completely stunned. I stand here probably looking like a gaping fish.

Greg: I have to have something to help the divorce along.
I laugh and playfully hit him: You scheming little...
Greg laughs: Oh, you have no idea. I really, really had a busy day yesterday. After the ladies left and I went power shopping, I picked out a house. Do you want to see it?
I become the gaping fish again: Uh.... Yes!
Greg: Good. Now go get some sleep.
I lift one eyebrow: Want to join me?
Greg: Yes, but I'm going to sleep on the couch again anyway.
I groan.

Friday

Yay! It's actually bigger than it looks from the front. Of course, I love it. It's adorable, yet big enough to have plenty of room for us and the kids. Not every man wants the baggage kids from another marriage are. I'm trying not to cry as I think about how wonderful he is. 

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