1Mai and Tristan just stood there and watched the two unsuspecting lovers as they kissed under the dim moonlight.
" H.. How could she?" Mai whispered she gathered up her dress and turned on her heels and all but ran from the room.
"Mai!... Mai wait Mai come back!" Tristan yelled after her, but she didn't stop her pushed her way thought the crowed.
Mai tried to fight back the tears but it was hard real hard.
"How dare she do that to me! After all I did for her! " Mai stormed into the coat room and yanked her coat from the rack,
"I brought her down her so she could live out her dream; I gave her a place to stay ! And this is how she repays me! By practically making love to the man I'm inlove with!"
Tristan had caught up with Mai as she was furiously putting on her coat, he could see the tear stains on her cheek.
"Mai.. what do u think your doing?"
She looked at him and her expression almost made him want to laugh, but hr didn't dare Tristan didn't want upset her any more.
"What does it look like I'm doing.. I'm leaving that what the hell I'm doing! Now move!"
Mai pushed past him but he was right on her heels. Grabbing her arms roughly he swung her around to face him,
"Mai cool down there's no reason to be upset"
Mai just stared at Tristan for a moment, she was speechless, "No reason... No reason to be up...upset!
I TAKE THAT TRAMP IN MY HOME HELP HER OUT KEEP THESE FOOLS FROM HUMILIATING HER AND WHAT DOES SHE DO! SHE GOES BEHIND MY BACK AND STEALS THE ONLY MAN I LOVE AND YOU HAVE THE BALLS TO TELL ME NOT TO GET FUCKING UPSET!"Tristan looked around neverously as Mai outburst was causing them to be the center of attention.
"Mai.. Look lets talk.. This late we're attracting..."
Mai eyes darken and she put her hand on her hips,
"Does it look I have a DAMN what these people think!"
Tristan gripped her shoulders tightly and said through clench teeth
"Mai your making a scene here lets just get Gwen and Julian and about it I'm sure Gwen didn't mean it besides..."
Tristan stop when he saw Mai's expression change suddenly
"Mai...?" He started but she twisted out of his grip and backed away and tilted her head down.
"I can't believe this... Your... your taking her side!"
"Mai. No I'm not I'm just saying..." But she interrupted him
"Yes... yes you are... I can't believe, I would never.. Not from YOU!"
She started towards the door with Tristan hot on her heels, he manage to get her just before she reached the door, Yanking her around he exclaimed,
"I'm NOT defending her.. All I'm saying is maybe its not all her
fault..."Mai snatched herself for his grip and smacked him across the cheek.
Her eyes filled up with tears and that caused Tristan to stop what was about to say next. Mai glared at him then she saw Gwen and Julian walk back in.
Clenching her fist she said icily,
"Fuck you!, fuck Julian! And fuck Gwen!" Her voice wavered then cracked,"the three of you can go to hell for all I care!" and with that she ran out the door into the night.
Tristan just stood there and watched. He put his hand to the cheek that she slapped him on, it still sting but he did care he was more worried about Mai.
He had never seen her so upset, hell he had never seen her cry. Julian put a hand on Tristan shoulder,
"Was that mai who left like that?"
He asked. Tristan only nodded he cast a glance at him then at Gwen who was still in the ballroom.
Julian sighed..."Will she be alright Tristan?"
Tristan just eyed Julian; he hated how he could be so damn dense at times. He rubbed his cheek and pushed past Julian, then he paused,
"You so damn smart... figure it out yourself!" and with that he grabbed his coat and left only looking at Gwen who looked like she was going to be sick.
Mai ran blind into the darkness of the night, she couldn't believe was a fool she'd been... She have actually let her guard down and trusted her Gwen! Her supposed friends and companion and look what it got her.. Nothing but pain misery and sorrow.
She let the tears fall as she continued to run she was headed to no where in particular. Being comptely blinded by her tears she crossed the road with out looking, since her dress blended in with the darkness, the driver never saw her coming, and didn't know what was happening until it was too late the last thing she remembered was sound of her screams filling the night ... then it was black.
It was well after 12 when Gwen got in, she knew what happen and purposely stayed away until she thought Mai would be ina reasonable mood to talk to, but when she got in the apartment there was no one there. Everything was how they left it; there was absolutely no sign of Mai
"Mai... ? Mai are you home? Mai?" She closed the door and looked around, it was obvious that she hadn't returned yet
"Mai?" The phone ranged causing Gwen to jump startled by its sudden ring. Picking it up she answered it,
"Hello..Mai is that you?"
'Hello Gwen has Mai come home yet? I've been trying to reach her for the past hour'
"Tristan? Is that you? Not she has been here I just got back"
The other end was silent for a moment then he replied
' Maybe she decided to just stay away from there tonight I'll stay up just incase she comes here ok Gwen'
"Ok Tristan... Oh and Tristan..."
'Yes?'
"I...I never intended to hurt her...you know that right..."
He was silent for a moment then answered
' I know that but Mai doesn't... she never... Look lets not dwell on it right now I'll keep an ear out just incase she comes here.. Goodnight Gwen..."
"Goodnight Tristan" she replaced the phone on the receiver and sighed things were going to get a lot worse before they would get better. Closing down the upfront Gwen changed and went to bed, wherever Mai was she hoped she was ok.
Tristan sighed he couldn't get any sleep, he was worried about Mai. The look on her face would haunt him for the rest of his days.
He didn't know if she would forgive him...hell he didn't know if Mai would forgive any of them. Sighing deeply and giving up hopes of any type of rest Tristan rolled out of bed and turned on his TV.
:: Good morning here is Sandra Lopez for you early morning news, its currently 3:45 am, and now for the breaking news story...Mike::
:: Thank you Sandra... early this morning there was a horrible accident involving a car hitting a young women around 12:15 am police say that...::
Those phase made Tristan's bloods run cold he scowled and shook his head in disbelief,
no... It couldn't be her.. No ...it's not Mai; Mai wouldn't do something like that...no it's not her... Tristan what are you thinking! That's NOT Mai
but he couldn't shake the feeling that it was her. Frowning he continued to watched the news.
:: Police say the two out of the three people was seriously injured and was rushed to the nearest hospital, 29year old Nicholas De Winner its suffering minor injuries, but his wife 26 year old Katherine De Winner is under critical condition, her injuries are still unknown, as well for the unknown woman who was too in the accident she is under intensive medical care at this moment, her injuries are still unknown at this time... in other news..:::
Tristan turned the TV off and sighed he hated the news anyways is was nothing on other depressing things anyways. He got up from his bed and began to pace back and forth, he was restless and wanted to call Gwen to see if Mai had came back but he already knew the answer. He could really kick himself for letting her go off alone in the state she was, but there was nothing he could but wait until earlier today then he would go and check out things for himself.
The doctor sighed as he told Nicholas De Winner that his wife wasn't going to make it, he hated when he had to do things like this it hurt him every time.
Nicholas just sat there in shock not knowing what to do,
"A...and the girl...? W...what about her?"
Sighing the doctor replied,
"It doesn't look like she'll make it either... it will be a miracle if she does, but if it DO happen...my estimation is 100% memory loss..."
Nicholas nodded
"May...may I see my wife?"
The doctor nodded he didn't have the heart to tell him no, the poor man had been through enough tonight.
"Just don't stay in there to long Mr. De Winner... your wife needs to rest"
Nicholas only nodded and headed down the hall to wear his wife was, when he reached there all he could do was stare at her. She was laying there looking extremely pale and fragile like there was tube and wires hooked up every where. He tucked back a stray strand of hair and took his wife hands; they felt cold and clammy.
"Oh Kat, Kat come back to me... I can't go on with out you if you leave me... Kat I love you so much..." He kissed her on the forehead then on the wrist.
The sound of some wheeling in another bed snapped his attention; the male orderly looked at him,
"This is a 'Jane Doe' that was hit ...Mr. De Winner.. We put her in here since you offered to pay for her medical bills too"
Nicholas shook his head and waited the male orderly leave, then he looked at the other girl and curiosity got the best of him and he got up and went over to her bed. Strangely he felt no anger towards this unconscious figured who not only shorten her life but the life of his beloved wife Katherine as well. He felt something was wrong or had gone wrong in whatever she was involved in.
Gazing down at the girl, who looked in her mid twenties, he frowned'
" What was it? What was it that cause you to run into the street with out even looking hmm? Can you tell me that little one? What caused you to do that? Was it that horrible for you? Did you step out onto the street on purpose?... Please tell me.. I need to know"
Nicholas touched the girls cheek then stopped he remember something, something that made him questioned what really caused this girl to almost kill herself,
xxxflashbackxxx
Nicholas franticly tried to free himself from the wreck, his mind screaming in his sulk..." Oh my god! I hit her! I hit her!" he cast a glanced at Katherine she was slouch over bleeding heavily, she was hurt very badly he had to get help... if only he could get free! THERE! free!.
Nicholas hobbled out of the car and over to the girl,
Shaking her gently he called to her,
"Miss...Miss can you hear me? Are you alright?...miss tell me your name"
The dazed girl looked up at him, her eyes filled with tears she seemed to confuse him with someone else,
"H...how c..c...could t..they.. i..i.. tru..sted..t... .. I.. t..Trusted them... trusted them..."
Nicholas watched in horror as she slipped into a coma like state
xxxend of flash backxxx
Who was the 'THEY" that she was mumbling about?
the doctor tapped Nicholas on his shoulder,
"I must ask you to leave now Mr. De Winner; you need to get some rest also.. you've been though allot tonight"
Nicholas obey and headed towards the door pausing he looked at his wife and then at the unknown girl..and asked the doctor,
"Did you ever find out her name?"
Nicholas asked quietly.
Nodding the doctor thumb through his paper work,
"Yes here it is.. its Mai D'aulaires"
"Mai huh... so that's her name..." Nicholas continued out the room,
"make sure both she and my wife get the best care"
And with that Nicholas De Winner continued down the hall heading towards the exit.
XXX Later that dayXXX
The phone ranged at Julian's apartment, Julian picked it up hastily,
"Hello? Mai is that you?"
it was silent at the other end then the voice spoke hesitantly
'Julian its me ...Gwen.. I was wondering if you'd seen Mai.. but I guess I got my answer'
Julian sighed and sat down taking off his glasses he rubbed the bridge of his nose,
"No Gwen love I haven't I was hoping she was with you...what about Tristan...did he see her at all?"
'No.. he called last night looking for her, and I tired again a few minutes ago but there was no answer...oh Julian! I'm so worried! what if...what if...'
"NO! Gwen! don't even START to think like that, nothing bad has happened to Mai... for all we know she's just at some friends' house or something..."
He heard Gwen sigh on the other end she didn't believe him, and he didn't believe himself either, but someone had to remain optimistic.. and hell it might as well be him.
"Look Gwen dear I'll go and ask around and see if any one seen her since last night ok? and you call in her job and tell them that she's sick or something ok?"
silence only greeted him then there was quiet,
'Okay I'll do that good bye Julian...'
"Goodbye Gwen..."
Julian hung up and sighed, he was beginning to become extremely worried about Mai, she was his best friend since forever, and now she was missing just like that. He was going to try to keep out a good front but it was going to be hard. Sighing he ran his hand through his hair and finished getting dressed.
Try has he might to remain optimistic Julian still had this lingering feeling that something terrible had happen to her...for some reason he just knew... and he also knew it was his fault it happened to her.
Nicholas paced back and forth, he knew he should do the right thing and call, but something was holding him back. Its been an hour and all he did was just, sit , stare at the phone, get up, pace, stare at the phone, sit , then got up and paced again.
Scowling he grabbed the phone and picked it up,
"Dammit Nicholas just do it!, who ever lives there deserve to know what happened to her"
But he just couldn't do it, something was holding him back and he just couldn't make the phone call.
Slamming the phone down he stormed out of the room
Maybe I should just go there personally.. yes that's what I should do go there personally
satisfied with that Nicholas grabbed her address and headed for his car.
Nicholas pulled up to a nice looking apartment complex, everything was kept neatly and clean and everything looked cheerful.
so this is where you live.. huh little one?
he parked and got out of the car glancing at the address making sure he was at the right place. Then he hurried up to the door , not seeing a figure on his way down, the two men collided and papers scatter every where.
"Man. I'm sorry I didn't see you"
Nicholas just smiled at the younger guy who was bending down and picking up the fallen papers,
"Its no problem I wasn't watching either I was on my way upstairs."
the other guy just nodded his head and scooped up some more papers.
"It's just that I'm worried about my friend...she's been missing since last night...is this yours?"
"yes and so is that over there too it's the address to the person whom I'm looking for"
The guy nodded and reach to get it then stopped and just stared at the piece of paper, then he gaped at Nicholas, Nicholas frowned at him,
"What.. what is it?"
"Y..you know..Mai?"
Nicholas just stared, stunned at the man before him,
"No.. but is she a friend of yours...?"
the younger man shook his head,
"I think you need to come with me...Mr..?
Nicholas blinked,
"Nicholas...Nicholas De Winner.. and I'd be glad to come with you "
"I'm Tristan Montgomery... this way Mr. De Winner..."
Tristan motioned up the stairs and Nicholas followed him, this was turning out to be interesting for Nicholas... who would have thought he's crash into the very person who might answer some of his questions about this..Mai... They came to a stop and Tristan knocked on the door
''Gwen opens up its me Tristan! I have someone out here you need to see!"
the door opened and a pretty reded women stepped out ,
"Yes Tristan.. hello Mr.?"
"Gwen this is Mr. Nicholas De Winner, and this Mr. De Winner is Gwen Matthews"
Nicholas held out his hand,
"Hello'
"H..hello.. will you come in please?..."
They walked in and Nicholas served the apartment, it was very homey and cute... but there was something in the air.. he couldn't quite place what it was.
"Gwen Why don't you call Julian.. I'm sure he'll want to hear what Mr. De Winner has to say too.
"Ok.. please sit .. do want anything? something to drink...?"
Nicholas shook his head no and just sat down, he felt out of place in such a feminine apartment, Tristan sat across from and watched Nicholas every move. Nicholas sighed inwardly then looked at a picture the was on the table, it was a picture of a healthy looking Mai and another guy they looked happy.