RENTAL MOVIES (4/6)
Title: Rental Movies (4/6)
Author: fairchristabel
Rating: PG
Summary: Chenzel (Kristin/Idina)
A/N: My first RPF, and , I think, my first attempt at any kind of fanfic. I wrote this back in 2006, but just posted it to the comm, and not my journal, so I’m rectifying that now. Kind of angsty, but it ends up happy, so that’s something.
March, 2007
New York City
Blockbuster Movie Store
“T-minus six minutes and counting, six minutes.”
Idina glanced up into the large mirror set in the corner of the ceiling and found Star Wars boy watching her. She snorted softly to herself. Like I’m gonna start stuffing movies down my jeans, she thought. He was still watching her. A sneak attack, she decided. I’ll wait ’til he turns around, then I’ll start Frisbee-ing DVDs at his head.
A phone rang, interrupting her assault plans. Star Wars boy picked up, but kept his eyes trained on Idina. “Blockbuster. Yeah, in about five minutes. No, if you drop it off outside it won’t be processed until tomorrow. Five dollars per day. Uhn-huh. Thirty bucks if you’ve lost it. Yeah. Okay. Bye.”
Idina shook her head. Thirty dollars? You could buy it new for that much.
* * * * * *
Idina unlocked her apartment door. “I’m home!”
“That was quick. How’d the show go?” Taye called from the kitchen.
“It was okay.” She walked in and flopped down at the table across from him.
“Shower’s still broken, huh?” He reached out and touched her face. His fingers came away green. Taye shook his head. “You should really get on them about that. They shouldn’t let their star suffer.”
Idina smiled tiredly. “It doesn’t matter.”
“If you say so. I still think you should just use Kristin’s. I’m sure she wouldn’t mind sharing with you.”
“Yeah, well, we don’t both fit in there.” She grinned at him.
Taye laughed. “Oh, come on, she’s tiny! Of course, you could, you know, just wait until she gets out. Problem solved.”
“Yeah.” Her smile faded. “It’s all right, though. I’d rather take it here.” Idina slowly stood up. “I’m gonna go clean up.”
“You want some help?”
She stopped beside his chair and laid her hand on his shoulder. “Maybe later.” Taye squeezed her hand once, then she headed into the bathroom.
Idina sloughed off all of her clothes, then stepped in the shower and let the cold water numb her. She sighed and leaned her forehead on the shower wall, not caring about the green streaks she was creating. Her eyes idly followed the green paint as it swirled around the drain then plunged into darkness.
“Babe?” There was a knock on the door. Taye stuck his head inside.
“Hmm?”
“There’s a guy on the phone, from Vince’s Vids. Says Pretty Woman’s a week overdue. Do you know what he’s talkin’ about?”
Idina closed her eyes.
“Dee? You okay?”
“Yeah. Umm, I think I left it over at Kristin’s. I’ll take care of it.”
Taye pulled his head out of the door. Idina opened her eyes but otherwise remained motionless.
“Hey, babe? He says if it’s returned tonight it’ll only be ten bucks. Otherwise, he’ll charge you for a lost movie.”
“That’s fine.” Idina began tracing Kristin’s name on the wall with her finger. She got to the‘t’ before the green paint ran out. Taye’s voice rose in the outer room, but Idina ignored it, concentrating instead on finishing her paint job with a different finger. She stared at the sloping name on the wall, then put her back against it and slowly slid down to a sitting position, her cheek resting on her drawn-up knees. Up close the green swirled much faster, as though eager to escape into the oblivion the drain offered.
“Dee?” There was a knock, then the door opened. Idina didn’t look up. “I’m gonna call Kristin and see if she has the movie so we can take it back. You think she’ll be back at her place yet? Dee?” The shower door opened and Idina felt two strong hands on the sides of her legs. “Are you feeling okay, baby?” Tears slowly slipped down Idina’s face as she shook her head. “Talk to me, Dee, please? What’s wrong?”
Idina heavily turned her head and looked into her husband’s concerned eyes. She gave him a watery half-smile. “I’m just tired, that’s all.”
“Are you sure?”
“Mm-hmm.”
“There’s nothing I can do?” Idina shook her head. “Okay then.” Taye stood up. “I’ll just give Kristin a call, then.” He turned toward the door.
“Wait.” Taye turned back around. “Don’t worry about it. I’ll just go by and pay for it tomorrow. No need to bother Kris now.”
“It’s okay, I’m sure she’s still awake.”
“Yeah, but-”
“Otherwise, you’ll have to pay a twenty-five dollar lost fee.”
Idina’s shoulders slumped and she laid her head back down on her knees. “Okay, you can call her.”
Taye exited, punching numbers on the phone as he pulled the door shut. Idina stayed where she was, not moving until the swirling green had been replaced by clear water. She lifted her head when she heard voices outside, but decided that Taye had turned on the TV. A moment later there was a knock on the bathroom door.
“Dee, babe, you still in there?” Taye called.
“M’almost finished.” Idina mumbled. She reached up and turned off the nozzle, then slumped back down.
“Is she okay?” Idina heard another voice faintly through the door.
“I was hopin’ you could tell me,” she heard Taye reply. “She’s been in there for almost an hour. Is there something going on at work, something wrong?”
“No, nothing at work.”
“Well I don’t know then. She says she’s just tired, but I think she may be coming down with something. All she’s done for the past week is come home, shower and sleep. And she stays in bed most of the day too, until it’s time to go to work.”
“She hasn’t gone to the doctor?”
“Nah, you know Idina. She won’t admit there’s something wrong until she’s knocking on death’s door.”
“That’s our girl. Hey, if you want, I can stay with her. You know, while you take the movie back. Just to make sure she’s okay.”
“Would you? That would be great.” Taye knocked on the door again. “Hey Dee,” he called loudly, “Kristin just brought me the movie, so I’m gonna go return it now. She’s gonna stay with you ’til I get back, just to make sure you’re okay. I’ll be back soon.”
Idina didn’t reply. She propped her arms on her knees and buried her face in the crook of her elbow. A minute later she heard a timid scratch at the door. Idina buried her face deeper, hoping to block out the sound.
“Dee?” The voice was soft, almost as soft as the touch she laid on Idina’s arm. Idina’s head jerked up and she pushed herself into the corner, as far away from Kristin as it was possible to get. Kristin crouched, so that their eyes were level. “Dee, can we talk? Please?” Idina just wrapped her arms firmly around her legs and turned her face towards the wall. Kristin sighed and straightened. She walked over to the door and pulled a robe off its hook. “Dee, here,” she said as she walked back over to the shower. “It’s time to get out, okay? Here’s your robe.” Kristin stared at the unresponsive form then laid the robe on the toilet. “All right,” she said, “I’ll go back outside. But if you’re not out there in five minutes, I’m gonna come back in and drag you out.”
Idina heard heels click across the tile, then the closing of the door. She raised her head slowly then cautiously stood up. Stepping over to the toilet, Idina took the fluffy robe and wrapped it tightly around herself. She glanced at herself in the mirror, then, taking a deep breath, opened the door and stepped out into her bedroom.
Kristin was sitting on the edge of the bed, legs crossed, foot tapping nervously on the floor. She jumped up when she saw Idina. Idina ignored Kristin and walked over to the dresser. Kristin followed behind her.
“You know, I thought for a minute there that I was about to have to come in there and drag you out.” Idina opened a drawer and rummaged through it. “I could’ve done it too. I’m stronger than I look.”
Idina pulled out a pair of yoga pants and a t-shirt. Turning her back to Kristin, Idina stepped into her pants, and, shucking off her robe, slithered into her shirt. She stepped around Kristin and walked over to the bed. Idina tossed some pillows out of the way and pulled back the covers.
“Idina!” Kristin was angry now. “Idina Menzel! Look at me!” She walked over and snatched the blanket out of Idina’s hands and flung it to the floor. “This has gone on long enough, Dee. You’ve got to talk to me sometime.”
Idina turned and glared at her. Kristin shrank back. “No, I don’t. I don’t have to talk to you, ever. I’ve gotten along just fine this past week without talking to you. I think I can last a few more days. Then you’ll be gone, and not only will we not have to talk to each other, we’ll never even have to see each other. Ding, ding. Kristin Chenoweth wins.”
Kristin seemed deflated. “I win what, Dee? You know that isn’t what I want.”
“Really? ‘Cause that’s what you’ve chosen.” Idina spat. “You know, I think maybe it’s good that you are leaving now. They say it’s time to move on when you start becoming the character you play. You’re just like Glinda. Always perfect, always making the acceptable choices. Perfect little Kristin-of course you’ll choose your adoring public. They’re the ones that really matter. Gotta keep them happy, right?”
“I didn’t have a choice,” Kristin shouted. “You’re the one with all the power. All I can do is stay here and suffocate. I can’t do that. I won’t.” Her voice quieted as she looked into Idina’s eyes. “I’m gonna save myself, Dee. That’s the only choice I have.”
“You could stay.” It was barely a whisper.
“And do what? Be your secret girlfriend, your mistress, your good time on the side?” Kristin shook her head. “I can’t do that, Dee. It’s not fair to me, or to you.”
“We could make it work. We can figure out something.”
Kristin sat down on the side of the bed, pulling Idina down with her. “Don’t you think I’ve been trying to do that, Dee? I’ve looked at it from every angle.” She took Idina’s hand in her own. “There’s no room for me in your life, Dee. At least, not as we are. Maybe as friends, but I don’t want to be friends with you. That would just be another kind of suffocation.”
“There’s always room for you, Kris.”
Kristin squeezed Idina’s hand gently, then pulled away. “I know that’s what you think, darling, but it’s not true. It can’t be. You have Taye.”
Idina reached out and cupped Kristin’s cheek with her palm. “But I want you.”
Kristin pulled away, standing up and dashing a tear from her eye. She tried to chuckle. “Getting a little greedy, aren’t we Menzel?”
“I love you.”
“I know you do. But you love Taye too. And you’re married to him.” Kristin sat back down and pulled Idina’s head onto her lap. She gently stroked the dark hair. “Dee, we can’t stay in Oz forever.”
“Elphie and Glinda did.”
“Yes, and that turned out so well for them.”
Idina put on her stubborn face. “We could be different.” Kristin began shaking her head. “We could,” Idina repeated, sitting up. “We can make it work, Kris. I know we can.” She reached out and took both of Kristin’s hands in her own. “Just stay with me, Kris. We’ll figure something out.”
Idina’s eyes pleaded with Kristin. Kristin turned her head away as tears slowly began to track down her face. She pulled her hands out of Idina’s and stood up. “I can’t,” she whispered, shaking her head as she backed away. “Please, don’t ask me again.” Kristin reached the doorway. She grabbed her purse from the dresser and looked at Idina one last time. “I love you,” she whispered. Then she turned and was gone.
* * * * * *
Idina shook her head roughly, and turned her attention back to the movies in front of her. Her eyes found the title she was looking for, and she grabbed it and headed to check out. Idina laid her choices on the counter.
“You got a card here?”
Idina handed over a blue laminated card. Star Wars boy stared at it suspiciously, then scanned it. Idina turned to look at a stack of magazines as he catalogued her movies.
“That’s $13.29.”
Idina pulled out a twenty and handed it to him. He was getting her change when the door buzzed again.
“Oh, I just made it.”
“I’ll be with you in a minute, ma’am,” said Star Wars boy without turning around. “Here you go. Your change is $6.71.” He thrust the money out towards Idina, but she didn’t see him. Her gaze was fixed on the woman who had just walked in. There, not ten feet away from her, big as life, was Kristin Chenoweth.