Everyone gets Laid Part IV
MARSHA
Marsha felt completely relaxed so much so that she lit up a cigarette even though it was strictly against townhouse rules. Liz can bite me she thought. But she would be hard pressed to find a spot that George hadn’t already gotten to. It was an exquisite pain that brought back erotic memories.
She was seriously considering doing as George had suggested and moving to the west coast. All those juicy stories to dig up, maybe start my own magazine, but Marsha worried about Liz. She was fragile in her eyes. She was afraid of what would happen if she wasn’t around to keep her from making mistakes. Who am I kidding? She thought. I was there for each and everyone of her mistakes. The first love, the old man, the married man and the one night stand, although.. I have to give her that one. Given the chance, I would have fucked him too. She took a long satisfying drag from her cigarette. Then she realized the truth of it. She wasn’t there to prevent her from making mistakes; It was the picking up of the pieces afterward that was her forte. So far she’d done it three times, and it was getting monotonous. It seemed to Marsha that it may be time to let her go.
Marsha was sitting on the couch with her feet up on the coffee table contemplating her next move when the front door opened and Liz and Martin walked in. If she wasn’t so completely sated she would have made an issue of it. The bell had not yet been removed and they were out of bounds for coming in. Then she noticed Martin’s hand. It was around Liz’s waist, and Liz wasn’t brushing it away. All the calm went out the door, Marsha’s hackles were up, and in one swift shift, she was out for blood.
“Son of a bitch! You did it! You finally did it didn’t you?”
Marsha watched as Martin’s hand dropped from Liz’s side.
“ What’s the matter Martin, afraid to let me in on the secret. You chicken shit little bastard.”
Liz tried to cut in, but Marsha ignored her.
“I’ve watched you for a long time you limey ass. Liz was the one notch on your belt you couldn’t make. She was out of your league and you knew it. That’s why you spent all your time with models. The dimwitted ones with their legs wide open.”
“You listen to me you deranged bitch! I’ve had enough of your disapproval to last ten lifetimes.”
“Then get the hell out of our lives!”
“That’s not gonna happen, Marsha.”
“Liz, why? I told you this was going to happen, why did you let it?”
“It’s not what you think?”
“Are you gonna tell me you didn’t get fucked?”
“I didn’t. What happened was the most intense, intimate, and uninhibited experience of my life.”
“Remember who your talking to.”
“I do. And I’m telling you the truth.”
Liz was telling the truth. After all the years they spent together all the experiences told and untold Marsha could tell. She was at a loss, she took a step back and looked at both of them. Martin’s hand was back on Liz’s waist. She wanted to punch his smug face, but when she looked at Liz all the fight went out of her.
“He was that good, huh?”
Liz just smiled.
Marsha glanced at Martin, was he blushing? What the hell is going on? Martin being self-effacing was not what she expected, and Elizabeth suggesting that he was better than her ghosts was unimaginable.
“Well then, maybe I should have fucked you.”
“In your dreams you loathsome harpy.”
It almost sounded affectionate. Like a fare the well dig, but Liz didn’t get it.
“Martin don’t.”
She watched as two simple words reduced her sworn enemy and fellow pit bull to a hapless puppy. If Liz had thrown a bone and said fetch, she was positive Martin would have gotten down on all fours and done it. I’ll be a son of a bitch. He loves her. And what was harder to believe, Liz loved him. What the hell had happened in the last twenty hours?
Marsha turned and headed for the kitchen. Grabbed the bourbon out of the cabinet and poured a drink. She was about to down it when Martin and Liz walked in.
“You know I was having such a good day.”
“Yeah we noticed.” Martin said.
“Who was the guy?” Liz asked with a mischievous grin.
“You didn’t recognize him? Huh, too bad, cause I’m not saying. It’ll come to you.”
There was a long silence.
“Sooo….what do we do now?” Marsha said then downed the bourbon.
She watched as Liz and Martin looked at each other, and she had and overwhelming feeling of defeat. Martin had won. Liz had claimed him, and Marsha had come in second.
“Well..” Liz began but Marsha cut her off.
“You know I’ve been thinking, all the juicy stories are on the west coast. I don’t know why I’m still in New York. If I want to make it big I’m gonna have to make a change.”
“What are you saying? You’re not going to leave New York?”
“Yeah, it’ time.”
Marsha was trying to sound flippant, but it was harder than she thought. Liz represented an entire period of her life, it wasn’t going to be easy to say good bye.
“You can’t leave! At least not yet.”
“Why not?”
“Because you have to be the Maid of Honor at my wedding?”
Wedding! she thought. Her mind was reeling, but her face was stone.
“Give me one second.” Marsha said in her calmest voice.
Marsha filled her glass a second time and made it a double. She downed it with a grimace. Then with all the incredulity Liz’s previous statement evoked she said.
“Come again?”
“Uh,” Liz stuttered, “Martin asked me to marry him.”
Marsha could sense that Liz could barely believe the words herself.
“And you said yes? Just like that, you said yes.”
“Well, yes.”
“Are you out of your god damn mind! You sleep with each other once..
“Well, technically…” Martin cut in.
“Shut it, asshat!”
“Ass ..What?”
“Liz are you sure about this? Your choices haven’t been the best the last couple of years, and it seems to me that this one could be the one to end all.”
“Marsha,” Liz said calmly. “You’re right. My choices have been… well, let’s just say… suspect, and based on something that happened a long time ago. You’re being generous saying the last couple of years, because it’s been for as long as you’ve known me. You know that’s true. I’ve been a child playing at love, and like it or not you’re partly to blame.
Marsha was taken aback. Me? She guessed the look on her face demanded an explanation, and Liz complied.
“All those stories you made up for me. They always ended one way. With a kiss and a fade to black. That’s how I wanted love to be. That’s how you wanted it to be for me, and that’s not how love is.”
Liz was right there. That’s exactly how she wanted love to be. Well, for Liz anyway. Marsha knew her inclinations leaned a completely different way. Liz knew it too. She had written stories for Marsha, fiery one night stands that left bruises on both parties, not unlike the one she had just had with George. But there was something naive and innocent about how Liz felt. If Marsha had thought about it, she would probably have thrown up in her mouth a little. She hated love stories. Didn’t she? Maybe that wasn't completely accurate. Maybe deep down inside there was a romantic side, she just never cast herself in the role, Maybe that’s why she hated maudlin movies that made people cry. Because she felt it would never be her. Perhaps she was living that role vicariously through Liz. And for Marsha, at this point in her life, it was enough. She wanted desperately for Liz to have her happily ever after. It was her dream and friends protect each others dreams.
“You’ve been a good friend. You’ve always been there to pick up the pieces when it’s gone wrong. And it’s gone wrong, every time.”
Marsha noticed the emphasis on “every time” and she realized the tediousness of Liz’s situations had gotten to Liz too.
“So, thank you. Thank you for being my friend, for listening, for putting up with my stupidity, and for trying to protect me. I can’t even imagine what it’s been like for you. Especially since I knew you loved him too.
She knew? All these years. She knew.
“I’m sorry, I’m lost. You loved me?”
She looked at Martin with something akin to “Are you still here?”
“No, not me, sorry.”
Marsha thought long and hard about what Liz had said. Marsha thought Liz was oblivious to how her life looked from the outside, but she was wrong. She thought Liz was all emotion and reaction which Marsha used as fodder for the illusion of her own superiority of character. Yes, illusion Marsha conceded, because it now appeared Liz was protecting Marsha’s illusions as much as Marsha was protecting Liz’s. Marsha had needed Liz for a long time for that exact reason, and Liz had needed Marsha. In one fell swoop, their relationship had changed. She knew, and she never said a word. It was the surprise of a life time. Son- of- a- bitch!
“Alright then, I’ll stay until after the wedding, and then…. California here I come.”
Marsha felt completely relaxed so much so that she lit up a cigarette even though it was strictly against townhouse rules. Liz can bite me she thought. But she would be hard pressed to find a spot that George hadn’t already gotten to. It was an exquisite pain that brought back erotic memories.
She was seriously considering doing as George had suggested and moving to the west coast. All those juicy stories to dig up, maybe start my own magazine, but Marsha worried about Liz. She was fragile in her eyes. She was afraid of what would happen if she wasn’t around to keep her from making mistakes. Who am I kidding? She thought. I was there for each and everyone of her mistakes. The first love, the old man, the married man and the one night stand, although.. I have to give her that one. Given the chance, I would have fucked him too. She took a long satisfying drag from her cigarette. Then she realized the truth of it. She wasn’t there to prevent her from making mistakes; It was the picking up of the pieces afterward that was her forte. So far she’d done it three times, and it was getting monotonous. It seemed to Marsha that it may be time to let her go.
Marsha was sitting on the couch with her feet up on the coffee table contemplating her next move when the front door opened and Liz and Martin walked in. If she wasn’t so completely sated she would have made an issue of it. The bell had not yet been removed and they were out of bounds for coming in. Then she noticed Martin’s hand. It was around Liz’s waist, and Liz wasn’t brushing it away. All the calm went out the door, Marsha’s hackles were up, and in one swift shift, she was out for blood.
“Son of a bitch! You did it! You finally did it didn’t you?”
Marsha watched as Martin’s hand dropped from Liz’s side.
“ What’s the matter Martin, afraid to let me in on the secret. You chicken shit little bastard.”
Liz tried to cut in, but Marsha ignored her.
“I’ve watched you for a long time you limey ass. Liz was the one notch on your belt you couldn’t make. She was out of your league and you knew it. That’s why you spent all your time with models. The dimwitted ones with their legs wide open.”
“You listen to me you deranged bitch! I’ve had enough of your disapproval to last ten lifetimes.”
“Then get the hell out of our lives!”
“That’s not gonna happen, Marsha.”
“Liz, why? I told you this was going to happen, why did you let it?”
“It’s not what you think?”
“Are you gonna tell me you didn’t get fucked?”
“I didn’t. What happened was the most intense, intimate, and uninhibited experience of my life.”
“Remember who your talking to.”
“I do. And I’m telling you the truth.”
Liz was telling the truth. After all the years they spent together all the experiences told and untold Marsha could tell. She was at a loss, she took a step back and looked at both of them. Martin’s hand was back on Liz’s waist. She wanted to punch his smug face, but when she looked at Liz all the fight went out of her.
“He was that good, huh?”
Liz just smiled.
Marsha glanced at Martin, was he blushing? What the hell is going on? Martin being self-effacing was not what she expected, and Elizabeth suggesting that he was better than her ghosts was unimaginable.
“Well then, maybe I should have fucked you.”
“In your dreams you loathsome harpy.”
It almost sounded affectionate. Like a fare the well dig, but Liz didn’t get it.
“Martin don’t.”
She watched as two simple words reduced her sworn enemy and fellow pit bull to a hapless puppy. If Liz had thrown a bone and said fetch, she was positive Martin would have gotten down on all fours and done it. I’ll be a son of a bitch. He loves her. And what was harder to believe, Liz loved him. What the hell had happened in the last twenty hours?
Marsha turned and headed for the kitchen. Grabbed the bourbon out of the cabinet and poured a drink. She was about to down it when Martin and Liz walked in.
“You know I was having such a good day.”
“Yeah we noticed.” Martin said.
“Who was the guy?” Liz asked with a mischievous grin.
“You didn’t recognize him? Huh, too bad, cause I’m not saying. It’ll come to you.”
There was a long silence.
“Sooo….what do we do now?” Marsha said then downed the bourbon.
She watched as Liz and Martin looked at each other, and she had and overwhelming feeling of defeat. Martin had won. Liz had claimed him, and Marsha had come in second.
“Well..” Liz began but Marsha cut her off.
“You know I’ve been thinking, all the juicy stories are on the west coast. I don’t know why I’m still in New York. If I want to make it big I’m gonna have to make a change.”
“What are you saying? You’re not going to leave New York?”
“Yeah, it’ time.”
Marsha was trying to sound flippant, but it was harder than she thought. Liz represented an entire period of her life, it wasn’t going to be easy to say good bye.
“You can’t leave! At least not yet.”
“Why not?”
“Because you have to be the Maid of Honor at my wedding?”
Wedding! she thought. Her mind was reeling, but her face was stone.
“Give me one second.” Marsha said in her calmest voice.
Marsha filled her glass a second time and made it a double. She downed it with a grimace. Then with all the incredulity Liz’s previous statement evoked she said.
“Come again?”
“Uh,” Liz stuttered, “Martin asked me to marry him.”
Marsha could sense that Liz could barely believe the words herself.
“And you said yes? Just like that, you said yes.”
“Well, yes.”
“Are you out of your god damn mind! You sleep with each other once..
“Well, technically…” Martin cut in.
“Shut it, asshat!”
“Ass ..What?”
“Liz are you sure about this? Your choices haven’t been the best the last couple of years, and it seems to me that this one could be the one to end all.”
“Marsha,” Liz said calmly. “You’re right. My choices have been… well, let’s just say… suspect, and based on something that happened a long time ago. You’re being generous saying the last couple of years, because it’s been for as long as you’ve known me. You know that’s true. I’ve been a child playing at love, and like it or not you’re partly to blame.
Marsha was taken aback. Me? She guessed the look on her face demanded an explanation, and Liz complied.
“All those stories you made up for me. They always ended one way. With a kiss and a fade to black. That’s how I wanted love to be. That’s how you wanted it to be for me, and that’s not how love is.”
Liz was right there. That’s exactly how she wanted love to be. Well, for Liz anyway. Marsha knew her inclinations leaned a completely different way. Liz knew it too. She had written stories for Marsha, fiery one night stands that left bruises on both parties, not unlike the one she had just had with George. But there was something naive and innocent about how Liz felt. If Marsha had thought about it, she would probably have thrown up in her mouth a little. She hated love stories. Didn’t she? Maybe that wasn't completely accurate. Maybe deep down inside there was a romantic side, she just never cast herself in the role, Maybe that’s why she hated maudlin movies that made people cry. Because she felt it would never be her. Perhaps she was living that role vicariously through Liz. And for Marsha, at this point in her life, it was enough. She wanted desperately for Liz to have her happily ever after. It was her dream and friends protect each others dreams.
“You’ve been a good friend. You’ve always been there to pick up the pieces when it’s gone wrong. And it’s gone wrong, every time.”
Marsha noticed the emphasis on “every time” and she realized the tediousness of Liz’s situations had gotten to Liz too.
“So, thank you. Thank you for being my friend, for listening, for putting up with my stupidity, and for trying to protect me. I can’t even imagine what it’s been like for you. Especially since I knew you loved him too.
She knew? All these years. She knew.
“I’m sorry, I’m lost. You loved me?”
She looked at Martin with something akin to “Are you still here?”
“No, not me, sorry.”
Marsha thought long and hard about what Liz had said. Marsha thought Liz was oblivious to how her life looked from the outside, but she was wrong. She thought Liz was all emotion and reaction which Marsha used as fodder for the illusion of her own superiority of character. Yes, illusion Marsha conceded, because it now appeared Liz was protecting Marsha’s illusions as much as Marsha was protecting Liz’s. Marsha had needed Liz for a long time for that exact reason, and Liz had needed Marsha. In one fell swoop, their relationship had changed. She knew, and she never said a word. It was the surprise of a life time. Son- of- a- bitch!
“Alright then, I’ll stay until after the wedding, and then…. California here I come.”