What if That Wasn't the End? (Read 9,176 times)

[André DiMera]

Chapter 9

MARLENA'S OFFICE
MARLENA: Worse in what way?
THERESA: In every way. I mean, the first two years were just the same as middle school. Junior year was slightly worse. Senior year...
MARLENA: What about senior year?
Theresa took a deep breath.
THERESA: That's when all the trouble started...

FIARFAX SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL (LOS ANGELES) – FLASHBACK
Seventeen year old Jeannie was putting her books into her locker. Since turning seventeen, she had stopped using glasses and started wearing contacts. She jumped when she heard the male voice behind her.
BOY: Hey.
The voice belonged to Griff, the coolest and toughest guy in school. Although they barely had any contact, Jeannie had a slight crush on him.
JEANNIE: Oh, hi, Griff.
GRIFF: Sup?
JEANNIE: Oh, nothing. Just getting ready for my next class. What's up with you?
GRIFF: I wanted to talk to ya.
JEANNIE: Okay. About what?
GRIFF: Well, I don't know if ya heard, but Steph and me broke up last week.
Steph was the coolest girl in school. She was captain of the cheerleading squad. Griff and Steph had been the ultimate couple at Fairfax.
JEANNIE: Oh, yeah. I heard about that. Sorry to hear that.
GRIFF: Hey, it's whatever. It happens. Anyway, me and a bunch of guys are goin' out Friday night. Wondered if maybe you'd wanna come?
Jeannie was now very nervous, partly because she was talking to the coolest guy in school, and partly because she'd never been asked out, because nobody in the school liked her.
JEANNIE: Um...where are we going?
GRIFF: Oh, just the drive-in. Catch a flick. Usual stuff.
Jeannie thought for a moment.
JEANNIE: Sure. I'd love to.
GRIFF: Cool. I'll pick ya up at 5. Don't keep me waiting.
Griff walked away.

MARLENA'S OFFICE
MARLENA: I take it that things didn't go well on this date?
THERESA: That's an understatement.

MAISON BLANCHE
Rex walked into the room where André was sitting.
REX: Father, is the video ready?
ANDRE: Of course. Why?
REX: It's time. We're ready.
The two walked into the computer room. André put a flash drive into the computer. Rex punched in several lines of computer code.
REX: There we go. Now all of Salem should be able to see our little broadcast.

SALEM INN
Paige was sitting on a bed, trying to relax. She had the TV turned on. She was watching a Boy Meets World rerun. Then, suddenly, the screen went black, and there was a low buzzing noise. This was soon replaced by an unworldly shriek. Several disturbing images flashed on the screen. Paige tried to change the channel, but the barrage of bizarre and gruesome pictures was on every channel. Finally, it rested on an image of five people in sillhoutte, with glowing gold eyes. A distorted voice spoke.
VOICE (on TV): What you have just witnessed is the beginning. The beginning of a new age of Salem. The age of the Prism. We are coming for you. You cannot run. You cannot hide. If you resist us, you will be destroyed. We are the Prism. The Prism are your masters now. You have three days.
The shriek was heard again, accompanied by the unsettling images from earlier. It finally stopped on an image of a golden prism. The words “Be Prepared” flashed across the screen. Then, the TV went black again. It went back to showing Boy Meets World. The interruption in total had lasted two and a half minutes.

[heroicmuse]

Oooh that Prism is creepy. Kind of reminds me of the aliens in Children of Earth.

I like seeing Jeannie/Theresa's backstory.

[fluffysmom]

Poor Jeannie. I have a suspicion of how the night will end.

What a scary thing to see on TV.

[André DiMera]

Chapter 10

SALEM PLACE
Paige and J.J. had agreed to meet up. Paige was sitting at a table. J.J. walked over.
J.J.: Hey.
PAIGE: Hey.
J.J.: Mind if I sit down.
Paige shook her head.
PAIGE: Go ahead.
J.J. sat across from Paige.
PAIGE: Did you see that thing on TV last night?
J.J.: What? That prism thing? Yeah. It was freaky!
PAIGE: Totally. And those images.
J.J.: See, that was the freakiest part. The voice wasn't too bad. I mean, sure, it was weird, but the images...
J.J. and Paige both shivered. There was a long silence.
J.J.: So...how are you?
PAIGE: Not so good. You?
J.J.: Me either.
PAIGE: Like I said, I want to try to work this out, but I don't know how. I don't even know if I can.
J.J.: Well, if you do want to, I'm willing to do whatever I have to to make this work. Paige, I love you. I've never felt this way about anybody in my whole life.
PAIGE: I feel the same way.
Another long silence.
PAIGE: So...what now?
J.J.: If you want, we could just take day by day. Just try to see if we can make it. And, if you ever don't want to anymore, just let me know, and I'll stop.
PAIGE: We could work on that.

FAIRFAX SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL – FLASHBACK
Jeannie was in the girls bathroom, washing her hands. Bridonna, the mean girl who used to bully her in middle school, and still continued to in high school, walked in. Nervously, Jeannie scooted over, so as to give her plenty of room.
BRIDONNA: Sup, Jeannie?
JEANNIE: Jeannie? That's different. Normally, you call me freak or pimple-face, or worse nicknames.
BRIDONNA: That was then. This is...not then.
Jeannie dried her hands off and picked up her books.
BRIDONNA: See you later, Jeannie.
JEANNIE: Bye.
Jeannie walked away, feeling very confused.

MARLENA'S OFFICE
MARELNA: That was rather unusual, coming from the girl who made your life a living hell throughout middle and most of high school.
THERESA: I had no idea what to think at that time. And it wasn't just then. For the next few days, she was nice to me. Everyone was. Abnormally so. I went from being the most hated girl in high school, who nobody talks to and everyone makes fun of, to people actually wanting to hang out with me. But, I soon found out why that was, and it was all downhill from there.

[heroicmuse]

Uh oh. Why do i think Jeannie was being set up to be humiliated?

I hope JJ and Paige can work things out before the prism mesmerizes one or both of them.

Intriguing story André DiMera! I'm enjoying it a lot.

[Kpatch]

That's what I think too, Jeannie is being set up. I am picturing Bridonna and Griff looking like Rizzo and Kenickie from Grease. I'm nervous about what's coming next.

[fluffysmom]

Poor Jeannie. I fear something awful is about to happen to her.

[André DiMera]

Chapter 11

MAISON BLANCHE
Kristen was feeding her baby a bottle. Chad walked in.
CHAD: So, I take it that the baby is your's and Brady's?
KRISTEN: That would be a good guess. It would also be wrong. Well, half wrong.
CHAD: How can it be half wrong?
KRISTEN: Well, you have the right father, but I'm not the baby's mother. Not his biological mother, anyway.
CHAD: Then, who is?
KRISTEN: I'll never tell. As far as anyone in Salem is concerned, I am Scorpius' mother.
Kristen chuckled.
KRISTEN: I'm certainly a better mother for him than that witch'll ever be.
Stefano walked in.
STEFANO: Indeed you are, my darling.
Kristen looked up.
STEFANO: Now, come, let me see my adorable little grandson, hm?
Kristen handed the baby to Stefano.
STEFANO: Ah. There we are. You lucky little boy. You are such a lucky child, you know that? To have been born just weeks before the new dawn of the DiMera Empire rises. And you shall inherit it all. Doesn't that sound lovely, my little nipote?
Sefano laughed.

MARLENA'S OFFICE
MARLENA: So, what is the time line of all this happening?
THERESA: Griff asked me out on Tuesday. The first confrontation with Bri was Wednesday. The second was Thursday. The date was Friday.
MARLENA: Second confrontation?
THERESA: I was just getting to that...

FAIRFAX SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL – FLASHBACK
Another scene in the girls bathroom. Bridonna walked in as Jeannie was about to walk out.
JEANNIE: Hi, Bri.
BRIDONNA: Jeannie, just the girl I wanted to see.
JEANNIE: What's up?
BRIDONNA: I just wanted to make sure that nothing happens with my brother.
JEANNIE: Your brother?
BRIDONNA: Griff.
Jeannie gulped.
JEANNIE: Griff is your brother?
BRIDONNA: That's right.
Bridonna pinned Jeannie up against the wall. Jeannie whimpered.
BRIDONNA: For some reason, he wants to take you out on a date. Doesn't make any sense at all to me, personally. I mean, Griff's the star football player, the coolest guy in school. And you're...well, you. So, I just want to make sure that your date with Griff goes well. 'Cause, if it doesn't, your next date is gonna be with me. And don't expect flowers. Got it?
Jeannie nodded.
JEANNIE (quietly): Got it.
Bridonna put Jeannie back on the ground. Jeannie ran out of the bathroom.

MARLENA'S OFFICE
MARLENA: So, you didn't know earlier that they were brother and sister?
THERESA: Nope. How could I have? I tried to spend as little time with Bri as I could, because the longer I spent in her orbit meant that there was a greater chance of me getting beaten up. Griff was the coolest guy in school, and I was the complete opposite. We never hung out or anything. Plus, he may have been cool, but he wasn't all the sharp. He'd been a senior for three years when I became a senior.
MARLENA: So, that was Thursday?
THERESA: Yep. And that date, which I never should have gone on in the first place, happened one day later. And, I think I died a little inside that night.

[fluffysmom]

Poor Jeannie. This date could be her worst nightmare.

[heroicmuse]

Omg I really feel for Jeannie. This is an amazing back story for her.

[André DiMera]

Chapter 12

PARK
J.J. was sitting on a bench in the park. Paige walked up.
J.J.: Hey.
PAIGE: Hey.
Paige sits down next to J.J.
J.J.: What's up?
PAIGE: Not much. You?
J.J.: Nothing.
They sat their in an silence for a moment.
J.J.: So, you said in your text that we needed to talk. It sounded important.
PAIGE: It is.
J.J.: So, what's going on?
Another moment of silence.
PAIGE: J.J....I can't do this anymore.
J.J.: What?
PAIGE: I know that we said that we would try to work things out...but, I don't think I can.
J.J.: Are you sure?
Paige nodded.
PAIGE: Yeah. I'm sure. I've thought about it a lot the last few days. I still love you. I think that part of me will always love you. But, too much has happened over the last few months for us to work. I just can't be with you. I'm sorry.
J.J.: No, I'm sorry. I understand where you're coming from. I was hoping this would go differently, but if this is what you think is best. I want you to do what's right for you.
PAIGE: And I am. I'm leaving Salem.
J.J.: When?
PAIGE: A few days. I'm transferring to Stanford over the weekend. Just got the letter of approval in the mail this morning.
J.J.: Okay. Good luck. For what it's worth, I just want to say once again how sorry I am.
PAIGE: I know. And I wish things had been different, too. But, they're not. And if I have any chance of getting over this, I need to just leave as quickly as I can.
Paige and J.J. hugged.
PAIGE: Goodbye, J.J.
J.J.: Goodbye, Paige.
Paige turned and walked away.

~~~

FILM STUDIO
DEWEY: So, they really broke up?
SAMI: Well, yeah. It's not like they were ever gonna be able to get passed him sleeping with her mother.
CHEATHAM: So, what happened next?
SAMI: Like I said, she went to Stanford, he stayed in Salem. Their story is over.
HOWE: We mean, what happened for the other two stories? You've done a great job of giving that Jeannie or Theresa, whatever her name is, a backstory. But, how does it end? How did she go from being bullied to being asked out by the coolest kid in the school, to being a pothead? And that superpowered crime family, what about them?
SAMI: Oh, you'll see.

~~~

MAISON BLANCHE
Rex, Cassie, André, Chad, E.J., Stefano and Kristen all sat in a room of the mansion. A beep went off. It was Rex's watch. He looked at it, turned it off, and stood up.
REX: It's time.
Everyone else stood up.
KRISTEN: I'll go get Scorpius.
STEFANO: I shall prepare the helicopter.
E.J.: We'll meet you at the remains of the DiMera Mansion, father.
Kristen went upstairs.
STEFANO: Good luck, my children.
Stefano blew them a kiss and went upstairs.
CHAD: And now, it begins.
CASSIE: Get in formation, everyone.
The five of them got into a circle, holding each other's hand. The room began to shake. Their eyes glowed gold.
ANDRE, E.J., CHAD, REX & CASSIE: It...has...begun.

[Kpatch]

I'm sad about JJ and Paige, but I know it couldn't have worked any other way.

I am so anxious to see what happens to Jeannie on that date!

[fluffysmom]

It's a sad for Paige and JJ but I think Stanford will be good for her.

[André DiMera]

Chapter 13

ELECTRIC DUSK DRIVE-IN THEATER (LOS ANGELES) – FLASHBACK
Jeannie and Griff were sitting in a car, watching a film. Neither was truly watching. They were engaging in awkward small talk. That all changed in a few minutes, though.
GRIFF: So, Jeannie, I was wonderin'...do you party?
JEANNIE: What?
GRIFF: You know. Do you...?
Griff held out a joint.
JEANNIE: Ew! No! That's gross!
GRIFF: You ever tried it?
JEANNIE: No!
GRIFF: Then how do you know you don't like it?
JEANNIE: Well...
Jeannie thought for a minute.
JEANNIE: For one, it's illegal.
GRIFF: So is not crossing the street at those stupid crosswalk things, but everybody does it, anyway.
JEANNIE: My dad's an ISA agent. If I did pot and he found out, he'd kill me.
GRIFF: He doesn't have to know. Come on. Don't knock it 'til you've tried it.
Jeannie thought for a moment. She really didn't want to, but he was the coolest guy in school. Eventually, Jeannie gave in to peer pressure.
JEANNIE: Okay, fine. I'll try one. Just one.
GRIFF: All right. There we go.
Griff handed Jeannie the joint and lit it. Jeannie put it up to her mouth.

MARLENA'S OFFICE
THERESA: That was my first of two big mistakes that night. I should never have even started. I knew it was wrong. But I wanted so much to be accepted. And, besides, his sister tortured me all throughout middle and high school, and I didn't want to have to go through that again. Still, I knew it was stupid. But, it clouded my judgment enough for me to make another really stupid decision that night.

MAISON BLANCHE
Suddenly, there was a crackling noise, and all five fell to the ground.
CHAD: Whoa!
E.J.: What in the bloody hell was that about?
They all got up.
CASSIE: It didn't work.
CHAD: But, why?
REX: Why do you think?
Rex glared at André.
ANDRE: Are you implying something, Rex?
REX: No, I'm not implying anything. I'm gonna come right out and say it: it failed because of you.
E.J.: Now, Rex, hold on just a moment, why do you say that it failed because of André?
REX: See, that's just the thing. If we had André, the real André, it would have worked. But, we don't.
The color suddenly left E.J. and Chad's faces.
E.J.: What?
ANDRE: How long have you known?
REX: I knew the minute I saw you. I might not have met you in person the last time I was in Salem, but I am a genius. Besides that, it is far easier for you as a civilized man to behave like a barbarian than it has been in the past for your cousin as a barbarian to behave like a civilized man.
André, who is really, Tony, chuckled.
TONY: Oh, Rex, I do wish I'd gotten to know you better; that I had raised you instead of André. With that mind of yours, you could have done amazing things. You're quite right, of course, I am Tony. Hello Cassie, Chad, Elvis. To borrow a line from Stefano, it is good to be back!

[heroicmuse]

WOO HOO!!! Great stuff here, both with Jeannie and with the Prism/Dimera return. I am sad about JJ/Paige also. I'm glad JJ was mature about it and didn't try to convince Paige to give him another chance. Looking forward to seeing what happens next!