Alternate Universe
Chapter 1
Twenty-Three year old Rollie Tyler was sitting in the bar, enjoying the game, with his pal Leo McCarthy, when he got the call. Part of him been surprised by it. He was furious, but not surprised. Eighteen year old, Angela Ramirez had met her newest boyfriend a few months prior. When Rollie met him he wasn't all that thrilled. Victor Loubar, just a year younger than Rollie, like Angie was enrolled at NYU, majoring in Computers. Unlike Angie, he was a senior and would be graduating the following semester. They had been going out a couple of months, when Angie asked Rollie to meet him. The meeting hadn't been too eventful, but Rollie didn't really like the guy. He knew that Angie regarded his opinion highly, and didn't want to upset her, so he just kept his comments to himself. Rollie couldn't pinpoint what the problems were with Loubar, but Rollie just didn't get a good feeling about the guy. Because of this, he was happy that Angie kept her current relationship a secret to her father. He never liked it when Angie kept secrets and made Rollie keep secrets for her from Mannie, but he knew in this case it was better. Manny would like Loubar either, especially for the facts that he was older than Angie and Rollie had a feeling Angie was spending the nights with him. Rollie figured it wouldn't last forever and he would keep an eye on her till it did end.
Now Rollie found out he was wrong in thinking that nothing would happen to Angie. He was watching the game on the bar TV when the bartender bought the phone over. "It's for you, Tyler."
"Tyler," Rollie spoke into the phone, eyes still glued to the TV. He and Leo were regulars at the bar, so he wasn't completely surprised by getting a phone call. What surprised him was the reason behind the call.
"Rollie......." The voice replied softly, clearly upset. "it's me. Angie. Can you come get me?"
"Angie?" Rollie questioned, the game was no longer important. Even Leo stopped paying attention to the game, hearing the concern in his friend's voice. "What happened? What's wrong?"
"Victor.......found him.......not alone.....mad......" Angie sobbed into the phone, only part of what she said could be understood.
"Where are you?" Rollie questioned, frantically pulling money out of his pockets and placing it on the bar, as Leo grabbed their coats.
"By the school....Chapin street." She replied quickly.
"I'll be there in no time. Sit tight." Rollie hung the up phone, throwing it back to the bartender, as Leo and him hurried out of the bar.
Twenty minutes later, Leo pulled the car to a stop at Chapin street, where Angie was sitting on a bench at the bus stop. Rollie hopped out and rushed over to where Angie was sitting.
"Angie? Are you okay?" He sat down next to her, as she clung to him, still crying. Slowly she nodded her head, burying it into his chest. After a minute he pulled her back to get a good look at her. "What happened with Victor?"
"We broke up......." She started, trying to calm down so she could explain. "I went over to his place tonight and found him with someone else......."
"Oh, Angie......" Rollie knew something like this would happen. "Come on, gets go home." Standing, he took hold of one of her arms, pulling gently. When he did, she pulled away from his grasp. Rollie and Leo both noticed this and her wince at the touch. "Angie?" He didn't wait for an answer, when he pulled up her sleeve. Even in the dimming light, he could make out the black and blue marks. "Bloody hell."
"Rollie, its nothing." Angie tried to calm him, to no avail.
"This isn't nothing, Angela." Rollie replied, full of anger. "Did he touch you anywhere else?"
"No. He only grabbed me when I tried to leave. He shoved me against the wall and told me to leave." Angie replied, looking at the ground, afraid to look Rollie in the eyes.
"Angie, do you want to press charges?" Leo questioned, listening to the conversation intently.
Angie looked up in shock. She hadn't noticed the cop standing next to them before that moment. She should have known Rollie would bring Leo. She shook her head to reply, feeling Rollie about to throw a fuss. "Rollie, look, I just want to go back to your place. I don't want to think about Victor Loubar anymore tonight. Okay?" Slowly, Rollie nodded, walking her to the car, as Leo followed.
The ride to Rollie's place was made in silence. Rollie wasn't going to question Angie wanting to stay at his place. Manny was at a meeting with a director, going over their next movie in Madrid. Manny was used to Angie staying with Rollie at his apartment or Rollie staying at the loft while he was away on business. Neither Rollie or Manny liked her being alone; Rollie especially didn't want her to be alone tonight.
"Thanks, Leo." Rollie told the cop, as he pulled up to his apartment complex. Leo nodded in reply, as Rollie helped Angie out the car. "No problem, Rollie. Feel better, Ang."
When they got to his apartment, neither said much. Rollie told her to take his bed, and he'd take the couch. He told her he had some projects to finish for the shoot next week, so he'd be up late. Which was true, but he knew if he didn't say anything, she'd probably argue. In any case, she didn't argue now, she just nodded her head and made her way to his room to get ready for bed. She didn't want to talk anymore about what had happened that night. Rollie would find out eventually. He was the least of her worries anyways.
It was three in the morning, when Rollie opened his eyes to find that he was not alone in the living room. He had just started to fall asleep, when he realized that someone else was with him. "Angie?" He mumbled, making out her form, sitting on the floor, in front of the couch. "What's wrong?"
"I can't sleep." She replied, shaking her head in despair.
"Come here." Rollie sat up, pulling her up on the couch, next to him.
"I made such a mess of things." Angie told him, leaning her head on his shoulder, as his arm was draped around hers.
"Angie, what happened tonight, isn't your fault." Rollie tried to console her.
"We didn't break up tonight." Angie told him, as he looked at her confused. "We broke up last week."
"Then why'd you go see him?" Rollie asked perplexed. He knew she didn't like him enough to want to get back together with him.
"I went to tell him....." She started, but stopped. This was harder than she thought. "I'm pregnant, Rollie." She blurted out, feeling him tense in shock.
"Bloody hell." Rollie blurted, without thinking. He turned, so they were face to face. "Sorry.... I just can't believe it..... Are you sure?" Silently, she nodded in response. The silence continued between them, both lost in their thoughts. "Did you tell him?"
"No." Angie replied. "When I got their and saw him.... Them... I changed my mind. I couldn't do it. Then he got angry that I was there......"
"What are you going to tell Manny?" Rollie asked the dreaded question. One that neither one could really handle.
"Good question." Angie sighed. "He's going to kill me."
"You know he'll be understanding." Rollie tried to help. He knew that wasn't true. Manny was going to explode.
"Who are you kidding? He doesn't even know I've had a boyfriend. And when he asks what he and I are planning to do...... He will hate the idea that we broke up. He'll want us to work through it and get married. You know how he is. He won't understand everything." She finally stopped babbling, tears beginning to run down her face. This was too much. She could barely tell Rollie, how would she find the courage to tell her father?
"Angie, it'll be okay." Rollie tried to console, pulling her close. "If you want I'll come with you when you tell him."
"I couldn't do it without you." Angie replied, relaxing in his arms.
The rest of the night, the pair spent dozing in the other's arms, on the couch. Rollie was awakened by something pressing tightly against his chest. Opening his eyes, he saw Angie using him to push herself off the couch, as she ran to the bathroom. "Ang?"
When Angie returned from the bathroom, slightly pale, Rollie was in the kitchen making tea. "You okay, sweetie?"
"I'll live," She nodded in reply, giving him a weak smile, as he watched her carefully. "What time is it?"
"Almost 7. Mannie's flight should be getting in in a couple of hours," Rollie reminded her, handing her a cup of tea, as she sat down on the bar stool at the kitchen counter. "Do you want to come with me, when I go to pick him up?"
"I don't think I can handle it." Angie told him. She'd be too nervous around him.
"Okay." Rollie nodded, without question. He knew this was hard on her and he was trying not to push her. Yet, he also knew she had to tell her father sooner rather than later. "When do you plan on telling him?"
"I prefer never..... But since I know that's out of the question.... Maybe I should wait till you guys finish wrapping up the movie."
"Angie, you know you need to tell him soon..." Rollie started, and quickly continued, seeing Angie was readying for an argument, "But, I realize why you want to wait. This is the last thing Manny needs before the big blow up scene on Tuesday."
"I was starting to think you ditched me, pal." Leo greeted the exhausted looking Australian, as the bartender passed them both a glass of beer. It didn't take him long to notice the sour expression on the young man's face. "What's wrong? Is it Angie? Still upset over the other night?"
"You could say that." Rollie started. It had just been a couple of days since they went to pick her up, and she told the young Australian about her pregnancy. "She's pregnant."
"Damn." Was Leo's response. "How's Manny taking it?"
"She didn't tell him yet." Rollie replied. "He doesn't even know she's been dating anyone."
"Well, let's just hope he doesn't find out what I managed to find out about Angie's latest beau." Leo said, as Rollie looked at him confused.
"What's that mean?" Rollie asked.
"I got curious after that night. I started to ask around about Mr. Loubar," Leo admitted.
"And?" Rollie had a bad feeling about this.
"And I don't know how Angie managed to get involved with this guy, and managed to come out with just a couple of bruises." Leo told him. "Rollie, he has a rap sheet longer than my beer tab here. Gun possession, drug possession, burglary, even battery--and I don't mean Angie."
"Bloody hell," Rollie muttered. How could this have happened? "Why isn't he in jail? And still in school?"
"Let's just say money really does talk in this town." Leo replied, clearly disgusted. "He comes from a very wealthy bloodline. At any sign of trouble, no matter how small, his daddy is there to bail him out."
"Bloody hell."
Chapter 2
Days had passed with nothing more said about Angie's situation. Every time Rollie tried to talk to Angie about it, ask her how she was doing, or if she thought anymore about her plans, Manny would show up and Angie would go hide behind her computer.
Now they were left alone in the van, while Manny was wrapping up the final details with the director. They had just finished wrapping the movie, except for a few computer added scenes. Angie was working at the computer, as Rollie loaded their equipment into the van. "Rollie, would you stop staring at me. I'm fine." Angie told him, keeping her eyes on the screen. She had known he had been watching her all week, worrying about her.
"Sorry," Sliding the case he was holding on the shelf. He then moved to sit on the chair next to her. "It's just we haven't talked much since you told me. I wanted to make sure you're okay."
Angie turned from the computer, giving him a smile. He was trying. Rollie Tyler had never been too keen on mushy talk, but he was always there for her when she needed him. He was her best friend and the only comfort she had at the moment.
"Have you thought about what to tell him yet?" Rollie asked.
"Thought about it? I can't stop thinking about it." Angie replied, sighing. "I just don't know what say…." She stopped, shaking her head in frustration.
"It'll be okay." Rollie tried to console her, reaching to push a piece of loose hair out of her eyes.
"That's easy for you to say…..You don't have to tell you're father you're pregnant."
Neither Angie nor Rollie had noticed that the elder FX man had returned to the van. They before turned to find Manny Ramirez standing at the entrance of the van. Neither knew how much he had heard, but they knew for certain he heard the worst part of the conversation. Angie closed her eyes in fear and nervousness. She reached for Rollie's hand, for support, while Rollie quickly averted his eyes to the floor. "What the hell is going on here?"
"Papa…." Angie still couldn't find the words. She had already gotten through the hardest part, without meaning to. That part she knew what to say. What came after it, now that was her problem. "I'm sorry."
"You're pregnant?" Manny asked, hoping he heard wrong. He knew Angie had been acting funny for the past couple of weeks. Now that he thought of it, Rollie hadn't been acting right either. As he stood there, he observed the pairing, their expressions at being caught off guard, their closeness, what he had heard when he came in.
"Papa, I meant to tell you… I just didn't know how to." Angie tried to figure something out, as he stood in front of her in silence. She quickly glanced at Rollie for any kind of help he could give.
"Manny, it really isn't that bad. We've talked about it and….." Rollie tried to help, but realized too late, his helping didn't help.
"It'll be okay? You two already discussed it?!" Manny questioned, raising his eyebrows. No one answered. "Now why is Angie going to you for help over this first, instead of her father, Rollie?"
"Manny…." Rollie was beginning to get a bad feeling about this.
"Angie, who's the father?" Angie quickly looked down at her feet, he was so mad. "It's Rollie's isn't it?!"
Angie's eyes went wide and she immediately paled at the accusation. She was about to speak, when Rollie gave her hand a gentle squeeze and gave her a reassuring glance.
"Just trust me." Rollie whispered to her, as she looked at him confused.
"Rollie. No."
When neither one replied, Manny continued his yelling. "I trusted you Rollie! I trusted my only daughter with you! I left you in charge of her! I gave you shelter and a job! This is how you repay me!"
"Manny, please. You don't have to yell."
"I don't have to yell!?" His voice growing louder.
"Papa, please. You don't understand."
"I want you out of here. Away from my daughter. You're done here, Tyler."
Rollie silently grabbed his coat, and with one last look at Angie he left the van. He pushed his way past the crowd that had formed outside, towards his car parked on the other side of the lot. At the time what he did seemed right. Now he wasn't so sure. Had he just made more of a mess?
"Just great. Just what I need." Rollie muttered to himself, pulling his collar closer to his neck, as the light sprinkle turned into a down pour. Once he left the movie set, he returned home, but he couldn't manage to settle down. He was worried about what had happened and mostly about Angie. As quick as he reached the apartment, he left. Instead of taking the car, he decided to go for a walk instead. He had been out since, five hours of aimlessly walking around New York City. Now with six blocks left, till he reached his apartment, the rain began to pour. "Bloody great."
Once he reached his apartment building, he stopped in his tracks, upon seeing Angie huddled at the top of the steps, cold and wet. "Angela! What the bloody hell are you doing here?"
"I couldn't stay away." She replied, as he led her into his apartment building and up the three flights of stairs to his apartment.
Entering his apartment, Angie stood planted by the door, arms wrapped around her freezing body. Rollie quickly went to grab a blanket he had left on the couch, and turned to wrap it around her. "You're soaked," He told her, rubbing his hands up and down her arms, feeling her body shake from the cold.
"So are you." Angie replied back. "Where've you been?"
"Walking. I needed to think." Rollie told her, as they continued to stand in the dark, trying to get warm in each others arms. "Why were you waiting down stairs?"
"I couldn't get buzzed in. I tried Mrs. Henderson, but she wasn't home." She told him, referring to his elderly neighbor, who took a motherly liking to the young Australian. "No one else would let me in."
"Bloody great." Rollie sighed. "Angie, look, I'm sorry about tonight."
"Rollie, it wasn't your fault." Angie told him. "But Rollie, why did you do that? Why did you let papa think that you're the father?"
"I thought it would help things. I know it probably made more of a mess of things, but…."
"I just can't believe how my dad is acting over this. He's acting the same way I would expect him to over Victor. He knows you and cares for you like a son. First problem that comes along and he's ready to kick you and I out…….." Angie was stopped mid sentence, by Rollie.
"What? He kicked you out too?" Rollie asked confused and angry.
"When I tried to sneak out, he caught me. He forbade me to go see you." Angie admitted, unable to look Rollie in the eyes. "He told me if I left to be with you, I wasn't allowed back." Angie admitted, unable to look Rollie in the eyes.
"Bloody hell," Rollie muttered, "Angie, you shouldn't ruin your relationship with your father over this."
"Rollie, he ruined his relationship with you over this! He didn't care. Why should I? Why should we? He was the one who jumped to conclusions and didn't ask why or if it was true. At this point, I don't care if he knows the truth. He hasn't taken the time to pry it out of us. He doesn't even care." Angie started, angry at her father, angry at the mess she had gotten herself into, but not any where near angry at Rollie Tyler, for his kindness and friendship. "I don't care if he ever knows the truth. He doesn't deserve to."
"Angie, I want you to be happy. You're my best friend. If this is what you want to do, then I'm with you all the way. We'll make it work somehow."
"Rollie, are you sure? I don't want to ruin your life over this….." Angie replied back, grateful but unsure.
"Angela, luv, I just told you how I feel about it. I want to do this." Rollie told her, as she gave him a grateful smile, and a hug, "Now lets get changed out of these wet clothes."