It Ain't Over 'til it's Over

Author’s Note:  Trixie Belden® is the registered trademark of Random House. This story is not for profit. 

This story features lyrics from It Ain't Over 'til it's Over by Lenny Kravitz.

So many tears I've cried
So much pain inside
But baby it ain't over 'til it's over

"What's wrong Hallie?" Dan asked, trying to hide his frustration.

"Nothing's wrong," Hallie lied.  "It's late, I've got a pile of homework and I'm still trying to memorise my lines for this stupid play."

"Can I help with anything?" Dan offered desperately.

"You can't help me learn my lines if you don't have a copy of the play," Hallie retorted sarcastically and bit her lip, immediately regretting her retort.

"I guess you're right," Dan muttered in a low, hurt tone.  "I'll let you get back to your study."

"Dan..." Hallie began.

"Goodnight Hallie."

"Dan!  Wait..." Hallie cried, but he had hung up.

Beep... beep... beep

Hallie slammed the phone down and fought back tears.

"Damn you Dan!"  She muttered.  "Is it that hard to love me?  Would it be that hard?"

She walked quickly out of the study and into her bedroom, using every ounce of will power to close the door quietly behind her.

"I'm not going to cry," she muttered.  "You're not going to make me cry."

Hallie sat down at her desk and stared blankly at the book in front of her.  She sniffed loudly and quickly wiped the tear drops away that had dared to fall on her cheeks.

"I'm not going to let you hurt me."

"You done with the phone buddy?" The guy behind him tapped him on the shoulder.

"Huh?  Yeah, sure," Dan mumbled and walked away from the phone.  He shuffled down the hall towards his room then stopped and walked back to the phone.

He leaned against the wall as he waited for the phone.

What the hell had happened?  She sounded like she hated me.  Maybe she's had a relapse or something's gone wrong at home, but then she wouldn't have taken it out on me - she would have told me.

Dan rubbed his face tiredly and glared at the guy on the phone.  I can't work her out.  She seemed almost angry at me.  God, I care so much about her - can't she see that?

"You almost done buddy?" Dan grunted at the guy on the phone, who frowned back at him.

The confusion continued to build until Dan was almost angry by the time the phone was free and he snatched the handset before it was even put back on the receiver.

"Take it easy buddy," the guy muttered and walked away quickly having caught the expression on Dan's face.

Dan fed money into the phone and dialled long distance.

"Mart Belden."

"Hey Mart, it's Dan."

"Dan the man!  How goes it?" Mart drawled.

"It's been better," Dan admitted.

"Sound like women troubles," Mart guessed.  "You've come to the right place for sympathy, but the wrong place for advice."

"Even if it's your cousin?" Dan asked hesitantly.

"I should have known," Mart replied triumphantly.  "So what happened?  Did she turn you down flat?"

"It's nothing like that," Dan assured him.  "I don't even know what's wrong.  One minute everything's fine, the next minute it's not."

"Tell me what happened."

"Well, we've been pretty close over the summer but you know that.  Hallie became a little distant but we talked it through and she asked me to stop treating her with kid gloves.  I agreed and then we went to the spring dance and I don't know what happened, but she hasn't been the same since."

"Have you talked to Trixie?  Did anything happen?"

"Trixie says she's been quiet, but nothing out of the ordinary has happened," Dan replied with a sigh. 

"You like her, don't you?" Mart asked.

"I like her a hell of a lot, but she's still hurting," Dan groaned.  "I wish I could tell her how I feel, but I don't think she's ready."

"Maybe you should let Hallie make that decision," Mart told him.  "You said she told you to stop treating her with kid gloves, maybe that was her way of telling you she was ready.  And when you didn't make a move at the dance..."

"You really think so?" Dan asked sceptically.

"What else can it be?" Mart asked in reply.  "But don't take my word for it, you know my track record with women."

"At least you got together with Di," Dan pointed out.

"But remember how I did it!"  Mart laughed in spite of himself, then sobered quickly.  "How is she anyway?"

"She's okay," Dan replied cautiously.  "The girls convinced her to try out for the school play and she got the lead.  She's not quite the same, but she's coping."

Neither of them spoke for a moment.

"I heard Jim took her to the spring dance," Mart remarked.

"Got railroaded you mean!" Dan laughed.  "He didn't stand a chance against Trixie, Hallie and Honey.  Di wasn't going to go otherwise."

"Why didn't Jim go with Trixie?" Mart asked, trying not to dwell on why Di didn't want to go to the dance.

"Because Trixie went with Nick Roberts," Dan revealed.

"Really?" Mart was surprised.

"I think it was a platonic sort of thing," Dan told him.  "At least on Trixie's behalf, but Nick was looking to give Jim some competition."

"Maybe those two will finally get their act together," Mart replied.  "Thanks for keeping me up to date on the gossip.  Trixie's pretty guarded when it comes to stuff like that."

"I can imagine," Dan laughed.  "So how's everything with you?"

"The usual," Mart sighed.  "Classes, study, work, sleep, the odd party and repeat."

"You okay though?"  His tone was casual.

"I'm hanging in there."

"Glad to hear it buddy," Dan replied.  "You still coming home for Brian's birthday?"

"Yep, gotta be there to see him live out his last days as a teenager," Mart remarked.  "It will be good to be home."

"It will be good to see you," Dan told him.  "Anyway, I'd better go hit the books myself.  Thanks for your help."

"I don't know if I did," Mart replied.  "But give it a shot Dan, you two are good together."

"Thanks buddy, I'll talk to you soon."

"Sure.  Bye."

Mart hung up the phone and laid back on his bed.

She's missing me too, he thought to himself.  She has to be.  Why else would she not want to go to the dance?  But then why the hell did she break up with me?

"Let me braid your hair," Di offered and Hallie pulled a face at her.

"I like it in a pony tail."

"But you always wear it that way," Di told her.  "Let me braid it for you."

Hallie relented and she sat down on the edge of the bed in front of Di.  She ran the brush through Hallie's hair in long, slow strokes and Hallie closed her eyes.

"You've got such beautiful hair," Di remarked.  "It's so silky and strong.  You'd look fabulous if you piled it up on top of your head, with a few loose strands around your face."

Hallie did this as she spoke and she turned Hallie towards the mirror.

"Yeah, and when am I going to wear my hair like that?" Hallie retorted.  "Maybe when I'm feeding the chickens, or weeding the garden perhaps?"

"Don't be silly," Di laughed as she went back to brushing her hair.  "It would have looked great if you'd worn it like that to the dance."

Not that Dan would have noticed, Hallie thought darkly.

"It's not really me, I'm not the glamorous type," Hallie mumbled.

"But you're so beautiful," Di cried.  "I guess you don't need fancy hair styles.  You'd look good with a shaved head."

"Yeah right," Hallie muttered, her cheeks growing hot.

She closed her eyes as Di began to braid her hair, her fingers running lightly over her scalp as she drew the strands together.

"I remember when my Mom used to braid my hair when I was a little girl," Hallie murmured, not opening her eyes.

"Did you like it?"

"I was so impatient," Hallie remembered.  "But she used to distract me with stories and before I knew it, I had two neat braids and would be ready for school.  I used to love her stories."

"What sort of stories would she tell you?" Di asked casually, as she continued to weave Hallie's hair between her fingers.

"Oh, just stuff about her as a girl and how she met Dad, and things like that," Hallie smiled.  "I loved it."

"My mother used to do the same thing," Di remarked.  "At least she did before Dad made all that money and we moved in here."

"Do you miss your old life?" Hallie asked.

"Sometimes a lot, sometimes a little," Di replied.  "It was great for a little while, then we moved here and Dad was away on business, mother was busy with social events and there was me, the twins' and their nannies, and Harrison.  I was so lonely."

"I can believe that," Hallie told her.  "Our house seemed so empty with Mom went with Dad on business trips.  Cap would be off in the woods somewhere, Knut would be studying and it was just me and Ollie.  I love Ollie, but it's not the same."

"Is that why you're still here?" Di asked.  "You don't want to go home because it's going to be so lonely?"

Hallie took a deep breath and thought about what Di was asking.

"Pretty much," she replied slowly.  "Except this time, I know she won't be back and I know it's never going to end."

Di stopped braiding Hallie's hair and wrapped her arms around her, resting her forehead against the back of Hallie's head.  She rocked her gently for a while and neither of them spoke.

"You know," Hallie said finally, " this is the first time I've really been able to speak about Mom without crying or freezing up."

"Even with Dan?"

"We're not as close as we once were," Hallie admitted in a small voice.

"Did something happen?" Di asked gently.

"No, it's just that..." Hallie trailed off.

"He cares a lot about you Hal," Di told her.

"Not in that way,"  Hallie replied firmly and Di opened her mouth to say something, but decided against it.  She gently released Hallie from her embrace and went back to braiding her hair.

"I'm here for you anytime you need to talk," Di murmured.  "You've been my best friend since Mart left.  I don't think I could have turned to Honey or Trixie to deal with everything I've gone through lately."

"That's what friends are for," Hallie murmured and her heart ached as she thought of Dan.

"And for braiding hair," Di giggled.  "Take a look, I'm done."

Hallie turned and looked into the mirror.  Two neat braids hung either side of her face and she stared blankly into the mirror.

"I feel like I'm ten again!" She gasped.

"You weren't that curvy when you were ten, I bet," Di laughed.  "If you like, I can wind them up and make you look like Princess Leia."

"No thankyou!" Hallie cried and turned back to Di. "Thanks for doing it though, it was sort of fun, remembering."

"Anytime," Di smiled and laid back on the bed.  "So are we going to practice our lines?"

"Ugh," Hallie groaned and flopped down on the bed beside her.  "I guess so.  I need all the practice I can get."

"You're great," Di assured her.  "But I've got a history of flubbing my lines, just ask Trixie."

"You'll learn them," Hallie assured her.  "And you're just going to blow them away."

"Di, what's wrong?" Justin Beckett, the drama teacher, asked desperately after Di fumbled through her scene for the third time.

Di's lip trembled and she looked as if she was about to burst into tears.

"Okay everyone, let's have a break," Justin told them and approached Di.  "Do you want to talk me through what's going on?"

Di nodded and took a deep breath.  "It's just that in this last scene she talks about how much she wants to keep Michael, how much he means to her but then she won't hold his hand, she just lets him go.  How can she do that ?"

Justin sighed.  Di was missing the obvious point of the scene, he thought she understood the character.

"Okay, I can see where you're coming from," he began slowly.  "But what happens after Grusha tells Azdak that she can't do it?"

"He gives her Michael," Di replied slowly.

"Yes, but why?"

"He says the court has established the true mother," Di replied thoughtfully.  "By refusing to participate in a tug of war for the child, Grusha shows that she truly cares for him."

"That's right!" Justin cried.  "All this time Grusha has put the child first in her life, even though she didn't want him.  At the crucial point when she knows that all she wants is Michael even if means losing Simon, she lets him go rather than hurt him.  Can you understand that?"

He looked down at a pale-faced Di, who was nodding slowly. 

"You look tired," he said softly, "but I think we've made a break through today.  Why don't you go home and  think through what we've discussed and we'll try it again tomorrow?"

"Thanks Justin," she murmured and rose tiredly.

Justin watched her walk up to Hallie.   She put an arm around Di, spoke softly to her and then they walked out together.

"How's the play going Di?" she asked.  "What did you say you were doing?  Caucasian Chalk Circle?"

"I'm playing Grusha," Di nodded and the psychiatrist looked at her in interest.

"How are you finding the role?  It must be challenging for you."

"It's been so hard," Di murmured.  "I didn't want to do it, but my friends made me try out.  I've been so distant I think I'm overdoing the whole Brecht alienation thing."

"What are you finding hard about the role?"

"Why did she take the baby?  It wasn't hers, she didn't even want it.  But then she risked her life to save it, she married a man she didn't know even though her heart belonged to someone else, just to give the baby a father."

"What would have happened to the baby if Grusha had left it behind?" She asked softly.

"I don't know," Di mumbled, on the verge of tears.  "It would have died or been taken by the soldiers and maybe killed."

"Her decision was different to yours Diana," she told her.  "You shouldn't compare yourself to Grusha."

"She was so much stronger than I was," Di weeped softly.  "She didn't let the baby die, she took it with her and risked all consequences to save it.  I couldn't do that."

"Don't look at it that way," she suggested.  "Think about the end of the play where she's prepared to give the baby up rather than hurt it.  That's what you've done."

"I have?" Di asked, slightly confused.

"You let Mart go rather than hurt him," she explained softly.  "You bore the consequences of your actions by yourself to protect him.  You were as unselfish as Grusha was, you are as strong as Grusha was."

"Am I really?" Di wondered aloud.

"You are," she said firmly.  "Each day you get stronger, each day it hurts a little less.  You took a big risk Di, you made a big decision.  One day you'll see that the risk was worth it."

"S-Simon Chachava, I can never go back to Nukha.  Something has happened."

Hallie watched Di from the wings as she and Darren Kirk performed a pivotal scene of the play during the dress rehearsal.

"What has happened?"

"It so happened that I knocked down an Ironshirt."

"Grusha Vachnadze will have her reasons for that."

Di hesitated and Hallie held her breath.  Had she forgotten her line?  Was she going to break down?

"Simon Chachava, my name is no longer what it was."

Hallie sighed with relief.  The emotion in Di's voice was real.

"I don't understand that," Darren continued.

"Why do women change their names, Simon?  Let me explain it to you: Nothing stands between us.  Everything between us has remained as it was.  You've got to believe that."

"How can nothing stand between us and things be changed?"

"How can I explain it to you?  So fast and with the stream between us?  Couldn't you cross that bridge?"

Hallie was awestruck by Di's performance.  She was so strong.  I didn't think it was possible, I wasn't sure she could do this...

"Perhaps it's no longer necessary," Darren continued, his eyes searching Di's face from across the stage.

"It's most necessary.  Come over, Simon.  Quick!"

"Is the young lady saying that someone has come too late?"

Di began to cry as the script indicated, but she was not crying just as Grusha.  Her grief was real.

Another actor, stepped out, and as the narrator, began to speak:

"So many words are said, so many words are left unsaid.
The soldier has come.  Whence he comes he doesn't say.
Hear what he thought but didn't say:

The battle began at dawn, grew bloody at noon.
The first fell before me, the second behind me, the third at my side.
I trod on the first, I abandoned the second, the captain sabred the third.
My one brother died by steel, my other brother died by smoke.
My neck was burnt by fire, my hands froze in my gloves, my toes in my socks.
For food I had aspen buds, for drink I had maple brew, for bed I had stones in water."

The narrator slipped back into the darkness and Darren spoke again.

"I see a cap in the grass.  Is there a little one already?"

"There is, Simon.  How could I hide it?  But please don't let it worry you.  It's not mine."

"They say: Once the wind begins to blow, it blows through every crack.  The woman need say no more."

Di lowered her head and the narrator spoke again.

"There was great yearning but there was no waiting.
The oath is broken.  Why was not disclosed.
Hear what she thought, but didn't say:

While you fought in the battle, soldier
The bloody battle, the bitter battle
I found a child who was helpless
And hadn't the hear to do away with it.
I had to care for what otherwise would have come to harm
I had to bend down on the floor for breadcumbs
I had to tear myself to pieces for what was not mine
But alien.
Someone must be the helper.
Because the little tree needs its water
The little lamb loses its way when the herdsman is asleep
And the bleating remains unheard."

Di was still weeping when the light fell on her and Darren, and he spoke again:

"Give me back the cross I gave you.  Or better, throw it in the stream."

He turns to go and Di's weeping rises to a sob.

"Simon Chachava, don't go away.  It isn't mine, it isn't mine!"

Hallie held her breath through the last few moments of the scene as Simon leaves Grusha and Michael is taken away from Grusha by the Ironshirts.  Di ran from the stage as she followed the Ironshirts and straight over to Hallie.

"That was incredible!" Hallie squealed.  "Di, you were amazing!"

"Really?" Di asked sceptically.  "I was on auto-pilot - the lines just came out."

"Well, they came out perfectly," Hallie assured her and hugged her tightly.  "You're going to blow the audience away on opening night."

"I agree," Justin added as he stepped up to the girls.  "That was a wonderful performance Diana.  You've finally worked it out, haven't you?"

"I think so Mr Beckett," Di nodded shyly.

"Well done," he smiled at her, then turned to the rest of the group.  "Okay, set change.  Let's get ready for Azdak's scenes."

"Oops, that's us," Trixie cried.  "Okay crew, let's go."

Nick watched as the crew, dressed all in black, moved the sets quickly into place.  He handed them the props, making sure that everything went smoothly.

"Great job guys!" He remarked when they'd finished.  "Everything's in place and you did it quickly and quietly.  You're professionals!"

The stage crew grinned at Nick's praise and Trixie looked away as he glanced over at her.

"I'll second that," Justin added.  "Okay, you can all take a ten minute break."

The group broke up and Trixie headed off to find Honey.

"Trixie," Nick called.  "Wait up."

Trixie stopped and looked up at Nick.  "I was just going to find Honey."

"I just wanted to see how you were doing," Nick said nervously.  "We've hardly had a chance to talk during rehearsals lately."

"It's been busy hasn't it?" Trixie remarked.  "Between the play, school work and chores, I don't know how I find time to sleep."

"I know the feeling," Nick told her as they walked towards the costume room.  "I'm trying to keep up with my classes, the play, helping Dad with the shop and try to find sometime to sketch and draw in between.  How's history going?"

"Much better thanks to your help," Trixie replied quickly.    "My marks are actually decent for a change."

"Well, if you ever need help again, just let me know," Nick offered slowly, trying to catch her eye.

"You just told me how busy you are!" Trixie cried.  "Thanks for offering though.  I have been getting some help over the phone when I need it."

Nick almost asked who was helping her, but thought better of it.  He didn't need to hear her say his name.  Things between them hadn't been the same since she had danced with Jim at the Spring Dance. 

I almost believed that she felt something for me.  I guess I was just fooling myself.  She's just being nice.

"Um... well, I'll leave you to find Honey," Nick mumbled.  "I need to talk to Justin about some of the set changes."

Nick turned quickly and Trixie watched him disappear with a frown.  Why did Honey and Hallie think he was interested in me?  It's obvious that he only wants to be my friend.

How many times
Did we give up?
But we always worked things out
 

"How did you go on your history test?" Jim asked Trixie.  "Did all my tutoring help?"

"I got a B plus!" Trixie cried triumphantly.

"Only a B plus," Jim repeated, teasing her.  "You mustn't have been listening to me.  Was your mind somewhere else?"

Trixie blushed and was thankful he couldn't see her face.

"Of course it wasn't," Trixie protested.  "It's just hard to take it all in at once and take notes and remember it all for the test."

"Hey, Trix, I'm just teasing you," Jim laughed.  "How's everything else going?"

"Well, opening night is tomorrow night," Trixie told him.  "We're all nervous, but Di is just going to blow everyone away.  She's been good in plays before, but never like this."

"So she's okay then?"

"I don't know," Trixie answered slowly.  "She looks the same from the outside, but she's not.  She's changed and you can see it in her eyes.  I think there was more to her break-up with Mart than she let on."

"Hmm..." Jim murmured.  "Another mystery for Detective Belden?"

"Not this time," Trixie assured him.  "Besides being way too busy and knowing that Moms and Dad would lock me away if I even looked like I was thinking about chasing a mystery, Di is way too fragile.  She's just holding on at the moment, I don't want to upset that.  Besides, she's really close to Hallie.  I know they'll help each other."

"Is Dan still coming home every weekend?"

"Not so much.  Hallie kept making excuses not to spend time with him."  Trixie sighed.  "I don't know what's going on there?"

"Do you Dan might have come on too strong and scared her off?"

"Dan?  I don't think so," Trixie replied.  "He'd never do anything to hurt her."

"Well, maybe Hallie's picked up on the fact that he likes her and she doesn't feel the same way," Jim speculated.

Neither of them spoke for a moment.  The suggestion scared them both.

"I'm sure that's not it," Jim eventually continued.  "Hey, I'm looking forward to seeing you again."

"Are you?" Trixie murmured.  "You're coming home with Brian for his birthday?"

"You bet," Jim assured her.  "You know how homesick I get."

"You know there's a Halloween dance on while you're back..." Trixie began.

"Is there?"

"I know it's kind of goofy, but we thought it would be fun to dress up, and I was wondering if you'd like to go..."

"With you?"

"Well...  uh... as a group, together, you know?"

"Yeah, that would be great Trix," Jim agreed, lightly.  His heart was thumping in his chest and he hoped she couldn't hear it.

"Great!"  Trixie cried in relief.  "I'll organise our costumes."

"Now hang on a second," Jim interrupted.  "Don't I get a say..."

"Oops, gotta go Jim.  Dad's giving me the evil eye," Trixie rushed.  "I'll talk to you soon.  Bye Jim!"

"Trixie!  Wait."  But it was no use, she had hung up.

Jim grinned as he hung up the phone.

"Who were you talking to?" Brian asked, returning to the room.

"Your crazy sister."

Brian raised an eyebrow.  "You two seem to be talking a lot lately.  Is there anything I should know?"

"What do you mean?"  Jim demanded, colouring slightly.

"I mean, do I have to give you the same lecture you gave me when I started seeing Honey?"

"Trixie and I are just friends..."

"Yeah, yeah I've heard that line before - from both of you!" Brian sighed.  "You know, it's getting pretty old."

And all my doubts and fear
Kept me wondering
If I'd always be in love

Here we are still together
We are one
So much time wasted
Playing games with love
 

"There you are," Dan said, panting slightly.  "Bobby said you'd gone for a walk out here.  I wondered if you still walked through the woods."

"It helps me think," Hallie admitted.  She did not smile at Dan.  She had yet to decide if she was pleased or angry that he had come looking for her, but her heart knew the answer.

"What are you thinking about?" Dan asked softly.

"Not much," Hallie muttered.  "Nothing you'd be interested in."

"Hallie, you used to tell me everything," Dan cried.  "We used to walk through these woods and talk about anything and everything and just say what ever we were thinking.  Why can't we do that anymore?"

"Maybe it's because we weren't telling the truth," Hallie blurted angrily, her blackberry eyes flashing.

"What wasn't I telling the truth about?" Dan cried, grabbing her hands.  "What did I do?"

"You promised me you'd stop treating me with kid gloves!  You promised you'd be real with me!" Hallie cried.  "I believed you.  I trusted you, and then I found out you didn't mean it."

"What?" Dan demanded, confused.  "I did mean it.  What did you find out?"

Hallie looked away from him and pulled her hands free.  She didn't want to cry, but she was dangerously close.

"It doesn't matter," she muttered.  "I know where things stand between us now.  Let's just leave it like that."

Dan grabbed her and spun her around so she was facing him.  "It does matter.  I care about you, I care about us and our friendship.  Tell me how I hurt you."

Hallie took a deep breath, she couldn't avoid Dan's eyes.  Maybe she didn't have anything to lose.  Maybe she should just tell him.

"I overheard you talking to Nick at the Spring Dance," Hallie whispered.  "You said, 'don't get me wrong, I really like Hallie.  I just don't want her to get the wrong idea.'"

Dan flinched.  Oh God!  She heard that?  What am I going to tell her?  How do I explain this without telling her...

"Hallie, I'm so sorry," Dan began desperately.  "But you didn't hear the whole conversation.  I - I was telling Nick that I didn't want Trixie to get the wrong idea about us."

"Trixie?" Hallie repeated numbly.

"Yeah," Dan continued quickly, seeing his way out.  "Trixie had told Nick that there was something going on between us.  I didn't think it was his business or hers, and that's what I was trying to tell him."

"Really?" Hallie asked, her eyes hopeful.

"Really," Dan assured her.  It was only half a lie, he told himself.  "Why didn't you tell me you'd heard what I said?"

"I just overreacted," Hallie admitted and she hugged Dan tightly.  "I've hated not being able to talk to you and feeling so mad at you.  I'm sorry for not trusting you."

"I'm sorry if I hurt you," Dan murmured, wrapping his arms around her.  "I shouldn't have been talking about us with anyone else.  Are we really okay now?"

"We're fine," Hallie assured him and released him gently.

Dan smiled at her and leaned forward to kiss her gently on the forehead.  They both felt the energy exchange and caught their breath in response.  It took every ounce of strength Dan had to pull himself away from her and smile.

He grabbed her hand.  "Shall we walk?"

"Sure," Hallie replied weakly.  "I've got a favor to ask you.  How do you feel about Halloween dances?"

The applause was still ringing in their ears as Di and Hallie headed back to the dressing room to remove their make-up.

"You were just amazing!"  Hallie cried.  "You blew them away Di.  You were fantastic!"

Di smiled happily.  "Hallie, I haven't felt this good in a long time.  I couldn't believe that we got a standing ovation."

"You got a standing ovation!" Hallie told her and she hugged her friend impulsively.  "I'm glad we made it through this," she whispered into Di's hair.  "I'm glad we did it together."

"So am I," Di assured her.  "I'm glad you talked me into this.  Thanks Hallie.  Thanks for everything."

Their eyes met for a brief moment and Hallie was surprised by the way it made her feel.  She released Di quickly.

"I forgot my change of clothes," she said in a rush.  "I think Trixie has them.  I'll just go and find her."

Di nodded uncertainly and slipped into the dressing room.  Her eyes widened in surprise when she saw a bouquet of red roses and a card with her name on it.  Her heart missed a beat as she looked at the flowers and pulled the card out of the envelope.

Di

Tradition says I should say "Break a leg" so I will.
But I want to wish you all the best. I know you'll be sensational.

I wish I could be there.

Mart.

Di's eyes filled with tears.  He still cares for me, even after everything I've done.  Oh, Mart.  I wish you were here too.

The longing to see him, to feel him, just to hear his voice was suddenly too much.  She grabbed her bag and dug around for the cell phone her parents made her carry.

She quickly punched in the numbers she knew off by heart, but had never called.

"Mart Belden."

She gasped.  How long had it been since she heard his voice?

"Hello?"

"Mart.  It's Di."

"Di?!" He cried excitedly.  "How are you?  Did you get the flowers?  How did the play go?"

"I got the flowers, they're beautiful Mart.  Thank you so much.  It really was sweet of you."

"And how was opening night?"

"It was wonderful.  I can't believe how well it went.  We got a standing ovation.  I actually felt happy.  Do you know how long it's been since I felt happy?"

"I know."

Silence.

"How are you Mart?"

"I'm better now.  I wanted to call you or write to you, but I was afraid you wouldn't talk to me.  I still don't know what went wrong.  I just can't bear not speaking to you, Di.  I want us to be friends."

"Oh, Mart.  I've missed you too.  Do you think we could put what's happened behind us and move on?"

Mart hesitated.  We have to start somewhere.  At least if she's talking to me I've got a chance to make this right.

"I'd really like that Di," Mart murmured.  "I"m going to be home in a few weeks for Brian's birthday.  I'd really like it if we could spend some time together as friends."

Di sighed in relief.  "That's wonderful Mart.  I can't believe how well this day has turned out."

"I'm glad I can still make a difference to your day."

Everyday without you makes a difference to my life, Di thought sadly.

"Thank you Mart."

"Well, I guess I'd better let you go.  I'm sure you've got an opening night celebration to go to."

"I have," Di admitted reluctantly.  "Will you call me some time?  Just to talk?"

"I'd like that."

So many years we've tried
To keep our love alive
But baby it ain't over 'til it's over

 

The End
 

Author's note:  This story features excerpts from Caucasian Chalk Circle, a play by Bertolt Brecht.  It's short and is worth picking up for a read if you're interested.  For more information about the play, check out the web site that Leigh found.  Thanks Leigh!