Chapter 2: Borrowed Heart

Mortified by her behavior from the night before, Dakota calls up Phillip the next morning to apologize. He offers to show her around town tomorrow evening, and since she hasn't heard a word from Sue, Dakota readily agrees. In no time, they become best friends.

"I swear Phil, I was not that bad!" she says stubbornly. It is Friday night, and she and Phillip are at their favorite hang out, the Downie.

"You were acting like a party animal with a streak of insanity," he says with a laugh.

"No!" She stomps her foot, frustrated. "I think you are making it up! I would never eat dirt off the floor of the Red Shed," she glares at him.

Phillip shrugs and turns his attention back to the game. By now, he knows her well enough to understand that he needs to pick and choose his battles. She may seem tame to some people, but he knows better. She's as stubborn as they come and has a strong temper to boot.

Besides, tonight is a big night for Phillip, and he isn't about to mess it up with some silly argument. Ever since he first met Dakota, he has been desperately trying to build up the courage to ask her out. From the moment he first saw her, he knew that he loved her. He loves the way she struts around like she owns the town. He loves how she insists on discussing her personal philosophy with the mixologist when she is completely trashed. And he absolutely loves the beauty and confidence that radiate from her. She is so different from the girls around Riverblossom, so much more self-assured.

And the more time he spends with her, the harder he keeps falling for her.

Phillip is a quiet man, bordering on shy. He has dated women before, but never anyone like Dakota. He fears that she's going to reject him in favor of someone rich or powerful. Someone who can give her things that he can't.

So he's been avoiding asking her on a date. But tonight he's made up his mind. Tonight, he's going to go for it.

"Hey Dakota, can I talk to you about something?" Phillip begins.

"Sure, anything," Dakota says with a smile.

He takes a deep breath. "Listen, Dakota, there's been something I've been meaning to ask..."

"Hey Phil, look! A foosball table!" Dakota runs over to it, and begins toying around with the rows of plastic men.

"Cool," he says patiently. "But I want to ask you something..."

"Alright, but first you have to beat me," she interrupts. "Best two of three. I rule at foosball, so you better bring your A game!"

"Dakota..."

"Come on! It'll be fun," she grins at him expectantly.

He reluctantly agrees, and they begin to play. But halfway through the second game, Dakota gets a call.

"Sue? Hi! How've you been?"

Phillip looks up anxiously. He knows who Sue is, but he doesn't know what he wants with Dakota.

"Tonight? Sure! I'd love to. Ok, great. Well, I'll see you in a few minutes."

She turns back to Phillip, their game obviously finished. "Phil, I've got to go. Sue Barracks called, and he asked me out. We're heading over to the nectary."

Phillip frowns. "But, Dakota..."

"I know. I know. You wanted to talk to me, but it can wait, right? I mean, Sue is waiting for me..." Dakota looks at him innocently, completely unaware that anything is wrong.

"Well. Alright. I guess," Phillip tries his best not to look disappointed.

"Great, see you later then!" Dakota says as she runs out the door. She doesn't notice the crestfallen look on Phillip's face.

As promised, Dakota meets Sue at the nectary. They spend the evening flirting...

... and making out on the couch. When the evening is over, Sue asks if she wants to head back to his place.

Dakota refuses. Flirting and kissing is fun and all, but she doesn't like Sue enough to want to take it to the next level.

He takes the news pretty badly...

She's such a tease that he thought it was a slam dunk.

After the yelling comes the pouting.

As they go their separate ways, Dakota watches Sue walk to his car, dejected. Instead of scoring tonight, he leaves the date with a broken heart.

 At the beach the next day, Dakota tells Phillip about her evening with Sue.

"He seemed really depressed," she explains. "He kept moping around, looking at me with these big puppy dog eyes."

"Well, Dakota, you were leading him on quite a bit..." Phillip reasons.

"I was not!" She looks up, shocked. "He just needs to get a reality check." She glares at Phillip, and continues, "Besides, he already has a girlfriend and everyone knows it! He just wanted to get a little action on the side..."

"Perhaps, but what man wouldn't be heartbroken to lose you?" he asks, gazing at her tenderly.

Dakota shoots Phillip a sharp look. She decides she has had enough of this discussion, and that it is time to leave. She gives Phillip some excuse about not feeling well and then heads to the library. She almost burned down the kitchen last night, so she wants to read up about cooking techniques.

As Dakota strolls into the library, she notices an extremely attractive man sitting by himself reading in a corner. Never one to play shy, she decides to go over and introduce herself.

His name is Morty Roth, and he happens to be a local celebrity. Dakota quickly discovers that Morty and his family own practically every building in Riverblossom Hills. He just recently moved back to town after spending some time in the big city, and Dakota thinks his polished manners and smooth charm are refreshing.

Trapped in a lifeless marriage to a woman he no longer loves, Morty finds Dakota irresistible. It has been a long time since a pretty, young woman paid him any attention, and he quite likes her boldness. He is tired of being a husband and father. He wants to live a little.

So he invites her out Monday night to his dance club.  It is rather exclusive, and if he takes her up to the lounge he is sure no one will see them.

"I bet I can take you you places you've never been before," he whispers to her. He knows it is a pretty lame line, but he's a bit rusty. It has been a while after all.

Dakota readily agrees. She vaguely recalls hearing something about the Roth's rocky marriage from Phillip, but she isn't too worried about it. Why would he ask her out if he wasn't serious about starting a relationship? Besides, Dakota has no idea whether he is even still married. She'll give him the benefit of the doubt.

Monday night arrives, and Dakota shows up at his club, dressed up and ready to have a good time.

"Wow, Dakota," Morty says softly. "You look amazing."

Dakota smiles as she gazes into his eyes. "You're not too shabby yourself," she replies.

They spend the next few hours dancing together in the lounge upstairs. No one else shows up, but they don't even notice.

"I had a great time Morty," she whispers as they part ways.

"So did I," he murmurs in her ear. "What do you say we meet back here tomorrow night and do it all again?"

"I'd like that," Dakota smiles.

The following afternoon before her date that night, Dakota invites Phillip over to tell him about her relationship with Morty.

"You have got to be kidding!" Phillip says angrily.

"Now, Phil! Morty's not such a bad guy..." Dakota starts.

"Not such a bad guy? Yeah, right!" Phillip is starting to loose his patience. "Dakota, he's married! With two kids!"

"He told me that their marriage is over. That they are only staying together for the kids..." she trails off.

"What could you possibly want with a guy like that?" Phillip asks her. "You're the other woman, Dakota! The whole town is going to know you as that gold digging whore who broke up a family!"

Dakota can feel herself loosing her temper. "Don't you dare say that to me Phillip!"

"You know what?" she continues. "You are not the boss of me. No one is the boss of me! Now get out!" she screams.

"Dakota, I didn't mean it like that..."

"Phil, I said leave," she says irritably.

"Fine, Dakota. But I'm not coming back!" he shouts.

"Good riddance!" she yells back. And with that, he storms out her front door.

She arrives early for their date. "Hey, hot stuff," she says as Morty approaches her.

"Why, hello gorgeous," he counters.

"I have an idea of something fun we can do tonight," she says, suggestively raising an eyebrow. After her fight with Phillip, Dakota is feeling rebellious. No one is going to tell her how to live her life. No one.

"Oh, yeah?" Morty likes where this is going.

Dakota takes his hand and leads him over to the hot tub. Slowly she begins stripping off her clothes. Morty quickly catches on and follow suit.

"You know, I always thought skinny dipping looked exciting," she says between kisses. "But you know what would be even more thrilling?"

Morty doesn't even bother to answer. He knows exactly what is on her mind.

A single hands pops out of the water. A little public woohoo is all that is needed to get Dakota's mind off her fight with Phillip.

After they emerge from their underwater adventures and get redressed, Morty grabs Dakota and pulls her close.

"That was the most fun I've had in years," he tells her. She kisses him in reply.

"We should do this again sometime," he says.

"What? You think the night is over now?" she asks him playfully. "Follow me."

On the elevator, Dakota pulls Morty toward her and begins to kiss him. "The night isn't over until I say so."

After they make love, Morty kisses Dakota good night. Before they part ways, he tells her he probably won't be able to see her again for a while.

"The next few weeks are going to be a bit hectic at work," he explains. When he sees her pouting, he adds, "But I'll be sure to call you. I promise." With one last kiss, he leaves.

She heads home, feeling lonely and confused. All she wants to do is call Phillip and cry, but after their fight she decides against it.

"He'll probably just yell at me anyway," she thinks to herself.

The next few weeks seem to fly by. Still not speaking to Phillip, Dakota spends a lot of her time with Rose Greenman and Rose's toddler daughter Daisy.

She's also been feeling quite ill lately, from unknown causes.

As she runs to the bathroom for what seems like the trillionth time today, Dakota can't help but wonder...


Challenge Notes:

I know, pretty obvious ending. But it seemed like a good point to stop. Sorry about the quality of pictures in this chapter. I just couldn't seem to catch a break. And I kept getting caught up in the game and forgetting to take snapshots until it was too late. Lol.

Here are a few outtakes:

Dakota struggling with fire extinguisher...

No, Dakota. Point the end of the hose at fire, not at face.

Dakota embarrassed. Whether it's because she couldn't make waffles without burning down the house or because she couldn't figure out how to use a fire extinguisher, only god knows.

Also, I thought this was funny. After she and Morty woohooed, they both did the "stride of pride" walk. In unison. I swear it looked like a dance.

Here take a look:

Lol, I guess you had to see it in motion to get the full effect, but I was dying of laughter. It looked like some sort of musical/show tunes type thing, like Fred and Ginger. Hah.