Daniel Tries to Apologise

[Lulu1971]

Daniel and Sasha return from the park and find Sihtric and Rachel looking for something to watch on TV.

Sihtric: Sasha, what are you doing?
Sasha: Daniel has something to say to you and Rachel.
Rachel: Not interested. I'm watching TV.
Come on, guys. You gave me a chance.
You didn’t do anything bad. You just felt like you were intruding. I'd have felt differently if you tried it on with my sister.



Daniel: Rachel, I just want to say…
There is nothing you could possibly say that I want to hear. Except maybe, “I’m leaving.”
He was considering that. I asked him to come back.



Why bother? Got you twisted around his little finger after that episode in the studio?
Can you just let him speak? If you don’t like what he has to say, fair enough. Everybody deserves a second chance, don’t they? Sihtric?
Hmm…



Maybe I should just go.
Best idea you’ve had since you got here.
You weren’t very friendly to me at the start, either, Rachel. You didn’t want to share your home with a stranger. I totally got it. I had some bad times before I got here. Daniel did too.
Right. Poncing around in front of the camera, wearing silk shirts and a Rolex? Walking in here like he owns the place?
You didn’t mind drinking tequila with him.
Any excuse for a few shots.
I just want the chance to apologise, that’s all. If you don’t like what I have to say, I’ll grab my stuff and go. You’ll never see me again.
All right. Go on.
Seriously?
I am really sorry. The truth is, all I’ve ever done is promo photos for the website Lulu found me on. I was ordered by someone else a few months ago and when I arrived, she didn’t want me. Most of my life, I’ve spent in the box I came in. I’m not spinning a sob story to get the sympathy vote. I was rejected and made to feel like a failure. I pretended I was a top-class model because it made me feel better and I guess the act got out of control and made me seem arrogant. When I turned up at your door, I was actually dreading being turned away again. Once was enough.
Is this true?
Yes. I’m sorry. I don’t blame you one bit for punching me. Rachel, I apologise for what I did. That was completely out of order.
Are you gonna say sorry to Sasha too?
He already has.
*HUFF*



I’ll go out for a while and leave you to talk about it.
Close the door after you.



What do you think, Rachel?
Does it matter? Sasha’s obviously made his mind up to accept Daniel’s apology, and you’re leaning that way, aren’t you?
Of course what you think matters. We’re not ganging up on you.
I doubt Lulu would let you make him leave anyway. Especially after that studio shoot with you, Sasha.
*GIGGLE*
If she thought he was being a dick to any of us, she would.
*SIGH* Don’t expect me to be nice to him.
We’re agreed, then? He can stay?
I suppose. Maybe if you keep posing with him with your shirt off, he’ll keep his distance from me.
*GASP*
Ignore her. Just go and fetch him back.



I really appreciate you giving me another chance.
Don’t waste it.
I won’t. Where is Rachel?
She’ll be keeping her distance for a while. You need to respect that.
Of course. Absolutely.
Sit down, then. You can watch TV with us. It sounds like you haven't had the chance to do that before.
No. Thanks.



Tentative acceptance. What happens next? Two more chapters to go...