Chapter 2

Anna - Late Monday Afternoon

What to do, what to do... No more books to read... Nothing on TV tonight... Maybe I can get Lis to come over... We could play some cards or go to a movie or something - anything as long as I can be close to her. I just wish I could tell her how I really feel about her...

(Before she could complete the thought, the phone rings.)

"Hello?"

<Hi girl!>

It's Lis! - "Hey Lis, What's up?" - Talk about timing!

<Hot date tonight! I need you to cover for me.>

Hot date? It can't be her boyfriend, she'd never be that excited about it if it was... and that SOB'd kill her if it was anyone else... - "You have a date tonight... and it's not Jesus? You trying to get killed?"

<Don't remind me. I met this hot guy today, and we're getting together for a private dinner at his place.>

WHAT?!? - "It doesn't matter. You know all guys like to brag to each other." - That's one of the reasons that I quit dating guys - "Jesus WILL find out."

<I don't think so - I don't think this guy's ever spent a day in the hood - he's not the type.> - Not the type? That's the only type of guy you've ever dated! - <But listen, I just got off the phone with Jesus.> - WHAT? - <He thinks that we're going out tonight, so I need you to cover.>

Damn, girl! What do you think you're doing?!? - "Okay, I hope he's worth it." - He'd better be... you're risking BOTH our necks on THIS one!

<Me too. God, I'm so hot just thinking about him!> - I wish it was me making you hot instead! - <If turns out to be another jerk, I may just switch to women!>

Could she really be interested? No... I've never seen her show that kind of interest in women before... Maybe she's changing her mind? Maybe we can... No. I can't risk it. As much as I love her, I can't risk our friendship... can I? I mean...

<Anna?>

Oops. - "I'm here"

<What's wrong?>

No, I can't risk it. - "It's nothing, really."

<Was it what I said about switching to women?>

Oh, Shit! What do I say?!? - "No... yes... I don't know..."

<Okay, we can talk about it tomorrow. We're still on for tomorrow, right?>

Tomorrow? Oh, the mall. - "Yeah. Sunland Park Mall tomorrow at eleven."

<OK. See you there.>

"See you," Anna said before she numbly hung up the phone.

The rest of Anna's evening was spent digging herself deeper and deeper into a pit of depression and confusion. Needless to say, she didn't get much sleep that night. Between the nightmares and other things, she was still sobbing when she finally gave up on getting any more sleep around 5:00am.

"Oh God, what am I going to do?!? If I tell Lis how I feel about her, I just KNOW that she won't want anything to do with me again!!!"

Melissa - Tuesday Morning - Arriving at the Mall

What a gorgeous day! I can't believe how lucky I am! I meet this guy at the grocery store, and in less than 24-hours, I am absolutely in Love with him! Thank you God!!!

Melissa got to the mall and started looking for her friend at the food court. Anna's gonna be SO JEALOUS! He was DEFINITELY "Worth it." Where's she at?

A couple of minutes later, she spotted Anna, only to find her looking very depressed, sitting at one of the tables.

There she is... Oh man, she looks terrible! I've NEVER seen her look that down before!... I wonder if it has anything to do with our conversation last night...

Melissa walked up to the table that Anna's sitting at. "Anna?"

"Huh? Oh, hi Lis," Anna said, not really coming out of her mood.

"Damn, girl. What's wrong?" Melissa asked, concerned.

"Nothing."

"Don't give me that, you know you can always talk to me."

"I... I can't... I'm sorry... I shouldn't have come." Anna said, while tears were coming from her eyes.

Anna got up quickly and started walking hurriedly towards the mall entrance. Melissa quickly caught up and grabbed her by the shoulder to stop her. When she did, Anna just looked down, still crying.

Gently, Melissa said "It's alright, let's talk about it."

"I can't. I don't want to lose you," she said as she really lost it.

Melissa just pulled her in for a long, tight hug. After a minute of Anna's sobbing into her shoulder, Melissa softly said "It's okay, Anna. Really."

"But you don't understand," Anna sobbed.

Melissa pulled back a bit so she could look Anna directly in the face. What she saw looked like a mixture of fear, shame, and need. Nodding to herself, she leaned forward again and gently kissed Anna on the lips. When she pulled back again, Anna's expression had changed to one of complete shock.

Melissa smiled and said "I kinda figured it out yesterday when we were on the phone."

"It doesn't bother you?" Anna said, still shocked.

"Why would it? You've always been my best friend... I guess we just got a little closer than either of us ever expected we would." Melissa gently said.

Anna just looked into Melissa's eyes. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. Suddenly, she threw herself back into Melissa's arms and hugged her as hard as she could, never wanting to let go.

"GOD! I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!!" she cried into Melissa's ears.

They held tight to each other for a minute or so - until Melissa remembered where they were and that the lunch crowd was already there in force.

"Come on girl, I think we're making a bit of a scene, and there's some stuff we really need to talk about," Melissa said, gently.

Anna pulled back, blushing, and nodded, then they started walking further into the mall - and away from the lunch crowd. A little ways in, Melissa started doing more of the leading.

"Where are we going?" Anna asked.

"First things first - I need to find something more comfortable to wear," replied Melissa

"What do you m... LIS! Your Breasts!" Anna exclaimed - before she could catch herself. They just looked at each other, then Melissa grabbed her wrist and they ran through the mall and ducked into a clothing store. Melissa was smiling as they stopped to catch their breaths.

"I know it's a shock, but you didn't have to be so loud about it."

"Sorry, it's just... Wow!" Anna said.

"You like, huh?"

"They look great!"

"Let me grab a couple of new bras and blouses, then we can go somewhere and talk for a little while. Okay?"

Anna just nodded, not knowing what else to say.

They both left the store a half-hour later, and decided that the best place to talk was Anna's apartment since it was only fifteen minutes away.

The moment they got inside the front door, Anna turned around and pinned Melissa to the door, kissing her hungrily.

Melissa let it continue for a minute before she finally pushed Anna back.

"Anna, we really do need to talk," Melissa said gently.

Anna got a concerned look on her face, backed off, and said "Okay."

Melissa went to the kitchen and grabbed a couple of wine coolers and brought them back to the living room.

"Here."

"Thanks."

Anna was already sitting on the couch, so Melissa sat there as well, facing her friend.

When Melissa hesitated a bit while trying to think of what to say, Anna took it wrong and got depressed again.

"You don't feel the same way, do you," Anna said, feeling let down.

"Anna, listen to me."

Anna looked back up at her long-time friend.

"Look, we've been friends forever. That's not going to change... I do love you - as a friend - but I also love someone else," Melissa explained.

"You call what you and Jesus have LOVE?" Anna interrupted.

"NO, no, I'm done with him. Remember the guy I mentioned last night?"

"Your 'Hot Date'?"

"Yeah. Well, somehow we fell in love with each other."

"What - overnight? Yeah, right!" Anna said sarcastically.

"Anna, stop it!"

Anna looked like she'd been slapped.

"Look, I know you're jealous... Don't be."

"But..."

"Anna!"

Anna looked down again.

Melissa sighed, gently took Anna's face in her hands, and forced Anna to look her straight in the eyes.

"Anna, I really do care about you - just like I do him. There is room in my heart for both of you - do you hear me? For BOTH of you," Melissa said. When she noticed tears starting to come down from Anna's eyes, she pulled her close for another long hug.

A few minutes later, after Anna had calmed back down, Melissa pulled back and seemingly changed the subject.

"Is there anything besides college keeping you here?" she asked.

"What? What do you mean?" Anna asked, completely puzzled by the change in the conversation.

"Is there anything - besides college - keeping you in El Paso?"

"Of course! YOU!"

"Okay, besides college and me."

"Well... no... not really... Why?"

"How would you feel about moving to North Carolina?"

"North Carolina? What are you talking about?"

<Sigh> "Xanthos is in the process of moving there... and I'm moving with him."

"WHAT?!?"

"If you go there too, we can still be close, and you can finish college there."

"But I can't afford that! With my night job, I can barely afford college. You know that!"

(Pained sigh) "We'll figure out something... What time is it?" Melissa said looking at her watch. "SHIT! 1:50! Let's go!" she exclaimed.

"What is it? Where are we going?" Anna asked, puzzled once again.

"We're supposed to meet Xanthos back at the mall at two! We're going to be late!"

"Why would I want to meet HIM? Let's just stay here! Please?" Anna begged.

"What's wrong with you? You've always been more mature than this!"

"But, Lis..."

"No, Anna, LISTEN to me. I - LOVE - YOU - and I love HIM. I WANT to always be around YOU, but I AM going to be living with HIM. I would LOVE for the three of us to all be together, but this jealousy of yours isn't getting us anywhere."

"I... I... <Sigh> I'm sorry... What do you want me to do?" Anna said, giving up.

"Xanthos is waiting for us at the mall. Both of us will go there and meet him. I want you to give him a chance and just try to get to know him. He really is a nice guy. Okay?" Melissa urged.

"Okay..."

"Good. Let's go then."

Melissa gave her one last hug, and they left in Melissa's car for the mall.

Xanthos - 2:10 back at the mall food court

Hmm... I wonder where they are... Heh. They probably lost track of time... Might as well grab something to drink.

While I was at the counter buying a Dr. Pepper, I noticed them entering the mall from the outside.