Chapter 12: Picking up the pieces.

The phone was ringing when I got back home. Ignoring it, I stuck the two bills in the To-Pay file and the ads in the trash, and went into the bedroom to change. My answering machine clicked on. "Hi, it's Jordan. You know what to do." Direct copy of Chandler, but I'm fond of it."

"Jordan, it's Morgan. Please pick up. I know you're there--I just saw you go in five minutes ago."

So, she was outside on her cell phone.

"If you don't want to see me, pick up the phone and tell me. Otherwise, I'm coming up."

I went to the living room, pulled out the low table, set out two cushions, and went to the kitchen. By the time I came back with two wineglasses and a bottle of sparkling cider, the machine had clicked off. I unlocked the door, and sat down after pouring out the cider.

She let herself in quietly, locking the door after her. After kicking off her sandals, she came over and sat down opposite me. I sipped the cider and stared at the wall. She looked around at the song lyrics papering the walls, and asked, "Which one are you thinking of?"

"None of them fit, do they?"

She thought for a second. "What about 'How could you?'"

I didn't answer. After a moment, she spoke again. "Maddie and I had a big argument over you last night. Nothing really got resolved, but we were in a confrontational mood when we ran into Callista. So when she gradually brought up your past, we were more disposed to believe what she said without hearing your side first. It's not much of an excuse, but it's the only one we have."

"Why are you here then?"

"I'd like to think that you're not the person she made you look like. So does Maddie, but she was head over heels, one-hundred-percent in love with the person she had imagined you to be. You fit her ideal in all the important ways, and when Callista shattered all her illusions, she took it much harder than I did. I'm the beneficiary of painful experience, I'm afraid."

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"I... I had met someone I adored four years ago, and whom I thought adored me in return. We were just starting to get serious when one day, I stopped by his place to see him without calling first. The front door was unlocked, and I went in. I don't know why I didn't knock or ring the bell; I guess that I wanted to surprise him. Turned out I was the one who was surprised." She swallowed audibly, then went on. "He was in bed with a girl I didn't know, and the two of them were going at it like there was no tomorrow. I was horrified, but couldn't force myself to leave. After they finished, they started talking, and my name came up. According to him, I was a naive virgin whom he was going to dump as soon as I became another notch on his belt."

"What did you do?"

"I left as quietly as I came. When he called later that day, I told him I had more studying to do than I expected, and that I'd see him at the Winter Formal in four days. That Friday night, I was dressed to kill and smiling brightly when he picked me up. We were dining with several of our friends before going to the dance. Just before we were ready to leave, I asked him in a voice pitched to reach our entire table how many girls he was sleeping with behind my back. He turned pale, and replied in a very unconvincing voice that he had no idea what I was talking about. I told him that even if I was a naive virgin, I certainly wouldn't stick around long enough to be another notch on his belt, and threw my drink in his face. The cranberry juice made a lovely pattern on his light blue suit, as I recall. I then calmly strolled out of the restaurant to my car, and went to the dance by myself. It didn't hurt that two of the school's most notorious gossips were at that dinner, either."

"Hmmm, utter public humiliation. Nice touch."

"Let's just say I didn't date much after that. You were the first guy in a long time with whom I felt comfortable. You went out of your way to make me feel at home here, and wasn't looking for anything in return. You're fun to be with, and I enjoy being with you."

"Consider me highly flattered. However, we've gone off on a tangent."

"Yes, I know. I was hurt when Callista convinced me you weren't the person I thought you were, but I realized that I was acting as if you were the one I was involved with, not Maddie." She laughed, a little bitterly I thought. "What right did I have to expect anything from my friend's boyfriend? Even if..." she trailed off, looking down.

"Even if what?"

After a brief pause, she looked back into my eyes. "Even if I wanted him to be mine," she said evenly.

"Do you want Maddie and I to get back together?"

She looked away before speaking. "Of course I do! What kind of friend do you think I am?"

"So call her now. And while you're talking to her, ask her to tell you everything about Wednesday night. I'll be in the bedroom." I stood up and walked into the other room, closing the door gently.

Fifteen minutes later, Morgan came in. "She wants to talk to you," she said, not looking at me. "I'll stay here." I nodded, and went into the living room and picked up the receiver.

"Hello."

"I'm sorry for today. I should have waited to hear your side. And I should have told Morgan that you were attracted to her as well. I just didn't want to lose you, but that's no longer an option, is it?"