Haunted

Chapter 2 – Propositions

Come on, Nick! Alex exclaimed exasperatedly. This is not going to work we have no one for keys, drums or bass. Nicky stubbornly gripped her guitar.

You could take care of one of those. Please Alex, this could be fun. Alex shook her head at Nickys optimism. Fun was already the furthest thing from her mind and they hadnt even started yet. But if it meant this much for her friend, she was willing to bend a little. As long as it didnt mean shed break.

Fine Ill try to call Randy and Mark later. Maybe by this afternoon theyll have popped up. Alex picked up her guitar absentmindedly. She started strumming the strings and could feel the music start flowing again. She stopped surprised. Shed thought shed be rustier than this, but when she started playing again, it was like theyd never stopped. She heard Nicky fall in. They were just about to get to the chorus, when Nicky suddenly stopped.

Alex? Alex mumbled still strumming the strings.

I want to open a restaurant. Alex stopped looking up her eyebrows raised. This was indeed a surprise. She knew Nicky wasnt happy in her job at the bank, but a restaurant was definitely a career change.

And I want you to be my partner. Alex was about to start arguing, when Nicky interrupted her.

Before you say anything, take a look at this. She reached behind her for her bag and pulled out a small folder.

Its my business plan. Alex took the folder and opened it. She couldnt help but smile when she saw the name of the restaurant. The Green Tree. Thats when it clicked. She remembered a lot of late nights back in high school when Nicky had mentioned opening up her own business. Whatever it was going to be, she was going to name it the Green Tree after her grandmothers shop. Somehow Alex couldnt remember what had ever become of those ideas. She supposed that somewhere along the way theyd grown up and realized that dreams didnt always come true.

Ive been giving this a lot of thought lately. And this is something I really want, so Im going to go for it no matter what. Nicky paused putting her hand on Alex arm. Id like to do this with you. Youre in between jobs and I know youre looking for a change of pace. This could be good for you too. Just promise me youll take this serious.

Alex put her hand over Nickys. She could still vividly remember the first time the three of them had met. It was the first day of high school and when shed gotten to her locker, shed seen some blonde kid trying to open it. Shed nearly leveled him, until he told her to get away from his locker. Thats when theyd realized that thered been a mistake and theyd both gotten the same locker. Being the street kid shed suggested to take care of the mistake the street way. And the guy being a real jock had agreed. Theyd decided to settle the matter after school. When theyd gotten to the grounds behind the school that afternoon theyd been ready to throw down for some stupid locker. They were about to get into it, when theyd noticed a young blonde girl being harassed by some senior girls. Theyd been pushing her around and cussing and the girl was almost in tears. Simultaneously theyd both rushed over and had yelled and pushed until the seniors had left. The three of them had spent the rest of the afternoon talking and joking over milkshakes and burgers.

After that the three of them had become practically inseparable. Nicky, Alex and Steve – the three musketeers. Alex and Steve had shared their locker all through high school even when in their junior year the school had assigned Steve his own locker. Their senior year both Alex and Steve had badgered their parents to let them buy their own place. And in the end their families had relented. The three of them had a lot of things in common and their manipulative nature was just one of them. Nicky had had very little trouble convincing her mother who was nice but a little self absorbed. The three of them had lived together ever since. Alex considered them family. They were closer to her than her own family and they definitely knew her and her past better. Shed do anything for them.

I promise. Alex smiled and pointed at Nickys guitar. Now, play.

*****

Come in. Bette ushered Tina into their house. Or what had been their house. It hadnt quite felt the same ever since Tina had left. She didnt quite realize how much she missed her until shed come home after work and walk into the quiet house. Turning on the lights shed walk through all the rooms and see them just as shed left them that morning. All the things undisturbed and evidence that she was truly all alone.

Bette had tried to fill the void. Shed tried convincing herself that shed betrayed Tina, because what shed felt for Candace was stronger. After all when shed been with Tina shed been thinking about Candace. Therefore she wasnt prepared for the images of Tina haunting her whenever she was with Candace. Her emotions had been a complete mess. Things had only gotten worse when she had found out Tina was moving on. With other people. Finally she hadnt been able to take that horrible feeling that always seemed to be there squeezing her chest and shed broken things off with Candace to clear her head. A few months of solitude had done her well. Shed been able to move on without Tina. But what had become very clear was that she really wanted to move on with Tina.

Thanks. Tina was feeling a little nervous. She hadnt been back to the house since that day shed packed her stuff and moved out. For days Bettes voice crying out her name had haunted her. Shed been racked with doubts. Did she do the right thing? Should she give Bette another chance? Several times shed been on the verge of picking up the phone and calling her, when the image of Bette and Candace at Provocations had suddenly popped in her head. It was the hurt that came with that image that had made her put the phone back in its cradle.

It had been hard for her, but it had helped that her friends were there for her. When she thought things couldnt get worse, shed seen them. Candace and Bette. At a restaurant in town. She had thought the pain couldnt get worse, but shed been wrong. Seeing them like that turned them from lovers into a couple. Shed nearly collapsed right there on the street outside. She didnt know what had kept her going and had gotten her back to Alices apartment. But whatever it was, it had stuck with her and had helped her to grieve. And then shed met someone who was funny and kind and gorgeous. Followed by someone serious and attentive and equally beautiful. And slowly shed moved on.

The two of them had made a tentative peace with each other. Theyd moved their relationship into uncharted territories. Theyd gone from lovers to ex-lovers to friends. Until last week. Bette had invited Tina to dinner. Theyd tried to keep in touch as part of their new relationship and Tina had enjoyed the evening. It had felt familiar and comfortable. And theyd both been at ease. Bette had offered to drive Tina home after dinner and shed gladly taken the offer. Bette had walked her to her apartment which happened to be in the same building as Alices. Tina had unlocked her door and had turned around to say goodnight when suddenly Bettes lips were on hers. Without thinking shed slipped her arms around Bettes waist and had kissed her back feeling that familiar flame of desire shoot through her. Startled Bette had broken the kiss and she had apologized profusely before shooting down the stairs leaving a very confused Tina in her wake.

Bette had been avoiding Tina after that. Ducking her calls. Not showing up at the Planet. So Tina had been very surprised when Bette had called her and invited her for dinner at their house, or what used to be their house. Tina still hadnt quite gotten used to that.

Tina looked around the living room. Everything still looked the same. The furniture. The pictures of her and Bette. The only things that were missing from the room were the things shed taken with her. She felt that pain return to her chest, but she resolutely pushed it away and sat down. Bette closed the door and sat down on the opposite end of the couch. Tina could see she was nervous. So unlike the first time shed seen Bette. Shed been almost predatory then.

Oh god, Tina. Im so sorry. For everything. Tina was about to interrupt and say they had been through all this before when Bette silenced her holding up her hand.

Let me finish, please. I dont know why I did what I did. All I know with certainty is that that was the biggest mistake of my life. All I can think about is you, all the time. I miss your laugh. I miss you when I wake up in the morning and turn over and youre not there. I miss the crappy way you make scrambled eggs. I miss talking to you the way we used to. I miss touching you. I miss feeling your breath on my skin. I miss you, Tina. Bette took a deep breath. She knew it was now or never and she was going to give it all she had, or she would kick herself later for not telling Tina the truth.

I still love you Tina and I want you back. I want us back. Tina stared at Bette openmouthed. She didnt know what to say. If only Bette had said these things five months ago when shed wanted to hear them so badly. But now, when shed finally moved on. She missed Bette too, but shed finally stopped pining for her. Bette saw the indecision in Tinas face and felt a sliver of disappointment. She hadnt expected Tina to say it back. But she had hoped that she would.

T, do you miss me? Tina looked up and let Bette take her hand in hers. She nodded tears welling up in her eyes.

Do you love me? Tina stared down at their entwined hands. Did she still love Bette, after all shed done? She didnt know. There were still feelings, but they werent the same shed once felt. Did that make them less powerful?

I dont know, Bette. Bette nodded. Shed thought as much. She couldnt blame Tina for being confused. It had taken her three months to work through her feelings. She had no right to lay all this on Tina and expect an answer within minutes.

Baby, how about we take it slow. As slow as you like. And think of this as our very first date Bette let the sentence trail off. Tina looked at her and nodded.

Ok. She quickly gave Bette a hug and got up.

So where is this fabulous dinner of yours. Bette smiled and got up.

Follow me. Bette started walking to the dining room, but was stopped short by Tina calling her back.

Oh Bette.

Yes, Bette said turning back to face Tina. Tina smiled.

I do NOT make crappy scrambled eggs. Bette chuckled. And before continuing to the dining room added,

Yeah, you do. She felt Tina slap her on the shoulder which made her laugh even more. This was going to work out. It had to. How could it not, if it felt so good?

*****

When Shane opened the door she heard the music coming from the living room. A smooth voice wafted towards her through the air. When she got closer she could hear what the voice was singing.

When you cried I’d wipe away all of your tears
When you’d scream I’d fight away all of your fears
I held your hand through all of these years

What struck Shane immediately was the raw emotion in the voice. Alex looked up suddenly feeling someone was there. When she saw Shane she stopped quickly wiping away the tears.