Chapter Three–Burning On

Alice and Dana looked at each other in silence until Dana decided to say, “And you would know because…”

Shane sat up in her chair and just shook her head, “Because. I’ve seen her around…if she killed him she’d be locked up.” She could feel Alice was burning with questions, so quickly she added, “I have my next appointment in a few. I gotta run. Bye.”

The two watched Shane get up with relief. Alice made a face and rolled her eyes, “Sheesh.”

***

-Shane’s Apartment-

‘So I lied, I don’t have anymore appointments for the day…’ Shane contemplated in her head as she stepped into her apartment, ‘they…they just don’t need to know, right? Right.’

Shane looked up to see Carmen stretching in her underwear, ‘Holy *****.’ A sly smirk crept onto Carmen’s face, “Shane, back for more?”

“Depends…are you hungry?” Shane walked over to her slowly, letting her eyes roam all over her half naked body. Carmen closed the distance between them and bit her lip as she smiled. Shane tickled her stomach softly, she chuckled, “That look doesn’t say hunger…that look is evil.”

Carmen kissed her softly, “Evil? Why so…”

The soft kiss put Shane into a lusty trance, “Cuz…it implies that you want something else.”

“It’s still along the lines of eating…” She starts to lean in for another kiss, making Shane playfully pull back.

“Of course of course,” she squinted her eyes at Carmen and laughed, “Wait, are you wearing my underwear?”

“It was the closest thing…fine I’ll take them off.” She pulled at the waistband, but Shane stopped her.

Shane teased her lower stomach, “I think I should be the one to do that. It is my property, you know…”

The two locked mouths, tongues wrestling and all as Shane started to walked them slowly to the bedroom.

***

Tab walked out to her car to grab a few CD’s in the back seat, still outraged at this point. She sat in the driver’s seat of the car for a while, then decided to drive around. “Ah *****,” she sighed as she noticed that her gas was running low. Her cell phone rang and she picked it up, “Yeah?”

“Tab.”

Rick. ‘Oh just leave me the ***** alone!’ Tab screamed within. “Hi.”

“Are you going to follow through on the Shane deal…”

Tab rolled her eyes, “Ugh, yes. *****. Just ***** leave it to me okay. Bye–

“Don’t be so pissed about it–

“Oh bullshit. What’s the reason anyway? It’s a ***** hair salon now, why make such a big deal about getting it back–we’d have to redo the whole building, we don’t ***** have that much money.”

“Leave that to me. Just get Shane.”

“Just because I’m doing this doesn’t mean I’m not ***** pissed anymore.”

“I know I know. I’ll make it up to you.”

“No thanks.” Tab hung up and put her phone into her pocket. She turned off the engine, figuring it was no use spending the bucks on gas tonight. She’ll just take the bus. Like the old days.

***


‘What the *****, why am I in this position again?’ thought Tab as she stood at the door of Shane’s apartment. ‘If it weren’t part of my ***** past!’ Shane cleared her throat, reminding Tab that she was just standing there like a complete idiot. “Shane! ..hey.”

“Tab. Is that all you can say? Or are you going to waste another five minutes of my time?”

Tab scratched the back of her neck and smiled shyly, “I’m sorry. Can I come in?”

“You know you don’t have to ask that. Come,” invited Shane’s low raspy voice.

Tab let herself in and Shane closed the door. Tab turned to her, “So…what’s up?”

Shane shrugged and pointed to the Chinese food on the coffee table in front of her couch, “Dinner. Take out. Want some?”

“I…no I’m fine.” Tab plopped down on the couch and sighed. ‘***** Tab, you gotta seduce her. That’s about the only way…well. I can try the harder way, and actually love her…but…***** i can’t go through that again.’

Shane looked at Tab being awkwardly aloof and could tell that something must be on her mind. “Well, you’re a distant one. C’mon Tab, tell me, what the ***** are you doing showing up in West Hollywood at my apartment without calling me first?”

“I was…just in the area, you know.” Tab watched Shane eat, hoping she’d buy it.

She scoffed and swallowed, “Riiiiight.”

‘Oh damn it Shane, why can’t you be more gullible,’ Tab thought. “What? It shouldn’t matter to you right? I still remember you saying the first day we met that plans are definitely not your vice.”

Shane nodded in agreement, “True. But, I’d still like to know why you’re here.” Carmen walks in the room, startled by Tab’s presence whose facial expression contained the wide-eyed look–Carmen was only wearing a very small robe that she quickly tied around her small waist. “Um, this is Carmen.”

“Hi Carmen, I…am Tab.”

Shane watched Carmen walk over to the couch and decided to sit in between them, “Tab, hi.” She smiles at her with her hand on Shane’s thigh.

Tab massaged the back of her neck as her uncomfortable state grew. “I hope I’m not interrupting–

“Nonsense Tab. Nah, we’re just hanging out,” said Shane while reaching over and grabbing Tab’s knee, squeezing it slightly.

‘Oh yes, like the way her ***** are hanging out.’ Tab puts all her will into forcing a simple, yet barely stretched smile on her face. “Alright.” Tab pats a beat with her hands on her knees like a fool, preoccupying herself to keep from having to watch Carmen try to ***** Shane in front of her eyes. But of course, that’s exaggerated, Carmen just tries to sneak a kiss every now and then. ‘*****, these two are into each other…***** I can’t ***** that up.’

“Well, *****,” Tab looked down at her watch, “look at the time. I gotta go.”

Shane raised her eyebrow in confusion, “Tab, you just got here. Are you okay?”

Tab hesitated and stood up, waving her arms low as she walked herself to the door, “Yeah, I’m ***** fine! Hahaha! I just…all of a sudden feel greatly claustrophobic–I need air. I need to get out. I’ll call you.” She opened the door and quickly got out. She leaned against the closed door.

-back inside Shane’s apartment-

Carmen folded her arms as Shane got up with a tint of worry in her eyes easily noticeable, “Why does she seem so familiar?”

“Uh, yeah, she was–that’s not important–

“Uh well…okay she was pretty. Yet overly paranoid.”

“Something’s up. She’s not this weird.”

“So what are you going to do?”

“Find out.”

“Want me to come?”

Shane smirked, “That’s for later.”

-outside on the streets; night-

Tab put on her headphones with her CD player in hand. The music blast right to her eardrums, it’s the only way to keep out noise of annoying whistles and hoots from drunken *****. Her other hand occupied her cigarette, which swayed with her hand as she walked down the street. She stopped at the sight of a cafe, swindled by the scent of coffee. The Planet. She threw her cigarette down and smashed it with her shoe before entering. She pulled her headphones down to her neck and let it hang there. She ordered a cup of coffee, and then took it to a lone table. Solitude, just what she needs. She placed her CD player down and sat, placing her headphones back at her ears. Tab slowly let the music and coffee take her over.

Long ago
Just like the hearse you die to get in again
We are so far from you
Burning on just like a match you strike to incinerate
The lives of everyone you know
And what’s the worst you take
from every heart you break
And like the blade you stain
Well I’ve been holding on tonight
What’s the worst that I can say?
Things are better if I stay
So long and goodnight
So long and goodnight

Came a time
When every star fall brought you to tears again
We are the very hurt you sold
And what’s the worst you take
from every heart you break
And like the blade you stain
Well I’ve been holding on tonight

Shane walks in and quickly spots Tab drinking. “Tab.” She walks up to her and looks down at her, inundated with the music.

What’s the worst that I can say?
Things are better if I stay
So long and goodnight
So long and goodnight
And if you carry on this way
Things are better if I stay
So long and goodnight
So long and goodnight

Finally Tab looks at her, but Shane’s words were only a blur. A sort of beautiful timeless moment, where everything seems slow except for the human beat within you…just accelerating to a bloody pulp. “TAKE OFF THE ***** HEADPHONES!!”

Can you hear me?
Are you near me?
Can we pretend to leave and then
We’ll meet again
When both our cars collide?

“What?” Tab hung the headphones around her neck.

“Jesus. You smell like a chain smoker I once knew–is this your idea of getting fresh air, Tab?”

“Sure, Shane.” She slips back on her headphones.

This made Shane quite agitated and turned the CD player off herself, “What the ***** is up?” and she shot Tab with her serious gaze.

“Nothing. I swear.”

“I know you’re lying, but ***** it, Tab, be like that.”

“Where’s Carmen.”

“Is that what why there is this whole dismantled Tab deal in the blink of an eye?” Tab just sat there, Shane a bit startled, “It is? …I was only ***** around–

“I don’t know! Shane, *****, I know you’re everybody’s wants and needs at some point because people admit it to you. Face it, I know you’re scared too. You’re just covering it up with ‘i don’t do relationships’, ***** like that.”

“Tab its just how I am.”

She just nodded at Shane’s words, in one ear and out the other, “Yeah yeah I know. Don’t have to tell me twice. It’s fine Shane, really. I don’t care who you *****. You just…you just ***** intrigue the ***** out of me still. It’s a mess. This is all a mess, I took the bus here, and I spent my last few bucks I had with me on this coffee.”

“You took the bus? Where’s your car?”

“Home.”

“And…”

“Gas is an issue.”

“I can give you a lift if you want.”

-meanwhile-

Alice and Dana are sitting a few tables away from Shane and Tab. Alice notices the two and nudges Dana, “Who is that? Have I seen her somewhere before? ***** *****, isn’t that Tabitha? Morbid chick?!”

“Hey, yeah…You think she’s a *****?”

Alice sighed, not really wanting to go into this kind of conversation, “Well, she IS talking with Shane.”

“Well that doesn’t necessarily mean that she is.”

“Nah.”

“Think they’ve fucked?”

“Well…Looking from their chemistry…looks like only in the past. I see the desire in their eyes though. Oooh. That’d be–

“Al, okay that’s enough”

“What? You asked!”

“Shhh, they’re getting up.”

“Morbid girl is looking at us, wave at Shane wave at Shane!”

Shane comes over, “Dane, Al. Knock it off. Look, I let you guys side chatter about my ways with others but this one is a past friend of mine. And she’s been paranoid enough for the night.”

Alice grabbed Shane’s arm before she walked away, “Why didn’t you tell us you knew Tabitha Johnson?”

Shane pulled out of Alice’s grasp, “Al, I don’t have time for this.”