ShAiN – you will find out just who that woman is, my dear

CFone – oh, I have to watch out for youyoure really good at reading between the lines. Its scary for me, but heyits good for youhaha. And oh yes, im paying attention to my fingertips. Im slowly slowing down my updates. Shh

TheRealJLO – why thank you =)

Amazed – Interesting that you want Tab and Shane together again. Didnt think anybody would want that but hey, I guess there may be hope then? Hm, i don’t know, can’t say. ~evil grin~



Confrontation

Surrounded by the mass of soft pillows, a lounging Shane sat in the mess of it all. Yes, she looked comfortable, but her mind was far from it. There she sat. Quiet. Feeling different, and feeling awkward. She lifted her foot to lay it on the coffee table. Her eyes stare off into the distance, focused on something that was beyond the walls of the house. A buzz rang in her ears; she leaned up to see the ID of the caller. Carmen. She sat there, elbows on her knees, with her fingers intertwined together as she watched the phone. She fought to pick it up. Her hand shook as she attempted to pick it up. It kept ringing. At the first touch of the phone, she quickly jerked her hand back. It stops. Her lean figure tensed as she sat back in the fluff of the couch pillows.

Her hands grabbed at the base of her hair strands; frustrated. The phone buzzed one last time”voice message. She let go of her hair and let them fall to the soft material of the pillows”A contradiction between her rough hands, meeting the velvety texture. The action gave her a relapse of a particular shower. She had her pressed against the shower tiles, her finger buried deep within her. The sight of her wet dark long mane of hair washed to the side away from her face”her eyes rolling back into her head, her mouth open taking a gasp of air, the flushed look in her cheeks and the continuous tease of a seductive smilewhich all led to pulling her into a kiss to seal her satisfaction.

The grip on the pillows tightened as Shane relived it all. A moment she liked. She liked it a lot. A lot more than any other time shes done the deed. Something about Carmen, to Shane, was genuine. Real. The brutally honest and down-to-earth chick. Something Shane tends to like”the only L word that she is allowing herself to accept”but with all her past partners, has never given time to figure that out. However, those she did take the time with were definitely not laid back. Only a few hours later, after their shower, in the risky business of the night, Shane was dawned with reality. Carmens single and she took that title at her loving grasp and wrapped it in a flirty kiss with a woman she did not know. It made Shane furious. It also made her confused. Furious that shed kiss a stranger. Confused with the thought that she”Shane McCutcheon”was not good enough.

***

A look of distraught inundated Carmens facial expression as she sat in her still car. Her usual lively smile was a stagnant frown. The twinkle in her deep brown eyes, lost in a dark abyss. She held the phone with a limp grip against her neck as she heard Shanes answering machine. With every call, she is greeted with a robotic Shane. Not the real one. Although she is not ever sureafter all, it is Shane. Carmen pulled herself together and put the phone back at her ear”shes called countless times but never came close to leaving a message, HeyShane. Um, its Carmen. Yeah just calling to see how youve been. I havent seen you around much. Um, I think we need to talk. Okay? Wellhey, yeah, call me back when you get the chance. Okay? Okay. Bye. She folded her phone and threw it into her passenger seat as she rest her head on her steering wheel.

Its been a week. The LONGEST week of my life”is a week without a grinning confident Shane to warm me with her comprehension of humanity. I dont get it. And how many times have I been saying those four words? Honestly, it is the only few words I can think of I have no idea why I kissed the woman”I couldnt help it something about her was just so calm. Laid back, and real like my equivalent! Yes! Thats itthats why. I mean, just like Alice says Tab is Shanes equivalent

Anyway.

But something about her felt so hidden”besides the fact of her being absolutely stunning with a hint of a thrilling passion. I guess something of the past. Oh how those eyes locked on mine. Mellow. The only adjective I can come up with. Another tall figure, like Shane, a long slender body, with a warmer tone of skinlike Bettes for example. A face young, but experienced. A smooth talker. And that brown hair that wisped around her perfectly! Her lips the way they tasted

It felt like a sin knowing Shane could have saw it. *****, Shane is a god to many women. A kind one of the sort. Except to me recently. I saw her the other day, walking on the sidewalk towards the Planet, and she even brushed against me. But that was it. No soft almost inaudible rasp of Hey ***** No smile. She didnt even turn to look at me. I was a passerby that she just happened to ALMOST bump into”which was probably the reason why she didnt say anything. If only I bumped into her. Or threw myself at her. But then thatd be silly Besides, I looked back to see her put her arm around some blonde while she hid behind those dark shades”causing me to contemplate the rest of my morning if she noticed me or not.

Is she hurt? Is this the reason why she wont talk to me? The fact that I kissed a stranger? Christ, it feels as if Im cheating on her”Im not! I mean, technically were not together. Especially when together relationship wise, does not float with the ways of Shane. Yet here she is, probably waiting by her phone, and not answering my calls”on purpose. Its obvious that a simple kiss got to her hard!

***

Shane took in a breath of air as she picked up the phone to listen to the voice message. She scoffed, Oh you think we should talk? Fine. Shane cleared her throat and looked through her contact list for Carmens name to call her. The exterior of Shane looked tough, and confident, but the interior was definitely vulnerable and fragile with a heartbeat pumping away at her nervousness.

***

Carmen almost lost all concentration on the road once she heard her phone ring”it was almost instinct, knowing it was Shane. She pulled over to the side and turned down her music. She tapped her steering wheel a few times before answering the phone. Hey, she quickly said, with a slight sigh of relief as she heard a Hey, from Shane.

***

I got your message, Shane tightened her lips, a soft smacking sound as she loosened her muscles.

Good good”

You said we need to talk, Shane cut to the chase, no time for side-chatter. Or at least, she wanted it to seem that way.

Right. Yes. Talk, Carmen agreed.

Wellthen, talk Carmen, Shane pushed, looking down as her finger scratched behind her ear, What”What do you have to say?

***

A lump formed at Carmens throat, Shanes eagerness to know made her feel definitely uneasy, Well, I sort of wanted to talk over lunch or something.

What, you cant do it over the phone?

Shane, please, is it so hard to take a step back, and catch up with each other, just for an hour? Carmen stung Shane with her question, making her utter muffled mumbles. Or do you have someone to ***** for the time being?

What if I do?

If you do, then Ill have myself a quiet lunch. If not, Ill see you there. And then well talk.

***

Shane opened her mouth to have her say, only to be addressed with the lovely dial tone. She looked down at her phone and again, looked off into the distance. A pair of footsteps walked over to the couch, along with a pair of fingers that ran slowly down from Shanes shoulders and down her chest. A blonde-haired woman, not to Shanes like at the moment, but was an hour or so ago. She leaned down to kiss Shanes neck. Shane sighed, annoyed that her long hair congested her paths of air. She tilted her head away from the woman, I thought I told you to leave?

You didnt say anything after we fucked, she licked her lips as she dove in to kiss Shane.

Shane stared at this stranger with repugnance, her eyes narrowed, Well Im saying it now. Get the ***** out.

Whatever. The blonde scoffed, backing away, hands in the air with her fingertips as far apart as possible. Her heels clacked against the hardwood floor as she found her way to the door. Shane shook her head as she rubbed the back of her neck.

***

They sat parallel to each other in the booth, each with a plate of fries and a burger”both untouched. Shane picked out a fry and held it up, examining its salty texture before dipping it into the ketchup. Carmen watched her every move, while trying to make eye contact with her at any chance. Her eyes darted back and forth, as if someone was following her, and trying to keep out of sight. Carmen cleared her throat and grabbed her cup to take a sip of her Diet Pepsi. At that moment, in the middle of Carmens gulp, and Shanes chewing, their eyes finally connected. Surprise flooded Carmens pair, while a greenish envy mixed in Shanes. It was up to the one with the eyes drowning in envy to look away”and she did”she let go the rest of her fry to fall back down to the batch, and wiped her fingers on her napkin.

Carmen ran the tip of her tongue along the bottom of her top teeth, So, Shane. How have you been?

Been me, Shane shrugged, looking back into her eyes, a sincere look before the pair surrendered back down to the food.

Rightthats – thats great, Carmen nodded and bit her lip, watching Shane deliberately keep her focus somewhere else. All Carmen wanted was to have a nice little chat. Instead she was forced to talk with this person with her locks of hair cascading those eyes that would look every which way but Carmens.

Well, Carmen, her fingers tapped her bottom lip, as she gave her the attention she has been wanting. Here I am.

Here you are. WellThis isnt you”

Oh, you have a different side of me that you like better”is that right? Shane scoffed as her eyes began to drift away again.

What, I – I didnt say that! Carmen objected, shaking her head, making a strand of hair cascade towards her face.

Then why dont you tell me what youre trying to say.

Wheres the Shane I was with at Annas party? She folded her hands at her lap, and leaned forward, Hm?

Im still me, Shane clenched her jaw, stating her words with confidence.

No, Carmen sighed, Wheres the Shane that promised Matthew a haircut? Remember Matthew, and how he admires you?

I had other things come up, Shane slumped in her seat, and tapped the table a few times.

Thats not it, Shane. Youre lying.

I. Had. Other. Things. To. Do, she said with a firm voice and a stern stare while she sat herself back up.

Oh, youre referring to these spontaneous women as things now. Dont cover it up Shane! Carmen folded her arms across her chest, giving Shane a grim look of her own.

Shane laughed with sarcasm, looking up, and shaking her head, Wow, Carmen, wow. Just turn this on me, would you? This has nothing to do with Matthew. Shane cocked her head to the side, as she noticed the new clueless look on Carmens face. Shane slammed her fist on the table, Who was she?!

Im sorry. What? Carmen raised her eyebrow, taken aback from Shanes quick mood change. The spotlight she shown on Shane has now been turned in her direction. Oh how it burned.

The lady at the party. Whowasshe Shane calmly said, letting the blood flow back into her fingers.

Are you asking for a name? Carmen wrinkled her brows.

Yes, Carmen, I am asking for a ***** name!

Have I ever asked you who youve kissed or fucked? Carmen leaned her complete upper body as she placed both arms onto the tabletop, a bit offended.

No.

No. Then what makes it your business to know, Shane? she squeezed her lips together in all her seriousness. Her eyebrows rose when she realized she stumped Miss Confidence for a few seconds.

Im Im curious, she shrugged, figuring it was a logical answer, but knowing that curious rhymes with furious. She just wont admit it to her face.

Carmen wet her lips, and sighed, I did it for the moment, Shane. I mean, isnt that your same motive?

Yeah, Shane gulped. She watched her unravel into someone who doesnt take the time for games.

Yes, Carmen leaned against the back of her seat while grabbing a fry to eat. Shane thought for a few moments, it was noticeable to Carmen, the way her breathing would slow, but the depths of her eyes would run quick.

Did she even tell you her name?

Of course she did. Seriously, Shane, why do you need to know? What, are you going to look her up, and ***** her yourself – tell me if shes worth it or not? Carmen spat the words in haste, something she realized shes always wanted to say to Shane, but noticed that her choice of dictionwas not the best. The life in Shanes eyes withdrew.

Is that all you see when you look at me, Carmen? Her sullen eyes, looked up slowly.

Carmen swallowed, forcing herself to keep from giving way, Its just the truth, right?

Shane rolls her eyes, and rubs her temple with a finger, Right, Carmen. She looks away while Carmen goes back to sipping her drink.

Shane would occasionally look straight into her eyes, trying to see what other lines shed pull to make her feel guilty. Make her feel small, and worthless. Then she came to conclusion about herself; she is small, and worthless”it is just hidden in a strong body. She sighs and picks up her burger to take a bite of it.

Just when the silence became unbearable, Carmen caved, Her names Diane.

Shane chokes on a fry, she grabs her drink and swallows. Did you did you say Diane? She wipes the salt from her lips, a look of horror struck her face.

Yeah, why? Carmen looked around, baffled.

Dianes a crazy *****! she exclaimed, and then leaned in to whisper to Carmen, She killed her boyfriend when she found out Tab was sleeping with him.

Carmen rolled her eyes, Well too bad she didnt kill Tab as well.

Shane moves back, and makes a face at Carmens remark, Thats not funny You think Im lying. You dont trust me, do you?

Oh, this is the truth, huh? Not something to scare me away so I come running back to you?

What the *****, Carmen Shane sighed. You know what? ***** this. Dont listen to me. Shane slides out of the booth and stands up. She grabs her wallet out of her back pocket, and throws a 10 dollar bill on the table, That should cover both our meals.

Where are you going?

You dont trust me, Shane shook her head, and turned around, Im going back home.