Hailey couldn't sleep. The bed was comfortable, but all she did was toss and turn. She threw the covers off of her and crept down to the kitchen. After searching through his cabinets, she found the tea bags and boiled a kettle of water.Later, with her cup of tea in hand, she climbed out on to the back porch and sat down in a random chair. Setting down her mug, she gazed at the glittery stars far above her. Another "wow" moaned from Hailey's mouth.
She only seen the starry night like this once before. One distant summer ago. Hailey had gone to camp. She was fourteen and didn't expect much. She didn't get much in return. Smelly outhouses, a murky lake, lots of hyperactive kids and counselors. They only nice thing there was the night. Beautiful, quiet, serene...
Tom would have loved it here. It was home to him. Chicago couldn't compare to this.
"They're beautiful, aren't they?" Brian asked from behind her, sliding the glass door shit. He took a seat and looked up.
"Uh-hm," she mumbled, sipping the hot tea slowly.
"I heard about you and Dick. I'm sorry about that," he said.
"He's an asshole. He can't even start to imagine monogamy."
"Do you?"
"Yes. There is one single mate for everyone. Some don't understand that, hence Dickie's handicap. He thinks women are objects."
"Dick must've been a pill," Brian grinned.
"Oh, he was. He had an ego. I hated him."
"An article said you dated him for two years."
"One and half years he spent messing around."
"Were you hurt?" Brian asked, continuing to stare at the bright dots in the darkness.
"No. He became big-headed with fame when he started to cheat. We never went on a real date. You know, the ones with flowers and French restaurants? But that's okay, because I can't read French."
Brian chuckled a little. "I like dating, but the stress of it all, kills."
"But you must be used to it now."
"Kind of. But it's still difficult. I mean, what to say? What to eat? What to do? It's so nerve-wracking."
"Yeah, that's true."
"What about that Tom dude?" Brian questioned.
"Are you checking out the competition or something?" She absent-mindedly stirred her tea.
Brian smiled and blushed a light pink. "It's an innocent question."
Hailey looked up from her cup to him. He was sitting back in his chair, playing with his fingers. His expression displayed sincere attention.
"He's my friend. He lost his Southern accent. I loved it so much, because he was such a hillbilly. His family was in low-class and he had just enough to come to Chicago. His family has a big house now, thanks to Savage Living."
"He looks like a nice guy."
She nodded. "He is. So damned humble. I can't stand it. Whenever he lectures me, his accent comes back."
"He lectures you?"
"Ah, you'd think he'd lay off. He lectured me about leaving a club with this hottie."
"What did you do with him?"
"Her."
"The hottie was a girl?" Brian asked in shock.
"We didn't do anything, just kisses. No reason for Tom to get all touchy."
"If I was your best friend, I'd act the same way."
"She was sweet, though. She thought I was new at it, so she was trying to act dominant. It was a change."
"You're not a...y'know..."
"Lesbian, no. I kiss whoever I feel ike. Guys, girls...no difference. They're all lips."
"You believe in casual sex?"
"I do. We get urges and we can't always deny them forever. Don't think that I'm a slut, it's not like I do it always. But if I like the person enough, I guess. Too bad Tom doesn't understand. He likes to bore my ear off." She took a deep breath. "Do you believe it's casual?"
"No, I think that there's that special someone. Maybe not your soul mate, because when you find your soul mate, sex isn't the only perk. With the 'special someone' you love them physically, not mentally."
"Man, you are a confusing beast. You're saying I could have a one-night stand with you and you'd care less?"
"Something like that. Just less cruel."
She shook her head slowly and muttered, "I'm gonna go to sleep and ponder that." She stood up, kissed him on the forehead and left.
"Hey, Hailey?" Brian called.
"What?"
"What happened to that girl from the club?"
"She's my friend, Courtney."