Michelle

Michelle's Best Friend

Their feet moved fast to the quick beat. It was energetic, fun, and they laughed because of their winded state. The song stopped soon and they were waiting for a fast song when a slow one echoed through the speakers. Awkwardly they stood until one of James friends from work spun Michelle into his arms.
For some reason it bothered him. She had a weird smile on her face, one he had never seen before. Her eyes were wide and filled with happiness.
He could do nothing but watch he was so bewildered by the change. Tom's hand
grasped her waist, his other enfolding hers gently. The hand Michelle had on his shoulder squeezed slightly and James eyes narrowed at the motion. It was the first time he had seen Michelle act like that.

Michelle was in heaven a handsome man had asked her to dance. But the victory quickly grew sour because there was no connection between them. No spark, tingle, nothing. A gorgeous guy and she felt empty.
"Tom." She whispered.
"What?"
"When do you know you're attracted to somebody."
"You feel this kind of deep connection."
"I wish..."
"....Yeah." Tom replied.

He was annoyed and repulsed by the fact that someone was touching her. James waited and waited but the song seemed to last forever. He saw Michelle wiggling her fingers at him with a smile on her face.
When the dance finally ended 2 minutes later, Michelle hurried to James and sat next to him.
"James could you take me home?"
"Sure." As they made a beeline toward the door each step they took away from Tom the better James felt.

Michelle looked up at the broken down piece of machinery . How a person could
damage a whole engine was beyond her. The car had been over 20 years old, once again she may have to forgo dinner.
James walked into the garage as he had done for the past 5 years. Out of the two Michelle had been the one with the masculine job. While he spent his day in a 15 by 15 feet jail cell.
She rolled herself out from under the car. It seemed hopeless, she might at well
construct an engine, the gas line was leaking, valves needed to be replaced, a cylinder was broken, everything else was either broken or near it.
"Hey Michelle."
"Hi." He lifted her from her prone position easily.
"Can you believe this." Agitated she pointed toward the car.
A comical confused looked was plastered onto his face.
"The car." Michele said with an exaggerated look.
When his face broke into a grin she giggled.
"You buying dinner?" She asked perfectly willing to put off trying to fix the car.
That look on her face the one that plead for escape. For a second he shot her a mock stern look, she pouted.
James looked down at his best friend to him she looked like a grubby little girl. On her cheek was this smudge of dirty motor oil, her overalls splattered with an amazing array of car fluids, and eyes were crossed in a silly way.
With obvious affection he smiled as he wiped the smudge away. "Sure."

I am 27 and a woman, I have problems connecting to guys in a romantic sense, I am normal looking, below average height, curly hair.... I want a man. What would turn them off?
"James." Michelle whispered, hoping he had not heard.
"What, Orphan Annie?"
"Nothing." She made herself brighten falsely, unknowing that her eyes had shown a glimmer of vulnerability.

A protective instinct rose within him. It was the second time James had seen a new side to his best friend. For a second he wanted to hug her, but they weren't the huggy emotional kind of friends. Yet something within him wanted to so much.
James looked over at her and saw that a brave smile had covered up the longing, wistful gaze.
Then a sort of mask seemed to dispel all those emotions running through those black eyes of hers, and she became the indomitable Michelle again.

"...I got a freak in the morning a freak in the evening just for me 'cuz I want a rough neck brother that can satisfy me just for me if you are that kind of man 'cuz I'm that kind of girl. I got a freaky secret everybody sing but I don't give a damn about a thing." Michelle sung word for word as it blared through her radio. It was one of her favorites.
"Hey Michelle."
A loud thump was the reaction to his call. "Damnit, James did you have to do that?" She rolled out from beneath the car her cheeks pink, frowning, and holding a wrench that could do him serious damage. But there was a bump on her forehead. He knelt in front of her dropping his suitcase on the fuel stained ground and rubbed his thumbs gently over the reddening bruise. An electric spark shook them and they looked at each other with confused eyes.
Michelle shook her head and frowned. "Now you know why I hate surprises." She brushed his hand away and winced, her thumb had accidentally hit her bruise.
James's smile caught her off guard. It was so sweet.

The L.A. Lakers had rolled right over the Philadelphia 76ers, she never really liked the Lakers. Michelle just lost 20 bucks to three of her friends James, Tom, and Rick. Why did she even bet on them was totally beyond reason?
"Its all right Michelle." Rick taunted.
A deadly frown crossed her face and the guys just burst out laughing. She threw two tens on the table and dropped back onto the couch.
The post game interviews dragged on for an eternity. As she watched a permanent scowl was carved into her face.
James settled his eyes on her usually he would have laughed, but for a split second he wanted to...

It seemed unusual for her to be here she hadn't worn a formal dress ever. Even for the dance she had worn new black jeans. Michelle felt out of sorts kind of nauseous.
Normal boutique, on racks in straight columns, were all sorts of clothes. Breath in, breath out, all those clothes, thousands of ways to be embarrassed. Short skirts, long skirts, slinky dresses. It was what she dreaded most, before the motor mouth clerk looked up, Michelle was gone.

The bane of living in a small town was that everyone knew a person their whole life. So if someone actually grew up they would only see her as a tomboy. Her hold on the wrench slipped hitting her in the chest. It seemed lately Michelle couldn't do anything right.
Looking up at the engine she realized she was finally finished, the dead car walking would survive. Hopefully so would she.

Why did she end up back here in front of Norma Jackson�s store. Michelle always felt so dowdy when she came here, almost like a man in her baggy jeans, rumpled T-shirt, and hair scraped back in a ponytail.
Courage deserted her for a second. It was not like going to the house of a serial
murderer, but to her it ran a close second. With dreaded hesitation she opened the door and stepped through portal.
A calm suffused her after almost hyperventilating.
There it was the dress out of her most wildest dreams, two tiny straps held the dress up. Wine red, the top and bottom edged in black lace. Her heart stopped, that was it.
"Michelle Harper?" She had been caught someone noticed her.
A stricken look crossed her face.
"I've been waiting ten years for this."
A whimper actually broke from her throat.

A smile actually crossed her face after being deposited onto the sidewalk after two hours of being shoved in, pulled out of dressing room, dresses, skirts, blouses, but not the generic kind of underwear. Norma had an maniacal grin the whole time. Michelle actually had a great time.
In the end Norma pressed 4 addresses into her hand. Why did she feel like when this was over she would never be the same again.

James hadn't seen Michelle in two days. She had taken to avoiding him like the plague. Which was weird since they had never had an argument.

A new hairstyle, brand-new wardrobe, make-up applied to her face, and four pairs of shoes. At the moment Michelle wore a black dress whose hem stopped a couple of inches above her knee. With it she wore black knee high boots and her hair loose and falling in silky curls down her back. She learned to walk in high heeled shoes as if she'd been in them for years.
The way she walked made her hips swing slightly from side to side. Glasses shielded her eyes from view.
"I heard you got struck by a makeover." Rick drawled. "Wait 'til I tell the rest of the guys I saw you in a dress ." He leaned down and ran a finger down the three inches of bare leg.
Michelle smacked his hand.
"You look pretty."
"Thanks, dork." She smiled at him then left.

Tangled thoughts, broken visions.

A young Michelle looked at him smiling sweetly...A teenage Michele
beating him at pool...An adult Michelle, a woman, sweet, strong,
beautiful, he could not keep himself from gathering her up into his
arms...Lips he could almost taste...

James bolted upright on the bed. As his mind shook off sleep the dreams
disappeared, but not the vision of her.

"James, your paying for lunch right." Michelle asked the next day.
"Yes." James didn't like where this was going.
"Can I get fudge?"
"Sure."
Her hair looked the same, silky, lovely, but her face, something was different. James looked closely at her and found pale pink eyeshadow, lip gloss. Michelle never wore makeup. His gaze stayed on her lips for absolutely no reason at all. Unconsciously he wondered how she would taste.
The food is left in front of them and immediately Michelle takes a bite of her fudge, and makes a small sound of pleasure. She looked up and saw his gaze on her mouth.
Michelle thought nothing of it and wiped at her lip. His gaze is too warm made her feel unsettled a reaction begun deep inside her and she slightly blushed.
"James aren't you going to eat your burger."
"Yes." James felt heat suffuse his face, and averted his gaze.
"Your blushing." Michelle laughed.
"So are you." He said defensively.
Both smiled they were being so silly.

Tom asked her out. She felt higher than the clouds until she remembered their
nonexistent chemistry. So Michelle did the only thing she could do turn him down, even though he was the only prospect. She had no idea what to do on a date, no previous experience or knowledge.
She wished someone could teach her. Only one person came to mind, but it was too embarrassing to think about. What would she say?
Hey James remember how you taught me to throw a football, tutored me in science, I need you to teach me how to date.
Rick, he could teach her they had only known each other since college.
Without thinking anymore of it she called Rick and asked him to meet her at the garage.

What was wrong with her walk? Instead of the straightfoward purposeful gait Michelle had used for 19 years, her hips were swaying, left, right, left, right, left, right... "Michelle what are you doing?"
"Walking." She was slightly annoyed.
"You don't walk like that." James said.
Michelle almost broke her stride until she refocused on attention, ignoring him.
James became sullen and grouchy. She self-conscious.
"Come on James why you so sad?" Michelle pasted a goofy look on her face.
He looked at her really looked, she was changing into a woman. Why did Michelle have to be so beautiful?

It was her night to host for watching the game today the were watching the Bulls vs. Lakers to bad Michael Jordan wasn't on the team because he wouldda whipped their ass.
Tom and Rick sat ways from James as if he had a communicable disease. Michelle sat next to James.
They could tell James wanted Michelle, and could see Michelle didn't even know it being
to preoccupied with the game.
Another basket by the Lakers thank goodness she didn't bet on anything this time. But since that day Michelle promised herself that she wouldn't bet unless it was a sure thing.
This sinking feeling filled her gut.
That freakin' dream would not be pushed from his mind. Everytime he closed his eyes all he could see was her face, each feature burned into his retinas, his fingers itched to be able to touch her skin.
"James." She called his name. "Did you see that shot?"
He couldn't think couldn't breath until his hand closed over her wrist like a shackle.
Michelle looked at him.
"We are real sleepy."
"Yeah we gotta go." They stumbled out, as fast as they could.
Michelle searched his black eyes for a reason as to why he trapped her wrist within his large hand.
All she saw was this predatory shine in his eyes. A wary look entered her face.
"James..." He stared into her eyes the longest time. Her wrist was dropped before James lifted her from the couch.
"You want to dance?" There was no music.
"James?" For some reason Michelle felt like a broken record.
He kept looking at her but the light in his eyes changed to tenderness and love.
Oh god...Michelle felt her heart open and her mind burst with every memory of James.
Scraped knees, lost teeth, the third grade pageant, their 6th grade dance, which they had spent making fun of whichever couple was brave enough to dance together. Ninth grade the year in which he had his first girlfriend, 11th the year of his football wins, their graduation, College, and now.
She placed her hands in his.
James moved them to his shoulders then places his hand on her waist. Then began to sing.
"Always and Forever...each moment with you..." They swayed and moved their feet.
How could they feel this way? Easily. Even though they wore jeans and sweatshirts,
and basketball was heard in the background, it felt all to romantic to Michelle. They moved closer together until they were only one inch apart. James leaned toward then planted this kiss which unfortunately she never experienced. It was a gentle press on her lips which had her parted her lips slightly. Her hands on their voilition wrapped around his neck.
Her eyes closed at the wonder of it. James, she could see him, his features permanent etched into her brain. Laughter rose and she smiled James withdrew with a teasing grin.
Michelle's arms moved to surround his back, and hugged him.
It was something James never felt with anyone else, this aching tenderness. "Michelle will you go out to dinner with me?"
"I'd love to Jamie." They walked to the door fingers intertwined, James hesitantly
disentangled himself and after pressing a quick kiss to her lips left.
Slowly wistfully Michelle closed the door.

Next day at work 4:15 in the afternoon the phone in her office rang. No one usually called unless they needed a tow. Michelle snatched up her keys then the phone. �Hello Harpers Auto Station."
"Michelle." His voice made her smile she loved that guy so much. Had she always loved him?
"What do you want James?"
"You." Michelle looked of into space and imagined he was here.
"Me?"
"Tonight I'm taking you out to dinner. I'll pick you up seven o'clock."
"OK." She bit her lip, what would she wear.

He knocked on Michelle's door wearing a black suit, black button up to collar shirt, holding a single red rose. For a moment while he waited he felt so uncomfortable then slowly as if hesitantly the door opened. Revealing his best friend biting her wine red lips.
A black wrap trailed on the floor by the high heeled sandals which caused him to gulp. Her dress clung, really clung...
James looked for a second like he was hit by a mac truck before he lifted the rose to her. To Michelle he looked like a little boy who has his first crush. He bent to picked up her wrap then gently placed it about her shoulders. Where his fingers had trailed on her bare shoulders her skin tingled.
Michelle still bit her lip.
"You're beautiful."
Michelle looked at him. Her eyes just observing his. "Thank you." She whispered.
He held out his hand and Michelle placed hers within his. "Cinderella your carriage awaits."

A black stretch limo sat it the crowded parking lot of their apartment building. People crowded around it. The driver opened the door for them, looking very distinguish in the black uniform. James guided her inside.
It was unlike anything she's ever seen, inside was a bouquet of 11 roses, a bottle of expensive wine, and little hors d'ourves. Michelle felt like a real lady.
James settled next to her and the stiff looking driver shut the door, the tinted window between them and the driver making them seem all alone, quite unsupervised. Michelle looked over at him under her eyelids.
James looked down to make sure he was respectable, though he knew perfectly well he wasn't. She looked over her and found her hands clenched into fists. He reached over and intertwined the fingers of his left hand with her right one.
Michelle looked at him and smiled. Her eyelids lowered then she moved close and quickly kissed him. A blush bloomed on her face.
What am I going to do with her? She was perfect, beautiful, smart, and he was so in love with her.
His hand tangled into her long curly black locks leaned close their eyes connected.
James this feels so different.
I think we are meant to be like this, friends and...
And?
...lovers.
"We can't." Her eyes were wide and disappointed.
"Why not?" Confusion thread his voice.
"I'm waiting until I'm married." James dropped her hand as if he were scalded.
He didn't want marriage, it meant the end of independence. His eyes rolled over the interior of the car. seeking some form of escape.
"It's all right." She smiled, not betraying this deep disappointment rising within her. "We are good friends. There's no need to change that."

The cold drink went down her throat with this smooth heat, Michelle could never get used to alcohol. It was eight days, three hours, and twenty-seven minutes since she's spoken to James. Jerk, at least she didn't fall in love with him. Liar. She would give her heart, her life, her very soul for that man.
There he was flirting with the blond at the other end of the counter.
Why was he looking at her? Michelle was there and all he wanted was for her to give up.
James didn't want to get married, to him it meant the end of independence. The end of... what? Their friendship was fading. Twenty-three years of standing by each other through thick and thin. It hit him with the force of an F-5 tornado. Wasn't that what marriage was about.
Michelle stood and was immediately woozy, her hand clutched the edge of the counter.
The bartender looked at her with sympathy and she plopped back onto the stool.
"Do you have coffee?"
"What kind?"
"Cappuccino, I've never tried it before."
"Of course."
"Can I also have some ad-ad-advice?"
"Sure, for a sweet girl like you anything."
"I must really be drunk if I'm telling my problems to another person, but here goes."
Michelle took a calming breath. "You see that man flirting with the blonde."
Ralph looked over to where she indicated. There was a man by a blonde woman but he was looking in their direction. "Yeah."
"He's my best friend, I'm in love with him, and want to marry the jerk."
"What's the problem?"
She leaned over the bar and so did the bartender and happily says. "I'm a virgin and want to wait 'til I marry. He doesn't want to get married."
"Does he love you?" The kind man asked.
"I don't know." Michelle was almost on the verge of tears.
"I think... I think...I need to go." With her pride and dignity as a shield she walked out the door.

Her small slim form was covered in a pure white nightgown laying down in her large ornate bed. Transparent white curtains edged in gold did nothing to shield her from his gaze. Wedding night. Wedding night, for some reason it didn't scare him. He wanted to be bound to her in a sacred union.
His eyes focused James was still at the bar. The blonde chatting and chatting as if she would never stop. Michelle was gone.
James ran outside looked both ways not a trace was left of her.

"I need a room, please."
"Name?" The man behind the desk was wise enough to be quiet.
"Michelle Harper." She was nearly passed out.
"You can pay us tomorrow morning."
"Can I stay three days?" The edges of her vision were blurred.
"Sure. Would you like a dinner with-"
"I think-I think-I don't feel so good-" To her the room spun crazily. Her eyes rolled back in her head. The man behind the desk jumped over the desk and caught her before she passed out.

RRRIIIINNNGGGG, RRRIIIIINNNGGGG, RRRIIIIINNNGGGG! Michelle whimpered in pain.
Her head feeling as if it were porcelain on the verge of breaking. Suddenly she realized it was the phone ringing that made her head feel like that. That and the fact that she was having her first and last hangover. With a headache that threatened to spill her brains, and achy joints she picked up the phone and whispered. "Hello?"
"Miss Harper?" The voice was just as quiet and knowing.
"Yes." Her mouth felt full of cotton.
"May I send up two aspirin for you?"
Michelle felt so touched at the thoughtfulness of the man. "Yes. thank you very much you have all been so kind to me."
"You're welcome."

She was pampered, refreshed and was heading home after her mini-vacation. As soon as she left from the Marriot, Michelle walked to her garage and took down the closed sign. Everything was painstakingly quiet. She pushed the open button of the garage door opener. James's car was there. What in the world?
Michelle stalked to her office to call him. There he was leaning against her desk turning a small black velvet box in his capable hands. Pale pink carnations sat next to him on the desk.
Her gaze must have alerted him to her presence because he turned his head and trained his eyes on hers. Black met brown. She saw something in his face something so sweetly devastating James stood and held out his arms. With a joyous smile Michelle went into his embrace. "I don't want to lose you just when I found you." He whispered.
"You will never lose me." Michelle said fervently.
"I don't mean as a friend, I meant as my one true love."
Michelle stiffened and stepped back confused. "What?"
James dropped to one knee and took her hand. "You mean everything to me, my world, my life, mean nothing without you by my side. Please say that you'll stay with me as long as we both shall live." With his right hand he opened the box. There sat his grandmother's engagement ring.
Michelle let a few tears slip from her eyes before she tugged him up. "I'm head over heels in love with you, James. Of course I will."
James placed the ring on her finger and felt this relief and profound happiness. "I love you." He drew her close and thanked god for bringing him to her.