“Why did you get into an argument with Ronnie?” Justin asked, when they walked in his house.
“I don’t want to talk about it,” Alissa told him, walking past him.
Justin grabbed her arm and turned her to face him. “Alissa, you have to face it sooner or later. Something that could come between the two of you must be big. I’ve never seen two friends so close, and it’s tearing both of you apart.”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about, Justin. How could you? Have you talked to Veronica, seen what she’s like right now? Did you analyze my feelings in the past ten minutes?”
“No, Alissa, but I don’t need to. I’ve known you for two months, and it’s easy to see that you and Veronica are practically inseparable. The two of your are friends, the best I’ve ever seen. You’d probably never let another person come between you. You and Veronica are the perfect example of what friends should be. And you both know that. And now, having this argument between you, is killing you.”
“Stay out of this, Justin. You wouldn’t understand.”
“What did you two argue about.”
“My pessimistic attitude,” Alissa told him. “I was being realistic, and Veronica couldn’t stand it.”
“Lis, don’t let this come between you,” Justin told her. “Both of you were in the wrong. You need to be realistic. But at times, Alissa, you need to let go and live life without fearing something’s bad gonna happen.”
Alissa ran her hand across Justin’s cheek. “I know you’re right, Justin, but it’s how I’ve learned to protect myself.”
“You don’t always need to protect yourself, Alissa. There are other people who will be there, to make sure you don’t hurt. And if you do, they’ll pick up the pieces and help you heal.”
“Justin, can I tell you something?” I’m going to tell him who I am, what I am. Hopefully he’ll understand.
“Sure, baby. But let me say something first. I love you, Alissa. You’re unimpressed by who I am. Yet you’re so normal, so unlike everyone I know, those people who run in my circles. I’ve always wanted someone who I can be myself around, and you’re that person.”
Oh god, I can’t tell him now.
“So, what did you want to tell me?” Justin asked her.
“I love you, Justin.” Alissa kissed him. “You’re my first love.” That’s true, so I’m not lying, but I wish I could tell him the truth about who I am.
“I was thinking the other day,” Justin began. “And I was wondering if you’d like to go to the MTV VMA’s with me.”
Alissa looked at him. “I’d love that.” She kissed him again.
Justin deepened the kiss. “We should stop now, if you’re not ready for this,” he murmured against her lips. He knew where the kiss would led, and didn’t want to rush her.
“Who said anything about stopping?” Alissa asked. She wrapped her arms around Justin’s neck. “I’m ready for this.”
Justin grinned, scooping her up into his arms and carrying her to his room. “Good thing you told Alice where you are. I’m not letting you leave until tomorrow.”
Alissa laughed. “I don’t know if I have the strength for that.”
“We won’t do it all the time. But I want you to sleep in my arms.”
Alissa walked in the apartment. “I’m home.”
“Get your ass in here,” Alice called from the living room. “You, me, and Veronica are gonna have a nice long talk.”
Alissa walked into the living room. Alice was sitting on the sofa and Veronica was sitting on the love seat. Alissa sat down on the chair. “About what?”
“About the fight that you two had,” Alice told her. “You two have to make up.”
“I’m not gonna forgive anything,” Veronica began, “until Alissa says sorry and agrees to stop being so fucking pessimistic.”
“I’m not going to forgive her until she starts thinking more realistically. She’s living in a fucking fantasy world where everything’s gonna be just fucking peachy keen.”
“Stop it, both of you,” Alice yelled. “This isn’t going to solve anything.”
“Well, what if we don’t want to solve anything?” Veronica asked. “I’d be just as happy without settling this. Happier probably, because I don’t have to put up with that fucking bitch.”
“And I’d be happier if everything was left like this, because I wouldn’t have to hear the slut talk.”
Veronica slapped Alissa. “Stay the fuck out of my life. And I’m not a slut.
“Stay out of mine, and I’ll stay out of yours. And for your information, yes, you are a slut.” Alissa turned to walk out of the room, then turned back to Veronica. “And don’t touch me again.” She punched Veronica.
Veronica watched Alissa walk to her room, then headed for her room.
Alice stared after them, once again in shock. They’d just hit each other. Something she never thought either of them capable of- especially Alissa.
Alice picked up the phone and dialed JC’s number.
“How did it go?” JC asked.
“Terrible,” Alice told him. “They’re not speaking to each other now, and they hit each other. JC, they hit each other. I never ever thought that they could hit each other. I could see them name calling, but hitting? What am I going to do?”
“Let them work it out on their own,” JC told her. “If they want to be little kids, let them.”
“I just don’t want them to ruin anything.”
“Everything will be ok, you’ll see. Just give them time. And avoid them.”
Alice laughed. “JC, I live with them. I can’t avoid them.”
“Want to come stay with me for a while, so you can avoid them?”
“You’re just trying to get me in bed again,” Alice teased.
“No, I’m not. I swear I’m not. My intentions are honorable.”
“I was teasing you, JC. I didn’t think you were just trying to get me in bed. Although, if you wanted to, I wouldn’t mind.”
“Then, yeah, I’m just offering to let you stay so I can get you in bed.”
Alice shook her head. “I love you, JC.”
“I love you, too.”
“I’ll be over in an hour. I need to pack some stuff.”
“I’ll be waiting,” JC said in a sexy tone.
“Make sure you are.”
“Lis, Ronnie,” Alice called. “I’m gonna go stay with JC for a few days.”
“Fine, bye,” Veronica called.
“Bye,” Alissa said.
“How are Alissa and Veronica holding up?” JC asked three days later. Alice had just got back from visiting them.
“They still hate each other,” Alice told him.
“That’s a pity. I’m surprised they haven’t killed each other.”
“Oh, they wouldn’t. They’re staying out of each other’s way, avoiding each other.”
“Do you think they’re any closer to resolving their issues?”
“No. Veronica is always stubborn. And Alissa can be very stubborn when she wants to be, which, luckily, isn’t that often. But they’re both being stubborn now, and until something major happens, nothing will change.”
“The MTV VMA’s are in a few weeks. Want to go with me?”
Alice chewed on her lip. It wasn’t like she hadn’t been before. She’d been going to the VMA’s since she was sixteen. But what if she was recognized by someone?
“If it makes you less nervous about going, Justin has asked Alissa, and Joey’s planning on asking Veronica,” JC told her.
“Ok, I suppose I’ll go. I’ll need to get a new outfit, though.” She smiled. “Another shopping day.”
JC laughed. “Planning on having fun?”
“Lots of fun. Although, it won’t be much fun if I have to go shopping alone. Without Lis and Ronnie, it’s not as much fun.”
“You could always take me shopping with you,” JC told her.
“I could, but then my outfit wouldn’t be a surprise to you.”
JC laughed. “I don’t get to go shopping with you just because you want to surprise me?”
Alice grinned at him. “Yep.”
Veronica walked in the house, all but glowing. Joey had asked her to the VMA’s, she had been promoted to assistant manager, and life was all around wonderful. Except one thing.
Veronica looked at Alissa’s closed door. How she missed being able to talk to Alissa. By now, she would have told Alissa all about her day, they’d be laughing, talking about what they should wear to the VMA’s. She knew Justin had asked Alissa, Joey had told her that.
Veronica took a deep breath and walked to Alissa’s door. She raised her hand to knock on the door. Knock. How strange. She never knocked on Alissa’s door.
Just before she knocked, she lost her courage and her hand fell away.
Alissa opened the door at that moment.
Veronica looked at her. Alissa’s eyes were blood-shot and her face tear-stained. She felt tears rise to her eyes.
“I’m sorry,” they both said at the same time.
They hugged each other.
“I’m sorry I’m always so pessimistic,” Alissa said. “It’s just who I am. I learned to protect myself by being pessimistic.”
“I’m sorry I got pissed off at you for that. I just didn’t want to face up to reality. It is going to be hard, going back to our old lives.”
“I’ll try to keep it to myself.”
Veronica shook her head. “Don’t worry about it. I’ll try not to lose my temper.”
“We won’t let anything else come between us again, Circe.”
“Never, Calypso. We’re best friends, and we’ll always be best friends.” They walked over to Alissa’s bed, and sat down on it. “So, do you know what you’re wearing to the VMA’s?”
“I have no idea. Do you?”
“Hell no. I just got asked today. I have so much to think about. How to wear my hair, what to wear, what shoes, etc., etc.”
Alissa laughed. “Good old Veronica. Nice to have you back. Oh yeah, I didn’t mean that thing about being a slut.”
“Don’t worry about it. I didn’t mean to call you a bitch.”
“No problem. We were both mad.”
“How long do we have until the VMA’s?”
“Three weeks.”
“Then we’ll have to go shopping this weekend. Tomorrow, if possible. I have the day off, do you?”
“Yeah.”
“Let’s see if Ali wants to go.” Veronica picked up the phone and dialed JC’s number. JC picked up. “JC, let me talk to Ali.”
“Ali,” JC called. “Phone for you.”
Alice took the phone from JC. “Hello?”
“Yo, girl, Lis and I want to know if you want to go shopping with us tomorrow?”
“Have you two made up?”
“Yeah.”
“Thank god. Sure, I’ll go shopping with you. What time?”
“Ten. Are you ever coming back?”
“I’ll move back in tomorrow.” In the background, Veronica could hear JC sigh. She laughed.
“Sounds like JC isn’t too thrilled with that.”
“He’ll live. See you tomorrow morning at the mall.”
“Laters.” Hanging up the phone, Veronica looked at Alissa. “She agreed to go.”
“I heard.”
“Do you have any ideas on what we should wear to the VMA’s?”
“No. All I know is that we have to dye your and Ali’s hair, and streak mine again.”
“Yeah. I had to tell Joey that we dyed our hair. He asked me one day, and I didn’t want to lie anymore than I had to.”
“I know how you feel. I hate having to lie. They day after we argued, Justin told me he loved me, and that I was so normal, so down to earth, nothing like the people who run in his circles. And I had been planning on telling him then. Instead, I just ended up telling him I loved him.”
“I’m so sorry, Lis. I know if things don’t go well, and Joey and I part on bad terms, I’m going to be so brokenhearted.”
“You and me both, Ronnie. You and me both. Justin’s the first guy I love. He’s the only one who doesn’t expect me to be just some ornament on his arm.”
“That’s how they all are. I love Joey, more than I’ve ever loved anyone. I don’t know what I’ll do if he doesn’t want to see me again once we tell them. And I know I’ll never love one of the guys who we’re supposed to marry.”
“We’ll go on living, Ronnie. That’s what we’ll do. We’ll live- not happy, but at least we won’t be dead.”
“And we’ll never marry. We’ll be... what’s that word?”
“Spinsters? Or ape-leaders in hell. Always did love that one. And we’ll be on-the-shelf. Some might call us old maids. Or, more modern, we’ll be bachelorettes. And the there’s always-”
Veronica laughed. “Ok, ok, Lis, I get the picture. No need to say more.”
“At least we’ll be together.”
“That’s true.”
“Wonder how our parents will take it.”
Veronica shook her head. “We’re lucky, you know. We’ll never be forced into marriage.”
“Our parents married for love, so they won’t expect us to do anything less.”
“I just wish the rules and rituals that govern our world weren’t so ingrained into them.”
“But if they weren’t, we would never have met the guys,” Alissa told her.
“They’re the only good thing that came out of this,” Veronica agreed.