�What a bitch. She just thinks that because you�re roommates, she can just use your shit whenever she wants to?�
�Yeah, the nerve of some people. They were raised with no manners. Damn shame.�
Apolo stared at Sarah as she chatted with a few girls. Friends of J.J. Or Phoenix. It didn�t matter; they all were the same with their Prada bags and hollow smiles. His eyes followed Sarah�s lithe hands as they fixed the straps of her halter. Colorado felt so long ago, and yet, it had only been a couple of weeks or so. It surprised him to recall a time when just the scent of her perfume sent his heart thumping. Love was so easy then. It came naturally. No hardships, no fights�It was just the little things that bothered him, like Sarah wanting to see a chick flick that they had already seen the week before or her rearranging his CD collection without asking. They were small, inconsequential pet peeves compared to the problems Apolo and Sarah faced. Now, it seemed that every movement of her body and sound of her voice dug under his skin like a poison ivy.
But worst of all was when he stood there, shaking like a dipstick, and watched Sarah unleash her claws on Morgan. Apolo wanted Morgan to never forgive him. It pained him even more knowing that she would, and to say the least, women like that didn�t exactly cross his path too often. A wave of guilt overwhelmed Apolo as he rolled up his shirt sleeves. He chose to save his own ass from being grilled more than his best friend�s. I�m an asshole. Plain and simple.
�What�s with the frown?�
�Hey Matt, how�s it going?� Apolo quickly shook the familiar hand, letting his frown melt into a relaxed smile. Matt was one of Apolo�s friends from way back; they met while eating rocks together in elementary and since then, kept each other in check.
�Good, good. And you? How�s all that Olympic fame?�
�Don�t get me started. I�m here to have some fun, not to make any cameos,� Apolo chuckled.
�Alright, that�s cool, so we won�t talk fame and fortune,� Matt replied, setting his drink on the counter behind him, �but I swear, if you had brought that medal of yours tonight, you�d be up to your shoulders with honeys. And there are some fine ones here tonight, if I do say so myself.�
�Tell me about it. I didn�t know you all knew so many beautiful ladies. Last I checked, you and Phoe still carried those huge ass binders to cover your stiffys.�
�Dude, we don�t know many of them. J.J. and Kyle are the ones who keep the girls nipping at their heels. It�s fucked up, big time.�
�How so?� Apolo inquired, wrinkling his forehead.
�Have you ever seen how many women the two of �em go through in a week? They could take over Ron Jeremy�s spot and not miss a beat. And yet they all keep coming back, wanting more.�
�Oh�well, I wouldn�t start worrying yet. There�s got to be at least one here that�ll look past your shitty front.�
�Damn straight. And I think it�s �bout time that I go find one.� Matt�s eyes wandered over the crowd.
�Who�d you find?� Apolo reached over and took a sip from his friend�s screwdriver, licking his lips to savor the tangy orange mixture.
�No one yet, but that pack of hotties over there has got me interested. Whadya think?�
Looking over the multitudes, Apolo followed Matt�s gaze through the sea of bodies to find Sarah and her swarm of silicon clad friends. His smile slowly disappeared. �You�re not looking for anything serious, right?�
�Hell no!� Matt�s eyes grew to the size of dinner plates. �I�m just looking for a good time, that�s all. Long-term, marriage, babies, breast-milk, not my style.�
Apolo laughed. �Then I suggest you go for it. Just stay away from the small one w/ the long, black hair.�
Matt stared for a moment as his eyes slowly lit up with recognition. �Ain�t that that Sarah Adams girl? The figure skater? You�re involved with her or something?�
�I guess so. She�s my girlfriend,� sighed Apolo, fitting his hands in the back pocket of his khakis.
A mischievous grin spread over Matt�s lips. �Hey, is it true that she�s�umm�kind of�.�
�Bitchy? Yeah�� he answered. Apolo paused for a moment. �But that should change. Soon.�
* * *
�Sarah. Sarah. Sarah?�
�And who might this be�� Sarah�s voice trailed off as she turned around looked into Apolo�s eyes. The jubilant smile slid off her lips. �Oh, hey baby. These are a few girlfriends of mine. You know Deanna already��
�Yeah, hi Deanna.� Apolo gently touched Sarah on the shoulder. �Can I see you in the kitchen for a moment? We need to talk.�
She brushed the hair out of her hazy eyes and grinned weakly. �Sure, why not. I�ll be right back,� she murmured, excusing herself into the other room.