Two

The aspirin was useless. Not because it didn't function anymore, but because Vanessa found that she didn't need it after all. Her migraines died out after her talk with Jake and they did not return. When she woke in the morning, she grabbed her phone to see if Jake had texted her, while half-praying he hadn't texted her. But there was no message from an unknown number. She frowned, a little disappointed, and she did not understand why she felt disappointed. She sighed, dropped her phone and rolled out of bed.

Vanessa worked in a cosmetics store as an attendant, which was ironic because she knew little about cosmetics and she never wore make up. She only knew all she needed to know, in order to make sales, which was just the last price of each product and their basic selling points. She got to the store, cleaned the tiled floors, turned the 'open' sign on the glass door, and went behind the counter to wait for customers. But none came. And Vanessa just sat there with her chin buried in her hands, bored to death and tired. She hated her job, but it was her only means of making money and she had lots of debt to pay. But the debt that gripped her throat the hardest was her rent. Vanessa sighed. Mondays were the worst.

A few hours later, the glass doors flung open and Vanessa raised her head up, smiling in excitement. Finally, a customer! Her joy was short-lived though, because it was only Amber who walked through the door. But maybe that was a good thing. Vanessa was so bored, she needed some of the thrill Amber exuded.

Amber rushed to the counter, grinning, with her arms outstretched. "Hiiii," she said, stretching the word. She leaned over the counter and hugged Vanessa.

Vanessa did not hug her back but she had to admit, the hug made her feel good and warm and loved. "What are you doing here?"

"Well, since I ruined your yesterday for you, I have come to make it up to you," Amber said, smiling with humble pride.

Vanessa folded her arms. "And how do you plan to do that?"

"Well..." Amber searched in her purse and pulled out two small papers. "I have this thing called tickets. To a movie. And I want us to go together. I mean, if I had a boyfriend then I'd rather take him instead. But, apparently, the gods have decided that I be single. And you too. So..." She wiggled her eyebrows at Vanessa.

Vanessa laughed and shook her head. If she had more friends like Amber, Vanessa would never get anything done. But thank God she had decided to limit the burden of a friend to Amber—the only person she could bare to tolerate. "Amber, you know I'm working today and I won't be out until evening."

Amber glanced around, as if she was searching for something. "I don't see anyone here. How many customers have you had today? Five?"

Vanessa frowned.

Amber narrowed her eyes. "Zero?"

"Amber—”

"Look, I'm sorry but you're wasting your time here. When you should be out, exploring the wonders of the world."

Vanessa gave her a 'really?' look.

"Or, exploring a movie theater, watching a movie with me. For one day, just take the day off and go out with me?" Amber held her palms together, as though pleading, and pouted her lips, trying hard to look pitiable.

Vanessa sighed. Maybe she needed the outing. "Fine," she said.

Amber squealed excitedly. She leaned further and kissed Vanessa on her cheek. "My car is parked right outside. Let's go."

Amber drove a red sports car. It was the only car she had ever had and Vanessa had been present when the car was gifted to Amber by a man she was dating the previous year. Okay, they hadn’t been dating exactly, in fact, they hadn't been doing anything. He was just someone who tried all he could to win Amber's heart by spending all he could afford on her, doing everything to earn small kisses on his cheek. And Amber never hesitated to let him try to win her heart, even though she knew her heart could never be won by the likes of him—Amber had used those exact words when Vanessa asked her. Amber finally freed him after he bought her the car, but not because she wanted to free him. But because Vanessa told her it would take the devil to continue draining the man of everything he had.

It was how Amber survived, without ever doing actual work. She had these grey eyes, and round face, that compelled people to want to take care of her. Her blonde hair was always styled to make her appear elegant, and it was only after spending time with her that the facade became glaring. 

Amber led Vanessa to the car and opened the front door to the passenger seat, so Vanessa could just walk in. As Vanessa sat in the car, she suddenly became aware of the clothes she was wearing—a plain skirt and a white blouse. And she looked like a maid when compared to Amber, who wore a strapless dress that flowed down her thighs and stopped just before her knees. Vanessa wanted to go home and change into something more 'outing' appropriate, but before she could speak, Amber had already entered the car and strapped in her seatbelt.

"Are you okay?" Amber asked, dumping her purse in the backseat.

Vanessa forced a smile. "Yes, just thinking about stuff."

Amber chuckled and shook her head. "You're not missing the cosmetics, are you?"

Vanessa punched her softly on her arm. "Why would anyone be missing the cosmetics? I'm just..."

"What?"

Vanessa sighed. If she told Amber she did not feel comfortable with her clothes, wouldn't Amber think she was only being silly? Amber would just tell her she looked beautiful, no matter what she wore, but Amber would never agree to drive Vanessa to her house, just so she could wear nicer clothes.

Amber frowned with concern. "What's troubling you?"

"I was just thinking about Tyler."

Amber relaxed into her seat and started the car. The engine picked up and soon, the car was swerving into the main road. "Why would you be thinking about that cheating fool while you're with me?"

"Well, because he sent me a text last night. He said he's coming over to see me, after 6 months."

Amber guffawed, holding her head back to let the loud laughs consume her. When her laughs finally waned, she said, "And how did he take it when you told him it was over?"

Vanessa hesitated for a bit, then folded her arms over her bosoms. "About that, I didn't exactly tell—”

"What?" Amber's thin voice rang out, and in that moment, Vanessa's heart leaped, like the car might have an accident or something. Amber gave her an 'are you out of your mind?' look.

"But not because I'm hoping to still be with him," Vanessa quickly put in, and observed Amber relaxing into her seat. "Because I want him to pay for what he did to me. We spent two years together, Amber... I can't just let him off the hook. I need him to come all the way here to meet a big disappointment."

Amber sighed and shook her head. The car had taken into moderate speed now, driving through the almost-empty tarred road. "Look, Nessa, I really think you should just cut him off and let him go. You're still holding on to him and you aren't ready to deal with the fact that it's over. You're stringing him along—”

Vanessa touched her chest. "Just liked he strung me along!"

"Just cut him off and move on."

"But I've moved on." Vanessa sighed and relaxed into her seat. "In fact, I met someone last night. His name is Jake."

Amber gripped the steering wheel somewhat tighter. She took a bend, turning the car into another street. "You met—okay, new rules. No more boy talks."

Vanessa scoffed. "New rules?"

"Yeah, my car roof, my rules."

Vanessa pouted her lips and turned to look out the window. She rested her head on the glass, as she tried to shake off the regret building up in her—regret that she left her store in the first place. Amber was exhausting—it was her only flaw. Actually, Vanessa found most people exhausting. But Amber was the only one who still bothered to check up on her—the only one she could never shake off.

Vanessa turned back to Amber. "What's new with you?"

Amber stayed quiet, like she didn't hear what Vanessa said. Vanessa wanted to ask again, but Amber wore a frown on her face like she did not want to talk, gripping the steering somewhat tighter, so Vanessa desisted from pushing further.

"Tell me about this Jake," Amber said.

Vanessa shrugged and rubbed her arms nervously. Amber always made her feel that way—walking on eggshells and trapped in a cage. Nervous. Like every question was a test Vanessa had no idea if she would pass or fail. And she always felt like she had to pass, because she did not want to disappoint her only friend. Vanessa dug her fingers into her mass of dark hair, letting it fall to her shoulders. "There's nothing about him, really. He's just some guy I met last night."

"Hmm." Amber flashed Vanessa a knowing smile. "Is he attractive?"

Vanessa thought about Jake's smile and how it never failed to pull her in, like her spirit was lost in them and no matter how badly she just wanted to get away, she couldn't. "He has some attractive features, why?"

"And did you two exchange numbers?"

Vanessa felt a warmth creeping up to her cheeks. She looked through the window again, to hide her blush. "I may have given him my number."

Amber chuckled. "Then there's no way he's just 'some guy'. You wouldn't give your number to just 'some guy'."

"What if I only gave him the number to get rid of him?" Vanessa smirked, like she just launched a brilliant tackle which would force Amber to let the matter slide. But then Amber has never been one to back down from an attack.

"If you just wanted to get rid of him, then you would have given him a wrong number."

Vanessa's shoulder slumped in defeat and Amber raised her chin, beaming with pride. But then her grin dissipated slowly. The car soon slowed to a stop, as the ladies drew closer to the cinema. Amber turned the wheels so the car parked by the side of the road, then she turned the engine off and this sudden warm dryness filled the car, and it was only then Vanessa realized the car's air-conditioning had been turned on, but not anymore.

Amber bent to reach for her purse at the back seat, placing her hand on Vanessa's lap for support. And Vanessa just sat still, waiting, but Amber wasn't done yet. She pulled out a small, round mirror from her bag, observing her face and hair.

"How do I look?" Amber asked.

'You look fine,' was what Vanessa thought about first, it's what she always told Amber, but she didn't say it this time. She wanted to be honest and tell Amber how she truly looked. Amber had always been so honest with Vanessa, telling Vanessa everything she thought was true, without even considering her feelings most of the time. Well, today, Vanessa would return the favor.

Vanessa took her time to observe Amber, and the way Amber's fingers ran through the curls on her rich, black hair. Her eyes were grey and warm, like chocolate blended with cream. She had freckles on her cheeks, but all it did was make her appear like a drawing from a book, giving her cheeks a never-fading blush. And the dimples that dented her face when she smiled only made her appear dream-like. No wonder it was so easy for her to make rich men do her bidding.

"You look very beautiful," Vanessa finally confessed.

Amber smiled wider, like it was what she hoped for. And the two ladies finally exited the car and headed to the cinema.

It wasn't a very large building, but Vanessa had to raise her head to see the sign high above the building which said: Now Open.

Amber waited for Vanessa to catch up. "I think you should forget about this Jake guy and just focus on yourself," Amber said, walking towards the building with Vanessa. "I mean, I just freed you from your last relationship, which you've refused to let go of, and now you're starting another?"

She just freed me? "I told you, Amber, it's nothing. Okay, I think we should stick to the original plan. No more talks about boys. Let's just go see the movie, okay?"

Amber shrugged. "Fine then. I hope you like vintage cheesy romance."

* * *

Perhaps, Vanessa would have enjoyed the movie a lot more, if only she hadn't seen it before. It was an old one; Vanessa had seen it when she was little, alongside her aunt. She had been too young to consume such deep romance but her aunt hadn't cared. And Vanessa kept watching more romance movies, untill it became all she knew—a perfect love story. And it became all she wanted for herself. Sitting there in the dark theater only served to remind her that she wasn't getting any younger. And if she did not find love soon, she worried that she might never do.

Vanessa glanced at Amber. Amber seemed all too interested in the movie, directing all her attention at the large screen in front of them and the popcorn set in between her thighs. Vanessa sighed. She regretted ever leaving her shop to go out with Amber—she just wished Amber had considered her taste before picking the movie. She would leave, but Amber would not like that, so Vanessa tried to seat more comfortably, realizing she was stuck there.

And right at that moment, as though by a miracle, her phone vibrated. Vanessa checked to see. An unknown number was calling. She didn't know who it was, but it didn't really matter. Whoever it was just saved her. 

Vanessa touched Amber's lap, then leaned in and whispered, "I want to take this call, I'll be right back."

Amber turned to her, chewing popcorn in her mouth. "Oh," she said. "But you'll miss the movie."

Vanessa forced a smile. "I won't be gone for long." Without waiting for more words from Amber, she rose and pushed her way past everyone else who occupied the seats to her right. And when she was out, she smiled like she just broke free from prison.

Vanessa did not know who was calling, but it didn't matter. Whoever it was had saved her and deserved her sincerest gratitudes. She went out of the theater and leaned against Amber's car like it was hers. The phone had stopped ringing, so Vanessa redialed the number and placed the phone against her ear.

"Hello, who's this?" she asked after the person answered.

"It's me," the voice said. It was male.

Vanessa raised a brow up. "Me... Who?"

"Ouch, forgotten my voice so soon? I kind of hoped it'd be replaying in your head since last night."

Vanessa chuckled. "Jake." Of course, it had to be him. For a moment, she feared, or hoped, he wouldn't call her, like he was just looking for a fling the previous night. But he just proved her wrong. Or not. She'd see.

"At least you remembered my name. Fantastic."

"I'm still not interested in coffee, just so you know." Although, now that she thought about it, who offered coffee on a Sunday night? Maybe coffee was only another word for a one-night stand. "By coffee, you meant actual coffee, yeah?"

"Of course," Jake said. "What else can coffee mean?" His voice had a hint of teasing, and Vanessa laughed to herself. Maybe she was just overthinking it.

She folded an arm over her bosom. "So, why did you call?"

"I told you. I want us to be friends. How would that happen if we don't call each other?"

The air was growing cold, with the wind pouring over Vanessa. She shivered, rubbing her arm to receive some warmth. Everyone else who walked the road wore coats and jackets to fight the cold, except Vanessa. She glanced at Amber's car and wished she could go inside.

"You mentioned that you live out of town. How can we be friends if you don't even live around?" Vanessa said.

"Haven't you heard of long-distance relationships?"

Vanessa knew about them too well, and there was nothing she hated more. It had been her life for two years now, but not anymore. She had to get back to Amber. Vanessa glanced around, as though she feared Amber might be watching her. She shifted against the car, trying to gain more comfort. "Look, Jake, it's nice and all of you to call, but I have to go."

"Oh, come on," Jake said with a groan. "You're really going to blow me off again?"

Vanessa shrugged. "Well, what do you want from me? I don't even know you."

"Then get to know me. I dare you."

Vanessa laughed softly. Something about Jake excited her—an excitement Tyler never made her feel. Actually, Tyler only ever made her feel single, unwanted and unloved, except the few times he actually bothered to call her and ask if something was wrong, after she must have left a thousand missed calls on his phone. She didn't want a repeat of that. She could feel herself getting drawn to him—to the mystery around him, and the confident charms he exhumed. She could feel herself wanting to spend hours talking with him, but she did not think she was brave enough. And she had no idea why Jake made her feel this way—after all, it's been only a day since she found out about Tyler. 

"Hello, are you still there?" Jake called, worry was blended in with his voice.

"Yeah, sure..." Vanessa scratched her head, not sure about where to take this. "Are you still in town?"

"Oh, no, I left very early in the morning. I work in this law firm, and we have a branch in town, so every two months, I usually find myself running some errands in town. It gets usually so hectic; I always need drugs to smoother my migraines. There, I said it. Now you know why I was in the drug store. Care to tell me your reason for being there too?"

Vanessa sighed. So they were really doing this. "I found out my boyfriend is cheating on me."

Jake stayed quiet. For so long, Vanessa had to glance at her phone's screen to see if the call was still on.

"Wow," Jake finally said. "I'm sorry, that actually stung me. I'm finding it difficult to believe someone would risk losing a girl as gorgeous as you. Any one who would do that is an idiot who doesn't deserve you. You deserve much better."

Vanessa scoffed. "You don't even know me."

"That is true." Jake paused, as though he needed time to calculate his next words. "Actually, I was just trying to make you feel better. Did it work?"

"Well, no." Vanessa walked round the car to the bonnet and tried sitting on it. "You don't have to make me feel better. As a matter of fact, I feel good."

"Good," he said like she was his little girl, and it made her smile. "So, tell me about you."

Vanessa groaned internally. She hated the question. Tell me about you. "Well, I'm aries. I guess that tells you a lot about me already."

Jake hesitated then said. "Actually, that doesn't tell me anything." He laughed a low chuckle, making Vanessa feel silly.

"You mean you don't know the zodiac signs?"

"Oh, I do know the zodiac signs. I just think they're full of shit."

"I see," said Vanessa. She sighed. She had really hoped he would accept her zodiac sign so she wouldn't have to go through the process of Introducing herself to him. But, if she's being honest, even her didn't believe in the zodiac signs. "Let's make a deal then. I'll give you an information about me if we can end the call right after."

"Hmm... If I didn't know better, I'd think you're always trying to get rid of me."

Vanessa laughed and shook her head. "Well, you actually don't know better, so..."

"Fair enough. Alright, what information are you willing to share today?"

"Hmmm." Vanessa searched through her memory, hunting for which to tell him. "Let's just say I prefer being by myself. I'd rather spend my time alone watching a movie, over going to a party and being with actual people."

"Hmm, so you're antisocial?"

Vanessa thought about it for a moment, as though she did not know what she was. She shrugged. "I wouldn't say antisocial though. I just find fictional characters more tolerable. Relatable. So, I spend a lot of time reading novels. What about you? Tell me something about you and then we call it even."

"Nope. Not telling. I'll rather show you."

Vanessa squeezed her face. "What?"

"Well," Jake started and cleared his throat. "I do a lot of reading myself and I'm something of a writer. Show, don't tell, my critics always warned. Well, I'm following their warning this time. So, yeah, I'll rather show you."

"Hmm." Vanessa smiled from ear to ear. Jake was ticking all the right boxes in her head, and he probably didn't even realize it. But Vanessa did, and it pleased her very much. It also scared her, and yet she couldn't stop. "And how do you intend to show me?"

"Well, it's easy really. You have to spend physical time with me."

Vanessa laughed, throwing her head backwards as her guffaws consumed her. "I see exactly what you're doing. You live out of town, so I don't see how that can actually work."

"I actually have plans to be in town again this weekend. Maybe we can go out together?"

Vanessa scratched her head. The offer was tempting, but it was the last thing she wanted. "I thought you said you only come to town once in two months."

"Well, yes, but I used to do it once in two months before I met you. And now, let's just say I just found a better reason to be around."

He knew all the right words. How can one person know all the right words?

Vanessa sighed. What was she doing? "I really just got out of a relationship. I really shouldn't be doing this. I should be—”

"Heartbroken?" His voice came out a little forced. Like he spat it with disgust, and in that moment, it was as though a different person had spoken. But then he cleared his throat and said, "When I met you, you didn't seem heartbroken. You seemed free."

He said the kind of words that made her want to throw her arms around him. Instead, she said, "Thank you. My ex wasn't exactly the best boyfriend in the world. I was sad for most of the relationship, so I guess my heart has gotten used to being broken by him. I'm really not looking for anything new."

Jake stayed quiet, as though saddened by her words. "Then let's just be friends. That can't be harmful, can it?"

In truth, Vanessa did not really want to add new friends to her life. She had only Amber and Amber was enough—sometimes, she thought Amber was too much. She always tried to force Vanessa out of her shell and putting her in positions she'd rather not be in. Maybe she needed another friend. What harm could it cause.

"I guess it wouldn't cause any harm, but—”

"Vanessa!" A high-pitched voice shouted her name. It was female and it was angry. And it was charging right at Vanessa. She turned to look. Amber emerged from the theater and wore a scowl on her face. She walked towards her car, where Vanessa rested. 

"I can't be friends with you, I'm sorry," Vanessa whispered into her phone and hung up, without waiting for Jake to reply.

Amber stood before Vanessa, with her hands cinching her waist. Her frown did not dissipate and her brows bent at unequal angles. "You've been making a phone call?" Her voice sounded like Vanessa had betrayed her.

Vanessa forced a smile. "Yeah," she said.

"But you're missing the movie. How come you didn't turn your phone off?"

"Amber, I don't even turn my phone off in the church. I had to take the call, okay?"

Amber folded her arms on her bosoms. "It was that Jake, right?"

"Yeah." Vanessa took a step to Amber's side, to avoid a direct stare. "So?"

"So, how could you leave me to be with him? Some guy you just met." Her words were sincere, as though Vanessa had ruined their five years of friendship with just one insignificant move.

Vanessa laughed dryly. "I didn't leave you. I left the movie." She touched Amber's shoulder. "Are you okay?"

Amber shook Vanessa's hand away. "Yes, I'm okay," she spat. "What, you think I'm crazy because I wanted you to have a good day?"

Vanessa looked down. "No," she said. "I'm sorry.”

Amber sighed. "I just wanted you to have a good day. You know I love you."

Vanessa looked up again, doe-eyed. "I know." And Vanessa felt warm with regrets. Amber was right; she shouldn't have left. "I love you too."

Amber hesitated for a bit, then leaned forward and held Vanessa's hand. She stared directly at Vanessa's eyes; her lips seemed to be quivering. A new look came upon Amber, akin to fear. "I—I don't think you understand. I. Love. You, Vanessa."

Vanessa's lips parted slowly as realization consumed her. "Oh... I—”

Amber held Vanessa's face and pressed her lips against hers, taking the lower lip and sucking on it. Vanessa was stupefied and she froze, letting Amber have a way for a few seconds, until she realized what was happening—what was actually happening.

Vanessa kept her eyes open and saw the passion all over Amber's face. Amber's eyes were closed, and she kissed like that was the apex of her lifetime.