World Weary
Shouldering the Weight of The World
Part Four

“I know, I know,” Alice said impatiently as she hurried to sit down. The editor grunted as he continued to discuss about the stalking occurrences. Alice sat there bored, doodling on her notepad. Alice glanced up as she heard the door open, entered a man who Alice has never seen before. The editor glared at the interruption and sighed as he recognized the man.

“Well. Here is the new employee, Jack Presley,” the editor announced, gestured him to sit down.

Alice met his eyes as he sat down across from her; Alice felt a weird sensation coursing through her body. She felt she knew him somehow.

Hes gorgeous. That beautiful jade green eyes, spiky dark brown hair, and pleasant face. And a great body. Alice admonished herself, reminding herself that the office romance was off limit. But damn. She snapped back to attention when the editor told Jack that he will work with Alice Pieszecki and they both will work on two columns responding to certain questions, bring both male and female perspective to it.

Annoyed, that the editor has a good idea and its fresh, she admitted to herself. It will be interesting. Alice nodded, agreeing with him. However one problem is she prefers to work alone, having her own schedule, and sometimes her ideas for columns can appear just before deadlines, which can cause her to pull all-nighter. Alice breathed a sigh of relief when the editor ended the meeting.

Keeping her head down as she headed to her desk. She stopped in her tracks, seeing certain Mr. Presley sitting at his desk, which is combined with her desk. Jack looked up and gave her a broad smile, Alice smiled back weakly.

*************

“Urgh, uh!” Dana grunted as she hit the tennis ball hard. As she worked herself up to sweat, wanting to forget the complications in her life. Dana wondered what the ***** is wrong with Alice and feeling uneasy knowing her best friend is attracted to her. Dana grimaced, but she kissed Alice back. Surprised at herself that she felt something. Is there something between them, either lust or pure attraction? Dana groaned, for once she wanted to have simple paths in her life.

Walking off the court, her shoulders sagged as Dana saw Lara Perkins laughing along with her co-workers. Lara ignored her as they walked past her. Danas heart simply broke, knowing they cant get back where they were and she lost her friendship and trust. Dana sighed as she headed into the locker room.

*****

“Honeybuns, how is lunch?” Tonya said syrupy, causing Dana wince at honeybuns.

“Just fine.” Dana looked around, avoiding Tonyas eyes. Vaguely annoyed at herself for getting into this situation.

Wanting to get out of here, she mumbled an excuse of going to bathroom. Tonya nodded and went back to her lunch.

Dana walked casually to the bathroom, seeing the exit entrance and she bolted out of the restaurant.

***********

” Oh my god” she whispered, Tina started to shake after she realized what she said to Bette. Tina took her clothes out of their closet, her back to the bed: not wanting to look at the bed where the betrayal occurred. Feeling the urge to vomit, she opened the bedroom door and ran into the hall, leading to the bathroom and slammed the door.

Bette came out of her trance, seeing Tina disappeared into the bathroom. She became concerned; she pushed off the floor and walked to the bathroom.

“Tina, baby. Are you okay?” Bette asked. Hearing no reply after few minutes, Bette sighed as she leaned against the door. Now Tina is shutting me out and pushing me out of her life. Dammit. Bette closed her eyes in pain. I deserved it. “In the first time in my life, I don’t know what to do.” She whispered.

Tina coughed and started to wipe her mouth, her hand shook when she noticed the blood on it. Tina flushed the toilet and stood up, staring in the mirror. What is wrong with me, Tina asked herself. Terrified at the prospect of something wrong with her. Tina couldn’t deal with it right now, she was feeling the need to shut down and have some time to herself. She wanted to go to the cabin she rented, she used the towel to wipe her mouth and her hand. She opened the door, causing startled Bette to lose her balance.

“Ouch” Tina rubbed back of her head as they lay tangled on the bathroom floor, Bette being top of her. Bette stared down to Tina, noticing her pale complexion and brought her hand to brush Tinas cheek tenderly. Tina tried to block overwhelming love and pain from coursing through her heart, Tina looked away from Bettes intense gaze of love. Pushing weakly at Bette, wanting to get off the floor and away from Bette.

What is going on with you, Tina? Bette looked down worriedly, not letting Tina push her away. Bette grabbed Tinas wrist and put them over Tinas head, held them hostage, “Tina, please let me know whats wrong. Why did you get sick?” Bette whispered.

Tina glared at her, not wanting to open up again and not willing to entrust her trust in Bette, since she lost the right to be part of her life. And all those times that Bette couldnt talk to Tina, why now? Why from me, Tina thought. not her. Tina shook her head, not wanting to talk to her about anything. Sheer frustration crossed Bettes face then resignation. Bette let go of her wrists and sat back on her heels, Tina pulled her body out and stood up.

Tina held Bettes dark brown eyes, leaned down and kissed her cheek. “Good bye, Bette.” Bette closed her eyes when Tina walked away.

*************

Entering the Planet, Dana searched for her friends. They were usually here at lunchtime. But not today, her brows knitted in puzzlement. What the ***** is going on around here?

She turned around to leave, bumping into Alice. They smiled awkwardly; Alice took her hand and led her to the table.

“Hey Dane, I wanted to talk to you about the other night,” Alice took a deep breath. ” I wanted to shock you and trying to stop you from marrying Tonya. You are making a mistake, Im in love with you.” Alice grabbed her by Danas neck and kissed her.

Dana pushed her away, shocked by Alices actions. Frowning as she noticed Alices shoulders were shaking, Dana gaped at her. Alices laughing, Dana sighed in relief.

“Very funny, Alice. Hey, where is everyone?” Dana looked at Alice, expecting Alice to know the answers.

Alice swung her arm around Danas shoulders and squeezed her affectionately, “Well, Tina has gone away. Bette, I will check up on her later. Shane, I dont know.”

Dana looked at Alice confused, Tina left? Shane disappeared? Alice told Dana shell explain to her later about Bette and Tina.

Dana and Alice shared a worried look, knowing Shane cant live without her coffee and she usually let them know where she had planned to go. They remembered that Shane went to a party afterwards, after the gallery opening. After that, they havent heard from her since. Shanes life had turned upside down after getting involved with a married woman and losing her chance to own a business.

“Hey. You dont think that Shane have gone crazy and getting into weird *****?” Dana asked Alice. Alice muttered, “Hope not.”

*****************

“*****!” as she banged her head on something solid, she slowly opened her eyes. Her hazel eyes taking in unknown surroundings. Shane jolted upwards, seeing that shes in a car. Shane looked over to the driver nervously, sighed in relief as she saw the driver is a female. Shane coolly assessed the driver based on her appearance, more like exotic beauty, long silky dark brown hair. Shane couldnt see her eyes; its covered in sunglasses.

“Are you okay?” concerned voice snapped Shane out of her thoughts, seeing her soulful brown eyes looking at her.

Shane shrugged, ” Im fine.” The woman who look like shes in her middle twenties, nodded and smiled. Turning her attention back to the road.

“How did you carry me into the car” Shane curiously questioned her.

“You are such a lightweight so I had no problem dragging you since you were out of it,” she replied with a teasing tone.

Shane lifted her shoulder in thanks. The driver gestured a water bottle offering to her, Shane grabbed it and gratefully drank it.

“Where are we?” Shane looked at her as the driver looked strangely at her. “We are in Reno, Nevada.” Shane chuckled, couldnt believe how far she had traveled.

Oh *****. Shane was lucky that someone cared enough to take a risk to help her. Otherwise, she would have been screwed.

“What were you doing out there in the desert? Trying to kill yourself?” She asked.

Shane glared at her, “For your info, I got lost,” she said sarcastically. The driver chortled and rolled her eyes. Shane bristled, reined back the words that she wanted to use to insult her. Shane looked out to the window, seeing everything moving in a blur.

“Sorry. I didnt introduce myself, Im Carmen,” she looked at Shane, waiting for her name.

“Shane” she grunted, ” Where are you heading?”

“West Hollywood, California. I got a job as a video production assistant.”

Shane laughed at the coincidence, all those people who would give her a ride. This particular person picked her up and not knowing they are headed to an exact destination.

“Darling, we are meant to be together since Im living there,” Shane grinned. Carmen stared at her if she was crazy.

********

“Cherie, Cherie” Shane mumbled in her sleep, Carmen cocked her head as she vaguely recognized that name. Carmen stared into the night, searching that name in her memory. Carmen shrugged, she will eventually figure out what face or reputation goes to that name.

*********

Marina slowly opened her eyes, squinting against the sun shining into the room. Marina looked in the room, seeing everything is bare and sterile. Marina tried to move but couldnt, seeing dead weight on her stomach. Marinas eyes started to well up as she saw Jenny sleeping on her stomach and Marina slowly put her hand on Jennys head. She laid her head back and went back to sleep.