Chapter 6

When Shane was slowly awakening, she knew Carmen was already gone. It was more like her to slip away when the other party was still asleep and now Carmen had done it to her. She couldn’t help smiling at the irony of it. Just as well, Carmen had spared her the trouble of having to tell her the same excuses she told everyone. Besides, she didn’t want to use that to dismiss Carmen. Whether she liked to admit it or not, Carmen was different. She looked at the empty space beside her. There was no lingering warmth and she felt an odd sense of loss when she thought of never seeing her smile again.

1 month later

Shane grabbed her usual coffee at the Planet and started reading the papers. “Hey Shane…” “Hi Alice, how did it go with Dana yesterday?” “Great, Fabulous, Unbelievable, Awesome man I’m running out of adjectives…” “Ok, I get it…” Shane said, rolling her eyes. “Well you are the one who asked…” Alice propped her chin on the table and started looking around.

“Hey, hey look at who Valeska had with her..someone new,” Shane continued reading her papers, ignoring the insistent nudging from Alice’s elbow. “You know, I don’t understand how Valeska gets all the chicks, she’s probably the only one who can compete with you. My whole chart is literally filled with you and Valeska’s conquests….” Shane lowered her papers and glanced at Valeska. She was a well-known figure around the lesbian community here. Somehow, they never crossed each other’s paths. Too alike and besides she was never Shane’s type. She finally saw whose hand Valeska was holding and it was Carmen’s. They were talking to each other and looked friendly enough. Shane felt something welling inside her and she frowned. Valeska went to the counter to queue up and Carmen sat alone there. Shane got up the moment Valeska left her seat and left Alice sitting there, with her mouth wide in surprise.

“Mind if I sit here?” Before Carmen could answer, Shane plopped herself unceremoniously into the seat. If Carmen was surprised, she hid it well. “Hi Shane,” “Hi…so you’re with Valeska?” Carmen’s shoulders stiffened and she sat up straight. “No, yes, so what?” Shane knew she was breaking a major unspoken rule here. Valeska might break her nose. Ah hell, she needed to tell Carmen. “If you’re looking for something serious, Valeska’s not the one. I just want you to know that,” There was a flash of anger across Carmen’s face and she blurted out “Who are you to tell me that Shane? You’re the last person I want to warn me about Valeska,” There was a look of regret at her outburst the instant the sentences flew out from her mouth. Shane almost felt like smiling. She was certainly feisty when she was mad. Then Carmen opened her mouth and stopped, on the verge of saying something when Valeska returned to the table.