Goodbye Party-Chapter 7

March 20, 2012

New York City

Alice laughed aloud along with Tasha who sat beside her on the bed and handed her the cup of coffee.

"Thanks," Alice said softly.

"I don’t know if you still like it with two sugars and one cream," Tina said.

"I do," Alice said taking a sip. "Mm I haven’t had coffee in seven years."

"Well I can make you coffee everyday if you want me to," Tasha said.

"Alright Tasha," Alice said setting her coffee down on the table, "we’ve been talking non-stop for hours. We have to talk about what happens now."

Tasha cleared her throat and stood up in front of Alice. "I would like us to start dating."

Alice sighed. "I don’t know if I’m ready for a relationship."

"A relationship is a long ways down the road," Tasha said. "I’m not asking you for that. I think that’s something we need to build up to, and the only way to do that is by going on simple dates."

Alice lowered her gaze. "A lot of things have changed Tasha. I’m not the same Alice and I don’t know if you’re the same Tasha."

"I am the same Tasha," Tasha said sitting down beside Alice on the bed again.

"But I’m not the same Alice," Alice said, "I’ve had to act like a heartless hard-ass so I wouldn’t get beat up by the other inmates. I’ve been someone’s bitch for the past four years. And I’ve found that everything I used to like, well I don’t like it anymore."

Tasha looked sad. "D-does that include me?"

Alice shook her head. "You’re the exception."

"Then what are you scared of?" Tasha said.

Alice mumbled something unintellibly.

"What?" Tasha said leaning closer to her.

"I’ve changed so much, I’m scared that…" Alice said softly, "I’m scared that you won’t love me anymore."

Tasha touched Alice’s chin softly and turned her head to face her. "Alice," Tasha said softly, "there’s nothing, nothing that could ever make me stop loving you. Nothing."