“Ok” Shane said after she had settled Amy into the passenger seat of her truck, started the engine, and lit them each another cigarette. “Where are we going?”
Amy giggled again.
“Go down the street and take your second left.”
“I never noticed a grocery store down there.”
“Just trust me.”
“Ok, I guess we’ll find out.” They rode in silence for a moment before Shane glanced over at Amy once more.
“I don’t mean to bring this up again, but it seems to be getting more and more important by the minute over here for me to know your, you know, your status?”
“Ok. There is no one in my life that anyone needs to worry about except me.”
“What does that mean?”
“I mean, no one will be mad…”
“Well, I admit that’s really good to hear, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you’re free.”
“Well, I don’t really understand how you could be free, either. You’re so…”
“I’m free. I didn’t know it until about ten minutes before I met you..whoa.”
“What?”
“My friend that is having the crisis?” Amy nods, “that had just left before you got there?”
“Ok”
“Well, almost the last thing she said to me was that she could feel someone coming that would make me glad-is that the store? Wow…” Shane turned the truck into the parking lot and found a space.
“Make you glad about what?”
Shane turned to face her.
“Are we ready to tell these stories?”
Amy thought for a moment, studying her lap.
“Actually I don’t think we have to. All we need to know is that we’re free, right?” She glanced up to find Shane’s face one inch from her own.
“We’re free..”Shane whispered, and then her hands finally did bury themselves in Amy’s hair, and she pulled Amy close and crushed her lips against hers. The kiss seemed infinite as Amy crawled across the seat and straddled Shane and Shane began pulling Amy’s tank top free of her miniskirt. Amy leaned back to help her and the truck’s horn sounded, causing them both to realize where they were. Shane cleared her throat.
“Ok! Let’s get some groceries, shall we?”
“Hey, is this our first date? The grocery store?”
“Yes, Amy, I think that is exactly what this is.”
“Excellent.”
Shane opened the driver’s side door and Amy slid off her lap until she stood on the pavement. Shane locked the door and took her hand.
“Do you mind?” she asked Amy.
“I insist,” Amy said, and they strolled toward the cart corral.
“Hey, I remember these.”
“So, you have been in a grocery store before.”
“Well, yeah, sure, when I was little…” A shadow crossed Shane’s face. Amy paused and tugged on her hand to show that she wanted Shane’s face close to hers again.
“I don’t think we have to tell those stories, either, ok? I certainly don’t mind.”
“Ok.” Shane smiled softly into Amy’s eyes and the world started to slip away again as thier lips gravitated towards one another’s.
“Oh. My. God.” Came a sarcastic voice from behind them. “Amy! What the ***** is this?”
Shane turned and found herself face-to-face with Gaby.
“You can’t possibly be telling me that this..” Gaby gestured dismissively toward Shane, “Is this ‘something better’ you were so sure you deserved.”
“I didn’t know Shane then, Gaby. That was all about you.”
“Hey, I don’t care, it’s your life. I just hope you don’t think you’ve moved up in the world. Whatever it is you think I did to you, I guarantee you ain’t seen nothin yet if this is the direction you’re planning to go in now.”
Shane knew she had better put an end to this conversation immediately unless she never wanted to see Amy again.
“That’s enough, Gaby. You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Whatever.” Gaby laughed and walked away.
“Amy…”
“Shane, it’s ok. You don’t have to explain. I should have told you earlier that I knew who you were.”
“What do you mean, you’ve seen me before?”
“Only on a flyer.”
“You… saw that? And you’re still …here?”
“You are not that girl. You have totally different eyes from her.”
“That’s enough for you?”
“I’m not scared of you, Shane.”
“I see that, Amy, but there are plenty of people around who can tell you you should be. I don’t feel right pretending that isn’t true.”
“I’m not scared of you Shane. Now help me with this cart.” Shane pulled a shopping basket free of its siblings and pushed it towards the entrance, contemplating Amy as she walked ahead. She looked so sweet, with her chunky maryjanes and kitty-cat bag. It seemed unlikely she could ever understand why Shane had lived the way she had, even if she could forgive it. A cloud began to settle over the afternoon.
“Hey.” Amy had stopped and was looking back at her sternly.
“Don’t worry about that. If I had met you before Gaby, I might have believed the hype. But Gaby has shown me what to watch out for in this town, and it’s not you, ok? Eventually if you want to I will tell you my sad stories, if that is what it will take for you to understand that this doesn’t matter, but for now can you just trust me?”
Shane nodded.
“Ok. Well, I have decided your friend needs spinach quiche. Does that sound perfect?”
“Perfect.”