Talking Bodies

I groaned to myself as a knock at the door echoed though my apartment. I set down the bowl of cookie’s and cream ice cream on the coffee table in front of me and ran the sleeve of my hoodie under my eyes, hoping to erase any evidence that I had been crying.
The moment I open the door though, I knew that I didn’t do a very good job as the smiles on both Karen’s and Veronica’s face disappeared.
“What’s wrong Beth?” Karen’s voice was laced with concern as she looked me up and down and I knew I must have looked as bad as I felt.
I wanted to tell her nothing, but the words got stuck in my throat so I just shook my head, not able to look her in the eyes, so I studied my purple toenails instead.
“Oh honey,” I could hear the sympathy in Veronica’s voice and something hit the floor before a pair of arms engulfed me in a hug.
There was some shuffling behind Veronica before I heard Karen whisper in her ear, “Why don’t we go inside.”
I could feel Veronica nod as she pulled away and tucked me under her arm. She let me lean on her as she followed Karen into my apartment.
Karen closed the door behind us as Veronica led me to my couch.
Veronica didn’t let me go as we sat, only wrapped me in her arms tighter.
After another minute I pulled away, “I’m sorry,” I shook my head and wiped the tears from my cheeks. “I told myself I wasn’t going to cry on you guys, but here I am…” I shrugged.
“It’s okay,” Veronica assured me as Karen handed me a blue Kool – aid as she took the seat on the couch on my other side. “Everyone deserves a good cry once in a while.”
“Yea,” I took a deep breath as I took a sip from the plastic bottle, “thanks.”
We sat in silence until my Kool – aid was half full before Karen spoke up, “what happened Beth?” Sometimes I really hate Karen for prying but I also loved it because otherwise I probably wouldn’t talk about anything.
“Well I took your advice and went to Tyler’s apartment and…” I took a deep breath as I wound my hands together.
“And well I’m guessing you didn’t have any hot passionate sex.” Veronica said as if she was trying to sell some gadget on late night television.
I shook my head with a chuckle as I leaned back on the couch. “No, there was definably no hot passionate sex.”
“A hot passionate leg popping kiss then?”
“Nope, just a broken heart.” I admitted as my eyes stung with the threat of tears once again. “I really don’t know what I expected to happen…” I trailed off, a tear rolling down my cheek.
And even though I couldn’t figure out the words to say, Karen could, “you expected him to feel the same way?”
“Well that’s the thing Karen he sort told me he felt the same way, but nothing could happen between us because… because he said Jamie loves me and he already hurt Jamie once he couldn’t do it again.” I nodded. “And my god, I want to be mad at him, but I can’t because he’s just… he’s just being a good friend. Which is why I asked Jamie out.”
“So you went to talk to Tyler and you ended up asking Jamie out?” Veronica pointed as she clarified what I just said and then she turned to look at me. “How the heck does that happen?”
“Well you see,” I bite back my laugher as I thought about it. “After I talked to Tyler I ran into Jamie on Tyler’s driveway and I was thinking about everything Tyler just told me and the reason I went to talk to Tyler in the first place and well it just kind of slipped out.”
Veronica bummed my shoulder with hers and a huge smile covered her face. “So when you say you asked him out, you mean?”
“I mean I asked him if the dinner offer that he purposed was still available and he said yes.” I dragged each word out as I realized what I was saying. It took a minute for the words to sink in, but when they did my palms instantly started sweating. “I’m going on a date with Jamie.” I spoke around the tiny lump in my throat.
“Finally,” Karen said as Veronica squealed.
“I’m going on a date with Jamie,” I dragged the sentence each word rolling off my tongue like syrup from a bottle. “Guys, I don’t know if I can do this.”
“Beth,” Karen grabbed my shoulder pulling me around to face her. “Beth, you can do this.”
“Karen, I can’t…” I shook my head, her brown eyes reflecting the terror written on my face. “Someone’s going to get hurt, someone has already got hurt.”
“Beth listen to me.” Karen’s motherly voice came out as she ran a hand through my dark hair. “Someone always gets hurt, it’s true, but that doesn’t mean you stop trying. You shouldn’t stop yourself from going out with someone just because your scare that you’re going to get hurt, because you don’t know what will happen. So do yourself a favor and go out with Jamie, have some fun.”
I nodded, because I did what I did so no one could hurt me the way Billy did, but here I was, already heartbroken because of Tyler, and not even willing to give Jamie a chance, after he’s probably been heartbroken too. I mean what more did I have to lose? “So um, you guys are going to help me get ready Tuesday night, right, because it’s been a little while since I’ve been on a date.”
“Yea, of course,” Karen smiled at the same time that Veronica yelled, “hell yea,” and I couldn’t help but laugh as I wiped my cheeks once more.
“Well should we start now then?” Veronica squealed as she pulled both Karen and I off my couch.
“Veronica I don’t see what the big hurry is,” I sighed as we entered my room, “we have like two and a half days.”
“I know, but I’m off tomorrow which means we can go shopping if you need anything,” there was a skip to her step as she headed to my closet, “and excuse me if I’m a little excited, it’s been awhile since I got to help anyone besides myself get ready for a date.”
“Fine, whatever,” I took a deep breath as I sat down on my bed and Karen followed suit.
“Yea,” Veronica clapped her hands together as she dung thought my closet. “So what about this?” She beamed as she turned to Karen and me with a black and gold strapless dress.
I shook my head, not sure exactly what Jamie had planned but I didn’t think it involved that dress, and that is how the rest of the night went. Veronica picking out dress and either being denied by Karen or me. So when it was finally determined that I had no outfits that were dinner date, it was decided that we needed to go shopping. Which is how I found myself at the mall with Karen and Veronica Sunday afternoon.
“So if Jamie wasn’t already in love with you, he would defiantly be in love with you when he sees you in this.” Karen beamed as I stepped out of the fitting room for what felt like the hundredth time and couldn’t help but breath a sign of relieve at those words.
“You really like this one?” I asked her, as I faced the mirror next to the dressing room and stared at the red dress. It hugged my torso perfecting before flaring out just a little at my waist and cutting up just under knees. It wasn’t really the type of dress that I wore in a while but I did have to admit it did look good.
“Yes, I do.” Karen confirmed.
“I agree,” Veronica said. “When Jamie see you he’s going to be speechless.”
I nodded as I turned back around to look at them face to face. “Okay, well then this one it is.”
“Alright?” Karen nodded as she stood up and I disappeared back into the dressing room. “Well then why don’t you go chance and then we can go get something to eat.”
“Yes, food,” I heard Veronica groaned. “I mean not that I wasn’t having fun Beth but I’m hungry.”
“Well V, you’re the one who wanted to come shopping.”
“Yea, because someone needed something to wear for her date on Tuesday.”
“Well I have plenty of outfits at home but someone didn’t think they were appropriate for a dinner date.” I told her as I unzipped the back of the dress and let it fall to the floor.
I could hear Karen sigh as I stepped out of the dress and reached for my pants. “All your outfits belong in a strip club, not at the dinner table.”
“Whatever Karen,” I rolled my eyes as I slipped my pants back on and reached for my shirt. “You’re the only one who even cares, I mean Jamie’s already seen me naked so I don’t think what I wear is going to make a difference.”
“Actually,” Veronica spoke up as I slipped my shirt over my head. “That is why we need to make sure you look super-hot because we need to show Jamie that you also look good with clothes on.”
I took a deep breath as I retrieved the dress off the floor and hung it back on the hanger. Maybe Veronica did have a point, and this dress would defiantly prove that. I smiled to myself as I opened the dressing room door and was greeted by Karen and Veronica.

Notes