Chapter 3

"Alright Rooster I'll be over in a minute." As Hannah hung up she looked at Ray lying in bed waiting for her. "I've got to go. Janet's a mess."

"Awe come on. I've looking forward to "us time" all day. Can't she wait till tomorrow?" Ray asked trying not to let his annoyance seep into his intonation.

"She's my best friend. She's been there for me since we were in sixth grade. I've got to be there for her. I'll be back as soon as I can. Besides we have forever for "us time"."

"OK, OK" Ray answered. "you're right. Just hurry back. Ok?"

"I will I promise." Hannah answered as she pulled on her sneakers and headed out the door.

Ray smiled as he heard Hannah's car start. He had no beef with Janet. As a matter of fact he liked her. Even after she dated Eddie she supported his relationship with Hannah. More than once he would walk in on her and Hannah talking about Ray. Janet was not his more ardent supporter but he had never over heard her saying anything bad about him. Hannah had confided in him that she had cheated on Eddie with Rooster and he liked that she had broke Eddie's heart. It was better than the beating Latekka had been given. Physical wounds heal far quicker than a broken heart.

"Open the door Janet. Don't make me use my key." Hannah hollered when she got to Janet's door. Using her key she let herself in. She found Janet in bed crying harder than Hannah had ever seen. She crawled into bed with her friend and held her from behind while she sobbed. After 10 minutes Janet was able to calm down enough to talk. The girlfriends talked for hours.

Janet told Hannah every detail of the day Rory came to town. She told her friend about Rooster's kiss months earlier and how she knew she shouldn't have called him but she didn't want to burden Hannah two days before her engagement party. She described the vile taste of the home brew and how she had drank almost the entire pint herself. She explained how throughout her "encounter" with Rooster she was seeing Eddie in her mind. It was Eddie she was trying to win back and she knew it was Rooster but mentally to her she was with Eddie. Hannah had heard this all the day before but she lovingly listened until she got to today's events. Hannah was not surprised to hear that Eddie had told the guys that Janet broke up with him. He had the reputation of being the ladies man and it was far more believable that he would betray her. It also would make him look bad if anyone heard that Janet had chosen Rooster over him.

Janet finally talked herself to sleep. The clock said 4:13am as Hannah set the alarm on her cell phone for 7am and curled up on the couch. By 7:05 Hannah had left Janet a note and snuck out. She called Ray to make sure he'd get Sam to school. She had one stop before she went home.