"Good evening, Colonel Bass. Is Ronnie home?" J questioned.
"He's upstairs, Julianna. Come in and I'll get him," he opened the door and invited her to wait on the couch.
Colonel Bass was the only person, her father aside, that she allowed to call her Julianna. To her, it felt almost disrespectful to go by anything else in his presence. He simply commanded respect.
'What am I going to say to him?' she wondered. 'I mean, what do you say to someone who gives up a relationship for your friendship?'
Her thoughts were interrupted by Sunshine's appearance at the bottom of the wooden staircase.
"Hey," he responded as he sunk comfortably into a nearby chair.
"Hi Sunshine."
"What are you doing here?"
Sensing the weight of the comment, Colonel Bass pointed toward the kitchen and excused himself. As he crossed the room, Sunshine rose from his chair and stood until his father was out of the room. His vision then switched to J, who was looking up at him with amusement.
"Sorry – force of habit," he answered sheepishly.
"Don't worry about it. Listen, about Stacey…" she started.
"Look, J, I'm fine, really. She just couldn't accept my personality..."
"I talked to her," she interjected.
"You did? When?" Sunshine looked bewildered and apprehensive.
"Earlier today. Why didn't you tell me she broke things off because of me? Sunshine, you shouldn't have to suffer because someone has problems with something I did."
"J, she asked me to choose between you and her. Anyone who is worth dating won't make me decide between two people."
"But you really seemed to hit it off," J reminded.
"You are more important," Sunshine commented after a slight pause.
"Even after everything that happened between us?"
"Of course! It's not your fault you aren't attracted to me like you are to Alan," Sunshine sighed through his smile. J offered an embarrassed smile of her own and realized how passive she had become. She took a moment to collect herself.
"It's not that I'm not attracted to you…" she joked.
"J, I know that. You don't have to defend your actions with me."
"I wasn't trying to!"
"Yeah, ok!" he joked. Sunshine knew J had changed the subject because she didn't like the "mushy stuff", but that was okay with him - he knew what she was trying to say.
"I really appreciate you 'giving up' Stacey for our friendship, Sunshine," J replied, surprised at how resigned she had become.
Sunshine looked taken back for a minute. He wasn't used to seeing this side of J. He walked over and offered her a hug.
J was happily surprised and accepted without giving it a second thought.
"Anytime, J, anytime…" his voice trailed off as J saw the softer side of Sunshine.
