The Sunny Chronicles: Chapter Thirty-Four
Greenlee uses the spare key Simone gave her in cases of emergency to enter Simone's condo without ringing the bell first. The place is empty and quiet. At first, she's not even sure if anyone's home at all and almost starts to relax about the chances of Sunny being there. But, as she silently starts up the staircase to Simone's loft bedroom, her heart sinks at the sight of Sunny's dress draped there over the railing. She races to the top and stops at the foot of Simone's bed where she sleeps soundly ... and alone.
"Simone!" She shouts. "Wake up!"
Simone stirs, reaching blindly beside her for someone who has only left behind an indentation in the mattress, and a note. She crumples the note up in her hand before turning over and blinking her eyes open with a yawn.
"Greenlee, what are you doing here?"
"Missing someone?" asks Greenlee, looking very unamused. "Hand over that note."
"What note?"
Greenlee puts out a hand, palm up. "Simone, if you value your life at all, you'll give me that note from my sister RIGHT NOW."
Sitting up and holding a sheet to cover her bare chest, Simone sighs. "Greenlee, what are you doing here?" she asks again. "Have you been out all night? You look like hell."
"Thanks. You don't look so hot yourself. Now, tell me where my sister is before I make you look even worse. You got me?"
"Calm down, Marsha," groans Simone. "I'm sure Jan is fine. She obviously left before I woke up."
"Give me the note," warns Greenlee, almost growling.
"But ... Greenlee," she whines. "I haven't even read it yet. That's not fair!"
"Hand it over, Simone," she demands.
Simone rolls her eyes and huffs. "Fine. But, don't blame me if it's contents disturb your sisterly brain. I didn't write it, just remember that."
Greenlee snatches the piece of paper out of her outstretched hand and immediately scans it over. It reads:
Simone,
Had a great time last night. Hope you
did too. I had to go for a walk- get
some fresh air. I'll be back for my dress
later. Hope you're still here when I
return.
Yours,
Sunny
"Well, what's it say?" asks Simone. "Is she coming back?"
Greenlee tosses the note back on the bed beside Simone and sits down with a sigh. "Yeah. But it doesn't say when. Do you have any idea where she might have gone?"
"How would I know? I just met the girl last night."
"Don't remind me... please, for God's sake."
"Sorry," she says. "Look, Greenlee, I'm almost afraid to ask, but ... how did you know Sunny was with me in the first place?"
"Intuition."
"Intuition told you that I, Simone Torres, lover of all men, would be in bed with your sister?" she asks with a laugh. "That's some powerful mojo you've got working for you."
"Well, you were, weren't you?"
"Yeah, but ... how you figured that one out, I'll never understand."
"I told you, I..." Greenlee stands suddenly and starts pacing. "Never mind. It's not important. I've got to find Sunny and talk some sense into her."
"You mean about me?" asks Simone.
"What else would I be talking about?" she snaps. "It's bad enough that she turned out to be ... but to sleep with the town whore? She must be out of her mind."
"Hey! Watch it, Pal. This whore has feelings!" exclaims Simone. "And, what do you mean about what she turned out to be? You're not referring to her sexuality ... are you?"
"Simone, try and understand," she pleads. "I'm her sister. I don't want to see her struggle through life the way Bianca has."
"Oh, well, by all means then," says Simone. "Throw her in the proverbial closet and swallow the key."
"You have no right to judge me right now," Greenlee tells her with a laugh of indignation.
"Really?" responds Simone, raising an eyebrow. "And, what exactly gives you the right to judge your sister?"
"I'm not judging her," she claims. "I'm trying to protect her."
"From what?" laughs Simone. "From me? Greenlee, I don't know if you've noticed this yet, but trust me, Sunny is not a child. She can make her own decisions."
"Yes, and she's done such a smash up job of it so far."
"Oh, you are so not the sister Sunny needs right now," groans Simone.
"What are you talking about?" she questions. "How in the hell would you know what my sister needs?"
"She was really bummed about Bianca last night," Simone tells her. "She judged Sunny pretty harshly. I get the feeling that a lot of people in her life have. And, I know how that feels. It sucks."
"Simone, people judge you because you're a walking mistake waiting to happen."
"I'm going to pretend you only said that because you're so stressed out."
"Pretend whatever you want."
"Look, Greens, your sister needs someone who's not going to expect anything from her. Someone who will not only forgive her mistakes, but forget them as well."
"And, that's you?"
"Sure, but ... she needs more than just me. She needs you too, Greenlee. But, not like this. You can look down on me all you want. I'm used to it. But, don't treat Sunny that way. She's just different from you, that's all. And she needs you to accept that. Can you? Can you stop trying to change her and just love her for who she is?"
"I want to," she sighs. "I really do. But first I have to find her."
"Why?" Simone wants to know. "Why is it so damn important that you find her right now? I'm sure she's all right, Greenlee. Besides, she said she was coming back. I can have her call you as soon as she walks through the door."
"You don't understand," Greenlee says. "I have this feeling ... I think Sunny's in trouble."
"You're really starting to freak me out, you know that? First you come here on some weird intuition, and now you've got this feeling like she's in trouble ... And, you haven't even threatened to fire me for sleeping with your sister! What the hell's going on with you?"
"You're just lucky I'm so worried about Sunny right now," Greenlee warns. "Otherwise, I promise you, I would kick your skinny butt from here to Cleveland!"
"Ahh, now there's the Greenlee I know and love!"
Greenlee turns abruptly and starts back down the staircase.
"You know, I'd really recommend going home first and at least taking a shower," Simone calls down the stairs. Then she adds, in a lower voice, "Geez. And you think Sunny's got problems."
"I heard that!" Greenlee yells back before exiting the condo.