Abia closed her book with a sigh. The sun out the window was starting to dip below the horizon, and she was honestly a bit bored. While she appreciated the day off, she didn't share her coworkers traditional holiday spirit. The airport was closed for the week leading up to the New Year, but Abia didn't have anything special to occupy her time. She didn't have family she could call or visit, or a significant other to cuddle up with. All in all she was pretty lonely sitting in her apartment with her books.

It wasn't that she didn't have ways to kill time. She'd spent the morning enjoying some or her favourite videos, most of them starring the one and only Misty Peaks. She considered visiting some of her friends to wish them happy holidays, but they all had people to spend the day with. Candace had invited her round for dinner, but she'd already spent Thanksgiving with the bubbly girl. Abia didn't want to intrude on her alone time with Lailani. The Love Lei resort was having some sort of open celebration, but it was marketed more as a Christmas party. Abia knew she'd stand out a bit too much amongst all the merry swingers there.

Leaning back in her wicker armchair, her hand brushed against her locket, the only thing she was still wearing. Abia tilted the necklace up and opened it, smiling sadly at the photo inside. The pair of girls inside smiled brightly back at her, both of them naked and drenched in sweat. Their dark, middle eastern skin pressed against each other, and their wild black hair a disheveled mess. It was a good memory. Her first time with Zahra. The girl had swiped her fathers Polaroid camera and taken a quick snap of them both. Abia had been incredibly embarrassed to be photographed like that, but she'd carried the picture everywhere with her since then.

It still hurt. It always would, but that was okay with Abia. The girl had been more than a quick fling, she was Abia's best friend, her partner in crime, and the only person she'd been able to talk to openly. If she could go back, Abia wouldn't hesitate. She'd grab Zahra, get their bags, and run, as far and as fast as they could. Closing her eyes, Abia tilted her head back. She wouldn't cry, she'd promised that. It was far better to remember all the good times they had, rather than the end.

She hoped Zahra would be proud if she could see her now. A successful, independent woman, making her way in the western world. While she only had a few close friends, they were honest and good people. Candace was a beautiful example of the freedom offered in America, and one of the nicest people Abia had ever met. And her little girlfriend was such a sweetie as well. That Lillian girl had been fun, if a little too odd for Abia's taste. But she'd left her number, and an open invitation to hook up! And Misty! Zahra would probably burst with jealousy if she found out Abia spent several nights with their favourite star.

As if on cue, Abia's phone started buzzing. The startled woman took a moment to check the screen. Jessie! Abia's mind was racing, she was barely thinking as she put the call to her ear.

"Hi hon! It's been too long!"

"Mist…er, Jessie! What a surprise! I was just thinking about you."

The soft chuckle down the line made the hairs on the back of Abia's neck tingle.

"Oh, I bet you were, you dirty girl. Anyway, I just called to wish you a merry Christmas."

"Jess, hun, she doesn't celebrate Christmas…"

Lola chimed in the background. Abia was insanely jealous of the woman who got to spend every day with Jessie, but she'd been pretty good with her as well, taking Abia for her first three-way.

"It's okay. Thank you Jessie. I hope you have a nice day as well."

"Oh, I am, trust me. Isn't that right my little man?"

The sounds of raspberries and a baby giggling echoed in Abia's ear. It was nice to hear Jessie so happy, she'd been kind of depressed when she was on the island.

"Sorry about that. Tiffany's brought my grandbaby round, and someone likes attention."

Abia chuckled softly as she heard some take the babe from Jessie, scolding her for spoiling him. There was a soft, rhythmic scuffing as Jessie left the room, probably her slippers on the carpet.

"So anyway, when are you coming to visit?"

"Excuse me?"

Abia didn't remember making any plans.

"Oh, come on. We had fun on our little vacation, didn't we? You've gotta come see Glenberry. We'll show you around, you can meet my family, we can tie you to the bed and make you scream…it'll be fun. Besides, I've got one friend who's dying to meet you. She was so jealous when I told her what we got up to."

Abia mulled it over. She'd never been on vacation before, and she did have a backlog of days off to take….

"I'll have to check when I can get time off. I would very much like to see you again though."

"That's great honey! You're gonna love Aiko. I won't take up anymore of your time then. Have a relaxing day, and don't go overboard! Yes, I can see when you're on my website."

She could feel the heat rise in her cheeks, more from excitement than embarrassment.

"Of course Miss Jessie…..sorry, Jessie. I hope I'll see you soon."

"Me too hun. Bye for now."

"Goodbye."

Abia set her phone back down. A vacation. That was something to look forward to. She'd have to arrange flights, a hotel, her time off, packing. She could get Candace to keep an eye on her apartment. Well, maybe she'd trust Lailani with that.

Her train of thought was interrupted by her phone buzzing once again. It was a message from Jessie this time. Abia's eyes went wide as she opened the photo. It was a shot of Jessie's bare backside, obviously taken as she hiked her dress up. The message was four simple words.

*Wish you were here*

Abia skidded on the floor as she raced to her laptop. As soon as it was fired up she was online, opening the airport website (and another tab for Miss Misty's Wonderland). The results popped up with regular flights to Glenberry. She hit the next available one.