Shane turned when she heard Jenny's door open. Immediately, Jenny was taken aback by the morning sun, and she moaned, placing her hand over her eyes. Shane fought back a laugh, and reached over for Jenny.
"Jen, are you hungry? I'm making breakfast."
"Whoa," Jenny began, finding her way to a kitchen chair, "what a night."
"Hang over?" Shane asked, although she was pretty sure that was the problem. Jenny just nodded and laid her face into her folded arms, which were now on top of the table.
"I'm pretty sure I drank a lot," Jenny's muffled voice said from the vicinity of her arms.
"Oh, yeah. You were doing a lot more shots than any normal human being."
"More than that yacht party a few years ago?" Jenny asked, laughing a little. Shane laughed.
"Yeah. And if I recall correctly, I didn't see much of you that night. You were with Marina."
"Yeah. Yeah, I was," Jenny agreed, and sat up, facing the brutal judgement of the sun. Shame on you, Jennifer Schecter.
"You want any breakfast?" Shane repeated, returning to the previous topic of conversation. Jenny shook her head.
"Give me awhile. I think I might throw it up if I eat too soon." Shane nodded and served herself, making her way to the chair across from Jenny. They had sat the same way the previous morning, talking about Jenny's novel. Shane decided not to bring it up, and went right into eating. After a few moments, Jenny gathered up the courage to ask a question.
"Shane?"
"Yeah?"
"Last night, when you carried me into the house, did I say anything out of the ordinary?" Shane stopped eating and locked eyes with Jenny.
"No. On the way home, you asked me about the pretty colors."
"Pretty colors?" Jenny asked. Shane nodded, and took a fork full of eggs and placed them in her mouth.
"I figured you were talking about the street lights." Jenny nodded and laid her head back down, her chin sitting on her hands. Shane eyed Jenny for a second, and smirked.
"You did surprise me, though," she said. Jenny quirked an eyebrow.
"How?"
"When I put you to bed, you said 'I love you'. That's something I don't hear much from you anymore." Jenny bit her lip, and then shook off the growing anxiety. She was drunk, and she was sure Shane didn't think anything of it.
"It is something I don't say enough, is it?" Jenny asked with a smile. Shane grabbed her empty plate and brought it to the sink.
"Hey, how long is Max gone for?"
"I don't know. He had a suitcase that could hold clothes for at least a week or two. I'm sure he'll call soon and finally divulge details." Shane laughed and poured a cup of coffee, sliding it in front of Jenny.
"Enjoy it. I'm going to go call Carmen." Jenny turned, hiding the hurt in her eyes with a bright smile.
"Tell her I said 'hi'."
"I will," Shane said, and made her way to her bedroom. Jenny had to do something. Her hurt feelings could be hidden for just so long. She stood, grabbed her coffee, and made her way to her bedroom, where she took out her laptop, and started to type.
- - - - -
Shane exited her room, buttoning up her dress shirt. She had to meet Alice for a drink, like promised, and she would also stop by The Planet to see Kit.
"Jenny?" she called, making her way to the living room. There was no sign of Jenny, but a folded piece of paper was found on the table. Shane was inscribed on it, and Shane reached for it. She opened it and took a seat on the couch, reading it.
"The girl with the shining green eyes and the bright smile carried me. She held me close, allowing me to touch her porcelain skin and breathe in her intoxicating smell. She reminded me of my childhood mornings in the park, watching the birds fly by. I let her walk in, watch me, observe who I was in all reality. I, Jenny, Jennifer, Jen. Ms. Schecter had lived a life of woe, dealing with the inevitable and the improbable. You, Ms. McCutcheon, have helped me through the most of those trials. When I lock eyes with you, my heart jumps into my throat. I can't breathe when you hug me. You smell like the ocean air after a fabulous rain. Your hands, strong and supportive, help me walk rocky trails. When I see you with her, I lose all nerve to step up and tell you how I feel. Well, I'm doing it now. I love you, Shane. I really do. Our friendship had bloomed into something much more, and I am saddened to believe that Carmen De La Picas Morales could actually brainwash you from seeing that. Forgive me for my boldness and my sudden rush of self-respect, but I love you dearly. I am stepping up now to admit that my feelings for you have changed. Now, I blush and put my pen down, hoping that you could find it in your heart to feel the same way.
Love, Jennifer Diane Schecter."
Shane folded the paper again, and sat in silence. This was something she had never thought could happen. What was happening? Was this just a project - something Jenny wrote out of imaginative thoughts? Or was this a confession - a love letter she had written and rewritten after many frustrating nights?
Shane stood and walked over to Jenny's door, waiting, deciding whether or not to knock. She breathed in, and held it. The sounds of clicking ended, and the familiar snap of the laptop closing sounded.
"The door is open," Jenny's voice said, and Shane hesitantly turned the knob. The door slid open, allowing Jenny and Shane to make eye contact. Jenny pushed her skirt over her legs with her hands, and then pushed a loose piece of hair from her face. Shane held the folded paper in her hands, playing with the corners.
"What is this?" Shane asked in a mere whisper. Jenny looked at the paper, then back at Shane.
"A letter."
"A letter?" Shane asked, moving forward into the room and closing the bedroom door. Jenny moved her laptop off of the bed, and watched as Shane bent down in front of her. Their eyes locked, and Shane opened the letter, finding the line she wanted to summarize.
" 'Our friendship has bloomed into something much more, and I am saddened to believe that Carmen De La Picas Morales could actually brainwash you from seeing that.' Jenny, what is that? What are you trying to say?" Jenny laughed.
"Now, Shane. I know you're not stupid. It means exactly what it says." Shane folded the paper again, and placed it inside the back pocket of her jeans. She grabbed Jenny's hands, and held them, studying their coarseness. She was a hard worker, which made Shane admire her sometimes. Her thoughts returned to the situation at hand, and she locked eyes with Jenny.
"Jen, we've been friends for a few years now."
"I know."
"And I feel that maybe you've been deceiving yourself when it comes to this."
"What are you saying, exactly?" Jenny asked, her eyes narrowed.
"I'm saying maybe you're convinced you're in love with me, and you're really not," Shane said, squeezing Jenny's hands lightly. Jenny half laughed and half scoffed.
"Shane, I think I know how I feel. I don't need you to tell me how I feel," she said, almost snatching her hands away from Shane. Shane stood when Jenny climbed off of the bed. After grabbing her car keys and her laptop, she walked up to Shane.
"Jenny, I didn't mean to upset you. I'm just saying - you've been under a lot of stress lately, and I don't want you to jump head first into something that'll make you think back and go 'shit!' later on. I'm you're friend, and I love you to death, but I don't wanna see you get hurt." Jenny nodded with a smile and fixed Shane's collar, which looked messed up. After she finished, she grabbed on to her laptop tighter, and locked eyes with Shane.
"Thanks for caring." Before Shane could answer, Jenny kissed Shane on the lips, taking a second to just relish in the feeling. She withdrew after a few seconds, smiled again, and then walked to the door. Shane stayed next to Jenny's bed, looking in disbelief.
"I'm going to go down to The Planet and get some writing done. See you later?" Jenny asked. Shane just nodded and watched as Jenny left the room. The sound of the door closing and then Jenny's car starting brought Shane back to reality. Jenny had kissed her. Jenny had 'confessed' her love for her. Jenny wasn't joking.
Oh shit.
Shane went into the kitchen and grabbed a beer, instantly opening it and almost chugging it down completely. She then opened up her cell phone and dialed.
"Shane? I thought you were meeting me for drinks!" Alice exclaimed into the phone.
"I am. I am. Um, Al? Order a strong round. I need something strong to wake me the fuck up."