The Kiss

(Rachel)

If you felt it was necessary to bring people together for an announcement, something must be really important to be said. On the other hand, doing it at a bar doesn't sound serious enough. The environment involves alcohol and noise and inattentiveness. Mike said he needed to reunite his best friends for an important announcement… at a bar. I thought it was just a excuse to do some party, but Quinn guarantee it was really important. I doubt it. At a bar? Come on! Anyway, the meeting was scheduled and I was dying to know what it was.

"Last chance." I discussed with my girlfriend on the phone.

"Rachel, about four hours from now everyone will find out. Have patience! Looks like you're thinking over this all day."

"I'm wondering the fact that you know what it is and I don't."

"Obvious!"

"Quinn, please..."

"No, Miss Berry-Lopez. Now behave yourself."

"If you tell me now, I'll let you go to third base and maybe score a home run after our meeting tomorrow. What do you think?"

"You must be desperate of curiosity to offer yourself that way. Although it is tempting to go back to third base after all this time, I won't say."

"Oh, you're so frustrating!"

"Let's face it, Rach. I'll score anyway after our date night. I know you barely resisted me last time."

"In addition to frustrating, of course, you're full of yourself. As always!"

"Still, you love me."

"Lucky you, Miss Fabray." I rolled my eyes. "What time will you be there?"

"After my shift."

"Then I'll try to arrive early to keep you company."

"It will be an honor." She giggled on the phone.

"Bye."

I refocused on my job. We were rehearsing the set in sequence to the point we were able to do the first dressing rehearsal on a few days. I didn't really want to think about. It was my first protagonist on Broadway and although I have always been treated well by critics, anything wrong could happen. Loved today, hated tomorrow. The good note was that Bowie, the executive producers and the sponsors seemed happy with the work progress: everything was on schedule.

As my hours ended at mid-afternoon, unless I have something extra to do, I used to go home and enjoyed the little luxuries in my neighborhood. It's so good transiting the avenues by bike. It was where I took care of my nails and my hair, buy my organic fruits and vegetables, and getting to know people as the newsstand's man, the jazz bar's man, and even the nice girl from the little grocery store. This time, I opted to just take care of my nails.

"Shorter this time!" I asked Marla.

"Why?" She looked disappointed at me. "Your nails are beautiful, Rachel. Long and elegant."

"So make them short and elegant."

"All right." She sighed disappointed and began to cut and treat as I rested my head on the comfortable chair and closed my eyes. Marla was a great manicure and her services worth the price. The place was also attended by other artists and people of high society. Like that day I said hi to Laura Osnis. Of course I didn't go there because of it: the atmosphere was good, the service was great. "So is it good?" Marla asked as I analyzed my new shorter nails.

"Perfect as always!"

"What color this time?" She showed the enamels.

"I'll try that blue one"

"That one is beautiful." She smiled and continued to work.

I left there renewed and prepared for the weekend that promised nails. It was Quinn's turn to plan our weekly date and she gave me some tips that we are staying at her place for a romantic dinner. I've been there once and I didn't know how she can transform that old small apartment that smelled foot in a romantic place. Anyway, Quinn said Santiago bought a recipe book for people who know nothing about cooking, but she was the one who actually use it. She said there are great tips that helped her to improve on her cooking. Quinn wasn't that bad, but she wasn't like Mike either, or me. Miracles do happen.

Quinn was too sure that would go into my pants in our date night. She thought she would seduce me with basic home cooking, but I wouldn't fall just because of that. The truth is that I made things difficult for her in the past weeks, so she could learn some lessons. But there came a point that my needs were beginning to speak out loud and it was hard to resist such a beautiful woman who loved me and took me in a way that make me feel dizzy and wet in my underwear.

At home, I put some warmer clothes, because New York blew cold that time of year, fixed my hair and took a taxi to Midtown Mike's bar. It was a decent place where he liked to meet some friends and, especially, get some women there. I found Quinn chatting with our former boss, Roger Benz, in a table. I truly dislike him. I see no reason to be friends with someone that colluded with directors that cast actresses after they do oral service. I know there are a lot of this kind of jerks in Broadway and Hollywood, but, thank God, my career is clean this way: I've never had to blow anyone to get a job. Still Roger and Quinn remained good friends. At least, Roger wasn't the creepy one from the duo Roger Benz and James Golvi.

"Hi." I approached them. "Good night." First I reached out to greet Roger and then gave a peck on Quinn. "Hi." I said again, this time just for my beautiful girlfriend.

"Hello Berry. HBO airs did marvel to you."

"It's Berry-Lopez when I'm out of the duty." I said drought. "I'm not seeing Mike. Where is he?" I tried not establish much dialogue with Roger, who stared at me while drinking a shot of whisky.

"He's coming." Quinn replied. She also had a glass of whisky on her own, probably courtesy of Roger since my girlfriend had no money left to spend on expensive drinks. "Roger was telling about the latest news from R&J after Saint Woman's flop." She smiled and he nodded.

"It got rotten on Rotten Tomatoes." I pinned. It was a relieved in the end that I didn't get any part on the movie.

"Yeah, I know… 23%. Ouch!" He laughed. "The box office barely paid the cost, but worth the experience. There is another film project coming up. One that Quinn could well be pat if she hadn't sold her soul to the devil."

"Roger doesn't like Bad Things." Quinn explained.

"Because is it a successful and growing company?" I teased.

"They only invest in what is safe and they love money more than art. I think there is room for some art even in commercial terms. I don't know. These guys from Bad Things are pragmatic, technically perfect, but without soul."

"Still, it got 63% on its last movie, expressive box office, and the MTV's series got another season." Quinn raised her glass. "You always had room for idealism, but, come on, Bad Things is like a little New Yorker Lionsgate."

"They make you work on commercials and ads!" Roger pointed out.

"Because I'm new there. And shot commercials are kind of fun."

Mike arrived. Although my curiosity was great, he insisted that we should wait for some key people in his life to make the announcement. Inasmuch as time passed, the group increased: Santana, Johnny, Mike's agent, some co-workers (some we had in common). Even Angela was there. I had no idea that Mike still had contact with his first girlfriend in New York. She was a nice girl and was working in an off-Broadway drama play. When Mike thought that all significant persons were present, he stood with a glass of brandy in hand.

"Well, folks. I'm honored that you all attended to my call."

"Of course! We are in a bar!" Josh Solano shouted. "Now speak shortly before half the people here get too drunk to remember."

"You have a point." He pointed to his colleague. "I wanted to inform you this is a farewell party." It was a shock. Santana and I exchanged glances. We were all confused, but Quinn and Mike's agent. "This is a farewell party with people I like the most because in January I will be moving to Los Angeles. I'll be forever grateful for Broadway, but I don't belong to the stage, like Rachel. I love the camera and I get a role on a movie… So, I talked with my agent, my manager and Quinn and decided to move out. Also, I am also negotiating a society in a dance studio in Los Angeles. It is an investment that I've always dreamed."

"Why?" I almost shouted in disagreement. "You can't do it. We're a family!"

"Yes. And we will always be one. But I need to take another direction."

"How could you not tell me?" I nudged Quinn. I was still stunned. She didn't care and continued to pay attention to our friend.

"The thing is that I will spend most of December off and it won't have another chance to meet everyone except this very one night. And I'm so happy you made it. My desire was to speak to each of you, of how important you are. As I can't, because otherwise I will be unfair, I limit myself to thank everyone for everything you did for me."

Applause. Quinn stood up and hugged Mike: strong, firm, long way with the right to tears, whispers in the ear and kiss on the cheek. It was such an affectionate scene between these two that gave me the right to feel a twinge of jealousy.

"I love you too, you know" I said as I hugged him.

This was the melancholy time of night. People started to remember funny stories, things that I would classify as embarrassing. Quinn shared at least one who I was unaware. Apparently they did some bar games involving girls. I sit back and reconsider the entire plan to let Quinn get in my pants during dinner at her house.

I guess I was so focused on my girlfriend that I forgot for a moment to watch my sister. Santana didn't seem so at ease and well and I could swear that Mike's departure had nothing to do with the state of her mind. I tried to understand reasons for her being so down. The Rock'n'Pano was good and she is talking about increase the number of artists for the collections, and things seemed under control in Weiz. Columbia was also no problem. My sister continued to be a great student as much as possible. Then I noticed Johnny. I looked right at him shamelessly flirting a woman at the bar who was out of the group. I wanted to kill him, but for what reason? For all I knew was that he kissed my sister and then nothing. These two had no commitments to each other, so Johnny was entitled to flirt with whoever wanted. I went to rescue my sister.

"He's an asshole." I surprised her.

"No, he's not, Ray."

"I know, but it's my sacred sister duty to put you up even without understanding this history."

"Maybe you better stay without understanding." Santana finished her beer. The intention was to get another, but I stopped her.

"You've had enough and this party doesn't have the proper energy. We should go home."

"And spoil your plans with Fabray?"

"Nope!" I said convinced. "My plans with my girlfriend are for tomorrow. Today my plan is to go home and cuddle with you while we watch some TV."

"Let's say maybe I accepted..."

"Santy... I am... I know that sometimes you hate to tell certain things, but I feel you need to put it out or will explode."

"I'm not dramatic like you."

"But you're feeling blue and it upset me."

"Ok, maybe I want a blanket now..."

Santana and I said goodbye to Mike and Quinn. My girlfriend was with a frown, but we would still have our date night. Santana said goodbye to Johnny and I found it worthy and brave of her to show that she wasn't underneath. We got into the taxi and went back home in silence. I changed my clothes, used my bathroom, and went to the living room with a blanket in hands. It was past midnight when Santana sat on the couch and we cuddle, sharing the blanket. I was watching some romantic comedy and I change channel, but Santana said she liked the movie. It was just a harmless-sugary-cheap movie.

"I can't imagine New York without Mike around." She said casually.

"Really? I love him, but it's not like he was around lately. Not after Quinn and I broke out and he took her side."

"I know. But he is family. Our new yorker family." She said quietly. "Would you move to L.A?"

"I have no desire, Santy. But you never know about tomorrow. Now I have a career here in New York, but if I have more jobs offers there, so maybe I will have to move out." She was thoughtful while pretend to watch the prom scene on TV.

"Would you leave Quinn?"

"I don't know. Hypothetically speaking if she doesn't move out with me, I would try to keep distance relationship and see what happens."

"I see… you and Quinn now look like a couple of regular girlfriends." She commented. "You seem more natural and loose than before."

"Yeah, you're right." She nodded. Everything seemed lighter now that we lived in separate houses and didn't see each other every day. It's like less strain on the relationship. The feeling was great, I couldn't deny.

"Johnny gained weight: a pound or two. Did you notice? And that girl he was talking wasn't so pretty. She has a nose the size of the world." She looked at me. "No offense, sis."

"You got lucky, Santana Berry-Lopez, that's all. And I like my nose."

"To the point of think about a nose job. Do you remember that discussion we made in Lima?"

"At least I never begged our dads to authorize a boob job, which incidentally, they wisely never heeded. You're already busty. Put some implants there and you will look like a striper."

"Puck's fault. He said I would be perfect if my boobs were bigger… and we were doing the deed a lot that summer before London..." She mused. "At that time I had some problems with the mirror, like everybody, especially teenagers."

"I never understand why. You're gorgeous."

"I could be more self-confident than most girls, but I had my weaknesses. I still have."

"For instance?"

"I don't know... in what am I so wrong for Brittany never chooses me? Is it my appearance? My personality? What?"

"There is nothing wrong with you, Santy."

"Perhaps I have something wrong, or why I'm so afraid?"

I looked at my sister. She was frowning, sad eyes and frail as long not seen. I ran my fingers through the curls of her hair.

"I swear that's the last time I ask, but what happened between you and Johnny that night?"

She was staring at me as if considering opening the guard or not. What is the point? Then, she relaxed a bit on the couch.

"We were in a great night. We flirted with each other and made fun with the celebrities there. It was fun and it was not at the same time because being with Johnny make me feel different things."

"I don't understand..."

"I like having sex with guys, but it's not that I find them particularly attractive in daily. I also like having sex with women… well, with Britt mostly. But it's different: it's another kind of connection. Women are prettier and smell better, but sex with men is much simple. And a good fuck is a good fuck, no matter what!"

"I think that's part of why you are bisexual, Santy."

"Maybe… it just never happened before. Of all guys I dated, the friendship was always been there, but it's not that I was really attracted or emotionally attached to them. With Johnny… well, he is more than an ordinary friend: he's family. And, one day, somehow, I started to feel more attracted to him than I've ever felt with any other guy. And we've never had sex! That night we decided to get out of the crowd to get some fresh air and that's when we kissed."

"So?" I was almost holding my breath with the story.

"It was wonderful. I felt butterflies in my stomach, like no other guy had managed to do. Moreover, as no other person, except one."

"Brittany."

"Yeah. Brittany. I felt that that Johnny could make me move on. I mean, truly move on. So I panicked. Because Brittany broke my heart like no one and I'm really scared to go through that again. So I rejected him on the crudest possible way."

"Oh, Santana."

"I called him 'little orphan' and some dark joke about his suicide mother, like an ironic praise. Rachel, I would slap anyone who talked to me that way, but Johnny… well... he just said 'I'm sorry for you', turn his back on me and walked away. I called him two days later saying I'm sorry, that I had lost my mind, that I was tipsy, what it was true. He said he was sorry too and that we were good. But we aren't."

"You can't blame him, Santy. I'm surprised now that he still managed to be in the same place with you after that."

"I know."

"So, I think the next step is to be honest with yourself. Brittany made her choice: one where you're just an old friend to her. I know how much it hurts you, but it's true. I'll tell you one thing: you and I know that love is divine. But when things go wrong, the pain is almost unbearable. I understand you want to protect yourself, however, Santy, don't live a great love is empty. It's like going through life alone."

"Do you think?"

"I'm sure." I passed my hand lightly on her cheek. "If you really like Johnny, you should woman up and talk to him again, say again you're sorry and see what happens. At a minimum, you need to go back to being friends like before."

"I hate when you're right."

"Silly."

My sister kissed my face and went back to lay your head on my shoulder while the movie reached the half. We just cuddle there in silence until she slept before the end of the movie and I had to wake her up just to send her to her bed. My love life was ok. I hoped that my sister's could be solved too. She deserved that happiness.

…

(Quinn)

Rachel was wrong on one thing about musicals: they were sexist in some sense. Only men dance something cheerful after having sex. Girls sing romantic songs after kissing the guy. See the difference? I don't remember a musical in which there is a scene of a woman dancing and singing with birds after a night out. This happens only in my mind. I was walking on the streets a week after Thanksgiving. I couldn't go to Lima to stay with my mother and see Beth this year because I had no money to pay the ticket and I wouldn't ask Rachel to lend me some. Not after all we've been through. But she and Santana went to Lima, spent some days with Juan, Shelby and Beth. Yesterday, Rachel and I had a date night. She brought a cute draw that Beth gave me as a gift, we had a nice dinner at her home (she hates my place), and we made love. Not monkey hot sex love. Just sweet tender passionate love: the best and the most emotional we had since we were on again.

Walking in the streets of Manhattan, I felt like dancing with people that crossed my path. In my imagination, they were dancing with me to the rhythm of "Love That Girl" by Raphael Saadiq.

"You can tell by her smile shes such a love child / and every man in this place would love to be in her space / as the night settles down shed meet a lot of clever clowns / and the ill my best to be better than the rest / she is soo (so sweet and tender) / and i'm glad (so glad we've met girl) She's sooo (so sweet and tender) and i'm glad (so glad Were makin love) oh oh i i love that girl oh oooh "

I think I even danced a little bit.

I still could feel the sensations in my body. Her sex pulsing against my mouth, her juices, the taste of her skin, the way she twitched as I penetrated her with my fingers, the sweat running between her breasts, the way she was screaming my name. I had to stop these images in my mind or I could have a serious constraint. My panties were already wet and I still needed to work.

Thankfully, the phone rang.

"Fabray?" It was Lewis Gore.

"Hi Lewis, what's up?"

"This is a business call. I know you're working for the devil now, but maybe you still got some heart. Are you interested?"

"Why everybody thinks Bad Things is evil? It's not, ok! It's a nice place to work… anyway, now I'm curious. What do you have?"

"I have a project for two days filming: Cat Power's music video, can you believe it? The money is good. I can offer you a good cache to take care of the photography. Are you in?"

"Of course I'm in! I worked on this Thanksgiving and I'm able to take a day off. It won't be a problem if we will film for two days."

"Cool. Could you come by my office so we can discuss some details?"

"Now, in the morning?"

"Could be. I'm here all day."

"I'm going there."

I took the train to New Jersey and went to The Beats' office yet that morning. I won't miss anything important at NYU classes at that time of the year.

Lewis greeted me with a hug and gave the final cut's copy of our documentary. He was going to premiere it at Sundance, but I didn't know if I can go there yet. It will depend of my time and money, and both were tight. We talked a little bit about design and photography. I had a tumultuous semester and kept my grades on limit in order to not lose my scholarship, but my life was taking shape again, and next semester I was sure I would recover academically. Of course this didn't affect my professional experience and that was what mattered most.

Lewis told me his previous discussions with Cat Power about this video, the main idea and it sounds interesting. Taylor Bay was doing some drafts and she would show it in the meeting with the creative team.

"The crew is already formed?" I asked Lewis.

"It will be virtually the same from the doc. We will have a meeting next Monday and then with Cat and her team. So, it's me, you, Peter, Carl, Alyson, Monica..."

"Monica?" I hold my breath.

"Is there a problem?"

"Monica and I have a history."

"That you had sex?" I was shocked with the naturalness that Lewis spoke.

"She told you?"

"Was it a secret?"

"She bragged about it?"

"Monica and I have mutual friends, and I knew from these, by chance, that you had fucked her once and that you were a jerk after." Well, that's true. Kind of… "I found it weird since you were so in love with your girl. But shit happens and I kind of understand: Monica has a great ass and boobs."

"Have you ever had sex with her?"

"No, but I wouldn't oppose." He sighed and took a sip of brandy. "I don't see the matter of it. You are breakout cinematography star, and Monica is the best assistant I can afford this city. If you had sex once, so what? It happens all the time. I slept with Alyson sometimes and we still work together."

"I don't know. Monica didn't lie: I treat her really bad after. And there were others complications."

"Let's do this: think about it and then call me tomorrow. If you're in, wonderful, but if you waste this opportunity because of an old hook up… well, it's a shame, but I will try to understand."

I had to run to go work in time, but I couldn't concentrate much. I made mental lists of the pros and cons in working in the music video. Cat Power was an artist that I liked, and the crew was great. Lewis was crazy, but he was a fine indie producer that knew how to work well on a tight budget. There were only two cons for not took this job: Monica and my work schedule. There was another person who I needed to talk about it before making a final decision. That's why I went to Rachel's place after my shift without call her.

"Quinn?" Rachel opened the door with surprise face. "I didn't expect."

"Sorry, but I need to talk to you about something."

"Sure, we can talk later."

That's when I realized that Rachel wasn't alone at home and her company wasn't Santana. I may have interrupted a small and informal meeting with some friends from Broadway. At the time I felt strange, cast aside. But it was part of Rachel's desire to have her social life detached from our relationship. She smiled at his friends, introduced me as "Quinn Fabray, her girl", and offered me a drink. There were five Rachel's friends that I only knew one: Sean Lewis.

Lucky me, Santana came home a few minutes later and I didn't have to stay with a forced smile on my face the whole time amidst those people I barely knew, and among those who I felt little sympathy. Santana was my excuse to leave that living room. This led me to be little more than an hour inside the office/studio at Rachel's keyboard.

They found an interesting solution to space with the help of their interior designer. Santana's office was on one side and the "studio" Rachel the other. The whole room had sound proof to not annoy the neighbors. Thus, Santana had space to work at home and Rachel could sing and play keyboards. Not that she played well, but she knew how to read music and perform it at the piano, even if poorly.

"Rachel is working on a song." Santana said almost disinterested while working on something for college. "She did a chorus and is trying to work the rest of the lyric."

"Really? Why she didn't tell me?"

"I don't know. I think the song is about you, so it's probably that she will show you when it's done."

"Fair enough." We felt in silence. Santana wasn't the best person to keep a conversation when she was working on something. "Rachel didn't say anything about this meeting." I tried again.

"I'm in the same board. On the other hand, it's not an everyday thing. Rachel might have invited them to improve her social status."

When Rachel finally came to the office after her little meeting I started to help her clean the kitchen and the living room.

"So…" She put the pads on place. "It must happened something important to you come here without text me first."

"Lewis Gore called me today." I collected some dirty glasses. "He will shoot a Cat Power music video."

"Really?" Rachel wasn't Cat Power's fan, but she respected the artist.

"Yeah. But there's a problem..." Rachel stared at me, waiting for me to continue the story. "Monica is part of the crew."

My girlfriend collected some bowls and headed to the kitchen. I was confused.

"Do you feel anything for her, even minimal?" She seemed very insecure.

"No, I don't."

"Did she call you these days?"

"No, she didn't."

"Do you really want to do this job?"

"Yes, I do. I'm a fan and the photography will be mine."

Rachel stared at me in a firm way, which gave me even a bit of distress. She was serious.

"Now, I can understand why you came here without telling me before."

"You had to be the first to know."

"So, Quinn. You are a professional, so be professional. But if you slip again, it would be the last time."

"I do not want Monica. I do not even like her. I just want to be part of this project. But if you have any kind of objection, I will call to Lewis and thanks him for the opportunity. I don't want to spoil our second chance in any way."

Rachel was still serious, yet she gave me a kiss on the lips before facing me.

"Thank you."

I kissed her again. It was my thanks for her to understand.

…

(Santana)

I needed to calm down. Johnny worked in a tattoo studio in Harlem. He had a waiting list and everything. The owner was Grant Thompson: quite famous in Manhattan for appearing on a television show about five years ago. Grant has a team of tattoo artists and makes them smaller, simpler works. Johnny started in this studio as an assistant, and then he sold some drawings for its catalog and then became one of the tattooists. This job paid the most of his rent. But Johnny didn't want to work with tattoos forever: I knew he was working on a book and his dream was survive as a writer.

I was there willing to invite him to lunch by surprise and had a whole script rehearsed in my mind. Not that this kind of action would be my style. Usually I would just be a bitch and pay the price, but it was Johnny Boy and that was a special mission. My script included a lunch in a reasonable restaurant with a decent menu. Nothing snob or expensive: Johnny was a simple guy and I knew the value of my sweat money. We would talk amenities before discuss our relationship status. I would apologize once more and if all goes well, I would ask him to go out on a date. That was my goal.

I was retracing every step in my mind as I approached the studio. I was hoping that everything would work out. Santana and Johnny? I could get used.

As I approached the studio, away from the window I saw Johnny with a woman among the people who were in the waiting hall. He smiled at the woman and kissed her on her cheek. It was the same one he flirted at the Mike's bar. My heart stopped and broke into a thousand pieces. Cliché, I know. Thing seemed cartoonish. I turned around and then leaved.

I wanted to cry like a stupid teenager. Instead, I took a deep breath and straightened my back. I was Santana Berry-Lopez, the ultimate bitch, and wouldn't cry. But that didn't mean I wasn't sad about the lost chance.

"Santana?" I voice surprised me and I turned my back.

"Johnny…"

"I think I'd seen you, what actually I did… What are you doing here?"

"I was just passing by and I was close to studio… well, I though on ask you to have a lunch with me but you looked busy."

"Busy?"

"With a client, maybe?"

"Oh? Janet? She's just an old friend from NYU."

"I saw you two at Mike's party."

"Yeah, I met her there and she's in the studio to make a tattoo with my boss. You, know, business meeting."

"So… are you free?"

"Yeah."

"Would you like to have lunch with me?"

"Why not? I know one of these secret places that make delicious food."

"Sound good."

"It is. We need just to come back to the studio to pick my coat or I will freeze on the way." It was when I realized that Johnny was only wearing a t-shirt, like he'd run after me as soon he saw me. It was cute.

I wait him just a little bit and we soon was in our way to this restaurant: which was small and almost hiding, but the food was indeed great. I didn't have the guts to talk about relationship. The best was given some time to it. But I couldn't deny one thing: it felt great being with him.

…

(Quinn)

I could make a career shooting music videos: quick jobs that always has an interesting and young audience. Judging by the discussion with the crew, our product would be simple and amazing. Cat Power would only appear in history as an extra, almost as an easter egg, because the action would be centered on the story of a couple from their dog point of view. The art concept and the music gave me a lot of ideas for lighting and angles and I began doodling on my notebook everything I needed for the project.

I was so involved in the discussion that I less and less noticed Monica sitting there at the table like a good secretary writing all notes. I had to give Lewis' reason: Monica was really a great assistant: much better than I was at R&J. Her punk look could even fool, but she was a great professional.

"Quinn?" She caught me when I was leaving for home after the meeting. "May I speak with you a moment?"

"What?" I was a bit harsh.

"It's funny to see how you act as if I was the villain of the story." She smiled ironically. "As if I was the one who knocked on your door to fuck. As if I had pressed you, when all I did was show my interest."

"You want to get somewhere with that old story?"

"No, I don't." She seemed to relax. "Actually, I just want to say I'm here to help the team and, of course, have my money. And what happened to us won't interfere with my work. So when you need me, you can be sure I will help as far as possible."

"Thank you, Monica. Glad that you maintain this professional relationship. And it will be just that, ok? I know what I did and don't take bad when I say I don't want to be your friend, even though you're kind of nice."

"Kind of nice? I should be offended by that." Monica smiled and I relaxed a bit. "Anyway, I just wanted to say that you shouldn't worry. You're beautiful, but too complicated."

"Maybe you're right."

"Yeah ..." Monica looked at her watch. "Time to go. I have a girl waiting for me."

"Girlfriend?"

"Yeah."

"I'm happy for you."

Monica nodded and went into her old car. The shadow was gone and I went on my way with the feeling that everything really was in place.

…

Author's note:

Sorry for the late update, but the last few weeks were busy. This is the penultimate chapter of the fic. I hope you have enjoyed.