Disclamer and Warnings - Please read on first chapter

Looking Glass

For a moment she comes out of her haze, refills her glass of wine and takes it to her dry lips, she lets the cool liquid make its soothing descent down her throat as she recalls more recent events.

Since she no longer worked at Lather, Cherie got the address and number for Wax from her detective, a man experienced enough in his job to know not ask questions, and already jaded enough by the job to not particularly care about the answers. She also picked up the file she had requested him on the mexican girl... just to get some insight before meeting her.

She was almost hesitant to call, and spent a few hours just looking at the card, but after a deep mind clearing breath she called and booked an appointment for 6 pm under her maiden name "Peroni", not so much because she now refused to go by "Jaffe", she had let her identity be stepped on for long enough, thank you very much, but because she wanted to have the element of surprise, and well, she and Shane hadn't parted on good terms so she wasn't sure of her reaction.

She had chosen her best form fitting purple blouse that accentuated her figure, and after finishing putting together her ensemble and checking her makeup she went to her car, her driver already ready and waiting.

During the trip she hated to admit it, but she felt nervous, they hadn't seen each other for so long... would Shane reject her? Would she even care? Would she refuse her as a client?
She picked up the file again on the other girl. She knew herself, the only way to calm down was getting ready for confrontation.

She looked at the picture of Miss Carmen De La Pica Morales, young, beautiful, latina - all in all, a stellar reason to make a generous donation to some anti-emigration party. 'Come to steal jobs and women' indeed, she had never felt more republican... Anyway, modest humble background, came to US for the American Dream, stayed for the great selection of lesbians apparently. An endless number of siblings, devout catholic family with exception of mayan father who is presumed deceased.
Maybe if all else fails she could get her deported back to Fajitaville, since she did have the connections... Probably Shane would fail to see the romantic side of it.. And catholics are great at playing the martydoom card... So, maybe satisfying as it might be, not the best course of action...

The sound of the car pulling to a halt signaled that they had arrived and where quite early.
For quite a few moments she just stayed in the car and watched. The place was bigger than she had imagined, and she didn't understand the point of mixing skateboarding, hairstyling – and God knows what else.

But then skating carelessly was the girl that had haunted and colored her dreams.

She was gorgeous, even more so now with a couple more years on her, or was she always this breathtaking and her memory simply couldn't have done her justice? She pulls a mirror from her purse and checks herself- she is way to sober for this... she is not used to doubting herself or feeling self-conscious. Looking at the skate park she realizes that the girl is missing and that she is late.

While she was approaching her she heard the voice she missed so much "Where's my 6o'clock?! She is fucking late..."

she waited for the guy she was talking to to leave, took a deep calming breath finally showed herself. " Great party I'm sorry that couldn't be there." She said as if they had never parted ways.

To say that Shane was dumbstruck was the least "Cherie what the fuck?!" She practically squeaked and Cherie found herself finding it endearing.. Somethings don't change always straight to the point...

She saw the way Shane looked at her and how she could barely hide the happiness in her eyes. With renewed confidence she admonished "Is that a way to treat an old friend?", Shane smiled and apologized politely shaking her hand. The shock on her face was priceless when she told the girl that SHE was her 6o'clock.. She sauntered around Wax like she owned the place, and Shane's amused eyes could not deny she liked what she was seeing. She called her back from her musings asking, her voice laced in seduction, "Is this where you want me?" Shane could only nod and strode to meet her.

Conversation was easy, just like it had always been... She told her briefly of her divorce without divulging much, just enough to stress that Steve was out of the picture for good. She noticed Shane doing her best to keep conversation but avoiding to look her in the eyes, struggling to evade temptation. Cherie bent forward and took off Shane's glasses "You look beautiful by the way", the girl seemed to be about to say something when they were suddenly interrupted by a brunette that she assumed to be Carmen, at least by the way Shane jumped away from her. She was more beautiful than the picture she had seen, but still pretty ordinary when compared to Shane. At the mention of her name and Shane's voice calling after Carmen she returned from her thoughts. She saw them arguing and discreetly position herself to eavesdrop unnoticed. She saw and heard the book crashing on the floor, sheets flying everywhere and though she could not make out the exact conversation she could see that the mexican was livid and Shane seemed to refuse complying with something, she wasn't sure what, until she heard the exasperated "Act like you have a girlfriend!". Ah, so it must have been about her.. kicking her out as a client maybe? Still, she would bet that if Shane ever stopped working with people she had fucked she would either have to shut shop or become a barber...

Shane returned with a hurt look... Time to make her statement and leave the girl to lick her wounds privately "Did I hear her say she was your girlfriend? " she new it sounded unfairly bitter "Well congratulations Shane, she sure is pretty... but not as hot as you." she invited her up to the beach house, gave her the address and kissed her - she must be going soft - because she was compelled to kiss-and-make-it-better, a simple almost caring peck on the lips instead of the heated lustful one she had originally planned..

She took her leave, their game had finally begun again, and it was Shane's turn to play.