Chloe slowly paced down an aisle of the grocery store, eyeing the many different products lining the shelves. She picked up a small can of pineapple, smiled and put it into the shopping basket she was holding by its folding handles in the crook of her left elbow. She took a few steps and picked up small package of noodles. She stowed it in the basket as well and felt a terrific sense of pride at having done so.

About a month ago, she'd finally moved out of her parent's house and into her own apartment. She was officially living on her own and making her own way in life. It was a humble life for the moment but she drew immense satisfaction at each little thing she did for herself. The simple act of shopping for herself with her own money was a big accomplishment. She smiled and chuckled happily as she stepped to the side and examined a bottle of soy sauce.

Eevee circled around her legs and let out an eager cry. Her Pokémon was very eager to get to the section of the store where they could shop for its food. Chloe glanced down and Eevee brushed the side of her head against Chloe's leg.

"We'll get to you soon, I promise," Chloe said in a kind tone. "I've just got to get a few more things."

Eevee let out an anxious yelp and waved her tail back-and-forth. Chloe turned her attention back to shopping and as she did so she saw, from the corner of her eye, someone toward the back of the store passing by the aisle she was currently in. Her heart leapt as recognition triggered inside her and she glanced up just in time to see her boyfriend disappear from sight.

Chloe smiled and felt her cheeks get rosy with warmth. She'd been dating Mark for nearly three months now. He worked as a lifeguard on the beach and was a great guy. He'd helped her move into her apartment and the two of them had even shared a few romantic moments over the weeks. Chloe remembered fondly how he'd surprised her with a kiss on their third date. It was a memory which made chills go up her spine and thrills swirl inside her stomach.

Mark was so strong and handsome. Every time he held her, she felt like putty in his arms. Each time they were together, she felt them getting closer. Chloe considered herself a woman of principle; however, she was finding it hard to resist the allure of letting Mark be the one to deflower her. He'd made a few overtures and she'd turned them down but she was starting to worry that if she held him off for too long he might start looking elsewhere for a woman to bed. If Mark really was going to be her one and only, she'd happily let him take her home in the near future.

Chloe started walking toward the back of the store, intent on seeing her boyfriend. As she went, thoughts of sleeping arrangements flashed through her mind and she blushed slightly. Even if Mark ended up not being the one she would spend the rest of her life with, she surely wouldn't be disappointed in the bedroom. Her big fear of wasting her precious first time on some loser didn't even enter her mind with Mark. He was so wonderful to her.

She rounded an endcap of snack food and turned into the next aisle. Her eyes immediately moved to the handsome sight of her boyfriend standing just a few steps away! Her heart quickly pumped warm blood throughout her chest and she took in a nervous breath to speak.

"Hi, Mark!" she said in a cheery and energetic voice.

Mark flinched and his blue eyes widened in surprise. He turned toward Chloe, an apprehensive expression on his face. He absently ran a hand through his dark brown hair, his mouth working as he tried to come up with a reply.

"Hey….. Chloe!" he replied in a tense and uncomfortable voice.

Chloe's face fell slightly. Had she caught Mark at a bad time? He was acting very nervous. A moment later, Chloe spotted a woman standing next to him, partially hidden by his broad frame. The way they were minding each other caused a cold knot to immediately form in Chloe's stomach.

"Mark… who's this?" Chloe asked in a quiet voice.

Mark glanced back over his shoulder at the woman and she stepped into sight. She was a few inches taller than Chloe, fair skinned and well tanned. Her black hair was arranged into a large bun at the back of her head and her amber eyes shown confidently as she sized up Chloe. However it was the other woman's body which ultimately drew Chloe's attention. She was wearing a tight pastel lemon colored blouse with a deep and wide v-cut along with a very short skirt the same color as the blouse. The large opening in the blouse fully showed off the woman's considerable cleavage and her sizable bust. The tightness of the outfit also highlighted the curves of her body and her very shapely figure.

As she stared at the impressive female specimen standing before her, Chloe suddenly felt very small and inadequate. She instinctively pulled her arms in closer to her chest, trying to cover up everything she didn't possess.

The other woman smirked subtly and then glanced at Mark. "I guess you haven't told her yet…" she said in a needling tone.

Chloe wanted to say something but her brain had forgotten how to speak.

Mark stood frozen for a moment with his mouth agape. He then smiled awkwardly and clapped his hands together.

"Chloe!" he began in an overly friendly tone. "I've been meaning to talk to you."

"Mmmmm," Chloe hummed weakly.

Mark hesitated for a moment and then gestured to the shapely woman. "This is Noemi. I met her on the beach a few weeks ago."

"A few weeks….." Chloe said in voice which was barely a whimper.

Mark hesitated again and then continued. "We started talking and found out we have a lot in common," he said.

Chloe felt like all the life was draining out of her body. Her shoulders slumped and Eevee nuzzled against her ankle, looking extremely forlorn.

Mark looked sheepish for a moment and then resumed speaking. "Basically, we really hit it off… and we've been hanging out since then."

Chloe's eyes flicked over to Noemi and she saw assured smugness in her expression and a feminine accentuation to her stance. Chloe instinctively knew that when Mark said 'hit it off' he actually meant 'got it on in the bedroom.' Noemi had the female hardware and the willingness to use it. She'd simply strutted her stuff and taken Mark away from her.

Chloe suddenly felt huge regret on not having agreed to go to bed with Mark. She didn't have a bust, shapely legs or curvy hips but despite all those failings, she did possess the ability to give a man a good time between the sheets. It was her one womanly quality and she should have shared it with him rather than saving it for later. She was starting to realize the 'later' she kept saving herself for might never come.

Mark gauged Chloe's reaction and then pressed forward. "So, Chloe, what I'm saying is that I really like you, and I love hanging out with you, but I think Noemi is a better match for me," he said in a sympathetic tone.

Even though Chloe knew the breakup was coming, Mark's words still made her flinch and deep inside herself, it felt like something was breaking apart. Surprisingly, she didn't feel angry or sad or….. anything at all. She simply felt hollow and empty, like nothing in her life mattered or had value.

"Okay, I understand," she said in a very soft and dejected voice. She started shuffling down the aisle, past Mark and Noemi. "I hope you two have a great time," she added.

Mark and Noemi watched her go, neither of them saying a word.

Chloe walked toward the front of the store, her eyes empty and her face slack. She could hear Eevee letting out concerned cries as she followed at her heels but she couldn't bring herself to reply. She passed through an empty checkout lane and set the basket with her groceries on the counter. She kept walking, turning listlessly toward the exit.

Behind her, an employee glanced at the basket and then at Chloe. "Uh, miss," he said uncertainly. "You forgot your groceries."

Chloe took a few steps before replying in a wavering voice. "I don't want any," she said, not even turning her head.

With the puzzled clerk in her wake, Chloe shambled out the door and turned toward the part of Vermilion City where her apartment was. The sky was darkening and she didn't know what she'd have for dinner. Not that she cared.

Goh eagerly rocked from side-to-side in the booth of the restaurant. Across the small table, he took in the sight of his amazing date, Tina. The woman possessed flowing black hair, supple, fair skin and green eyes which Goh could only describe as hungry. Her facial features were rounded and lovely. She exuded a confidence which made Goh feel bold and willing to act. Her lips were bright, shimmering with deep, red lipstick and her eyelashes were thick and striking. However, all of these features weren't what truly excited Goh.

Goh's eyes again tracked down her neck and his blood ran hot as he stared at the huge gap in the front of Tina's bright red dress through which the tops of her magnificent breasts shown. Goh suspected she was a size double D at least and she wasn't shy about letting large portions of her glorious bosom show. He could even see the edge of spider web tattoo barely peeking out in the lowest part of her cleavage. He wondered how far down her body those tattoos ran!

Every time she moved, the soft mounds of flesh jiggled and Goh's body tingled with excitement. Had he finally found the perfect woman to reach first base with? Could he get farther than just first? He couldn't imagine what it would feel like if he could manage to hit a homerun with her! What a dream!

Goh realized he was staring at his date's chest and he returned his gaze to her face. He saw her hungry eyes sparkling with amusement as the edges of her lips turned up in a seductive smile. She reached down with the index finger of her right hand and teasingly pulled at the gap at the front of her dress, letting Goh see just a little more of her luscious, womanly flesh.

"Do you like a girl with a big rack," she said in a sweet and inviting tone.

Goh felt immense elation shoot through him. In the past, he'd ruined two relationships by staring at his date's chest. He'd even been slapped across the face once. The fact that Tina invited his gaze was a very welcome development.

Goh giggled naughtily and nodded. "Yeah, I do," he said, his skin darkening from embarrassment.

Tina lowered her hands to the table and interlaced her fingers. She stared into Goh's eyes, sizing him up.

"Well, I like a man who can appreciate a woman and take care of her," she said in a seductive and measured tone.

Goh felt his body come to life as Tina's words tickled his ears. He wasn't sure what her age was, but she was definitely a few years older than him. She knew what to say and her obvious maturity and experience turned him on to her even more. He squirmed a little in his seat and slightly crossed his legs, feeling bashful over not being able to control himself.

At that moment a waiter walked up to the table and regarded both of them. "Do you know what you're getting yet," he asked simply.

Tina looked at the waiter and flashed him an exquisite smile. "Not just yet," she sang in a melodic voice.

The waiter gave a curt nod and walked away.

Tina turned back to Goh and slowly worked her lips as she watched him. After a few seconds, she batted her eyes, canted her head toward him and opened her mouth to speak.

"So, Goh," she said slowly. "What is it that you want?"

Goh glanced at the menu and quickly tried to find a meal he would like. He'd been focusing on Tina and not what he was going to order. He hoped this wouldn't make him look like an idiot.

"Uh, just a second," he mumbled.

A moment later, Tina reached a hand across the table with a single finger extended and closed Goh's menu.

"I wasn't talking about here at the restaurant," she said in a suggestive voice. "I was asking about what you want to happen later tonight."

Goh felt his mouth go dry. Was this really happening?! Was she suggesting they seal the deal on the first date?! Was he really this lucky?!

"Uhhhhh, well, I was thinking, if things went well, we could find some place quiet and maybe make out?" He couldn't believe he was saying this. He was never this forward with a girl since his disastrous second date. There was something intoxicating about Tina which brought his desires to the surface.

Tina hummed softly and fixed him with a piercing stare. "Would you want to do anything more than just making out?" she said in a low voice.

Goh could barely breathe. It took him a second to find words to reply. "Maybe," he said, grinning from ear to ear. "What are you up for?"

Tina subtly laughed, causing her bosom to jiggle and Goh's eyes to wander. She collected herself and smiled intensely.

"I'm up for anything, Goh!" she breathed.

Goh's heart was pounding and he blew out a red-hot breath. The air was thick with tension and excitement. There was just one problem, the one he always faced. He still lived at home and his parents would not let him bring a girl back for anything more than a social visit.

"That sounds….. great," Goh began. "Uh, I just, can't take you back to my place. It's against the rules," he added, looking a little embarrassed.

Tina smiled and chuckled. "That's not a problem. We can go to my place," she said.

"Really?!" Goh said, sounding enthused.

Tina nodded. "Mmm hmm, I've got a nice little apartment a little ways from here. It's just me living there. We'd have the whole place to ourselves," she said in an inviting tone.

Goh could swear he could hear angels singing. Every dream, every fantasy he'd ever had was about to come true. For the third time, he started undressing Tina with his eyes, imagining what would happen later that night.

Goh's date saw what he was doing and she leaned back in her seat to give him a better view. She sent him smoldering gaze as the seconds ticked by. Finally, she opened her mouth to speak.

"How much experience do you have making love to a woman, Goh," she asked with a glint in her eye.

Goh suddenly felt a lump catch in his throat. With the way Tina was behaving, it was clear that she had a bit of experience in this area. He'd only ever watched some videos on the subject. He'd never even laid hands on a woman, or seen one unclothed, much less made love to one. It probably wasn't a good idea to admit this to her though. She might go looking for some other, more experienced guy to give her a good time.

"Oh, uh, yeah," he said with manufactured confidence. "Almost half a dozen, actually."

Tina smiled sweetly and she bowed her head in amusement. She shifted in her seat and then leaned forward to rest her elbows on the table.

"Half a dozen, hmmmm," she said. "What's your favorite position?"

Goh froze, feeling like he was being circled by a Sharpedo in the deep ocean. "Uhhhhh," he warbled, trying to come up with an answer.

Tina chuckled kindly and reached across the table so she could place her right hand atop Goh's left. "Don't be shy, Goh," she said softly. "I love giving a man his first time."

Goh suddenly felt relief wash over him. Tina really was the best. "Really?!" he squeaked.

Tina withdrew her hand and again interlaced her fingers. "Oh, yes," she said very deliberately. "You won't be the first stallion I've broken in!"

Goh thought her choice of words was a little strange, but he didn't care. He drummed his fingers atop the closed menu, not interested at all in eating. He wanted to skip straight to the after meal entertainment!

Goh blushed and spoke up in an embarrassed voice. "So, what position do you wanna try?"

Tina's eyes narrowed and she scooted forward so her body was pressed against the table. "Let's just start with the basics," she said in a low voice. "We can work up to something more ambitious later."

Goh was so excited, he could hardly contain himself. "Sounds great!" he replied. In his pocket, he felt his Rotom phone vibrate, indicating he'd received a text message. He ignored it. He had much more important things to think about!

Tina looked very pleased. She appeared introspective for a moment and then she looked at Goh with mischief in her eyes.

"I'll let you in on one of my little kinks, Goh," she said in a seductive voice.

"Huh?" Goh replied.

Tina let the tip of her tongue brush across her lips and then she continued. "When I'm first starting out, I like to be blindfolded," she said boldly.

"Uh, blindfolded," Goh repeated back.

Tina's eyes twinkled and a moment later Goh flinched as, under the table, he felt one of her hands grab hold of his left knee and squeeze it.

"Yes," she said with a grin. "I like to be surprised the first time that big piece of meat slides inside me!" she said, her words dripping with lustful energy.

Goh suddenly felt his nerves return. He tried to smile but inside he worried that he was going to disappoint Tina. It seemed she had high expectations of him.

"Oh, uh, really!?" he replied. "That's….. different."

Tina grinned and gave his knee another squeeze. "I like trying new things and being creative," she said slowly. "It's fun and exciting!"

Goh swallowed and considered his options. He supposed in for a penny in for a pound and so he opened his mouth to reply.

"Uh, I like going on adventures too," he said in an uncertain voice. "In fact, I've been on quite a few."

Tina looked like she could devour a whole meal and still have plenty of room for more. Goh felt her fingers start to travel up his thigh and he was very torn between distress and excitement. He wasn't sure which one he should be feeling.

"I'll bet you've never been on an adventure like this one," she said in an alluring voice. "If you like exploring, I've got a few things you should like."

"Uh, like what?" Goh replied.

Tina continued smiling. "A few toys, and a few…. other things…." she said in a mysterious voice. "They make everything a lot more exciting and enjoyable!"

Sweat was starting to run down the sides of Goh's head. His excitement over the fantastic evening had turned into apprehension. Tina was way beyond what he'd expected! Way, way, way, beyond what he'd expected!

"Toys huh," Goh said. "What kind of toys?"

Tina pursed her lips and then continued with a domineering smile pulling at her lips.

"Well, Goh, have you ever thought about trying… handcuffs?" she said in a seductive voice.

Goh's eyes were stuck wide open.

"Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh," he groaned, unable to get his bearings.

Tina merely grinned confidently and then continued. "You'd be amazed at how good it feels to be at someone's mercy." She raised an eyebrow and canted her head to the side. "I'll even let you lock me up first so you can see how it all works."

Goh suddenly felt his Rotom phone vibrate again and he immediately retrieved it, desperate for a distraction from the horrifying conversation. He thumbed to the messages and saw the last two were from Chloe. The first one was a series of broken heart emojis. With all of their past communication, Goh guessed that Chloe had broken up with her latest boyfriend, Matthew, Mason or some other name that started with 'M.'

The second text was a massive wall of sobbing face emojis. Chloe usually sent that sort of message when she was in distress but he'd never seen her send that many. She had to be feeling really sad. He glanced up at Tina and suddenly realized this was his chance to get away from….. whatever this had turned into.

Goh swallowed nervously and looked up from his phone. "Hey, Tina," he said in a timid voice. "I just got a message from my friend and I think she needs help."

Tina seemed unfazed by Goh's words. "I see," she said. She paused for a moment and then continued with a tease in her voice. "Does she need a lot of help… or just a little?"

Goh felt a strong urge to get out of here. He regarded Tina again and it suddenly occurred to him that he didn't know her age at all. How much older than him was she? He couldn't tell.

"Uh, I think she needs a lot of help," he said with as much conviction as he could muster. He started to scoot out of the booth so he could stand up.

Tina watched him go, a hungry smile still affixed to her face. She waited until Goh was on his feet and then spoke in a pleasant sounding voice.

"If she needs a lot of help, maybe I could come along," she said.

Goh swallowed again. "Uh, why would you want to come along?" he replied, trying to keep his voice from shaking.

Tina gave him a toothy grin and shifted in her seat before she replied. "Well, if it's gonna be a fun time, I'm always up for a threesome!"

Goh laughed nervously. He wanted to run, but he kept his composure, smiled kindly and pointed at the exit. "Uh, sorry, it's probably not gonna be that kind of time," he said tensely. Before Tina could reply he spoke again. "I'll give you a call later, bye!"

With that, he turned and marched quickly toward the exit. He glanced over his shoulder once to make sure she wasn't following him. Once he was outside, he broke into a short sprint and dashed a few blocks away. When he was out of sight of the restaurant, he let out a big sigh and pulled out his Rotom phone. He promptly deleted Tina's number and then glanced again at the texts Chloe had sent him. He turned toward where Chloe's apartment was and set out into the night to see what was going on with his best friend.

Goh finished climbing the last flight of stairs to Chloe's fourth-floor apartment and walked down the short hallway to where the door to her room was. As he prepared to knock, he heard the sound of something being slammed inside the room. A moment later he heard the muffled voice of Chloe inside exclaiming something indecipherable. Goh swallowed and then rapped his knuckles on the door.

"Come in!" Chloe said in an emotional voice from inside.

Goh turned the door knob and stepped into the room. Before he could even get two paces into the apartment, Eevee came running up to his ankles. Her face was filled with distress and desperation and her eyes were glistening with tears. Chloe's Pokémon let out several anguished cries and then dashed toward the bedroom.

Goh shut the door and walked forward so he could take in the entirety of the apartment. Chloe's humble living area was basically one big room with a bathroom and bedroom separately to the side. He heard noises coming from the bedroom and so he tentatively made his way to the doorway. The lights were turned off in the bedroom but in the dim light he could see Chloe standing in front of her dresser, roughly yanking a white blouse out of the second drawer. Her movements were stilted and agitated. She was clearly very upset.

Chloe stared at the blouse for a second and then her face twisted up in a furious expression. She angrily grabbed hold of the blouse with both her hands and rent it in two directions until the sound of ripping fabric filled the room. She let out a gasp full of sorrow and fury, tossed the destroyed garment onto her bed with a pile of other torn clothing and then grabbed another shirt from the dresser.

Goh froze for a moment, taken aback by the sight. He'd never seen Chloe so furious or acting in such a manner. He watched her tear another shirt in half and then decided to speak up.

"Hey….. Chloe," he said, his voice cracking from nervousness.

Chloe turned her head toward him and Goh saw just how distraught she was. Her eyes were red, her face was puffy and wet with tears. The ever-present happiness she usually possessed was nowhere to be seen. Instead, he saw only pain, anger and despair.

"Goh!" Chloe choked out in a voice which was half sob and half growl. Silence hung in the air for several seconds and then he continued.

"I…. got your text," he said tentatively.

Chloe's lips trembled and then she strode powerfully toward the bedroom doorway. Goh quickly got out of her way and stood quietly as she stalked past him and into the living room. He waited a moment and then followed after her.

Chloe walked half way into the living room and then wheeled around toward an end table next to her small couch. She snatched up a picture frame and began roughly yanking off the back of the display so she could access what was inside.

Goh pursed his lips and stared at his feet before he looked up at Chloe and opened his mouth. "So, what happened?" he asked diplomatically.

Chloe wrenched the picture out of the frame and tossed the display aside. There was the sharp sound of glass breaking as the frame hit the floor and Chloe suddenly gritted her teeth as rage overtook her. She ripped the picture into several pieces and then let out feminine exclamation as she threw the shredded paper at Goh.

Goh looked at the pieces as they fluttered to the floor and he saw the image of her Chloe's boyfriend amongst the debris. Or, more likely, her ex-boyfriend, judging by her infuriated state. Goh looked back up at Chloe, and now that she was in the light, he could see a bunch of red marks running down both her arms. They looked like scratches and Goh suddenly felt a knot in his stomach. Had Chloe been hurting herself?! Chloe sent a piercing stare at Goh and then stalked into her small kitchen. Goh swallowed again and followed after her.

Goh's mind raced as he tried to come up with something to say. He knew he really needed to say the right thing here. Chloe was his best friend and she clearly needed help right now.

"I guess it didn't work out with this guy," he said hesitantly.

Chloe paced over to her small cupboard and sniffed back tears. Her bare feet padded on the tile floor and Eevee hovered just around her ankles letting out small, concerned whimpers. Seconds ticked by and she didn't reply to Goh's comment.

Goh chewed on his lower lip and then decided to push a bit farther. "So, what happened with him?" he asked diplomatically.

A small tremble went through Chloe's body. She choked back a sob and then spoke in a heartbroken voice. "I HAPPENED, GOH!" she wailed.

Goh wasn't sure how to respond. "Uhhh," he mumbled uncertainly.

Chloe let out a tearful squeak and raised both her fists. She swung them forward, over her head, and pounded them into the cupboard door.

"I'M JUST A WORTHLESS LITTLE WELP!" she screeched in a ragged voice. As she howled, she pounded the cupboard with her fists in-time with each of her words.

"CAN'T *bash!* GET *bash!* ANYONE'S *bash!* ATTENTION *bash!* EVER!"

She briefly rested her fists against the cupboard and began to sob heavily. Goh stood utterly stunned and at a loss for words. He had no idea what to do.

Eevee wailed and leapt up toward Chloe's waist several times, trying to get her trainer's attention. Chloe sniffed back tears and looked at her Pokémon.

"Eevee," she said quietly, in a gravelly voice. She reached down and picked up her Pokémon. "I'm sorry," she breathed.

Eevee looked very upset and tried to nuzzle against Chloe. The young woman held her Pokémon away from her however and walked over to a nearby shelf. She picked up a Pokéball from a small, metal stand and then recalled Eevee. She looked at the Pokéball with a forlorn expression and then returned it to the stand.

"You deserve better," Chloe mumbled in a hopeless tone. She stared at the Pokéball for several moments and then turned back to the kitchen.

Goh took a slow breath and then spoke up again, hoping that he could somehow help. "Chloe, I…. uh, I don't think this is your fault,"

Chloe had her back to Goh and he saw her shake her head in disagreement. She didn't reply, however, and so he continued.

"Uh, look, Chloe, you're really great," he said cautiously. "I don't know what happened but if this guy didn't see that, he's a real loser."

Chloe snorted and then laughed harshly. She half turned her head and glared at Goh over her shoulder. The young man from Vermilion City felt a cold tingle work its way down his spine as her green eyes stared at him with barely contained anger.

Goh cleared his throat and then spoke again. "So…. I'm guessing you broke up?" he posed tentatively.

Chloe let out a heavy sigh of exasperation and wiped at her face. None of the fury in her eyes dimmed.

"Yep," Chloe growled in a low voice.

Goh felt like he was walking into a Pyroar's den. Cold sweat started to bead on his scalp but he kept going.

"Did, he….. break it off?" Goh said slowly.

Chloe took a ragged breath and then replied in a cold voice. "Uh, huh," she grunted.

Goh worked his mouth, trying to put together his next sentence. As he began to speak, Chloe cut him off with a harsh utterance.

"It's 'cause I didn't let him screw me, Goh!" she said bitterly.

Goh didn't have a reply. Silence hung in the air for a moment and then Chloe continued in a loud and angry voice.

"He wanted to! And I should've let him! But, NOPE, he found some other BIMBO to BANG!"

Goh absently worked his mouth for a moment and then spoke up. "But, I thought you didn't want to sleep with some loser….. before….." his voice trailed off as Chloe's expression became even more furious.

Chloe's lips trembled and she clinched her right hand into a fist before she replied. "Well, GOH!" she shouted. "I'm already getting SCREWED by life, so I might as well get SCREWED for real!" She let out a huff and then pointed a shaking finger at Goh.

"And Mark wasn't a loser!" she said, tears filling her voice. "He was nice and kind; strong and really hot. I could have had him!" she whined, "but, NO, that slut just shook her jugs at him and that was it!"

"Uhhhh," Goh groaned, unable to think of anything to say.

Chloe's nostrils flared and her eyes flashed with anger. "You know, GOH!" she raged, clutching her hands to her chest and pretending to jiggle her nonexistent breasts. "JUGS! BOOBS! HOOTERS! TITS!" As she shouted she slowly stepped closer to him. "YOU KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT!"

"Uh, huh," Goh mumbled, nodding his head.

Hot tears flowed from Chloe's eyes and she wiped at her face. She sniffed and then turned her back to Goh so she could pace back into the kitchen.

"You know," she muttered under her breath. "The things I don't have," she said bitterly.

Goh's heart ached as he listened to his best friend running herself down. He furrowed his brow, determined to help her. "Chloe, don't say that," he began in an encouraging voice. "You're really pretty. You're great!"

Chloe rested her palms on the kitchen counter and leaned heavily against it. She let out a sigh of exasperation and then replied in a very sarcastic voice.

"That's real rich coming from you, Goh," she rasped.

Goh hesitated and then pressed forward. "You always dress up really nice," he said in a friendly tone. And your hair is cool!"

Chloe's shoulders sagged briefly and then she turned around so she was facing Goh. "Nice hair, huh?" she hissed. "I didn't know you noticed hair?" she added, her words dripping with sarcasm.

Goh froze and Chloe continued.

"Every time we've ever gone anywhere, it's always been double D or bust, when it comes to girls!"

Goh opened his mouth to speak, but Chloe cut him off with a harsh laugh.

"Bust! HA!" she crowed ironically. "Yeah, that's pretty much the only thing you care about! How big the melons are!"

Goh started to feel a measure of guilt. He hadn't known that this was such a big deal for Chloe.

Chloe breathed in and out before she continued with her lambasting. "Remember that time on the beach when you were watching the girls play volleyball!" She growled. "You sized em' all up, based on size, shape and how much they jiggled!"

When Goh didn't reply, Chloe drove the knife in a bit farther. "Remember what you called the petite girls?!" she asked harshly. A second passed and then Chloe answered her own question. "Bite-sized!" she spat.

Goh frowned a little. That certainly hadn't been his proudest moment.

"Uh, yeah, well….. Chloe, you're not like all the other girls," he said. "You're different. You're really smart…. and cool and‑"

Chloe let out frustrated, feminine exclamation and pulled at her hair. "Goh, JUST STOP!" she shouted. "JUST STOP!"

Goh, hesitated as he took in the sight of Chloe's distress. He was really uncomfortable and part of him wanted to flee. He cared about Chloe too much though. He had to help her. He put on his most optimistic face and spoke in an encouraging tone.

"Chloe, uh, I've seen you in a bathing suit a few times. I'm sure if Mark, or some other guy saw you‑‑‑"

A tremble went through Chloe's body and her mouth twisted up into a furious scowl. Her eyes burned with rage and she took in a deep breath before shouting in a loud, wrathful voice.

"YOU KNOW WHAT GOH!" she raged.

The next thing to leave Chloe's mouth was an all-too-common profanity; a four-letter euphemism for having sex which she directed at Goh in a very loud and animated fashion.

Goh's eyes widened and he froze in place. He'd heard Chloe swear under her breath on occasion and he'd heard her speak in very defamatory and profane terms about her exes, but this was something new entirely.

Chloe took a breath and then she continued. She shouted more profane fury at Goh. She savaged his taste in girls; she demeaned how dense he was; she ripped into his life choices. As the swear words continued to fly, Chloe returned to savaging Goh's view of women. She began to mix in several vulgar descriptors of the female body and what he wished to do without and within a potential love interest of his.

For Goh, as he listened to Chloe's profane tirade, rather than feeling angry or insulted; he only felt sorry for her. He'd been completely unaware of just how deeply her doubts and fears ran. He hadn't known his ogling of other, well-endowed girls had hurt her so much. Yes, he wanted to sleep with a supermodel, but he sure didn't want to make his best friend feel like trash in the process.

Chloe took in another sharp breath and then resumed the lambasting. Having ravaged Goh's preference in women, she now took aim at his manhood; specifically, how he only thought with his gonads rather than his brain. She ripped Goh for only wanting to plunge himself inside a busty broad. She then told him exactly where she thought he should stick his most treasured organ.

Goh, honestly, wanted to give Chloe a hug. Her words had hit home for him and he felt genuinely bad for her. He'd always thought very highly of Chloe. He liked her a lot and would never intentionally hurt her. If he hadn't feared her decking him, he would have stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her. As it was, he once again tried to encourage her.

"Chloe, I know you're really angry, but….. trust me… you really do look great-"

Goh's voice wavered a moment as Chloe gave a mighty roll of her eyes and growled in frustration. "Uh, I mean, surely there's got to be someone…. out there who'll…. think you're….. awesome!"

Chloe ground her teeth and muttered under her breath. "Think I'm awesome," she groused. A moment later she reached down, crossed her arms, seized hold of the hem of her shirt and began roughly yanking it upwards.

"Lemme show you how awesome I am," she growled sarcastically, as her pale midsection suddenly was exposed.

As Chloe gave her shirt another yank, Goh caught sight of her bra and he suddenly realized that his best friend was in the process of disrobing. Embarrassment, shame and awkwardness immediately swept over him. While one of Goh's biggest dreams was to gawk at a woman removing her clothing, this dream definitely didn't include Chloe. He'd never violate her privacy.

Goh half turned away from Chloe and stared at the wall and at the floor. He didn't want to see his best friend's secrets. That was for her and her special partner. He could still see Chloe's movements out of the corner of his eye and he observed her yank her shirt free along with her bra and toss both garments aside. His best friend was now completely topless and facing directly toward him, just a few feet away.

Sweat started to break out on Goh's forehead as he saw Chloe's pale form shift on her feet. He could feel her eyes boring into him. He could sense anger rippling off of her. He refused to look at her though! If anything, his restraint could at least prove to her that he wasn't a completely hormone crazed, lust driven, dude who only wanted to jump in bed with a girl and fu-"

"LOOK AT ME GOH!" Chloe screamed.

Goh swallowed and, in fear of his life, slowly turned to face his best friend. It took a second for him to finally let his eyes track upward to Chloe's bare torso. She had her arms held slightly out to the side, giving him a full view of every square inch of her very fair flesh. Goh saw her cute belly button, her very trim waist, her fit abs and then… a complete absence of anything which even remotely resembled breasts.

Goh didn't like to admit it, but he had checked out numerous pictures of women on his phone. He was familiar with how the female body looked, even having never seen it in person. He'd seen petite women; he'd even seen ones with so-called flat chests. However, he'd never seen a girl who completely lacked any sort of definition what-so-ever. If it wasn't for the two distinct feminine nipples protruding from her chest, Chloe, from the neck down, would have more closely resembled a prepubescent boy rather than a woman.

Goh felt shocked and stunned. He suddenly understood just why Chloe was so lacking in confidence. He stared at her chest, wide-eyed and mouth partially agape. Too late, he realized that he was gawking at his best friend who was terribly insecure.

Goh looked up into Chloe's eyes and saw that every bit of anger was gone. Instead, her eyes were once again full of tears and her face was a tragic mask of sorrow. She worked her mouth and it took a second for her to find her voice.

"I DON'T EVEN LOOK LIKE A WOMAN!" she bawled, tears streaming down her cheeks.

Chloe's chest heaved, her shoulders slumped and she staggered sideways, sobbing heavily, until she slumped against the kitchen counter. She slowly slid down to the floor, turning her body as she did, so that her back was against the cabinets supporting the counter. She partially pulled her knees up to her chest and began to weep.

Goh stood watching Chloe for several long moments, feeling terrible and helpless over her state. Without a word, he shuffled over next to her and sat down, leaning his back against the cabinets. Seconds ticked by and the only sound in the room was that of Chloe's soft, gasping sobs.

Goh absently scratched at his knee and then spoke in a heartfelt tone. "I'm really sorry, Chloe." he said. "I didn't know this was such a big deal for you."

Chloe continued sobbing and slightly turned her head away from Goh.

Goh's face fell and he looked down at the floor. "I honestly never thought about how you look and all that."

Goh tried to put a little optimism into his voice. "It's like I said; to me, you're really great. You're my best friend. You're, Chloe, and I've just always thought of you as pretty! I guess I've never really… looked at you…. like I do with other girls." Goh paused for a long moment and then continued. "I guess it never mattered to me what you looked like."

Chloe took a series of shallow breaths and her sobs slowly abated.

Goh waited a few moments to see if Chloe would respond to his comments. When she didn't he decided to say a bit more. He actually empathized with her on a certain level. He understood her feelings of not measuring up. He understood all too well.

Goh swallowed and groaned in apprehension as he worked up the courage to share one of his big insecurities. "Uh… I actually, kind of understand what you're feeling," he said, his voice filled with timidity and doubt.

Chloe sent him a sidelong glance but said nothing.

Goh pressed his lips together as humiliation washed over him and then he continued. "Uh….. see, Chloe, a lot of guys like to brag about their… equipment," he said in a wavering voice. "But… um….. I'm not exactly…" he winced and then continued. "I'm a bit…. uh… below average," he finally moaned, hanging his head as he spoke the words.

Silence hung in the air and Chloe finally turned her head to look directly at Goh. The sadness and anger she'd worn earlier faded from her face and she blinked her eyes before wiping away her tears. She shifted her position slightly and then spoke in her normal voice.

"Girls don't really care about all that, Goh," she said directly.

Goh turned his head toward her. "Huh?" he said in a disbelieving tone.

Chloe pressed her lips together and then continued. "Any girl you want to be serious with anyway," she added. "They're much more worried about if you'll take care of them and be there for them emotionally. That's way more important than how big a guy's package is."

A perplexed expression spread across Goh's face. What Chloe was saying didn't seem to make any sense.

"Uh, I don't know, Chloe," he said dubiously. "With everything I've seen, it sure seems like girls really like uh… big…"

Chloe frowned a bit and sent Goh a disapproving look. "That's just in those silly videos you watch, Goh," she said in a critical tone. "That's not how it actually is."

Goh blushed a little and looked embarrassed. "Oh," he mumbled. Several seconds passed and his expression brightened somewhat. "Really?" he added, suddenly feeling more optimistic about his chances in bed.

Chole nodded.

Silence again hung in the air as both of them recovered from the intense emotions of the evening. Goh finally let out a sigh and spoke in a determined voice.

"I'm gonna help you find a good boyfriend, Chloe," he said, turning to look at her.

Chloe met his stare with wide eyes, pleasantly surprised by his words. "Goh," she said softly, appreciation filling her tone.

Goh smiled subtly. "There's got to be a guy who'll appreciate how smart and fun you are."

Chloe smiled happily and leaned her head back against the cabinets. "Thanks," she said.

Goh nodded and then his expression became more serious. "Are you really planning to sleep with the guy?" he asked.

It took Chloe a second to respond but she nodded solemnly and replied in a subdued tone. "Yeah, I think it's the only way I'm gonna keep a guy." She frowned and let her head lean to the side. "It's not like I've got anything else to offer."

Goh frowned and then bumped his right elbow into Chloe's arm in a friendly gesture. "Well, I think you're great. Make sure the other guy does too before you go to bed with him."

Chloe turned her head so she could look Goh in the eye. Her eyes sparkled with appreciation and she smiled sweetly. She hummed happily and then shifted her position so she was kneeling and facing toward Goh.

"You know what Goh," she said in a friendly voice. "I'm gonna find a way to get you laid!"

Goh's eyes nearly bugged out at the comment. "HUH!?" he croaked.

Chloe chuckled and nodded. "You're really terrible at relationships, Goh. I'll teach you how to do it right. Before you know it, you'll be taking a girl home!"

Goh felt a little stung by Chloe's words. However, she wasn't wrong.

"Uh, thanks," he said in a halfhearted tone.

Chloe sat down on her haunches and they shared a friendly stare. Both of them were happy the fight from earlier had been resolved. As the seconds passed, Goh started to feel a little uncomfortable.

"Hey, uh, Chloe," he began hesitantly. "Would you wanna put on a shirt?"

Chloe glanced down at her bare torso and chuckled in amusement. "I thought you wanted to see a girl topless, Goh," she said in a chiding tone.

Goh laughed nervously and then sighed. "Yeah, but, uhhhhhhh…" his voice trailed off.

Chloe grinned in amusement and then stood up. She paced over to where she'd discarded her shirt and pulled it back on. Goh stood up as well and they glanced around Chloe's partially wrecked apartment.

"You want some dinner?" Chloe asked abruptly.

Goh nodded. He actually hadn't eaten anything due to his dinner date not working out. "Yeah, that sounds great!"

Chloe nodded in approval and walked toward her refrigerator. "I think I've got something in here," she said.

A few minutes later, the two best friends were chomping down on bowls of ramen noodles and drinking cans of soda. Once the humble meal was consumed, they spent a while cleaning up the apartment and setting things right. When all was back in order, Goh and Chloe reaffirmed to each other their desire to help the other find a partner. They firmly clasped hands together, just as they had so many times in the past, and then Goh headed for home. Chloe watched from her window as Goh walked away from the apartment building. She really hoped she could find a guy who liked her the way Goh did and who didn't mind her lack of a bust.