SULTRY LOVE: EPISODE 8
Betrayal is a wound deeply inflicted by the people closest to us; people that you consider to be family can hurt you the most. It may be considered a betrayal to show interest in someone that has ties to someone else romantically; Yvonne did not ask for Tina’s permission to date Randy. However, should an adult have to ask for permission to pursue someone single? Dating your best friend’s ex can be offensive, but at the same time, we do not own or control another person’s decisions. Love or the pursuit of love can make you do things that you thought you could never do. Returning to the place where it all began, Yvonne enters the cafe where she usually lounges to find Yvette, Tina, and Hilda sitting at their usual table. Hilda is the first to comment as Yvonne approaches them. “Okay, here she comes.” They all stand and put their shades on as she nears.
“Hey?” Yvonne uttered.
“It’s all yours,” Tina said.
“What?” Yvonne questioned.
Tina leans toward Yvonne’s face and lowers her shades. “He’s all yours.” Tina lifts her shades back over her eyes and begins to walk away.
“Hey, wait a minute!” Yvonne said.
“Wait?! Did you wait to think about what it would mean if I saw you with him? Or did you WAIT to see if I still had feelings for him? Did you think we were going to shake hands after this?”
“You’re the one who let him go,” Yvonne replied.
“Wow, and that is your response?! Just wow!”
“You’re going to let something like this end our friendship? What was I supposed to do? You’re the one who kept all the secrets! Was it really a surprise that some of us want to know what’s going on with you? What skeletons you may be hiding in your closet….and yes after getting to know him, there’s some attraction beyond his docile appearance.”
“Thanks for sharing that, you’ve got quite the eye,” Tina replied.
Tina and the rest of the group leave the cafe.
At least the other person mentioned in the conversation is having a better day. The tides may have turned where someone once loved is now apparently despised, and the other is becoming likable or accepted. Randy is laid back on a subway train wearing tasteful clothing. Speed whips past the windows and electricity sparks under the flooring as the public transport progresses forward. Unfortunately, Randy’s bliss has been short-lived with a man that’s screaming erratically while sitting beside him. Randy is trying to speak into his cell phone; face-time is the application being used.
“Yeah, so you wouldn’t mind?” Randy asked.
“No, I wouldn’t. After the photos you’ve sent in, we’d be more than happy to receive you. You clean up nicely.”
“Oh okay, well thank you. I revel with anticipation!” Randy replied.
“If you have anything extra to show please bring it with you.”
“Thank you, I’ll do that.”
“Can I ask you a quick question?” The interviewer inquired.
“Sure, anything.”
“What’s that screaming in the background?”
“Oh…um, that’s just someone with a screaming condition.”
“A screaming condition?”
“Yes and he’s sitting right next to me. Pretty ironic wouldn’t you agree?”
“Well no worries here, let’s set up the appointment for tomorrow at noon.”
“Sure, I can make that. See you then,” Randy said.
Randy hangs up the phone and the door that leads to the other car flies open instantaneously. A long-haired man hurries through the doorway while sporting a dirty trench coat. “Hey, can you spare a dollar?” Randy looks bamboozled. With wired intent, the man shudders from left to right and continues onward.
Randy nods with disbelief. “People these days.”
The not so bitter, less conservative communion are all gathered once again to create mayhem amongst themselves. Lee and Kevin are in Randy’s living room drinking beer and eating chips while watching television. Victor is in the kitchen preparing appetizers.
“You won man, you won,” Lee said.
“Tell me something I don’t know,” Kevin replied.
“I just can’t stop talking.”
“God help us.”
Victor leans past the counter in the kitchen revealing his apron that reads big daddy. “Hey, hey, now leave pops out of it!” Kevin gives a disturbing look. “Pops? What the hell do you mean pops?”
Three knocks sound at the front door; Lee grabs his beer while standing like a superhero! “This sounds like a job for-”
“A dumbass!” Kevin interrupted. Afterward, Lee jogs toward the front door and opens it. Yvonne snatches the beer out of Lee’s hands, enters the apartment, and sits on the couch. Victor exits the kitchen and joins her. “Yvonne, what a surprise. Have you come to make our lives a living hell?”
“I wish,” Yvonne retorted.
“What’s up?” Victor asked.
“I’ve been dumped.”
“By Randy?” Victor questioned.
“No, by my friends. I feel like you guys now.”
“And that feeling is?”
“Like a reject.” Yvonne sighs and eats some chips. A big grin grows from cheek to cheek on Lee’s face. “Well you know there’s a proper initiation that must ensue.” Lee lifts his arms high and then lowers one behind Yvonne.
“God, help me,” Yvonne said.
“Hey! No more using the lord’s name in vain!” Victor exclaimed.
“Please, Victor you swear all the time. There’s practically a red carpet laid in hell, waiting for you,” Kevin replied.
“Where I currently am,” Yvonne said.
“You would know! Wouldn’t you?” Victor implied.
“You are too much!” Yvonne stated while laughing.
“So you and Randy are a thing now?” Victor asked.
“I don’t know what we are.”
“Oou, I know. Can I say what it is? Please, pleeease?” Lee questioned while raising his hand.
“Knock yourself out,” Yvonne replied.
“You two are an item! Eh, eh?” Lee mimics the sound of a horse.
“What are you five years old?” Kevin asked.
“Suddenly that doesn’t sound so bad,” Yvonne said.
“What? With Lee being a complete idiot?” Victor chimed in.
“No I mean, for the first time in my life….things are not so predictable,” Yvonne replied.
“Our lives have never been predictable.” Kevin nods toward Lee as he continues his explanation. “Except him, he was born impediments. You can pretty much predict what foolish thing he’ll do next.”
Lee smiles with malevolent intent.
In life, things can change in a matter of seconds; you can be offered a new job, you can meet the love of your life, you could win the lottery, or you can end a streak of worthlessness. For so long, Randy was undesirable and now his circle of friends has grown. What accolades will continue to come his way?
Tina is backstage at her studio while she’s putting on makeup in front of a mirror. A crew member enters her dwelling to deliver a message. “Tina, there’s somebody here for you.”
“And you let them in?”
“It’s an old friend,” The crew member answered.
“What?” She looks toward her left to find Randy standing next to the crew member holding groceries. The crew member frowns at Randy before leaving. “Good luck.”
“Why are you here? And how did you find out where I work?” Tina asked.
“You know how,” Randy replied.
“Oh her, well whatever. You’ve got a lot of nerve coming here.”
“What did I do? What crime did I commit?”
“How could you kiss her in front of me? You know she was my friend! You weren’t even supposed to be there in the first place.”
“I was there for you. I saw you at the cafe and I didn’t get a chance to catch up. Last night was supposed to be me congratulating you on your success. Then she kissed me.”
“Whatever.”
“Look…I brought you chocolate and marshmallows.”
“What? What the hell?” Tina said while frowning.
“They’re your favorite. Remember?”
“Go take them to Yvonne. I’m sure she’d enjoy them.”
“Again, I came to apologize; last night was not supposed to happen the way it did.”
“Why apologize? A few years ago it would’ve mattered. Not anymore.”
“Yeah, and you left without looking back.”
“I was ready for the next step and you weren’t. So yeah, I left,” Tina said.
“But yet, you still care. Even after so much time has passed.”
“Who are you?” She asked.
“What do you mean?”
“You’re different now; assertive.”
“Someone helped me with that problem.”
“Yvonne? Yeah, whatever.”
“The plan was she would make me more like today, so I could impress you; to improve what positive traits I possess and of course compensate with certain things. She helped me take command of what I want. So I wanted to make it up to you. What are you doing tonight?” Randy said.
“You are weird! You think you can just show up after a couple of years, and expect things to return to what they were? Especially after all that has happened?” Tina replied.
Randy grabs her hand. “Your friendship is important to me! The rest is up to you.”
“Aggressive, much.”
“Isn’t that what you wanted in the first place? For me to take some initiative.”
“Wanted! Keyword there, past tense! Tina removes her hand from his. “I’m busy.”
“Hmm, that’s too bad. There’s no better way to show sincerity other than with action. I was planning to take you skating to a private plane, that we’d use to skydive-”
“Random,” Tina interjected.
“There’s no greater release than to see the whole landscape of the world; everything has already been set in motion, call it taking a leap.”
“You prepared that now? At this hour?” Tina asked.
“A gift as well as an apology. It’s on standby until you finish.”
“What if I said no?” She said.
“You just did.”
“You shouldn’t have. Now you’re going to make me feel guilty.”
“What would your friends say?” Randy questioned.
“To quit while you’re ahead.”
“You always listen to them? When was the last time you’ve seen a man show interest in them?”
“Hmm, good point.”
A crew member interrupts them. “Tina you’re on in five.”
“Look at you, you’re making me late,” Tina uttered.
“You still haven’t given me an answer. I’m not leaving until you do.” Randy replied.
“Yes! Are you happy now?”
“Alright, then I’ll call you,” Randy said while walking away.
“Don’t you want my new number?”
“Right, right,” Randy said with a chuckle.
Tina opens her purse, grabs a pen, and writes her information down on a napkin. “There, now go!”
“I got another job, by the way. You’d be surprised what it is.”
He exits and she thinks to herself.
EPISODE 9 NOW AVAILABLE
