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She looked at her phone, her yahoo messenger, and she had even checked her mailbox twice since she had arrived from work. Yet there had been no call from Gilbert, had he forgotten about her already? She wanted to stay positive and think he had just been busy. Or maybe he was lost in that big city; she started to sign out of her messenger slowly trying to see any movement from her friends IM. She finally logged out and looked around her room; she was now truly a loner. She saw Hairy staring at her with sadness in his eyes; did he feel like she did? Could it be possible that he felt her pain, “oh, Hairy I miss Gibbs.” She petted the dog and came to a conclusion that she needed a walk. Grabbing Hairy’s leash she walked out the door, only to turn back around and grabbing her glasses from the computer desk. “Ok, now we can go Hairy” she said as she walked down the stairs followed by a very excited Hairy. “MOM, I am going for a walk with Hairy!” she yelled just to hear her echo in the huge house. Where could her mom be? She just shrugged it off and opened the door, instantly the breeze hitting her face.

Looking out the kitchen window, she saw her daughter leave in company of Hairy. Mona never did any walking unless she was really down, she knew she missed Gilbert. She was brought back from her thoughts, as Denise looked out the window in the direction of her stare.

“Is that your daughter?” asked Denise as she saw the young woman almost trip with the dog. Poor girl, she seemed tormented she had seen her looking out a window yesterday. She had noticed her there for a long time and feeling sorry for her, she had waved. “I think I might’ve scared her yesterday,” she told her new friend Judy.

“Yes, that’s my girl the only one,” she said with pride, a lump rising to her throat as she got the guilty feeling, that because of her, her daughter was like she was. “So you’ve met her already?”


“No, not really actually I was outside working on my new garden. I happen to glance to your house and caught her staring at the sold sign outside. So I waved hello, but I think I’ve might have startled her. I should tell Alex to take the sign out for me already.” She gestured Judy to have a seat on a stool, where she placed a glass of iced tea.

“Alex?” she asked as she took a seat. So she did have a husband after all.

“Oh, yeah my son, he came into town to see my house. He will be here for a few weeks.” She said as she took a glass of tea for herself. Grabbing the plate of cookies Judy had brought her over a couple of minutes ago. “These look delicious Judy,” she said as she grabbed one and took a bite.

“Thanks, I made them myself from scratch. I am a retired chef, so I am always cooking or baking something up. I hope you don’t mind me bringing you some of my desserts once in a while.” She said as she grabbed a cookie.

“Mom, have you seen-“he stopped in his tracks and was startled to see the tall woman sitting in the kitchen with his mother. Turning shades of red he ran back upstairs to put on some clothes. He had just been seen in boxers, by a strange woman which could be paparazzi.

“Oh, my you have a handsome boy, Denise,” said Judy looking down as the young man ran out of the kitchen. “He has the bad boy look going for him, huh?” she winked at her. Man was he built and nice looking, he looked friendly even if he did have quite a collection of body art.

“Yeah he likes to be different, but he is a sweetheart and a sap,” she said as she smiled at her. “He likes to stand out, make new friends and loves to talk. I love him and he is my baby even if he is twenty five. He has gone through so much and he is a fighter.” She said remembering the past few years of torture with her son’s problems.

“Well, I wish my daughter would at least once try something daring. She is so shy and always negative about her appearance,” said Judy as she told Denise her worry. “I just worry that she will never be happy you know. She is so beautiful, talented, and smart yet she always puts herself down. Especially now that her only friend moved away for god knows how long. You know they grew up inseparable, and I always knew she had grown to like him. But, Gilbert never saw her like a girlfriend; because it turns out he’s gay. Gilbert started to be conscious of his appearance, he lost 150 pounds. Only making my daughter feel guiltier of her appearance, she never told him that, she was jealous of his success in looking, good. You should see him now he’s a hottie. But, even though he started to get the attention from people that had never spoke to him before, he never left his best friend, they were like Jack and Jill always together.” She stopped talking when she saw the look of sadness on Denise. She didn’t want pity, and for sure neither did Mona. “I am so sorry, I shouldn’t be telling you this yet I mean we’ve only been neighbors for two weeks.”

“Its ok,” she said as she grabbed the woman’s hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. She looked like she needed reassurance that her daughter was going to be ok. Now she wished she could help in someway, maybe if the right person tried to talk to her. She was about to tell her about her idea when, her son returned fully clothed.

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So many things ran through her mind as she went through the paperwork on her desk. She couldn’t concentrate; she put down the papers and without hesitation walked out of her office. “Patsy want to go to lunch with me?” she asked her new and only friend at her job.

“I’d love too, but who will answer the phones while I’m gone?” she asked as she looked around to see who she could ask. “Hang on let me ask Glenda,” she walked away leaving Lisa waiting.

Five minutes later she was in the passenger side of Patsy’s Chevy Tahoe. She was nervous now; she usually never went out to eat. Her mother always had something made for her and thinking about it she didn’t like the city. Usually she would just arrive to her job and then ride back to Clewiston, never spending more time than necessary in the city. “Where are we going,” she asked trying to sound calm.


“Well, I know this little place just a few miles away that makes the best Greek food available! I haven’t been there in a while, so what do you think?” she said as she came to a red light.

“Greek food, I guess it wouldn’t hurt to try it,” she said as she looked toward her friend.

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She plopped herself on her bed as she saw the calendar, three moths till November. Maybe she could convince her father about getting Jim to come down now. She was interrupted by a soft knock on her door. “Come in,” she said as she put away her calendar.

“Hey sweetie, how you are feeling? Any news from Gilbert yet?” asked Judy as she took a seat on the big plush bed.

“Noooo, I think he just forgot about me, probably found better friends.” She said in a melancholic tone. She looked at her mother in curiosity; she knew she was in her room for a reason. “Ok spill what do you have to tell me,” she said as she looked at her mother.

“Oh, honey I just wanted to tell you dinner will be ready soon and I need you to dress suitable for the occasion because I invited our new neighbor over to have dinner with us. She is bringing her son along so, I would appreciate it if you could make him feel welcome. You know talk to him sweetie, don’t just sit at the table like a big… like a big – blob.” She smiled at her daughter and swiftly before she could hear a “but” from her daughter she exited her room. She sighed heavily as she heard her moan in disagreement. She was doing this for her own good, for god sakes Gilbert was not going to turn straight any time soon. Besides she just wanted her to make a new friend that’s all.

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“I don’t know mom, I mean I don’t know if this is right. I mean the poor girl likes to be alone, that’s how it looks to me,” he said to his mother as he exhaled the cigarette smoke out into the dark breezy night. “To be honest, I am only going because I want a really good meal; I haven’t had an honest to good meal in a while.”

“Alex! She really could use a friend and you know how hard it is to find a good friend, that doesn’t want to use her for something.” She said as she looked at her son, “Look I am not asking for you to marry her or even be anything more than a friend. She’s lonely and shy, show her how to live in a healthy way.” She turned him to face her and kissed his forehead softly, “it will help you heal too,” she whispered.

He couldn’t say no to his mother’s pleading eyes, besides she was right he was in a process of healing and making someone who felt like he used to feel, feel better, would only make him feel like he was healing. He sighed, “Ok, you win but this might take time and I don’t want anyone to know about this, yet.” He looked at his mother with a demanding look as to tell her she better not open her mouth about this. He smiled as she pretended to zip her mouth and together crossed Melrose Dr. to the Vickers home.

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She heard the doorbell, but did not go to it. She ran to the bathroom instead, her father could get it. How could her mom expect her to do this, she sighed and looked at her reflection on the mirror. Her hair was a mess, she quickly put it in a bun she didn’t know why she was trying to look good. It wasn’t like she was going to listen to her mother, she had everything planned already. She was going to pick the, I don’t feel good route and exit the dinning room. She looked at herself one more time and sighed heavily as she heard her mother’s voice welcoming her new friend. “Ok here goes nothing.”

“Oh great sweetie you’re here,” she told her daughter as she walked in the living room. She could tell her daughter was nervous, but she was glad she had decided to come down. “This is my girl, Denise,” she told Denise as she grabbed her daughter’s hand pulling her toward the guests. “Denise and – I am sorry I forgot your name, sweetie,” she said to Alex.

“It’s AJ,” he said as he extended his hand to the young woman. He felt like he had seen her before but where?

She took his hand, softly shook it, only then realizing he had tattoos all over his arms. What had gotten to her mother, she hated all that stuff she thought that was not correct. “Hi, I am Lisa,” she said shyly, quickly letting his hand go. She could feel his stare; on her she hadn’t yet made contact with his face. She slowly and almost forcing her will, looked up only to have a flashback. He was the guy that she had bumped to in the airport days ago; he was standing in her house. She quickly excused herself and literally sprinted to the bathroom again. She felt her lungs tightening; this couldn’t get any worse than it already was. Did he recognize her? She heard a soft knock on the door, bringing her back, “I’ll be right out,” she said as she heard her father outside the door.

“Ok, we will be waiting in the dinning room for you,” he said to his daughter. Why was Judy putting his angel through this, what was she up to. Usually she knew better than to invite people over especially strangers, so this lady was the new neighbor. She was still a stranger and her son he looked ghetto. He probably was some gang banger, maybe they worked in money laundering, how else could she buy that house? He stopped his brain from his wild thoughts, Judy knew better right? He walked into the dinning room where there visitors had already been seated. “Sorry, my daughter’s not feeling well today, but she will be here in a few minutes. So Ms. McLean what is that you do again?”

“Well, now I am actually studying to get my counseling license,” she told the tall man, he reminded her of a salesman, with the way he spoke. To think he was actually the president of a big dealership in Palm Beach “So, Judy told me that you could help me get a good deal, in a car.”

“Ah, I see Judy already told you about me huh? Yeah, sure just tell me when we can meet I’m sure I can get you something,” he smiled at the red head. “I am sorry son what was it that you did,” he eyed the young man who quietly sat listening to his and his mother’s conversation.

He was caught off guard, what was he going to say? “I uh, well I am in the business of traveling, I travel.” He said nervously, he didn’t want to say the truth; he wanted to feel normal for once.

“Dinner is ready!” said Judy as she came carrying a casserole in hand. “Bobby will you help me bring in the rest of the food please,” she told her husband as she set the casserole on the table.

She finally giggled after the couple left the dinning room, “so you’re in the business of traveling, very interesting,” she laughed harder. Her son sometimes did loose it.

“Well what was I suppose to say? Well sir I am a backstreet boy, you know I am in a boy band, I sing for a living. Yeah that would really help my anonymous life here when I come to visit you in this town.” He rolled his eyes to her mother, also not being able to hold his laughter. She was right though he had sounded so stupid, why couldn’t he say he was a marine or something. It was to late now. He stopped laughing when he saw her walking in slowly from the corner of his eye. He now knew from where he had seen her, she was the klutz that had bumped into him the day he had arrived at the airport. Now he understood her sudden departure to another part of the house, she was embarrassed or did she know who he was?

She wanted to turn right back out of the room, but it was too late she had been seen by both of them. Where was her mother, she smiled and slowly took a seat. “Sorry about the long wait,” she said as she fixed her glasses.

“No problem dear,” said Denise as she gave her a warm smile. Poor girl she looked scared, she really need to get her self-esteem up. She was about to say something when Judy and her husband arrived with the rest of the feast. She would try to talk to her later; she inhaled the aroma of the food that was being set on the table. Wow, she now had a friend who was a chef, she going to ask her for lessons.

“Ok, well lets not wait any longer, lets dig in,” said Mr. Vickers as he took a seat next to his wife.

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She had to admit that the guy had done a 360 in the way he acted today, to the day she had bumped to him in the airport. He was a funny man, she had even laughed. She placed a piece of her mother’s New York style cheese cake in front of him and couldn’t help the feeling she felt run through her spine. Could she possibly carry a conversation with him, he was so different to Gilbert, he was for one straight. She shook away her thoughts and continued to place a piece of cake in front of everyone’s plate. He mother followed with the strawberry topping, she finally took a seat and without hesitation dived her fork into her piece of cake.

He watched her eat her cake; she had been quiet through dinner. He had caught her laugh at a couple of his jokes, which was a start. She was something new to him; she was weird and was that a mustache he saw on her upper lip? She definitely wasn’t his type, but he wasn’t going to date her. He was just going to be her friend and maybe help out with her wardrobe. Maybe with that he could help her find a date. He watched her excuse herself quick, and without hesitation he looked at Judy for permission to go after her. He was going to make her want to make friends, she was going to change Dam it if not he should not be called AJ or Alex. After getting an ok, he walked toward the kitchen where he had seen her walk into. He walked into the lovely kitchen only to notice that the backdoor was open. Perfect he thought that way he could smoke, he needed it. He walked through the door and spotted her sitting on a chair looking up at the sky. “Do you mind if I sit here with you? I just don’t want to smoke inside,” he said as he showed her his cigarette.

She just shrugged her shoulders and quickly wanted to leave, but she couldn’t she was not disrespectful. She watched him light up the cigarette inhaling as soon as it lit. “Uh, AJ right?” she asked him as she faced him. She saw him nod and spoke again, “look I know my mother like the palm of my hand, I know she put you up to this. I am sorry for that; I don’t want you to feel obligated to this torture. So let’s just end this thing before it even starts.” She said and got up to leave, only to feel a grip on her arm.

He grabbed her as she stood to leave; this girl was good she had hit the target. Now she was right to think that he was doing this as favor, but not after hearing her realize and admit she was loser. It made him feel bad now he did want to be her friend; get to know the girl behind those glasses. “Well, you’re wrong,” he said, “I do want to get to know you, I want to enjoy my stay here. I think you and me could be good friends so how about if we give each other that chance.”

She was caught off guard as she heard him, was he serious no man other than Gilbert ever told her that. Usually she was the freak, the only time she got talked to was, back in high school only to be used to pass some big exam. She had accepted that, so at least once in a while she could experience a new friend, even if it only lasted a few days. Why would he want to be her friend? “Why do you want to be my friend? Out of all the girls in this neighborhood why me? I am boring, I don’t party and I don’t drink…” she said with anger in her voice, now she was angry. She didn’t even know why but she was.

“I don’t drink – anymore,” he said as he let go of her hand. “Look, seriously I want to get to know you, I think you will be a great friend. Unless you think I am a freak or something that I can’t be part of your group of friends or maybe I am not worthy of meeting them.” He loved using reverse psychology, he felt guilty though having to pretend like he didn’t know she only had one friend, who had abandoned her. He smiled at her with a genuine smile, she looked up for once staring into his eyes. She had the prettiest hazel eyes, to bad the glasses didn’t let them shine to their fullest. Even in the dark, he could see them shine, “I am here on vacation and would love to learn more about this lovely little town that I never knew existed. And I was born here in Florida!”

She was trying so hard to look serious with this situation and she had to admit that it excited her to know someone wanted to be her friend. “I don’t know what to say, I never had friends, I have a friend but, I can’t present him to you because he’s in New York. He’s an actor in Broadway and he won’t be back in a very long time. I might never hear from him again…” she lowered her head as she finally had come to a conclusion that Gilbert had forgotten about her for good. “I think you should find someone who will show, you what popular people do. Like clubs, restaurants, and what not I can’t I am boring with a capital B.”

“To be honest with you, I am tired of clubs and popularity! I yearn for BORING! So befriending you will be perfect.” He wasn’t going to go down easily, beside it was true he wanted to experience something outside of what society thought was fun. “Tell you what you show me to be boring and I will show you fun!”

He wasn’t taking no for answer and she couldn’t help but laugh at his comment. “I don’t know why I am accepting your offer, but I am. I am warning you though I am beyond boring…”

He smiled as his persistence prevailed. “Ok good so what is it that you do after dinner?”