What Could've Been - Part I

“A car? You sent your ex-girlfriend a car? To win her back?”
“Obviously. No, I sent it so I could have her come and drive me around town for a joyride.”
Holly smiled,
“So what’s this girl’s name?”
“Alex.”
“Are you sure it’s a girl? Are you sure you’re not confused?”
Holly giggled and threw a piece of napkin at Brynn.
“Pretty sure, men don’t have slender bodies. And anyway, she can’t refuse a car.”
“She can’t refuse a car, but she can refuse you!”
Damn it. Slipped my mind.
“Can I meet this ex?”
“Why?”
Brynn unfolded a piece of paper that was a bit beat up and a bit smudged.
“Because…I’m your friend and I wanna meet your ex?”
“All you ever wanna do is make out with guys…and girls when you’re drunk but um…haha why again?”
Holly grabbed the piece of paper from Brynn and grinned her stupid little grin,
“Ooh, a phone number.”
“I might as well call her up…”
“You’re right. Let’s do it now.”
Holly whipped out her cell phone as fast as lightning and dialed, Brynn grabbed it before Holly hit the last number.
“Are you out of your mind? I’m not going to do it in a public restaurant. For all I know, she could start bitchin’ at me and I’ll start yelling and it’ll be hectic.”
“Fine…we’ll do it in the car.”
“Do what? I mean, yeah okay.”

Alex’s cell wasn’t being answered.

-------------

Alex could never stay in a store longer than an hour but when Chelsea’s with her, it’s like Chelsea’s dragging a little puppy along a chain through a park full of squirrels. 
“How about this?”
“Yeah right, do I look like I wear mini-skirts?”
Alex looked away, a pair of Nike’s catching her eye immediately.
“Nuh uh.”
Chelsea grabbed Alex by the hood of her hoodie without even looking away from the clothes rack,
“What? I’m just looking!”
“You can look there in the fitting room.”
Chelsea flung the mini skirt and a tight long-sleeved black and white shirt at Alex.
“You’re…kidding.”
Chelsea smiled then stopped talking for a second,
“You’re right. I’ll be in with you in a minute for make-up.”
She can’t make me wear this! Why do I do things for her… Five minutes later Chelsea arrives without even knocking, she simply attempts to open the door and smashes her face in.
“Ow…”
“Ya know, the door’s locked when people change.”
Chelsea mimicked her silently behind the door as she rubbed her nose, Alex let her in after a moment.
“Ya look real hot Alex. You just need hair and make-up.”

…an hour later…

“Why am I all dressed up?”
“You look hot!”
“Thanks?”
Wait…I don’t know how to take this. Am I supposed to kiss her now? Chelsea turned her friend around to face the full sized mirror behind them. Short, and newly styled dark brown hair, a slight pink of eye shadow and a thin line of eyeliner with pink and glossy lipstick can make a plain looking girl so beautiful. Her body was toned, athletic, but covered up by the new feminine clothes. 
“You’ve made me…girly.”
“Pretty huh?”
Chelsea said as she finished herself up.
“Uh…”
Alex began reaching for the tissue box but Chelsea slapped her hand down fast,
“No. As uncomfortable as lipstick and eye shadow is, you need to keep them on for super hotness. That’s the way I like it.”
What the hell? I don’t get what she wants from me! Maybe I should just kiss her now… All of the sudden the lights began flashing and then the restroom went black. Chelsea screamed but Alex involuntarily rubbed her back to calm her down. Alex reached around her pockets for a mini flashlight.
“We need to get you a purse.”
“Yeah, hey Chels, black out, not a time to talk about it.”
“Ow…”
She ran into a stall and hit her nose, I know it. 
“Oh excuse me. Hey can I borrow your flashlight for a sec?”
A woman’s voice came out of nowhere said, Alex tried to focus it on her face but she was too busy trying to help Chelsea off the floor.
“Um yeah, hold on. Chels! Are you okay? How’s your nose?”
Chelsea laughed and stood up on her heels, nearly falling backwards…again.
“What happened?”
Alex asked, patting Chelsea off for her,
“Hey that was my ass.”
Chelsea giggled,
“I kinda liked it.”
Alex hesitated,
“Heh. Well?”
“Oh…I slipped on stupid water and I fell…after I ran into that stall.”
“You’re so clumsy.”
“You like it.”
Yeah…I do.
“Um yeah I really need to pee, can I please use your flashlight?”
Alex turned around quickly, That voice…Alex was halfway in the stall when she handed the other woman the flashlight so when the other woman rushed in…she rushed into her stall and locked the door quickly.
“Um…I think you locked me in with you.”
Alex said calmly, she could hear Chelsea panicking as she stumbled across the restroom and feeling her way for Alex.
“Chels, I’m in a stall…hold up.”
Then the clanging and clattering stopped, the woman focused the flashlight on Alex’s face and forgot about her urge to relieve herself. Alex quickly started trying to unlock the stall door but her fingers and palms were so sweaty that she just couldn’t get a grip. And she didn’t try to stop her either. She just waited until Alex finally gave up. 
“Alex.”
Alex couldn’t even say anything. Her mouth closed, it felt too dry, and she closed her eyes and wished it were a dream.
“Alex.”
Brynn reached out and touched her face, Alex turned her head and felt Brynn’s hand follow. Why are you here? Alex thought painfully, It was you and the car and…everything Your bad influences and your habits are my pain and you’re back. Why are you back? For some reason, no one budged. The whole mall was silent even. Brynn reached out with her other hand and pulled Alex in by the waist,
“You can’t just pull away like this. You want it as much as I do.”
But we can’t…not after what you did…You can’t expect me to come back to you when you’ve lost what we almost had all by yourself. Alex wanted to say it out loud so bad but she just couldn’t. It hurt so much. It wasn’t just any small loss…what they had…or almost had was lost immediately and trust was lost. All of it. She couldn’t look at Brynn at all. Alex was so weak now, her body just stopped moving. Brynn pulled her closer and held her tight,
“Please? One more chance.”
Three was enough.
Alex found just enough courage to look up at Brynn, a single tear streaming down her face. She nearly scowled but held herself. After all, isn’t three enough? Lie after lie. Deception. The tears weren’t good enough? Hasn’t Brynn done enough to damage her? It hurts, Brynn…it hurts. And then she had to find out like that…the third strike.
“We can’t. You just betrayed me and did all those things against my will. And…I love Chelsea.”
A sudden thud was heard after that was said. Then another woman voice called out, 
“Hey! Are you okay?”
Then they heard Holly click her way over on heels to kneel down and check on Chelsea. Chelsea sat on the dirty floor, not caring that it was dirty and pounded on the stall door.
“Open up! Alex, we need to talk!”
Brynn couldn’t let go though, Alex struggled a little but she was still so weak from just feeling Brynn’s hands on her. I…don’t know what I really want.
“One more chance. Please? Think about it?”
Brynn slipped something into one of Alex’s pockets and pulled her in to at least kiss her just once more before they parted again. Alex didn’t fight back either. It feels so right…just like before. She gave in again to those soft lips that laid upon her own…she couldn’t even stand up straight. Brynn held Alex up and unlocked the door and flung it open. The flashlight still lit but only pointed down, right where Chelsea was. Holly flipped her hair out of her face and looked up at the two.
“You’re right. She’s quite a looker, Brynn. And now you have it.”
“No…she doesn’t have it.”
Chelsea replied, for once, understanding what was going on. She was neither afraid nor was she resisting her thoughts. She finally understood what Alex had been telling her for the past three months. And now she wondered herself. Bisexual? Maybe. Maybe that’s what she was feeling. She knew in her heart it would be worth a shot but now…now what? Now Alex is lip locking with her ex-girlfriend…and where did her hopes go? How is she going to get what she wants? And her thoughts trailed off…She loves me? So this means that I can…but she’s kissing her ex. And confused again, she looked up one last time to see Alex crying and loving, wondering if that was meant to be. Alex…what about us?