Chapter 20

~Seattle at Sit and Spin~

Tarin, Zo and Andie sat at a booth in Sit-n-Spin, the pizza place/Laundromat. They had agreed to have lunch with Tarin since she wouldn’t be able to see much of them for the time they were in Seattle. Tarin was busy with her new teaching gig.

“So how’s Shane doing?” Tarin asked playing with her food.

“I don’t know really. The bus laptop got stolen and my phone broke a few days ago. I’ve tried calling her on Brody’s phone. She must be really busy.” Andie said before taking a bite of her pizza slice.

“I’m sure she is.” Tarin smiled. “How’s your lady, Zo?”

Zo had just taken a huge bite of her pizza. “Ummm..she’s good.”

Andie laughed when Zo talked with her mouth full. “I think you miss her more than you’ll ever let on.”

Zo stared at her. “I don’t need to yell it from the hilltops like Julie Andrews in the fucking Sound of Music, that I miss her. As long as she knows it and I know she misses me that’s all that matters.”

Andie and Tarin smirked and then stayed quiet. It was Tarin who broke the silence. “So are you guys going to tell me about Vegas?”

~The same day in L.A.~

Alice knocked on Shane’s door, she hadn’t returned any of Alice’s calls and was missing their morning coffee. She heard someone stomping up to the door and start unlocking it. Shane yanked open the door. She was a complete mess in a wife beater and flannel pajama bottoms. Her hair was plastered to her forehead. The strong scent of alcohol blasted Alice in the face.

Alice waved her hand in front of her face. “Oh..My..God! Did the entire bar fall on you or what?”

Shane obviously still drunk ignored the comment and walked away from the door. Alice followed her into the apartment and immediately almost fell over a chair that was flipped over. She looked around and noticed that things were thrown all over. Clothes, shoes, cd’s were just scattered through out the place.

“Where have you been? I’ve been trying to get in touch with you for the past three days.” Alice asked turning the chair right side up.

“I’ve been out.” Shane slurred. “Al, do you know someone named Aleta?”

“No. What a weird name. Why?” Alice sat down.

“Are you sure?” Shane tripped over a shoe.

“Yeah, I’m sure. Jesus, what the fuck is going on? Andie goes away and you let yourself go. I can’t wait for her to come back.” Alice said.

“Alice!” Shane snapped. “What do you want?”

“I was just worried about you.” Alice said quietly.

“Well, don’t fucking worry about me. Now do you want a drink or what?” Shane crossed her arms over her chest.

“Shane it’s three in the afternoon.”

Shane chuckled to herself. “You’re right, I should have started earlier.”

Alice glanced at her friend. “Why do I get the feeling that you may have never stopped drinking?”

~Seattle on the bus~

Andie was sitting in her seat. She had Brody’s phone to her ear and glanced over at the table where Tarin, Michelle, Zo, Brody, Samson and Tony played a game of bullshit. She sighed as Shane’s phone continued to ring. She didn’t see Tarin paying close attention to her.

“Hey I can’t answer the phone right now. I’ll get back to you when I can.” Shane’s voice said.

After the beep. “Ummm, yeah Shane it’s me. I haven’t heard from you in a while. Maybe you are really busy with work. Anyway this is the third message I’ve left. I miss you, Batman.”

Andie turned off the phone and stared at it in her hands. She didn’t look up until she felt someone sit next to her. Andie looked over and saw Tarin smiling softly at her.

“Still no answer?” Tarin’s accent purred.

“No. I guess she is just busy.” Andie half smiled and gestured to the phone. “But I’ll see her in about four days. I’m flying down to surprise her.”

“Oh, I’m sure she’ll be excited to see you. I bet she’s busy right now with her fingers making miracles happen with some actors hair.” Tarin grinned. “Are you going to show up at her shop?”

“Umm. I thought I would come to her apartment since I’m flying in late at night.” Andie ran her hand through her chunky black hair.

Tarin nudged her with her elbow. “Who knew you were such a romantic.”

They both laughed, while Zo watched them, her eyebrow raised in thought.

~Four days later in L.A.~

Shane walked into Milk and looked around. She wore black slacks with suspenders that hung down to her sides. A gray wife beater clung tightly to her body. A young blonde walked past her, looking Shane up and down. Shane’s eyes followed the girl and when their eyes met, Shane nodded coolly to the girl, and then walked on to the bar.

Shane was on her second beer when she felt a light tap on her shoulder. She turned around and smiled when she saw Tina and Velvet standing behind her. She hugged Tina, who looked gorgeous in a short burgundy strappy dress that was breezy and light. Velvet was in a black suit that hugged her in all the right places. A bow tie hung undone around the collar of the white dress shirt. Her shiny black straight hair was pulled back in a low ponytail. Her blue eyes were lined in dark black eyeliner and her lips were the color of wine.

“Hey you two.” Shane said as she hugged each of the women.

“Shane how have you been? I haven’t seen you for a while. What have you been doing?” Tina asked taking a step back while Velvet ordered drinks.

“I’ve just been busy with work.” Shane said leaning back against the bar looking over the club. Tina watched Shane; she could tell something was different about the brunette. Velvet broke her train of thought when she gave Tina her drink. She smiled her thanks and took a drink.

Velvet leaned against the bar next to Shane. “So how’s Andie? I can’t wait for her to get back. The girls loved dancing with a live band.”

Shane tensed up and reached back for her third beer. Velvet bit her lip and glanced at Tina, who had a worried look on her face.

“I don’t know how she is.” Shane said simply shrugging her shoulders.

Tina opened her mouth to say something, but Shane turned around to look at the bartender.

“Can I get two shots of Jack please?” Shane asked the girl behind the counter. Velvet and Tina watched as Shane threw back both of the shots then took a swig of her beer. Velvet looked uncomfortably around and then decided it may be time for her to leave Tina to talk with Shane.

“Oh, I see an old friend. I’ll be right back.” She placed a gentle hand on Shane’s shoulder then walked away. Tina looked after her date then swirled around to look at Shane.

Shane smiled at her. “Look, Shane is something going on?”

“No.” Shane shook her head.

“Are you and Andie ok?” Tina stepped a little closer to the tall woman.

Shane looked annoyed. “How are you and Bette?”

Tina’s jaw dropped open. Shane saw the hurt look on the blonde’s face. “I’m sorry. I just don’t want to talk about it ok?”

Tina only nodded and then sat on a stool. Shane took another drink of her beer. She was fighting with herself in her mind about the low jab she served to Tina. The two were silent, when Velvet waved over at Tina, motioning for her to come over. Tina smiled and nodded.

“I guess, I’ll talk to you later.” She said to Shane as she slid off of the stool. She started to walk away when Shane grabbed her arm stopping her.

“TI didn’t mean what I said..it’s just” Shane made sure to look into Tina’s eyes.

Tina smiled softly and leaned in to kiss Shane on the cheek. “I know. If you need to talk, I’m here.”

Shane forced a smile and watched Tina walk away; she turned to face the bar. The alcohol was coursing through her veins, she sighed loudly in relief of the numbness falling over her body. She felt her phone vibrate in her pocket. She pulled it out and saw a new phone number with Andie’s name attached to it. Shane thought for a moment and went to turn the phone on. But decided otherwise and just stuffed the cell back into her pants.

“Avoiding someone?” a familiar voice with a hint of an Irish accent in it said.

Shane sat up straight and looked to her right. Her green eyes sparkled with surprise.

“Tarin.”

~Tacoma airport an hour earlier~

Andie sighed and clicked her new phone shut. Zo looked at her, she knew that Andie was miserable because she hadn’t been able to contact Shane.

“So much for getting a new fucking phone.” Andie muttered and pulled her black backpack up onto her shoulders.

“Hey cool out. She’s just burying herself in her work to keep herself from dwelling on not being with you.” Zo pushed back her hood off of her head. She was hoping that she was convincing Andie, because she almost trying to convince herself. Zo shook the pale blonde hair out of her eyes. Andie only nodded as Zo tried to think of something that would cheer up Andie. She grinned when she remembered something.

“Oh can you give this stuff to Dana for me?” Zo said as she pulled some things out of her bag. She handed three things to Andie. The items were a black t-shirt, a gray hoodie and a pack of gum.