The Whispers

4

In the parking lot, Bea had just got in her car when her phone buzzed. She smiled on seeing her friend's name flash across the screen.

"Hey, Lisa!" She squealed happily. "Long time!"

"Damn right! What's been keeping you away from me?"

Remembering the events of the past few days, she sighed heavily. "A lot. I don't know where to begin."

Concern laced her friend's voice as she suggested, "I'm at Dave's. Meet me there."

"Give me ten minutes," she said and pulled out of the parking lot.

The drive seemed relatively long in the mild afternoon traffic.

Lisa had been her friend since high school. She'd been one of those shy girls with braces and wore glasses. Oh! A true nerd. Bea laughed to herself remembering how Lisa would try to explain her experiments to her and she'd pretend to understand.

She immediately saw her friend seated on a table by the window, dressed in a pair of jeans and a black tank top.

"It's so nice to see you!" Bea exclaimed as she hugged her friend before taking a seat opposite her.

"I've missed you."

Something like guilt - or maybe it was sadness - flashed across her face and disappeared quickly. Bea felt bad for not contacting Lisa because she knew she had a very small circle of friends, if any.

"I'm sorry I was a stranger. Things were crazy at work," Bea said earnestly.

Lisa opened her mouth to respond but closed it again when her phone buzzed on the table. She flicked her gaze to it briefly then back at Bea.

"It's okay, Bea, herding a hospital is not easy," she finally said.

"No no no no. You tell me who just texted you!"

"No one."

Bea raised a knowing brow. "I know from your glow it's not no one. Now out with it."

"Okay!" Lisa laughed nervously. "It's just some guy I work with, nothing serious."

"Whatever! I'm just glad you found someone who makes you happy."

"I'd already ordered for us. I hope you don't mind," Lisa was signaling for a waiter.

"Girl, when have ever minded?" Bea said and they both laughed.

Their food arrived and they engaged in an easy conversation, catching up on each other's lives.

Although she was enjoying Lisa's company, Bea felt that there was something she wasn't telling her.

Urgh! With everything that's been going on, I'm probably seeing things.

But then Lisa's phone buzzed again and the guilt she saw this time wasn't imagined. Followed by her squirming uncomfortably as if she wished to respond to the text message but not with her around.

"I have an early meeting tomorrow and I'm sorry but I've got to go prepare for it." Bea stood up and gathered her bag. "I promise I'll keep in touch from now on."

"Okay," Lisa stood to hug her friend. "Don't be a stranger."

Bea left the restaurant with questions circling her mind. The utmost question was: Why was Lisa guilty upon receiving a text from her boyfriend? Or maybe... Oh no! Was the 'boyfriend' actually a married man? No, not Lisa. But Bea couldn't squash her suspicions.

Extremely short chapter, I know. Sorry