Dedicated to Nippy

1986 - girl...

1986

"What the fuck? Who the fuck is this?!" Whitney cursed into the phone, puzzled.

"Uh... there's someone calling for you... a woman?" The mystery man shrugged as he handed Janet the phone.

"Hello—"

"Who the hell do you have answering your phone?" Whitney spat, slightly annoyed.

"He's no one really. I don't know who he is... well I do but I— anyways, I'm glad you decided to call me back... I was worried we wouldn't speak again. Whitney I really am, deeply so truly sorry. I really wish I could take it back. But I was being stupid and I wasn't thinking and I— I'm sorry," Janet stood as she paced back and forth clutching the phone tightly.

"Girl— what is going on with you. You're not yourself at all..."

Janet sighed as she teared up, "I've been depressed about somethings... and I don't know how to deal," she bit her lip, "I've just been having a hard time..."

Whitney shook her head, "Why didn't you tell me? Girl, you know I'm here for you. I love you. Come over to my place right now, stay the week, let's drink and cry and just tell me everything that's going on, okay?"

"Okay, I'll pack as soon as I hang up... and I love you too."

"Alright now, I'll see you soon."

Janet sighed as she hung up the phone. She wiped her tears away. And quickly got herself together. She went into her closet, pulled her black suit case out and quickly began packing a weeks worth of clothes.

"Hey, I'm leaving so... you gots to go," she tossed at the man who sat on her bed.

He chuckled, "You gonna kick me out like that, babe? Well it was fun while it lasted." He picked up his clothes from her floor and got dressed.

She had met him the night before in a club. Of course they started off bumpin' and grindin' and she brought him home for more fun. He was built strong, not buff though. Spider vein snaked up his arms and his skin, held that rich darkness Janet liked on her men.

He bent down to her level and softly pecked her check, "I hope you feel better, I'll see myself out."

She had to commend him, he was quite sweet and he definitely knew how to slang what was hangin.

"Thanks..."

"I'm coming!" Whitney called as she got up to answer the door.

She looked through the peep hole, and smiled widely seeing her best friend waiting outside. She quickly opened the door and pulled the shorter woman inside for a hug.

"I missed you," Janet murmured against her chest.

"And I missed you too." Whitney pulled out of the hug and grabbed Janet's suitcase out of the hallway and quickly set it in her room.

"Come on in the kitchen, I made us a little something to eat," Whitney smiled proudly.

Janet giggled, "Whitney you don't cook."

"I don't cook, but I do cook, you know? I don't like too but, I can make a lil' somethin'."

Whitney lead Janet to the kitchen with two plates of baked chicken, seasoned white rice, string beans, with a glass of red wine on the side. They both took there seats and dined quietly. As they ate, they looked up and stole glances at each other from time to time. Janet's heart skipped a few beats, this woman sitting before her drove her absolutely wild. But, there was no way she'd ever know that. Not if she could help it.

"Damn Whitney this is good..." Janet smiled after a few minutes of silence.

"Thank you, I glad you like it. Now... you wanna tell me what's up? Or look... you don't even have to tell me exactly what's wrong just tell me how you're feeling."

"I just feel lost... I'm torn about... something. And I'm not handling it well... I'm not handling it well at all. It seems like I'm just lashing out. Doing anything and everything. And it's crazy."

She paused and took a sip of her wine, "And I hurt you in the process..."

Whitney reached for Janet's hand, and Janet unhesitatingly gave it to her hand.

"Look, I was upset you didn't tell me you decided to see him. I honestly thought you did it to get back at me for not telling you about him but honestly, me and him were just friends. And I could care less about a man when you're feeling bad. It was petty of me to ignore your calls. We should've talked it out sooner..."

"It's okay, Whitney. Look, I was wrong. You had every right to be more than upset. This was all me."

Whitney sighed as she squeezed her hand in response, "I love you, Jan alright, that's all that matters."

Her heart skipped a beat hearing those words roll off Whitney's tongue. She knew she meant it in a 'friendly' way but she couldn't help b it think of what if if she meant more? What if she meant something else? She looked her unrequited love in the eyes in admiration. "I love you too."

"Come on girl, I rented some movies for us to watch tonight. So let's get wine drunk and eat some junk food, alright?"

Janet giggled and nodded. She grabbed her wine glass and the wine bottle and they both migrated to the living room. Whitney decided she'd clean their mess later and they engaged in the movies Whitney rented. Thirty minutes in and they had payed no attention to the movie playing. They started laughing and conversing as usual.

Janet sighed as she slowly sipped her wine, she didn't want to get too drunk considering what happened the last time they drank together. She was still quiet embarrassed about it but, she was just glad Whitney didn't remember.