Cherish [GirlxGirl]

Chapter 6

"Ohhhh she knows me so well. She knows me like I knooow myself. She knooows me so weeeellll. Ohhhh she knows me like I knooow myself." I was belting out Ed Sheeran's song at the top of my lungs as I drove down the highway, windows up and ac blasting. It was too hot to keep the windows down and there wasn't enough of a breeze blowing.

I looked over at Alexis who was glaring at me from the passenger seat of my 2006 Corolla. "If you're going to sing the man's song at least do it some justice."

She reached for the volume control and turned the music up as Ed serenaded us through my speakers. This song had been on repeat in my head and in my car since earlier that morning.
"I'm doing it justice."

"No you're not and can we please please skip ahead on this CD already. This is gonna be stuck in my head and drive me insane, thanks to you."

"Ugh, fine!" I hit skip and moved on to the next song. More Ed but up tempo.

"I see you have Cherish on the brain today."

"That has nothing to do with Cherish, thanks. I've always loved that song."

"But today you love it because of Cherish."

Alexis was the only person I had told about what happened between the two of us. In fact, it was what had continued to happen between us nearly every night since she came to my door that evening. It had been two weeks and I was breaking every rule I put in place to keep my life in order. It didn't help that she lived above me. Even on the nights when I'd decided she couldn't come over I found myself making excuses to go up the steps and into her bed. And I never left early.

Alexis was shaking her head at me. "So are you two a couple now? Should we be double dating?"

"Hell no." I responded vehemently. "No. To both things. It's too soon, she's not ready, I'm not ready."

"What do you mean not ready? What do you need to be ready for?"

"This is a rebound thing. We're just happy screwing each other."
She frowned as she processed what I had just said. "I think you better make sure that Cher thinks the same thing."

"Why? What has she said?"

I was eager but I felt no shame. Partly because I didn't think Cherish had said anything to her and also because I wanted to know what she could have said. We hadn't discussed our situation at all. Everything had just continued to happen as long as neither of us was protesting.

"Chill. She hasn't said a thing to me but we both know her. If this is a rebound it's the first I've ever seen from her. And close as you two are, I doubt she'd choose to ruin your friendship just to get over Jai."

I didn't respond. In a way she was right, at least about the friendship, but a lot of her relationships had seemed like a way to get over an ex. I didn't mind being her means of moving on, the sex was good.

Alexis asked, "What about Terrell?"

I wasn't sure what to say. He existed, he was present, we chatted? None of our attempts to go on a date had been successful so far. Our schedules hadn't allowed it to happen but we spoke everyday. Either via text or brief conversations over the phone, there was always contact.

"He's around."

She howled with laughter. "Seriously, that's it? He's around?"

"Yes cackling Cathy, he's around. I haven't seen him since the night we met but we chat."

She thought about what I said for a moment. I glanced at her and saw the thoughts churning in her head. "You haven't told Cher about him."

It was a statement, not a question. Alexis was always very perceptive. With the slightest amount of information she picked up on things, the bits of information that weren't spoken, and put them together quickly and nearly always correctly.