What Did I Tell You?

Chapter 12

Things went a lot like that for a while, the four of them sharing the small apartment. It was a little cramped, and there were plenty of fights and arguments, but in the end, all of them forgave each other, hugged, made up, and stopped throwing chips at each other. And for the most part, they all got along pretty well and everybody was happy. Except for Sharon. She still wasn't convinced that Floor and Simone weren't a thing, and she was too nervous to ask. But it bothered her, especially when Floor went out for the evening and didn't explain where she was going. It wasn't that she was evasive, but she just didn't talk about it, which made Sharon's heart ache. She hated the idea of Floor going out with someone else, and she was jealous of Simone, even though she knew that wasn't fair and she should be happy for them. Sharon tried hard not to show that the idea of Simone and Floor being a couple bothered her, but eventually Tarja realized something was wrong. She had suspected that Sharon was not as happy as she acted ever since their very first day in the apartment together. And when she was lying in bed beside Alissa one night and heard Sharon crying in the room next door, she knew she had been right and that she had to go comfort the other woman. So she got up, careful not to wake Alissa, grabbed her crutches, and went into the bedroom. Sharon was lying in the bed that Tarja had always slept in, her face buried in the pillow, sobbing. For a moment Tarja flashed back to the night she'd come home and found Floor just like this. She pushed the thought away.

"Sharon?" she said softly, maneuvering herself over to the bed on her crutches. Sharon raised her head.

"What?" she whispered.

"Why are you crying?" Tarja asked, sitting down on the bed. Sharon wiped her eyes.

"It's nothing, I'm just upset. I'll be fine in the morning. Go back to bed, Tarja."

"No, Sharon, what's going on? Why are you upset? What's bothering you?"

"Floor," Sharon said, sniffling. "And Simone."

"Sharon, I told you they're not a couple," Tarja said.

"They are, Tarja. Where else could Floor be right now, except with Simone? Oh, it just makes me so sad! I know I screwed up and probably blew my chance with her, but it feels like my girlfriend is cheating on me. I guess this is how she felt after what I did to her. Oh, Tarja." Tarja reached out and put her arms around Sharon.

"Sharon, have you actually asked her?" she asked, stroking Sharon's curls. Sharon shook her head.

"I'm too nervous."

"About?"

"What the answer will be. I'm pretty sure it will be yes, but there's a small part of me that still hopes it will be no. I just can't bear to hear that the bigger part is right."

"Oh, Sharon..." Tarja sighed. "You don't know for sure. Would it be better if you asked Simone, rather than Floor?"

"No," Sharon said.

"Would it be better if I asked?"

"Maybe."

"Do you want me to?" Sharon sniffled and wiped her eyes.

"Yes."

"Okay. Then I will," Tarja promised. She kissed Sharon's cheek. "Go to sleep now, okay?" Sharon nodded.

"Okay. Thanks, Tarja."

"No problem, Sharon," Tarja answered. She tucked the blanket up around her friend, smoothed her curls, and left the room. Alissa was waiting for her just beyond the door. She helped Tarja back into bed and lay down next to her.

"You talking to Sharon?" she asked. Tarja nodded.

"She's so upset. I can tell how much she loves Floor, and it's tearing her up to think that Floor is going out with Simone. I don't think she is, but...Sharon refuses to ask her. I promised her I'd ask, but I'm not really sure how to. Any ideas?"