"Jess?!" Susan shouted while exiting her bedroom, her dogs run to her side, jumping but Susan didn't give them much attention, she stopped in the middle of her living room and across on the kitchen's sink. The dishes were still drying from last night.

Jessica would never leave her house like that, immediately Susan felt a knot growing on her stomach but she didn't know why. Maybe someone called her and she had to leave Susan thought but still... She run back into her bedroom and went straight to pick up her phone.

Susan stopped and read the message Jonathan sent her. She simply read it and didn't answer. Not even for a second Susan thought that Jessica could possible saw the message, and for her, there was nothing wrong about it. Of course, she was going to tell her everything.

It would be a lie to say that Susan wasn't feeling anything about Jonathan anymore, after all, they spent so many years together and she was still in love with him when they broke up. She caught herself thinking about him numerous times but now she just cared about him, as a friend. She would never do anything to hurt her lover although Jessica didn't know that...

Jessica woke up in her bed and reached for her cigarettes, she looked out of the window, it was a sunny but yet cold day in the city making it hard for her to leave her bad. The thought of Susan cheating on her was making her sick, it seemed to her that the only person who she could trust, even with her life, betrayed her. Even if they were talking as friends, Jessica had every right to know about it...

She looked at her phone, *11:14* Susan was up and she knew it, any minute now she was going to call her, she thought and she was right. Her phone started ringing, Jessica looked at her name on the screen and took a minute before answering just to calm herself down.

"Yes?"

"Where are you?"

"I'm home..." Jessica replied in a polite tone...

"What time did you leave? I didn't hear you"

"Oh... I... I slept here"

"Why?"

"Because I wanted to," Jessica said. Susan's sweet voice could make her burst out in tears in just a few seconds

"Why didn't you say anything?"

"You were sleeping and I didn't want to wake you up"

"Jesus, you scared the hell out of me. I thought something happened, you never leave like that"

"No, everything's fine"

"Are you coming over?"

"No, I don't think so"

"You want me to come over?"

"No," Jessica answered sharply making Susan freeze... "I don't feel so good, I think I'm getting sick, you better not come near me"

"Nonsense, I'll make you something to eat and then put you in bed"

"Susan, no!" Jessica shouted, "Stay where you are, I'll call you if I need anything"

"No, you're not. I'm not discussing it further, I'm coming over"

Jessica sighed, "Fine"

"I'll be there in ten," Susan said and hanged up. Jessica threw her phone to the side and buried her face into her open palms bursting out in tears eventually...

______________________

"I told you, you didn't have to come" Jessica while walking to the couch

"I know but I wanted to... how are you feeling?"

Jessica shrugged, "You know..."

Susan stared at her lover, Jessica was trying to avoid looking at her something that didn't pass unnoticed from the other woman. "You don't look sick"

"Well... I lied..." she said and finally looked at her lover's eyes. She took her pack and lighted up a cigarette. "What's the matter? I'm not allowed to lie but you can?"

"What?"

Jessica puckered up her lips and looked around, she didn't want for Susan to know that Jessica opened her phone.

"What is that mean?" Susan continued chuckling

"Why are you standing like that? Come on, sit..." Jessica said, pointing at the armchair across her.

"What's gotten into you all of a sudden?" Susan asked while taking a seat across her

"Nothing... I'm fine..." she replied and forced herself to smile

Susan knew her so good, she immediately realized that Jessica was faking it, "Is there something you wanna tell me?"

"What about you?"

"What about me?"

"Maybe there's something YOU want to share with me..."

Susan took a minute before answering, not sure if she should tell her about Jonathan if it was the right time. She weighed it for a while and then: "No, I don't believe I've got anything to say"

"Is that so?"

"You know something that I don't?"

"Maybe I do or maybe I don't..."

"So what are we gonna do about that?"

"You'll tell me"

"Look, this whole thing starts getting on my nerves. If you wanna say something just say for God's sake"

Jessica blew the smoke to the side and took another drag from her cigarette, "What time is it?"

Susan looked at her confused, "What?"

"I believe you've got better things to do, I don't want you to waste your time with me"

"What the fuck are you talking about?"

"Tell me... Susan... how's Jonathan?"

Susan froze, her eyes opened wide, "What?"

"You must think I'm stupid, that I wouldn't find it out eventually"

"Find out what?"

"That you two are talking..."

"It's not what you think"

"How long have you two been talking?"

"We're not..."

"God..." Jessica chuckled and shook her head, "You're making it worse..."

"You don't know me at all..."

"I know that..."

"You think I would do this to you? We're just friends"

"When was the last time you two met?"

"Jesus, I don't even remember"

"When was the last time you two met? I'm not gonna ask it again"

Susan sighed and lowered her head, "Last month..."

"And why is it that only now you're telling me this?"

"Because I knew you'd flip out"

"Why did you go out with him?"

"Because... because I missed him"

"What about him?"

"He's in a relationship, we are just friends, you've got to believe me"

"Is he really?"

"Yes!"

"Is he really?" Jessica asked again

"No..." she replied and looked around

"How long have you been talking with him?"

"Jess, we're just friends, I would never, NEVER do that to you"

"Did you have sex with him?"

"What?!"

"You heard me alright, did he fucked you?"

"No! Of course not!"

"But you want to..."

"What the fuck are you talking about? I would never do that!"

"I wanted to take a photo of you last night... while you were sleeping and I accidentally saw his message... 'Can't wait to see you as well'" she chuckled, "As well..."

"Look, we're friends, I don't know what else you want me to say"

"Nothing but I want you to leave"

"No, I'm not going anywhere till we end this"

"Oh, you end this alright..."

"You've got to believe me"

"I can't, I'm sorry but I can't... I would never do anything like that to you, never. You've been talking with him for a month and all this behind my back. I don't know what you think of me but I'm not stupid and I won't let anyone think the opposite or make me feel like that. You lied to me and I don't even know what else happened between you two"

"Nothing happened! And nothing is going to happen! How do you think I feel when you're out with Sarah?"

"THIS! THIS IS IT! You're doing the exact same thing, every fucking time! Just for once, admit it, admit that you are wrong and stop throwing the ball on me!" Jessica shouted

"Admit what? I did nothing with him and I would never do anything!"

"You were lying for a month..."

"Because I knew you would flip out"

"That's your excuse?"

"I'm sorry alright?!"

"Just... go..."

"No"

"I don't want you here, Susan, I don't want to look at you anymore, I can't"

"So you're ending what we have"

"That was your doing"

Silence filled the room, Susan turned to look at her lover, both started tearing up, "Jess..." Susan said and walked in front of the younger woman, she was standing on her knees. Susan took hold of Jessica's hands, "Please don't do this..."

Jessica glanced up, trying to stop herself from crying but invalid, "I would never cheat on you, I promise you I'm not gonna talk to him anymore if that's what you want but please, please don't leave me..." Susan continued making Jessica burst in tears.

Susan placed her head on Jessica's lap, "You're all I have..."

"Leave, Susan..."

"No... don't say that, Jess"

"Susan..."

"No..." Susan said and rose from Jessica's lap, her eyes turned red, she looked at her lover, "Don't say it..." she almost begged and locked her lips with Jessica's, pulling her into a deep, passionate kiss, knowing that this kiss might be the last one. Susan broke the kiss and placed her forehead on Jessica's. "Please don't say it..."

"We're done, Susan..." Jessica said while sobbing.

"Jess..."

"I'll send someone to pick up my things from your house..."

Susan sighed, "I can't lose you"

"I need to be alone..."

"I... I understand." Susan replied and stood up, she took Jessica's pack of cigarettes and looked at her now ex-lover, "Can I keep it?"

Jessica wiped the tears from her face and nodded, "Goodbye, Sue..."

"Goodbye..." Susan replied and walked to the door, "I'm..."

"What?"

"Take care..."

"I'll do that..."

Susan took a final look at her lover and closed the door. 

Susan walked inside her apartment and immediately started crying, everything was different, suddenly nothing made sense to her. She fed her dogs and went straight to her bedroom. The older woman took out of her pocket Jessica's pack of cigarettes and held it, it was funny how close she was feeling to her just by holding a stupid pack.

Suddenly she heard someone knocking on her door, she stood up and run to answer, hoping that it would be Jessica who was knocking but instead she found Jonathan standing outside, she chuckled at herself and then tried to smile, "I thought we were supposed to meet in an hour"

"We said at six, I came to pick you up"

"It's six? God... I didn't realize it, sorry. Come in" she replied and let her friend walk inside

"How are you?"

"Not so good..."

"You want me to leave? We could do this some other time"

"No, no... I need a friend right now"

"Why what happened?"

"You mind if we don't go out?"

"Oh, no not at all... what's going on?"

"You want something to drink?"

"It's six..." he said and chuckled, he looked at Susan and stopped, "Sure..."

"I'll be right back," Susan said and walked into the kitchen, she found the two bottles of Vodka that she bought for Jessica and looked at them, finally she sighed and took them along with two glasses. She walked back to her friend and poured some on their glasses.

"I thought you weren't drinking"

"I'm not..." Susan replied and drunk the whole glass just with a single sip, she felt her throat burning and filled her glass again

"If you continue like this I don't think you'll be able to talk"

"I broke up with..." she stopped before saying Jessica's name, "my partner"

"You were in a relationship?"

"I was..."

"What happened?"

"We broke up an hour ago"

"Why?"

"I fucked things up"

"You know... it takes two to end a relationship, you can't blame yourself for everything"

"But it was my fault..."

"You mind helping me a little, I don't even know why you two broke up"

"Because I was talking with you and I didn't say anything"

"He knew we used to date?"

"She... she knew it, yes"

"Oh... she..."

"She..."

"And it's final? I mean did you explain to her that we're just friends now?"

"Of course I did... it's final, I don't think she's going to forgive me, Jonathan..."

"Come on... you did nothing wrong... maybe if I talk to her"

Susan cut him short, "That's not going to happen..."

"Why not? I'll explain to her that we are just friends, I'm sure she'll understand"

"No... she's not..."

_______________

Jessica was still sitting on the couch, an hour passed since she broke up with Susan and she couldn't believe it... the room was getting darker so finally she stood up and opened the lights, she went to pick another pack from her bedroom and stopped in front of the window, <<She would love this view>> Jessica thought looking at the skyline as the sun started setting.

It was even harder for Jessica who was the one to take the decision, she had to stay strong and away from Susan but she couldn't... everything was reminding of her ex-lover. She opened her closet and took out one of Susan's t-shirt, she could still smell her perfume on it...

Jessica sat on the bed, everything around her was evolving, the people outside were laughing, talking loudly, the traffic on the streets was crazy but her world could not evolve, not without Susan. It was like suddenly she disappeared. Jessica lighted up a cigarette and the time passed... hour after hour she was just staying still and the ashtray was filled now...

------------------

"God, it's almost two... I should leave, Susan"

"No, come on, stay for a little longer," Susan said and turned to look at her friend.

Jonathan placed his hand on Susan's lap and smiled, "You want me to stay here for the night?"

"You'd do that for me?" Susan asked chuckling

"I would do anything for you..." He replied with a smile on his face. "I care about you, I want you to be happy"

"I know you do..." Susan said and placed her head on his shoulder. She was too drunk to realize what was going on, he was flirting with her the whole night but all Susan was thinking of was Jessica... She closed her eyes.

"Susan?"

"Hmm..."

"Come on, you should go to bed"

"Not yet... I like it here" Susan said and smiled with her eyes still closed until she felt Jonathan's warm breath on her lips, she opened her eyes and looked at him, his mouth a few inches away from hers but still, she didn't move.

"Can I?" he whispered softly

Susan nodded and he immediately kissed her, tasting the alcohol on her lips, Susan got carried away and continued kissing him, she opened her legs and sat on him while wrapping her arms around his neck, pulling him closer. His hands found their way on her ass and then he went straight on her shirt trying to take it off. Susan broke the kiss and leaned her head backward, she felt Jonathan's lips caressing her cleavage and moaned. Suddenly she opened her eyes...

"No, no... stop," she said and stood up

"What happened?"

"No... it's not right, this is not right... you should leave"

"But I thought you wanted to..."

"No... I don't... Please, go"

"Fuck..." Jonathan sighed and stood up, "I'm sorry..."

"No, no, it's not your fault... I shouldn't continue"

"So you did want this to happen?"

"Just... go"

"Of course... we'll be in touch," Jonathan said and left Susan's apartment. Susan started tearing up, she went to pick Jessica's pack and lighted up one of her cigarettes... 

The next morning Susan woke up on the couch, she touched her head and groaned as she was having a terrible headache, suddenly she heard someone knocking on her door. She stood up and answered, this time she knew that it wasn't Jessica... Hannah was standing outside, Susan looked at her confused, "Hannah?"

"Did I wake you up?"

"No, no... come inside," she said and walked back to the couch.

"How are you?"

"Your mother sent you over to pick up her things, right?"

"She did..." Hannah said and looked at Susan who was trying to stay calm, "I'm sorry... I don't know what happened but I don't know why you two can't work things out..."

Susan stood up, "I'll be right back..." she said and walked into the bedroom to take Jessica's things. She came back and handed her a large bag filled with her mother's clothes and books, "And one last thing..." Susan said and put inside the empty bottle of Vodka along with Jessica's glasses that were on the table. "Tell her I'm sorry for drinking the whole bottle, I'll replace it"

"How are you?"

"How should I be?"

"Susan, what happened?"

"What did your mother say?"

"Nothing... she just said to come and take her things"

"How is she?"

"Awful... I'm worried about her Susan"

"She's going to be fine... it will take her some time tho"

"What about you?"

"It doesn't matter... I fucked what we had..."

"You mind telling me what happened?"

"Ask her..."

"She said something about her vitamins, did you put them inside"

"Right... I forgot about them... wait a second..." she said and went back to the kitchen. Hannah immediately took out of the bag her mother's glasses and placed them on the couch, behind the pillows, that way maybe Jessica would come and they could work things out, she thought...

"Here you are..." Susan said and walked back to her, placing the vitamins into the bag.

"Thanks... you want me to tell her anything?"

"No... all I want is for you to take good care of her, that's all... can you do that for me?"

"Of course..." Hannah replied and walked to the door, "I'm sorry..."

"Me too..." Susan said and kissed Hannah's forehead, escorting her outside. She closed the door and disappeared into the bedroom.

-----------------

"Where are my glasses?"

"She didn't give them to me"

"Then go back there again..."

"Jesus, I've got things to do, if you want them just go and get them..."

Jessica sighed, "You're right... I'm sorry..."

"How are you?"

"I'm good... everything's good..." Jessica replied while taking her clothes out of the bag, "In fact, I'm better now, honestly..."

"Yeah, I can tell..." Hannah said and looked over at the empty bottles...

"What the hell is this?" Jessica asked while taking out of the bag the empty bottle of Vodka

"Oh, right. She said she's sorry and she's going to replace it..."

Jessica looked at it and then back to her daughter, "How is she?"

"Why don't you call her?"

"Please tell me..."

"... not so good, mom"

"I see... she was alone when you went there?"

"Yeah..."

"Okay..." Jessica replied and continued folding her clothes...