Chapter Two – The waves have yet to crash

“Where were you today?” probed Ryan as he sat in his living room in the dark, eyes fixated on the television. The acidic and alcoholic mixture of worry and anger splashed onto his face. Yes, he’s so worried his ***** is drunk and maybe even high. Tabitha smiled as he gazed over to her. He threw his hands up in the air, “What the *****, Tab?!”

“I met a friend, chill.” Tabitha rolled her eyes, yet the fury was only getting larger like Ryan’s pupils.

He stood up and looked down at her, “No wonder Diane locked you out. No wonder she ***** hates your guts! And now, now that I let you stay over, you ***** me over for the night to MEET someone.”

Tabitha cupped his cheeks and looked into his dialated eyes, “Look, you called me earlier today, remember?”

“That’s because I wanted you here, with me! Not just to check up on you!” He slumped into her touched, the alcohol in his breath alive. “Don’t I mean something to you? Or…or am I just someone with a place to crash? Someone you fucked and now you can use?!?!” He pushed her away and turned off the television. “I’m going to bed.” Tab sighed and watched his dark shadow go into his bedroom, the night ended with the sound of his door. Tab made her way to the couch and fell against it as she thought of Shane.

***

Shane took my hand gently, helping me out of her truck. We walked a few feet along the sand in silence, which was soon broken by her, “Do you like the beach?” I smiled and scoffed at her question. “What?” she said responding to my reaction.

“My *****, you are spontaneous.” I looked out at the coast, and then settled my glance back at her face, which glistened in the afternoon sunlight. Her edgy hair being whipped around…

“I don’t live by plans, Tab.” I sighed and looked out at the transgressing tide. The sun’s glare among the sparkling waves of silver. Metal like. “Yeah, I like beaches. I grow jealous of them though.”

“What? They seem peaceful and *****?” My eyes focus on her again, her gaze channeled in on something much further than the beach before us. “Yeah…I guess. But look at it this way…it’s full of terror deep down in the dark blue abyss, and there, what you thought is a soothing recording of quote unquote ‘peace’ is a whole mystery–waiting to nip at your ankles, and pull you in for the kill.”

Her sentence stung at me, just like her eyes. The only words I could choke out at the moment was, “Shane, you’re deep.” Tab, you’re lame.

She looked at me through the corner of her eye, “The ocean is full of deep bullshit, my new friend.”

I looked down at my shoes, mumbling, “And I wished my life to be peacful–

“Like the ocean?”

Her words shot at me instantly finishing my sentence for me, killing the lame honest suspect I am, “Yeah…exactly.”

“Stupid.”

My cheeks flush, oh the embarassment, “…Shut up.”

She chuckled at my sudden withdrawal, “Haha, ocean’s are nothing but what you think of them. Go ahead. Make something to aim for. Don’t listen to my opinions. I’m a shark in your ocean.”

I think about that… “You make me hate beach going–

She smiled, my knees weak, “And that is why I love the beach.”

My cell phone rings. It’s Ryan, “Great. I gotta take this.”

“Who is it?”

“The boyfriend.”

“Oh…you sound so…reluctant about someone you’re supposed to want to chat with…”

I shrug at her as she sits down on the sand while I walk back to the truck and lean against it, “Ryan..hey.”

“What’s up, Tab?”

“Nothing…taking a break from work.”

“Come over…”

I raise my eyebrow, “You’re drunk.”

“Sober me up then.”

“I’m busy with a friend–

“Okay fine, just me and Jack then.”

I roll my eyes, “Goodbye, Ryan. I’ll see you later.”

“No baby, come over now please–

Click. I sigh, and place my phone on the dashboard. I just stay there for a moment, and look at Shane, so noticeable on the coast. A gorgeous raven alone in solitude. I look back down at my feet. Ryan IS my boyfriend…but only once in a while will it seem that way. Shane walks over, her figure blocking the sun from my eyes. “I better get back to work…” I tell her solemnly.

She nods, but suggests, “Hey, look…I’ll stop by in the morning or something…”

My heart skips a beat, the thought of seeing her fresh in the morning… “Why?”

“I…don’t know.”

I smile shyly–whoa, since when am I shy. “Don’t promise it though.”

“Wha?”

“You don’t live by plans.”

“….Hahahahaha. I like you. Let’s go.”

She likes me. I blush at the thought. She’s barely known me for an hour or so. Now that I’m leaving the beach with her it seems like a year and a day–***** and I was only supposed to close the shop for a few minutes. BUT she admits to liking me. And I can tell for *****’s sake that she means it. At least I hope. Because…I like her too. I think. I hope. …***** I do.

***

-Morning-

“***** me…” Shane’s client looked at her in the mirror. Shane’s ears perked, and she put on a coy smile.

“You like the cut, Adrienne?” she responded, trying to ignore her plead.

“Not as much as I like you.”

“Sigh. You know I don’t do relationshi–

“I’m asking for a *****, not some attachment.”

Shane leaned down next to her ear, and whispered, “That’s what they all say in the beginning…”

Tab walks in, chewing on her favorite black Ernie Ball heavy guitar pick. Shane notices her in her wife beater and jeans topped with messy hair, her mouth just drops in awe, the sunlight following her every movement, complementing her slightly tanned yet oh so milky skin. “Tab…” she sighed as her eyes went wide and stood straight. Tab nods at her and sits on one of the chairs, grabbing some magazine on the table.

Adrienne looks at Tab, “*****. She is gorgeous.”

“Shut up you nymph.”

Adrienne rolls her eyes, “You’re calling ME a nymph? Takes one to know one.” She smiled and winked at Tab. “Hey honey.” Tab just smiled.

“***** you,” Shane mumbled and straightened Adrienne’s face.

The statement only fed Adrienne’s ego, “Gladly.”

Shane just shakes her head and finishes up the cut, “Pay me tomorrow.”

“I was just gonna suggest that.” She got up from her chair and followed Shane’s gaze towards Tab. Adrienne leans in to kiss Shane.

Shane grabbed her at the shoulders and looked her in the eye, “I’m not gonna do you, so don’t get your hopes up.” Tab looked up from her magazine and raised her eyebrow. “Goodbye Adrienne.” Shane shoves her out of the salon and watches her leave. A pair of fingers graze the soft hairs on the back of her neck. Her spine tingles. She looks back to see Tab staring straight into her eyes. Those alluring green eyes, almost hypnotic. Tab’s hand still massaging the back of her neck. Shane slightly confused, but nonetheless intrigued off the charts. “Hello Tab…what are you doing in L.A. this early…”

“Hello, Shane,” Tab murmured, with both hands now behind Shane’s neck. “I’m just…checking everything out unexpectedly.”

Shane’s hands make a nice home at Tab’s hips, “You…you seem different today. Don’t you have work?” Her eyes searched deep within, trying to find an answer to this sudden appearance.

“My boss Rick decided to give me a few weeks off for working my ***** off. I’m taking the perspective of our ocean talk yesterday. Sort of. Besides how would you know what’s different, you only met me yesterday.”

Shane thought, “…I…what? You’re an ocean..? Sorry?”

Tab smiled at her being so dumbfounded, “The waves have yet to crash. Someone needs coffee.”

“What do you mean by that, it’s too early in the morning for me to think deep.”

“That’s pretty much what I mean. It’s morning.”

“Ah…***** Tab, don’t pull anymore of those okay hahaha.”

Tab leaned into Shane’s ear, “No matter what I do, it doesn’t matter because I know you’d like it.”

Shane pulled back, “Don’t you have a boyfriend?”

***

Ever met someone that you just had to see all the time? Whether they were a riot or a ***** beauty to just having a good time with someone that knows how to? Then you find yourself falling for that person. Harder than ever. Faster than you ever thought possible. Almost as if Romeo and Juliet’s desire were passed on to you. But then you think, Romeo and Juliet didn’t make it.

***

Tabitha got to the guitar shop a few minutes late and found herself being run down by Jamie. “Jamie…why are you here so early.”

“Who was that woman yesterday? She was…I don’t know, I felt such an attraction towards her.”

She rolled her eyes at the teenager, “Jamie, Shane is someone you do NOT want to deal with. Trust me.”

Jamie sulked, “Like you’re a good role model for trust. You were so into her yesterday, I bet you didn’t even notice me leave! …WAIT, Shane. That was Shane McCutcheon?”

Tab shook her head and then squinted her eyes at her, “I knew you left! Your perfume is ***** strong.” Tab walked past Jamie, took off her black hoodie, and threw it against a chair. Jamie cocked her head to the side as she looked at Tab. “Stop looking at me, Jamie. I’m not telling you anything.”

“You’re no fun.”

Tab nodded in agreement. “No. No I’m not–

“PLEASSSSSSSEEEEEEE. Tell me how you know this really great hairdresser.”

“Just another thing of the past, J. Please stop asking the questions…next thing you know i’ll be frothing at the mouth. Where’s Rick?”

Jamie grabbed a towel and a bottle of guitar polish, “Getting coffee and doughnuts–Don’t change the subject, TELL ME!”

Could this girl give me a bigger migraine please? HOW ABOUT NO?!

You so fucked her.

Tab cringed. Who I ***** is none of your goddamned business.”

HOLY ***** YOU FUCKED HER!

She looked down at the blonde gossip. And your excitement for this is uncalled for, and it was the ***** past. That should just about tell everything okay? Yes, I fucked her then. Now, this is ***** work, mature a bit? Thanks, Id like to forget that youre a teenager in high school who lives on who fucked who and OH MY GOD tell me EVERYTHING because it excites the ***** ***** out of them. Jamie made a face and it only made Tab laugh. Jamie, you know Im ***** right.

Rick walked in with a box of donuts in one hand and a tray of coffee in the other. Morning Tab, grab a doughnut. By the way, Jamie told me you saw the girl that kicked us out of our business the other day. The ***** by the name of Shane McCutcheon.

Tab glared at Jamie with her green eyes and nodded, Yes, yes. But it wasnt her business to tell you that. OR to drag me back to our old location.

Rick smiled, Shes just a girl that wants to see where our roots are. Hahaha, get it? Roots. Its a hair salon now.

She forced a smile, Hehlisten, Rick, can I talk to you in private.

Jamie shakes her head, You can just tell me to leave for a few minutes, Tab. No reason to seem all nice when hes here.

She sighs and looks at the blonde, Fine. Jamie, get the ***** out, us adults are talking right now.

Rick chuckled as Jamie walked out the door and leaned against the window, Oh, be nice.

Believe me, Rick, I ***** try. This girl is a fanatic of my past, I cant ***** take it!

He opened the box and handed her a doughnut, How did she find out about your past anyway?

Tab took the doughnut and bit a small piece of it off, One day she just came up and said you know, Ive heard stories about you and since then its be a ***** questionnaire feast and Im not up to serving the food to her!

OkayIll talk to her. Look, you settle things with Shane–

What? What do I need to settle with Shane?

Rick took a sip from his coffee, I need you to be on good terms with the lady, okay?

I am on good terms with her, what the *****, Rick?

He whispered to her, Im going to buy the building back. Get her out of business. And I need you, to manipulate her every way that you can. And I knowthat youre the one for this.

Tab just looked at him, mouth open after she swallowed another bite, shocked that she has been put to a task without a say. What the *****? You cant make me do this, Im not like that anymore. This doesn’t ***** make sense–

Do you want this job or not?” Tab’s mouth dropped, she could not believe he’d do this. “JAMIE! You can come back in now. Jamie bounced her way back in. Do it. Or Ill make her do it.

Jamie cocked her head, Do what?

Tabitha grabbed her hoodie, Fine. She made her way out to her car. Rick looked at her.

Im trusting you to this, Tab. Its for the business.

But it can and will affect my personal life and that means no ***** to you.

***

What to do. What to do. Stuck in a situation that you cant get out of. But yet the situation seems like a piece of candy youre dying to taste. Then all of a sudden, all this time of trying to be strong, trying to move on, comes back to the epicenter of where all this damage started.

***

Tab drives her car along the congested freeway to her apartment while outraged at the situation that has just been thrown at her so effortlessly. ‘What the ***** do I do…’ she thought. ‘This is ***** awkward, this is the first time I’ve seen her in years. And already it’s going back to the way it used to be. I can’t run away this time though…no, I’m not a ***** kid anymore.’

***

-The Planet-

Shane walks to the table to see Alice and Dana sitting around, just talking. She nodded at them and smiled, “Alice. Dana.”

Alice raises her eyebrows, “Did you just…wake up?”

She pulled out a chair and sat down, “Hahaha, I won’t answer that,” she replied, reading between the lines of Alice’s question.

“Shane…” sighed Alice while she looked through a few old newspapers. “Oh look at this, you remember the news on this girl?”

Dana grabbed the newspaper from her hand, “Yeah…didn’t she kill her boyfriend or something?”

Shane’s ears perked, “What the ***** are you ladies looking at.”

Dana presented the paper in front of her as Alice narrated, “Tabitha Johnson, morbid teen, quite a few years back.”

“She didn’t kill her boyfriend,” Shane protested.

Alice and Dana looked at eachother in silence until Dana decided to say, “And you would know because…”