After the dinner with Alice and Dana and the non-surprising no show from Shane and Andie, Carmen hailed a cab for Zo and her to drive around town to take in the crazy Vegas sights. The two laughed at some of the sinful things that they were witnessing, from a drag queen fight to almost complete sexual acts happening in the open.

Zo saw the hotel that was supposed to mimic Italy and decided that she wanted to see inside. The women got out of the cab and walked closely through out the conservatory of the Bellagio. The colorful flowers, trees, sculptures and water fountains were almost overwhelming.

Wow, this place is amazing! Dont you think? Carmen said smiling as she looked around.

Yeah, Ive never seen a place like this really. I mean there are places that are kind of like this in L.A., but there are absolutely no places like this in Wyoming. Zo grinned.

Wyoming? Carmen asked with a slight laugh in her voice.

Yeah, thats where Andie and I are originally from. Zo said a little embarrassed.

They walked around more laughing and talking about each of their upbringings. Zo loved hearing more about Carmens large Spanish family. Things got serious when past loves was brought up. They sat down on a bench under some trees and in front of one of the water fountains.

Carmen was facing Zo as she spoke. The first girl I fell in love with was one of my best childhood Spanish friends. Her name was Luzia, we were about fourteen years old and I would fantasize about her all the time. You know, it was one of those things that we only ever experienced in the depth of our own minds. I never fathomed having an actual physical sexual experience with Luzia in the flesh. I knew if I told her she would look at me with disgust, so I never told her that I loved her like that.

You kept it to yourself? Zo asked.

Yes. Carmen smiled softly.

My first love was Rae. She was my first everything. I met Andie when I was fourteen she was 16 and had moved back to Wyoming from California. She and I became friends by running into the only music instrument store. We had only one in Powell. Zo said.

Carmen laughed quietly. Powell, Wyoming?

Zo laughed with her. Anyway we became really good friends. She invited me to California one summer and luckily my parents at the time could care less if I went or not

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Los Angeles

How come your mom didnt pick us up? A young Zo asked Andie, who was staring around for the bus they needed to take to get to her mothers house.

Who knows? Andie shrugged her shoulders. Her naturally strawberry blonde hair feel straight to her shoulders. She wore an old Iggy Pop t-shirt that stopped just at the top of her baggy red, black and green plaid pants. Her green converse shoes peeked out at the bottom. Zo looked her up and down; she noticed that Andie seemed really annoyed as they waited for the bus. She decided to maybe get Andies mind off of whatever was bothering her.

So what is your sister like? Zo asked again for the millionth time. Andie smiled at the thought of Rae.

Shes different, dresses like a boy. She looks like one, but the cool thing is she doesnt give a *****. Andie grinned and looked at Zo.

Thats cool. Zo pushed back her mousy brown chin length hair behind her ear as they stepped onto the bus. Your parents dont care that she likes to look like a boy?

Andie gave her a crooked look. What do you think? And the ***** that lives with my mother is not my parent.

Oh, right. Zo nodded.

They remained quiet as the bus took they out to Andies mothers small house. Zo was in complete culture shock with all the busyness of L.A., but Andie didnt seem to even notice. When they arrived at the small green house with a brown lawn, Andie and Zo got off the bus. Zo looked at the house, which was a ***** of a lot nicer than the trailer her folks had in Wyoming.

Andie was walking up the stairs as Zo stared at the house. She was stricken by a soft voice coming from the front door.

And! Youre finally here!

Yeah, god the bus took so long!

Zo peered up to see Andie hugging a shorter girl. They were quiet and she realized that the two may need a moment to say their proper hellos. Zo turned her back and stared down the street. She heard soft sniffling between the two girls.

Hows your back now? the soft voice asked.

Its fine, dont worry. Andies raspy voice wavered a bit and then she laughed. Looks like you need a haircut.

Well, I waited a few weeks because I knew you would be coming to cut it. The other voice chuckled.

Zo come meet my little sister Rae. Andie called out to her.

She turned around with a shy smile. Andie had her arm over the shorter girls shoulder. Zo walked closer to the steps and was able to get a closer look at the girl who could easily pass for a boy. She was a lot shorter than Andie, but almost the exact same height as Zo. She was a plump girl, not in the way that Andie was built. Her sister was plumper because of her height. But she didnt carry herself like it bothered her at all. She seemed confident. The girl had short natural black hair and was wearing baggy blue jeans and a baggy light blue polo shirt. Zo had never seen anyone like the girl ever. She was completely taken by her warm smile and sparkling gray eyes.

Zo this is Rae. Shes about your age. Andie grinned looking at her.

Rae stared back at Zo both not breaking their gaze. Then Rae finally smiled wider.

Hi Zo, its nice to meet you finally.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Vegas

Raes voice echoed in Zos mind as she spoke of Rae to Carmen.

Rae was Andies sister right? Carmen said quietly.

Yeah. Zo nodded, she looked up at Carmen and thought for a moment. She died when we were sixteen.

Zo took a deep breath realizing just how hard it was to talk about Rae with someone who wasnt Andie. Not only did she now know the absolute sacredness of the story of Rae, but what it had meant for Andie to tell Shane about it all. Zo swallowed hard and looked at Carmen. Her coffee colored eyes stayed on Zo and she looked concerned.

We dont have to talk about it Zo. She said softly placing her hand onto Zos.

She smiled at Carmen gently and turned her hand to take the caramel tinted soft skin of Carmens fingers into her own pale hand.

No, I want to tell you. Zos soft voice said to Carmen.

Zo did just that as they sat in the beautiful hotels conservatory. She told Carmen about her love and loss of her first lover.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Shane and Andie were both lying on their stomachs naked. The sheets and comforter was pushed to cover them from the waist down. The unblemished skin of Shanes back was bare and clean next to Andies tattooed and scarred back. The colors on her back were so dramatic on top of Andies alabaster skin.

Shane was astounded at Andie being so at ease with displaying her back. In the past she had always made sure to cover her back up as much as possible when she was naked around Shane. Or if Shane had her arms around Andie from the behind or making love to her from the back, she would become almost like stone.

Shane ran her fingers carefully over the outlines of the tattoo and then the scars. Andie smiled and watched Shane closely, who stared back at her. The only light on was the TV, which was on a soft music channel. A song by Bush called Letting the Cables Sleep played softly in the background.

You didnt know that I had wanted to tell you before you got on the bus? Shanes smoky voice asked.

It crossed my mind, but I didnt really think that you would love me or at least tell me you did. Andie answered, her hand had found its way to Shanes shoulder and then her neck, stroking the one spot that always seemed to make Shane melt. I still cant believe you told me that Andie grinned. That youre Batman.

Shane laughed softly. Im never going to live that down am I?

Of course not. Andie leaned forward and kissed Shane, she pulled back and licked her tasting the cinnamon and ginger that came from the lip balm that Shane would put on to keep her lips soft.

Shane sat up and pulled the sheets and comforter off of Andies body, revealing every curve in the blue light of television. She ran her hand down Andies spine and over the roundness of her *****. Andie let out a gasp. Shane smiled and leaned down to whisper into Andies ear.

Do you trust me? she said quietly.

Andie nodded. I love you Shane. I trust you more than anything.

Shane kissed her cheek and sat up, the soft words of the music caressed their ears.

You in the dark you in the pain :: you on the run :: living a ***** living your ghost :: living your end :: never seem to get in the place :: that I belong :: don’t want to lose the time :: lose the time to come

Whatever you say it’s alright :: whatever you do it’s all good :: whatever you say it’s alright :: silence is not the way :: we need to talk about it :: if heaven is on the way

You in the sea on a decline :: breaking the waves :: watching the lights go down :: letting the cables sleep

Silence is not the way :: we need to talk about it :: if heaven is on the way :: we’ll wrap the world around it :: if heaven is on the way

Im a stranger in this town :: Im a stranger in this town.

Shane guided Andie to sit up on her knees, her hand tapping the inside of Andies thigh as if to ask her to open them wider. She let her hands roam every inch of Andies body, coaxing the sultry moans from her velvet throat. Shane felt that if she never left this room with Andie, she could give a ***** whether she was in Vegas or anywhere else.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



Andie was sleeping when her cell phone began to ring. Shane was spooning her as she picked up the phone.

Hello? she mumbled.

Andrea? Its your mother. The annoying voice said on the other line.

Andie turned onto her back and took the phone from her ear. She grasped it and held the phone with both hands shaking it as if it were her mother, gritting her teeth. Shane opened her eyes to this sight and laughed quietly. Andie took a deep breath and put the phone back to her ear.

Hi mom. Andie said as civil as she could.

Oh good youre still there. Just wanted to let you know I saw the article on that band of yours in the L.A. magazine. It said that you may start touring? her mother asked casually.

Yes, were on tour now with the Distillers mom. Andie tried to sound patient.

The Distillers? A band named after an alcohol beverage, sounds charming. Where are you now? she said in a snotty tone.

Im in Vegas. Andie rolled her eyes.

Wonderful another charming place filled with debauchery. Her mother sighed.

Well, you know me where debauchery flows like water, Ill be there. Shane choked back more laughter. Look did you call me to insult everything I do or is there a purpose to this phone call?

I was just going to see how you were doing. How is that Zo? Still have that ridiculous different colored hair? Her mother continued to ramble.

Mother! Why do you do that? Andie asked.

Do what? she pretended to be confused.

You always say that band or that Zo. Andie growled.

I dont know what youre talking about Andrea. Andies mother said. Oh I heard that Rosie ODonnell is ***** now. What a shocker!

Andie shook the phone in the air again.

Mom, Rosie ODonnell came out a long time ago. Andie groaned. This made Shane laugh hard and loud. Andie went to playfully hit Shane to shut her up, but instead back handed her right in the nose hard.

Ouch! Shane gasped; her hands instinctively covered her nose. Andie flipped over on her side quickly to look at Shane.

Oh ***** sorry! She picked up the phone. Mom I have to go.

What was that? Oh god tell me you arent at that Bunny Ranch with all of those prostitutes. Her mothers voice got louder.

Yes, mom thats where Im at. Im having tons of nasty ***** with hookers. Bye! Andie hung up and looked at Shane worried.

Oh god, let me see. Andie pulled Shanes hands away from her nose and saw blood trickling out of one nostril.

Woo, quite the right hook youve got there. Shane laughed gently as Andie ran to the bathroom and came back with some toilet paper. She stuffed the toilet paper into the bleeding nostril.

Shane spoke nasally with her nose plugged. What was that about tons of nasty ***** with hookers?