Janet

Gil wiped the sweat from his face with his shirt as he walked over a took and seat next to me. He smiled and laid his head against my shoulder. I looked around the room at the new dancers. They looked so ready, so excited and eager to work.

After working on the album for a few months it was finally completed and released. I felt so confident and like I was on top of the world. After doing some promoting, it was time to prepare to tour again. I needed someone to help me put it together as co-creator and artistic director.

Tina was working on a project of her own and suggested Shawn. She'd been taking the lead in rehearsals and was given the responsibility of helping choose the dancers for the tour. I was very impressed with the line up of new kids.

I knew Shawn was the best person for the job. I'd picked up my phone so many times to call her and say that I was sorry but my pride wouldn't let it happen and before I new it too much time had passed. I just wish that I wouldn't have been so stubborn that night.

I'd run away without even letting her explain and I regretted it every single day and at this point, missing her was a bit of an understatement.

I glanced at Gil. He raised his head, looked at me. I couldn't stop watching Shawn from across the room. I only hoped my face didn't express what my heart was feeling after seeing her for the first time in months.

"Have you asked her yet?" Gil asked.

"Not yet," I said and glanced at him. "What if she says no. She must be so angry with me. I just kind of ghosted her."

"She's not angry with you. She still loves you and that's why you need to just talk to her. She'd  never turn down this job and you know that."

"I just don't know where she is right now, you know. I've been doing okay just focusing on me. Maybe she's been doing better with out me."

"Dunk don't start this again. Don't you miss her?"

"Every fucking day." My eyes drifted closed. "I miss her breath against my skin. The way the hairs stand on the back of my neck when she says my name." I looked at him. "No one has ever touched me the way she does. And her love for me... it blows my mind." I paused for a moment and looked over at her again. "Most of all, I miss our friendship. Sometimes I wonder if us being together has ruined us as friends." As I rambled on and on, Gil was looking down at his phone texting. "I never really gave myself time to just be with me for a while. Maybe if I would've done that from the start, things with Shawn and I would be different right now..." I glanced back at him. "Are you listening to me?" I asked.

"Mmhmm," He said and nodded.

We both glanced up as Shawn approached us. I stood to my feet and braced myself not knowing what to expect.  She looked at us and smiled.

"Long time no see pretty girl, how you been?"

"I been great daddy and yourself?" Gil answered blushing.

Shawn laughed. "I was referring to J." She said turning her eyes to me.

It took me a moment but I finally found my words. I nodded, "Good, I've been real good. How about you?"

"I've been okay, just trying to keep busy. I've been teaching a little and T asked me to lead the auditions for her, which was amazing and so much fun. Thank you for trusting me with it boo."

"Of course! I thought it was a great idea and the kids you brought in are absolutely incredible, so thank you." I said. We were quiet for a moment.

"Well anyway," She said. " Gil text me and said that you wanted to ask me something."

"Did he?" I asked and glanced back at him. His back was to us as he tried to sneak away. I stuck my foot out and tripped him. Everyone started to laugh. He smacked my butt and ran off to join the others, giving Shawn and I a moment alone.

I looked at Shawn. Her eyes never left mine. I was actually feeling a little nervous. "I uh, I wanted to ask you something, but not here. Can we meet for dinner after, if you don't have any plans of course."

She smiled. "I'd like that."

I'd had an idea to have Preston pick us up and drop us off at the restaurant but Shawn insisted that she drive herself. I'd been there waiting for fifteen minutes before I realized that I was just a little early.

The door opened and there she was. The sexy way she walked always made me smile. I could spot her easily in a crowd.

"Hey." She said as she took a seat across from me.

"Hi." As she joined me, the waiter brought out our menus, along with a bottle of champagne and two glasses. He poured mine and then starting pouring Shawn a glass. She held her hand up.

"I'm good tonight actually, thank you." She said and smiled politely.

"Are you really not going to have a drink with me?" I asked, pouting my lips.

"Not to tonight. I need to have a clear head but thank you."

"Come on, are you afraid to let loose around me now?" I asked.

She looked at me, smiled and shook her head. "J what is this about? You said you wanted ask me something?"

I cleared my throat, realizing that she was actually serious. I pushed away my glass. If she wasn't drinking then neither was I. She looked at me as if she felt bad.

"Boo, have a drink if you want. Don't let me mess up your fun." She said picking up her phone and sent out a quick text.

"No." I said. "You're right. This is a business meeting." She grabbed her phone again. I did my best to ignore it. "I want to ask if you will be my second and help me put the tour together? Everything from the oldies to new material. Every move we make will have your name on it." I said. She dropped her phone onto the table.

"Are you serious? W- what about T?" She asked.

"Tina and I think it's your time." I said.

She looked at me for a moment. Her eyes were glossy as she was moved to silence. Shawn stood up, walked around the table and held her hand out to me. I stood to meet her gaze and she embraced me, holding me tight.

She get so good in my arms and I missed the smell of her cologne. My eyes drifted closed. I took a deep breath and took in her scent. Just as I relaxed into the hug, she let me go again.

Shawn laughed nervously and reclaimed her seat.

"I'm sorry," She said. "I just got so excited."

"Don't be sorry. It's okay to hug me you know?"

She didn't say anything. She checked her phone again, picked up her menu and called the waiter over. We ordered our food and sipped from glasses of water as I attempted to make small talk.

She told me about all the classes she'd been teaching and how she'd seen an empty space that would be perfect for a dance studio.

"I didn't realize that was something you still wanted to do. I haven't heard you talk about it in so long."

"Yeah, it's still a dream of mine, but it had to be put on the back burner while I lived out another dream." She said and smiled. I knew she meant me.

I gazed at her from across the table. I didn't realize until now that we hadn't seen each other in almost 6 months. She was just the way I'd left her. I could still see the hurt in her eyes and hear the guardedness in her tone.

Somehow when she catches my gaze, our souls still manage to touch, even if just at the finger tips. We got lost in each other's eyes for just a moment and I felt like hers again.

"I've missed seeing you." I heard myself say. "I don't like it when we're not talking. I'd rather fight than not talk at all." As serious as my words were, she looked at me with a smirk and laughed. "Did I say something funny?" I asked feeling hurt.

She shrugged. "I don't know, I guess it's just weird to me how you say you'd rather stay and fight is all."

"Why is that weird?" I regretted my question instantly realizing that I didn't want to hear the answer.

"Because when it comes to me J, you never seem to want to stay and fight." She said with tears in her eyes.

"Shawn," I started to speak.

"It's cool." She interrupted and glanced at the time again. "I gotta get going." She said and stood up.

"We haven't even gotten our food yet."

"I'm sorry, I sent Gil a text. He will be here in a few minutes to have dinner with you."

I stood up, angry at how rude she was being. She reached into her wallet and pulled out money and put it on the table.

"I don't want your money Shawn." I said picking it up and putting it back into her hand.

"J please. Just let me buy you guys dinner." She said just as Gil was walking through the door. "He's here."

"Hey chocolate divas." He said as he joined us. The waiter walked up with our food and before he could even walk away Gil was already digging in.

"Gil that's mine!" I said.

"Sorry," He said with a mouth full of food. "I thought yours was the one with fries."

As I looked back at Shawn, she was texting on her phone again.

"Are you seeing someone?" I blurted out. Gil began to choke behind me. Shawn stopped what she was doing and turned to face me.

"What makes you think it's okay for you to ask me that?" She asked. Her face was serious. Her response caught me completely off guard. "Because if I remember things correctly, since it's been so long, you walked out on me mouths ago."

I opened my mouth to speak but I didn't know what to say. She pulled cologne from her bag and sprayed herself. "Wanna make sure I smell good." She said. "Enjoy dinner." She handed Gil the money in her hand. "Text me later babe." She said, Gil nodded and she walked out of the restaurant.

I glanced at Gil.

"Don't look at me bitch, that's between y'all." He said.

"Grab your keys." I said. "Let's go."

"But I'm hungry." Gil said giving me his best said eyes and wining. "And Shawn promised me dinner."

"We can get whatever you want on the way, I promise." I said, holding up my pinky.

He smacked his lips and hooked his pinky into mine. "Okay fine... Where are we going anyway?" He said stuffing a hand full of fries into his mouth as we headed for the door

I shrugged. "I don't know yet." I said.