Working eased my anxiety, and by the time I got home, I was calm.

My mobile rang as I unlocked the door. "Hello," I said and closed the door with my foot.

"Hey, Jazz, it's Belinda. Are you busy?"

"No, I just got home from work, why?" I dumped my bag on the table and sat.

"Oh. Are you back on days?"

I laughed into the phone. "Yeah, sorry, I meant to tell you on Saturday night, but it slipped my mind. What's up?"

Belinda gulped back a sob. "Could we have some girl time, maybe go to the movies since you're not working nights?"

"Yeah, sure. How about tomorrow night?"

"Okay. I'll come and get you around seven." She paused and asked, "What about Adam?"

"He's out of town again," I said and grumbled, "I'm not sure when he'll be back. If he is, it won't matter." I paused, wondering what was going on with Belinda. I said, "What's up, Belinda, you don't sound happy."

"I gotta go. I'll tell you tomorrow night."

"Okay." I was shocked by her sudden hang-up and guessed it had something to do with Daniel.

When I got home from work the following day, Belinda was waiting for me and chatting with Percy. I could see she was on the verge of tears. I smiled because if I said anything, it would tip her over the edge, and I didn't want him to witness it.

"Hey, Percy." I waved. "Belinda, I'll jump into the shower, okay."

"Sure," she said and then I heard her say, "Gotta go. Bye, Percy." She followed me inside.

As soon as I closed the door, she burst into tears. I dropped my bag and cuddled. Once the initial flood was over, I sat her at the table.

"We won't go to the movies," I said. "I've got a bottle of wine and some frozen pizza. I'll get it sorted, and then you can tell me what's going on." I dug out the pizza and as I put it in the oven, I glanced over my shoulder and said, "It's Daniel, isn't it?"

Belinda nodded and sobbed.

I patted her on the back. "Let me get the wine." I got some glasses and opened the bottle. Once our glasses were full, I said, "Okay, what's up?"

"I don't know." She sobbed again. "It's like he's changed overnight. After Mel's party, he's been different. I'm sure he's going to dump me."

"Dump him, Belinda." I had no qualms about saying that. Yes, he's my brother, but I know him well.

"What? No...I love him," she gasped.

"Then you need to dump him first. Believe me. I know my brother."

She wiped her hands down her face and stared at me. "How's that gonna work?"

I laughed and patted her hand. "I don't know, but it might." I shrugged and added, "Belinda, every girlfriend Daniel's ever had, he's lived with straight away, then in a month or two, he leaves and makes out they kicked him out. It's always too easy for him. You've got to make it hard."

She grinned and wiped her face some more, then lifted her head. "Yeah...he didn't move out once you got back on your feet." She took a sip of her wine, then asked, "So what will I say?"

"Tell him you need your space. You could say that it happened too fast, and you're not sure if it's what you want. Does he know you're here?" I queried.

"No." She shook her head. "I haven't been home yet. I didn't say anything after I rang you last night."

I took another sip of my wine. "Good. You go home tonight and do it straight away. Pretend you've been out with some people from work."

Belinda studied her glass of wine. "What if it doesn't work? Like he goes, and I don't see him again."

I cuddled her and said, "Then he's a bigger prick than I thought, and you wouldn't want him anyway."

She sobbed into my shoulder.

I played with her hair and said, "Do you want to watch The Notebook?"

Belinda burst into laughter and lifted her head. "No, I'm not into depression like you are."

"Let's go to the movies then," I said. "I haven't been in ages."

"What about the pizza?"

I checked the time. "It's seven. We'll eat, and then go. What do you say?"

"Sounds good," she said.

"I'll have a shower." I stood and pointed at her glass. "You better not drink any more wine because you gotta drive."

When she dropped me home, I said, "Okay, do it as soon as you get home and ring me when it's done because he'll head here. I'll put my spin on how you're a nice girl, etc, etc."

Belinda grinned. "See ya, Jazz and thanks. I feel so much better."

I beamed at her and said, "It's about time I helped you instead of you helping me."

She drove away. I wasn't sure she'd take my advice, but an hour later she rang. "I did it." She sniffled back tears. "I'm sure he's on his way to you now."

"How did he take it?"

Belinda laughed in between sobs. "He was shocked. You should have seen the look on his face. He tried to talk me out of it, so that's a good sign. Right?"

I laughed and crooned, "That's a good sign. I'll tell him he should date you to try to win you back. He can live with me for a bit," I said and added, "You shouldn't live with him again, Belinda. Not unless he proves he's devoted to you, otherwise he'll do the same thing." I said, "And don't always be home. Be busy and say no sometimes, okay."

She laughed into the phone. "Why is it we're good at giving advice but we don't follow it ourselves?"

I couldn't help but laugh, too, because that was so true. If I could follow my advice, I wouldn't be where I am with Adam. "That's what best friends are for," I said.

We talked for the next fifteen minutes. Belinda told me how fantastic Daniel was. She started to tell me how great he was in bed. I laughed and said, "Whoa up. Not the right thing to be talking to his sister about."

She giggled and talked about his motocross racing instead.

A knock sounded on the door. I whispered, "Gotta go, someone's at the door. I'll ring you tomorrow."

Poor Belinda.  Jasmine did warn her friends about Daniel.

It's nice to see Jasmine comforting Belinda since it appears that Belinda is usually the one doing the comforting. 

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