Choose Me

Hallow's Eve (Part One)

*Stef*

Ever since I met Ren, my heart hasn't stopped pounding. If I'm honest, really honest, I never really thought I could move on from loving my best friend, Lena Adams, yet somehow I think I can love Ren...or at least I think I can. She makes me laugh, and her mocha skin is so incredibly soft and silky. I love the way she looks at me: as if I'm the only person in the world, and if I'm honest, she reminds me a great deal of Lena.

Which is why I couldn't bring myself to really tell Lena about her until I was sure that we would move forward in our relationship. For as long as I can remember, I have loved Lena Elizabeth Adams, but for as long as I've known her, she has been with Amber. And I am not one to steal another man or woman's partner. But the ache deep in my soul is what moved me to really search deep and hard and come to terms with who I really was; thus, I broke it off with Mike. Of course, I wasn't thrilled that I hurt him like I did, and it took several years for us to even think of forming a friendship. Considering we worked together, it was kind of hard for him to heal for a while, and I didn't blame him.

Yet, in all of that time, I never once told Lena that I loved her. Not one single time. I'd lie in bed at night and want her so badly, my entire body shook, and the tears would roll down my face, but I couldn't bring myself to tell her. Not even last year when she and Amber were going through a terrible rough patch, and she'd lay in my arms and cry her eyes out. I'd simply run my fingers through her hair, trying my best to console her, and even if she'd fall asleep and stay the night, I just wouldn't cross that boundary with her no matter how much I wanted it.

My friendship with Lena was beautiful, to say the least, and I didn't want anything to ever break that tie. Yet as I pack my suitcase for the weekend with Ren, my mind keeps going back to her face when I told her the news, and confusion takes over. I understand she may be hurt because I didn't keep her in the loop, but her constant drifting off, like she wasn't paying attention to what I was saying really was messing with my head. I haven't really allowed myself to even wonder if she has ever felt the same as me because to do so would be torture of the soul.

I jump as my phone rings, and I smile as I see Lena's name. "Hello, beautiful!"

"Hey, Stef! When are you leaving? I couldn't remember if you'd already left or if you were leaving tomorrow?"

I sit on the edge of my bed as I close my small suitcase. "I leave tomorrow, darling. Mike is actually taking me to the airport on his lunch break. What's up, sweetheart?"

"Well, can I stop by? I have something for you since we won't be sharing Halloween together this year..."

I run my fingers through my hair as I look over at the time which reads 8:07 p.m, and smile, "Of course, hun. Come on over!"

There's a brief pause before she ends the conversation, "Ok. I'll be there in about 15."

And the line is silent. I pull the phone away to see she's hung up, and I sigh as my heart begins to race. I wonder what she's bringing me? My heart will never cease to race, and my stomach will never cease to stop quivering when I know I will see her. I can only hope that the closer I get to Ren, the more it will slow down.

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*Lena*

The truth is, I knew when Stef was leaving. I just needed an excuse to stop by and see her, and knowing that she was leaving tomorrow, I had stopped and picked up a pair of decorated apples to bring to her so we could eat them tonight. This had been our tradition for as long as I could remember, and since Halloween was the time we had met and become friends, we always celebrated it together. This year would be different, of course, because of her new girlfriend. My stomach twists as I think about Stef in the bed of this woman, and I force myself to push it to the back of my mind because if I don't, I'll have to pull the car over and hurl on the side of the road.

I pull up to Stef's apartment and park in my usual spot, and my heart races as I rush up the concrete steps to her door. I smile at the decorations on the door and around the frame before knocking briefly and letting myself in. "Yoo-hoo!!!!" I slide my shoes off and set my purse down as I head towards her bedroom, but she meets me halfway.

"We-ellll, look who the ghosts have brought over! Give me some sugar!"

My stomach does several flips as she moves towards me, but instead of the usual hug, she takes the paper bag from my hand and heads towards the kitchen. My heart drops as I realize she was referring to the sugar on the candied apples, and I swallow the lump in my throat. "I can make the hot cocoa if you'd like," I head towards her cabinet where I know she stashes her junk food, and see the hot cocoa right in front.

"Ahhhhh! You got the good stuff!" she smiles as she holds up one of the candied apples. This one is glittery dark purple with drips of white chocolate and black licorice spiders. The other is blood red, dipped in dark chocolate with little cinnamon candies sprinkled in the chocolate part.

"Nothing but the best for you," I blush softly as I stir the hot cocoa on the stove. I swallow hard as I keep my back turned to her, and finally muster up enough courage to come right out and ask, "So, have you slept with Ren yet?"

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**UH-OH! What do you think will happen? That was a loaded question!**