Heartbreak under the Neon Light

"Wait," Jenna said suddenly," What about my-? Lauren!!"

It was too late for Jenna to react as she felt two hands reaching up her dress. Lauren was just going to hook her fingers in the waistband of Jenna's panties, but the dress was too tight to allow her hands that kind of access. Lauren closed her eyes knowing she would have to suck it up and touch her best friend- there. She grabbed Jenna's panties by the gusset and felt her fingers brush against Jenna's sex. She gave a sharp tug and the panties came free. Lauren pulled them down quickly and moved Jenna's feet so she could get them off. She felt a sticky wetness on her hand and wiped it off on a hand towel nearby. For some reason, the thought of it sent pleasurable chills through her body, and Lauren shook it off as quick as she could.

Lauren stood up from her crouched position to see Jenna looking at her with a face of complete shock and disbelief that not only had her friend taken off her panties, but brushed against her pussy as well while doing so. The bad part was, she liked it. Still, she could not believe that Lauren, straight-as-an-arrow Lauren had just done what she did.

"Close your mouth, Jenna. You're drawing flies." Lauren joked, trying to relieve the tension.

"Um-. Lauren?" Jenna asked, her face getting even redder.

"Yeah?"

"Can I have my panties back now?" Jenna asked, pointing to the pair of lacey red panties now dangling off of Lauren's finger. It was Lauren's turn to blush.

"If I knew any better, I'd say you enjoyed that." Jenna said, smiling.

"You wish." Lauren retorted. Jenna stuck her tongue out then turned to face the mirror after retrieving her panties from Lauren's outstretched hand. Lauren seemed unable to move as Jenna worked on straightening out the dress so that no wrinkles appeared in the fabric. Every once in a while, she glanced up at Lauren with a smile, her best friend blushed every single time. She still had not brought her hand down yet from handing her panties back to her.

"Can you help me with the makeup?" Jenna asked, causing Lauren to break out of her trance.

"Uh, yeah. Sure." Lauren said grabbing Jenna's makeup kit from beneath the sink. She knew where Jenna kept everything. She did a few touch-ups, nothing dramatic. She wanted the dress to do all of the talking for Jenna. A little mascara and some eyeliner would be all Jenna would need. She went about the task being careful not to poke Jenna's eyes. She was sure Jenna wouldn't thank her for that. When she finished, she stepped back.

"Wow, Jenna. Wow." Lauren said with a proud expression on her face.

"What?"

"If Natalie does not show up tonight, I just might be the one pulling you into the bathroom stall. You look absolutely amazing."

"Think so?" Jenna asked looking herself over in the mirror.

"A blind woman could see it. All you have to do is show up." Lauren replied, happy she could do this for Jenna.

Jenna smiled beautifully and embraced Lauren.

"I still can't believe you took my panties off. Thinking about joining the other team?" Jenna teased.

Lauren looked at her blankly, causing Jenna to laugh.

"I'm just kidding, Lauren. Just kidding."

"You do look amazing, though." Lauren said as she recovered from that awkward comment. For some reason, it did not seem to be such a bad proposition. She knew she wouldn't, however. She was straight and had a boyfriend.

"Thanks." Jenna said smiling at the compliment. "So, when are you dropping by?"

"I have one more study group to go to. It is a final preparation for the exam tomorrow. I will get there with Evie and Brianne as soon as I am done."

"Can't wait to see you! I owe you so much for this. You are too good to me." Jenna said happily.

"Yeah, yeah, keep the gushiness down. I'm still trying to get over the fact I actually touched you."

"Aww, that wasn't so bad, was it?" Jenna teased. She watched as Lauren's face assumed a strange look that was gone almost as quickly as it had come. Something was bothering Lauren.

"Umm, look. I really have to go," Lauren said as she backed out of the bathroom," I will see you tonight, and you had better not change clothes or I will annihilate you on our next Mortal Kombat tournament."

"Not like you don't already." Jenna said with a smile. Lauren laughed strangely, as though it were somehow forced.

"I have to go." Lauren said, sliding out of Jenna's dorm. Jenna knew Lauren could be strange sometimes, but the past twenty minutes had been the strangest she had ever seen her act. She wondered what that was all about, but it was quickly forgotten in her excitement, waiting with impatience for the clock to strike six.

*****

Jenna approached the bar through the mingling throng of bodies intent on having a good time. Obviously, quite a few people were succeeding in their endeavors; from the jocks playing drinking games in their rowdy corner of the bar, to the gay couple on the other side trying to make their trip to the bathroom as inconspicuous as possible it seemed that tonight was certainly going the way people had planned. Certainly, it had to be her turn, right?

"Hey, Misty!" Jenna called out to the bartender over the thumping bass of tonight's selection of greatest electronic hits from the 90's.

"Oh my God!" a voice squealed over the music. A few seconds later she found herself engulfed in a bear hug by Misty, the head bartender.

"You look great, Misty." Jenna complimented, looking at Misty's "outfit" as the short girl walked back around the bar.

"Had a good enough look yet?" Misty asked, feigning disgust.

"I will never be able to get enough of looking at your ass, Misty. You know that."

"Lesbians..." Misty retorted with a mock roll of her eyes. Jenna smiled and made her stare a little more obvious just to prove her point.

"I can't help that you have such a wonderful ass. It just begs for people to look at it."

"Whatever, doll. I guess you will be having the usual?" Jenna asked with an eyebrow raised.

"You know it." Jenna smiled and watched Misty turn around with a roll of her eyes. Misty knew exactly why Jenna always asked for Bud Light, why she always timed her visits for this part of the evening. Misty bent over the fridge to retrieve a bottle, but Jenna noticed something was off. Misty did not have to bend over as much as she usually did. Actually, she barely even moved her arm at all. Jenna was disappointed. This was one of the highlights, if not the highlight, of her frequent visits to the Angry Bull Tavern in the heart of downtown.

Who could blame her, honestly? Misty was an amazing catch for anybody. She was a slim five feet three-inch-tall blonde bombshell with light blue eyes and a smile that was radiant. She often wore shoes with a thick sole to give her a couple extra inches. It was necessary for her job and she had gotten tired of standing on milk crates. Personality-wise, she was intelligent, beyond sarcastic, but a great listener with an infinite capacity for compassion. The only thing was she was as straight as an arrow, and had made it clear from the very beginning.

Jenna was fine with the fact. The two women had become fast friends, and Jenna's sexuality was more of a source of humor and amusement between them than any kind of friction whatsoever. In between orders and bantering with the other customers, Misty always seemed to make time to talk with Jenna.

"Not fair," Jenna whined pushing out her lower lip, "you stocked up."

"Someone let slip a certain lesbian would be harassing me tonight." Misty said, returning with a Bud Light in hand.

"Can't blame a girl for trying." Jenna said as she played with her long brown hair.

"You look great too, a little dressed up for a simple night at the bar, aren't you?" Misty asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Of course, she is!" a voice came up from behind them. Jenna felt an arm slide over her shoulder.

"Oh, God," Misty whined, "not you!"

"What do you mean, 'not you'? I have to check up on my girlfriend, don't you know?" Josh asked with a hurt look on his face.

"Ewwww." Jenna replied, sliding the thick black appendage off of her shoulder.

"I agree." Misty said laughing. "I'll be back in a minute."

Misty set Jenna's beer in front of her and walked off to fill orders for a rowdy group at the other end of the bar.

"How is that for service!?" Josh shouted after her. Misty's only reply was a middle finger thrown up behind her as she walked away. That drew a raucous round of laughter from everybody at the bar. Misty had graduated college the year before, and Josh was a Senior. He was the only black man in school history to participate on the Lacrosse team, and he certainly had the physique for it. He was large, muscular, and a complete meathead. Still, he was a great friend and very respectful of women despite how crass he came off in conversations. Still, Jenna couldn't help but like him. He had a magnetic personality and enough wit, maybe, to jest with Jenna and Misty. His attempts to try to get Misty to go out with him were practically bar legend at this point. Every single time, he failed. Still, every rejection never failed to bring a smile to his face and a promise of something more elaborate the next time.

"So, Jenna," he said, turning to her," what brings you out here tonight? A little brunette bookworm like you should be studying for mid-terms, right?"

"Mid-terms were last week, Josh. Besides, I am meeting a few people."

"Yeah, one of them wouldn't happen to be a raven-haired ice princess, would it?" Josh asked, rocking back in his chair in laughter.

"Only you would find that funny, Josh. Typical male." Jenna deadpanned.

"Typical male? I should be offended." Josh feigned being hurt.

"Offend this." Jenna replied, following Misty's example and throwing him the finger. She had looked away for only one second only to feel wetness all over her outstretched digit. She looked over to see Josh licking it.

"Ewwww! Gross!" Jenna exclaimed while wiping her finger off with Josh's shirt. Josh merely smiled with amusement at Jenna's look of disgust as she dried it off. "I have no hand sanitizer, either. Yuck, male germs."

"I'm telling you, Jenna. If I can't get her to go out with me, I'm going to have to convert you to the other side."

"Yeah," Jenna replied as she watched Misty talk with other customers over the end of her beer bottle," good luck with that."

Josh followed Jenna's gaze, then smiled.

"Looks like I'm about to get some competition, huh? You're not taking my girl away from me. I'll bite you."

"For the millionth time, Josh, I'm not your girl." Misty said, appearing almost out of thin air.

"Yet." Josh said under his breath. Somehow, Misty managed to hear and set him with a look of extreme disinterest.

"So, what do you want, Josh?" Misty asked. "If you tell me a date, I'm gonna break Jenna's beer bottle over your head."

"A date." Josh said, grabbing Jenna's beer out of her hand just in case Misty made good on the threat.

"Way to go, Misty!" Jenna sighed in exasperation as Josh chugged the rest of her beer.

"I'll get you another one on the house, okay Jenna?" Misty said apologetically turning to go to the beer fridge.

"You'd better!"

"And you white people say we get all of the handouts." Josh joked.

"Bite me." Jenna retorted.

"Gladly." Josh said, chomping his teeth together.

"Will you two get a room? Geez." Misty said laying down another beer in front of Jenna.

"Only if you agree to join us." Josh chimed in. Misty ignored him and looked at Jenna expectantly as she took a sip from the cold bottle.

"Well?" Misty asked.

"That's a deep subject." Jenna replied before taking another sip. Misty sighed.

"Why so dressed up? You look amazing, by the way, but what's the occasion?" Misty asked looking into Jenna's brown eyes.

"As if you need to ask." Josh replied before she could.

"Really, Jenna?" Misty asked in exasperation before she was summoned to take orders. "You need to stay right there. We have to talk."

"Do I have a choice?" Jenna asked Josh as they both watched Misty's ass swinging away as she walked to the other end of the bar.

"By the way that ass is swinging," Josh said making a noise to indicate he doubted it," I'd say she would never forgive you if you tried to leave now."

"She can swing it all she wants, I'd have no problem with it." Jenna replied with a smile.

"I don't disagree, but that kind of swing means trouble." Josh replied with a grin.

"Think so?" Jenna asked raising an eyebrow, her beer bottle becoming increasingly more interesting by the second as she heard slamming on the other end of the bar. Jenna and Josh both winced.

"It goes well beyond thinking at this point." Josh said.

"We were coming out tonight with some friends because it is my birthday." Jenna explained.

"Happy Birthday, midget." Josh said wrapping her in a hug, she returned it.

"Thanks, Joshy. No matter what Misty says, you're a sweet guy- as far as guys go. Still, you need to stop calling me a midge, I've got three inches on thunder thighs over there." Jenna said, gesturing to Misty whose face obviously showed her displeasure. Jenna sighed knowing the promised conversation would not be a pretty one.

"Thanks, I guess. So, who else was coming?" Josh inquired, knowing to turn the subject.

"Just a couple more friends. Brianne, Lauren and Evie all said they would make it as well. They should all be arriving any minute. I got here early." Jenna replied, taking her phone out of her purse to check if any messages had been sent to her. There were none. This bothered Jenna until she realized in her haste she had forgotten to tell Natalie where they were meeting.

"I didn't tell her to come here!" Jenna said aloud as she dialed Natalie's number. No answer. Jenna left a message and hung up.

"Let me guess. Voicemail?" Josh said in a tone that implied his lack of surprise.

"Please, don't." Jenna asked pleadingly. "Not tonight."

"Fine." Josh said, throwing his arms up in surrender. An awkward silence settled between them and Jenna finished off the beer.

"Jenaaaaaaaaa!" a voice shouted out from behind her, interrupting thoughts that were none too pleasant. Jenna put on her best smile and got up from the stool.

"Hey Lauren!" Jenna said, hugging the tall girl lightly. "Almost thought you wouldn't make it!"

"Well, we did! Happy Birthday!" Lauren exclaimed bringing Jenna in for another hug.

Jenna looked past Lauren, who caught the glance.

"Oh, they're on the dance floor. They really love this song."

"They love every song. Natalie, too? Wow, I thought she hated dancing. Miracles never cea-."

"Jenna," Lauren's face fell and Jenna knew what she was about to say," she, well, said that she had something to do."

Jenna felt her heart drop suddenly.

"Oh, Jenna, I'm so sorry." Lauren said as she saw a tear trickle down Jenna's cheek only to be wiped away quickly. She embraced Jenna allowing the girl to bury her face in her shoulder. "She did send her apologies. I'm sure we can still have fun tonight, right?"

"Suddenly I am very thirsty." Jenna replied sadly as she stepped out of the hug and walked back toward the bar, leading Lauren by the hand.

"Hey, Lauren." Josh spoke up as the two women approached the bar. He took note of the devastated look on Jenna's face and couldn't help but think of how fucked up the situation was.

"Oh, my God." He heard a voice behind him and closed his eyes. Misty was a force to be reckoned with when she was angry.

"Paul! Watch the bar!" Misty screamed at the top of her lungs as she walked around to talk to Jenna.

"Misty, not a good time." Lauren cautioned, her own heart breaking for Jenna.

"Bullshit this is 'not a good time'!" Misty seethed in anger.

"Please, Misty. Not now." Jenna pleaded, more tears beginning to fall down her face. She didn't care if she cried in front of everybody.

"Yes. Right now, Jenna. How many more times are you going to-." She paused as she heard Jenna sobbing openly now. "Come on, follow me."

Misty pulled Jenna out of the bar stool with remarkable ease for a girl her size.

"Where are you taking her?" Lauren asked.

"Yeah, I was going to try to get some of that. Where are you taking her?" Josh asked, smiling.

"Will you stop thinking with your dick for more than two seconds!" Lauren shouted, each word emphasized with a smack on whatever exposed part of Josh's body she could land a blow upon. Josh merely raised his arms and laughed as Lauren's blows landed.

"Damn, Lauren," he said," you're getting stronger. Stroking your boyfriend is a pretty good workout, huh?"

"Shut up!" Lauren screamed, looking embarrassed. She got up to follow Misty and Jenna to the corner booth they were now sitting. Josh was immediately behind her. Lauren caught the movement and tried to run before she was picked up bodily from the floor and Josh carried her with only one arm to the table. She screamed as she felt herself being lifted up and laughed as she tried to fight free of Josh's grasp. She knew it was futile, he was simply too strong for her to fight off whatsoever.

They arrived at the corner table where Misty and Jenna were watching them, Jenna with a small smile through her tears. That smile did not last long as Josh finally put Lauren down and the two settled into the booth with them.

"Did you have to come along?" Misty looked at Josh. "If you are not going to be any help, you need to leave."

"It seems everywhere I go someone is inviting me to leave." Josh said with a hurt look on his face. Misty knew she had taken things too far.

"I'm sorry, Josh." She said, laying a hand on his arm. "Just try not to be a complete goofball for once."

"Hey, I might be a goofball, but there is one thing I have never kidded about- how much I care about you three. We have been through quite a bit together, and I will always try to help when I can."

"Thanks." Misty smiled.

"Yeah, thanks." Jenna said, leaning against Josh's shoulder, wrapping her arms around his nearest one. The tears continued to pour down her face, the slight makeup she was wearing beginning to run.

"Jenna," Misty started," you know we love you, and wish for you to be happy. That is all we want. However, all of us are concerned. Natalie is poison."

Jenna's face started to show signs of defensiveness.

"Stop shutting down every time this subject gets brought up, Jenna!" Lauren chimed in.

"I can't help it, I am in love with her." Jenna said, her voice hoarse and raspy from crying.

"She obviously does not feel the same way about you." Josh said, his eyes focused off in the distance.

"How could you possibly know about that? You haven't even met her!" Jenna's tone was turning defiant.

"That is what we are talking about, Jenna. We-."

"- here." Josh was saying at the same time Misty was trying to speak.

"What?" Lauren asked.

"If this Natalie girl is as Jenna described her, she is here and apparently not alone."

The three women at the table suddenly diverted their attention towards the dance floor where Josh had fixed his gaze. There was a stunning, beautiful woman dancing provocatively with someone none of them knew.

Misty had never met Natalie before and appraised the woman. She could see how Jenna had fallen in love with her roommate. The woman was tall, about five feet, eleven inches with long, raven hair and green eyes. She carried herself like royalty and her moves looked confident and graceful. She was sure this woman had a silver tongue that told a person everything they wanted to hear and more. She had seen the type far too many times since she had started bartending. The more she watched Natalie dance, the more the anger within her fanned from a spark into a raging inferno. It was the gasp of recognition and the bitter, subdued wail behind her that caused the flames to dissolve temporarily.