Best Friends

It was all quiet, everyone was asleep. Tom, Kari's boyfriend beside her was sound asleep while she just laid there with her eyes wide open. Maybe it was that time of the month, either way her heart was troubled. She did not like things the way they were in her life. The grades were decent, her boyfriend was decent, her family like any normal family out there, with underlying issues. But something was not right and she felt it in her heart.

"Why do you keep yawning?" May asked, with a tinge of irritation in her voice.

"I couldn't sleep last night," Kari replied with a weak voice.

May's tone immediately turned into concern. "What's up?"

Kari shook the feeling off. "Its nothing. Hey, so what happened to you and the other guy yesterday?"

"Nope, too vain for my taste," May replied nonchalantly. 

At this moment, Kari felt someone grab her with a strong force and was pulled into a pair of masculine arms. It was Tom. He kissed her on the lips as Kari tried to recover from the shock. "Hi princess."

"Oh get a room," May rolled her eyes. Kari let out a weak laugh. "Oh...Tom.."

"I wish I had someone who would sweep me off my feet like that," May sighed. "Someone who'll be there for me, take care of me, accompany me to events.. Just like you guys! Kari you have the best boyfriend ever!" May punched Kari lightly on the shoulder. Kari smiled at Tom, yes she did have the best boyfriend ever.

"Your turn will come May, you're not exactly ugly or whatever," Tom assured. Indeed May wasn't. With her unique fiery red hair and green eyes, a curvy body, and nothing particularly unsightly about her, it was odd how she did not have a companion yet. Or rather, that she always minded the little things her suitors did that ticked her off. She just did not have that connection with anyone. That chemistry. That feelings. That love. That Kari and Tom had.

May smiled her signature smile that would make any man swoon. Kari loved that smile. They headed back to class, with May talking about how her date yesterday went.

Tom got up from the bed and wiped Kari off. He started to put his clothes on while Kari stared at the ceiling. After these sexual moments, Tom always cleaned up meticulously immediately after while Kari liked to just relax and lay there for a while. He was so thoughtful. Kari wished he would just lay there with her first though.

"So I told Charles about May, asked him if he was interested to meet her," Tom interrupted her thoughts.

"What?" Kari turned towards Tom.

"I mean, she's rejected so many. It wouldn't hurt for them to just meet, you know what I mean," Tom explained, putting on his shirt over his chiseled abs. 

Kari turned towards the ceiling. She met Charles a few times before. He was Tom's best friend. And she was May's best friend. Hah, yes good old Charles can try to break through that barrier with May.

Kari crawled over to Tom and rested her head on his shoulder, her breasts pushing against his back. "Good friend Tom."

Tom turned his head and kissed her, "Just like you Kari dear." Just like her indeed.

Its been minutes since the timing May agreed to meet. Kari tapped her feet impatiently. It was a bad habit of hers, fidgeting.

"Waiting for someone?"

Kari turned, anticipation wide across her face slowly dissipated as she realised it was not May, it was Adriana. Adriana was a big girl, tall at nearly 7 feet, played competitively at sports with a husky voice that matched her masculine looks. But she was still pretty, with long, luscious black hair that she always wore a baseball cap over and hazel brown eyes. Her height and sporty hobbies intimidated many men, that explained why she was still single up till now. 

"Oh.. Adriana..yeah, waiting for May as usual, that girl is always late!" Kari laughed. 

Adriana pointed at Kari's cup of coffee that grew cold from the wait. "The butterscotch pumpkin-spiced latte tastes better when its cold with whipped cream."

Kari looked at her cup of coffee and back at Adriana at amazement. "How did you know this was it?"

Adriana just laughed,"It's my favourite, my usual here." 

"I didn't know you took whipped cream. I mean, I thought athletes don't take these unhealthy stuff."

Adriana's voice lowered, "Guess there's not much you know about me. See ya Kari."

She slung her duffel over her shoulder and walked off. 

That was weird, Kari thought to herself. 

"HEY! I'm so sorry I'm late," May interrupted, panting as she sat herself down.

"As usual May," Kari shrugged. "So what was it you wanted to tell me?"

May gazed into Kari's eyes intensely and held her hands tight. "Kari, I've met someone and I think he's my boyfriend."

"WHAT? Who!" 

"Tom's friend Charles and he's just amazeballs! He's gentleman, funny, sweet, romantic, everything!" May giggled to herself. Kari just sat there in shock, it was just so fast. And May had gone for many dates but she had never seen her so excited about it after. "What.. It's so sudden.. This just feels so rare.." Kari tried to explain. 

May grabbed Kari's hands again. "I am happy Kari, and you're the first person I wanna tell this good news to!"

Kari steadied herself and smiled. She placed her hand over May's. "I'm happy for you May." 

May continued to rave about the candlelit dinners, the gentlemanly acts and Kari sat there patiently listening. She was happy for her best friend. Yes, she was.

Smoothing her bandage red dress, Kari stepped out of the car to start this double date. Tom and Kari, May and Charles. The best friends couple. How sweet. The dinner was filled with romantic moments. Charles pulled a chair for May, he shucked an oyster for her, he placed his hand at the small of her back, brushed her hair aside, and gazed at her with loving eyes when she talked. Kari felt a prickle in her heart. She could not possibly be jealous. Jealous of May? No, Tom was as sweet as that. After all, Tom and Charles were like peas in a pod. Jealous of Charles? After all, her best friend got distracted with a boyfriend. 

After the dinner, they headed to a club for some drinks and a dance. Kari downed many glasses. She could not wait for the night to end. She stared at Charles and May dancing at a distance. 

"Hey, let's dance," Tom suggested, noticing all the alcohol she had consumed.

Kari swallowed her next drink, "Yeah, let's."

All tipsy, Tom led her to the dance floor. Kari kept focusing on May and Charles. Inevitably, they were moving closer towards them as well. May and Charles never stopped dancing and staring at each other, however. 

"Are you okay?" Tom asked worriedly. Kari didn't hear him, she continued dancing, alcohol rushing to her brain.

She saw May mouth the word 'restroom' in Charles' ear. She followed May and left Tom dancing on his own.

Kari entered the restroom, the grey tiles spinning around her. "May?"

May exited the cubicle. "Kari! Oh my gosh, how much have you drank!" She caught Kari as they both fell to the floor. 

May smelled so nice. That perfume she always used. As Kari lay on May's lap she held a tuft of May's red hair between her fingers. "You're so drunk." She couldn't hear what May was saying, her eyes shifting out of focus.

May held Kari's face between her hands, trying to inspect her eyes and hopefully wake her up. Kari's face was inches from hers. Though her double vision was impeding, she saw that emerald eyes, how beautiful it was. 

Everything was a blur. Kari pressed her lips against May's. May was stunned beyond belief, unable to react. They both fell head-first to the floor. May felt Kari's tongue push through her lips. What should she do? She would never have expected this scenario to ever happen to her. She tried to push Kari away but Kari was on top of her now, entrapping her with her legs. Finally she harnessed the strength and pushed Kari away from her, putting some distance between them. Kari collapsed to the floor again, unconscious. May just sat there, shocked. She placed a finger on her lip. What just happened?

Kari opened her eyes, feeling the approaching tides of a bad hangover heading her way. She placed a hand to her head and tried to remember how much she drank last night. How she danced. The loud music. Tom. May and Charlie. That kiss with May. Kari placed a hand over her mouth. Oh no! Why would she have done such a thing to May? She never even felt - She stopped herself. She never even felt that way towards May, ever. She tread lightly on her thoughts. Has she? Was it just there all along, but she never realised it until May found someone else? 

"May hasn't been returning my calls," Kari said, throwing her phone on the bed. Tom removed his shirt. "Since the day we went out? Maybe she was pissed you were so intoxicated and she had to carry you to me all the way from the restroom." 

Kari removed her shirt and her pants. So that was what happened at the end. She didn't continue the subject, however. How could she have Tom knowing what happened?

Tom slid her panties down her legs as he kissed her neck. Kiss, thrust, done. Like clockwork. But all Kari thought about was May.

Kari tried calling May again, no answer. She looked up across the school courtyard. She spotted that same fiery redhead. "May!" she shouted as she ran towards her. She gripped May's arm, whom was clearly trying to avoid her. "I've been trying to contact you all this time, why are you ignoring my calls?"

May stopped in her tracks and turned towards Kari. "You have the cheek to ask me that! You were weird the other day! I thought you were just drunk, mistaking me for Tom but... You actually called my name out that day, Kari."

Kari didn't know what to say. She just continued looking at May, speechless, until she gathered her words in her mind. "I know, I was shocked too. But, I think something has been there all along but.. we just both didn't know it."

May lowered her voice, but not her tone,"And you did THIS after I've got Charles! Kari, I'm not gay!"

May stalked off, leaving Kari dumbfounded. Neither was she.

For a biology project, students had to find partners. Adriana approached Kari for a partner, and Kari gladly accepted. Adriana was smart, anyway. Kari headed over to Adriana's house after school for the project. It was a nice big place. Her parents were nice too. Kari entered Adriana's spacious room with Adriana closing the door behind them. 

"Nice place! I didn't know you were..rich," Kari said, wondering if it was offensive. Adriana changed into a tank top and shorts. "Thanks," she just said. "Laptop's on the bed. You can go there, but no shoes on the bed."

Kari removed her shoes, climbed on the bed and started doing some research first. Adriana plopped herself beside her. "So, I don't see May around you anymore recently."

Kari continued doing research. "Yeah, we had a fight."

Adriana laughed. "Typical best friend fight, huh?"

Kari turned towards Adriana. "This really wasn't. I did something..bad, I would say? To her."

Adriana placed her head on her hand. "Well what did you do?"

Kari moved closer and whispered. "I didn't know why I did it, but the other night I kissed her. I was drunk, but even so I like, made out with her."

Adriana smiled. "Like this?" 

Adriana took Kari's face in her hand, yanked her close and kissed her full on the mouth. Kari was on top, but Adriana had her hand at the back of Kari's head, pushing her lips against Adriana's. Kari's eyes widened. She was shocked. Adriana had another hand squeezing her chest through her shirt. Kari tried to repel herself away, her hands on both sides of Adriana on the bed, but Adriana was overpowering. Adriana flipped herself so that she would be on top, her knees between Kari's legs. 

"Wait, Adriana, I-" Kari was interrupted by the lips of Adriana's. Adriana had her hand slid beneath Kari's bra, cupping her breasts. Another hand reaching for under Kari's skirt. Kari still could not push the athlete away. She squealed as Adriana's fingers toyed with her. Then inside her. She let out a moan. "You're cute," Adriana said as she kissed Kari's neck. Kari let gave up on the struggle, it was useless to try anymore, Adriana was strong. And she knew what she was doing.

After a few moments of the in-and-out, it was done. Adriana let go of the once-flailing Kari, while Kari lay there lifeless on the bed. Adriana wiped off her fingers. 

"W-why did you do that? I don't feel that way towards you Adriana," Kari stuttered. 

Adriana turned to Kari, standing in front of her. "Now you know how May felt. Now I'll finish up the assignment, you can just go now, Kari." Adriana entered the toilet and closed the door behind her. Still stunned, Kari packed her things, dressed herself right and hurriedly left. 

She called May on the phone while walking home. May answered,"Okay Kari, I'm sorry-"

"I think I was just raped by Adriana," Kari interrupted.

"What? Where are you now? Come to the school now."

Kari explained the situation that happened minutes ago to May. "So I'm sorry about what I did. It was exactly the same."

May held Kari's hand. "No it wasn't. She's not best friends like you and I."

Kari smiled with relief. May promptly let go of that hand. "But let's remain best friends. No more of that s**t. I've got a good thing with Charles so no more." 

Kari nodded profusely. "Of course, no more."

The next day Adriana acted normal, not even glancing at Kari. Kari felt awkward and shy, but Adriana didn't even say a word to her. Until now at biology where Adriana stood next to her, her partner. The class was given the time to brush up on the project, final touches.

"Umm.. so yesterday..," Kari began, unsure of what to say. 

Adriana interrupted,"There was issues with my thumb drive, I can't retrieve the project."

Kari sighed a sigh of relief. Everything's back to normal. Adriana had given up on it. "Okay, let me fix it," Kari said, hoping her IT skills were up to par.

They walked to the lab room. It was empty as usual, because everyone has their own laptops nowadays. Kari bent forward and tried her skills on the computer. "It works. Stroke of luck maybe."

Suddenly Adriana took advantage of that position and pushed Kari's head onto the desk, her other hand cupping Kari's hanging breast. She knelt down, pulled Kari's panties down, her skirt up and spanked her, leaving her naked bottom out in the open.

"Wait, Adriana, no-" Kari was interrupted as while Adriana was still pushing her head down, her back arched, she stuck fingers deep inside her.

Kari refused to make a noise, denying Adriana the pleasure of thinking she was pleasing her. Which made Adriana work her fingers harder, and Kari let out a wail.

Then Adriana let her go, leaving Kari staggering to hurriedly put back her clothes. 

Adriana removed her panties under her skirt and pushed Kari's shoulders down, so they were both sitting. Her hand at the back of Kari's head, pushed Kari toward her as she lay herself down with her legs open. 

"Eat me," Adriana commanded as she pushed Kari's head between her legs. She kept pushing and Kari didnt have a choice, her face practically inside Adriana. Kari stuck her tongue out reluctantly, moving inside Adriana. Adriana let out a moan. Kari tasted everything, moving her tongue in fast strokes. She was full of disgust, but she had to make sure Adriana was pleased enough to let her go, so she worked herself hard.

Finally Adriana let Kari go, with Kari tumbling to the floor, tired. Adriana held Kari's chin up and licked Kari's lips, which sent chills down Kari's spine. "Bye, Kari."

"Oh my gosh, she can't keep doing this to you!" May exclaimed. "We're going to Kari's place tonight to confront her!"

"You have no idea what she's capable of May," Kari said, her hands covering her eyes in shame. 

But they went anyway. May rang the doorbell. The door opened. It was Adriana.

May started shouting,"Listen A, you have to stop-" 

Adriana interrupted her,"I can't open this cookie jar."

"What?" May and Kari was stunned. 

"This, Cookie Masons whatever. My parents are asleep. Come up to my room and we'll talk anyway." Adriana led them inside. Kari and May cautiously stepped inside and up the room. May let her guard down, appreciating the nice interior of the house.

Adriana closed the door. "Have a drink, water's there."

May poured herself a cup. She drank, then spit some out. "It's vodka!"

Adriana laughed and sat on the bed.

Kari took a cup and drank anyway. "Might need some if we need courage to face her."

May agreed and drank anyway. "We came here to tell you to stop doing this to Kari, A."

They stood at the bedside, towering Adriana. 

"Okay," Adriana shrugged. 

Kari and May both looked at each other. "Really?"

"Yeah whatever," Adriana said. 

May sighed a sigh of relief as she sat on the bed next to Adriana. "We were so afraid of you!"

Adriana laughed, "Yeah, my focus will just be on you instead."

May turned to Adriana. "What?"

Adriana lunged at May, pressing her lips against hers. "You're the tough redhead cookie jar."

Kari, shocked as well, tried to pry Adriana off May. But Adriana was as tough as a closed up clam. Suddenly, Adriana pulled Kari towards her, downwards, like the position earlier today. This time, she wasn't wearing any undies under her gown. 

Both girls flailed and squealed, but to no avail. Adriana pushed May's face between her chest while Kari still eating. The both girls felt dizzy. This feeling overwhelming them, overtaking their minds. 

Adriana now pushed both of their' faces together. Their faces, pressed against each other, their lips touching. "You guys know you want to kiss," Adriana whispered, being the mastermind. Kari succumbed to it first. She kissed May's lips gently, the dizziness numbing her senses. Then May gave in. Soon they were making out, with Adriana's fingers inside them both. Subsequently the trio were naked, fingers and tongues inside each other.

May opened her eyes, realising the horror of what happened. There was definitely something in the vodka. She woke Kari up. Kari too, was shocked. "What the hell happened!"

"Morning girls, we had fun last night," Adriana stood at the door. 

"You spiked us!" May covered herself. 

"Yeah but you guys did everything," Adriana replied, throwing May's clothes to her.

May and Kari hurriedly dressed themselves and got up to leave. "Let's try it again another time," Adriana teased as they left.

"I can't believe we did that! We're better than this!" May wailed. They were back in May's house, at the comfort of her home was where she felt like this situation needed to be addressed. 

"Are we though?" Kari turned to May.

"What?" May's eyebrows lowered.

"Kiss me again, just try it," Kari said as she closed her eyes. 

May was unsure where this was heading, but she did it anyway. May gave Kari a brief peck on the lips. She pulled back, but Kari's eyes were still closed. She moved her face closer, thinking to do it again. She pressed her lips against Kari's gently, then started sucking. Her soft lips caressed Kari's. Kari kissed back, her tongue gently prodding. May opened her mouth, giving Kari's tongue full access. They started to make out softly, until it turned passionate. Ah screw it, May thought as she turned up the heat. She started to kiss harder, her hands clutching Kari's hair. Kari returned the favour. They rolled on the floor, still making out.

"You know, what Adriana did to you, it wasn't the same. Part of me was glad you did what you did. Somewhere deep down. Maybe I did feel the same way towards you after all," May said as she held Kari in her arms. Kari smiled. That was nice to hear. There was a moment of blissful silence as they spooned on the bed.

"So, what are we? Like girlfriends?" Kari asked the inevitable question.

"Who have boyfriends?" May replied.

"I can't tell this to Tom, it'll break him," Kari muttered.

May whispered into Kari's ear,"For now.." She kissed Kari's neck.

"Kari babe you listening?"

Kari turned. Tom stared at her. "Yeah," Kari said, unsure of what Tom just said. 

Tom kissed Kari's neck and placed a hand up her shirt. Kari was hesitant and uncomfortable. She placed a hand on Tom's chest. "Um.. not today. I'm on my period."

Tom backed away in disgust. This menstrual thing always works. "I'm gonna hit the shower." As Tom closed the door behind him, Kari immediately dialled May's number.

"May? Tom just tried to have sex with me but I just can't do it!"

"Funny thing, I've been feeling the same way about Charles since that time we... Oh but I just need it though! There must be a way around this!"

"Wait, May. I have just the idea."

"I can't believe you brought up the idea of a foursome," Tom said. Kari laughed nervously. "I thought it'll spice things up a little."

"You know May hasn't been up to it lately, I think this will be good for us. I mean, I won't fall for Kari, and Tom won't fall for May either. We're all besties, I think we'll all be cool," Charles said. 

"Shots is here!" May chimed as she brought alcohol in to lighten the tension in the room. They downed the shots. 

"So, let's start?" Tom asked, a hint of nervousness and excitement in the air. 

"Let's get you boys excited first shall we," May said coyly as she stripped to her panties and snogged Kari.

The boys' eyes widened. "Girls kissing are so hot," Charles murmured.

The boys started to undress and touch themselves. They undressed the girls and started petting them too.

Tom carried Kari as he sucked her n****e and placed himself inside her. Charlie mirrored and did the same. Both couples were beside each other, with the girls kissing and the boys below them thrusting.

"It's just like we're having sex with each other as we close our eyes," Kari whispered in May's ear as she kissed her neck.

Charles grabbed Kari's arm as he yanked her towards him. He kissed her, his tongue down her mouth. Kari was reluctant, but she had to be convincing, so she positioned herself on top of him as well. Tom did the same to May.

Then May pried herself off from Tom, pulled Kari and went down on her. May felt someone stick himself inside her, and moaned as she licked. A shaft was pushed into Kari's mouth as well, so she sucked. It was like a long human chain.

"Alright now," Kari said. She pulled May beside her, facing the two men. "Now it's your turn."

"To do what baby?" Tom asked.

May and Kari both looked at each other and smiled. "To kiss."

Tom and Charles looked at each other with disgust. "No way! We're straight dudes, gross."

May and Kari moved towards them. "Come on, we did it for you guys."

May pushed Charles's head, while Kari pushed Tom's. "Just a little taste."

The boys shut their eyes tight as their lips touched in reluctance. 

"Make out!" the girls teased. The boys reluctantly did while the girls giggled.

"Suck each other off," Kari commanded. 

"That is too much," Charles said as he pulled away from the kiss. Eventually, they did it. The girls laughed hysterically as the boys pulled away in disgust, yet continued it. 

The double couple sat at the lunch table. "So...yesterday was fun..," Charles said, trying to address the white elephant in the room.

"I don't know if we should do that ever again man," Tom laughed, hand over his face.

"Well, I thought it was fun," Kari said chirpily. "Yeah, like a little menage-a-toui," May agreed, with her eyebrows raised in a coy manner. 

"Well, we won't be doing that in a while," Charles said, with a joking yet serious tone to his voice. 

"We'll do just fine on our own," Tom winked at Kari, squeezing her hand in his. Kari chuckled nervously.

On the way to class, Kari kept thinking about the foursome, Tom and May. What would happen now, who would she choose and what would people say? Tom and Kari walked past the genealogy room. "Hey remember how we met?"

Kari snapped out of her thoughts. "Oh..this exact classroom..."

It was the start of the semester and Kari unknowingly walked into the wrong classroom. Tom was speaking to his buddy Charles and a few others. "Excuse me...is this the geography class..?" Kari asked meekly. They stopped talking and noticed the lost new girl standing in the middle of the classroom. It was that moment that Tom and Kari looked into each other's eyes, that spark of romantic interest between them as if no one else was in the room. Tom stood immediately, clumsily knocking his bottle off the table. It spilled all over the floor. 

"Oh dear!" Kari rushed to tidy up, feeling guilty for the distraction while the boys laughed at Tom's stumble of composure. Tom helped, never keeping his eyes off her. It was then that he knew he would marry her. 

Fast forward to nearly three years later, he still kept that promise to himself. He didn't tell her of the ring he kept in the drawer of his room, waiting for the opportune moment to pop the question. Things were going great so far, he should propose anytime soon, right?

The recent jolt of memory of how she and Tom got together made Kari nervous again. She ruminated while reading her book at the library, her thoughts distracted. Memories of her and Tom going on their first date to the restaurant, where he clumsily made a move on her that made her laugh, the time he asked her to go steady with him, the time they first had sex to Trampled by Turtles. But suddenly that memory was covered by the vision of her kissing May, that taste in her mouth and the feeling of May's fingers inside her. She snapped out of it and covered her mouth with horror. How could she have feelings for two?

"Kari!"

Kari looked up to find Charles panting before her. "Charles, what is it? Quiet down, this is a library!" she whispered.

"You cannot believe what I just saw in Tom's room," Charles exclaimed, trying his best to keep his excitement down.

The librarian glared at Charles, and Charles nodded in embarrassment.

"What?" Kari laughed amusingly. 

"A ring! Tom's planning to propose to you!" 

Kari's eyes widened. She felt excitement rise within her, but also a pang of guilt and regret. She looked at Charles's eyes like an excited puppy dog that rushed to see its owner, waiting for a response. "Oh, Charles!" she feigned happiness, as she hugged Charles tight. What was she going to do now?

It seemed such a typical scenario, thunderstorm with heavy rain pelting down, Kari paced the room nervously, clutching her phone in her hands. May entered the house and closed the door behind her. She closed her umbrella and dried herself off. She gave Kari a peck on the lips. "Hey, you said to meet you in such a hurry, what happened?"

"Tom's planning to propose. He has a ring in his drawer," Kari blurted out.

"What?" May said in disbelief.

"I don't think I can do this with you anymore, May."

May stood on her feet. "This is so sudden..what? What if the ring is not for you?"

Kari glared at May. "Did you just say that?"

May regret her words immediately, but she explained. "I mean.. he hasn't proposed to you.."

"Did you think Tom would cheat on me? Did you think Tom was like you? Or me?" Kari spat.

May backed away. "I was just saying, Kari."

"We shouldn't have done this. I shouldn't," Kari said to herself.

"You started it, Kari," May said with resentment in her voice. 

"We both have boyfriends.. I didn't mean for this to happen.. I..," Kari buried her face in her hands in shame. 

"You just mean that you didn't mean to love me," May said coldly as she grabbed her umbrella and burst out in the cold rain, leaving Kari weeping and the door ajar.

The anger still burned deep in May's flesh. The betrayal. The resentment. She knew just how to distract herself.

"You called?" Adriana entered the room. 

"Close the door," May said, without turning her back.

Adriana shut the door. "Jeez, this is odd. Science lab, in the middle of third period.."

Adriana was interrupted as she was pushed against the door, May's lips pressed against hers. May shoved her tongue in and Adriana relaxed as she kissed back. May swiftly removed her clothes, took Adriana's hand and pressed it against her chest. Adriana squeezed her hands as May continued to kiss furiously. She told Adriana what to do and Adriana did it obediently. May pulled away.

"Eat me out," she commanded.

"What? No way," Adriana laughed.

"I did it for you, so do it for me now."

Adriana sensed the stern tone in her voice and reluctantly went down on her as May closed her eyes, her breath going slow.

"So what's with the angry sex?" Adriana asked, rinsing her mouth at the sink.

"None of your business," May said as she slumped to the floor. 

"If we're going to be friends with benefits.." Adriana raised May's chin with her finger and gave her a sloppy kiss on the lips. "I'm gonna have to know."

May pushed Adriana away, "We're not friends with benefits. Not even friends. I just needed a distraction."

"Kari?" Adriana said smugly.

May just stared at Adriana as she sat next to her.

"I can guess exactly what happened, and life just works that way. You don't get the people you want. They however, get it. Just being near them is enough." 

Adriana started to leave the room. Before closing the door, she turned back to May. "You're not my type anyway."

Tom held Kari's hand to pull her back from her distractions. "I know you've been preoccupied with this friendship issue with May, but you haven't told me anything about it and it's eating you up inside. Penny for your thoughts?"

Kari smiled and shook her head. "It's nothing."

Tom gave her a kiss on the cheek and left to class. It was perfect timing, because May was walking up to her now.

Kari composed herself. "It's been awhile."

May smiled her usual smile that used to make Kari feel warm inside. "Yeah. I heard that Tom asked you to move with him to Chicago?"

Kari flashed her ring on her finger with exuberance. May laughed together with her, but the sight of the ring and Kari moving far away cut her deep like a knife. 

The smiles faded as Kari grew silent with guilt. Still she had to ask. "How are you and Charles?"

"That was old news. We broke up," May said nonchalantly.

"Oh...I'm so sorry."

"It's alright. I ended it. I just knew I didn't love him as much as.. " May ended there, leaving the words hanging. Kari cleared her throat.

"As I thought I would," May said with a smile, trying to hide her feelings. 'As you I mean,' she thought to herself.

"Did you tell Charles about..us?" Kari asked.

May shook her head. "You?"

"No, I didn't. I can't...just... no," Kari tried to explain but every word was going to dig her ostrich hole deeper.

May smiled and nodded. After a moment of awkward silence, May started to leave when Kari held her arm. "I'm so sorry for everything, May."

The pent-up frustration started to break loose. May wanted to scream at Kari, even for grabbing her arm. "Sorry doesn't cut it Kari!" she spat.

Kari looked around cautiously, careful not to cause a scene, especially with this matter.

May noticed it and lowered her voice, in respect for Kari. "You loved Tom more than me!" 

The words cut Kari like a knife, and seeing May cry hurt her more than anything. She wiped the tears from May's cheek while May sobbed. "I still love you."

Leaves rustled as time seemed to stop in the moment for both of them. 

Tears welled in Kari's eyes as she fought back her voice,"I still love you, but I have to go."

May sniffed harder at that thought. 

"You'll always be my best friend," Kari whispered as she leaned her face closer and kissed May gently on the lips.

May sobbed as Kari pulled away and started to leave, watching her silhouette fade.