Shannon stood on the front porch of Gina Marie's house and watched Butch drive away until he was out of sight. She had tears in her eyes, feeling overwhelmed by all the dramatic experiences that had struck her in the last 12 hours. She moved to Montana in the hope of positive change but never expected anything remotely close to this. She was very happy, but also afraid that this was too good to be true. But that fear was somewhat blocked out for the moment, as she was very excited about seeing Gina Marie again.
Gina Marie and Sheila had been best friends. They were the same age and played together almost every day until Sheila and Shannon moved to Michigan. And every Summer, when Sheila and Shannon came to visit for eight weeks, they always spent much of their time with Gina Marie.
In the early years, their activities together consisted mostly of innocent things, such as playing games, talking, and watching TV. In later years, it involved more mischievous things, such as Sheila and Gina Marie smoking marijuana, shoplifting at stores throughout the region, and boasting about their sexual experiences.
Shannon always joined them in the marijuana smoking and loved it immensely. But she never participated in the shoplifting, and while she enjoyed listening to the sexual talk, she was open about her virginity with the other two girls, who didn't pressure her to rush into sex.
But the more Sheila became consumed by alcoholism, the more Gina Marie started becoming more distant from Sheila and closer to Shannon.
Gina Marie was 5'4" and 170 lbs. with semi-curly jet black hair almost down to her waist and a pair of 40DDs. She was an only child and lived with her mother, Beth, who was only 15 years older. Beth had a very similar face and hair to her daughter's but was only 4'11 and 125 lbs. and had small breasts. Beth conceived Gina Marie while passed out drunk at a party and had no idea who the baby's father was. Gina Marie had been Beth's dominant focus ever since she learned of her pregnancy and each was the other's best friend. The two grew their own marijuana and smoked it together almost every day. Beth was very young at heart and had a great relationship with all of her daughter's friends.
Gina Marie had a fairly introverted and very easygoing personality. She earned a modest living by making bead art and selling it at flea markets and arts & craft shows. When she was 19, she spent 20 days in jail for trying to steal a TV from a department store, but other than that had stayed out of legal trouble.
Shannon had long had a crush on Gina Marie but had never pursued it. Shannon had never shared her bisexuality with anyone and at that time didn't think she ever would, fearing rejection.
A few minutes before midnight, while smoking her last cigarette of the day, Gina Marie had just stripped nude and put on a long T shirt, getting ready for bed. Suddenly, she heard a knock on her bedroom window. She wasn't scared, thinking it was her mother. Beth had gone out on a date that night and Gina Marie just figured that her mom had forgotten to take her house key and needed to be let in.
But as Gina Marie peeked through the curtains, her eyes lit up. She quickly jerked apart the curtains and exclaimed "Shannon?! What the fuck?!"
"Can I come in?!" Shannon asked, grinning.
"Of course!" Gina Marie said, and immediately headed for the front door, as did Shannon. A few seconds later, Gina Marie threw open the door and Shannon walked in. As the two hugged tightly, Gina Marie said "Girl, what a surprise! It is so good to see you!"
"It's so good to see you, too!" Shannon responded.
"So what are you doing here this time of year?!"
"You want the whole story?!"
"Of course!"
"Can I spend the night?!"
"Girl, you know you're always welcome here!"
"Great, thanks!" At that, Shannon went out to the front porch, brought in her suitcase, and took it back to Gina Marie's room.
As soon as the two girls were in the room, Gina Marie said in excited anticipation "Okay, you look like you're dying to tell me something! I want the whole story!"
"Okay, but let me get out of these clothes first! I've had them on since 4 in the morning yesterday!" Shannon then stripped nude, left her clothes on the floor, and turned her new tattoo toward Gina Marie, whose eyes and mouth opened wide.
"Wow!" exclaimed Gina Marie. "When did you get that?!"
"Today!" Shannon said grinning.
"That looks great!"
"Thanks!"