When Mickaela walked off, I turned back to the back of my bar and let out a huge sigh. Things were about to get crazy around here. I was so surprised to see Trystin for two reasons. First of all because I knew she was a huge porn star now, second was because of Mickaela. Mick had such a hard time after Trystin left her because she was "the one". Or at least that's what we all thought. Mick was so determined to make herself a better person and boost her self esteem when Trystin left her, so determined that we were scared for her. She went into this total zone. She lost about sixty pounds and just toned up really nice. She was never heavy to begin with so we all thought that losing that much weight was a bit extreme, but once we saw her afterward, we didn't think it was extreme anymore. Let me clarify...Mickaela was never big to us, she was a little on the heavy side, I suppose, but we never noticed because that's the way she always looked. Once she lost that weight, we weren't scared for her health anymore, we realized that this was the size she was meant to be. God was she determined to change the way she looked! I think that she felt like if she changed the way she was, like by losing weight and gaining confidence, that Trystin would come back for her. She gave up when it didn't happen. She didn't let herself go, either. She stayed with her diet and her workout regime, but didn't focus on it as much as she had at first; it was habit for her. Instead she poured herself into her work at that damn little bookstore...she managed to save enough money, though, to build and open Rayne's.
Anyway, after Trystin walked off, I had to warn Mickaela somehow, let her know that she might run into her again soon, so I waved her over to me. After she asked for that third shot of tequila, I knew that maybe I shouldn't have said anything; just kind of let them run into each other.
When I turned back around, I saw that Lisa, Trystin's best friend from school was talking to Trystin. I was relieved to see that they picked up where they had left off. Once everyone knew that Trystin was back, she was going to need at least one friend. At first we were all pissed because of the way she left Mick; now they would all be trying to keep her away from Mick because Mick was the best lay in town. I noticed, though, that Trystin looked a lot more nervous than when I had talked to her. I suppose that she had spotted Mick. Lisa was looking this way and Trystin walked away from her, in the direction of the bathroom. Lisa walked towards me.
It probably took her less than a minute to get to me, and when she did, she just started talking.
"Holy shit!! Can you believe she's back? I mean, after five years, she just walks in here, of all places. And on a night when Mickaela is here! What are the odds?"
I poured her a tequila shot and handed it to her, "Calm down Lis, we're gonna figure this out. We're gonna have to if we want to stay sane. We won't purposely let them cross paths when we are with them; we'll just let Mickaela figure it out for herself. She's gonna need time to wrap her mind around this. I'm worried about her."
Lisa downed the shot, "Ok, good to know one of us has a game plan. Thanks for the shot; I'm calm now. Trystin needed a potty break."
"Yeah, I saw that. How is she anyway? She looked damn good!"
"She should, she's a porn star now! She seems to be doing ok, though. Just got out of a bad relationship with the girl she left town with. She says she's back here where she belongs."
I raised my eyebrows, "Really? That sucks, yet it's completely fascinating! I knew she was a porn star now; I've got a few of her films. She say where she was staying?"
"No, but I'm sure it will be close to that lake that they always used to go to for everything. You know, the one that they both said they wanted to build a house and live within walking distance of because of all the memories that they shared together out there. I just hope that isn't where she's living."
"Well, Mark told me she bought a house, but wouldn't tell me where, so we're going to have to find out from her." I pulled out my bottle opener, "So what'll it be for the two of you tonight?"
"God this is crazy! Two Buds and three tequila shots."
"Three shots!" I coughed. "What the hell?"
"Trystin needs them, not me. I'm good after one, you know that."
"Yeah, I know, that's why I was so surprised." I turned to get their drinks and shots and when I turned back around, Trystin was sitting on the barstool next to Lisa.
"So, Trystin, what do you think about Rayne's?" I asked.
She smiled warmly at me, "Allie, I think it's wonderful! We needed a place like this growing up...minus the alcohol and all, you know. Whoever did this must be amazing!"
I handed her the shots and her beer and replied, "Yeah, you'd be surprised. None of us ever thought that it would happen."
Lisa took a long chug from her beer, "Yeah, we were so surprised. All we knew was there was construction going on over on this side of town, where nothing was at, and then they put up this huge partition so we couldn't see what was going on. The partition came down opening night. All we knew was that we needed to dress up and be here...that was three years ago."
"Wow, that's awesome. So who's the owner? I'd love to meet them."
I really didn't want to answer, and I could tell that Lisa didn't want to, either, so I poured all three of us a drink. Jaeger bombs for Lisa and I and a Royal Fuck for Trystin. Then I tried to change the subject.
With a deep breath, I said, "So, T, where are you staying at? You told me earlier that you were back for good, but you didn't say where you were planning on living."
She took a long drink and replied, "Oh, that's a secret until I finish getting everything set up. I guess you both know that I used Mark as my real estate agent...I put him under strict orders not to tell anybody what house I was buying. Let's just say that I had to look hard for the perfect place."
Great! Just what we all wanted to hear, the world's vaguest answer.
Lisa jumped in, "So, what really brought you back? It couldn't have been just a break up. Spill it."
Trystin smiled, "Work. Work is what brought me back. I wasn't supposed to be moving back into town until this weekend, but I got a call and we start shooting day after tomorrow. It's not supposed to be your average flick. It's going to have an actual plot, like they did in the seventies, and it isn't cheesy. There is a lot of dialog, but there's also going to be enough sex to make up for it." She took another long drink, "I'm really excited to start this project, it seems like it will take us a few months, rather than a few days. Plus, it will open us up to more serious films for the future."
"Awesome," I said, "I can't wait to see it. I'm always saying that I'd like to see something with a purpose besides orgasms." I made another Royal Fuck for Trystin and got Lisa another beer. Then we were silent, enjoying each other's company for the first time in five years.
Then Logan walked in.
VII.Logan
The second I stepped off the plane, I called Mickaela to find out where she was at. I missed her so much! I couldn't wait to see her, and I'm glad she was at Rayne's, I love that place. It was an amazing investment for her and it's really done well. That, and she'd be dressed really well. I mean, she dresses well as it is, but when she goes out, she dresses to get people's attention. And it being her club and all, she dresses like everyone else, but just a little bit better. She's just so friggin' hot!
When I got off the phone with her, I was glad to hear that she was surprised and wanted to see me. I was not glad to hear about her ex being back. I mean, I know that we have never really been a "normal" couple, but we were as close as I had ever been. That and she, above all else, was the best friend I've ever had. I could always go to her for anything, no matter what it may be. I just knew that I didn't want to lose her as a friend. It would be good, though, because I had another friend, Trystin, one of my co-stars, that was supposed to be living out here, so maybe I could introduce them and they could be friends and keep each other company. I had told Trystin that I was sort of in a relationship with someone, but I never told her who, nor did I tell her where she lived. But I had told her all about how great of a person she was and about how mind blowing the sex was.
