I jumped when I heard the telephone receiver slam down. Looking up, I saw Allana running from her desk down the hallway. This, had become an all too familiar sight to me in recent weeks. Allana had joined the company where I worked a year ago and been assigned to the same department. We had been friends ever since. She was a high spirited girl and we took to each other instantly. She was 22 and I three years older than she. Our friendship had grown over the months since we had met and we were now closer than I had ever been with any one but a partner before. We shared almost everything about our lives including friends, work, family problems and everything connected with every day living. We also had similar interests; we both enjoyed the outdoors, photography, clubs and our need to always have fun. One area of difference though was our personal relationships. Allana was going through a very messy relationship, while I was having a great one.
I have been with a wonderful guy for the last year and a half and we are very happy. We had our little squabbles like every couple but we have grown beyond them. My boy friend, Daniel, is a great lover and when we're together, the sex is great - a key element in most relationships - I might add). Sadly, Daniel was forced by his employer to take a temporary assignment in another island four months ago. Since then we have managed to see each other only one weekend about a month after he had to leave. Needless to say, we spent every moment devouring each other and making up for time lost. Three months have now gone by since I saw him last. We have remained in contact by telephone calls every now and again, but mainly we have corresponded through lengthy emails. I love him and it was killing me to be away from him, but always one to see the bright side of things, I now got to have the best of both worlds, a partner whom I loved and had a great relationship with, and the freedom to go out as much as I liked without worrying about getting home early to a worried partner.
Allana, however, was having some terrible problems. In the last month she had grown to be a different person, one filled with sadness. She cried in my arms almost every other day when we shared lunch or after receiving one of his dumb calls while we were working. The thing was, she was in love, or so she thought. Her boyfriend, David, has been cheating on her. When she found out about it, not only did he turn it around on her by blaming her for it, but he also made his fling more public. He actually brought the girl to his house, and called Allana while she was there. He played a nasty mind games with her. He totally broke down every ounce of her self-esteem and demoralized her, and I can't for the life of me figure out why she didn't just dump him.
Even prior to that there were problems. He hated her going anywhere without him, yet he seldom bothered to take her out. He would blame her for things that didn't even relate to her. He would start a fight with her about little things, then disappear for days at a time without leaving her a means to contact him. He would string her along with meaningless 'sweet-talk', especially when he wanted something from her. The sex had almost ceased and it was only when he demanded it. I've tried speaking to her on many occasions. She always blamed herself for his abuse and stupidity. She admits that he didn't treat her well. She admitted her hurt, but it all boiled down to one thing. She loved him. I have always said 'there's a thin line between love and stupidity'.. she wasn't even balancing on that line, she had completely fallen over the edge toward stupidity. But I loved her and was here for her no matter what.
I left my desk, following her down the hallway, finding her crying her eyes out in the small lunch room at work.
I sat next to her embracing her.
"Only last night..last night.. he had her in his house.. the same house we have memories in. The same bed....gawd Tara, why is he calling me now.. why is he telling me that he loves me.. why Tara...why?" She sobbed uncontrollably on my shoulder while she gasped for breath.
I sat silently rocking with her, letting her vent out. I had grown used to this over the past few weeks, and there wasn't much I could say to comfort her, nor could I dissuade her from keeping contact with him. The times when he called and I answered the phone, I refused to give her the calls. I couldn't always catch the phone and he still got her at times. I loved her so much, yet I felt somewhat powerless. We sat in the small lunchroom for about twenty more minutes while she rambled on and on, sobbing wildly.
It hurt me every time I saw her like this and still, as always believed that I must have some chance to help her, to get her away from him.
When her sobbing ceased I lifted her head a forced her to look at me.
"You are coming home with me this evening Allana, you are spending the weekend at my place. Okay.. Do you hear me? I want you to have absolutely no contact with David and I am serious. No more accepting his calls, no more calling him. Nothing. You need to stop allowing him to do this to you. He is only hurting you because he can. Because you allow him too. And I want you away from him."
She began shaking her head muttering something at which point I cut her off.. "No..'ifs'.. No 'ands'... No 'buts'. You are coming!!"
I was tired of being gentle and being mild, none of it sank in. While she is by no means my child nor my sister, I love her dearly and I needed to get her away from this.. and it was now or never.
She nodded yes and I held her to me for a few more minutes comforting her.
The rest of the day dragged on. She barely did her work and her face was somber. I didn't expect anything different. This was her 'David-just-called' mourning period.
When work was through, we packed up our bags and left. We stopped off at our usual Friday evening hangout after work. It was a quiet bar where we would just sit and relax and have a few drinks; even play a little pool. Allana didn't seem up to it but I would have it no other way. She needed to relax and not let the afternoon go as badly as her day.
We usually dressed a bit casual for work on Fridays. Today I had on black close fitting pants with a beige bustier-style top. It hugged my breasts nicely, showing of every curve so, of course I wore a jacket over it while at work. Allana was in a similar outfit, pants with a red halter. She is about 5' 6", a couple of inches shorter than I am. She has a lovely caramel complexion skin which slightly contrasted with my darker, rich-chocolate toned skin. Her hair is long and flowing. She has nice athletic legs with a great tight ass, that many men went crazy over., and small perky breasts.
I parked in the bar's lot, we touched up our make up, removed our jackets and headed inside. By this time Allana had brightened a bit.
The bar was quiet, but we saw a couple of the regulars and went over to them making the usual 'how-was-your-week chat. The bartender poured our usual first drink without even asking, we were that regular :-) A Screwdriver for myself with a very mild Pina Colada for Allana whose tolerance for alcohol was lower than mine.
"Anyone up for pool" came a call behind us. It was Paul, another regular. Never turning down an opportunity to play, I jumped up. "Rack em"
"Anyone but you Tara"
"What?Why? You're too chicken?"
"Call me what you wish, but last week you beat me 4 games in a row. I'm not up for that kind of embarrassment again"
"Ha!!.As I said... Chicken!!" I mocked. I was a good player and proud of it. "Okay lets make it fair,. Get yourself a partner and Allana and I will play the two of you...Right Ally?" I turned to Allana for her consent. She was also a good player and it was a great way to get her off the bar and focused on having fun. Paul dragged another guy, Randy, to the table and we began.
"Lets make it interesting, okay. Losers take out the winners tonight. Deal"? I asked grinning.
"Deal" echoed the other three. We all had a very casual friendship. We enjoyed a few drinks and some fun going out every now and again.
Allana and I won the first game of the best of seven set. The guys won the next three... and we came back, stealing the next two making it even. With three apiece, the last game was tense.
"Aren't you guys tired of losing to us? It's a shame for all men!" I screamed as Allana pocketed the eight ball winning the game. I ran to her high-fiving her then tapped each guy on the butt.
