It had been over a year since I moved in with my best friend, and lover, Alexandra. It wasn't known we were lesbians, just that we were roommates. We were at a party to kick off the second semester of sophomore year. I was having a great time, chatting with friends I'd made, dancing occasionally, and chowing down on the chips and delicious home-made guacamole provided. I could see that Alexandra was also enjoying herself. Things were going well... until I saw her expression suddenly darken.
Coming over to me, Alexandra said quietly, "Jackie, we have trouble in paradise." She indicated a direction with her eyes. I looked and saw a good friend of ours, Maya Stillwater, sitting quietly in a corner. Even with Maya's face turned away, it was obvious she was crying. We went over to her.
"Maya," said Alexandra gently, "what's the matter?"
Through tears and sniffs, Maya replied, "My boyfriend threw me out after I caught him cheating on me. He was in bed with another girl, I walked in and he said if I didn't like it I could leave. Then he grabbed my stuff and threw it out the front door. I couldn't do anything, it's his house."
This was bad indeed, I thought. I knew that Maya had been with her boyfriend Jeff since freshman year of high school after her parents were killed in a car crash. She had moved in with her then-friend Jeff and a romance had blossomed.
"What am I going to do?" Maya wailed softly. "My stuff's in the corner over there. I thought this party would help lift my spirits, but it didn't."
"Come with us," I said, picking up a bag of Maya's. The three of us walked over to the apartment Alex and I shared. "You'll stay with us for now," I said as we entered. "We'll figure out the rest later."
"Thank you so much, Jackie," Maya replied gratefully. "You two are awesome."