Melissa sat alone at the table with tears welling up in her eyes. Her date had excused himself to go to the bathroom and didn't return. Maybe if this had been the first time it happened it would have been less painful but 3 dates in a row now had abandoned her before even staying for dinner. The waitress came to her and put a hand on her shoulder.
"Did that asshole run out on you hun? I'm so sorry, don't worry about your check ok, you deserve better than that jerk anyways." She said, handing Melissa a tissue.
Melissa left the restaurant and sat in her car crying for a while, at her best friend and roommate Claire's insistence she sent her a text, just said 'He left' then set about driving home. Claire was still on the phone when she got back, screaming down the line at the guy she'd set Melissa up with. She ended the call with a slew of abuse then hung up to hug her friend.
"Honey I'm so sorry, he said he would be a perfect gentleman and promised he'd give you a chance. I'm firing him tomorrow, I hate what he did to you." Said Claire, hugging her friend.
"No please don't, it's me, I'm the shy one, I'm the one with no confidence, why would he want me, nobody else does." Said Melissa, her tears welling up again.
"I promise we'll find someone for you, I know you don't believe me but you're beautiful and I just wish guys would see you how I do. I ran a bubble bath for you sweetie, lemme know when you're under the bubbles and I'll bring you a glass of wine."
Melissa sat in the water, making sure her full body was covered with bubbles before she let Claire in with the wine. She hated anyone seeing her naked, didn't like to look at herself and felt nobody else would either.
"I have the same bits as you ya know, you shouldn't mind me seeing you naked." Said Claire, teasing her friend.
"You just want to seduce me you evil bisexual you." Replied Melissa, finally smiling.
"There's that smile, and I told you, it was only 4 times with women." Said Claire.
"And before you say it, I don't do this just for the wine and bubble baths, I'll be 21 in a week and can buy my own."
The women chatted a while but Claire left when she seen the bubbles start to fade. Despite thinking her friend Melissa had a perfect figure she hated embarrassing her, knowing she'd spend the next week not even giving eye contact. Claire sat at her computer, IM'ing her friend online and explained why she had to leave to take care of Melissa.
"I'm telling you I really don't get it. She's not head turning gorgeous but she's pretty, hides under fake glasses and her hair. She has a natural amazing figure that she hides with baggy shirts but she has zero confidence in herself, won't take anyone at all telling her what she has." Typed Claire to her friend Kim.
"Do you think she's maybe a lesbian and is ashamed?" Kim replied.
"Oh no way, I told her about me and Alicia, didn't even get graphic and she freaked, wouldn't talk to me for days. She jokes about it now but she's straight as they come. I'm going to try something out the box for her 21st, I'm taking her to get a tattoo, I found this Native American design that's meant to bring out confidence in a woman, I don't believe in that crap but if I can convince Melissa just a fraction I'll be happy. I love her to death, without her my business would have failed at the start and I'll never forget it. Hey she's getting out the bath, I better go. Text me later, k?" Typed Melissa then shut off the computer.
"No more dates for a while okay, I'm fine, I promise." Said Melissa as she snuggled with Claire on the couch.
"I promise."
A few weeks later Melissa sat in the chair, her leg raised as the artist finished up the last part of her tattoo. She chose her upper thigh so she could hide it easier but was impressed with Claire's choice. A Dreamcatcher with a Native American Warrior woman that was meant to bring her confidence and protect her spirit from evil. Melissa knew Claire was skeptical of it's meaning but she loved seeing it take shape. Melissa laughed inside a little too, the only man to have ever touched her skin did so with gloves and needles but she doubted anyone else would see it funny and kept it to herself.
"Oh wow that looks amazing on you sweetie! I love it." Said Claire as she admired the finished work.
"I really like it too, thank you so much." Melissa replied.
"Hey do you mind if I take a picture for my book? This came out awesome, I'd love it in my portfolio." Said the artist as he turned on his camera.
Claire was a little surprised but smiled as Melissa held up her skirt and let him take the picture.
"Oh, my leg is numb, 6 hours in that chair and I am ready to go home!" Said Melissa, limping a little.
That Friday, Claire got home from her shop, surprised to find the apartment empty. Usually Melissa would be online playing games or working on some designs or just watching tv but not today. Thinking nothing of it she got in the shower then dressed only in her over sized towel, made herself some toast. She sat on the couch and must have dozed off as she didn't remember Melissa coming home but her coat was on the hook and her door was closed. Claire turned the TV off and wandered to bed but after really bad dreams woke her she got up to get a glass of warm milk. As she closed the fridge door she almost jumped out of her skin, Melissa stood before her was wearing only a pair of pink panties. Claire stared at her in shock, tried not to drool at her 36d breasts but could only mumble a 'hi'.
"Oh you act like you've never seen tits before, you have a bad dream?" Said Melissa.
Claire was still in shock.
"Y-yes, you're awake right, you're not sleepwalking or something?" Replied Claire, she could swear Melissa's eyes were glowing a little.
"Nope, just wanted some milk, help me get back to sleep."
Claire cursed as her milk on the stove bubbled over and hissed on the burner, by the time she'd turned it down and cleaned the mess Melissa was gone.
The next morning Claire was up early to open her shop and was gone before Melissa got out of bed, Saturday's was her late close day so it was dark by the time she got home. As she approached the entrance to her building she seen a couple passionately kissing, the woman clearly in control with the guy almost pinned to the wall but as she got close she let him go, said something in his ear, kissed him on the cheek then went inside. The guy stood open mouthed a second then lowered his gaze, almost scurrying away as Claire went inside. The woman was vaguely familiar but was wearing a short skirt and red 'fuck me' heels that seemed to match her wild hair. It wasn't until she got inside and the woman stepped out of her bathroom until she recognized her fully.
"M-Melissa? Wow, you look, um, Different." She said, completely stunned.
