ForevaXena's FanFic . . .

This . . . (Worlds Apart)

by Nyxie

©2001 Nyxie

Disclaimers: I’m sure you all know who they resemble, and I am sure that you all know that I don’t own them. Roni, Chase, Ricky, and Alex are my creations…with the exception of Chase’s name…that was purely Nat’s genius.

Love/Sex: Okay, so you know the drill! This story is about love. It includes lesbians and gay men and Terrapins! Oh My! So it’s considered Alt. Lit and Slash and turtle friendly! However there is only actually, non-explicit sex between two consenting adult women…I don’t know how to write Slash…I’m not a man, or a Terrapin so I’m not sure exactly what they do or how they do it…no offense guys (turtles)…Either way please make sure you’re legal if you’re gonna read this. If you live in a state, country, nation, or province where homosexuality is illegal then for God’s sake move!

Language/Violence: Yeah, there’s a bit of rough language and this does contain fairly blunt, explicit references and scenes of rape. If you’re sensitive, then please don’t read any further.

Tidbits: No Terrapins, boxes of Captain Crunch, or small, intact vehicles were harmed during the production of this fan fic…however the bard was literally driven insane by the constant interruptions!

Thanks: Nat…I’m inspired! I’ll admit I had my doubts about the cereal and the Terrapins, but it all worked out quite well, I think! Now if I could just prod you into writing more about the lovely SAAAAAAAM! Hehe! Beck…thanks for the wonderful work and all the time you put into reading and fixing this stuff.  Thank you Joe Camel for helping me keep sanity, in this other wise insane world. Finally…if I had an actual love in my life, I’d thank her…but I don’t so I’ll thank my Terrapin instead…*shrugs*

Feedback Welcome and Appreciated at lil_super_nyxie@yahoo.com

Prologue:

The sun was setting on the horizon. The sky was a soft amber color; the moon was already in the sky. Roni Phillips sat on her back porch, gazing into the sunset. A cool breeze blew in from the ocean as sea-gulls swooped down into its clear, choppy waters.

****

The sky was dark and over head, the midnight sun bathed Roni in a silky light. She didn’t know how much time had passed and she didn’t care. The one person she held closest to her heart wouldn’t be a part of her life.

****

Living in a small town for all of your life, you’d think there wouldn’t be a face that you wouldn’t recognize. Then again, there are two kinds of people in most small towns: the upper and lower class. Chase Summers was the epitome of Highland Grove’s lower class. She was an auto mechanic by day and a nothing by night. Living in the Southside, Chase was a dime a dozen.

Veronica Phillips was considered highly successful in the small town. The writer and business woman had a high income from both her job and her hobby. She was what every person in the Northside of Highland Grove wanted to be. There wasn’t too much missing in Roni’s life, but the thing that was missing was the thing that she wanted the most.

One:

“So where are you off to tonight?” Ricky asked Chase as he washed the remains of car grease from his hands. He was a shorter man, stocky in build with a mat of curly hair on the top of his head. When you first met him you’d think he was a real “man’s man,” so to speak. He had rough mannerisms and was a little bit on the macho side. Of corse, that was until you actually got to know him. After that you would realize that he was literally a man’s man…Alex’s man to be exact. Ricky was an average guy from Westend, trying to make a living and a life with Alex.

“Bar hoppin’.” Chase replied as she peeked from under the hood of the Civic she was fixing. She continued, “I’m outta here as soon as the owner comes to claim this…little piece of shit.” She gave the small red car a detestful look and turned away from it. “Actually I have to finish fixing it first…I don’t know why Mick gives us so little time…” she groused.

“I didn’t need to ask you…you never do anything else on a Friday night.” Ricky smirked as he moved over to where Chase was standing. “Want some company while you wait?” he asked.

“No thanks Curly, I wouldn’t want you to keep you from Alex or anything like that.” Chase replied. Although she had never met Alex, she knew a lot about him. She and Ricky were good friends, although Ricky knew very little about what Chase did outside of work and bar hopping. It was fine with him; he knew that Chase was a good woman. That’s all he needed to know.

“He’s working...he gets off at ten…I’m meeting him at his place.” Ricky said devilishly.

“So when are you two just gonna move in together? You’ve been together for how many years?” Chase asked.

“Seven in a month. So he spends a few nights at my place, and I spend a few nights at his…no big deal…” Ricky shrugged, “See ya Monday?” he asked.

“Yup.” Chase replied as she turned up the volume on the radio.

****

Roni stepped into the garage, only to find it empty. There was some eighties' music playing and her car was sitting in the center. “Hello!?” She called out.

Chase heard the voice and came out from under the hood. She smiled when she saw Roni standing there. The woman was amazing, short and sturdy build, with sandy blonde hair and sparkling green eyes. She was wearing a black silk shirt and a pair of blue jeans that fit in all the right places. “Can I help you?” Chase asked. The woman looked very familiar.

Roni smiled at the amazon of a woman in front of her. She couldn’t quite place the face, but she knew she had seen the woman somewhere before. She was tall, at least six foot, with long dusky hair. She had a lopsided grin that, in Roni's opinion, complemented her chiseled features. She could tell the woman was solid without even seeing what was underneath the work suit. Roni offered a hand, “Roni Phillips, I was told my car would be ready by six?”

“Roni?” Chase questioned as she shook the woman’s hand. Roni was a very unusual name.

Roni laughed, “Yeah…ya know like macaroni? It’s short for Veronica, and you are?”

Chase grinned at the woman’s sense of humor. She replied, “Chase Summers. Your car…the Civic, right?”

“Yeah…” Roni started.

“About that…I know it’s like six-thirty now, but I’m not finished yet. Our boss isn’t exactly a car person, he just shoots off a time and hopes for the best.” Chase explained, feeling guilty.

“How am I supposed to get to work? Damn it!” Roni cursed. She was pissed and due at work in a half hour.

“I should only be another hour or so…” Chase started.

“I need to be there by seven!” Roni said a bit distressed. She sat down on a chair by the small table so she could figure out what to do. How could she expect her employees to be on time if she wasn’t herself?

Chase thought a moment, “Look, I usually don’t do this, but I will. I’ll give you the keys to my car and you can take it to work. When I’m finished with your car I’ll take it to my place, grab a shower and then bring it to you…no harm done?” she asked. She didn’t really want to see the woman late for work, or miss it all together. She also knew that if she had started working earlier the car would have been finished.

“Are you always this nice?” Roni asked skeptically.

Chase smirked, “No…” She really wasn’t this nice…ever. She also had never seen a woman quite like Roni and as far as she knew she may never see her again. Chase figured maybe she could see the woman one last time.

Roni realized she didn’t have much of an option. She also realized the woman was doing her a big favor. She agreed, “I’ll be at the Empire…that’s where I work. You have time for a drink later?” she asked.

“The Empire?” Chase questioned.

“You’ve never heard of it?” Roni asked.

Chase nodded; who hadn’t heard of the Empire? She said, “I’ve heard of it…but you have to be a super model just to cook for the place! It’s like…really expensive. You a cook?” she asked with a grin.

Roni shook her head, “Nope. I’m the manager and co-owner, and you don’t have to be a super model to cook there…we just prefer it.” she said with a smirk.

“Seriously?” Chase asked a little bit confused.

“No. Most of the people we have working for us are ordinary people. Honestly. So how ‘bout a drink?” Roni offered.

“Alright.” Chase agreed as she reached into her pocket. She pulled out her car keys and handed them to Roni. “Those are the keys and the registration is in the glove box. It’s the black truck outside…well it’s the only car outside actually.”

Roni smiled, “See you later.” She said as she headed out the door. The first thing she noticed was the truck was a real piece of shit…

****

Chase pulled up in front of the Empire. She got out and stretched mumbling something about big women and small cars. She had showered and changed into a pair of black Dockers and clean white oxford. She opened the door to the bar section of the business and shook her head. The place was as fancy as everyone said it was. A hostess approached her and asked, “Reservation?”

“For the bar?” Chase asked. She usually just went in and sat down at any other bar.

“Just the bar tables. The bar doesn’t need a reservation…” the hostess replied.

“Umm, No. I’m here to see Roni, the manager about her car.” Chase said as she ran her fingers through her hair.

The hostess gave Chase the once over and said, “Hold on a minute, please.” She turned and left.

****

“Roni, there’s this amazon chick out there…she says something about your car?” Nancy told Roni. She dropped the polite act as soon as she was out of the public’s hearing range. She actually had a thick New Jersey accent.

“Yeah…Chase. That means my car is fixed.” Roni replied as she started to leave the office.

“Valet car service?” Nancy asked with a quizzical glance.

“Long story, but she agreed to have a drink with me tonight.” Roni said with a smirk.

 Nancy smiled, “You got a date with her?”

“I don’t even know if she’s…family.” Roni responded.

Nancy muttered, “Whatever…”

Roni left the room and headed back to the front of the bar. She saw Chase waiting for her by the door way and smiled as she approached the woman. “Hey…” she began.

“Hey.” Chase replied. She asked, “Reservations at a bar?”

“To be brief, my business partner and I made a compromise. Alex wanted reservations for the bar and I didn’t, so he got to have reservations for the bar tables, and I got to have an open bar.” Roni explained.

A tall man approached. He was a little taller than Chase was, with light brown hair. Even Chase had to admit he was well built. He was dressed in khaki colored pants and a light blue, short sleeved, version of Chase’s shirt. “And you have to admit that it works rather well, huh, Roni?” he asked.

Roni turned and smiled, “Alex…Chase, this is Alex, my business partner and college roommate.”

Chase extended her hand to Alex, who shook it firmly. She introduced herself, “Chase Summers. They let you guys room together in college? I thought they had rules about that…”

“Off campus.” Roni explained. “Either way, I got my best friend out of the deal, so no harm done.” She smirked as she saw Alex checking out a rather preppy looking young man. “Stop that…” she slapped his arm playfully.

“Sorry…So you’re not a regular, are you?” He asked Chase.

Chase shook her head, “I’m bringing Roni back her car. She asked me to stay for a drink, so I accepted. I’ve never been here before.” She thought, “Well he definitely looked too clean to be straight…”

“Hmm…well then, Roni, why don’t you take the rest of the night off? I think I can manage for a night on my own.” Alex suggested as he rested his hand on Roni’s shoulder.

“Sounds good to me.” Roni replied as she turned and kissed Alex’s cheek. “Thanks.”

So Chase and Roni set off to find a table for their drink.

**** 

Chase looked across the table at Roni and smiled. For the past hour she and the blonde had been getting to know each other a little bit better. She asked, “So where do you live?”

Roni replied, “Oceanview  Drive. My house is right on the beach. How bout you?”

Chase was slightly embarrassed. Compared to where Roni lived…well you couldn’t compare to where Roni lived. She replied, “About twenty minutes away from here. Ten from where you live…in an apartment complex.” She didn’t elaborate considering there were quite a few apartment complexes ten minutes away from where Roni lived. She also didn’t mention that her complex was the one in Southside; the wrong side of the tracks.

“We live that close? It’s a wonder I didn’t see you before tonight. Maybe we could get together again, or something? If you want to, I mean.” Roni finished. She smiled at Chase hoping that she’d accept the offer.

“Sure.” Chase agreed. She then asked, “When do you have off?”

“Mondays, Saturdays and Sundays.” Roni said as she finished her drink, a Vodka on the rocks.

“I’m off Saturdays and Sundays. Why don’t I pick you up next Saturday night and we can go somewhere. I mean I have stuff to do tomorrow and all.” Chase offered. “How do you feel about bars and pool?”

“I haven’t played in a while, but it sounds good to me.” Roni said. Truthfully, she had never played in her life.

“Alright. How’s six?” Chase asked.

Roni nodded her head, “Wonderful. So what’s your favorite color?” she asked.

“Black…yours?”

“Blue. Like the ocean.” Roni pointed out.

Chase asked, “You like dogs?” She figured a game of twenty questions never hurt anyone.

“Actually, I have a dog. He’s one of those Tawny colored Great Danes; a birthday present from Alex a few years back. Hence the dog’s name, Alec.”

Chase laughed, “I have two. English bulldogs, Lucy and Livia…oddly enough they rarely ever come out of the second bedroom I have…unless I’m home, they won’t leave it.” She shrugged and glanced around the bar. She noticed how everyone else was dressed, and how they acted; she suddenly felt very out of place. “Umm look, I should be going…”

Roni nodded, “Alright. I will see you next Saturday?” She wondered if she had done something wrong. As far as she could tell everything was going great. She asked, “Was it something I did?”

Chase felt bad. The expression on Roni’s face had changed from a smile to a confused and sort of hurt look. She decided to explain, “No…it’s just that…I uhh, I feel really out of place here. I mean it’s a really nice place… I’m just not used to being in a place like this…I…”

Roni smiled again and covered Chase’s hand with her own. She said, “If it’s just the place, we can go somewhere else.” Roni offered. She didn’t really understand where Chase was coming from. Just about all the apartments were high-class places. Some of them even had restaurants on the lower floors.

“How ‘bout I just pick you up Saturday?” Chase suggested. She had some things she’d need to work out and she knew she’d eventually have to be honest with Roni. The sooner the better in her mind. She wouldn’t want to risk Roni’s reputation by not telling her about where she actually lived. The politics in Highland Grove were unbelievably cut and dry. South side and North side didn’t associate, and if they did the Northsiders would lose respect for whoever it was.

“At least let me walk you to your truck and give you my number?” Roni asked.

Chase agreed, “Alright.” She watched Roni scrawl her number on a napkin. “I’ll call during the week.” They stood up and headed for Chase’s truck.

Two: A week and a day later…Saturday

Chase woke up around eight in the morning. She smiled a little as she remembered the events of last week. She had talked to Roni every night for at least two hours since they had met and decided that she really did like the woman. They had quite a few things in common. Well, interest wise. She made her way to the bathroom, then the kitchen to get on with her morning. Livia and Lucy followed her out of their bedroom and into the kitchen. They wanted to be fed. Chase said to them, “So girls…I met someone last week...But you two know that already.” She started brewing a pot of coffee and sat down in a chair at the table. The dogs sat at her feet. “Her names Roni…like macaroni, she’s really pretty.” She leaned down and scratched behind their ears. “I like her, but she’s from Northside. Yeah, you know what that means… she shouldn’t be hanging around with people like us. We’re just needles in a pile of needles, ya know that, girls?” She stretched and asked them, “How do I tell her? She probably won’t want to see me again after I do…” She looked out her kitchen window. Outside the streets were lined with small businesses: coffee shops, markets, gas stations, and the like. They were all pretty much rundown, yet still functional. She pointed out, “Good thing I work in Eastend. Common ground…her business is in Northside…and she lives ten minutes from here. I’m taking her to Westend tonight…middle class all around, so I can’t go too wrong there, now can I?” She got up and filled Lucy’s and Livia’s bowls with dog food and poured herself a cup of coffee. “Oh well, girls. We’ll see.”

****

Roni at her kitchen table drinking her cup of coffee. Alex sat down across from her with his cup and said, “So tell me about this Chase woman.”

Roni thought a minute and smiled as she thought about Chase. She began, “Well, she’s the mechanic of Eastend. Ya know the woman that Rick’s always on about?”

Alex smiled, “The one that can change a tire in two minutes?” He shook his head, as he’s heard quite a bit about Chase too.

“Yah…the one that he works with. I think she’s from Westend or Northside. She said she lived in a complex ten minutes from here and twenty from the Empire.” Roni explained.

Ricky came sauntering into the room. It was only eight in the morning and Alex had dragged him out of bed and here at seven; he decided to nap on the couch. He poured a cup of coffee and sat down next to Alex. “What’s up?” he asked sleepily.

“Roni has a date with your mechanic friend…” Alex said with a grin.

Ricky swallowed some coffee and asked, “Chase? Whoa…how’d you pull that one off?”

Roni shook her head, “It’s not a date, Alex. I don’t even know if she’s batting for our team!”

Ricky grinned, “Oh trust me…she’s batting for our team. You have a date…which makes you the woman she told me about, huh?”

“She talked about me?” Roni asked.

Ricky nodded, “Never heard her say so many good things about one person!”

Alex asked, “Where are you going?”

“She said suggested we go to a bar and play some pool. She wasn’t very comfortable at the Empire. She said she wasn’t used to places like that.” Roni said.

Ricky asked, “Did she say where she’s from?” Yet another thing he didn’t know about Chase. He’d always figured Eastend, considering he’s never seen her in North or West.

“She said she lived in a complex ten minutes from me, so I’m guessing Westend or Northside.” Roni repeated.

“Funny, I always thought she was an Eastie. I’ve never seen her in West or North.” Rick pointed out. South had to be out of the question, because Southies didn’t usually work in Eastend.

“Maybe…” Roni agreed as she took another sip of coffee. “So what are you two doing today?”

“I’m going to work, and Ricky is going to fix some the equipment in the kitchen for us. Sweet of him, isn’t it?” Alex asked as he leaned over and placed a kiss on Ricky’s cheek. “You need to shave…”

Ricky frowned and said with mock anger, “I’m not sweet, and I don’t need to shave.” He folded his arms and started pouting.

“You don’t work today and nothing in the kitchen is broken…” Roni commented.

“I know.” Alex said. “Actually we were planning on staying here all day to sun bathe and whatnot.”

“Figured that much.” Roni said with a grin as Alec came trotting into the kitchen. Leash in tow, he sat down at Roni’s feet and whined.

Ricky grinned, “I’ll do it!” he volunteered. He loved walking the big dog around the neighborhood.

“Thanks, Rick.” Roni said as Ricky and Alec shot out the door.

“They have too much in common.” Alex said with a smile. “Way too much.”

“Not gonna ask…” Roni deadpanned.

Three:

Chase dialed Roni’s number and waited for someone to answer.

“Hello?”

“Roni? It’s Chase.”

“Hi!”

“I figured I’d call before I left. Ya know…make sure you're ready.”

“Yah, almost. What am I supposed to wear?”

“Jeans and a T-shirt are fine…no one really gets that dressed.”

“Sounds good then, I’m ready.”

“Okay… what’s your house number?”

“2331”

“Alright. Be there in ten…Bye, Roni.”

“Bye, Chase.”

****

Chase pulled up in front of Roni’s house. It was a big place and right on the ocean as said. She noticed an extra car in the drive way; a old Lincoln Town Car. “Whoa, I ain’t seen one of those in a long time. Well not one that nice.” She thought.  She walked to the front door and rang the bell.

The door opened, “Hey…Roni’s inside.” Alex said. “Come in.”

Chase smiled, “Thanks. You live here?” she asked as she stepped in. Alex closed the door behind her.

“Nope, just visiting.” He replied.

Chase followed Alex into the living room and to her surprise Ricky was lounging on the couch with Alec’s head on his lap. “Ricky?” she asked.

Ricky turned her head and grinned, “Hey Chase…I take it you met Alex?” he laughed.

Chase looked from Alex to Ricky and back. She asked, “That’s THE Alex?”

“The one and only.” Ricky replied. “We spend a lot of time here on the weekends…Roni never really minds the company. Speaking of which you didn’t tell me you had a date with Roni.”

Chase took a minute to process the new information and shrugged at him as Roni came into the room. She gave Roni a once over and decided that the woman in front of her was definitely the most beautiful she had ever seen. Roni was wearing a pair of tight jeans and a blue halter top, with a pair of black shoes. Simple, but on her it looked right. Chase commented, “You look good.”

Roni smiled and took in the sight before her. She was right, Chase was well muscled. She wore a simple white “wife beater” and a pair of black jeans, complete with a hole in the knee and black Converse Chucks. The style wouldn’t work on just anyone, but on Chase it looked good. “Not so bad yourself, Chase. You remind me of one of those Southside bad girls.”

Alex and Ricky laughed, but Chase just stood and looked at the three of them. She didn’t know what to say now. ‘I am a Southside bad girl?’ Yah, that might go over well. She started, “Roni…can I talk to you a minute?”

Alex and Ricky stopped laughing and looked at Chase, as did Roni. “Yeah…” she said as she took Chase’s hand and led her into the kitchen. “What’s up?”

“You know why I look like a Southside bad girl?” Chase asked as she sat at the table.

Roni grinned, “Because you’re taking me to Southside?”

“No…because I am a Southside bad girl.” Chase said as she looked down.

“You are?” Roni asked. She was a little bit confused. “But there are no Southies that work in Eastend…”

Chase nodded, “There’s me…I used to live in Eastend, but I left home when I was seventeen. With no education, barring a high school degree I couldn’t afford to be anywhere else. I finished my senior year and started working for my friend, Mick, at the garage.”

“Oh…” Roni said. She knew that where Chase came from shouldn’t matter, but in Highland society it did matter. Not to her, but to the people around her. She asked, “You graduated Highland?”

“Yeah, I was the class of 1990. I feel all old…twenty seven and nothing to show for it.” Chase mumbled.

Roni felt bad for the woman in front of her, but at the same time torn. She told herself, “This shouldn’t make a difference…It won’t…” She put her hand on Chase’s shoulder, “You have a lot to show. You’re still here, aren’t you? As for being old, I’m twenty-five, so I’m on my way. As for being the class of 1990, you graduated when I was a sophomore…meaning that’s why you look familiar.”

“Yah…” Chase agreed. “If you don’t wanna go out t’night, I’ll understand.”

“No…we’ll go out tonight. Still the same plan, you pick the place.” Roni said.

Chase smiled, “You’re still gonna give me a chance?” she asked.

“Same as anyone else, Chase.” Roni said as she hugged the woman next to her.

Chase smiled and returned the hug, “So you ready?”

“You bet…” Roni replied.

****

Roni and Chase pulled up in front of Boxer’s about a half hour later. It was basically your stereotypical bar. Chase stepped out of Roni’s car. They decided to take it instead of the truck. “Here it is, in all it’s blue collar glory. Boxer’s.” She said.

Roni smiled and took Chase’s hand, “Let’s go.” She said as Chase led her into the bar and to a table. They sat down and she noticed that Chase looked a lot more relaxed than she had the previous night.

“Why don’t ya get us something to drink, while I get us a pool table?” Chase suggested.

It sounded good to Roni. “Sounds fine, what do you want?” She asked.

“Bud light.” Chase said as she stood up.

“Piss water…” Roni commented with a grin. “Michelob.”

“Blasphemy!” Chase exclaimed as she helped Roni out of her seat. “I’ll see you in a few minutes.”

****

Roni appeared next to Chase holding a Bud and Michelob in her hand. She said, “Hi…got your piss.”

“Thanks!” Chase said as she took the bottle, “I got our table, and I racked the balls, you wanna break?” she asked.

Roni thought a minute, “Okay.” She rounded the table and picked up a pool stick that was a bit to big for her. She stood straight in front of the triangle of balls and haphazardly took a shot at the twelve ball. She missed completely.

Chase started laughing at this point. “No, no, no…” she said. She walked over to Roni and took the stick. She handed her one that was a little shorter and then guided her to the opposite end of the table. “You’ve never played have you?”

Roni laughed at the question. She had figured it wouldn’t be that difficult to play the game; she was wrong. “No...” She admitted with a mischievous smirk, “I just wanted to go out with you…”

Chase shook her head, “It’s alright. I can teach ya if you want me too.” She rested her arm on Roni’s shoulder.

“Would you?” Roni asked.

Chase nodded, “Sure…come here.” Roni followed Chase closer to the table and watched how Chase held the stick, “See like this…you can guide it better.” To make her point she shot the cue ball into the far corner pocket. The ball came back around and Chase picked it up and put it on the table. “You try.” She said.

Roni did her best to imitate what Chase showed her. She got it half right, except the stick missed the ball completely. “Shit…I think I messed up…”

“Just a bit…here…” Chase stood behind Roni and leaned her forward a little. She placed her hand over Roni’s and then positioned the stick; her other hand was slightly behind Roni’s. “Okay…shoot.”

Roni, with the guidance of Chase, shot the ball at the rest. They didn’t break, but they did crack a little bit. Neither of them moved, they stood and relished the closeness between them. As Chase straightened out, Roni moved with her. Chase leaned the stick against the table and wrapped both of her arms around Roni’s waist. She placed a soft kiss on Roni’s cheek before she started to think, “What am I doing? I’m gonna screw her over bad if anyone finds this out…” Quickly she pulled away from Roni and said, “Look, I’m sorry, but I can’t do this to you.”

Roni watched the woman circle around the table and grab her stick. She lined up a shot easily and split the balls on the table in every direction. She watched as two solid balls dropped into the left corner and side pocket. “Solids.” Chase pointed out. “Which means you gotta get the stripped ones in…”

Roni just stood there looking rather hurt. She stared at Chase, not really caring much about the game; she just wanted answers. “What the hell was that all about?” she asked.

“What?” Chase questioned; she knew damn well what.

“That!? You flirt with me, you kiss me, then you say you can’t…what’s that supposed to mean!?” Roni asked as her voice got a few octaves higher.

Chase replied, “You’re just gonna get hurt, Roni! God, if anyone finds you here with me on any other level than ‘just friends’ you’re gonna fucked. Hell, even if we are just friends, you know there’s gonna be trouble.”

“I don’t care about where you live, Chase! I don’t care about where I live! I don’t care what you do for a living! Can’t you see it doesn’t matter?” Roni asked. She started using her hands to make her point.

“But it does matter.” Chase stepped a little closer to Roni and took hold of her hands. She asked softly, “Would you have offered to have a drink with me if you knew? Would you have talked to me all week, every night, for hours? Would you have asked me out a second time? Would you be here with me now?”

Roni didn’t answer, she just stared into Chase’s eyes. “Chase…I…”

Chase felt her heart break at that moment. She looked at Roni and placed her finger over her lips. “You and I both know the answer, so please don’t say it, Roni.” She moved her finger and softly placed a lingering kiss on Roni’s lips. “Sorry, but I had to. Now I can say I met the woman of my dreams, and I was at least able to give her a kiss.” She slowly turned and left the bar; she knew it would be a long walk home.

Roni stood alone by the pool table. Her heart was broken; she knew that what Chase said was the truth. She just didn’t know what to do about it.

****

“Roni?” Alex called from the living room. He and Ricky decided to wait until she came home, before they left.

Roni stepped into the room with tears rolling down her cheeks. She just stood there looking at Alex and Ricky curled together on her couch. She longed for a person like that in her life, and she knew that she had met that person. Alex stood up quickly, “What happened?”

Roni practically jumped into his arms and started sobbing. “She left, Al… she…she…”

“She what?” Ricky asked.

“She said I was the woman of her dreams…” Roni sobbed.

Alex lead her to the couch and suggested, “Lets start from the beginning, Roni. What did she say to you in the kitchen?”

“She lives in Southside…she has since she was seventeen. She moved there from Eastend, because it was the only place she could afford on her own.” Roni said quietly.

“Then what?” Alex asked.

Roni continued, “She tried to teach me to play pool, and she ended up holding me. She kissed me and then…she said she couldn’t do that to me.” She wiped the tears from her eyes, only to have them replaced by more.

“Then?” Ricky asked. He’d seriously have to kill Chase on Monday.

“I asked her what that was all about and she said she didn’t want me to get screwed over because of her. I told her I didn’t care about that. Then she asked if I’d have asked her for a drink, talked to her all week, or agreed to go on another date if I had known….” Roni explained as she leaned against Alex.

“What did you say?” Alex asked. He did understand where Chase was coming from. He knew the politics of Highland, and he knew that some people could be merciless.

“I didn’t say anything, because we all know the answer is no. She told me not to say anything and she kissed me. Then she said that now she could say she met the woman of her dreams and at least was able to give her a kiss…” Roni started sobbing again as she finished, “She was talking about me…I need to see her, Ricky!”

Ricky stood up and picked up the keys to Alex’s car. “Where are you going?” Alex asked.

“To get her address off of her job application. Mick is anal about records and we are the only two mechanics that work there…so it shouldn’t be that hard.” He smiled, “Be back in a while.” He knew that Chase was a good woman, and he knew that she did care about Roni. He also knew that it was hard to change Chase’s mind once it was set.

Four:

Chase made her way through Westend and back to Southside in about an hour and a half. It would have taken her twenty minutes if she had her car, which she didn’t. Either way, she’d be home in Fifteen more minutes.

****

Roni sat on the front steps of Chase’s apartment building. She had fought for a half hour with Alex and Ricky. They wanted to go with her, but she wouldn’t let them. This was something she needed to do by herself. She saw three figures approaching her and started feeling uneasy. “Who’s this?” one of them asked.

“Dunno, Charlie. She ain’t from around here…”

“No shit, Mike. What was your first clue? The fact she’s wearing gold?”

“Either way, we get a free piece of ass and some drug money for the necklace. What do you think, Bobby?” Charlie asked his cohort.

Bobby moved closer to her and smiled, “I think I ain’t takin’ sloppy seconds on this one, so you two fuck heads are gonna have to wait in line.”

Charlie laughed and look a closer look at Roni, who had moved back into a corner. She was pretty much too afraid to scream and too afraid to move. “Holy shit guys! I know who this bitch is… Veronica Phillips… she writes those lesbo books…she owns that place in Northside…”

“Oh…rich bitch.” Bobby said as he unbuckled his belt. “Grab her and get her pants off…”

Realizing what they were going to do, Roni jumped to her feet and tried to run. Instead she was intercepted by Charlie and Mike. Mike threw a punch at her, connecting with her mouth. Blood splattered from her lip. “Move again and I’ll kill ya…”

Roni started to cry as Charlie quickly undid her pants. She felt herself being pushed against side of the building as they slid her pants down to her ankles. Bobby pushed himself against her and crushed her lips with his own. “That’s right…you behave and you live…”

Roni felt herself becoming sick as Bobby’s dick rubbed against her leg. Then there was nothing…She looked down and Bobby was laying at her feet clutching his head. Charlie jumped out and she saw him fall to the ground holding his stomach. Finally, Mike ran at what appeared to be a rather large figure. She saw something swing around and connect with Mike’s chest. It came crashing down again connecting with his ribs. “Ya stupid shits…” Roni recognized the voice. She was too scared to move or speak; she just stood and cried.

Chase stepped out into the light, wielding a baseball bat. She looked around and her eyes came to rest on Roni standing on her front steps half naked and petrified. “Oh my God, Roni!” she yelped as she ran to the woman. She pulled Roni close to her and held her for what seemed like an eternity. “What are you doin’ here?” she asked.

Roni didn’t answer, she just burrowed her face into Chase’s chest and cried harder.

Chase leaned down and lifted Roni into her arms. She got her keys and opened the door to her apartment; after a moment of fiddling with the old lock she got in and locked the door behind her. She lay Roni down on her couch and noticed that Roni’s pants were completely missing. She went to her room and came back with a pair of shorts.

“Come on, sweetie…put these on?” she asked.

Roni nodded and slid the shorts on. She asked softly, “Are you gonna call the police?”

Chase’s heart broke for the second time that night. She shook her head in the negative and sat down next to her friend. She explained, “They won’t come, Roni. They’re probably all to busy patrolling Northside and Westend. This happens more than once every night here, and they just don’t care anymore.”

“Oh.” Roni said. She was too numb to say anything else. She leaned over and against Chase.

“What were you doin’ here?” Chase asked her as she wrapped her arms around Roni. One around her back and the other smoothing down her hair.

“I wanna go to sleep, Chase…” Roni stated softly.

Chase nodded, “Come on…”

She led Roni to her bedroom and got her settled in bed. She turned to leave and she heard Roni, “Stay?”

“Roni…”Chase began. Everything in her screamed “NO!” but her heart said “yes.”

“Please?” Roni asked as she started crying again. “I’m afraid…” Chase turned around and stood in the doorway for a minute. In the distance a baby could be heard crying and a the sound of a gunshot echoed out.

Chase returned to her bed and lay down beside Roni; she willed herself not to hold the woman. Within minutes Roni had rolled over and wrapped herself around Chase; Chase just sighed in defeat and wrapped the smaller woman in her arms.

Five:

Chase sat at her kitchen table drinking a bottle of beer. It was Friday night, and she couldn’t bring herself to go out. About three months had passed since the incident with Roni. Ricky and Alex didn’t blame her for what happened, but Chase blamed herself. She had talked to Roni a few times a month since then, and seen her two or three times. Every time Roni would tell her she loved her, and every time Chase would fight the urge to tell her the same. She thought back to the morning after Roni spent the night…

****

“Why’d you come here, Roni?” Chase asked as she sat down across the table from her friend.

Roni took the ice off of her lip and began sarcastically, “Well the local grocery store ran out of Captain Crunch ® and I needed to get it somewhere…”

Chase frowned and asked, “So you came here where you almost got raped and killed!? Seriously, Roni! How stupid can you get?! They kill people here for being too clean and having a car with ALL of the parts!” she yelled. She calmed down a bit and said, “That’s why I pulled the bumper off of mine.”

Roni started again with an even more sarcastic tone, “Fine the truth…I followed a Terrapin that escaped from the zoo…”

“You followed a  fuckin’ turtle!? Veronica, there are no God-damned zoos in this part of New Jersey!” Chase yelled.

Roni looked down and shot back, “Why do you think I came here? I fucked up, I know that, I’m sorry! I’ll leave if you want, Chase, but answer me one question, please?”

“What?” Chase snapped.

Roni asked, “Did you mean it?”

“Mean what?” she asked.

“That I was the woman of your dreams…did you mean it?” Roni asked.

Chase stood up and circled the table. She kneeled down in front of Roni and gazed into her eyes. “Yeah. You are the woman of my dreams, but we’re different people and my dreams aren’t the same as yours. Roni, I don’t dare to dream anymore…they never come true.”

Roni leaned down and rested her forehead against Chase’s. “It could work…”

“Maybe if I were rich, or you were poor… but you’re not, and I’m not, and…I’m taking you home, Roni. Someone like you doesn’t belong here.” Chase said as she stood up.

Roni stood up after her and grabbed her by the wrist. She turned Chase around and said, “I know it’s only been a very short time, Chase…but I think I’m falling in love with you.”

Chase pulled Roni into her strong arms. Silent tears rolled down her cheeks as she whispered, “I know, Roni.” She tipped Roni’s chin up and lightly kissed her face, “I know…I need to get you home…”

****

The phone rang snapping Chase out of her daze. She stood up and answered it, “What?”

“Chase…it’s Ricky. Are you okay?”

“Yeah, Rick. I’m fine…seems like you call a lot more lately…”

“Well I finally have your number…but look, it’s about Roni…”

“What happened?”

“Nothing really… she just won’t leave her house. She hasn’t been out in days and all she does is cry…She needs you.”

“Me?”

“Chase, don’t be the big dense dyke that you are! For Christ sake, the woman is in love with you, and I know damn well you love her!”

“How do you know!?”

“Chase…”

“How?”

“You told me you did!”

“Did not, Rick!”

“Chase…”

“Fuck you, Rick!”

“Fuck you!”

“Fuck you harder!”

“No, Chase… fuck you harder. I’m willing to bet you don’t even remember why we’re arguing.”

“Fuck me…we’re arguing cos’ you’re right. I’m in love with her.”

“The spare key is under the doormat…See ya Monday, Chase.”

“Yeah…Monday.”

Chase pulled her shoes on and grabbed her keys. She headed up route 44 toward Northside.

Epilogue:

Chase pulled up in front of Roni’s house. She jumped out and headed for the front door. The key was exactly where Ricky said it would be, so she let herself in. She looked around the house as Alec approached her. “Hey boy…” she said. She went through the kitchen and living room, only to see a figure sitting on the back porch looking over the ocean. Roni…

Roni sat and swiped her hand across her face. She stared out farther into the night as her thoughts drifted. “Beautiful night, isn’t it?” Roni heard a voice ask from behind her.

She turned around and saw Chase bathed in the light of the moon. “Chase…”

“Come here, baby.” Chase said as she held her arms open. Roni shot up and practically ran into Chase’s embrace.

“I love you, Chase…” Roni whispered as her arms wrapped around the taller woman.

Chase pulled back from Roni and leaned down until their lips met in a passionate kiss. Roni’s fingers intertwined in Chase’s hair, pulling her closer. Chase’s hands rested on Roni’s hips, pressing her closer. They finally broke apart and Chase caught Roni’s lower lip between her’s. “Roni…please listen to me…”

“Chase, I…” Roni started but was cut off by two fingers pressed against her lips.

“I have nothing to give you, and I have no dream to take you to. I have no money, no nice house, no fancy car…I’ve got no ring to give you, and I have nothing to offer you, Roni. All I have…” she took Roni’s hand and placed it over her heart. She continued, “All I have is this…I love you with all of my heart, Veronica, and if I have to spend the rest of my life proving it to you, then I will.” She lifted Roni’s hand and kissed it.

“You don’t need to prove anything…” She placed her hand once again over Chase’s heart and said, “All I need is this…”

“Then have it…without you it’s broken.” Chase said.

Roni smiled and took Chase’s hand, “I love you.”

“I know…I love you too.” Chase replied.

Roni led her inside and to her bedroom. Chase took her time undressing Roni; she wanted to take in everything that was being laid in front of her. Roni kissed every part of Chase she could as her skin became exposed. Finally, they met in a fiery embrace that left them both breathless and wanting more. “Never leave me again?” Roni begged, as Chase continued kissing her neck and chest.

Chase stopped and placed a small kiss on Roni’s lips. As she did she promised, “Never…”

“Stay with me?” Roni asked as she wrapped her legs around Chase’s hips.

“Forever…Love me?” Chase questioned.

“Always…” Roni promised.

“Always.” Chase echoed as they became lost in the moment. That night two bodies and two souls became one, never to be split apart again.

****

The morning sun crept in through the window of Roni’s bedroom. She smiled down at her new lover, whose head was resting on her stomach. Her body was half covering Roni, and half on the bed between her legs. Her fingers slid through Chase’s dark hair. Chase asked, “How long you been up?”

“Not long. You?” Roni asked.

“A while…just thinking.” Chase replied as she softly kissed Roni’s stomach.

“Chase…last night you promised me…you promised you’d stay with me. You said you’d never leave, you promised you’d never leave me again. You meant that?” Roni asked.

Chase crawled up Roni’s torso and held herself up a little bit. She lowered herself until she covered Roni’s body with her own. She kissed every part of Roni’s face and swore, “I will never, ever leave you again. I mean that with all of my heart.”

“Good, cos’ I never want to live without you again…” Roni whispered.

“Then you don’t ever have to…” Chase said simply. She felt in her heart that everything from that moment on, would be alright.

****

Everything worked out for Chase and Roni; after about a year Chase moved into Roni’s house. Ricky and Alex also moved in together, finally! The Empire continued to be very successful and after a few years Ricky and Chase bought Mick’s Garage, and needless to say they made sure they had enough time to fix things that needed fixing.

Living in a small town for all of your life, you’d think there wouldn’t be a face that you wouldn’t recognize. Then again, there are two kinds of people in most small towns: the upper and lower class. Chase Summers was the epitome of Highland Grove’s lower class. She was an auto mechanic by day and a nothing by night. Living in the Southside, Chase was one in a million, in the eyes of Veronica Phillips.

Veronica Phillips was considered highly successful in the small town. The writer and business woman had a high income from both her job and her hobby. She was what every person in the Northside of Highland Grove wanted to be. There wasn’t too much missing in Roni’s life, but the things that were missing were the things that she found in Chase Summers.

The End

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