grl2grl by Julie Anne Peters

to make first period. Classes dragged. I didn’t have a cell phone and we couldn’t use the computers
     at school for e-mail. When the last bell rang I was out of there, racing home to hook up with Black_ Venus. She always seemed
     to be waiting.
    Black_Venus: What’d you do today?
    Scar_tissu: Slept. Zoned. What’d U do?
    Black_Venus: Shopped. I’m addicted. Did you see her today?
    My throat caught.
    Me: No. She’s avoiding me.
    Black_Venus: Gee, I can’t imagine why. How are you doing?
    Me: Better.
    A little. A few pangs of loneliness and despair, but I wasn’t feeling as hopeless or… used. Bruised on the inside. How could
     I not have known? Dylan canceling out on me. Having other plans every Friday night. Her tone of voice, weird vibes. Her distraction
     while we kissed. Her lack of enthusiasm. Me,finding out from friends about her other girl in Lincoln. God, that was the worst. Then giving Dylan the ultimatum: Choose.
     “Choose, Dylan.”
    She did. Now I was more angry at myself for being stupid.
    Black_Venus: I know what you’re thinking. How could you not have known? I’ll tell you how. You were in love. It’s easy to fool people
     when they don’t want to see.
    Or hear. I never want to hear those words again: “I don’t choose you.”
    Me: Thanx. I needed 2 hear that.
    It wouldn’t happen to me again. Ever. Live and learn.

    Black_Venus: What’s your idea of a romantic evening? And BTW, I refuse to call you Scar_tissu. Do you have another screen name? Or a real
     name?
    I considered telling her. We’d always been honest… .
    Me: Hayley
    Black_Venus: Hayley. Yeah, it fits you. Sweet name.
    Me: It was my mom’s favorite name. She died when I was a baby.

    Long pause.
    Black_Venus: I’m sorry. So much pain in your life.
    Me: Like I said, I was a baby. I never knew her.
    Black_Venus: Sometimes that’s a blessing. Mothers can be… you know. So, Hayley. What do you look like? The pic you posted on the board
     is a fairy. Did you draw that?
    Me: Yeh
    I loved fairies. Ever since I was little, I’d been captivated by them. No wonder — I was one. Ha ha. I wished I could fly
     away or disappear in fairy dust.
    How to describe myself?
    Me: I’m ordinary. Brwn hair. Brwn eyes.
    Black_Venus: You’re not ordinary. I bet you’re beautiful.
    Dad said I was pretty, but he was biased.
    Black_Venus: Post a pic of yourself on the board.
    No way. That’d be the end of this relationship. Anyway, I didn’t have a picture I liked. She was gorgeous. Her photo was slick,
     like a professional studio shot. Black and white. Airbrushed.

    Black_Venus: OK, Hayley. COS: Change of Subj. Romantic evening. I’d suddenly appear outside your door in my silver XL. The cornstalks
     would be waving in the wind.
    Me: LOL. Really.
    Black_Venus: I’m wearing a black bodysuit with a vamp cape. I bow to you, kiss your hand, and take a nibble.
    Wow, she was getting into this. Like a role play. I couldn’t… . Yes, I could. Why not?
    Me: Mmm. How do I taste?
    Black_Venus: Salty. But you’re sea salt. Natural and pure. I may have to fill a shaker for later.
    Me: Not too much later. I’m ready now.
    I blushed. I couldn’t believe I typed that.
    Black_Venus: I draw back the cape and whip out a box of imported French chocolates. Truffles.
    Me: Ah oui. How did you know I love ze chocolat?
    Black_Venus: When I think of you, when I close my eyes at night and imagine you, you’re dressed in a cornflower blue silk negligee I saw
     at Victoria’s Secret on Saturday. I thought, Oh yeah. Iowa. Shuck it off and get in my car.

    Me: LMAO. UMMH.
    Someone used that on the board once: U Make Me Hot.
    Black_Venus: It’s all good. What are you wearing right now?
    What was I wearing? My uniform from school. Navy skirt and white blouse. That wouldn’t play in Hollywood.
    Me: Nothing
    Black_Venus: *Squeals*
    Me: I lied. I’m wearing a wet T-shirt. With no bra.
    Black_Venus: Heavy breathing. In the car (which is a convertible, BTW), we lower