I was packing up my stuff getting ready to leave New Orleans. I was gathering up my dental hygiene products when a knock came on my door. I walked over to it and opened it, to my dismay there stood Kyle.
"Kyle?" He walked in. "What, what are you doing here?"
"Well, you said you're were leaving this morning and I remember you mentioning this was where you were staying and I thought I'd stop by to say good-bye."
"Oh I see."
"Is it not OK for me to be here?"
"No, I glad you came by to see me off, it's just my friends..."
"I see, they don't know about us, and it might be a little overwhelming for them."
"Yeah." I sighed.
"If you want, if someone asks I can say we're friends until you're comfortable telling them that you're off the market."
"That would be great, it's not that I don't want them to know about you it's just right now is not the time to tell them."
"I understand, it's probably a little hard for them realizing that they can't have you."
"That's gotta be it."
"Hey Lance we're gonna be going..." JC and Mallory walked in and noticed Kyle. "Hi I don't believe we've met. I'm JC and this is Mallory."
"Kyle, I'm a friend of Lance."
"Oh, well it's nice to meet you and I hate to cut this short but we gotta get ready to leave." JC said.
"It's OK I was just going anyway." JC left the room. "Wow, he's a dish." Mallory looked over at Kyle.
"I kno..." I stopped myself realizing what I almost said. I looked over at Kyle who was smiling at me. "I gotta finish packing."
"I guess I'm in your way so I'll just leave you so you can tidy up in here." He said coming closer to give me a hug. I knew Mallory was watching so I quickly pulled away and extended my hand for a handshake. "Right, so I'll see you later." He sounded a little disappointed.
"Yeah, I'll see you later." I quickly said.
"Mallory, it was a joy to meet you, you're such a doll." He kissed her hand.
"Thanks, It was nice to meet you too." He looked one more time at me before leaving the room on which Mallory turned to me. "He was checking you out."
"Excuse me."
"You can't tell, he's gay, Lance and he wants you."
"I'm not that." I said nervously.
"I know you're not, but he probably thinks he can convert you."
"Well, that certainly ain't gonna happen, no sir ree."
"I hope not, it'd be all weird, you would be like prancing around."
"Hey, not all gay people prance."
"Geez, sorry I insulted the gay brigade."
"I'm just sure those kind of people wouldn't appreciate being stereotyped like that."
"Anyway if that Kyle guy thinks he's gonna be hanging around here with us he better get one thing straight. He better get his eyes off of my prize, if you know what I mean."
"Yeah, I know what you mean. We are talking about JC right?"
"Of course."
"Yeah, I know what you mean." She smiled at me before leaving the room. I went back to my packing only to be interrupted again.
"Hey I just saw Kyle in the hall."
"Oh hey Zoë, gee what are you doing here?" I once again was nervous.
"I wanted to know what Kyle was doing here."
"Oh nothing, nothing at all."
"What's wrong?" She came closer and I backed away.
"I'm, I'm perfectly fine." I stuttered.
"OK whatever you say." She looked at me and I turned away. "Lance, can't you tell me what's going on? I thought we didn't keep secrets from each other."
"Well, I told you about me being gay so it looks like it's your turn." I paused for one-second. "Huh, guess you don't have any I can't tell you mine then." I started for the bathroom.
"Lance come back here." She grabbed my arm and pulled me back. "Does this have to do with Kyle?"
"No, and if you want me to spill you got to tell me something." I knew she didn't have any secrets.
"OK, if I have to tell you something..."
"Wait, don't tell me I don't want to have to tell you."
"I thought we were friends can't you trust me. You know I won't tell anyone."
"I know, so go ahead."
"OK, Justin and I were walking in the mall and we passed by this display that said take one with little cards by it and we took two." She sighed. "I'm so glad to finally tell someone."
"That's it, that's your big secret?"
"We were like breaking the law or something."
"A two year old could have done that."
"You don't know, you weren't there."
"Well, that isn't worth anything out of me."
"Come on tell me please."
"Nope." I continued with my packing.
"Fine, you're gonna tell me."
"No, I'm not."
"You will someday, you'll come looking for guidance and who will you turn to? Zoë that's who and I'll laugh in your face. Ha ha ha." She paused. "But if you ever need anything, feel free to come to me."
"OK, well I do have something to tell you." I'll make something up so she won't think anything is up. "I'm just so upset that I have to leave Kyle so soon."
"Aww, you're so cute." She lunged at me and gave me a big hug.
"Huh?" I was a little confused, did she like me now.
"You're so in love, it's so cute."
"Oh well, that I am."
"Hey, hey whatcha doing?"
"Oh hey Justin." Zoë released me.
"Don't oh hey Justin, me. I knew something was going on with you two."
"What are you talking about?"
"Come on, you guys like spend all night together and then you're in here hugging and stuff."
"I can't believe you could think I would do something like that."
"All I know is you two are hanging around each other too much."
"You don't trust me?"
"No, I trust you, it's him I'm worried about. I've seen the way he looks at you."
"Justin, that's absurd."
"Oh, really? You're hot, he's a guy. It's not that unbelievable."
"You know what? That's it, I've had it up to here with you. You've hurt me so many times, but this was the final straw." She pushed past him with tears streaming down her face.
"Zo! Wait come back here!" He looked at me. "Thanks a lot." Then ran after her.
"What did I do?" I asked myself. "Well, maybe I can finally finish packing." Then I thought about Zoë she needs someone to comfort her. I should do it, I'm her best friend, but then Justin would think something is up. I want to be there for her though, I need to be. I dropped my stuff in my bag and headed for her room. She was sitting on her bed talking on the phone. I sat down next to her to catch the tail end of her conversation.
"So it's OK if I stay there? Thank you so much Uncle Roger." Uncle Roger? Who is that? She hung up the phone and turned to me. "I'm leaving."
"You can't leave."
"I have to. I'm going to stay with my Uncle Roger until I can fly out."
"Please don't leave, you can't do this to me."
"I can't stay, you know how weird it would be for me."
"Then I guess we have to get you back with Justin." I didn't want to do it, but I had to.
"No, if you're worried about your secret just tell Mallory."
"I can't just tell Mallory."
"Why not? You don't like JC anymore."
"It's not that simple. She doesn't understand like you. You're a very understanding person."
"Thanks." She started for the door.
"Wait, you can't leave."
"Why not?"
"Cause I need you, Zoë. More than you know."
"I would love to, but I just can't."
"I thought you were my friend."
"I am your friend."
"You're sure not acting like it." I left the room.

ðððððð

I sat on the bus looking out the window thinking about Zoë. She was staying with her Uncle Roger in New Orleans. She left me, when I needed her the most. I guess I shouldn't be thinking about myself here. It was probably good for her that she left, but not for me. Of course I'm not the only one upset with her departure. Justin is awful. He is just sitting in the corner holding her teddy bear, General Potts, she forgot him. He kept mumbling something to himself, I couldn't make out what it was but he looked pathetic. I was just gazing out the window when I was hit in the head with something. I looked down and on the floor was General Potts. I turned towards Justin.
"I hate you." He glared at me.
"I didn't do anything."
"You were talking to Zo, you made her think that I'm not good for her."
"I never did that."
"You made me lose my girl."
"You lost her on your own with no help from me."
"I still hate you. Anyway what did you guys do all those times you went out?"
"It's none of your business."
"It's my business when it concerns my girl."
"Get a clue she's not your girl anymore. So just move on."
"You're right, for once, I should just move on I don't need her anymore. Where's Mallory?"
"I don't know, with JC?"
"You're probably right." He started to leave. "Where's JC?"
"With Mallory." That was the only thing that popped into my head.
"Thanks." He left and I rolled my eyes.
"What did Zoë ever see in him." A couple minutes later Justin returned.
"You are no longer looking at a free agent. Mallory is gonna set me up with this girl named Angie. Mal says she's perfect for me."
"Gee, where have I heard that before, oh that's right, Mal tried to set me up with her too."
"Boy, she got lucky that you turned her down and I just happened to be available."
"Oh yeah, definately her lost."

ðððððð

"I'm bored." Joey whined.
"Me too." Chris complained.
"Wanna have a pillow fight?"
"OK!" He shouted. They jumped up and ran around gathering all the pillows on the bus. Since everyone else was in the Seven Eleven. Joey walked up to my bunk and pulled out my pillow. A little book fell from it and onto the floor.
"What do we have here?" He picked it up and looked closely at it. "Must be Zoë's, she probably left it. Hey Chris!"
"Yeah." He jogged up to him.
"I got something better for us to do."