Aimee stood with shock on her face, not knowing what to say.
"Is that where you were all this time? With him? I was looking all over…we were supposed to have breakfast."
"I- we just went out for coffee and…um..lost track of time. I'm really sorry. We can have dinner or something…" Aimee said, helplessly, as she felt Raven let her hand slip from his.
"You liar. Brad saw you leave before sunrise, Aimee. And you," Lenny pointed at Raven, "you left right after her. Aimee, if you wanna be with him tell me! Don’t go sneaking around like this."
"not here. Don’t start this here. We should go and talk, or something, but don’t start this shit here, in front of everyone." She whispered harshly. Raven sighed.
"Guys, I'm gonna let you work this out, I'm leaving. I need sleep." With that, he retreated upstairs without another word or a look back, leaving Aimee and Lenny alone.
"Lets go to the bar. Its quiet." Aimee watched as Lenny made his way to the bar, which was still open, apparently never closing regardless of time. He slinked into a booth at the back, virtually hidden from everyone.
"so, do you want to explain to me what the fuck is going on?" he asked her, resting his head against the wall.
"Well, I don’t have much of a choice." She paused, trying to figure out just what to tell him. "You and me. Its getting confusing. Its hard to take, getting up every day, not knowing where I stand with you. We're friends, we're dating, it changes on a daily basis, and I don’t need this right now. I want something stable. When people ask me, I want to tell them something that I know for sure. I don’t' want to have to say that I don’t know where we stand right now. I need something solid to rely on."
"Why didn't you tell me before then?"
"Because I didn't realise it until just this morning. I guess it was just being with someone else for a while that made me realise how I really feel….what I really want."
"Raven. You want him, right? You think He's gonna be your solid person to rely on, right? Do you even know him? I'm speaking as your friend now, not the on and off boyfriend you want to escape from. You know his past, his problems, how many other women he's been with? He used to brag about being permanently single. He still does. Just be careful, alright? I can’t promise I’ll be there for you if things get fucked up." She stared open mouthed, shocked at the last comment.
"But you're my friend! Hell, you're my best friend! If I can't go to you when things go wrong, then who do I talk to? You're just jealous, and you know it. If you want me, then you can have me, but if you want me, make it a commitment. He says I ramble too much." She leaned her head back against the wall behind her. "I do. I don't think enough, I can never make anything work out. You and me are a perfect example. If I would just think it through and - " Lenny got up.
"I can’t take this. All you're gonna talk about is him, and you're just going to shoot yourself down. Do it by yourself. Or get Raven down here. He'd love to join your self pity party. I don't want to talk to you right now."
"What? That is so unfair and you know it!" he turned and started to walk out of the bar. "Get your ass back here! This is not over!" Aimee yelled after him as the few patrons of the bar turned to stare. Lenny, without a look back, just left her. Sighing in desperation and exhaustion, she sat on a stool at the bar, asking the bar tender to bring her everything he could to drown out the pain she was sure she should feel.