A crisp breeze weaved its way through the streets below the indigo sky of New Orleans, Louisiana. The night was clear and the stars flickered in the heavens, as if teasing one another with the mere wink of an eye. The full moon bright as it cast its path along the trees to form unusual shadows on the ground.
It was just before dawn and in the distance of the eastern horizon, the dawn of a new day began.
Tourists would pack the streets tonight. They would drink their beers, chase one another to see who would end up with the most beads, then head out on a walking tour of vampires in Downtown New Orleans.
And they say it was all just a myth, a part of the city's charm. Although, some days, Tawne O’Brien had hoped for more. She loved the paranormal romance books she read. From being swept up by a star-crossed lover, to finding her soul mate after many reincarnations… But, alas, it was only fiction.
Summer had come to an end around late October. Halloween would be here soon. It was one of Tawne’s favorite holidays. Maybe this year she’d dress up as a witch, or a fairy. Maybe a vampire.
She stood out on her deck of her condo on the second floor. The wind blew a gentle breeze around her body. Long tendrils of blonde hair drifted around her shoulders.
Tawne’s phone chimed a new text message and vibrated in her pocket. She reached inside and pulled her phone out. A text from Matthew: her current, but soon to be ex, boyfriend. She sighed and rolled her eyes. She'd known early on, during the budding of their relationship, Matthew wasn’t the one. He was nice, and one day would make someone happy, but not her.
I want to see you later, the text read.
She had put this off long enough. There was a wall, at least five feet thick, between them, theoretically speaking. She hit reply and began a text.
Listen, we need to talk.
She shook her head, erased the letters on the screen, then tried again.
I think we need to call it quits.
She erased that and tried once more.
Matthew, look, I can’t do this anymore. You’re great and all, but it’s me, not you. I’m not happy. I need to figure out what I need for me, before I can give myself to someone else. I hope you understand.
She hit send. As soon as it was sent, she turned off her phone. He would probably call her, demand an answer, try to talk her out of it, or hell, come over.
She stepped back inside her condo and closed the sliding door behind her. White walls surrounded her with artwork from the local design stores. She crossed the room to her study where her laptop rested open at her wooden corner desk. She sat down and pressed a few keys until the screen flickered out of sleep mode.
The background image displayed Tawne with her parents. An ache in her chest thumped with the beat of her heart. Having died young in an accident not of their own doing took them from her too soon. Her heart ached for a hug from her father, or a kiss on her cheek from her mother. She swiped at a tear that wet her cheek.
Shaking off the sadness, she clicked on the message app. She wanted to send a note over to Olivia, her best friend. They had fallen out of touch with one another. This would be a great time to pick up their friendship.
Olivia had pushed her out of her life when her mother passed away. She knew her friend needed space and time to heal but had not counted on it taking more than a few months.
How long has it been since we talked? A year? Maybe two? Some best friend I am. I’ve been so self-obsessed with finding someone to date… I’m a bitch.
She began a message to Olivia and started it with, “Well, I’m a seriously nasty bitch. And I love you,” when the video app on her computer turned on without warning.
Fuck, don’t let it be Matthew. Don’t let it be Matthew.
Tawne smiled when she saw Olivia's name flash across the screen. She pressed accept. Olivia’s face came into view and Tawne gasped.
“Tawne!” Olivia squealed. “Ohmigawd, it has been too long! Look at you! I love your hair! It’s so long!”
Tawne blinked, then chuckled. “Well, I was just starting a message to you, and here you are. Wow, look at you! Whatever you’re doing, it’s good for you. I haven’t seen you look this good, this happy, this… I don’t know, glowing? Ever!”
Olivia grinned, and then let out a giggle. A crimson flush crept up her cheeks as she cast her gaze downward.
Tawne lifted a brow. “Okay, spill, who are you seeing and what the hell have you been up to?”
Olivia lifted her gaze back to the monitor and her demeanor calmed. “That’s kinda why I was calling. Do you think we could meet up?”
Tawne grinned. “Of course! I’d love to see you. You’re my best friend. Tell me when and where.”
Her friend nibbled on her finger, then turned to someone talking to her in the distance. Tawne heard a man’s voice.
She grinned. “So, who’s the mister in the background?”
Olivia turned back to the camera and gave a grin so sly it could melt ice. “We’ll talk about that, too. I’m going to message you an address. I’ll be there waiting for you.”
“This is kinda mysterious,” Tawne teased her. “Have you gone into hiding or something?”
Olivia shrugged. “Or something.”
The smile on Tawne’s lips fell to a frown. “Are you okay?”
“Oh yes! I’m beyond okay. I’m absolutely amazing! My life… Oh, Tawne, I cannot wait to tell you all about it. Just not over the phone, okay?”
Tawne nodded. She wondered if she should go prepared for a fight. She’d heard of men controlling their women and not allowing them to have friends. If this was Olivia’s case, she would whip out her bat and her krav maga moves. She had no shame in taking down a man. She would do it if it meant helping out a female in a bad situation.
“All right,” Tawne said and sat back in her chair. “I’ll see you soon, then. I cannot wait to hug you!”
“Yes!” Olivia squealed again. “I’ll see you soon! Muah!” She blew an air kiss into the camera, then the screen went black.
Tawne had always been the quirky one. Feeling awkward in most situations, she became an introverted extrovert. She was quiet until she got to know you. She found herself smiling more often when she was alone in her own thoughts. In her friendship with Olivia, though, it was Olivia who was down more often than not. It’s not that she was a Debbie Downer, but more like she lived a life of depression. It was who she was, and Olivia accepted that about herself. She was alone in the world…just like Tawne. Except for each other, they didn’t have anyone else in the world.
Olivia often told her she was the sunshine to the dark storm of her life. As Olivia’s best friend, Tawne was there when Olivia lost her mother, and helped her deal with the fall out afterward.
When Olivia left town shortly after, she'd told Tawne that she had to go overseas for some family ceremony. It appeared the family issues were over, and she was back home.
Olivia said she would text the address. For now, that was good enough. She didn’t want to turn the phone back on in case Matthew tried calling. She didn’t want to deal with voice mails or questions from him. She needed a night out on her own. New movies were at the theater and there was a new action flick staring this hot, up and coming actor.
Tawne grabbed her purse and walked to the bathroom. Facing her reflection in the mirror, she picked up her lip-gloss off the counter. She slid a dab of the light pink gloss over her lips, then tucked the tube into her purse. Satisfied with how she looked, she slipped on her sandals and headed to her front door.
Tonight, would be movie night on her own, with her thoughts. She was ready to find herself. In order to do that, it meant finding happiness as well. She knew that to make it in a relationship, she would have to bring something to the table other than lust and false pretenses of a future she knew she could not provide.
Her parents taught her never to sell herself short and never settle for less than what she deserved. They often reminded her of this, but the last time they did, she'd waved them off with a flick of her hand. If she had known that would be the last time she would see them, talk to them, hug them, she would have taken the time to hug and kiss their cheeks, and tell them how much she loved them.
Olivia was there for her during her emotional outbursts. She'd returned the favor when Olivia had lost her mother.
Tawne pushed the reminiscent thoughts from her mind, closed her apartment door behind her and clicked the thick deadbolt lock into place. Tonight, would be the movies. Tomorrow she’d meet up with Olivia and figure out what she’d been doing overseas, and what the plans were now.