Irena - Old Friends

The hotel shower was almost too weak to pound the kinks from her muscles, but it did enough for her to painfully climb into her car and resume her drive. She pulled into the parking garage for Stacy's condo just as the sun was setting. Stacy met her at the elevator doors on her floor, "I hope you brought something sexy to wear. We're meeting Amy and Tricia at Brochan's for drinks and dancing." Stacy was bubbling enough to not notice Irena's smile was forced and her eyes didn't light up like they should have at the prospect. "Come on, hurry up and change. They're probably waiting already!"

"Traffic sucked. Sorry I'm running late," Irena apologized.

Stacy hauled her into a tight hug, "That's ok. Brochan's will work its magic and you'll soon forget about that ass hole ex of yours and any sucky things that have happened at work. Oh, yeah, a bit of fucked up news. My ass wipe brother is down for the weekend and parked on the couch, so we have to share my room until next monday." Stacy led the way to her room and motioned for Irena to drop her bag near the door. Irena followed, stopping to take a deep breath before following her in.

"That's ok, I guess. Couldn't he stay with your parents? He has a bit more of that man smell than I like."

"Not really. You know how they are. This weekend is some sort of fund-raiser or something. They have a bunch of people from elsewhere in the state at their place," Stacy said, making a small face, "You're not turning into a lesbian are you? I love your roomy to death, but she's a bit of an odd one."

"No, just your brother has more of that man smell than I like. Beside, Shan's never put the moves on me, ever. And she's bi, just ask her last boyfriend."

"Bi? I still don't get that. Can't she make up her mind?"

"Stace, I've told you, it doesn't work that way. She likes people, not genders."

"Yeah, ok Rena, whatever you say. Now go, get dressed," Stacy gave her a swat as she left the bedroom, pulling the door closed behind her. The room hadn't changed since the last time Irena had visited. Dolls and stuffed animals still crowded the shelf over the bed. Boy band posters clung to the walls, pink lacy curtains framed the large window and the thick pink quilt was perfectly smoothed over the large bed. Scents of lavender, vanilla, and lilac collided in the air, making it almost too thick to breathe. Irena struggled to hold back her coughing, knowing once she got started, it would be almost impossible to stop. She stripped out of her travel clothes and slid into a long black velveteen skirt, tight, laced up, blood red corset top, and six buckle boots, something that would have been tame by Waverly's standards. Stacy looked her up and down when she emerged, almost frowning in disapproval for a split second, before pasting on a cheerful smile. "Still into that dark stuff, I see."

"Yup," Irena answered, not wanting to get into the old discussion again. "Guess we should get going."