Aka. "Destination Anywhere", "The Boy and Girl from County Bavaria"... After a very intense year in Würzburg (Germany), I'm back in Salamanca. I probably won't have that many experiences to write, but there's always an excuse to post a new entry!

9.

Sharon checked on her makeup one more time, studying every little detail about her face. Was it too much? Was the lipstick too red or was she wearing too much eyeliner? A voice at the back of her mind told her that she didn't need to worry so much about that. It was just a movie and maybe something to drink, after all.
The doorbell rang. It was still too early for him to be there, but she fixed her clothes in front of the mirror once more before going to answer. Her eyes showed a mixture of surprise and disappointment when she saw Johanna and Tarja at the doorway.
"Oh... hi girls!"
"We need to talk to you" Johanna said immediately.
"It's not really a good moment... I was about to go out."
"It's important" Johanna insisted, letting herself and Tarja in.
Sharon frowned. Although she wasn't happy to see Tarja at all, she just hoped for them not to take too long. With her arms crossed in front of her chest, she stood by the door, ready to listen. She shared a brief look with the Finn, who immediately sensed the awkwardness and dislike in her warm brown eyes. It scared her to see how much it still hurt.
"What is it?" she asked.
"First of all, I need to apologize" the redhead began "You made a terrible mistake and it was all my fault."
"Huh?"
Her confusion made Johanna think that she needed to explain things in a different way. Yet she didn't know how to start.
"You guys broke up for the wrong reasons. Tarja didn't do anything wrong."
"What do you mean?"
The Austrian gave Tarja a look, asking her for help. Clearing her throat, the green-eyed woman began speaking.
"What Johanna is trying to say is that she misinterpreted some data she found about me. I'm not married. I was once, but not anymore. I'm sorry I never told you, but I didn't think it'd be necessary, as it ended long ago and wasn't what it seems..."
"Right!" Sharon rolled her eyes sarcastically "So now you're going to tell me a tear-jerking story about how he mistreated you? How he ruined men for you forever?"
"No! It was a marriage of convenience. He was a good man, but-"
"I don't want to hear it! When I said that I was done with you, I meant it, Tarja."
"Aren't you even going to let her tell you the truth?" Johanna intervened.
"I seriously don't care!" the brunette yelled "We both know that's not the only reason why we broke up. Whatever happened, that doesn't change anything about how she cheated on me several times or that she never even told me she loved me."
Johanna glanced at Tarja. She didn't know who to side with anymore. On the one hand, Sharon was her friend and she had to admit that the Finn had hurt her really hard with all the things she had done. She knew better than anyone that the information they had found about her was but the straw that broke the camel's back. Yet she could see through the green-eyed woman's serenity that she was shattered. There was no denying that Sharon was being horribly stubborn, not even wanting to see sense. Who could blame her for still being hurt, though?
"We just thought you deserved to know the true story" she spoke softly.
"Too late" the Dutch girl shook her head "I've already moved on and have no interest whatsoever in your past, just like I don't have it in your present or future."
To emphasize this last phrase, she gave Tarja an icy look. She took a few steps closer to the door and held it open, motioning for the two of them to get out.
"Now, if you both excuse me, I'm expecting a visitor."
Once again, the other two exchanged a look. They stood motionless for a moment, hesitating whether to leave or not. Perhaps it was hopeless to try, after all, and leave it for another day. Nevertheless, before any of them could move, a young man appeared on the doorstep. Mike knocked at the door symbolically.
"Hello? Um, is Sharon ready?"
Then Tarja saw it. Sharon's face lit up completely and her lips, too red for her taste, curled into a smile as she let him in. And it made her sick. Yet the sensation wasn't as horrible as it was when her ex-girlfriend kissed the newcomer. Even Johanna released a shocked gasp, which she tried unsuccessfully to muffle.
"Are you busy?" Mike asked, pointing with his head at the two surprised girls who stood in Sharon's living-room "I can wait outside if it's not a good moment..."
"No, don't worry about them. They were just leaving" the brunette turned to give them both a meaningful look.
Johanna nodded and started heading for the door. It was time for a quick reaction, Tarja thought. So she stopped her red-haired companion and approached the unknown man.
"Actually, we're not yet completely done. Would you mind waiting? Thank you!"
She spoke fast, keeping a fake smile on her face and a cheerful, polite tone, which was equally feigned. After literally pushing him outside and slamming the door on his face, she moved back to Sharon, crossing her arms in front of her chest. A puzzled Johanna looked between both friends while the brunette rolled her eyes.
"I believe you owe me an explanation" the Finn began.
"An explanation!" Sharon chuckled "What exactly gives you the right to know about my private life? We're not even friends!"
Trying not to let the hurt that phrase caused her show, Tarja narrowed her eyes. She decided to change the question.
"Who was that?"
She was jealous. Tarja was jealous, and Sharon had noticed it. A malicious joy invaded her. She liked it. Why deny it, the situation was strangely fun - seeing the Finn so annoyed and knowing that it didn't affect her anymore. Shrugging casually, she replied:
"That's Mike."
"You think I give a damn about his name? You know exactly what I mean!"
Her lips pressed hard together, Sharon held back the giggle that was forming in her belly. Tarja's tone made it clear that she didn't like the situation at all. Hard decision - needling her on until she made a scene to laugh on her face or just acting casual and leaving her alone with her tantrum? Both sounded like fun.
"We should go" she heard Johanna whisper.
Yes, you should was what she wanted to reply. Instead she faked a yawn and looked Tarja's way.
"Are you gonna take long? I have a date to keep."
Fantastic. She even had to rub it in. Her emerald eyes narrowed as an annoyed sigh was released.
"Please. Playing straight? That's the lowest trick ever."
"There's no trick" Sharon raised her eyebrows "Mike and I are dating because we like each other."
"Yeah, right. Well, unless he's hiding a vagina in his pants, I don't think this relationship is going anywhere."
Johanna's gaze kept travelling from one woman to the other. She remained silent, torn between the surprise and the wish to run away or stop the fight. They were about to start yelling at each other, and she knew. Yet she wasn't sure how she could prevent that from happening.
"Not everything in a relationship is sex, Tarja" Sharon continued "I'm not like you."
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?!"
"I'm just saying that, unlike you, I appreciate little details like friendship, mutual respect, having fun together and tenderness. I know there's much more to life than just screwing."
"Aw, how cute!" the Finn said sarcastically "Wouldn't it be easier to get a dog?"
"Hilarious. Say whatever you like, but you just can't take the fact that I'm happy instead of being bitter like you."
"You just don't get it. I'd be delighted for you if your happiness was real" Tarja began to raise her voice "But sadly, it's not. You're just fooling yourself, Sharon."
"No, you are the one who's fooling herself" Sharon responded "You think you're some sort of lesbian messiah who walks around converting everyone. Your stupid little pride can't deal with the fact that you slept with a bisexual and that I might not even be bisexual at all."
"Right. So now you're telling me you've been straight all along? Not even you would fall for that!" this time it was Tarja who chuckled.
"Who knows... perhaps it was just a phase."
As convinced as she was deep down that she didn't mean it, a part of Tarja stirred within. She had heard that sentence before. Not from Sharon, but from someone she had loved almost as much as the Dutch girl. The bitter taste of that memory increased the pain. She couldn't let her see that. With a sigh, she shook her head and walked to the door.
"Whatever" she kept her voice as serene as she could "If it makes you happy to believe that, then who am I to stop you? Have fun with your little toy."
She didn't turn around as she walked away, brushing past Mike. All she heard was the words I'll see you on Friday, Johanna as the redhead followed her and some mumbled goodbye from the boy. She was too angry and hurt to think clearly.