Soup Sisters
Carla closed up and turned the blinds down as the mid-afternoon sun tried to get in.
-Great, Carla said, trying for a contagious enthusiasm. Betty, are you hungry?
Betty looked up.
-Oh, um, yes I could eat something actually, Betty said. This whole situation has me feeling rather drained and anxious.
-That's the opposite of how we should be feeling, Ednin told them. Something special brought us together. Carla, put on some music. Soup all around, huh?
Carla fixed a few trays with bowls of soup and leftover pastries, bringing them to the couch area.
Betty nudged a steaming bowl toward Alice.
-Here sis, drink this, Betty said softly. You look absolutely exhausted. I'm sorry for what I said earlier... I didn't mean to trivialize your feelings.
Alice took the soup with a grudging nod. She stared down before taking a tentative sip.
-So you two have really been together since you left Zed's yesterday morning? Betty asked Carla and Ednin. Are you, like, a thing now?
Alice choked slightly on her soup.
-Oh, let me guess, another convenient coincidence? Alice asked with a biting edge. You two just happened to end up staying overnight at the exact same place on the very same day?
-Well, I was off yesterday and Ednin didn't have to work yet so we spent the day together, Carla began. One thing led to another and, you know...
Carla rubbed her nose affectionately against Ednin's neck.
Alice scoffed loudly. She leaned forward, fixing the couple with a stare.
-Come on, spare me the cryptic euphemisms. Did you or did you not spend the night together after a spontaneous daytime date?
-We did, Carla whispered, kissing Ednin's neck.
Alice leaned back, folding her arms defensively.
-I can't wait to show Zed what Ednin taught me, Carla said giddily, wrapping her arms around Ednin. And to show you two, too.
Alice slammed her empty bowl down on the tray.
-Ugh, spare me the sordid details of your debauched little affair, Carla, Alice spat. I don't need to hear about whatever depraved acts you two engaged in.
-Ok ok, settle down, Carla laughed, getting up to take away the bowls.
Ednin moved to sit next to Alice and Betty on the couch, resting her arm behind them.
-You're your own worst enemy, Ednin said quietly.
Alice stiffened as Ednin invaded her personal space.
-And you're starting to sound like a broken record, Ednin. "Let go," "live in the moment," "enjoy yourself"... Blah blah bloody blah.
Ednin brough her arm over Alice’s shoulder while taking her by the cheek with her free hand, turning the defensive girl toward her.
-Look at everything we've seen together already. Yeah, let go, Ednin said warmly. Love.
Ednin leaned in and kissed Alice directly on the lips, pouring all her devotion into it.
Betty gasped softly, her eyes widening in surprise. She watched the intimate display with a mixture of awe and trepidation.
-Ednin, wow... that's certainly a bold move, Betty said, her voice trembling slightly. Alice is... complicated, but she's worth it.
-You're both worth it, Ednin said.
For a single, suspended heartbeat, Alice melted into the unexpected kiss, her eyelids fluttering shut. Then reality crashed back. She wrenched away, leaping to her feet with a gasp.
-What the actual fuck, Ednin?! Alice yelled, her voice shaking with fury and confusion. You can't just... we can't...!
-You say 'can't' a lot, Ednin pointed out. According to who? The dictator inside you?
-Oh, I think I'm the least dictatorial one here, Ednin, Alice laughed bitterly. Considering you seem intent on controlling everyone's love lives whether they want you to or not!
-Was it unwanted? Betty asked Alice gently. You seemed... into it.
Alice stammered indignantly.
-Into it?! I-I was caught off guard, that's all! You can't just... just kiss someone without their explicit permission!
-Aren't you the least bit curious sis? Betty asked.
Alice squeezed her eyes shut, fighting the rush of confusing images.
-Curiosity killed the cat, Betts.
-Don't push me away, Alice. Not again. I saw how you reacted to Ednin's kiss. It wasn't entirely unwanted, was it? Talk to me, sis. Let me in. Please.
Alice inhaled deeply.
-I... I don't know what I felt, okay? Alice admitted, her voice cracking. Confused, mostly. Overwhelmed. That kiss... it stirred things up inside me that I thought I'd buried deep. Things I don't want to acknowledge, let alone explore further.
-Why don't you want to acknowledge them? Carla asked from the counter.
-Because acknowledging them means admitting my carefully constructed walls might not be as impenetrable as I believed, Alice sighed heavily, collapsing back onto the couch. It means entertaining the notion that maybe, just maybe, I could... no, forget it.
-It's how growth happens, Ednin encouraged.
-Growth is supposed to happen gradually, organically, Alice whispered. You're always so damn optimistic, Betts. So willing to see the best in everyone. Your blind faith in love and happy endings makes it difficult for me to reconcile my own cynicism sometimes.
-Happy endings aren't guaranteed, Alice continued, staring out the window.
-But we can make our own where we can, Betty suggested.
-It's the risk involved, opening myself up to potential heartache and betrayal again. Watching you and Zed last night, seeing how easily you trusted and gave yourself to him...
-You can have that too sis, Betty whispered.
Alice remained silent for several long moments.
-Can I though, Betts?
-Yes, I'll help, Betty said, embracing Alice. We all will. We all want to help you find happiness, sis.
-Yes we do, Ednin said gently.
-Okay, Alice whispered hoarsely, nodding once. Okay, I... I'll try, Betts. To open up, to trust. Baby steps, yeah?
A wobbly smile tugged at her lips as she met Betty's hopeful gaze.
-Baby steps are better than no steps at all, Alice, Betty beamed. I'm so proud of you for agreeing to try.
-Dinner, tomorrow night at Gianni's, Ednin finalized the plan. I pick Zed up for our dance classes at 6, you girls be at Gianni's by 7. Invite Deb, and Flower, if you'd like.
Betty clapped her hands excitedly, already pulling out her phone.
-That's perfect! Deb and Flower will be thrilled. Please say you'll come with an open mind, sis? It could be really special.
Alice felt the weight of everyone's gazes. She paused for a long while.
-Ok, Alice finally said. Yes.