Hidden Desires

by T J Vertigo

  "Yeah, but you're going to heaven. She said so."

  "Great. I'll have no fun at all."

  The two friends stared out the front window blankly as the tall woman began to relax again.

  * * *

  Brooke was distracted for the rest of the day after she confessed to Bev. Every so often, she'd catch the older woman peeking over the cubicle with a knowing smile on her face. At first, it made Brooke blush, but after a while she started to feel relieved that she told Bev. As the day progressed, she started to feel more and more comfortable with herself and more assured about her attraction to Cayden. By the time she was ready to leave, Brooke almost had a cocky air about her.

  "You have a great night, Brooke." Bev said with a wink.

  "Oh I will. Trust me." The blonde replied confidently. She had been thinking of Cayden all afternoon and her predicament. She came to a decision that regardless if Cayden had a girlfriend or not, she was going to talk to her. She needed to know more about the tall woman, and if she had a girlfriend, so what. Brooke couldn't go without knowing, at least, Cayden's last name, or how old she was... little things like that drove her crazy. The problem was, as much as she needed to know, she couldn't face Cayden if Grant had gone in there and done something stupid. She volleyed between walking confidently into the Fuzzy Belly Deli and running away in the other direction. But she knew, in order to get the information she wanted, she'd have to confront Cayden in one way or another.

  After a quiet dinner alone, Brooke made her final decision on what to do with Cayden. She was going to use Fred. Not the most confident approach, but Cayden seemed genuinely interested in animals and if Fred was going to be the catalyst, then so be it. Brooke was going to go into the shop and feel Cayden out. She'd know instantly if Grant was there depending on Cayden's reaction. Then she was going to make her move. She hoped and prayed that Grant hadn't confronted the tall woman. If he did, and ruined any opportunities she could possibly have at being at the very least, friends with Cayden, she'd have to kill him. Plain and simple. Grant would be toast.

  * * *

  Jodie had left a while ago and Cayden was enjoying the last hour of work. It was quiet, Christopher Lowell was in the bottom left square on Hollywood Squares, and life was good. She propped her feet up on the counter and leaned back. She couldn't wait to go home and eat dinner. She picked up the phone and called Wade's cell.

  "Hi there." Wade said in a deep voice.

  "Oh, I'm sorry. I was looking for my homo." Cayden teased.

  Wade snickered. "Was it good? Did I sound butch?"

  "You sounded like Freddy "Boom Boom" Washington."

  "OOoo. Cool! What's up?"

  "Pizza, how many slices?"

  "Two please. I want squares, ends please, crispy but not too.."

  "You're getting two slices. Period." Cayden cut him off. "I'm not driving the man crazy."

  "You're such a wuss. Fine, I'll take two soggy, droopy, old slices."

  "Good." Cayden stuck her tongue out at the phone and hung up. She put her feet up against the counter and stretched out her legs, pushing the chair back and laced her fingers behind her head. She smiled as she glanced at the cash register. Today was a good day, Mrs. Friedman aside. She pulled in as much money on a Monday as she would on a typical weekend. I wracked up. What do I want... let's see... She started fantasizing about a new leather jacket, a trench coat and maybe an awesome pair of gloves to match. She was so wrapped up in her fantasy she didn't bother reacting to the tinkling of the bell, she just swiveled back and forth, all stretched out in her chair. When she finally did look up at her customer she became so flustered , she tried to get up and take her feet off the counter at the same time. Her arms flailed wildly and her long legs splayed open clumsily as the tall woman slid out of the chair and onto the floor with a thud.

  Brooke's eyes widened when Cayden began flailing, and she put her hand to her mouth and watched helplessly with a wince as the shop keeper lost her balance and fell. She blushed, embarrassed for the tall woman. She strode confidently into the Deli with a whole lot to say, but now with Cayden in such a state, she lost her tongue.

  "Goddammit to hell!"

  Brooke took hesitant steps towards the counter and peeked over as Cayden grumbled.

  Suddenly the chair was being lifted and Cayden's nightmare was coming true. She made a complete ass of herself in front of Brooke. She really hoped Brooke would disappear but she didn't and now that those green eyes were looking at her with interested amusement, Cayden had no choice but to respond. "Hi." she squeaked out, climbing clumsily to her feet.

  Brooke, although thoroughly amused, was charmed. "Hi." she replied, not quite sure what to do with her hands as she watched Cayden right the chair.

  "Um... I,, uh... it's just that you.. when you came in..." Cayden stuttered, red faced and mortified.

  Brooke giggled. "I'm sorry I startled you."

  "Yeah, well." The tall woman looked everywhere but at Brooke.

  "Um, Fred needs a new leash!" The blonde said louder and with much more enthusiasm than she was comfortable with.

  "Oh. Okay. They're over there." Cayden pointed.

  Brooke went over to the selection and started touching them, not really paying attention to them at all. She desperately wanted to talk to Cayden, but after making such a grand entrance, she had no idea what to say. She felt quite smug actually, to be able to bring about that kind of reaction from the tall woman, but her empathetic nature made her feel for her too. How embarrassing. She probably wishes the floor would open up and swallow her. Maybe I should go. I'm sure I'm the last person she wants to speak to right now. Feeling suddenly awkward, the blonde turned around with an excuse on her lips about forgetting her money when Cayden's deep smooth voice cut through the silence.

  "See anything you like?"

  Brooke blushed instantly. Oh yes... She took a look at the shop keeper and swallowed dryly. She looks composed now. God, she's so hot, and she's looking at me, she's waiting for an answer you idiot... "Oh, no, not really. I guess I was preoccupied." Brooke admitted with a nervous titter.

  "Can't imagine you'd find anything on that rack anyway."

  The blonde looked puzzled as Cayden approached her. Huh?

  "Those are for extra-large dogs. You want these." she pointed to another rack with much smaller merchandise.

  "Oh." Brooke whispered, in embarrassment.

  Cayden stepped back from the blonde and folded her arms across her chest. I wanted to see her again, but so soon? I'm still mad at her. She has some explaining to do. Why is she so calm? Why is she actually here anyway? She has to know that after she told her boyfriend we were screwing around that he'd come here and let me have it. Isn't she remorseful in the least? She should be apologizing to me, not standing around and wasting my time.

  "I think I like the blue one, but I also like the zebra one." Brooke said with a smile turning to face the tall woman. "What do you think?"

  Cayden shrugged, her eyes narrowed and angry.

  Brooke's smile faded and her heart sped up. What the hell? She was fine just a minute ago. She turned back around, too confused to think of the obvious.

  "Are you almost done, I'm about to close up."

  Brooke felt like a child when she met Cayden's cool blue gaze. "Um, yeah. I'll take the zebra one." she said meekly, not knowing what she did to anger Cayden suddenly.

  "Cash only, I closed out the credit card machine for the day."

  What is wrong with her? Brooke fished around in her pocket book and came up with the correct change and held it out. Cayden took it away, avoiding any touching fingers and didn't even offer a bag. "Uh, yeah, thanks." Brooke said as she backed away from the counter and the angry stare she was receiving.

  After the blonde left, Cayden blew out a loud breath. "I don't care how cute she is, I'm pissed off at her. Don't think I didn't notice that ass Ms Hewitt! Tight, sexy, ass that it was. Jeez, you'd think people like that would have ugly asses." Cayden's foot
tapped with tension. "I can't believe she acted like nothing happened! She had to know that man came in here and threatened me. The nerve!"

  Brooke walked dejectedly towards her mother's place. She was confused and sad. What happened? Why was she so mad at me? What did I do? So what, she fell on her ass... of all the nerve. She was just embarrassed that I saw her make a fool of herself and I ruined her image! I didn't do anything wrong! Oooo! She has no right to treat me like that! Brooke turned around and started marching right back to the Fuzzy Belly Deli.

  Cayden was pulling down the gate when she saw the blonde heading her way, and boy was she steamed. She stood up and prepared for a confrontation.

  "Just what gives you the right to treat me like that? What did I ever do to you?" Brooke asked angrily.

  "Me? Hello? What did I ever do to you?" Cayden countered.

  "Excuse me?" Brooke asked, louder this time.

  "I said, What did I ever do to you?" Cayden yelled. "What nerve you have sending your boyfriend to my store to threaten me. You could have used anybody you wanted instead you had to go on and make up some fantasy fuck fest between us just to tick him off!"

  Brooke paled and backed away.

  Cayden pulled down the gate the rest of the way with a loud bang. "And you don't even apologize! You come in, scare me half to death so I almost break my neck and dawdle over leashes that you're going to put on a dog that can hardly walk anyway. What exactly do you want with me, Brooke?"

  "Grant... came here?" Brooke squeaked out.

  Cayden made a conscious effort to lower her voice. "Yes, as if you didn't think that telling him a story about us..."

  "I never told him anything!" Brooke interjected..

  "Bullshit." Cayden said with a snort.

  "No, I didn't! I swear!" The blonde stomped her foot adamantly.

  Glancing at the smaller woman gave Cayden second thoughts. She looked horrified. "Oh please, if you didn't tell him anything, where would he get that idea?" The tall woman asked, wondering if perhaps Brooke wasn't telling the truth.

  Brooke began to blush furiously and looked like she may begin hyperventilating. "I can't... I don't know where he would get that idea."

  Cayden raised an eyebrow. "Oh come on now."

  "No, really... I... "

  Dark eyebrows furrowed. "Brooke, now be real. If you didn't tell him anything, where would he get the idea that I, in particular, corrupted you into a life of lesbianism."

  "Oh god... he said that?" Brooke squeaked.

  "Something of the sort. Now look, I'm pretty pissed that you used me as an excuse, so if you just admit that you did it we can go on."

  "But I didn't." Brooke was near tears.

  "Whatever." Cayden said and started walking away.

  "Damn it." Brooke cursed and kicked the gate. "Well, that went well."

  PART 10

  C AYDEN STOPPED SHORT and cringed when she heard the sound of Brooke's foot connecting with the gate. "Son of a bitch!" she growled as she twirled around and began running in the direction of The Fuzzy Belly Deli.

  Brooke froze in place when she saw the tall woman bolting in her direction. She watched fearfully as Cayden was frantically digging through her backpack and cursing a blue streak. Before the blonde had the chance to run, the most hideous sound began blaring from the shop. "OH!" she shouted, scared half to death by the piercing noise.

  "You just had to kick it didn't you?" Cayden yelled over the alarm, fussing with a set of keys and grabbing a padlock. "Goddammit!"

  Brooke felt helpless and guilty as Cayden yanked open the lock. She wanted to take off, but felt responsible for Cayden's anguish and thought an apology was necessary.

  "Here" Cayden threw the keys at Brooke. "Make yourself useful." The tall woman squatted down and held the bottom of the gate, ready to throw it open the second Brooke opened the lock. "Come on! Hurry up!"

  "I'm sorry!" Brooke fumbled with the keys nervously, her hands shaking. The constant shrill shrieking of the alarm was making her crazy, she thought her ears would bleed.

  "Goddammit Brooke!"

  "Stop yelling at me! I don't know which key it is!"

  Cayden stomped over and snatched the keys away violently. She shoved the proper key in the lock and yanked open the padlock with a glare to the blonde troublemaker. People were collecting on the sidewalk and this was pissing Cayden off even more. She threw the gate open halfway and ducked underneath it, disappearing inside.

  Brooke didn't know exactly why she was still standing there, but she was. Near tears and feeling like a class A fool, she felt her lower lip start to tremble and sucked it inside of her mouth. The last thing she wanted to do was cry in front of Cayden. Suddenly the alarm stopped and it almost felt painfully quiet on the sidewalk. She could hear Cayden's muffled cursing before she even opened the inside door. She decided to leave, she didn't need to be there any more.

  "... had to go and fucking kick it... wasn't pissed off already."

  Brooke stopped and narrowed her eyes at the muttering shopkeeper.

  "... of all the stupid..."

  "Hey now, wait just a minute. Who are you calling stupid?" Brooke asked in irritation.

  "Who?" Cayden pulled down the gate. "That man, " she pointed at a passerby. "He's who I'm calling stupid, Stupid."

  "Well fuck you! I think you oughta get over yourself."

  Cayden put her hands on her hips and glared.

  "Yes, Miss high and mighty. I made a mistake, how was I supposed to know you had an alarm? I watched you bang the damned gate closed moments earlier."

  "It likes me, it gives me a minute." Cayden snorted and then smirked. Brooke was cute when she was all fired up.

  "Do you find me amusing?" the blonde asked, loudly.

  "Just a smidge." the brunette replied, holding up her thumb and forefinger to indicate how much.

  "Oh, I don't believe you!" Brooke started, waving her arms around in the air. "First, you treat me like dirt, then you accuse me of telling sordid tales, THEN have the nerve to stand there and smirk at me like I'm funny! Well let me tell you miss, I'm not laughing! I'm pretty damned pissed off at you! You have no right to talk to me the way you have been... I hardly know you for gods sake!"

  "According to your boyfriend, we know each other quite well." Cayden said with another cocky smirk.

  "I didn't tell him anything!" Brooke insisted. "I swear!"

  Cayden gave her a withering look. "Uh huh."

  "I'm not lying!" Brooke stomped her foot.

  "Sure you're not." Cayden was beginning to like this. "He just came up with it all by himself, picked me out of the blue too. Of course after making all of it up, he had to come to my shop and accuse me of corrupting his sweet innocent Brooke, who might I add is a lovely shade of pink, perfectly suited for her angelic attitude. I have every right to be angry with you. You disrupted me, you caused me unnecessary grief and aggravation."

  "But I swear..." the blonde's eyes welled up with tears.

  "Oh no! I do not need that! I will not feel sorry for you. No way!" Cayden shook her head yet, didn't walk away.

  "Fine, don't believe me. I know it sounds crazy, but I never told him anything about me and you. There isn't anything to tell. Why would I make something like that up with a woman I hardly even know? Why?" Brooke was pleading with Cayden now.

  "You tell me." Hmmm, oddly enough, I'm starting to believe her. Why would she go through all this trouble... oh no... she's really crying now. Oh shit. Now what?

  Brooke was on the verge of telling Cayden what really happened, or at least what she surmised led Grant to believe they had something going on. She was tired of having Cayden angry with her.

  "Ok, fine. Drop it." Cayden offered.

  Green eyes looked up into dark sunglasses. "Are you serious?"

  "Yes, just stop crying already."

  Brooke tried very hard not to fling herself at the tall woman. Thank you god! "I didn't mean to get so upset," she started wiping her eyes, "It's just that I
was so frustrated knowing I was telling the truth and you didn't believe me. It's hard to keep control."

  "I never said I believe you. I just want this to end. I'm tired and hungry and I want to go home." Cayden said boredly.

  "Well, excuse me for thinking you were nice! By all means, enjoy your dinner!" Brooke snapped, and started stomping away in a huff.

  Cayden stood there a while longer and watched her walk away. Still.. that's one fine ass.

  * * *

  Brooke was so mad she wanted to hit something. She was not only frustrated, but humiliated. Cayden seemed to enjoy making her feel bad. I can't believe I thought she was hot! She's mean... she's rude... she's... she's... damn it, she's hot, who am I kidding? OOOO but she makes me so mad! I can't very well tell her why Grant chose her, I'd die! She'd probably get a kick out of that one, her and her cocky self. Oh, I am so screwed. I'll kill Grant. It's all his fault. How dare he go in there and harass her? She didn't do anything! Damn, she really had no choice but to think I'm lying. I have no explanation to give her, well I do, but I can't. What am I going to do? I don't want her to think I'm a liar, but how can I tell her? Oh excuse me Cayden, by the way, I dream about you naked, vividly, and apparently I talk in my sleep... and the fact that I doodled your name a hundred times on the bag you gave me doesn't help matters much. Brooke covered her red face in her hands and groaned. I cannot have her think I'm a liar! I don't want her mad at me anymore.

  * * *

  Wade was growing impatient, not to mention hungry. He already downed a beer and was halfway through another one by the time Cayden arrived home. "Well, what the hell took you so long?" he asked, raising his eyebrow as his tall room mate dropped the bag on the table and disappeared. He opened the bag and smiled to find two extra crispy end squares. He was about to thank her for the pizza when he heard the refrigerator slam so hard, the items on the door rattled. He cringed at the following drawer slam, listened to the tell tale hiss of a beer being opened then waited to hear the drawer slam again. It did.