The Story of Annabelle & Alison

by Lydia Rose

“See how she’s insisting, mom?” Annabelle laughed.

  “Annie, leave your daughter alone.”

  “Thanks, gran.”

  Annabelle and little Annabelle shared a glance.

  “Where are we eating this year?” Allie asked.

  “Aunt June,” Annabelle answered. “We’re all bringing a side dish. Speaking of which, I better get started on my pies.”

  “I’ll come over and help you in a little while, mom.”

  “So you really like school?” Alison asked.

  “I do, grandma and it’s nice to be away on my own.” Her family didn’t understand that statement. It wasn’t that she wanted to get away from them, but that she had some freedom. That she was forced to make decisions on her own.

  “I understand, honey. Your friend is welcome to come with you anytime you come home, Allie. Even if she just remains your friend. All your friends are welcome anytime.” Alison offered softly.

  “Ellen didn’t go home for the holiday. She told me she doesn’t have money to travel and she stayed on campus so she could go to work.” Allie sighed. “She also said her mother doesn’t cook.” Allie turned in her chair. “I don’t think Ellen has much, grandma.”

  Alison put her hand on Allie’s hand. “Yes, she does, honey. She has you for a friend.”

  Allie smiled brightly.

  CHAPTER SIX

  The time went too quickly and Sunday morning, Allie was back on the train ready to go back to school. She was sitting there staring out the window when a familiar voice called her name. Allie looked up to see Mary standing in front of her.

  “Do you mind if I sit with you?” Mary asked pointing to the seat across from her.

  Allie no longer felt the pinch in her heart, but the butterflies in her stomach through her off balance. “It’s a free country,” she said picking up the book that sat in her lap.

  “How was your trip home?” Mary asked.

  Allie could hear the hesitation in Mary’s voice. “Fine. Yours?”

  “Good, but I’m glad to be going back to Raleigh,” Mary said with a chuckle.

  “I bet you are.” Allie smirked.

  “Are you enjoying school?” Mary asked trying to keep the conversation going.

  “Yes.” Allie answered.

  The two girls sat there quietly for a few minutes. Allie wasn’t interested in speaking with Mary so she began reading even though she couldn’t concentrate.

  “I really am sorry, Al. I never meant to hurt you,” Mary said almost reaching out to touch Allie.

  Allie looked at Mary’s hand come close to her and then pulled back. “It doesn’t matter anymore Mary. I’m seeing someone else.” Allie waited for Mary’s reaction.

  Mary’s eyes opened wide and then she could no longer meet Allie’s gaze. “I’m happy for you.”

  Mary and Allie didn’t speak again for the rest of the trip. As they got off the train, Allie saw Steven waiting for Mary.

  “Can we give you a ride, Al?” Mary asked as they stood on the platform.

  “No thanks,” Allie said and walked to the first cab she saw.

  Allie walked into the dorm and went to her room. As she walked into the room and she could tell that Jenny hadn’t returned yet. Allie unpacked her bag and reached for a towel and robe. Allie was hoping the warm water of the shower would wash away the memories of seeing Mary, of Mary breaking her heart. She thought she was over her, but spending the time on the train with her so close made her realize that she wasn’t ready to admit that Mary was completely out of her heart.

  Allie was standing at the sink brushing her teeth when she saw the reflection in the mirror. A smile appeared on her face instantly.

  “How was your trip home?” Ellen asked staring at Allie’s reflection.

  Allie rinsed her mouth and turned. “It was good. I missed my family, but I’m happy to be back here.” Allie wiped her hands on the towel. “How are you, Ellen?”

  “It was quiet here. I got a lot of work done.” Ellen smiled as she watched Allie in her nightly routine. She noticed Allie was subdued and her smile just didn’t reach her eyes. “Is something wrong, Allie?”

  Allie leaned her hands on the sink and looked at Ellen through the reflection in the mirror. Her mouth opened to speak and then closed without words coming out.

  “Why don’t you go get changed and we can go down to the cafeteria and have a cup of coffee.” Ellen touched Allie’s arm lightly.

  Allie put on a pair of sweats and a long sleeve t-shirt with a pair of sneakers. When she opened the door, Ellen was standing there waiting for her. They walked in silence to the cafeteria. They poured a cup of coffee and sat at a table in the corner away from everyone.

  Ellen waited for Allie to start the conversation, but all she did was stare ahead.

  “Did something happen on your trip home?” Ellen asked softly.

  Allie shook her head and finally spoke. “On the train, my ex best friend rode back with me.”

  “Did you two have a fight?” Ellen asked trying to get Allie to open up.

  Allie looked around the cafeteria. “No.”

  “Something happened to upset you. Allie, you can tell me,” Ellen trying to get Allie to look at her.

  Allie did look up for a moment and then looked away. “It doesn’t matter, Ellen.”

  “Yes, it does. You can tell me anything, Allie.”

  Allie looked at Ellen’s face. Could she tell Ellen anything? Would Ellen run if she knew the truth? Allie began. “Mary and I used to be,” She swallowed the last word.

  “Just say it, Allie. You’ll feel better.” Ellen touched Allie’s hand.

  “We used to be lovers.” The words were whispered.

  Ellen sat back in her chair. She didn’t know what she expected Allie to say, but this had never entered her mind.

  Allie began to stand up seeing the look on Ellen’s face.

  “Sit down, Al. I’m sorry if I seemed shocked, but it doesn’t change our friendship.”

  Allie sat back down and stared at the table.

  “What happened?”

  “Mary left me.”

  “I’m sorry, Allie. Truly sorry,” Ellen said moving closer to Allie.

  “She moved to Raleigh so we could be together while I went to school, but once she got here, she started dating a boy.” Allie sighed. “I was in love with her for so long and she just tossed me away.” Allie stood up again. “I don’t want to cry here, Ellen. I’ve got to go.”

  Ellen followed Allie out of the cafeteria and they walked back to Allie’s room. Allie opened the door and saw Jenny still hadn’t returned. “Do you want to come in?” Allie asked.

  Ellen nodded and walked through the doorway. Ellen sat at Allie’s desk chair and Allie laid on the bed.

  “Are you still in love with Mary?” Ellen asked without looking at Allie.

  Allie leaned on her elbows. “I thought I was over her, but seeing her on the train. Having her so close to me.” She sighed. “I’m not there yet.”

  “You’ll find someone else, Al. I’m sure there are plenty of women on this campus that would love to go out with you.” Ellen smiled.

  Allie looked at Ellen and thought, would you be one of those girls? “What am I supposed to do? I can’t just walk up to a girl who I think might be gay and ask her out.”

  “Have you checked to see if there are any clubs on campus for lesbians?”

  Allie looked at Ellen surprised. “No.”

  “Well, let’s check that out.”

  “You’re going to help me find a girlfriend?” Allie asked sitting up.

  Ellen shrugged. “What are friends for?”

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  The following day, Ellen and Allie walked to the office to get a list of the clubs on campus. The two girls sat outside going through the list.

  “I don’t see anything that screams, gay.” Allie laughed.

  “I think one of the guys I work with at the coffee shop is gay,” Ellen said. “I could ask hi
m.”

  “You’d do that for me?”

  “Of course, I would.” Ellen wore a wide smile.

  Allie didn’t see Ellen on campus the next two days. They passed each other in the bathroom, but that was the only interaction they had.

  Wednesday evening, the knock on the door startled Allie and Jenny. Allie hoped off the bed and went to the door. “Hi, Ellen,” Allie said as she opened the door.

  “Hi. I have some information for you. Do you want to go somewhere and talk?” Ellen asked glancing at Jenny.

  “Come in, we can talk here.”

  Ellen leaned forward and whispered. “Do you want me to speak in front of Jenny?”

  Allie smiled. “Come in, Ellen. Jenny and I have no secrets.”

  Ellen again sat at Allie’s desk chair. “I spoke with my co-worker, Mark. He told me there are no clubs on campus for gay people. There is a group that meets on a Saturday in town.” Ellen glanced at Jenny to see her reaction, but her smile was still in place. “He told me you are welcome to join them.” Ellen pulled out a piece of paper. “Here’s the address and time,” Ellen said handing her the paper.

  Allie smiled. “You’re a good friend, Ellen.” She lifted Ellen off the chair and pulled her close.

  Jenny watched Ellen’s face. She saw her go from shock to happy all in one moment. “Thank you, Ellen. This was very nice of you to do for our friend here.” Jenny began to laugh. “Hey, Al. Maybe we can get Ellen to poison Mary if she ever comes into her coffee shop.”

  Allie released Ellen and looked at Jenny. “Don’t even joke about that, Jen.”

  “Yeah because I might just make her a little sick,” Ellen said with a laugh.

  Jenny stood up and Allie wrapped an arm around each girl. “I am so lucky to have met you both.” She stepped back. “Now who’s going with me for moral support?”

  Ellen and Jenny glanced at each other and then at Allie who was grinning.

  “I’m only kidding. No one has to go with me.”

  “I’ll go with you,” Ellen said softly.

  “We’ll both go.” Jenny volunteered.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  Saturday morning, the three women walked into the building and into the room designated for the meeting. As they walked in, Ellen saw Mark and walked over to him.

  “Hi, Ellen,” Mark said hugging Ellen close.

  “Hi, Mark. I’d like you to meet my friends.” Mark followed Ellen to where Allie and Jenny were standing. “Mark, this is my friend Allie and our friend Jenny.”

  Mark reached out his hand. “It’s nice to meet you both. Allie, I see you brought support with you.” He leaned toward Allie. “You have nothing to fear here. You can be yourself.” Mark looked at Ellen and Jenny. “Why don’t you two have a seat and I’ll introduce Allie to some people.”

  Ellen and Jenny nodded and sat in the back of the room. They both watched as Mark went through the crowd introducing Allie to both men and women. Allie wore a wide smile and accepted the hugs from the people she was introduced to.

  “You’re a good friend, Ellen,” Jenny said softly.

  “Allie is a wonderful person. She’s the first person I’ve met on campus that treated me like a person and not a freak.” Ellen couldn’t believe she was admitting this to Jenny.

  “You’re not a freak, Ellen. You’re just shy, but Allie has managed to pull you out of your shell.” Jenny chuckled. “I don’t think you would have talked to Mark about this group a few months ago.”

  “You’re right, Jenny. Before I asked Mark, I barely said three words to him that didn’t concern work.”

  Jenny placed her hand on Ellen’s. “If she meets someone here, she’s going to spend less time with us,” Jenny said sadly. “I know she won’t do it on purpose, but it won’t be the same.”

  Ellen nodded agreeing with Jenny. She didn’t know what she was going to do if she didn’t have Allie in her life. Ellen didn’t want to go back to being by herself any longer.

  “I guess you and I will have to hang out together,” Jenny said with a smile.

  The meeting began and Ellen and Jenny sat back and listened.

  As the meeting broke up, they watched as Allie exchanged phone numbers with some of the people in the group. As she walked toward them her smile was bright and happy.

  “Thank you so much, Ellen,” Allie said reaching for Ellen. The three women walked out of the building. “Everyone was so nice to me. I felt so welcomed.”

  “We’re both happy for you, Al,” Jenny said.

  Ellen nodded, but she didn’t say anything.

  As they waited at the bus stop, two women from the group were waiting with them.

  “You go to NC?” One woman asked.

  Allie nodded and said. “The three of us do too.”

  “Cathy and I do too. Maybe we can study together some night.” Marilyn offered.

  “I’d like that.” Allie added.

  As they rode the bus back to school, the smile never left Allie’s face.

  Over the next three weeks, Jenny and Ellen didn’t see much of Allie. Jenny would spend time with Allie in the room, but it was always just before they went to bed. The only time Ellen saw Allie was in the bathroom in the morning. Ellen had gone back to her lonely existence and would catch a glimpse of Allie in the library sitting with her new friends.

  One evening, Allie came back to the room early. “Hey, Jenny.”

  “Hello, stranger,” Jenny said with a smile. “Did your friends abandon you?”

  Allie laughed. “I guess I deserve that crack. I’m sorry that we haven’t spent time together. I never spent any time with people who were just like me. I fell in love with Mary, but it was just the two of us. These people make me feel there is nothing wrong with me.”

  “There is nothing wrong with you, Al,” Jenny said sitting next to her on the bed.

  “I always had the support of my family, but this is the support of my peers. It feels wonderful, Jen.” Allie allowed the tears of joy to flow easily.

  Jenny squeezed her tight. “I really am happy for you. Have you talked with Ellen?”

  “No and I really feel bad for that.” Allie admitted. “We became friends and then I just abandoned her.”

  “Why don’t you go see if she’s in her dorm room?” Jenny suggested.

  Allie nodded and walked out of the room. As Allie approached Ellen’s room, she started to feel nervous. She was afraid that Ellen would refuse to see her. She lightly knocked on the door.

  “Go away,” the voice inside called.

  “Is Ellen in there?” Allie asked.

  “No and go way.”

  Allie walked away and went to the library in search of Ellen. As she opened the door, she saw Ellen sitting in a corner. She walked up to the table and took a seat across from her.

  Slowly, Ellen looked up from her book. “Hey,” she said softly.

  “Hi. I went to your room first, but your roommate told me to go away.”

  Ellen smirked. “Yeah, she has her boyfriend in there.”

  “Does she do that to you often?” Allie asked.

  Ellen shrugged. How could she admit that she has slept on the library couch more than once because she couldn’t get back into her room?

  “Why don’t you see if you can change rooms?”

  “I’ve tried, but there’s nothing available. They said it’s possible by January something might open up.” Ellen’s smirk returned. “There’s no guarantee that my next roommate will be any different.”

  “Maybe I should have a talk with her.” Allie suggested.

  “Don’t. Please Allie, she’ll only make my life more miserable.” Ellen pleaded.

  “Okay, I won’t say anything.” Allie looked at Ellen. “I wanted to apologize for not being around lately.”

  “Allie, you don’t owe me an apology. I know you now have a bunch of new friends.” Ellen lowered her eyes.

  “I do, Ellen, but you’re still my friend too. You know you can hang out with us if
you want? Unless you’re afraid that someone might think you’re a lesbian?”

  Ellen laughed. “Like I would care.”

  “Okay. Saturday after the meeting, a bunch of us are going out to lunch. Would you like to come with us?”

  “Are you sure?” Ellen asked.

  Allie rolled her eyes. “Of course I’m sure.”

  Ellen met the group outside of the building where the meeting took place. Mark suggested they walk down to the coffee shop where he and Ellen work. They all took a seat and ordered their food.

  “So is everyone going home for the holidays?” Mark asked.

  Everyone said yes except for Ellen.

  “I offered to cover Ellen’s shift on Christmas Eve if she would take mine Saturday night,” Mark said looking at Allie.

  “I told you I would take your shift on Saturday night anyway,” Ellen said.

  “Peter and I are going away for the weekend so I don’t mind working Christmas Eve.” Mark added. “Allie, why don’t you take Ellen home with you?”

  “I would love too. I offered to take her home at Thanksgiving,” Allie said smiling.

  Ellen turned a bright shade of red.

  Allie changed the subject. “So are you and Rachel going to one of your homes or separate?” Allie asked Emily.

  Emily rolled her eyes and grimaced. “We going home separately. My parents won’t allow Rachel to come and Rachel’s family feels the same way.”

  “I’m sorry,” Allie said. “My family would welcome a girlfriend of mine with open arms, but I don’t have one to bring home,” she said with a laugh.

  “You’re very lucky, Al.” Mark pointed around the table. “None of us are welcomed to bring home anyone that is important to us.”

  As they walked back to the dorm, Allie asked. “Ellen, would you come home with me for the holiday?”

  “I don’t want to impose on your family since I’m not your girlfriend,”

  Allie laughed. “You are my friend and my grandmother told me to bring you for the holidays.” Allie smiled.

  “Are you sure, Allie?” Ellen asked again.

  “Yes, El. You can stay in my room or if that makes you uncomfortable, you can stay at my grandparent’s house.” Allie stopped walking and looked at Ellen. “I’d really like you to come, Ellen. You can take the train when you finish up work Wednesday evening or Christmas Eve. I’ll pick you up at the train station.” Ellen didn’t comment. “I’m paying for your train ticket.”