Corbin Part 41
By Corbin
How life tests the endurance, patience, and sometimes faith of one young woman.


I think I have officially turned into my mom. Don't get me wrong, I love my
mom and respect her very much, but I am referring to the 'age' issue. I just
feel like I am 24 going on 40+. 'Why do you feel that way?' You may ask. Well,
actually you may not give a shit, but I don't give a shit that you don't give
a shit so take THAT! Guess I told you punks off...oh yeah, I'm also flipping
you off behind my computer screen...so NAH!!

Okay, back on track here. The whole thing is this....and I have a list so let
me type that out:

1.) I watch PBS whenever possible.

2.) I listen to AM Radio most of the time or CD's.

3.) I watch The Weather Channel (something I used to mock only last year).

4.) My music collection includes: The Band, Big Country, Cowboy Junkies,
Sinatra, Jimmy Buffet, K's Choice, Mary Black, Mazzy Star, Simon and
Garfunkel, U2 and most any Movie Soundtrack you can imagine (except that
comedy/horror crap films, I don't like those much for soundtracks.) Just to
name a few. But as you can tell, not too much main stream pop.

But is all of that a bad thing? I think not. You see my mind runs at light
speed so I have to surround myself with things that sort of help calm me down
so I don't go into overload. Well, I'll try and explain that rambling junk
later, but for now I'll get on with where I left on in part....uhmm 40 I
think, which would make this part 41, whew that math was easy. :)

It was late into the morning of the following day (11:00am to be exact) when I
was up and moving about.

Sharon was already up and dressed...ready to go and I think I knew where and
why ;)

I on the other hand was a mess, as usual, hair in complete tangles, hanging in
front of my eyes. My sweat shirt was on backwards and my left hand was
gripping the draw string of my sweat pants trying to keep them up around my
waist as I slowly shuffled across the floor.
"Ohhhhhhhh........fuuuuuckkkkkk....I feel like shit, I didn't think I had THAT
much to drink last night."

"Lightweight" Sharon mumbled and got up off the couch fetching me a glass of
water and some aspirin.

"If you don't need anything else, I have to run some errands." Sharon said and
was unusually quiet this morning.

"No, I'm fine, thanks tho'" and shuffled off to bed. A few seconds later I
heard Sharon bolt from house as her feet double timed it down our stairs to
the front entrance. Wish I could be a fly on the wall when she blasts Tasha,
but oh well, it just felt good knowing that I had kept my nose clean on this
one while putting the screws to that annoying bitch, all without having to
lift a finger...or a fist! For now at least.

Was I worried about Sharon? Not really, she can take care of herself. But she
wasn't going over there to fight, mostly to throw some verbal volleys in
Tasha's direction. It was later in the afternoon when Sharon walked in the
door and I was sitting in the recliner somewhat slouched over, my sweats still
on. A glass of ice water in my hand, watching the T.V, counting the minutes
until my hang over was totally gone.

"How are you doing?" Sharon looked over with concern.

"Better, took a nap, but Sharon where did you go?" I lowered the volume on the
TV and shifted in the chair, I kept my look of shock...dismay...and innocence
going...but honestly I wanted the scoop...all the dirt on what was said!

"Did you confront Tasha over what I said?"

Sharon tried to give her big smile to lighten the entire situation, "Okay,
okay." Slumping back and relaxing into the sofa, drawing things out for as
long as possible.

"Sharon, just tell me!"

"Okay, Okay!" Waving her hands in the air, her eyes rolling in frustration. "I
wanted some answers and I felt she had some explaining to do for the way she's
been acting." Sharon angrily stabbing her finger towards the ground,
punctuating her comments. Sharon can be a very effective speaker when she
wants to be.

I had to look away and force my mouth not to curl into a smile as I slowly
swirled the ice in my drink, "So, how did it go?"

"Okay, I think. She got defensive at first...I expected that...but when I told
her to practically kiss our friendship goodbye she..."

"Wow, you told her that?!" I could help myself and blurted that out with a
look of surprise.

Sharon just paused, her mouth hanging open a bit, "Well...yeah of course." Her
expression was totally serous now. I took a sip of my drink; it felt good to
hear those words, more girly feelings stuff which may surprise you to know I
am not above feeling or acting on.

"She eventually backed down, it will take some time I think, but she said she
would make an effort to be decent. So, we'll see." Sharon smiled and shrugged
her shoulders.

Now doesn't that just make everything all better now? One would think, but I
knew better cause I can read people pretty well, if Tasha had backed down it
was only because she was biding her time. I know people like her, she finds
someone to pick on and doesn't' let go of it till she humiliates them or gets
her ass busted. Wanna' guess which one happens to Tasha? :)

"Well, it got resolved, I confronted her and she's letting it go" Sharon
proudly said, but I suspected otherwise.

"So let me ask you this, do you think that Tasha will *really* let the matter
go? Is she the kind of girl to pursue something or tell you what YOU wanted to
hear just to make the peace for the moment?" I leaned forward waiting for
Sharon's response. I wanted Sharon to really think about this, but was afraid
she would pop a fuse or something if I pushed her gray cells too far.

"I...well..." Sharon took a deep breath and thought about it, but then lowered
her head, "...I really don't know. I hope she meant it." Sharon shrugged and
looked back up. I just wanted to keep the door open; I guess my way of giving
Sharon some forewarning about the need to defend myself if her friend wants to
keep picking.

"Well..." I sighed and relaxed back into the recliner, "...if you plan on
letting her hang out with you anymore, only time will tell I guess".

"Well, if she pulls anymore shit, I'll pop her one in the kisser!" Sharon
raised her right fist and laughed.

"Oh, that's nice" I looked over sarcastically, for some reason it bothered me,
the thought of Sharon punching someone. I knew Sharon could take care of
herself; she had become a very proficient in boxing over the past several
years, thanks to her father's skillful training. Well, let me clarify
something, she was good and hitting inanimate objects in her father's
basement, under daddy's supervision.

Indeed, the days passed, almost two weeks had come and gone since Sharon's
talk with Tasha, and I knew that Sharon had talked to Tasha a few times on the
phone; she wasn't going to make a big thing of it. 'If Tasha was truly
prepared to make amends, I can deal with that.' I told myself.

As for Sharon and me? Well, things continued to get weird, like an incident
that happened when I got home from the gym. I watched as Sharon peaked her
head from out of her room down the hall, "Could you make a little more
freakin' racket when you come in, I was trying to take a nap, I mean you
sound..."

"Blah...blah...blah...blah!!" I just exhaled as my weary body flopped down on
the sofa and stretched out, my long nylon running pants swished as I
crisscrossed my legs several times to get comfortable.

"What the hell did you just say!? I hate that!"

Sharon hates it when I say "Blah, blah, blah", she feels it belittles and
mocks her, which it does, which is why I do it. But I just closed my eyes and
smiled, "Nothing!" I yelled out, I do enjoy plucking Sharon's nerves on
occasion, since she was so easy to rile up. 'Uh-oh, here she comes' I thought
as I could heard Sharon's sock covered feet pad their way down the hallway
towards the living room.

"I heard what you said!..." Sharon huffed as she cocked her hips off to the
side, I simply cracked an eyelid open and peered upward with a faint smile.

"...and get your sweaty ass off the good sofa, AND THOSE DAMN DIRTY SHOES
TOO!!!...How many times do I have to tell you?!" Sharon lunged forward and
grabbed my left arm that was dangling off the edge of the leather sofa,
roughly she pulled, trying to drag me up.

"Owww....ow...ow...EASY!!!" I snapped and winced in pain, Sharon suddenly let
go and stepped back, "What's wrong?"

"My back is killing me, I think I over did it a bit at the gym." I slowly sat
up as Sharon just shook her head, "Well...well...why the hell did you go
running if your back was killing you?"

It was true, I did over do it that day at the gym and maybe combined with the
stress I was uncomfortable as hell. It was one of those pain-in-the-ass muscle
aches too, my right hand reached around and could barely massage the spot.

Letting out a deep sigh and shaking her head in frustration, "Here, let me
take your gym bag into your room while you should probably go take a hot
bath."

"Thanks Sharon, yeah, a hot bath sounds good." I groaned as I stood up.

I guess Sharon had gone into one of her moods, totally unaware I was watching
her from my doorway. I had a robe on with a towel wrapped around my hair. I
normally take offense to someone snooping but Sharon wasn't so much snooping
as she was just checking things out. It's strange watching someone else
look/stare at all of your stuff in your room. She had her back to me and
seemed to be gazing around the room, at various pictures of my family on the
wall, a couple of posters of well known female athletes (Yes I idolize a few
people). Some of my trophies from High School and College cluttered the
shelves. But I drew the line when she picked up my small jewelry box that sat
prominently in the top of my dresser, I don't wear much jewelry and that's not
what is in the box and it was locked so of course Sharon was really curious
now. I watched her delicate fingers try to pry open the lid but no luck

"Sharon." I said softly while still standing in the doorway, softly or not,
Sharon jumped and spastically stepped away from the dresser and pushed back
her hair, stuttering a few incoherent words.

"...what are you doing?" I remained standing in one spot.

"I...I...just...I...thought...that you might have borrowed some
earrings...so...I...uh, was just looking..." Sharon fidgeted and turned to
walk out, but I remained blocking the doorway.

"I don't borrow your jewelry Sharon. So what were you doing?" I stepped into
my room and began pull some clothes out of my dresser.

"I was..." She started.

"Snooping?" I turned around, my face showing some frustration I am sure.

"I'm sorry!...I'm sorry! I just, just, was looking around, admiring some of
the photos on the wall and then saw your jewelry box, and well I know you
don't wear much jewelry so I wanted to peak but it was locked! That's the
honest truth, I swear!" Sharon took a few steps forward, her shoulders
slumping slightly.

I have to say I was stunned, Sharon rarely grovels at anyone's feet and yet
here she was pleading for my forgiveness.

"No...it's fine." I said softly and turned away, I don't know what but it was
really and uncomfortable moment. I tried to distract myself by fiddling with a
few things on my nightstand, trying to look preoccupied.

"Stop saying that!" Sharon huffed, her face red with frustration.

"Saying what?" I turned around mystified, still not making eye contact as I
was a little miffed at Sharon's nosiness, but being that it was Sharon, I cut
her some slack.

"You always say things like; 'its okay Sharon....It's fine Sharon...Leave it
alone Sharon!' But it's not okay, why don't you open up to me, it's NOT
FUCKING OKAY that I was nosing around in your room..." Sharon's eyes began to
tear up, "I'm really sorry for breaking your trust in me!"

I was totally tongue tied, confused and becoming an emotions wreck, I tried to
focus on my boyfriend Robert, but that did little to help. Taking a deep
breath I relaxed my body as if someone waved a hand over me and instantly my
composure changed. I tilted my head to the side as I looked for something to
say. 'This is ridiculous.' Was all I could think, I hated these emotional
roller coasters that Sharon would get on, 'Be strong, just stay strong' I kept
telling myself, you see I hated showing emotion, it was a sign of weakness in
my eyes. 'Your okay, your in good shape, you can get thru this. Just focus'
With my willpower resolved, or so I thought, I looked back up, but things soon
began to fall apart at the sight of my friend looking so emotionally fragile,
just standing there. It was obvious to me at that moment that this wasn't one
of Sharon's typical tirades. Honestly, my her heart wanted to take flight in a
frail moment of hope that maybe Sharon was upset on some other level,
something between us that had been going on for years, but neither would dare
say aloud.

"Corbin.....look at me...please." Sharon started.

"Not now, I really can't get into this Sharon" I interrupted, I had to shut
this down, I wasn't ready to handle this, having opened the door just a
fraction to my soul was starting to undo my wall of resistance.

So Sharon just kept talking, even with the interruption, she didn't loose
pace, "...just be honest with me. I depend on you for so much, you are
everything to me. The one I turn to, so why..." Sharon was now within inches
of me.

"Why what?" I sighed, trying to dismiss the conversation as I shifted
uncomfortably, trying to pull my robe tighter against my body. All the while,
Sharon had hunched further over and was trying to look up into my avoiding
eyes.

"Why don't you open up to me the same way I do to you?"

As soft as Sharon's voice was, her words cut me with the sharpness of a razor,
forcing me to take a deep breath, "But..." I stopped after the first word, my
head dropped a little further staring straight down at the ground. Sharon was
an expert at reading me and quickly pulled me into a hug, specifically pulling
my head onto her shoulder. I stiffened at first but I'll be damn if it was one
of the most comforting things I have ever experienced. "I do try Sharon, I do
try..." I sighed into her sweet smelling neck, "I try so hard" I blubbered,
yep that's right I wept like a big baby on my friends shoulder. Cause I tend
to hold things in until the damn overflows.

Sharon was so sweet, she just remained silent and kept stroking my back and
head. These little moments of mine, which few have ever seen, subside very
quickly, as did this one. Sharon always seemed to be the one crying on my
shoulder after some fight with her boyfriend or some other fiasco she was
always blowing out of proportion.

"Okay, okay..." I sigh as my palms come up to rub the tears from my eyes, "I'm
not a crybaby." I said with a smirk.

"I know" Sharon smiled, her breath grazed my cheek and for a moment our
foreheads gently pressed against one another. My own breathing had become
labored and flustered, my mind overloaded with everything that was taking
place and yet I had to stiffen my body, fearful of the thoughts swirling in my
mind. Thankfully, Sharon took a deep breath before pulling away

There was still tension in the air and my hands fumbled for my brush on the
nightstand, but Sharon was quicker and grabbed it. With a sweet smile she held
it up and waved teasingly, "Care to let me brush your hair?" Sharon offered.

I nodded 'Okay' and turned to climb onto the bed with Sharon climbing on the
bed behind me. I shut my eyes and let Sharon work on my hair, little by little
I felt my body come alive, it was a strange crescendo of feelings and
sensations which were taking over my entire being. Under my robe I would press
my bare thighs together fighting off the building excitement from something as
sublime as having my hair brushed. Sharon just kept brushing, slowly, quietly,
normally she would jabber on and on about this, that and the other; but her
sudden quiet gentle strokes sent a shiver up my back. I got very concerned as
I could feel the moisture gathering up in my sex and pressed my thighs against
one another to keep my pleasure from streaming out.

"I think I'm done." I heard Sharon say. Awkwardly Sharon maneuvered around my
hunched frame and climbed off the bed. So, instead of things feeling more
relaxed and better they only felt more tense and fragile.

"See you in the morning." Sharon quietly whispered.

"See you in the morning." I sighed and laid back on my bed, clutching my robe
tightly as the door shut. "It's not fair" I groaned thru clenched teeth, my
eyes squeezed tight as I fought off the tears. "Why me? Sharon is my best
friend..." I remember thinking and had to force myself to calm down for fear
of Sharon hearing me. I just had to forget all this nonsense, but the more I
tried, the more that scary idea invaded my mind.

Trying to sleep was even more out of the question, strange thoughts were
swirling through my head. It seemed that every memory I had with Sharon
included some odd, underlying sexual overtone. It left me excited and
exhausted at the same time, so I had to be 'on guard', even if anything ever
was to happen, 'How could I ever really know?'

I wondered about Sharon's real feelings for me. People throw around 'I love
you' all the time... something so many people say, so often, without really
meaning it.

Well folks, I know all that stuff above is kind of boring, but if you want to
understand how two seemingly straight girls get involved, it's not such a
simple thing, now is it?