Date: Tue, 27 Jul 2004 20:39:02 -0700 (PDT)
From: z.a schulz <cloudy_sky23@yahoo.com>
Subject: The Painting-2

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The Painting - 2

Sara broke the embrace and look at Caitlin's face. "You're face is still
the same. I made that sketch thinking like you were still 18." Sara gently
squeezed Caitlin's face. "I'm not the kid you used to know, Sara. I
changed."  With a wide smile on Caitlin's face. "I know!" Again, Sara hugs
Caitlin.

"Cait, you know that we had a lot of things to talk about right?" Sara
asked.

"Yeah, I know!"

"Can you take sometime off today?" Sara asking Caitlin.

"Sure, I can do that." Caitlin realized that she has a date with Megan
tonight. Caitlin offers a chair to Sara while she walks up to John and
Megan.

Megan thought that Caitlin would ask her if she could schedule their "date"
on another day. She set her mind not to expect anymore date with Caitlin
now that Sara is back.

"Meg, I still pick you up at 8 tonight. Alright?" Megan is shock to hear
that she didn't really cancel their date. In shock, she just shook her head
and smile. "We'll go ahead! John, take charge!"

***

Sara and Caitlin droves back to the hotel were Sara was billeted. There,
they talk things about what had happen to them the last four years they've
been separated. Caitlin knew this is the time when she had to apologize for
her mistakes and shortcomings.

"Cait, you're young and dependent on your parents, I understand that. I
admit, it hurts when you just can't do anything when your mom humiliates
me. But for it, you wouldn't be up there making a name in the corporate
world. You really must have grown-up. And I'm happy for you!" Sara puts her
arms around Caitlin and gives her a pat on her back.

"Sara, thank you! I never thought this would be easy for us."

"Because we know the truth! Our true feelings!"

***

Megan is thinking of what Sara and Caitlin are doing at that time. She
couldn't hide her emotions, she feels so sad, realizing that if only she
tells Caitlin the truth maybe she could change things for them. *Damn it!
Why do I have to feel jealous and over reacting to these things, there's
nothing going on between us. *

Time passes by quickly for Megan, she has to prepare herself for Caitlin
even she knew she would not stand a chance at her. *At least let her know
what she's missing!* Laughs Megan.

She takes a quick shower when her mind drifts back to what she saw that
day. She sat back to the shower, pulls her legs to her chest and burst into
tears, she realized how much she loves Caitlin. And she couldn't do
anything. "God, why her? There are lots of women out there who likes me,
but why the person who didn't even takes notice of me? Who didn't even like
me!" Tears running down her cheeks. Megan decided to stay at the bathroom
to gather her thoughts. When she looks at the clock it's 10 minutes before
8, she hurriedly dried off and fixes herself.

***

Caitlin drive off Sara at the Airport, she's leaving for France at 8pm. She
is now based in France and flies back just to visit her folks and a chance
to see Caitlin.

"Well, it's not goodbye for us. I hope to see you again, Sara!" Caitlin
gives her friend a hug.

"I'll see you again! Cait!" As she walks through the counter to check
in. She looks back and wave goodbye to her former lover. Caitlin, happy
that her problem about Sara is over, she must now face Megan.

***

Megan checks the clock every minute when it strikes at 8. Its almost past 8
and Caitlin was nowhere.

"Maybe she will not coming, I should never expect her to come!"
Disappointed when her doorbell rang. She opens the door and found Caitlin
apologizing to her.

"Meg, I'm sorry I'm late! I drop off Sara at the Airport. Sorry?" with a
shy smile on her face. *Oh, no! How could you get mad when you see her
smiling like that?*

"It's alright! Come in!" She leads Caitlin to the couch and hesitantly
asked her, "So, what is that important thing you want to say?"

"Come on, I'll take you for dinner!"

Caitlin brought her to an exclusive restaurant downtown. As the dinner went
on, "Meg, I want to thank you for everything, for being a good friend and
for bringing Sara back to me. If not for your invitation, I probably would
know I'm already forgiven. I just wish you would know her more."

*A friend? Good friend? Is that what I really am to her? *

"Cait, anything just for you." Megan forces a smile.

"Maybe, God has plans for us, that is the reason why I met you. And I thank
Him for that! I promise Him that I will keep you forever." She feels so
happy how Caitlin sees things for her.

The dinner went fine with Megan lovingly enjoying the minute she had with
Caitlin.

Caitlin drove back to her apartment, "Well, this is my home. Be my guest
have a sit."  Making herself comfortable on the couch, Caitlin offered her
a tea. Megan still nervous of what she would hear just smiled back but she
knows it is all about Sara. "Meg, it's about Sara. I know you wanted to ask
me about her after the exhibit. But I don't know how you will react about
it. I'm not sure you know." Taking a deep breath Caitlin continues, "Sara
and I were lovers, we've been together for 2 years in college. We both love
to paint, if we have a spare time, we paint together. She is one of my
favorite subject." Megan didn't know how to react she feels numb of the
pain that Caitlin was causing her. "Meg, I lose her when I was 19, I was
very dependent on my parents that is why when they learned about us, I
can't do anything. I was so afraid to disobey them. I watch her slip
through my hands. I blame myself for it; I lose the woman I love. After
that, I left home. Thanks to John he helped me to get an internship program
and helps me to get thru college. And I promised not to paint again, nor
hold any painting materials ever again after the incident. Not unless she
forgives me!" Caitlin realized that tears are falling down her cheeks. When
Megan saw it, she reached out and holds her tightly. "Let it out!" Megan
consoles her friend.

"Meg, I never painted anyone after Sara. That is the reason why you always
caught me looking at the canvass everyday. I was hoping and praying I could
paint and I would find Sara again." Caitlin wipes a few drops of tears from
her eyes and look back at Megan. " Meg, I'm gonna make sure nothing of my
past will happen again. I'm going to fight for the person that I love. God
is my witness." A few more moments of silence, Caitlin holds off Megan's
hand close to her and said, "You know what, the first thing that I would do
is to make a sketch of the woman that I love. Remember that." Caitlin
chuckles.

"Cait, I'm happy that in my own unknowing little way, I helped you. Rest
assured that I'm here for you always!" Megan nervously embraces Caitlin.

They spent a little more time in Caitlin's apartment when Meg noticed it
was 12 midnight.

Caitlin drove Megan back to her place and when she was about to leave,
Caitlin planted a kiss on her cheek that made Megan to move a bit.

"Well, I think I should ask you first, but is it alright?" Megan gives her
a quizzical look.

"I mean, the kiss!" Caitlin said.

Megan laughed nervously, "Yeah, goodnight!"

Caitlin holds Megan's right-arm and slowly kissed her again.

"Goodnight, Meg." Caitlin headed back to her car.

Megan found herself dumbfounded as she feels the warmth kiss of Cait on her
cheek.

* I wish that kiss would mean something.* Megan thought.

***

The following morning, Megan finds herself so tired and restless with all
the things that happened on the last few days esp. last night when she
learned everything about Caitlin.

She got up, fixed herself, and headed for work.

"Good morning, John. Have you seen Cait?" asked Megan.

"She's not coming at work today." Answered John.

"Is she alright?"

"Yeah, everything is fine. Don't worry she's too old to know what to do."
Chuckled John.

Everyday Megan looks for any sign of Caitlin, she's not reporting at work
and she wonder why. John told her that she took a leave to attend some
personal stuff. Her immediate reaction was it's all about her new
lover. The whole week Caitlin was gone, she feels so downhearted. It feels
that her day would not be complete without seeing Caitlin's beautiful face.

***

A week later, Megan finds herself getting late again. *Here I am again,
like my first day at work. I'm running late. *

When she came to the office she saw Caitlin at the parking lot, *she's
back!* she thought. As much as she wanted to greet her she couldn't, she's
late. When the elevator opens up, she went straight to her desk and seeing
a lot of people on her desk piling up, as if they were looking at
something. She excuses herself and finds everybody looking at her.

"What?" she asked. John pointed out a canvass on the side of her desk. Her
eyes popped out when she saw a big portrait of her face. "Oh, my God!" She
walks to the painting and inspects it herself. "Oh, my God!" Megan couldn't
believe it. John immediately "disperse" the crowd in Megan's desk.

"Do you know who did this?" John asked.

"Yeah, I know!"

"Well, go girl!"

Megan gently places back the canvass on her desk and almost run to the
elevator. *She likes me, she loves me! Caitlin really does like me! * Megan
giggles.

Caitlin is still in the parking lot when Megan runs to her. She grabs the
phone out of Caitlin's ear, grabs her collar, and kissed her fully on the
lips. Megan took Caitlin by surprise by giving her a one heck of a kiss.

"Well, I think I should ask you first, but is it alright? I mean the kiss!"
Megan said.

Caitlin laughed 'coz she knew what she is talking about, "Yeah! Right!"

Caitlin seriously looks at Megan and saw tears in her eyes.

"You don't have to cry. You deserve it. I love you Meg."

"I love you, Cait" Megan puts her arms around Caitlin and they kissed.

- the end -

Thank you for bearing with me! Sorry for the delay!

I hope you like the ending, if not just tell me!

Comments, suggestions, and constructive criticisms are always welcome!

Email me at cloudy_sky23@yahoo.com or you can make an IM.

Thanks!

z.a