Passionate Affairs... or Lack Thereof

Who: Mya and Isabella
Where: Phone
When: Afternoon

It was close to two by the time Isabella tore herself away from her books to pick up her cell phone. She scrolled through her contact list before coming to Mya's name. Picking up her portable, she dialed the number and set her cell back onto her table as it began to ring. She knew Mya was out of town, but she was hoping that hearing from a friend would be a pleasant enough surprise that Mya wouldn't mind being interrupted on her vacation.

Mya was getting back to her hotel room after another wonderful day at the expo. She'd just put down the 'goodies' when her phone rang. Pulling it out she looked at the number and smiled at the name that popped up on the caller ID. She flopped down on the bed and leaned back, putting the device to her ear. "Hello?"

"Mya, when I'm out of town, I expect at least one of my friends to keep me updated on all the bullsh*t and more that goes on around town," Isabella scolded, though her tone was light. She closed the book she had been reading and leaned back in her chair. "Clearly Brian dropped the ball, which is where you're suppose to come in."

"Izzy!" She said happily. "I know, bad friend, but you would too with how fast everything happened- and with how busy the diner's been. How are you? You're back in town? When, and why didn't call ahead?" Mya laughed a little. "You had to come back -this- week didn't you? Please tell me you're at least sticking around so I won't completely miss out."

"Surely I called a couple of times." She wasn't sure. She was constantly busy when out promoting a new book, she rarely remembered anything, which was probably why she needed an assistant when traveling. "But yes, I'm home now, at least through the fall. Believe me, I wish I had chosen another week to come back. Marquette seems to have done a one eighty here." Isabella lowered her voice and stood from her chair. Best to get the easy stuff out of the way before thinking about the bad things. Like Hunt, and attacks and the ghost town Marquette has become. "Let me ask you something, when the hell did Brian decide he was gay?"

Mya laughed pretty hard at her question. "You met Domino." She said, running a hand through her hair. "And you did call, but not to tell us you were coming back."

"I thought I would surprise everyone. Which I seemed to have done. And yes, I met Domino," Isabella confirmed. She stood in front of the window now, watching the vacant street below. The trees were going to start changing color soon. Some already were. She loved Marquette in the fall - although everything had a very different feel to it now. She wasn't sure she liked it. "He's eighteen, Mya. He's practically a child. I had a feeling Brian wouldn't take turning forty very well, but this is just... alarmingly worrisome."

"He's in love." Mya said softly.

She dismissed that immediately. Even if her own love life continually found itself in the garbage disposal, she still felt like she knew what love was - and what people needed to be happy. Brian did not need an eighteen year old boy who was going to end up hurting him. "Brian can't... he's going through some life altering things, and this is just his midlife crisis. I mean, is Domino in love? You realize the kid isn't even old enough to drink. What happens with Brian turns forty one? Or fifty? You really believe an eighteen year old boy who looks like that is going to stick around?" Maybe she was being unfair - a part of her thought she was - but she was having a difficult time accepting it.

"I'm not saying I know everything about -either- of them." Mya replied slowly. "But I do know them, and I know that I've never seen Brian happier. I've never felt him happier." After all he wouldn't have even said anything about Domino if he hadn't been. Didn't mean he still wasn't nervous, but everyone had nerves. "And Domino… there's a lot more to him than meets the eye. He does act older than he is." Of course he flirted with everything that moved, but Mya easily wrote that off to nature and not maturity. "And regardless of any of that, the fact that he's even taken the step to move in with Brian when his heart has been set on moving on from Marquette is a huge thing."

Happiness didn't mean love. And Domino acting older than he was didn't erase the fact that he was eighteen. "I don't want to see Brian get hurt," Isabella finally admitted. "And I would hate to have to beat one of your employees over the head with a frying pan if that happens."

"Brian's stronger than you give him credit for Izzy, and who knows… maybe he'll be the one to get tired of the 'kid'." Mya sighed softly. "Why are you so upset about it anyhow?" She asked. "Could there be other reasons that you're not sharing?" Now she was teasing.

Isabella rolled her eyes, but felt herself smile a bit as she recognized Mya's teasing. It really wasn't necessary to argue with Mya about the situation when it was clear her friend approved of Brian's relationship. Isabella didn't - couldn't. At least not right now. It just didn't settle properly in her stomach. "Yes, Mya... I'm secretly in love with Brian - and now I fear I'm lusting over his young, hot boyfriend. You'll never understand the depth of my pain." She paused and her smile widened. "Maybe I'm still harboring a hope that you and Brian will realize you're perfect for one another and begin a passionate affair."

Mya chuckled. She knew how Brian felt about her, it was hard to hide something like that from someone with even mild empathic powers. She also knew how she felt about Brian. More importantly though, she knew in all the ways it wouldn't work between them. Which meant now, was the time to change the subject. "Anyway… How was your tour? Have any passionate affairs of your own?"

"Quick to change the subject," Isabella pointed out, turning to sit back down at her table and reach for the next book she needed to skim through. "The tour was wonderful. Unfortunately I didn't have any time to do much of anything personal, let alone indulge in a passionate affair. I would have settled for a passionate one night stand to be honest with you." It had been far too long since she had any kind of intimacy with a man. Isabella wrinkled her nose and grabbed her book, drawing it toward her. "I suppose I'm doomed to write about them, rather than experience them on my own."

"You know, it can surprise you." Mya said. "Love, romance, human…" She pause a brief second as a knock came at her door. "…contact." Finishing Mya climbed off the bed. "It'll sneak up on you when you least expect it. You just can't think of yourself as doomed." Mya scolded as she opened the door. "Because then you'll only jinx yourself."

Palming the phone she waved her visitor in and said. "Sorry, it's an old friend, we get chatty." Putting the phone back to her ear she walked back to the bed. "And if there's anyone who deserves to find someone, it's you."

"That's sweet, but you don't have to worry about me. I'm perfectly content in my life right now," Isabella said, flipping open her book to dark magic curses. She knew all about human contact - and her lack of it lately. She also knew about love and romance because if she didn't, her books wouldn't sell as well as they did. But even if she said so, Isabella had never really thought of herself as doomed in the relationship area per se, even when she probably projected that attitude. She didn't need love, or a relationship, as long as she had her work. She just needed to get laid every now and then. Isabella paused, drawing her brows together curiously. "Who are you talking to?" she asked Mya before she grinned. "Please tell me that's a visitor of the tall, dark and handsome persuasion?"

"I worry about my friends, I can't help it." Mya replied softly. It was one of her biggest issues in life. As for the follow up question, that was something she needed to tread by lightly. "Not too sure about the tall and dark." She said, trying to make light of the topic.

Isabella was about to tell her that she didn't need to worry about her, but she was too busy being flooded with shock - for the second time that day - that Mya possibly had a man with her. The woman hadn't dated in all of the time Isabella had known her, and Isabella herself was thisclose to taking matters into her own hands to set Mya up with a man who would make her happy. "But you've got the handsome part," Isabella said, ignoring her book now and concentrating on the tone of Mya's voice to try and decipher just what was going on. "The tall and dark are just bonuses. Who's there with you?"

"Ok." Mya said, her tone completely serious. "Really, it's nothing." Which was a bit of a lie, Mya was so incredibly happy. "But you can't tell Brian. Swear. I don't want him to hear about this from anyone else."

"Obviously it's something given you don't even want me to tell Brian. But I swear I won't tell him," she promised. "Now spill... what's going on?"

"Nothing, I mean nothing huge. I've been having fun. Brian told me to have fun this trip so I am. We've been hanging out around the expo, and he took me to dinner the other night at this cute little Italian place that was so popular and busy we ended up eating at the bar. Tonight we're going to Karaoke with some of the other attendees." Mya said it all as if it were nothing- or tried to. Really it felt so good to not have to worry about anything for once and to be able to let herself just be.

Mya with a man. Well, at least that took care of Isabella's thought at Mya might prefer women. She beamed a bit and sat back again. Finally, some good news. "Sounds like you've been having some much needed fun. Does he have a name?"

"No.." He voice lowered to a whisper. "No demon cats, vampire, deaths, or other random acts of violence?" Mya's voice came back to normal. "I'm in heaven." Her company emerged from the bathroom where he had slipped away and walked over to her. "Jack." She said, smiling up at him. "His name is Jack."

Isabella sighed, pleased that there was something worthwhile in the midst of all the stuff Brian had told her about. "Jack is a good name. If you would have said Albert, I might have died." She tapped her fingernails on her book. "Enjoy your evening with Jack. I'll expect all of the torrid details when you get home."

"And be sure not to slip it to Brian... or anyone. I'd rather them find out from me." She was being motioned to go. "Anyhow, karaoke awaits. When I get back into town we are -so- going to a movie or something ok? Brian won't watch chick flicks with me on Mondays anymore."

"I won't tell anyone," Isabella assured Mya. She had a feeling she would be too preoccupied trying to help Hunt with Brian than to discuss Mya's love life. "A movie when you get back sounds great. Just give me a call when you get home. And be safe, okay?"

"Don't worry about me. Your world is a bit more hazardous than mine at the moment." She waved at Jack who was already at the door and teasing her for gabbing. "Take care, love you and I'll see you this weekend." Mya grabbed up her coat and room key and headed to the door. "Give my love to everyone when you see them too."

Isabella nodded, returning her focus to the book in front of her. "I'll be sure to do that. Be careful and feel free to be as naughty as you want while you're on vacation," she teased. "Bye, Mya." She hung up before Mya could respond and set her phone to the side to continue her research for Brian.