Lightning and Randi did continue their relationship. I didn't really know Lightning but now I knew Randi - well, certainly better than I had before anyway - and I was a bit crushed when they drove off together, but like I said before, I really had known better. They had been doing their back and forth for as long as I'd known them. As for my own situation, my little 'holiday' with Randi left me feeling recharged and strong again. No more poor, poor, pitiful, Jesse!

I was somewhat short in the friends department though, so after spending a rather uneventful Christmas by myself, I said "yes" when Randi invited me to go to a New Years Eve party with her and Lightning.

As I walked up to the door of Lightnings' house, a fact I had been pushing out of my head since I was first invited, jumped between me and the door in staggering clarity and could no longer be ignored. Randi invited me out of pity! I stopped in my tracks, halfway to the door. Jesse! They invited you because they felt sorry for you!

Now... I am not stupid. I really did know this already. But, I really was lonely. Maybe it would be okay for them to take pity on me just this once. What do they say about being prideful? It's bad, right?

Hehe... That inner dialogue had worked fo me, right up to that moment - halfway between the street and the door! I shook my head and tucked in my chin as I turned to go back to the car. Then I heard the door squeek as it opened and Lightning said,

"Where ya going?"

I'm sure I stammered a bit trying to come up with a good answer but turned back toward the door and went inside.

Lightning was a perfect hostess. Every bit as nice as when she had told me she didn't want to step on my toes. She offered me something to drink and as she poured me a glass, she informed me that Randi was in the bedroom, still getting dressed. Apparently, Randi was not at all happy with her choice of partywear for the evening and couldn't find the boots she had wanted to wear. She was, Lightning told me,

"Over it! And angry that we don't have any of her favorite wine!"

"... ... uh ... ... ... hmm" (me)

"Come on!" she said to me as she grabbed her keys. "Lets go get Randi her wine! If we don't, she may never come out of that room!"

So, we left. It was a little weird being alone with Lightning. I don't remember talking at all. About ten minutes later we pulled up to - not the liquor store - but the party! Yep! We had just ditched Randi! I couldn't believe it! I mean, whoa! She... ignored my look of shock and said "Come on, let's go say hi! It's a party!"

I actually had a really great time! We stayed all night and when the party was over, Lightning drove me back to her house. I had no idea how Randi was gonna react to us ditching her and was nervous. I never got to find out, actually. Because just as we got there, so did Lightnings other girlfriend! So began a fight that I knew I didn't need to take part in. Time for me to go! As I was leaving, I heard Randi yelling at Lightning about her refusal to choose one girl.

"You can't have your cake and eat it too!"

To which Lightning responded,

"Why bake the cake if you're not gonna eat it?!"

... "damn!" I thought. "What a perfect response!" I've used it myself ever since!