On A Wing And A Prayer Part 36

"You're welcome. Well ... I guess I'll talk to you later, then," Rox answered.

"Okay. Oh, and Rox ... I love you," Ca.s.s stated softly.

"Bye, bye, Ca.s.s," Rox replied, hanging up the phone. Taking a deep breath, she leaned back, resting her head on the back of the chair. Closing her eyes, she slowly exhaled as she wrapped her arms around her own middle. Ca.s.s ... why am I allowing you to occupy my mind like you do? How do I really feel about you? d.a.m.n! Why does life have to be so complicated all the time? Running her hands through her hair, she did her best to shake off the feelings and turned her attention back to her writing.

Meanwhile, 3,000 miles away, Ca.s.s hung up the phone and threw herself backward across the bed. Covering her face with both hands, she rubbed vigorously, then dropped her hands onto the bed on either side of her head. She laid there for several long moments, staring unseeingly at the ceiling, her mind occupied with the red haired angel of her dreams. Rox, I love you with all my heart, she thought. I hope that someday soon, you'll be able to return that love. We are fated to be together, my love ... I just know we are. Closing her eyes, she allowed visions of Rox to invade her mind, and drifted off to sleep as fantasies of two women in love ... one fair, and one dark, acted out their performance in her dreams.

You're a chicken s.h.i.+t, Ca.s.s! Enforcer said boldly.

What did you say? Ca.s.s replied internally, more than a little angry with her alter ego.

I said, you're a chicken s.h.i.+t! Look ... you asked her for her phone number so you could call her back, and now you're afraid to use it ... you're a chicken s.h.i.+t! Enforcer said again.

You don't know what you're talking about. I just don't want to interrupt her writing. And besides, I talked to her already today, Ca.s.s explained in her own defense.

You talked to her what ... twelve hours ago? You said you'd call her later ... this is later, Enforcer reasoned.

I don't know, E. What if she's busy? She has a deadline to meet you know, Ca.s.s said.

Look, Ca.s.s ... you ain't never gonna get her in the sack if you don't talk to her! came the pointed response from her inner voice.

Christ, E! Is that all you think about? Ca.s.s asked impatiently.

Yes, replied Enforcer. Somebody's got to look out for our needs!

E, this relations.h.i.+p isn't entirely about s.e.x. Its about fate, destiny, love ... the physical expression of that love is an afterthought ... or it should be anyway, explained Ca.s.s.

Okay, time out! So you're telling me that you don't want to do the nasty with this chick? Enforcer asked incredulously.

Well ... I didn't say that, exactly ... I just meant that it wasn't the most important part of the relations.h.i.+p, the dark haired woman replied.

What relations.h.i.+p? It won't exist at all if you don't make contact! Now call her! Enforcer demanded.

Okay! Okay! Geesh, you're such a b.i.t.c.h sometimes! Ca.s.s shot back.

You'll pay for THAT comment later, woman! But for now... get your a.s.s in gear and call the hot little red head, the alter ego instructed.

Ca.s.s did as she was told, dutifully picking up the phone and dialing Rox's number. After three rings, she was just about to hang up when Rox picked up the other end.

"h.e.l.lo?" Rox said cheerfully.

"Hi, Rox. This is Ca.s.s," she replied.

"Ca.s.s! Wow! I was just thinking about you!" Rox exclaimed and then thought to herself, we'll that's not a lie, since you've been in my mind continuously since we talked this morning!

"Really?" Ca.s.s asked hopefully. "Look, I know it's getting late on the east coast, but I just wanted to call to say how much I enjoyed our phone call this morning, and to wish you pleasant dreams before you turned in."

Rox looked at the clock on her desk. 10:08 p.m. illuminated the face. "Gee, it's early yet, Ca.s.s. I won't turn in for at least another three hours ... but I'm so glad you called now. It gives us time to talk before either of us needs to hit the sheets. You have to work tomorrow, don't you?" Rox asked.

"Yeah ... I've got a two-day flight into Durango, Mexico. I'm starting to dread these over night flights. I think I'll talk to my supervisor about a schedule change this week," Ca.s.s whined.

"Two days, huh? I'm going to miss you," Rox said in a soft voice as she leaned back and twirled her chair around in circles like a young girl, a sense of daring antic.i.p.ation brewing in her chest at the obvious flirtation.

Ca.s.s had been pacing, the portable phone pressed firmly against her ear. She stopped in her tracks at Rox's last declaration. "You're going to miss me?" Ca.s.s asked hopefully. "Do you mean it, Rox?"

"Of course I do," Rox replied. Then, changing the subject abruptly, she added, "so, what did you do with yourself today?"

Ca.s.s was caught off-guard by the change in subject matter. Thinking back over her day, she came up with a quick answer, "Beside thinking of you all day? ... let's see ... well, I took my morning run, did some laundry, cleaned my house, ironed my uniform for tomorrow ... you know - boring stuff," Ca.s.s replied as she thought of all the domestic things she had finally caught up on to keep her mind off the east coast beauty with red-gold hair. "How was your day?" she asked.

"I made a lot of progress on the book," replied Rox. "I'm beginning to make up for some of the delay my broken arm caused. My editor is not very thrilled with my lack of progress, but heck, real life sometimes gets in the way of the fun stuff, you know what I mean?"

"Yeah, I do," Ca.s.s replied, unsure of what to say next. After a few moments of awkward silence, she continued. "Rox ... I don't want to push you ... and I don't expect a response right now, but I want you to know that you mean everything to me. You are my heart ... the keeper of my soul. I have never been so sure of anything in my life. When I described my day to you earlier, I left something out. I'm not much of a poet, but I wrote a poem for you. I'll send it along in an e-mail after we hang up," Ca.s.s said.

Rox raised a hand to her mouth to stifle a sob. Ca.s.s ... why do you touch me so? she thought as she closed her eyes and allowed a lone tear to roll down her cheek. Into the receiver, she asked, "Could you read it to me now?"

Ca.s.s was a little embarra.s.sed by the request. "Wouldn't you rather read it in private?" she asked hopefully.

"I will ... later when you send it to me. Right now, I want to hear you read it to me ... please?" she said in a little girl voice.

The voice was Ca.s.s' undoing. "All right ... but I warn you - I'm not much of a poet," Ca.s.s replied.

Rox waited patiently as Ca.s.s retrieved the poem. "Ahem...," Ca.s.s said clearing her voice before starting.

"RESCUE MY SOUL.

In the wellspring of my soul,

I see the flame of desire

burning brightly

In the oft darkened place.

It is a new eventuality,

This warm felt pa.s.sion.

Foreign to my mind,

Alien to my being.

This fervor has a face,

With mane of gold,

And orbs of green,

And beauty like no other.

I drown consentingly

In the pools of green,

And cast away the lifeline,

For I revel in my fate.

I find myself drawn

To the Temptress' charms,

Needing her goodness ...

Needing her love.