No Me Ames

By Susan J.

The following day Francisco and Max were talking over a cup a coffee.

"So what do you want to do today?" Max asked.

"I thought we'd go sightseeing," Francisco said.

"Sure. You just tell me where you want to go and I'll take you."

"Well, why don't you just play tour guide and see where that leads us."

"Okay."

"Do you think that Andie would want to go with us?"

"I doubt it."

"Why?"

"She's got a lot on her mind these days, well actually for the past few years."

"What do you mean?"

"Let's say she's been run through the mill and is still being run through it. You know, maybe you should try and talk her."

"Do you think she needs my kind of help?"

"Even though she might not admit it, I honestly think she could use your professional help."

"Well, I can attempt it."

"I would appreciate it. She a good person, but she's got something that's deep inside of her that needs to come out before it eats her alive."

"I'll see what I can do."

"Thanks, now lets get going."

"Okay."

They got up and left for their sight seeing tour. While the guys went on their tour I took the finished tour program to the offices of the rock groups representatives. The receptionist greeted me.

"Hi, Andie. How are you?" Michele asked.

"I could be better. How are you?"

"The same."

"Is your boss in?"

"Yes. Go on in, he's expecting you."

"Thanks."

I walked into the inner office. Behind the desk sat the man who my appointment was with. He stood up and walked over to me.

"Hey Andie. How are you?" Jesse asked. He hugged me.

"I'm doing just fine, Jesse. How about you?"

"I can't complain. Sit down."

"Thanks." We both sat down. I handed him the large envelope.

"What's this?" Jesse asked.

"The program." He opened it in a hurry and looked at it.

"You're finished? You had until Monday."

"I know, but I finished it sooner than I thought."

"This is great, Andie. This is exactly what we wanted."

"I'm glad you like it."

"Are you interested in doing some more work like this for some other groups that I'm managing?"

"Sure, as long as I don't have to do them quickly."

"No. I have a group who will be going on tour in three months, so I would need this done in a month and a half."

"I think I can have it done by then."

"Okay, then I'll get the pictures that they want and messenger them over to you by tomorrow."

"Sounds good. Now the best part of all this is saying to you, where's my check?"

He started laughing. "Right here," Jesse said.

Jesse opened up his desk drawer and took out an envelope and handed it to me. I accepted it and looked inside.

"Is that to your satisfaction?" Jesse asked.

I smiled. "Very nice," I said. I stood up. "Well, I gotta go."

"Okay, Andie. I'll send those pictures to you," Jesse said.

"Thanks. I'll talk to you later Jesse."

"All right." I walked out of the office.

"Meeting over?" Michele asked.

"Yeah. I'll see you next time."

"Okay, Andie. Take care."

"You too."

I left. I did some shopping and arrived back at my house; at the same time that Max and Francisco drove by. I parked my car in the driveway and got out. I opened the trunk of the car and took out the bags, carrying them inside. When I came back outside Max and Francisco were there.

"Hey, you two. What's going on?" I asked.

"We just got back from our sight seeing tour." Max said.

"Oh please don't tell me he took you to Disneyland," I said.

"No, we thought we'd wait a few more days for that trip."

"He's right, I think it would be best to wait for that special trip," Francisco said.

"It's really going to be a sight to see you both wearing those damn ears," I said. We started laughing.

"What did you buy?" Max asked.

"The necessities of life, such as toilet paper and food."

"If you invite us to dinner, we'll help you take these bags inside," Max said.

"Deal," I said.

They helped me with the bags, and then once things were put away I started making dinner. Francisco walked into the kitchen.

"Do you need any help?" Francisco asked.

"Not really, but thank you," I said.

"Are you sure?"

"Well, if you want you can chop some onions."

"Okay."

"The onions are in the refrigerator and the knife is in the drawer next to the stove."

Francisco found what he needed, walked over to the counter and started chopping the onions.

"So, how long have you known Max?" Francisco asked.

"Too long."

Max was in the living room watching a movie. "I heard that!" he said.

"I know you did!" I said. Francisco and I started laughing.

"I think it's been about five or six years? I lost count after the first year. He's a good friend."

"Yes, he is," Francisco said. Dinner was ready and we put everything on the table.

"Hey, get over here because this is a serve yourself," I said.

"Okay, okay," Max said. We all sat at the table; while we ate we talked.

"So, where are you going to take Francisco to tomorrow Max?"

"I was kind of hoping that you would take him around town," Max said.

"Why?"

"Because I have something I have to take care of tomorrow and I don't know what time I'll be back. So will you?"

"Sure, no problem."

"If it's too much trouble I can just stay at Max's house," Francisco said.

No, don't be silly, I'd like to take you out on the town, so to speak."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure."

"Okay, I look forward to it." We finished dinner and we took the dishes to the kitchen.

"I think it's time to leave," Max said."

"So soon?" I said.

"Well I've got to get up early."

"Why don't you go get some sleep, while I help Andie clean up," Francisco said.

"You don't have to Francisco," I said.

"Yes I do, please let me help."

"Oh, please let him help before he starts wining," Max said. We laughed.

"All right, thank you."

"No problem. Why don't I follow you to the house and then you can give me the keys so I won't have to ring the bell and wake you up," Francisco said.

"Okay. Well, I'll see you later Chata," Max said.

"Okay, Max," I said. He hugged me.

"I'll be right back Andie," Francisco said.

"Okay."

The two guys left and I started cleaning up. While I was washing the dishes the doorbell rang. I grabbed a towel and dried my hands as I walked towards the door.

"Who is it?"

"Francisco." I looked through the viewfinder and then opened the door.

"Hi there, come on in."

"Thanks."

I closed the door behind him and then we walked to the kitchen. Francisco took the towel from my hand and started drying the dishes and putting them away and before I knew it we were done.

"How about something to drink?" I asked.

"That would be nice."

"I'm not in the mood for wine, so how about a glass of soda?"

"That will be just fine."

"I'll be right back."

While I went into the kitchen Francisco walked into the living room, he then looked around the room and noticed a picture on top of the mantel. He walked over and looked at it. I came back into the room to see Francisco looking at the picture.

"Here you are," I said.

He put down the picture and walked back over to me and took the glass. We sat down on the couch.

"See something interesting?" I asked.

"Just the picture. Who is the woman in the picture with you?

"An ex-friend. I've been too lazy to throw that picture in the trash."

"Ex-friend? What happened?"

"It's not important. So, what would you like to see tomorrow?"

"Why don't we just see where the wind takes us?

"I like that idea."