I didn't stop running. I ran in spite of my aching feet, soles of my feet burning from the abandoned heels and harsh pavement. I ran until my chest burned, not having run this fast or this long since high school. Rain splattered across the pavement harshly, splashing so loud that it drowned out the few sounds of late-night traffic. I paid no mind to the passing cars, and the certain strange gazes my flee had earned. Surged with adrenaline, I ran. I ran until I collapsed on the front step of Lada's apartment complex.

       On my hands and knees, chest wheezing, I reached for the ringer. Despite the early hour, I fingered the bell repeatedly. As expected, the persistent ringing received a rapid response.

      "Who the hell is ringing the buzzer at five in the fucking morning?" Lada growled.

       I exhaled in relief but made no move to response. I couldn't. I was still trying to catch my breath.

      "Hello?" her voice rang loudly through the metal box. "I don't know which one of my twit friends this is, but you're lucky I wasn't sleeping."

      In spite of the misfortunate turn in my night, I almost smiled.

      "I need help," I whinged breathlessly. "I'm in desperate need of a parachute; plummeting towards the cold hard ground at a terrifying speed."

      There was a beat of silence. "Yasmine?" Lada asked tentatively.

      "Who else would be sprawled pathetically on the sidewalk in the dead of the night?"

       "Oh, Christ," she muttered. No sooner did she speak, did the machine buzz, permission to come in. Door unlocked, I forced myself to my aching feet. Miserably hobbling up the five cases of stairs, I mentally prepared myself to face Lada's wrath.

       She was much tender than expected. Though she initially swung the door open and greeted me with a scowl and hands on her hips, she took one look at me and thawed.

      "Oh, honey." Brows softening with a worried expression, she pulled me into the apartment. "Yasmine, you're freezing." Retrieving the blanket from the couch, she wrapped it around my shoulders. "What happened?"

       Shivering under the warm wool, I clung tightly to the soft material. Though a distant part of me knew that I had been asked a question, dripping onto her hardwood floor, I merely watched her. Rummaging through her kitchen cabinets, she retrieved a mug and filled it with an already brewed pot of hot cocoa. I took the mug with furrowed brows. Why was she having hot cocoa at five in the morning?

      "Why are you awake?" I voiced my question.

       "It seems two of her friends are having an existential crisis," Sabelia's voice rang behind me. Startled, few drops of hot cocoa ran down my chest. Hissing from the burning liquid, I whipped my head around.

       In a clearly borrowed pair of pyjamas, sleeves rolled up, Sabelia was nestled on the love chair, with her own cup of hot cocoa.

       "What happened?" I asked, immediately concerned. I sat on the sofa opposite to hers as Lada curled up next to me.

       "Not that big of a deal." Sabelia smiled softly. "I'd much rather know what happened with you."

       I shook my head. "You first. I intruded."

      "But—"

      "I just ran six blocks," I interjected. "Can I at least settle in? Comfort me with the horrors of your night."

       With a playful roll of her eyes, she disclosed what must have been the fifth big argument with her boyfriend, in a month. This one specifically had driven her out of the house, but I dared not get my hopes up. No matter the ceaseless arguing, she always forgave the sleaze bag. Despite my dislike of Brad, the toe rag, Sabelia was great, so I listened attentively.

      There's was only so much empathetic listening that could be endured when Brad was a conversation topic. She was so close to hitting the point. As on various other occasions, she was contemplating breaking things off, running through the pros and cons. It was beyond frustrating to see this sweet girl so blinded by the douche. She deserved so much better, but she was so high strung on that dick. I don't know what kind of magical appendage he was packing, but her fixation was baffling. Even after verbally listing her many cons and few pros, she still never came to the conclusion that the only thing going for Brad was his appearance. Luckily, the life-long single friend was hardly ever asked for advice...Hardly.

      "Yasmine?" Sabelia inquired.

      "I agree with Lada," I said immediately, forcing a promising smile. "Makes a lot of sense."

      I had only caught part of Lada's advice. It was sound advice, but any kind of even hinted praise for Brad could have been excluded.

      "Bullshit."

      My eyes widened, Sabelia hardly ever swore.

      "I know you don't like Brad," she said. "And I know that face. I want your genuine opinion. Insult him all you want; I won't like you any less."

      I bit my lip, contemplating her request a few more moments. "You already know I think he should be kissing your feet for all the shit you put up with." I finally decided for the truth. She asked for it, and I would deliver. It didn't take much convincing to complain about Brad. "But all that aside, it doesn't even sound like you like him. The boy drives you bat-shit crazy, but the sex is great, so you stay. You like his dick, not the dick himself. So, if you want my opinion: let him go. Save yourself a headache and buy yourself a dildo."

      Spluttering wordlessly, Sabelia blinked owlishly. Even Lada looked taken-a-back, and I realised that I may have taken the honesty thing a step too far. I winced apologetically, sinking in my seat. I waited a few moments, trying to formulate a proper apology. Before I could deliver it, Lada burst into laughter. Sabelia followed suit shortly after, and I chuckled nervously at their responses.

      "Well, that was certainly honest," Lada declared in between fits of giggles.

      "I— I mean. You asked for it," I rationalized, stuttering as I held Sabelia's gaze. "I'm not trying to tell you what to do. If you truly love him, and so long as he causes you no harm, I'll respect your choice."

      "Yasmine," she laughed, wiping tears from the corner of her eyes. "Calm down, it's fine. Really."

       Heaving a breath of relief, I smiled sheepishly. Still in stiches, it took Lada a few moments to recover. I was beginning to believe that she had slipped something in her cocoa.

      "She's got a point," Lada finally admitted.

       "I know." Sabelia sighed.

      "So, you're breaking up with him?" The eager words slipped my lips before I could stop them. I clamped a hand on my mouth.

      "No need to sound so excited," Sabelia chuckled, launching her pillow my way. "But... Maybe." She sighed again. "I hate to start over again." I had no doubt that she would have no trouble in finding herself a new tennis partner.

       "Maybe we can add you to my set-up plan."

      Sabelia snorted.

      "There's an idea!" Lada exclaimed. "And if I'm taking this one's." She nudged her chin in my direction. "Predicament correctly, then Eva's very charming brother is still on the market."

       I groaned. Just thinking about Glenn made me shrink in my seat. All eyes on me, the two leaned towards me with intrigue.

       "No," I moaned, not ready to relive my night's horror. "Sabelia keep talking."

       "Nope." She popped her p. "I've gotten all the advice I need. Spill."

      I pulled the blanket to my head, hiding my face.

      "This is just embarrassment, right?" Lada questioned carefully. I felt her tense next to me. "Did he do something? Cause I'll kick—"

       "No, no," I assured, waving my arms. "He was sweet. He was so understanding... I just made a fool of myself."

       "I'm sure it wasn't that bad," Sabelia rationalized.

       I shook my head rigorously. "Couples only celebrate 25th wedding anniversaries, right?" I inquired. "Because I'm going to need a few years before I dare show my face in his presence."

       Biting her lip in contained laughter, Lada patted my thigh in comfort. She was going to enjoy this way too much. "What happened?"

      I hesitated. How did I explain this? I didn't even think sex was a big deal. I wasn't repulsed by the idea of it, but... I panicked. I couldn't name a reason for it, but I had very much panicked, nonetheless.

      "If it's about the sex," Sabelia said. "It's not always good the first time."

     "We didn't get there."

      "Uh oh." Lada grimaced in anticipation.

      "I panicked," I admitted gloomily.

      "It's okay," Lada assured, tone still laced with suppressed amusement. I narrowed my eyes at the blonde. "How far did you get?"

      Sighing, I decided I better get it over with. They were going to pull it out of me anyways. The sooner I got this over with it, the sooner I could go to bed and call it a day.

      "He brought me to his hotel room," I started, still hiding part of my face with the blanket. "It was going fine. I mean, I wasn't really enjoying it, but it was tolerable. Then I went on about tennis. I actually compared sex to tennis!" I wiped my clammy hands on my thighs. "Anyways, we fell on the bed... And— It was so awkward. I— he took his pants off and I kind of panicked..."

      "He took his pants off and you panicked?" Lada clarified. She so wanted to laugh. Even Sabelia was fighting a smile.

      "It's not funny," I protested. "I took one look at his dick and froze like a deer in headlights. Gawked at his crotch before tumbling off the bed towards my clothes."

      Lada hid her mouth between her hands, shoulders shaking quietly. I smacked her with my pillow.

      "I'm sorry," she cried between giggles. "You've got to admit that it's a little funny. And I'm sure he understands—"

       "Lada," I interrupted ridiculously. "I saw his dick and in a panicked mess collected my things and ran away. I ran away! Ran until I reached your apartment."

       "You just left?" she asked. "No explanation?"

      "I apologized and bolted."

      Girls only laughing harder, clutching their stomachs, I folded my arms against my chest. So much for support and reassurance. I didn't know whether I should be more embarrassed or laugh it off.

      It took many moments for snorts and gasps of laughter to fade.

      "Why?" Sabelia finally looked up, again wiping tears from her eyes.

      "Why?" I repeated incredulously.

      "I mean I get its nerve racking, but to run? You're not the panicky type," she said. "Was there something wrong with his—"

         I raised my hand to stop her. "No." I winced, the conversation physically inflicting me pain. "It looked perfectly normal to me."

       "Yet you panicked the moment he pulled it out?"

       "Well, it all became real then..."

       "That you were about to have sex?" Lada confirmed.

I nodded. "That it was about to go...Well, you know." That I was about to do something I didn't really want to do.

       Once again, giggles threatened to escape quivering lips.

      "And you weren't pleased with the idea of it—"

      "Nope." I squeezed my eyes shut to reject the mental images reflecting her suggestion. "Not in the slightest bit."

       Blue and brown eyes widened like saucers.

      "Honey, maybe you are gay!" Lada announced.

      I hugged the pillow to my chest, brain buzzing with confusion.

      "But I think vaginas are just as terrifying."

     "No interest there either?"

       I shook my head. "Not yet to say the least."

       "But how can you be sure you're not interested if you haven't tried it?" Sabelia asked.

       "Have you ever shoved your hand in a meat grinder?" I asked her.

       "No—"

      "But I reckon you don't think it's something you're likely to want to experience?"

       Thick brows shot into her hairline. "A meat grinder?"

      Yes. I was making that comparison.

      "Maybe the sex approach wasn't our best idea," Lada concluded.

      "You think?"

      "Next set-up, we shall focus on the flirting and hand holding first."

      I groaned. "I don't even want to think about the next one."

      Lada and Sabelia chuckled.

      "On the bright side," Lada grinned. "The next dates can possibly go worse than tonight did."

      Smacking her with my pillow, this time I laughed with them. I sure hoped it didn't get worse than this. Otherwise, I would have to consider swearing off dating. As awful as the date had been, I liked to think it beat a woeful life of failing to meet my mother's and friends' expectations. I couldn't fathom the idea of forever being criticized for my lack of love life and certain sense of loneliness.

      In my borrowed pyjamas, I was happy to put an end to the night. I made way for the guest room that I'd be sharing with Sabelia, overcome with my first real sense of relief in hours. I couldn't put this date behind me.

      "What's up, Yazzy?" Mark greeted enthusiastically as I passed his and Lada's room. Even through the darkness, I could make out his sly grin.

       "I should have known better than to think I could sneak past you."

       His grinned widened, pearly white teeth practically all I could see in the darkness.

      "You bet." He yawned. "After those moves, you pulled tonight, I've got to keep an extra close eye on you. I'm not risking the loss of my Just Dance Champion title."

      "Try all you might, but that title will be mine."

      "Up for a round tomorrow?" he challenged.

       "I'm always up for a round of Just Dance."

       Walking past me, Lada rolled her eyes. "You guys and that stupid game."

      "It was your idea," I reminded. "You wanted to give the club competition a second go."

      I had first met Mark, very drunk, in a club. I don't recall how it happened, but he and I we're showing off on the dance floor (we truly had nothing to show off) before I introduced him to Lada.

      "I was trying to impress Mark," Lada grumbled.

      Mark laughed, lifting the covers to welcome his wife. "It's a great game for friends," he agreed, stopping me just as I was making way to leave. The uncharacteristic, charming tone made me pause. "In fact, I've got this mate from school who loves the game. I bet he'd like to take you on."

      "Lada," I grumbled. "You told him!"

      The blonde grimaced. "He was curious about the Glenn situation."

      Mark perked up at the name. "How did that go by the way?"

      I took that as my exit mark. I saluted and disappeared into the hall.

      "Bad, then?" he laughed. "That means Oli's still got a shot? I want in on this bet."

      Groaning, I pinched the bridge of my nose. The dates would never end.

      "They should get along well, so long as he keeps his pants on."

      I blushed, cursing the blonde. These walls were too thin, even at the end of the hall I could hear them.

      "Pardon?" Mark asked. I was not reliving that story.

      "Not tonight," I called back.

      "But, what about Oliver?"

      "If you have any inquiries contact Quinn." I resumed my steps. "She'll add him to the agenda."

       Hearing far away laughter, I shut the guest bedroom door. Collapsing on the bed, I was happy to hear the heavy breathing. Sabelia was fast asleep. I looked forward to sleep, to momentarily escape my current reality. Shutting my eyes, I hoped I didn't have nightmares of dangling tennis balls and meat grinders.