Three

"Terry I come bearing offerings." A loud voice boomed through the apartment.

Teresa's head snapped up from the coffee table where she had been for the past hour organize the reports that she had just finished typing and printing out. She was still feeling uncomfortable and so work was the only way she could get distracted.

Mariana barged into the room like a loud hurricane, her arms full to the brim with one paper bag bulging with tacos and the other hand tightly holding a bottle of vodka like it was her long lost lover. Knowing Mariana, she would completely agree.

“It’s Tuesday,” Teresa said looking at the load she held cautiously, knowing Mariana was going to cause some chaos.

“Exactly my point . Tuesday with Tacos. Works so well baby. The coolest day of the week aside from Fridays."

Mariana dropped the food onto the center table and carelessly flopped down the couch with reckless abandon like she had just escaped a war.

“Come on, I saw the way you shuffled out of the apartment this morning and with the way you are sitting right now, you look like a nun on a walk of shame. What happened to you?"

Teresa shuffled on the spot and mumbled, “Nothing happened. I'm fine."

“No no no,” Mariana sing-song , while ripping open a taco wrapper. “Nothing? With that tone? Come on, everything happened so spill." Mariana said while handing her

"No it's .... nothing serious. Just had a weird and uncomfortable day. Some unusual things happened. " Teresa said, taking the taco, her cheeks flushing pink with embarrassment.

“Weird? How come? Did you accidentally click p**n on your computer and finally got caught."

Teresa gasped in disbelief." That was just one time. And it was not my fault. It was a pop up ad for shoes."

“You clicked it four times Terry." Mariana deadpanned.

"I panicked." Teresa said with her hands thrown up in the air." I was trying to leave there but the screen kept on hanging."

Mariana bursted out a loud laugh, then took a swig of vodka, almost choking on it." You are my absolute favorite person, you know that right."

"You probably say that to everyone you share a roof with. I know you " Teresa mumbled as she munched on her taco, taking mini bites like a rabbit.

"Nah, they don't blush when I mention shoving my face in your vagina. Only you do that."

Teresa's face turned crimson.

Mariana wiggled her brows suggestively. “Come on Terry, let's give it a try. You are gorgeous, I am definitely gorgeous. I'm horny and you are always horny. We could work as a functional team and I mean you would definitely enjoy. I've been told that my fingers are magical."

“That’s not how it works!” Theresa squealed and stood up trying to escape into the kitchen.

Mariana quickly grabbed her wrist and pulled her back to the couch. “Hey. I’m just teasing you. Well mostly.” She winked with a mischievous smirk.

“But seriously. Are you okay? You've been... stiff and wound up. Like your skin’s too tight or something. What's wrong, for real this time."

Teresa hesitated but spoke up. “I’ve just been having… dreams. Thoughts. Fantasies. I can’t control my urges and they are getting worse. I can't stop it."

Mariana’s expression then soften. "Are you still using the toys. And the drugs."

“Yeah. But they don’t help much anymore. Especially the drugs, they are having any effects. I..I feel like I’m going to explode if I don’t… do that constantly.” she trailed off, eyes brimming with tears of shame.

“Hey,” Mariana said strongly. “There’s nothing wrong with having sexual needs. Craving. That doesn’t make you broken or wrong. It makes you human. Well,” she grinned, “maybe a little sexy demon, but don't worry mostly human.”

Teresa weakly smiled at Mariana's attempt to make her happy. “I just scared of being taken advantage of. I don't want a repeat of what happened before."

Mariana nodded and held her close, placing her head on her chest and softly rubbing her hair. “And I it will not ever happen. I promise you. I won't let anything happen to you. I've got your back sweetheart."

“I know you do." Teresa raised her head to stare at the red haired fire cracker who had brought life into her life.

When Teresa came to New York, she was starving and hadn't taken a shower for a week. It was Mariana that found her starving on the side of the road and took her to the hospital and gave her food. She provided free shelter for her and helped her with her job applications. She began chipping in for the rent and other expenses only after Mariana was completely assured that she had enough savings for herself.

Teresa was greatly indebted to Mariana, knowing she did all that at of the kindness of her heart and apparently because she was a cutie.

“Good. Now eat." Mariana tapped her ass causing her to squeal and run away from her embrace. "Then we’ll watch trashy reality TV until your libido shuts up. Are you in?"

Teresa laughed, this time genuinely." Yes I am in. Ohh I remember the latest episode of Kim's Heart is on. Let's watch that." Teresa said excitedly reaching for the remote.

Mariana groaned and mumbled out in annoyance." That show is utterly ridiculous."

Teresa disagreed." It's about true love and passion."

"Exactly utter nonsense. Who believes in such things these days."

Teresa simply laughed at Mariana's disgusted expression. She spent the whole evening stifling her laughter as she watched Mariana scream at the ridiculous actions of the characters.

This was Teresa's safe zone, her comfort area. For years she had been burdened with the need to fit in. To do better. But here in this city and house. She didn't need to be anything but Teresa.

And somewhere in her heart, something shifted. Because for once, she felt a little less like a problem needing to be fixed, and a little bit more like a person who is just trying to figure themselves out in the jungle of a world.