"Come on, Heather, you know you wanna go with us."

"Nah, I really don't feel like coming with you guys. Go on without me. I'll be fine. I appreciate the offer though."

"I can tell you want to come. What have you got to lose? I know you got all your homework done. There ain't a thing on TV. Aren't you bored?"

"I'm straight, Brandy. I think I'll chill in my room, grab a bag of M&M's and watch reruns of 'I Love Lucy.' Yeah, that's what I'll do." Heather said before she grabbed a blanket of the floor and covered herself while she laid down on her couch.

"No! I'm sick of seeing you like this. You haven't been out this house in like four days other than when you go to school. I'm not gonna sit back and watch you get worse than what you already are."

"Well, you try being dumped by your boyfriend of two years who you gave your all to, someone who you loved unconditionally and all the rest of that bullshit. You put yourself in my shoes and see how you feel!"

Heather Hays was referring to her serious two-year relationship with a young man, Michael. He was her first love since she hadn't had her share of serious relationships in the past. They seemed to be in paradise at first but eventually, problems started to creep in their lives. They got into fights...sometimes, they fought over real stupid things. Unfortunately, anger got the best of Michael one day to the point where he said he didn't want to be with Heather anymore.

Ever since that day, she wasn't the same person she was. Anyone that knew Heather could see a big change. She always used to smile, positive, down-to-earth and outgoing. That all changed when Michael left. He inspired her so much more than he actually thought he did. He used give her unconditonal love and support in anything that she did. She loved him a lot and he had a real special place in her heart. She had hoped Michael would come back but he didn't. He was serious about it and that hurt Heather in an indescribable way.

"Heather, I know you're not over Michael but sitting around thinking about him constantly, trying to figure out what you did wrong, waiting for that phone to ring isn't gonna help you move on at all. You got to get your ass up out of this house."

"It's just hard, Brandy. I don't know if I'm ready. A relationship is something I'm totally avoiding right now."

"I'm not saying we're going out to get you another man. We're just going out, it's gonna be me, Tiffany and Kimberly. Come on, just give it a try. What have you got to lose?"

"Are you sure it's just gonna be us?" Heather replied, as she sat up on her couch, hoping she would hear what she wanted to.

"Girl, I have never lied to you before and I ain't fixin' to start. Take a shower, put some clothes on and get pretty. You're gonna learn how to have fun again...alright?" Brandy smiled at Heather.

"Fine, whatever." Heather sighed, got up, threw the blanket in Brandy's face leaving her living room to go take a shower and get ready for whatever Brandy had planned for her.

***********

Heather and Brandy walked into the local crowded club as Jay-Z's "Girls, Girls, Girls" blasted through the speakers. They looked around and saw all types of people dancing to the beat. Some were getting drunk, some were making out and some were just dancing their asses off having a great time. Heather felt real uncomfortable. She hadn't been to a club in quite some time. She knew some guys were just out to get a one night stand and Heather didn't have time for that. She had to get used to the party life again and that would take awhile.

"Brandy, let's go home. Tiffany and Kimberly couldn't make it anyway. It's not gonna be as much fun. Wouldn't you agree?" Heather yelled over the music.

"Don't try to talk me into going back to your crib. We're staying here until you have fun and dance with somebody. Plus, this is my song!" Brandy replied, beginning to dance.

"I thought you said you weren't bringing me out just to meet a dude."

"I didn't bring you out here for that. I brought you here so you can dance all your problems away. You'll thank me later." Brandy replied as some guy pulled her away to dance.

Heather sighed and looked at everyone around her. She was being an oddball since she was the only one that wasn't dancing. She didn't care though, she still hadn't gotten in the mood. Therefore, she walked to the bar and sat down on one of the stools.

"You look lonely."

Heather turned around to see a guy with blue eyes smiling at her with a glass in his hand. He didn't look half bad. He was wearing black jeans and a long sleeved blue shirt.

"I'm not lonely, I just don't wanna be here. My friend dragged me out here. It's just one of those days, you know."

"Yeah, I know what you mean. Oh, I'm sorry...my name is Brandon." He and Heather shook hands.

"Nice to meet you, Brandon. I'm Heather. Why aren't you dancing with some girl? You're looking pretty good if I must say so myself." Heather said.

"Well, actually, a friend brought me out here too. He's concerned about me because I just got out of a relationship with a special person."

"Really? I did too. That's why I'm here now. My friend wants me to dance all my troubles away. I appreciate her concern but I just don't know."

"I agree with you. It's hard to be yourself again after you lose someone important. It's not like being depressed...it just takes time."

"Yeah, you are exactly right. I can really relate to you." Heather replied as she actually thought about asking him to dance.

"Cool, I can too." Brandon smiled.

"Well, if you don't mind..."

Heather stopped talking when she saw the guy who was sitting next to Brandon and put his arm around him. She gasped as they kissed. Heather looked the other way and felt clumsy.

"Oh, I'm sorry, Heather. This is my boyfriend, Lorenzo. What did you want to ask me?" Brandon asked.

"Uh...could you mind telling me where the bathroom is?"

Heather thanked him after he pointed to the bathroom. She pushed her way past everybody and got to where she wanted to go. No one else was in the bathroom but Heather didn't care. All of a sudden, she just started crying. She was so confused right now. She wanted to be with Michael again so badly but he didn't feel that way. Her life had changed now that he was gone. She just didn't know what to do next.

**********

"I'm sorry, girl. I really thought that if I took you out, it would bring your spirits up." Brandy said, driving back to Heather's apartment.

"Yeah, watching you dance with about twenty five guys for three hours really brought my spirits up. Thank you so much, Brandy." Heather sarcastically replied.

"What exactly happened to make you so mad at me?"

"Okay, I met this guy named Brandon. He was at the bar, sitting next to this guy. He wasn't shy at all and he seemed real nice...until I found out he was gay. That's so not mellow." Heather rolled eyes.

"Ouch. I see why you're mad now."

"Mad isn't the word for it anymore. It's gotten much stronger."

"Hey, come on, at least I tried. I'm concerned about you and I'm trying to do everything I can to make you move on with your life."

"I already told you I appreciated your concern but try to do a better job next time, alright? I just need to deal with this on my own in my own way. I think I'll be stronger if I can overcome this by myself, okay?"

"Just promise me you won't stay in the house all the time and that I can have my Heather back soon." Brandy pulled into Heather's driveway.

"She'll be back. I promise, I won't let you down."

"You're not mad at me either? You've forgiven me, right?"

"No...but it's cool. I ain't mad at cha." Heather smiled and gave Brandy a hug before she got out of the car.

"Take care, girl."

"I will. Thanks." Heather unlocked the door to her apartment and went inside as Brandy pulled off.

She un-tied the backless top she was wearing and tossed it on her couch along with her keys. She walked into her room, grabbed a t-shirt and put it on. Next, she took off her jeans and replaced them with comfortable sweats. Heather sighed, feeling good to get those tight clothes off her body. Finally, she walked over to the light switch and turned it on. She looked at the wall she had grown to love and smiled. That wall had posters of Matt and Jeff Hardy. Two men that Heather loved with all of her heart. It wasn't like she just wanted to get them in bed like most teen boppers. The love she had for them was deeper than that. They inspired her and encouraged her to get over the many things that most females her age went through. On any given day when Heather was feeling down, they would cheer her up. Even though they didn't know she was alive, the two men had made a significant impact on her life.

Heather grabbed the Hardy Boyz DVD "Leap Of Faith" from her dresser and popped it into her DVD Player. She cut off the lights again and climbed into her bed and smiled again as she watched her television screen. Anyone that knew Heather could tell that Matt was her favorite of the two. She thought he was incredibly sexy but that wasn't the only reason she loved him so much. Heather looked up to him and did everything she could to support him and Jeff. Sometimes, Heather's friends told her to grow up and stop caring so much for them but they didn't understand and probably never would. She wasn't obsessed with them because Heather did have a life but on certain days, they released her from the world around her and today was one of those days.

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