Mending the Soul by Alexis Lauren

will too."  Vanessa told her.
    "Speaking of, what's going on between you two?  Seeing him two nights in a row?  That is so unlike you!"  Jenna teased.
    "Tell me about it.  I don't know, things just clicked between us.  It's funny because neither one of us are the relationship type, but we both hate leaving each other when it's time to part."  Vanessa said with wonder in her voice.
    "So, we may have finally found a man to tame the 'Vicious Vanessa'?"  Jenna asked.
    "Oh, who knows.  It's only been two days.  And stop calling me that.  Just because I broke some guys heart in college and he gave me that nickname, doesn't mean I have to live with it for the rest of my life."  She laughed.
    "Oh, but it fits you so perfectly, darling!"  Jenna whined.  "So, tell me, is Nathan there now?"
    "Um, why would you ask such a silly question?"  Vanessa stammered.
    "He is there!  You little hooker!  Has he even left at all this weekend?"
    "He went home yesterday to get some clothes.  He was gone for like an hour and it felt like an eternity!"  Vanessa blushed.  "This feels so weird!  Usually I can't wait to get rid of the guy the next morning, now I'm trying to come up with ways to make him stay."
    "Ah, my little Nessa has finally fallen in love!"  Jenna teased.
    "Oh hush!  Don't even bother saying that 'L' word around me.  You know I don't believe in it."
    "Well, stick around, because you just might realize it actually does exist.  And you might realize it sooner than you think."  Jenna laughed.
    The two girls sat on the phone talking for a little while longer, but then Jenna let Vanessa get back to entertaining her house guest.  Vanessa and Jenna were like night and day, but they got along so well.  Jenna was forever a romantic, or at least she was before Kyle, and Vanessa was forever the hook-up artist.  She didn't believe in love, only lust.  She used guys for what she wanted, then got rid of them.  The one thing that was good about Vanessa is that she never lied to the guys she was with or gave them false hope.  She was straight up with them when she told them they had no future with her, that she was only looking for a good time.  And, yes she used guys, but not for material possessions.  She used them to satisfy her carnal desires, and nothing more.  Vanessa looked at the world of men in a different way than most.  She always told Jenna that her motto was "Play or be played."  She had been really hurt by a guy who played her in high school and took her virginity.  He promised Vanessa the moon and stars, only to leave her alone and broken hearted.  Vanessa vowed to never let that happen again, and from that point on, she never let another man come into her life, beyond the barrier that she built up.
    Jenna had always been a firm believer in love, which is why she stayed with Kyle for so long.  She always thought that love could conquer all, and that love would be enough to keep her marriage going.  Unfortunately, it was lust that tore them apart, Kyle's lust for other women.  Even though she was hurt by Kyle's exploits, she still felt that love was an important part of life, and someday she would find it again.  Jenna knew that not all men were like Kyle, that there were some decent men out there who wouldn't hurt the woman that they loved.  She had yet to find him though.
    Vanessa and Jenna made the perfect set of friends.  They were just the right compliment of pessimism and optimism to even each other out.  They had been friends since high school, and there was no end in sight for the dynamic duo.
    A few days later, Nicholas was still silent.  She hadn't seen him or heard from him since that Saturday night.  Emma still came around and played with Colby, but they didn't share any dinners, and Nicholas didn't come over to visit while Emma and Colby played in the back yard.  Jenna felt really alone and missed the time that she usually spent with Nicholas.
    Thursday night, Emma was over