X Roads of Michelle R Sweeny & ZETAZEN

“Hell will freeze over twice before I promise anything to him.” She whispered to herself.

***

Ten minutes later, Terry glided in with a big smile on his face, and sweat rolling down the sides of cheeks, huffing and puffing like he just ran the New York marathon, and tried to nonchalantly strolled into Avalon’s cubicle. Before Terry could say anything, Avalon pointed to the computer. He instantly understood and went right to work. His huge frame took up most of the space between the four gray panels and the small opening. Avalon moved out of his way. She stepped into the adjacent empty cubicle. She didn’t want to talk to him and she definitely didn’t want him bumping into her. She shuttered at the thought of his sweat slinging on to her face and her new designer suit.

Avalon’s cubicle was small but neat. On one panel hung a collage of photos of her family, close friends from college, and her two pugs, Versace and Gucci. In the center was her prize possession the a picture she snuck to print out on the office color copier, her man, well really her dream man and hopefully soon to be hers---Loverboy. Avalon really didn’t know his real name, even though she was the administrator of the East Coast Message Board.  ECMB was one of the best boards on the internet catering to African Americans and she owned it. She even knew some of the other government workers in her building where members; she had overheard a conversation some ladies where having in the cafeteria lunch line, but she never let on who she was on her j-o-b. Never mix business with pleasure was her motto; especially the government’s business.

Avalon felt that the internet was full of possibilities, when it came to research, networking and paying bills; but on the flip side, the internet was full of mystery, like an ongoing never ceasing masquerade ball. 

Loverboy was the finest brother Avalon had ever laid her eyes on, well at least on the internet. His dreads--thick and long---looked like a lion’s mane. His dark brown skin made her think of a chocolate bar. Delicious. The kind that melts in your mouth and you continue to lick your fingers long after it’s gone. You never want it to end. His eyes big gray eyes jumped out at you. But it was his body that women on the board drooled over. He looked every bit as good as Usher or even LL COOL J if not better, with a body that was chiseled by Adonis himself. When Loverboy wasn’t at work laying cable lines, he was at the gym and he only logged on to the board every couple of days. This was all she knew of him besides the fact his profile said he lived in DC. He was very mysterious and Avalon liked it.

She would stare at his picture in his profile for long periods of time, always wondering what was on the other side of her computer monitor. God, why won’t fat boy finish with the computer? She tapped her acrylic nails on the desk. She had to get back to the message board. She told Terry that she was working on a report for the director to get him to respond to her request quickly. She didn’t lie; just stretched the truth a bit. The report was not due until next week and Avalon was on top of it. A few more data insertions and it would be finished. No one could ever point a finger at her for poor work performance. She deliberately kept her work up; that way she didn’t feel guilty about being on the message board most of her work hours. Most people thought she was an introvert because she kept to herself, but after a bad experience on her first job, Avalon vowed to stay out of office politics and the message board helped her from joining the gossip mongers.

It took twenty minutes for Terry to do what he needed to get the computer up and running. It seemed more like two hours to Avalon. When Terry finished he tired to speak to Avalon as he moved out of the cubicle and she tried to move in.

“Not now. Gotta finish this report.” She said without even looking him in his face and before he could utter a single word.

“Don’t I get a thank you or something?” He stuck out his tongue and licked his lips.

Avalon continued to turn away. “Okay thank you,” and then she tossed him a breath mint. “Here’s your something.”

Terry let the breath mint fall to the ground. He secretly liked Avalon and he knew at that point in time all hope was lost for him when it came to her. He walked away like a puppy with his tail tucked between his legs. 

“Damn, “she said in disgust. Something has to be done with him she thought.

Avalon slipped behind her desk and looked at the brightly lit monitor. The digital clock on her monitor read 5:15 pm. She had fifteen minutes before quitting time. She didn’t like giving the government a second over her time even if she was on the board. She hurried up and logged on - Ava.

To be continued.....