Perfect for You

pastures?"
    "And when you decided we should take a road trip the summer after we got our drivers licenses even though we didn't have money or parental consent—"
    "You have to admit it was a genius idea picking towns where the fire stations were holding free ice cream socials and spaghetti feeds. We saved so much money. And we met all those cute firemen."
    "Yes, but we still ran out of money for gas and had to call our parents to wire us enough money to get home. Which only sucked because you said we should tell them we were spending the week at each other's house so they didn't know we were on a road trip."
    Eve wrinkled her nose. "We did get busted that time."
    "We got grounded for the rest of the summer," Freya corrected.
    "That was unfortunate, but you can't deny you loved every minute of it. And I may have had the ideas, but you were the gung-ho one who acted on them."
    True, and she did love those times. But that was before she had to take care of Anna.
    Eve frowned for a brief moment before she lifted her determined chin. "No one's going to get grounded this time. The fact of the matter is you are desperate, and desperation requires drastic measures. Also, I'd like to point out that this was originally your idea, not mine."
    "It's years of your bad influence." Freya sat back in her chair. "People always assume you're the angelic one, with your cherubic looks. But it's the innocent looking ones who're the most diabolical."
    "I know," her friend said with a proud smile. "But I try to use my powers for good."
    Freya sighed. "I don't know, Eve."
    "Remember how you always wanted to be a bohemian artist? After high school, you planned to go to Paris, live in an attic, wear lots of scarves, and smoke Gauloises. But when your parents died, it all changed."
    "I remember." Familiar sadness filled her chest, and Freya rubbed her heart to try to ease it. It'd been years since her parents' accident, but she still missed them every day.
    Eve took her hand. "You had to be responsible because you had to take care of Anna, so you started to play it safe. Somewhere along the way, you lost yourself. You've dried up."
    "It really is that bad, isn't it?"
    "Freya, you're turning into a human Sahara. You've become as bland as your designs." She waved at the trashcan.
    "Ouch." She winced, but she couldn't dispute that bland was exactly how she felt.
    "Don't get me wrong. You don't look bland. You're hot. The programmers eye your butt every time you walk through the office. Those pencil-thin cords are great." Eve sighed in longing. "I wish I could wear pants like that. If only I were tall like you."
    "5'5" is tall for women. You shouldn't compare yourself to me. 5'11" is abnormal."
    "I wish I could be abnormal like a supermodel too. At least your chest is flatter than mine. It'd be terrible if I had to hate you for that too."
    "Thank God for that."
    "I'm just saying you need to shake things up before you're tempted to buy white cotton underwear."
    "I'm not that far gone."
    "You're one step away from it." Eve waved the notebook. "This is what's going to save you. Do it."
    Freya sighed. "I'm a visual artist. I suck at writing."
    Eve flipped the notepad to a fresh page and extended a hand. "Pen."
    Handing one over, she watched Eve frown at the blank page before scribbling a few lines. Then her friend held out the notebook. "Here."
    Taking a deep breath, Freya looked it over:
     
    Fiery goddess in search of the perfect god. Soar with me through clouds, frolic under the stars, hand me the moon for my own. Mortals need not reply.
     
    She blinked and reread it. Not a blatant I want you to give me hot sex but it hinted that she wanted to share sensual pleasures, sex or otherwise, without sounding desperate.
    More than that, reading it stirred something inside her. It took her a moment to pinpoint that the feeling was excitement. "This is actually kind of good."
    "I know," Eve said modestly. "It's perfect for you. Promise me you'll use it."
    Nerves set her stomach lurching again. But Eve was right—instinctively she knew she had to do something big to move out of the corner she'd backed herself into. "I'll do it."
    "Then my work here is done." Her friend hopped up.
    "What would I do without you?"
    "That's too horrible a fate to even contemplate." Eve tugged one of Freya's curls. "Good thing for you you're stuck with me."
    "Yeah, good thing."

 
Chapter Two
     
     
    Freya got off the bus and walked, huddled against the wind, the four blocks