“I want sweet and sour chicken.” Hanamis low voice was a bit distracted as she said that, her hands buried deep within the confines of her dark purple leather jacket. Her eyes, exotically almond shaped from Japanese descent, were sliding over the brightly colored menu of Chao Garden that was plastered all over the wall. “Lian wants General Taos.”

“How can he eat this stuff?” Melosa muttered, her nose crinkling a bit. “I mean, I can because it’s all I’ve known of Chinese food outside of P.F. Changs but he was born and raised for six years in Shanghai! You’d think he would be irritated by it.”

Hanami shrugged, sparing Melosa an amused grin. “He says it’s junk food like anything else. Likes how it tastes, I guess, although he always wants plain white rice. Are you coming over to eat it with us?”

The question was very carefully said. Melosa cast her quiet glance in return, hesitating before actually answering. She had pretended to be Hanamis girlfriend for a while and while it earned her the woman’s friendship and loyalty, Melosa always felt a bit awkward when it was just her, Lian and Hanami. They were quietly affectionate in the relative safety of their own home and, as an outsider; it always made her look away.

Finally, she shook her head and offered the girl a wane smile. “I’m too tired today. It’s been a rough little while, Hana.”

The excuse was met with a grin and a shrug from Hanami. “It’s all good, Mel. You have your own life. As long as you still love me.”

Her cheeky wink made Melosa laugh, looking back up at the menu. She liked Hanami; the woman was funny and altogether just fun to be around. At times, she could be as slinky as a panther and rather dangerous when angry but she truly cared for her friends. She was lovely with smoldering dark gray eyes that were almost black and thick, ebony hair that was cut into a bob directly under her ears. She was thin and delicate looking despite the butch clothing choices and, Melosa had to admit, when she was straddling her motorcycle, she was one of the hottest women in the world.

“So we’re getting a pint of sweet and sour, General Tao’s with plain rice combo and a Barbeque Spare Rib combo with pork friend rice. Are we missing anything?”

“Oooh, Chinese doughnuts!” Hanamis eyes lit up at the thought of the deep friend, sugar coated treats, cracking her knuckles within the coats pocket. She had a sweet tooth a mile wide; Melosa and Lian were convinced that one day she would just turn into a giant cavity and that would be that.

“And Chinese dough…” She glanced to the door and had trailed off in her agreement, seeing Atia walk into the little restaurant with a small note in her hand. Atia saw her at the same time that she herself was spotted and she seemed to freeze. When Melosa managed to give her a weak smile, her shoulders slumped in the slightest movements of picture perfect relaxation.

“Melosa. I—Hi.” Atia near-stuttered, taking a few steps towards the couple. Hanami was watching the two of them with slit cat-eyes, her lithe frame carefully relaxed behind Melosa. “I didn’t think I’d be seeing you here.”

Atia obviously had not thought she would be running into someone that wanted to jump her that day. Where Melosa had previously seen her in well-pressed, elegant (or at least expensive) clothing, she was wearing a pair of shorts that were almost scandalous, a light blue cloth that clung to her hips, and a fitted yellow tee-shirt that had some sort of innuendo sprawled on it. Her sandals were simple thongs, a matching yellow to her shirt and a yellow bandana was wrapped around her head to accent the smooth, lovely features of her face.

“It’s all good, Atia. I was just grabbing some lunch with—.” Behind her, Hanami cleared her throat. Melosa faltered a little as she realized that she was technically getting lunch with her girlfriend while chasing after the stuttering short woman before her. This was going to be fun, she was sure of it.

“Her girlfriend.” Hanami supplied. She slid around Melosa and offered her hand to Atia. The words and her smile made the other woman want to smack her but Atia was hesitantly taking her hand, shaking it slowly. “You must be the three AM coffee girl she told me about.”

Atia looked upset, just staring at Hanami as if she was some crazy, two headed alien. Melosa was groaning inwardly. She had wanted this to go somewhere; she had wanted a chance to see if it COULD go somewhere.

“She’s called the three AM coffee girl to my friends too.” Atia said, her voice quiet for a moment. Her face transformed slightly from the expression that Melosa could not even hope to decipher to something polite and almost plastic. She smiled, returning the offered hand and shaking it in return. “I’m Atia White. It’s a pleasure.”

“All mine, dear.” Hanami grinned right back at her, as rough and tumble as you please. Her handshake was firm on Atias and she dropped it abruptly, giving the girl an appraising look. “Melosa mentioned you two were making nice. We’re having a party next week. You should come.”

Atia jerked slightly at that. “A party? I don’t know. I’m not exactly a partier.”

“It’ll be tame.” Hanami assured her, lips pulled into a rather wide grin at that. “Promise. My ward is turning seventeen and there’s not going to be much drinking, if any. It’ll be small. There’ll be Melosa, myself, Lian, Nicky and one or two of our other friends. And you, if you choose to go.”

Melosa could see Atia hesitating. She knew it would be impolite to refuse a friendly invite to a childs birthday party but… She did not want to go. It was understandable. If she did, she would probably be surrounded by lesbians. Melosa couldn’t dare hope that it was her dating that caused the hesitation but, hey, it was always a pleasant thought.