Free Love, But Never by Josie Leigh

reminded herself.
    **
    To: RegretLingers
    Subject: New fan
    Date: March 19, 2000 19:25
    From: Marissa Masterson
     
     
    Hey guys!
     
     
    I saw you for the second time this weekend at the Amazon.  You are amazing!  And not too hard on the eyes, if I do say so myself.  If you have a mailing list for shows, please add me to it!
     
    Marissa
     
     
    Marissa hit send and smiled to herself.  She’d waited a whole day after putting Matthew on the shuttle home before succumbing to her desires to send an email to Regret Lingers.  There was so much more she’d wanted to say in the email, but didn’t want to come off as a crazy fan girl.  Less than two minutes later, she heard the ping of her instant message program.
    KSmith: Hey!  Thanks for the email.
    Holy shit!   Kyle from Regret Lingers was IMing her?
    MMasterson: You’re welcome!  Is this Kyle? We met at the show.  I was with my boyfriend, Matthew- bleach blonde hair, spiky.
    KSmith: I remember him, but I remember you more.  Red-head, blue eyes, legs that don’t quit?
    MMasterson: I don’t know about the legs, but yeah, that’s me.
    KSmith: I hope you don’t mind me saying, but you are beautiful.
     
    Marissa blushed at the compliment.
     
    MMasterson: Thank you.  As I mentioned in the email, you are quite the looker yourself.
    KSmith: Thanks, but I think I saw you looking more at Aaron than me.  I think the feeling is mutual.
    MMasterson: OH!  That’s surprising; I didn’t see him looking at me at all.
    KSmith: Then you are blind.  You should send him a message.  His screen name is AAndrews.  I’m sure he’d love to hear from you.
    MMasterson: Thanks? I’ll add him to my buddy list.  What are you up to tonight?
    KSmith: Not too much, you?
    MMasterson: Heading to a showing of ‘American Beauty’ alone tonight.  They rereleased it since it won the Oscar last month.  I love it.
    KSmith: Alone? I’ve wanted to see it, but haven’t gotten the chance to go yet.  Mind if I meet you there?
    MMasterson: That sounds great!  As long as you remember that I do have a boyfriend…ish.
    KSmith: Of course!  I want to get to know you, be your friend.  Seriously.  I have a girlfriend.
    MMasterson: Sounds great then.  Sorry, I didn’t mean to be so forward about motives and all that. Movie starts at 9, the theatre across the freeway from the mall.
    KSmith: Great!  No problems on the forwardness.  I’ll see you then.
     
    ‘What just happened?’ Marissa laughed to herself.  ‘Should I call Matthew to let him know I’m going to the movies with the drummer from Regret Lingers?’ She decided that since it wasn’t some kind of date, it wasn’t necessary.  After all, she didn’t tell him when she went out with John.  She walked to her closet to find something to wear.
     
    ‘Am I being screened for Aaron?’   Marissa wondered as she tried to piece together the perfect outfit to make sure she passed whatever test Kyle would throw at her, just in case.  ‘I’m not available for Aaron right now, but who knows what’ll happen when I come home on leave…’ Marissa’s thoughts trailed off and she smiled to herself.
     

CHAPTER 6
     
    April 2000
                  Two weeks after the movie, Marissa was back at the Amazon for the “My Year Abroad” show.  Regret Lingers wasn’t on the flyer as an opening band, so she decided to meet Lucian there, figuring the chances of running into certain band members would be minimal.
    “Hey Marissa!” Marissa heard from behind her.  She turned to find herself face to face with Kyle, being pulled into a bear hug.
                  “Hey Kyle!” She answered against his shoulder.  He pulled back and gestured toward Aaron, who was standing next to him.
                  “This is Aaron, Aaron, this is Marissa,” he introduced them; Marissa felt a blush creep across her face.
                  “It’s nice to meet you,” she muttered, shyly, lifting her