This feelin' that remains

Riley felt herself cringe. Why would she say such a thing to Ting? She didn't mean to be so degrading, and yet she couldn't help herself. This was not the one-night stand she remembered so long ago. 

Of course, it was just an accident. Yes, couldn't they agree on this? They were sitting in the back seat of the old compact car while their friends Frank and Frankie were having a row in front of the headlights. Yeah, they really did enjoy their feuds. Needless to say, it was getting to be too much. Maybe she and Ting were just growing restless. Yes, there might have been alcohol involved, but not totally. They knew what they were doing.

Frank shouted, while Frankie came back with, "YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT GOOD SEX IS!" Well, Riley and Ting were getting their own taste of it with each other. It was a volcano of lust that kept erupting with little touches and tests of kisses. Each other knew where to go with the rhythm of it. Of course, later, Riley told her roommate it was her fiancé's fault when she saw all the love marks.

Actually, it was the easiest time Riley ever had with anyone. Of course, she was engaged then to Charles, and seeing that dude was like a trip to the dentist's office. Yeah, he still gave her a bad taste in her mouth. She was glad that didn't happen. 

She found herself smiling at Ting now, who wasn't exactly giving her the time of day.

"Can I help you with anything?" Ting's cold look treated Riley like a stranger.

Well, two could play at that game. 

And to think Riley was hopeful that she could ask Ting how she'd been. It felt like a long time ago now. Riley kept her eyes on the redhead Ting was obviously scolding. Was she just a coworker?

"I don't think so," Riley could be snooty. Ting told her this early on when they decided to date. Only, it felt like fallout at every attempt. Riley's friends found Ting to be a lowlife. They kept insisting that she was too good for Ting. There was a time she believed it, too. Especially when Ting brought her a jug of milk and a peanut butter and jelly sandwich to bed. It didn't take much for a meal for Ting, especially in her nomadic days. She'd sleep on anyone's couch. Her clothes were usually borrowed. 

"I don't need you for a project," Riley finally decided, and Ting sniffed back tears.

"Is that all I am to you?" She said angrily, finding her things and stuffing them into an old grocery bag.

Riley nursed her bottom lip back then, thinking Ting looked better in her clothes than she did. Her throat tightened now, thinking it was still true.