Part 18: Best Friend Approval

The bell attached to the door of the cafe rang as he exited unaware of the conversation about to take place. His lunch was cut short because of work but that was good: it gave us time to talk. Tess looked at me as soon as the door shut and gave me the look. A look that we have exchanged dozens of times since we were little girls. One that every woman has shared with their best friends: the boyfriend approval look. Head down, eye brows up with a smile followed by giggling. It isn't the same for every woman but when you see two women engaged in the activity you automatically recognize it.

"He is great!" she whispered as if he could still hear us.

"Really?" it is very important to get this look and this approval.

"Oh my, yes, cute too. Nice build as well." she said knowing it pushed my buttons. Tess and I, lifelong friends are the shining example of opposites attracting. I tend to be reserved and stoic at times; some believe me to be cold. I prefer to think of myself as demure and conservative. Tess on the other hand is a force of nature. She is always the life of the party, most popular girl in the room. She makes easy work of getting to know people, especially men. The classic American beauty: blond with a build that stops men in their tracks. She knows this to and can use it like a master. The only thing stopping her from being a famous model or actress is her height. At 5'2" she was approached by people in the glamor industries but never given the opportunities. Not that she ever cared. The only thing surpassing her beauty is her brain. She definitely takes that from her father. Being beautiful and brainy gave Tess the ability to get away with anything growing up. She almost never got caught and when she did she always talked her way out of it. She was prodding me now. Talking about his body meant she was going to ask me about our physical relationship. Not that she was really interested near as much as she wanted to see her reserved friend squirm a little bit.

"Tess, don't go where you are going." I smiled

"Are you sure you don't want to tell me....."

"Tess!" we both laughed and drank our coffee.

"You do realize your Grandmother is probably rolling in her grave now." she said. She was always a favorite of my Nonna. I always felt Nonna saw the beautiful blond more to her tastes as a granddaughter.

"Actually I think she's rather approve." I said one eyebrow raised. I waited to see if it would register. She was fighting her brain churning madly but could not make the connection. "Francis Albert Donnelly III, ring a bell?"

She thought for another few seconds then her jaw dropped and then a devilish grin, "No! As in THE Francis Donnelly?"

I nodded and smiled. Francis Donnelly was an infamous Harvard trained prosecutor from the time of Statesman's war on organized crime he had tremendous political power and later became a hardnosed judge. His son, Francis Donnelly Jr. acting on his fathers reputation became an aggressive defense lawyer much to his fathers disapproval. There are classic stories of father and son battling in court over the fate of some of Paragon City's worst criminals. Junior became a very wealthy man with as much political cache as his father. His son , my Frank, was supposed to follow in his fathers footsteps. He went to Harvard undergrad then Harvard Law and quit after one month working in his fathers practice. Defending criminal disgusted Frank he couldn't do it. He immediately went to the Police Academy and signed on with the PPD. His father, while disappointed in his son's decision was impressed with his convictions. Frank was a trust fund baby, taught in the best private schools, set for life, but chose the life of a cop out of conviction for truth and justice. That attracted me the most.

"Oh even better! Ok, how is he in....."

"Tess, no." we both laughed. Now that I had proper best friend approval I could ask her what I really needed to know.

"Do you still know anyone on the Rogue Islands?" the question was odd and Tess looked at me queerly.

"I just did an 8 week rotation at the hospital in Cap Au Diabla. I didn't really have much time to socialize. Why?"

"Dr. Noire told me there is a man there, a doctor, that works with Longbow. He is apparently an expert in metahuman powers. Some people seem to think he can help me figure out what is happening to me."

"Amanda, don't do this. It's silly. Just move on."

"I can't Tess. Something happened."

"You blacked out for a few days. You are fine now. Your powers are returning..."

"Different powers. But my apartment....."

"Coincidence...Give it up. I think you just worked yourself into exhaustion and your body and powers just shut down. It wouldn't be the first time. Hell look at you now. You just got back from Bermuda and you already look tired. How much sleep have you gotten?........... I didn't think so.......Mandy give up this fight and just move on."

"I can't." I said with tears in my eyes. Seeing me getting upset she gripped my hand and squeezed.

"It's ok, hun, what's his name? I'll make a few calls."