The Disillusionists cont'd...

Walking along the road, they had the world to themselves. Jay and Alexis marched ahead, whispering at each other. May and Gunther walked a little slower, May resplendent in dripping hair and lake smell. "How is your ass?"

"Not bad." G was more embarrassed than hurt, "It actually looks worse than it feels."

"It looks scary."

They continued walking, looking for something else to talk about. But what? Trees and rocks and things. How was that going to impress her? May was totally unprepared for the blunt horror of his next statement. "We should get a place together."

May tried to reign in her eyebrows. A sort of neutral calm came over her. "I uh... We uh, could, but I want to go back to school."

"I will support you."

Looking at her feet as they kicked up plumes of dust on the hot, dry road, May blew out her cheeks and smiled. "Aw thanks, but you know that wouldn't work."

"Why not? I'll get a job and we can grow vegetables."

"I'm thinking of going to another city."

"Oh." He stopped and looked at her.

"Gunth... You're a sweet guy, but I just don't feel that way about you." She tried to lessen the blow, "I just... I don't think we're old enough to commit to something..."

"May. I'm thirty."

"Oh." She started walking again. "Well, maybe you are but I'm not... and don't say anything! Listen, I'm just not capable of anything right now so don't ask me for anything concrete. Can't we just enjoy ourselves and keep it like that? Besides, there is something, I guess you already know." She paused dramatically - as soon as Gunther heard the name a sharp tingle went down his spine. "Mike and I, well... I was living at his house for quite a while."

Silence.

"Gunther?"

"But he's such an asshole."

"I know. That's why I had to move out. It's like, totally over but I don't want to go around like it's some big fuckin' secret."

"No, uh yeah. It's a good thing you told me."

May took a deep breath, "Whew. Glad we got that one out of the way."