A Chat Between Friends (Part 3)

Last Time:

Nora and Bo both talk to Hank separately and discuss their new on-line friend. Hank discovers what the rest of us already knew! LOL!!

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Nora’s face was cast in the soft glow of light emanating from her computer monitor as she sat in the dark. The shrill sound coming from her modem echoed in the quiet of the room. The final pings sounded indicating that her login was almost complete. She glanced at the list of people on-line. Her eyes quickly scanned down the list and then she saw it. With a smile and a small sigh she moved her mouse to his name and clicked.

SlowDancer: It’s the pizza, right?? LOL!!

ChiliDog: LOL!! I’d like to blame my being up this late on the pizza but I can’t.

SlowDancer: Uh Oh! Something wrong?

ChiliDog: Would you believe I was thinking about you and couldn’t sleep?

SlowDancer: {blushing} You were???? J

ChiliDog: To be honest… I think about you a LOT!

SlowDancer: You do??????

ChiliDog: You know… I’m sorry… I know you have enough confusion in your life right now without having to add another admirer to your list.

SlowDancer: Oh please don’t be sorry! I’m online this late because I was thinking about you too.

ChiliDog: You WERE??? {Big Grin!}

SlowDancer: LOL! Yes

Bo sat typing and looking at his screen for the longest time, his fingers nervously touching the left mouse button. Should he press the “send” button? He watched the screen and battled with his better judgment. He even hit the backspace key several times, but always ended up typing the same thing. Finally, he took a deep breath and clicked the button. There! It was out there and couldn’t be taken back. What would she think? Would she just log off and never sign back on?? Bo waited for some type of response.

ChiliDog: Look… I know you’re crazy about your ex-husband, and I have ABSOLUTELY no right to interfere in your life, but I just feel such a connection with you.

Nora couldn’t explain the feelings that flooded through her when she read his comment. She did still love Bo, she knew she always would; but something new was building—the excitement of meeting someone new. Someone who shared many of the same thoughts and feelings she felt. Should she even try to pursue something with this online friend? Maybe she should just log off and end any possible heartache they may have in the future. She continued to stare at the screen, knowing he was waiting for some type of response. It must have taken such nerve for him to put his feelings out there like that. She couldn’t hurt his feelings by ignoring it. She felt something for this person. “Oh what the heck,” she said to herself as she started to type. It was so easy being honest with someone when you knew you may never see one another.

SlowDancer: I feel the same connection with you. It’s so hard to put into words, isn’t it?

ChiliDog: It definitely is!! So what do we do now, do you have any idea?

SlowDancer: Absolutely none! LOL! This is so new for me.

ChiliDog: Me too! Should we share some personal info??

SlowDancer: LOL! Funny you should ask. Just tonight a friend said I shouldn’t give out any personal info over the internet.

ChiliDog: LOL! Friends!!! Where would we be without them? I told a friend about you tonight.

SlowDancer: You did??? What did you say?

ChiliDog: That I’ve met someone – someone I wanted to get to know better!

SlowDancer: {smiling} What did your friend say?

ChiliDog: LOL!! That’s what’s so funny. At first he stared at me as if I had grown 3 heads.

SlowDancer: ROFL!! You don’t have three heads, do you??? LOL!

ChiliDog: No! LOL!! Then when I told him my screen name, he just kept smiling at me. I thought he had totally lost it! LOL

SlowDancer: LOL!!! You have strange friends! LOL! I like your screen name, btw!

ChiliDog: Thanks! LOL!! My friend just kept grinning and I kept saying “What?… What?…” LOL!! Finally he just got up, patted me on the shoulder and told me to “Go for it!” LOL!!!

SlowDancer: LOL!! Not the same advice my friend gave me. I’m to proceed with extreme caution. LOL!!

ChiliDog: You talked about me????

SlowDancer: Yes I did.

ChiliDog: Hmm… I like that! LOL!

ChiliDog: Would it be too personal to know where you live? Not specific cities, but just a chance to find out how much it’ll cost to meet you one day.

SlowDancer: You really want to meet me??

ChiliDog: DEFINITELY!! Does that scare you? It scares the hell out of me! LOL

SlowDancer: Oddly… No! LOL! I find it kind of exciting actually.

ChiliDog: So do I. OK, do I need to get a passport??

SlowDancer: LOL! We’re a little foreign around here, but I don’t think you’ll need shots or a passport. I live in the beautiful Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, in the good ole U.S. of A!! LOL!!

Bo stared at the screen. His heart beating in his chest. Pennsylvania??? A smile slowly spread across his lips as he began to type.

ChiliDog: Looks like I may only need a full tank of gas! LOL!

SlowDancer: You’re kidding?!?! Where do you live?

ChiliDog: Pennsylvania!!! OMG! I’m not believing this!

SlowDancer: I can’t either!!!

ChiliDog: What do we do???

SlowDancer: LOL! I don’t know. My heart is pounding! This is so strange.

ChiliDog: IA! Are there any guidebooks for this kind of thing?

SlowDancer: LOL! I wish!!!

ChiliDog: I already feel like I know you. I have this image of you in my mind.

SlowDancer: LOL!! Isn’t it funny how that happens. I have an image of you in my mind too! LOL!! OMG!! What if we’re both WAY off! LOL!

ChiliDog: LOL!! Could be bad, huh?! LOL! You first, and I’ll tell you if you’re ‘way’ off!

SlowDancer: OK! But just remember this ‘vision’ of you is totally based on our previous chats and what I think about you…

ChiliDog: Stop stalling!

SlowDancer: LOL! How’d you know???

SlowDancer: OK! Here goes… I have you in your late 40’s, early 50’s. Please tell me you are not a teenager? LOL!

ChiliDog: ROFL! Only in my mind! I’m 49. Good so far!

SlowDancer: Whew!! I did not want to have to learn how to rollerblade! LOL!

ChiliDog: ROFL! You’re safe! What else…

SlowDancer: Hmm… my mental image of you has you about 5’10” to 6’ tall. Approx. 190 lbs, brown hair, blue eyes, a smile that could cause my toes to curl! LOL! Strong arms, warm hands, and a loving heart.

They both stared at the screen. The black cursor just blinked against the white screen. Nora frowned as the time for his response went on and on

“Oh my gosh, I must be so far off!” she thought to herself.

SlowDancer: So!!!… How close was I, huh???? Now, who’s stalling?? LOL!

Bo reread her description for the tenth time. A chill ran down his spine. He actually glanced around the room to see if he was alone. This was too strange.

ChiliDog: Um…

SlowDancer: LOL!! Look! Please don’t be afraid to correct me. It’s just the image that comes to mind while we chat. Doesn’t mean my image can’t change. Correct me, PLEASE!

ChiliDog: Um…

Nora frowned as his pause was becoming uncomfortable. She scrolled back up the screen to reread her description while she waited to hear from him, hoping she didn’t say anything insulting. As she reread, she stopped and stared at the screen, her breath caught in her throat, the realization of whom she described coming to her. Brown hair, blue eyes, a smile… Oh God! It was Bo!! The pain was instant. She had pictured Bo in her mind while chatting with this anonymous person. The tears flooded her eyes. He was so ingrained in her brain. She felt herself begin to panic.

SlowDancer: Um… I’ve gotta go!! Good night!!

ChiliDog: Wait!!! What?… Don’t go!!!! PLEASE!!! I’m sitting here wondering if you are some type of psychic! LOL!!

Before he can hit the send button, “SlowDancer” is no longer online. The empty feeling Bo felt was immediate.

To be continued . . .