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romantic, liked to listen to classical music and believed in falling in love, having children and living happily ever after.  Jess on the other hand liked listening to punk rock and thought happily ever after was a fairytale, and the only way to enjoy life was to look out for yourself and fuck whom you wanted to fuck.  But they loved each other and respected each other’s views, both wondering if perhaps they were wrong and the other one was right.
    It took Jess half an hour to reach Ambar’s house by cab.   Half an hour which Ambar had spent sobbing what seemed to be uncontrollable tears.
    When she opened the door to let her best friend in and fell into her arms her best friend consoled her, reassuring her, telling her it was for the best, that he did not deserve her.
    Ambar’s soft blonde curls fell lightly around her shoulders as she wiped the tears from her eyes.  Her innocent blue eyes were red and bloodshot, yet she was still stunningly beautiful.  Jess smiled at her gently.  Tall, and broad, with short blonde hair and sharp features, both women were very attractive in very different ways.  They both had slim, tanned bodies, yet Ambar was petite, and Jess was tall.  Ambar’s hair was long curly and feminine, and Jess’s hair was cut straight and short.
    “Darling” said Jess.
    Ambar looked at her, almost desperately.
    “I was thinking on the way over here.  Let’s get out of New York.  Let’s go to Bocas del Toro.  There are more species of butterfly and exotic birds there than anywhere else in the world.  We can go there and study wildlife.”
    Ambar looked at her as though she had completely lost her mind.
    “Are you joking?” she said.
    “Why not?” Jess replied.
    Ambar looked at the ceiling.
    “Go to Bocas del Toro and study wildlife?” she exclaimed incredulously.
    “Yes” replied Jess unflinchingly.
    “Fuck it.” Said Ambar.
    “Let’s do it.”
    “Ah my dear” said Jess.
    “It is not that simple, we need to get accepted on the wildlife course first.  It begins in April, which is only three weeks away, and places are limited.  They only allow ten people on the course.”
    “How do you know all this?” asked Ambar.
    “I did research on my iphone in the cab on the way here.”
    Ambar looked at her best friend as if she didn’t know whether she was dreaming, or what was going on.  This is why she loved Jess, because she always made her feel different, and even though she had known her all her life, she could always surprise her.
    “Come on, let’s order in some Chinese and rent a movie.” Said Jess.
    Ambar nodded weakly and when the Chinese food arrived the two girls curled up on the sofa to watch the Rolling Stones Crossfire Hurricane documentary.
    “Oh my God!” squealed Jess. “How can Keith Richards possibly be so sexy and cool?!”
    Ambar smiled, starting to feel better. 
    Before the movie had ended Ambar had fallen asleep, curled into a little ball by her friends side.
    Jess tucked her into bed and gently and quietly closed the door behind her as she left.
     
    Chapter 2
     
    That week Ambar had thrown herself into her work, in order to distract herself from the pain she felt every time a memory of Mike floated across her consciousness, which happened countless times a day.
    She stood at the window of the 11 th floor skyscraper looking over New York, the endless traffic in the street below.  She surveyed her desk and picked up the phone to call her secretary in the next room.
    “I will need those research reports back in my office Tracy”
    “The ones on 14-17 year old girls?” asked the secretary’s voice at the end of the line.
    “Yes” she put the phone down and bit her lip pensively.
    Moments later the phone rang again.
    “Yes?” she asked
    “Jess for you on line 1 – can you take it?” 
    “Put her on.” Said Ambar.
    “Darling.” She heard Jess’s voice on the other end of the phone say.
    “Hi sweetheart, sorry I haven’t called, I have