Venice and I talked on the phone for months while I was away in college. We knew each other but didn’t really connect until after I left California. At that point, we fell in love and I was lonely for home, and her. I remember talking on the phone and finding out that my shy funny friend was also pretty sexual, especially now that we both told each other we loved each other. A friendship turned into something more, and for months we would run up HER phone bill until I could come stay with her for Christmas and summer breaks.