Emma Bunton-Warner sat stiffly on the couch next to her husband, Michael
Warner. Tears formed in her icy blue eyes, framed with dark lashes and
wrinkles. A much younger version of her and her old friends danced on
the screen to their upbeat song, "Wannabe." She sighed and shook her
head, her white curls bouncing. "It was so long ago." Michael nodded and
wrapped his arm around her. "It certainly was," he said as Melanie
Gulzar, then Brown, showed off her pierced tongue at the camera. "I
wonder what the girls are doing now," said Emma thoughtfully. "Why, I
haven't seen them for at least 30 years. Just a few years after the band
broke up." Michael smiled at her warmly. "And a few years after you met
me." Emma smiled, too. "I never even invited them to our wedding, we
were so out of touch by then. I wonder what it would be like to see them
again." "Why don't you find out?" asked Michael seriously. "You still
have their telephone number, don't you?" Emma nodded. "They're in my
address book. I wonder if any of them have moved…?" She rose and
wandered off, her head in the clouds.

The phone toned in David's ear. With a groan, he lifted his face from
the pillow and grabbed the receiver from the bedside table. "Hello?" he
answered groggily. "Hi, is this David Beckham?" "Yeah," he mumbled. "May
I speak to Victoria?" "Uh-huh," he said. He nudged Victoria beside him.
"Wake up," he muttered in her ear. "Someone's on the phone for you."
Victoria's eyes opened. Yawning, she took the phone from her husband.
"Hello?" "Victoria?" "Yes," she murmured. "Oh my God…" The woman's voice
trailed off. She sniffed once. Is she crying? Victoria thought. "Who is
this?" A sob sounded. "Oh, my…Victoria. This is Emma." Victoria's mouth
dropped open. Now feeling fully awake, she sat straight up. "Emma? Is it
really you?" "Yes. I can't believe…oh…this is…" Emma's tears started
again. To Victoria's horror, she felt tears welling up in her own eyes.
"How have you been? It's been so long…" "It has," replied Emma. "I don't
even know what's going on in your life. How's little Brooklyn?" Victoria
giggled. "Little Brooklyn. He's engaged. But, then, you haven't seen him
since he was a mere toddler, have you?" Emma laughed. "No. I had
forgotten so much time had passed. Anyways, a thought occurred to me.
Well, to Mike, at least." Victoria's face was a mask of confusion.
"Mike?" Emma paused, then laughed. "Oh, he's my husband. We met not long
after the Spice Girls split up." There was a catch in her voice.
Victoria knew she was remembering back when they said their good-byes.
So was she. "Um...so…your idea." Victoria tried to shake away the
thought. "Oh, right!" cried Emma. "I was thinking that maybe we girls
could meet up again. A sort of reunion." Victoria listened intently as
Emma outlined the plan of meeting at a café near where she lived. "I
think it sounds wonderful," she said. "Great!" cried Emma. "I'll call
the Melanies." Victoria agreed and hung up. She sat on the bed,
remembering her friends as they once were, and trying to visualize them
now.

Melanie Gulzar, supported by a cane, tottered into the café. She gazed
around the tacky building, taking note of the aqua-and-white theme. It
was nearly deserted- save for a waitress or two and a woman in the back
corner that Mel didn't recognise. With a sigh, she sat in a booth near
the front and waited for her friends. As she did so, her mind drifted
back to that fateful day in the June of 2003. She had been thinking
about the breakup of the Girls for awhile. She was expecting her second
child, Ayra, at the time, and wanted to settle down with her family.
Victoria had confided in her that she felt the same way. Melanie
Chisholm had released a solo album and was working on another. Emma had
been beginning to grow tired of performing, and was wondering about
doing a solo album herself. One day, the girls had a surprising day of
clarity. They were together, and they shared all their feelings. That
was when they agreed to break up. They just weren't interested in what
they were doing anymore. There was also the fact that their rate of
popularity had gone down. They were the butt of jokes on all of the
late-night television shows. Their CD's stopped selling. Mel sighed and
shifted in her seat as she pinpointed the exact second her heart ripped
in half-- the day they had said their good-byes. They never made any
attempt to stay in contact. It was too painful. Mel had all but
forgotten them. Until she had received that call from Emma, at least. 

Melanie Chisholm entered the door, and glanced around. She was older
than she had been, but still incredibly strong and energetic. She saw a
woman near the back with sunglasses and a scarf over her head,
and…Melanie Gulzar, who seemed to have her head in the clouds. With a
shriek of ecstasy, she rushed over to her. "Melanie!" she cried. Her old
companion looked up and, with tears forming in her chocolately brown
eyes, pulled herself to her feet, balancing with the help of a cane.
Melanie C wrapped her friend in an emotional embrace. "I've missed you
so much," she murmured in her ear. The two separated and sat down in the
booth. They began chatting about their lives at that time. "No, I still
haven't found Mr. Right," cackled Mel C. Neither of the ex-Spices
noticed the woman in the corner staring at them intently.

Geri stared as Emma Bunton, then finally Victoria Adams, entered the
little restaurant. They were all hugging. Could it really be them?
 she thought in disbelief. It had to be. She heard the word,
'Phoenix' mentioned. She watched from behind dark glasses as the four
hugged together. They were all sobbing by that time. The waitresses
looked as if they thought they were insane. Geri rose from her seat,
licking her chapped lips. In her hoarse voice, she called, "Melanie?
Emma? Victoria?" The women's heads turned to peer at her. "Yes…"
murmured Victoria, her catlike eyes glaring at her suspiciously. Of
course, thought Geri. She removed her sunglasses and scarf. Victoria
and the Melanies still gave her blank stares, but Emma stood and gazed
at her face with confusion, then recognition. As quickly as she could on
her old, worn-out legs, she raced to Geri and wrapped her arms around
her. "Geri!" she cried. Her body began to shudder with deep sobs. So did
Geri's. She felt more arms hug her closely. "Oh, I…I can't believe…after
all these years," Geri managed to stutter between tears. Finally, they
sat down together at the booth. "Where have you been all these years?"
asked Emma, dabbing at the moisture on her face with a handkerchief.
Geri sighed and fiddled with a napkin. "After years of being in the
spotlight, I began to loathe it. I continued helping with breast cancer,
but once the cure was found, I wasn't much needed anymore. So I took to
hiding from the public. Soon, I was pretty much forgotten. I spent my
days alone, reading, watching TV, resting…"

Emma listened to Geri's story with interest. "I had know idea what
happened to you," she whispered softly, brushing a white curl from her
face. "I missed you, though. I have a picture of you- and the rest of
you- on my dresser drawer. The way we used to be." Geri smiled wanly.
"Do you still remember, how we used to be…" She sang an old song of
theirs, 'Viva Forever', creakily. The women laughed quietly and joined
her in the chorus. They finished and resumed their conversation. 

Two hours later, they stood outside of the café, the neon light of the
"Closed" sign illuminating their faces, singing softly. "Friendship
never ends…" And it didn't.

The End

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