CHAPTER EIGHT: Old friends are bound to meet

I hope you guys didn't forget that Janice is Michelle mother

Enjoy

-Mira

Janice POV

I think I've been walking in circles for the past 30 minutes under the hot summer sun. I decided to go downtown that's when I notice what I haven't noticed since I was walking in circles, a Café. It seems well hidden like those café celebrities go to so as not to be found by reporters.

Without hesitation I climbed down the small stairs rolling my bag alongside me. I opened the door and the cooler air brush my face whispering found a seat facing the door. Soon a waiter came to ask for my order. My first thought was something cool.

'Get me ice water for starters I will order later' I said and the waiter left.

Another waiter came with a glass is of water with ice cubes in it. I didn't look up to see the face of the waiter, I gulp down the water and chewed on the ice cubes, it was so refreshing. The waiter was still in front of me so I looked up and recognized the face instantly.

'Ashley!' I exclaimed surprised to see her after eight years. She changed and aged a bit but was still as short as she has always been. She gasped tucking the tray under her armpit before cupping my face to examine it.

'It's really you, Janice, what a surprise' she said as she sat down on the chair facing me and settling the tray on the table.

'I'm also surprised, do you work here?'

'No, I own this place' she answered, the decorations seems unique judging from the wallpaper to the tiles

'Wow' I unconsciously said

'So what's up'

'Nothing much'

'What's up with the luggage' she asked just noticing that it was sitting on floor beside me. I didn't know how to respond, should I tell I just got divorced.

'Are you just coming back or going back' she asked festering her eyes on me.

'I'm looking for a place to stay' I said, it's seems like a suitable way to talk about my matters,

I can't believe I walked out of my home without planning a place I would stay or where I would work, this what you get for thinking about your kids and forgetting yourself

'Did you move out of your home' Ashley asked

'Actually, I just got my divorced' I tried making it sound as a joke but damn, it hurts.

No feelings, no feelings, I screamed to my heart not to feel the pain.

'Oh no, I'm sorry, Janice' she sympathized with me taking my fingers which were gripping the glass tightly to hold back the tears into her palm and rubbing her thumb on my fingers, I lost control of the tears

'Don't hold it back or it will hurt you' she comforted

'When did you move out? Ashley asked after I calmed down

'Maybe three hours ago'

'Come stay at my place or even better there is a room upstairs you can stay here until you find an apartment, you could also work here, your beacon will really attract new costumers' she said blabbing everything in one go without stopping to catch her breath, she hasn't changed, always worried.

'Don't say no' she warned with a stern as I was about to dismiss the idea

'Who am I to say no' I said changing my mind aleast I got two of my problems solved

'Enough about me, how is your... should I say love life or family life? I asked remembering college. I and Ashley are alumni from middle school and high school.

'John and Marcus are fine' she said with glomming eyes

'John?' I asked, that's a new one

'My son name is John, you wouldn't know have heard since we lost contact then'

'So how old is John? does he look like you or Marcus? does he worry to much? What's the color of his eyes' I bombarded her with questions

'One at a time, seven, Marcus, no, blue, like my blue eyes, here I have pictures of him' she said pulling out her phon and showing me pictures of John, he looked really adorable, no lies he looked like Marcus.

I remember when Ashley had a huge crush or should I say in love with Marcus for the whole three years of high school Marcus had rejected her b fore she could confess. Fortunately they ended up in the same college and Ashley got a boyfriend who had loved her for four years before he had the courage to confess. Marcus showed up a year after he rejected Ashley, he confessed that he liked her but was scared to admit it because he was scared to love. Ashley turned him down because she had a boyfriend even though she still loved Marcus. When Marcus got a girlfriend Ashley was heartbroken and her boyfriend broke up with her because she has feelings for another guy. Later, Marcus broke up with his girlfriend for the same reason and that's how they ended up together, such a melodrama, now I think about the stress I went through consoling her back in the days.

'What are you thinking about?' I asked Ashley who seems deep in thought

'Do you remember the reason why you and your family left San Antonio eight years ago?' she asked

' It was because Lila won't stop visiting my home just to see my husband, she framed me for that incident so we decided to move since Lila won't back out, why did you ask?'

'I'm not sure but I'm suspecting Lila played a part in your divorce'

'No, it was a company problem'

'What company'

'Lacore' I replied and I was surprised to see Ashley shocked face

'Since you left I've been tabs on her in case I want to have my revenge'

'She is working in Lacore not just any Lacore, the Lacore HQ in San Antonio'

I was speechless I tried telling myself that she would have given up after eight years. I just didn't want to believe Ashley because she worries a lot. It's only been a month since I came back to my hometown.

'I swear if she had something to do with your divorce, I would make sure she regrets ever looking at Brandon' Ashley cursed.

Not her again...