Chapter Forty Seven

"I hope you haven't been waiting for too long. " I joined Ria and Kim at the table reserved for us. They asked that we have dinner together that night and I was pretty late.

"Not long enough."Ria said. She called on the waiter to serve us a meal.

"Champagne? Or beer?"Ria teased.

"You should get those for yourself. We aren't here to get high, are we?" Kim attacked.

"Cappuccinos would do. I love them at night." I said.

"Okay then." She asked the waiter to get us just that.

"You know, I crack jokes a lot but Kim, she's always serious..."

"I'm not."Kim chipped.

"You are,"Ria said. "I've prayed a lot that God, send another partner or I might die under your fierce eyes."

That was an exaggeration. I glanced at Kim, she wasn't that much of a "frown" person, or maybe she just hated jokes.

"You girl, must be high on something. What are you even saying?!"Kim said.

"Well, I think Kim is not fierce at all."They both glared at me, Kim, with a smile, and Ria, with a "you just met her" look.

"I have a fierce roommate and I really know "fierce" people when I see them," I added.

Kim patted my back happily.

"Thanks for having my back, Paige," Kim said.

"And thanks for rubbing it on my pretty face tonight."Ria said, happily. She laughed at her own folly and we joined in.

"Paige, what do you think about our church band?"

"Best ever. I'm so lucky to be a part of it", the two ladies smiled.

"I've been there for three years now. Ever since I became an adult and I am not planning to ever leave. We're perfect,"Ria said. I made a mental note of the fact that "suprano singers talk a lot". It should be a well-known fact.

She's twenty-one and her stature spoke Eighteen. How slender? 

"And Kim, maybe five years. Or since she was a kid..."

"Will you let me speak for myself, Ria?"

"Well, you didn't look like you wanted to."

"Yeah, that's because I was counting the years in my head. I've been to that church as a child. I started playing the piano at fourteen. I played for the band."

Ria wowed. And I.

"That's how many years now?"

"One, two,three..."She swallowed. "Eight years. That's it. I'm twenty-two this month."

I'm the youngest here. But who knows?

"That's awesome!"

"Paige, what about you? When did you start singing? You seem like a pro now."

"I'm not in any way a pro."I chuckled."Two years ago and maybe a half. I learned to play from a friend."I stifled a tear. Memories. I had to stop.

"Are you okay?"Kim noticed immediately.

"Oh yeah, I just had a horrible flashback. I was sixteen then."

"And you learned to write too. Kim says you write songs."Ria questioned.

"Yeah. That just came. I tried it once and it worked out and never stopped working out."I smiled.

"I've tried to write and time without a number. It never worked out."

"We have different gifts, Ria. That's hers. She's going to join the main band on Sunday. Since she makes music she'll be rushed." Kim said. "Paige, do you want to talk about that? Your flashback? Sorry if I'm prying."

"It's okay."I smiled. "I lost someone. That's it. He taught me how to play in high school. He was shot right in front of me."

"Ooooh that's bad,"Ria said.

"I sensed that in your song. The one you wrote at the coffee shop."

"Hm"I nodded. "A lot of things inspire us. That's why we are musicians. It's from the heart."I tried to cheer them up. I really didn't want to be pitied.

"Your crazy roommate, what about her?" Ria said.

"I left that hostel for her. She got too aggressive with me."I said. "She accused me of dating her boyfriend at school."

Ria laughed. "College can be like something. I had that same issue in my first semester. The older ones feel insecure around the younger ones because they feel they're getting old hehehe!"

"Little wonder I no longer see you at the shop."Kim swallowed her last chunk of meat.

"And that's why I was late. I live in the capital. It's a long drive to school."

"Did you really have to leave? My roommates are better. You could stay with us."I never knew Ria attended my college. I've never seen her there and right now I was completely lost.

"I've never seen you at school. Even now, it's new to me that you are at my college."

"In-tro-vert!"Kim exclaimed.

"You can say that again!"Ria said. "I've seen you once. Well, that was yesterday. You have an expensive car dude! Are you some politician's daughter or something?"

"I don't know about that."I blushed. "I'll get a house around school soon. I'm still searching."

"And I'll join you at the house. I'm so done with living in the hostel."Ria ululated.

"And I'll be at the house warming!"Kim said. "Cheers to a new home!"

"Cheers!"

Would she really stay at my house?

Well, I guess I have no choice. Thank you Lord, for this company. I love them. Thank you Lord for not letting loneliness rob me of my sanity.

I just wished she would be like Andra. Best roommate ever!