Chapter Forty Eight

{ I bought you a semi-detached house on Cross estate. Three bedrooms and two living rooms. That should be enough for you, my love.

The details have been attached below.

I miss you.

Jude.}

When I got his mail, I placed a voice message to Ria and sent her the home address. I finally made up my mind that I wouldn't be alone in that big house. Since she's also into music, we would be better together.

*

Ria and I, exhausted and sweaty, dropped the last of the

packing boxes on the dining room carpet. I can already

feel her muscles starting to cramp up and I knew she was going

to be in serious pain tomorrow. I had a lot in Jude's house to move, a lot. And Ria's boxes, just too much.

I looked over at Ria, she had this unending grin on her face.

We were probably thinking the same thing. This is so good.

 Her cotton blouse was drenched in sweat but I didn't care when she came over and wrapped me in a bear hug. 

" It is beautiful. I could share in the rent if you want me."

"No no, you don't need to. It was bought off "I said.

"You're really rich?"

"It's my uncle who is,"I said. 

"Well."

she said. "I think we're entitled to a celebratory drink,

don't you?"

"Definitely," I agreed.

"Champagne? Beer?"

" I haven't had a taste of any of those ever," I said.

"Oh, you're still new in adulthood."

She laughed. "I'll get champagne. You'll have to learn how to drink a little."She winked at me and headed for the kitchen.

I moved from the dining room to the den and plopped

down on the couch, feeling my perspiration-soaked shirt press

against the sheet covering the furniture. It was late August and

 The weather was hot and sticky. The temperature was

easily in the low nineties.

Of course, that was nothing compared to what it was like

back in South Carolina, where I had lived until that...

Do I always have to remind myself of that?! 

But I have promised

myself that I would live my life without sulking on things of the past and I intended to keep my word.

Ria walked into the room, holding champagne and Gatorades.

He had pulled off his wet blouse, she had only a soaked singlet on. She was really slender. I could see that.

She came over, handed her the drinks, and sat down beside

me.

"Did you know there was a wine fridge in the pantry?" She asked.

"Yes," I said, "I checked the house before you arrived. We have all we need."

"Pretty cool, huh?" she chuckled.

"Yeah, pretty cool, pretty girl," I agreed, marveling at how her short blonde remained packed up together, no matter how disheveled she could be. My stubborn hair would never be like that.

She poured me a cup and herself.

"You're the pretty one," she said, brushing my shoulder-length light brown hair out of my eyes and staring at me with her own penetrating blue ones. I've never stared at a girl this long. She's beautiful.

 "It's a good thing that you're here with me. I would have been super lonely in this house. "

"I'm so glad to be here. I'd learn a bit about song writing from you."She teased. "Have some of these? It's an energy drink."She gave me another cup of Gatorade. I gulped it. I felt weird but all that was the last thing on my mind. Ria was intoxicating herself.

 "We need to arrange this house today and you'll need some energy,"She said. "About decorations, I have a major in interior design. I have a big plan in my head right now."

"Then let's get to work. I have a lecture this evening."

"Likewise me."She stood up and I followed, then the arrangements began.

*

I lay in bed later that night, looking up at the ceiling, Ria by my side, a smile on her face. The other rooms were not arranged yet, so we had to make do with the one we had.

"How I love this place. It is so different from school. So quiet."

She said as if reading my thoughts. They weren't fully my thoughts though. I just wouldn't admit it.

"I feel more like an adult now. Having a house, it feels so surreal," I said.

She craned her to stare at me.

"You deserve to be an adult already. You look more like an adult. You know how hot, yet young, some ladies can be. My girl, you look twenty-two."

She just told me I looked older!

I laughed. "Are you saying I'm fat? But I'm not."

"No!"She chuckled. "You're not fat. You're hot! That's what I said. I wish I had that little chubbiness. Then the boobs, what about the backside and..."

"Gross!"I exclaimed.

"Sorry, but I'm pretty raw with things like that."She said. "You're not fat. You're just too perfect for my eyes to resist."

I blushed hard. "This is the tenth time I've blushed today."

"Hmm... Not a good one."She said. "Should have been the hundredth."

I laughed, she joined in.

I sighed deeply. I could feel her whole body relax beside me.

"Aren't you nervous at all?" she asked.

"About what?"

"You have a stranger in your bed. In your house, all of a sudden?"

"No, we've been friends for..."I paused to count. "A week now."

"And... That's not enough time, is it?"

"I'm not nervous. At least, you do not make me."

She smiled, rolled over

onto her side and ran a finger lightly along my right shoulder,

next to the long, pinkish scar that ran a few inches from my upper arm to the base of my neck. I suddenly felt exposed.

"What's this scar?" she asked tenderly.

"Surgery. It's from surgery."

"Wow." She paused. " are you really dating the guy whom your roommate talked about?"

"I haven't had any intimate relationships with anyone before. Talk less about that guy."I said , "she's just a big nag. She wouldn't believe me."

"Who's this guy? I might know him, you know."

I smiled. "Yes you will. He's the leader of the school band..."

"Ooooh!"She exclaimed. "Henry?!"

"Yes Henry. You know him, right?"

"He doesn't have a girlfriend!"

"I've heard that before. I think she just has a crush on him and hasn't had the guts to ask him out herself."

"She would never have him!"

"Wait, why are you so sure?"

"He's my boss." She paused. "I didn't tell you I played in the school band too?"

Oh wow!

"No,"I replied.

"Well, I do "She shrugged. "And I know Henry very well. He's in his second year and trust me if I say he hasn't gotten one girl. He doesn't date. I've asked him once if he wanted to be a monk or something. Guess what he said to me."

"I can't guess. Just tell me "

"He said he would be a monk if he didn't find his own girl. Weird, right?"

"Weird."

"I didn't understand. He didn't explain either. I just guessed he had a girlfriend before he joined college and he's waiting. Or maybe he's delusional. Actually, he acts delusional sometimes."

"Poor Sandra,"I said, not wanting my brain to go any wild. I need a good night's rest. I'll do the thinking tomorrow.

She yawned deeply and I could tell she was about to

crash. 

"She isn't the only one who has experienced rejection from him. She'll get over him later."

"I know, right?"

"Yeah" she agreed lazily. "Goodnight Paige".

"Goodnight".

Thank you Lord, for my new friend. I love you.