23 Chapter 7 (1/2)

”There comes a point in your life when you realize who matters, who never did, and who always will” – Unknown

September 14th, 2013 5:26 pm

”You should aim to be successful but not too successful” Chimamanda Adichie's voice filled my room as I sat at my desk, before turning on my laptop.

I crossed my legs and tucked them under me, before putting my cheek on my knees. I watched my laptop boot, as I listened to the music coming from the stereo next to my bed, on the other side of the room.

”You look miserable,” I heard Lolita say and I turned my head, staring at her as she sat on the window seat, a novel in her lap. The house was quiet, and I still hadn't seen my mother yet. At the moment, I wasn't sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing.

”I'm not,” I smiled, as I typed in my password. She turned the page, not before glancing up and smiling knowingly at me ”I'm just bored and anxiously dreading Rain and Angel's appearance.”

”It won't be that bad” Lolita said, rolling her eyes as she chuckled. I smiled and opened up a new browser page.

”Yeah well,” I said with a smile as I opened up Google.

”You wake up, flawless,” Lolita sang along with Beyoncé, laying down on the window seat and placing her feet on the frame.

”Post up, flawless,” I joined her as I nodded my head to the beat.

”Ride round in it, flawless” she put her hands above her head and smiled, waving her arms side to side.

”Flossing on that, flawless” I sang, laughing at Lolita's goofy dance steps. My phone buzzed then, interrupting me just as I was about to join Lolita in her dancing. I reached for it and opened up the text message from Rain.

”We can't come anymore. Something came up,” I read the text out loud, glancing at Lolita to see if she was paying attention ”We'll talk on Monday.”

”It was probably something important” Lolita said as if trying to reassure me.

Truthfully, I wasn't sure if I felt relieved or disappointed. I guess a little part of me had been looking forward to the talk, while the rest of me dreaded it. Undeniably, I wanted my friends back but I wasn't ready to talk about what happened to them.

I locked the phone and slipped it into my pocket, before walking over to the bed and flopping down on it.

”I guess its takeout tonight” Lolita said, coming over to join me on the bed. We lay with our feet poised on the headboard and our heads at the foot of the bed.

”Yeah, I guess” I said, staring up at the ceiling. We lay for a while like that, listening to the music and letting it engulf us.

”Shay?” Lolita muttered quietly and dragging me from my musing.

”Hmm?” I murmured, turning my head to look at her. She had an amused smile on her face.

”You're vibrating” she said, glancing down at the sweatpants I was wearing. That was when I glanced down, only just then feeling the vibration as I reached down to pull my phone out.

I glanced at the unknown number on my screen, confused for a moment, before showing the screen to Lolita.

”Do you know this number?” I asked and she shook her head, before dragging her gaze from the screen and back to me.

”Well, answer it” she said, shaking her head at me and earning herself a flick. I pressed the call button, and put the phone to my ears.

”Hello?” I said quietly, Lolita staring at me questioningly.

”Hey Shay,” a deep voice replied to me then, causing me to glance with a shrug at Lolita ”It's Avian”. Recognition dawned on me.

”Oh hey,” I said in relief, running my hand through my hair ”what's up?”

”Nothing,” Lolita was looking at me like she was about to burst with questions. I muffled my laughter, drawing my attention back to Avian ”I was just calling about tomorrow”

”Oh yeah, you can come over,” I said, Lolita's eyes widened in surprise. I could only imagine the thoughts going through her mind ”How exactly are we going to portray the growth of bacteria?”

”That's just it,” he paused then sighed ”I can't come over anymore”

My heart sank and I wasn't sure why.

Lolita looked at me as though saying ”okay, now I'm just confused”

I muffled my laughter again, even though it felt like I was forcing happiness and dragged my attention back to the phone call.

”I have to go to an appointment with my mom so I won't be able to make it” he said. I sighed and ran my hands through my hair.

”It's totally fine,” I said, swallowing the lump that had formed at the base of my throat ”We'll just work on it in class.”

”Okay then,” he said and let out a breath ”so how did the 'talk' go?” I could tell he was smiling over the phone.

”They didn't show” I said, shrugging even though he couldn't see me.

”So they blew you off?” he said teasingly. I rolled my eyes and turned over onto my stomach, Lolita completely frustrated that I had ignored her.