"Jose! Put me down!" I squeal as he hauls me over his shoulder. I am hanging upside down laughing uncontrollably while my arms pound his back pockets in protest. He just couldn't resist the urge to run up the stairs any faster so he bolts up to the top with me bouncing behind him in the back.
"Jose!" I shout once more becoming a bit more irritated, although I must admit his shenanigans always make me value our friendship.
"OKAY, OKAY!" he grins placing me on the porch. He reaches in his pocket to find his keys then opens the door to our apartment. "Sorry, I got carried away, it's just we have so much to celebrate."
Jose and I just came back from our official last day of school, until graduation of course, he was awarded with an entire debut display of his art at Stella's, a local high end exhibit here in town, but then the icing on the cake was he also was offered the opportunity to shoot with some big time Britain magazine. He'd be leaving soon to do some shots but hopefully it won't be too long right? Jose is my best friend and so is Kate if one of us is not around it seems so different, lonely. We've all been friends since we started college, just recently Kate and I decided to move Jose in after we had a scary break in at our last place, having a guy around definitely gives us peace of mind, especially when we trust him.
"So Amore," he says as we both take off our shoes and plop down on either side of the couch "Ready to get fucked up?" I can't help but bust out laughing "When Kate gets in we should order pizza then go out to the club, we definitely need to eat before you go out tonight, remember what happened last time?" He smirks raising a brow. I roll my eyes with disgust and let out a long sigh, no one ever lets me live it down, and the irony is that I just don't remember, I 've must have blacked out.
"Don't remind me, besides I don't plan to be so drunk that I get teased by you and Kate until we do the same pattern again." I huff.
"Believe me Ana, I plan for us all to take an Uber home tonight so yes we are getting that Fucked up." Before I try to change his plan in stone, Kate burst through the front door in with both arms in the air screaming "I'm home Bitches!"
"We know bitch!" We chime in as she throws herself between us on the couch.
"What's the plan?" She asks looking at Jose? "I heard we are celebrating your success tonight." I tenderly bite my lip in anticipation hoping that we don't do anything too crazy.
"Here's the play by play," Jose starts "So it's 7:00 clock right now, I say we order pizza which should be here before eight, you know Ana has to eat or..."
"Geez!" I interrupt throwing my hands in the air. "Yes I get it guys I won't drink on an empty stomach." Kate takes pity on me by rubbing my thigh even though we all start laughing.
"Anyway we should be fed, dressed, and ready to step out by 10." He continues. "Sounds like a plan" Kate says getting up by pushing off of us.
"Ana, you order and Jose you should go out and get us a movie for tomorrows 'breakfast & flick' while I figure out hot outfits for us to wear. She gestures towards me.
"Wepa! That's what I'm talking about being surrounded by my two best friends looking smoking!" We all laugh and Jose gets up to leave most likely to the RedBox around the corner. I must admit I am nervous about Kate picking out my outfit, if it were up to me I'd just wear jeans and a sporty tee shirt, but I really don't want to get into a debate right now. Picking up my phone I dial the new Pizzeria around the corner, I order hot wings because I know Kate loves them and one large meat lovers. Normally I would say no to Jose's 'get fucked up plan' and no to whatever Kavanagh was going to make me wear but Jose is leaving soon, and Kate will be starting her new job soon, and I'll be, hopefully at my new internship soon, too many soons and not enough time. I glance at the digital photo frame at the kitchen bar. Jose Kate and I at a Foo Fighters concert all wide grins, beer in hand, and surrounded by other fans having a blast. The next picture is when we all went on a fishing trip with Ray and Jose's dad, the first time Kate and I agreed to go; we are all holding up our victory catches. Surprisingly Kate's Fish was a whopping 50 lbs.! I smile arms folded as I wait for my favorite photo to fade in. Jose is presenting me with Wanda, his stance like the show girl from the wheel of fortune. Ray caught me jumping midair in the most genuine joy. I wrap my arms around my thin body hugging myself smiling at the memory. The bell rings breaking my reminiscing down memory lane. I run to my room to grab cash from my bag, then return to open the door for the pizza boy.
"Thank you." I say as I grab the food in one arm and hand him the tip in the other. "Kate! Foods up!" I shout balancing everything like a waitress, I'm in shock that the food isn't face down on the floor by now; I have a track record of being clumsy. I place the food on the glass coffee table. Kate comes running down in a pink towel wrapped around her body and one on her head with loose wet tendrils escaping. Opening the box of wings she grabs two and wolfs it down I shake my head amused.
"What, I'm hungry!" Kate says still stuffing her face. Jose walks in with two movies in hand "Oh prefect timing." He places them down by the entertainment center and grabs a few paper plates, he grabs three slices and a few wings
"Salvajes" he says shaking his head in disapproval.
"Huh?" Kate says almost choking
"He just called us salvages" Jose has been teaching me Spanish for my last semester when I had to pick up one more course to satisfy my credits. Kate's free hand swats Jose's arm. I grab a paper plate and grab one slice loaded of sausage and peperoni.
"Just one?" Jose challenges mid bite on his second.
"I'm taking my time." I reply.
"Well hurry we need to get ready soon, you're next for the shower." Kate says, "I've already got some outfits to choose from. Somehow Jose is done with everything and quickly speeds down the hallway to the bathroom.
"Too slow!" Next thing I know the shower is running. I smirk and take another slice; I shouldn't over eat that will end up worse than an empty stomach. I know we need to go soon so I finish my slice and start picking up everyone's mess.
"Get dressed in my room we have last minute beautifying to do. I'll be doing my nails." Kate shuffles down the hall to her room leaving the door slightly open. When I am done cleaning up I hear the shower stop. I stroll over to my room to grab my favorite towel, a souvenir Kate got from Florida when her and her last boy toy went for a getaway. After stripping out of my white blouse, navy skirt, black thick leggings, and underwear I wrap the towel over myself and head to the bathroom. It's still steamy from Jose's shower. I turn on the hot water and it's nothing but welcoming. I untie my bun up do and let my messy waves straighten under the tropic water. I start to shampoo my hair and place coconut conditioner to stay while I scrub all the filth of the last day off college off. I can't believe we are done; it really seems like only yesterday Kate was a bitch, Jose was awkward, and I was too timid, yet we all became friends that first day. I smile thinking about how we should definitely be a sitcom since we are such an odd bunch, but we all fit perfectly, I suppose that is why am dreading all of us moving on. Something feels as though it's over.
"Come on Steele! We don't have all the night!" Drumming on the door removes me out of my thoughts. I rinse my hair and body and also take two more minutes to brush my teeth. I know Jose is excited we really hadn't gone out in about month; all of us had been working on preparing for the real world. So since this is our first and last hurrah in a long time I'm going to say yes to whatever mischief we get into tonight.
