h1 style="text-align: center;" align="center"span style="font-size: 22.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;"Chapter 2/span/h1
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"I pulled out the keys to a two-bedroom apartment that my bestie Megan and I have been sharing and renting for the past two years. Megan had allowed me to stylize it the way I wanted and I was very grateful to her. It was the first time I had an apartment that I was span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"authorized/span to decorate the way I span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"wanted,/span and it smelled of freedom. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Can I please do the interiors?" I had asked her sheepishly when we first came to see this apartment during our hunt. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Of course, Xandra. I would be a total idiot if I refused a free-of-cost interior designer," she span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"replied,/span and we both laughed about it. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"I opened the door and stepped inside. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Thank God, you are home. span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"I have been trying to reach you for/span over an hour." It was Megan. She popped her head out from the fridge. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Megan Hopper is a slender, athletic girl with curly blonde hair, of about my height with a pale skin and faded freckled face and lovely, thoughtful green eyes. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Yeah, I was in a poor network reception area. Work Thing." I muttered as I slammed the door shut behind me and threw my span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"handbag/span on the sofa. "Why did you call?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Did you speak to Andrew?" she asked, as she leaned on the door of the open refrigerator./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Not today." I vaguely replied and threw myself on the couch, a faded pistachio color that we had bought on a sale during our final year of college and transported it to our new home. My calf muscles and thighs ached from the prolonged standing in our site visit and nothing soothed them better than throwing them on the small table in front me and relaxing./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Megan's eyes narrowed at me. She was upset about span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"something,/span and I hadn't the slightest clue. I tried to think but all I wanted to do was sleep, I was exhausted. But Megan had other plans for us today./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Knowing now that I had no clue of what she was referring to, she gave in with a sigh./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""It's Andrew's birthday," she mumbled, disappointed by my attitude./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanem style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"Oh! /emNow it came back to me. Now I knew what she was referring to. I had completely forgotten about it since the arrival of my new project. span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"I looked at her from the corner of my/span eye in regret as my head lay on the support of the cushion, Megan had distinctly reminded me yesterday. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Damn!/span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""I forgot," I lifted my head upright and shifted on the couch. "You have no idea what a crazy day I had at work today," I paused before continuing. I was sure that my excuses weren't going to get me anywhere with Megan. "I'll call him now."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"I twisted on my side where my purse was and began searching for my phone, but before I could find span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"it,/span Megan put it to an end./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Don't bother now," she began. "We are going out. Now. Wish span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"him/span then," and she went back to digging into the refrigerator. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Now?" And that's when I realized that she was dressed up in her dark maroon skater dress with her new pearl earrings and matching bracelet. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""It's weekend, Xandra. Cheer up." Megan came out of the refrigerator with a box of span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"half-eaten/span chocolate bar and closed the door./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""I'm too spent to go out," I complained wearily. "I'd rather sleep."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Don't be a spoilsport Xandra. Go freshen up and get dressed." She ordered me. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Okay," I agreed. I had no way of escaping her, any argument and she would win easily./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"I lifted my sore body and walked into my bedroom, peeking into my closet that was stuffed with limited styles of clothing. I picked out a dark emerald black dress and laid it on the bed. I then quickly jumped into a hot shower to burn off all my tiredness. It felt amazing how the flow of hot water from my head to my feet felt like a magical healing serum that eased my body ache. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"I towel dried myself and wrapped it around me before I got out of the bathroom. I zipped into my dress and stared at the stranger in the mirror. The girl in the mirror stared back at me, her pale skin with a hint of blush – an after-shower effect and chestnut eyes were distracted by the young entrepreneur she had met earlier today./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-no-proof: yes;"No man has ever affected me the way/spanspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" Michael Wright span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"had,/span and it unraveled me. What is it about him that drew me to him? His sulky dreamy gray eyes and courteous manners felt like he had fallen from a world that was far away from ours. The way he carried himself, the way words came so smoothly out of his lips and the way he knew exactly what I was thinking made my body quiver for his sight again./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Stop it! /span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"I scolded myself. But there was no way of shaking my mind of the scenes that occurred in the morning./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-no-proof: yes;"My cheeks flushed pink at the thought of/spanspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" his eyes looking into mine. I could still picture his black suit and his gray tie, his hand in one of the pockets of his span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"trousers/span. He was too young to be rich. His words repeated in my mind, his voice warm and soft and calm and so many goods I couldn't possibly describe. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"The more and more I thought of him the deeper I engaged myself in a dream that would never be a reality. It was a dream that I feared waking up to. It was a place I never wanted to span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"leave,/span and it was a place where Michael Wright was there. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Are you done? We got to hurry." Megan yelled from behind the door. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Oh shit! I glared at the watch I had just worn. My nonsensical thinking had delayed us of our departure./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"One of the best things about Megan was that she never invaded your privacy. She would always give you all the space required to be and do whatever you want. It was span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"comfortable/span living with her in a way, which I loved immensely. And she never judged you, which worked great with me when I first met her in college./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Almost done," I stated as I came out of the span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"beautiful/span illusion of Michael Wright. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"I lightly glided a nude rose pink lipstick on my lips and let my hair loose. span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"I then went on a hunt for a/span small span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"handbag/span to compliment my evening's attire. Luckily, I found my old black clutch, a gift from my mother on my twenty-second birthday, and it was perfect for my outfit. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"I then quickly opened the door to show Megan that I'm ready to go. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"The bar was loud and crowded, felt like half the population of Seattle decided to get drunk. The music was almost span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"deafening,/span and most the crowd was dancing to its tune. I spotted Janine at the corner of the bar, she waved at us. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Janine was a span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"soft-spoken/span, shy girl with large black eyes and chubby cheeks whom Andrew began span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"dating over a year ago and got engaged/span to three months ago. The big day for them was set in six span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"weeks,/span and she sounded ecstatically excited over the phone when she called to announce it./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Andrew stood next to her in a plain white shirt and jeans and a rugged look span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"like he hadn't had time to shave in/span over a week. I knew Andrew before I went to college with him. We sort of landed in the same college which was lucky for both of us, made is sustain through the initial stage in the new city. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Habitually he was somewhat similar to Janine which makes them a great couple. They were perfect for each other./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"I quickly jumped to Andrew's side and gave him a tight hug, my way of starting an apology./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Happy Birthday…!" I screamed through the pounding music of the pub. "I'm so sorry that I didn't wish you earlier. I was caught up with span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"work,/span and it slipped my mind."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Hey," he let go. "It's alright. You're here, celebrating with me. That's important."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"So how is the wedding prep coming along/span?" I asked him, excited that he would be the first among us to be married./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Honestly, it's going hectic. We are still running out of so many span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"arrangements,/span and there are only six weeks." He was gleaming with happiness, his eyes almost lit up when he spoke of his wedding./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""It will all come together just fine. Don't worry about it too much. And let me know if I can help you with something." I offered, he was always like a brother to me./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Actually, there is something that I was hoping you could help me with," he asked meekly./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Go on," I encouraged. "Anything to help you."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Janine is having some trouble with the arrangement of flowers. Maybe you could look into it. Help her out. She is really stressed out about this whole wedding." He remarked./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Sure thing." I agreed./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"And then Megan came after me to wish him again which gave me time to speak to Janine who looked a little weary./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Hey!" I gave her a quick hug, "You don't look so well."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""When people say that weddings are an exhausting affair, believe them." And we both laughed at it./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"I then went and gave a hug to Caleb the part Asian from his father's side. span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"He was a man of few words or/span that's how he introduced himself to others. He kept very few friends and mingled with even fewer, but he was friendly to Megan and me. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Then there was Kayla, the brunette with dark eyes who secretly had a crush on Andrew but withdrew once he got involved with Janine. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"I hastily shifted back to an empty place next to Janine, there were limited seats available and my legs still ached from the morning trip./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Andrew told me you wanted help with the flower arrangements," I began./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Most desperately," she pleaded. "The one I hired are not very comfortable with procuring the flowers I want. They are complaining about its availability. And I can't seem to find another in such short time."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Oh!" I sighed. "I know someone who may be able to help you. I can't assure you if she can get what you want. But it's certainly worth the try."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""That would be great," she appeared a little relieved./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""I'll pass you her number. You can speak to her and let me know if it worked out." The engagement ring – a span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"princess/span cut diamond sparkled on her hand under the flashy light of the bar./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Okay, guys. Let me get something to drink," Andrew announced in our table and disappeared into the crowd, heading for the bar counter. We all made ourselves comfortable at the corner of the bar, away from the dancing crowd. He came back with six small glasses filled with transparent liquid – tequila. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""I thought we might do some shots." And he gave a glass to each of us. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""To Andrew…" Megan span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"said,/span and we clicked our tiny glasses./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""And to my lovely fiancée, Janine," Andrew added. We toasted span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"again,/span and I took a quick gulp. The liquid burned through my throat as it seeped down./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""That was strong," Kayla complained against the bitter taste of the shot./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""That was good," Andrew reframed, his face still adjusting to the taste./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Whose up for another round?" Megan spoke up. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""I'll have a beer," Caleb shouted through all the noise of the club. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Make that two," I added. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Kayla, Janine, and Megan ordered their choices and span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"Andrew,/span and Caleb disappeared in the crowd to fetch our orders. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""So, six weeks more huh!" Megan said to Janine. "How does it feel?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Scary!" she replied in one word./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""I can't relate that. But if you are saying it then it must be true." Megan said. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""After this round, we'll dance," Kayla broke through the music./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"And the four of us agreed./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-no-proof: yes;"By the end of the night, I was/spanspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" three tequila shots down, and two beers to add to my mild tipsiness. The air inside the room began to feel span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"suffocating,/span and for the first time, I felt like I would choke on all the cigarette smoke. I wanted to breathe span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"fresh,/span clean cold air that didn't stink of intoxication, so I told Caleb I was going outside to inhale. The others were busy span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"dancing,/span so he decided to accompany me outside. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"The air on the exterior of the pub was icy as span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"a cold/span breeze swept across the streets of Seattle. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-no-proof: yes;"I took a deep breath and inhaled as much/spanspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" I could. It felt clean, moist and cold, damn cold but it was better than the polluted, stale air circulating in the club. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Feeling better?" Caleb asked as he walked out after me. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Much better. You know, the surroundings around you affect your brain more than the alcohol," I answered, a little dizzy. I could feel the booze crawling up my brains and killing all my cells. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""I think you have had more than usual." He gestured at my state. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"I laughed, a little too loud that a couple nearby turned and looked at me. Penitently, I pulled myself together and controlled my voice./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""I don't think I realized that I was having too much while I was having too much…" I said, trying to sound span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"reasonable/span but I knew Caleb could make out that I was losing it. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""So… what's new with you?" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Nothing really. Same old work, same old life." I almost sang./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"I desperately wanted to tell Caleb about my encounter with Michael Wright, the young billionaire model with whom I may have behaved like a total idiot. It could have passed as an entertaining span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"conversation,/span but I decided to keep the thoughts to myself. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"There was a time, somewhere during the college days and a little later when I confided in Caleb and valued his opinions, but of late we had grown span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"distant,/span and our friendship weakened. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""How are things with you? Haven't seen you much lately. You even missed Kayla's birthday." I spoke, cutting through the awkward silence that fell between us. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""I was caught up with work and most of the weekends I'm busy with the band practice. We are performing at the three strings, Saturday – two weeks from today, so you should come, I would be glad if you did." /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Oh, my God, that's great," I almost screamed but realized again that I wasn't alone on the streets. "Finally, you're doing something big. Caleb Morris, I'm proud of you," and I gave him a quick hug, "I wouldn't miss it for the world." /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"He smiled at me. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"My eyes prowled at the darkness of the street as the wind bit through my skin, a few teens were scattered across the locality, some in groups and others in pairs, and it was among these people that I spotted him for the first. He was standing there, alone in the silhouettes of inky blackness. His face almost shadowed in the night, but his physique was impractical to miss. He stood there patiently staring towards me like I was the prey and he was the hunter, analyzing me, waiting for me, gawking at me. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Do you see that man?" I tried to point out to the stranger with my eyes, avoiding suspicion. "There in the corner…"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Caleb followed my gaze and looked at the man who stood there still like a statue./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""What about him?" he asked./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""He is staring at us," I whispered./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Caleb looked at the man and then looked at me and chuckled. "I think it's the tequila talking now."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""No… No… I'm quite serious." I confessed. "Look at him."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"He did as I asked him to do and now we were both were staring at the stranger who still stood undisturbed by our actions. He patiently span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"leaned/span span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"on/span a wall beside him and continued his stare, fearlessly./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""I think we should go inside and stay with the others," Caleb spoke without looking away. He too felt odd about the stranger and wanted to go with the safer option./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"I nodded in span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"agreement,/span and we rushed inside, back to the deafening music of the pub./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"It was quiet and peaceful. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-no-proof: yes;"I flickered my eyes to adjust to the/spanspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" ostentatious light storming through the open window that had flooded the entire room. I tried to rise from my sleeping position but the aching the head had captured all my attention. My body ached enormously with every move I made to sit upright./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"I looked around and realized I was in my room, but the memory of me coming here and lying down had not quite clicked in my head. I was in my blue pajama's and a white span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"t-shirt,/span but I couldn't recollect wearing them. Everything was hazy and dark in my mind. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"emspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"How is it that I don't remember any of this?/span/emspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Shattered memories of last night began slithering in my brain. We were in a span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"pub,/span and I was drinking, we were celebrating Andrew's birthday and then nothing. That's all I remembered. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"I rushed out of the room, calling for Megan, probably she could fill in the empty spaces. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Megan," I called. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Oh, look who is up." It was Megan busy mixing something in the bowl with span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"an /spanegg beater behind the kitchen counter. Her tone was a little span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"dangerous,/span so I knew I was in trouble. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""How are you feeling?" I turned around and saw Caleb, spreading himself on the couch. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""You slept here? On the span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"sofa/span? Why?" I asked, confused. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Nice," replied Megan. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Here, have this. It will help you with span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"the headache/span." And she handed me Motrin for the pain. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"I poured some water and quickly popped the pill. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""So, are you guys going to tell me what happened?" I shrugged, ashamed even before knowing the story. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""What was the last thing you remember?" Megan asked./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""I remember… span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"we/span were in a club span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"celebrating,/span and we drank." /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Yes, we were celebrating," she continued. span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"And yes, we drank. But you drank a lot." /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""I did?" I doubted myself. "And?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""And then you got really drunk that we had to bring you home," she looked at Caleb. "We," she pointed out to Caleb and herself. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Both of you?" I was confused./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""That's what 'we' means in this room," Megan clarified./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Damn," I sighed. "I must have been really drunk." I took a stool opposite the kitchen table and pressed my temple with my palm./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""But Kayla was much worse. It's good you didn't see her throw up. It was disastrous." Her expressions were more than enough for me to figure out./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"emspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Urgh! /span/emspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""I'm sorry, I was reckless." I apologized, feeling horrible. "How is Kayla now?" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""No idea. Hasn't answered any of my calls yet."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Oh!" I muttered./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""I think I'll take off, got some work to wind up." Caleb got off the couch and slipped into his shoes. "You take care Xandra," he gave span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"Megan and me/span a quick hug and was gone. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"I shut the door behind him and crawled myself on the couch, trying to relax my body. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Megan was busy frying the span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"pancakes/span. I rested my head on the back of the span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"sofa/span and closed my eyes, forcing my brain to remember last night. But everything was black and blur./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""So, who's Michael?" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""What?" I cried out loud. My head jerked off and stared at Megan. Shocked. Surprised. Even petrified. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"I tried to swallow the lump forming in my throat. How does span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"she/span know that name? My eyes narrowed at her in suspicion./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Where... where did you hear that?" I stammered. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Megan focused on me, trying to rattle out an answer. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""You blabbered his name last night while you were drunk." She vaguely put it. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"My cheeks went red hot, I had to answer her or else she would badger out the truth from me. I would have to blurt out my little stare incident and how I was in awe for span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"him/span. Or better I could lie and get out of this situation, but my creative senses had almost departed me that very instant./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""No one. Just a client. That's all." That was the best I cooked up./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""No one? Are you sure?" she stared at me. "You might have mentioned his name more than once," she teased me. She was enjoying this. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""I was at the site yesterday and my new client – Michael, was there." I struggled to find words./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Is that why you were so tired yesterday?" she raised an eyebrow, curiously./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""No," I protested. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""So, is he hot?" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""What? No," I shrugged. "I mean sort of," I admitted, to myself more than to her. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""No wonder," she gave a sly smile. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"I pulled out the keys to a two-bedroom apartment that my bestie Megan and I have been sharing and renting for the past two years. Megan had allowed me to stylize it the way I wanted and I was very grateful to her. It was the first time I had an apartment that I was span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"authorized/span to decorate the way I span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"wanted,/span and it smelled of freedom. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Can I please do the interiors?" I had asked her sheepishly when we first came to see this apartment during our hunt. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Of course, Xandra. I would be a total idiot if I refused a free-of-cost interior designer," she span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"replied,/span and we both laughed about it. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"I opened the door and stepped inside. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Thank God, you are home. span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"I have been trying to reach you for/span over an hour." It was Megan. She popped her head out from the fridge. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Megan Hopper is a slender, athletic girl with curly blonde hair, of about my height with a pale skin and faded freckled face and lovely, thoughtful green eyes. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Yeah, I was in a poor network reception area. Work Thing." I muttered as I slammed the door shut behind me and threw my span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"handbag/span on the sofa. "Why did you call?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Did you speak to Andrew?" she asked, as she leaned on the door of the open refrigerator./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Not today." I vaguely replied and threw myself on the couch, a faded pistachio color that we had bought on a sale during our final year of college and transported it to our new home. My calf muscles and thighs ached from the prolonged standing in our site visit and nothing soothed them better than throwing them on the small table in front me and relaxing./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Megan's eyes narrowed at me. She was upset about span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"something,/span and I hadn't the slightest clue. I tried to think but all I wanted to do was sleep, I was exhausted. But Megan had other plans for us today./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Knowing now that I had no clue of what she was referring to, she gave in with a sigh./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""It's Andrew's birthday," she mumbled, disappointed by my attitude./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanem style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"Oh! /emNow it came back to me. Now I knew what she was referring to. I had completely forgotten about it since the arrival of my new project. span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"I looked at her from the corner of my/span eye in regret as my head lay on the support of the cushion, Megan had distinctly reminded me yesterday. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Damn!/span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""I forgot," I lifted my head upright and shifted on the couch. "You have no idea what a crazy day I had at work today," I paused before continuing. I was sure that my excuses weren't going to get me anywhere with Megan. "I'll call him now."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"I twisted on my side where my purse was and began searching for my phone, but before I could find span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"it,/span Megan put it to an end./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Don't bother now," she began. "We are going out. Now. Wish span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"him/span then," and she went back to digging into the refrigerator. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Now?" And that's when I realized that she was dressed up in her dark maroon skater dress with her new pearl earrings and matching bracelet. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""It's weekend, Xandra. Cheer up." Megan came out of the refrigerator with a box of span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"half-eaten/span chocolate bar and closed the door./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""I'm too spent to go out," I complained wearily. "I'd rather sleep."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Don't be a spoilsport Xandra. Go freshen up and get dressed." She ordered me. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Okay," I agreed. I had no way of escaping her, any argument and she would win easily./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"I lifted my sore body and walked into my bedroom, peeking into my closet that was stuffed with limited styles of clothing. I picked out a dark emerald black dress and laid it on the bed. I then quickly jumped into a hot shower to burn off all my tiredness. It felt amazing how the flow of hot water from my head to my feet felt like a magical healing serum that eased my body ache. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"I towel dried myself and wrapped it around me before I got out of the bathroom. I zipped into my dress and stared at the stranger in the mirror. The girl in the mirror stared back at me, her pale skin with a hint of blush – an after-shower effect and chestnut eyes were distracted by the young entrepreneur she had met earlier today./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-no-proof: yes;"No man has ever affected me the way/spanspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" Michael Wright span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"had,/span and it unraveled me. What is it about him that drew me to him? His sulky dreamy gray eyes and courteous manners felt like he had fallen from a world that was far away from ours. The way he carried himself, the way words came so smoothly out of his lips and the way he knew exactly what I was thinking made my body quiver for his sight again./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Stop it! /span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"I scolded myself. But there was no way of shaking my mind of the scenes that occurred in the morning./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-no-proof: yes;"My cheeks flushed pink at the thought of/spanspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" his eyes looking into mine. I could still picture his black suit and his gray tie, his hand in one of the pockets of his span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"trousers/span. He was too young to be rich. His words repeated in my mind, his voice warm and soft and calm and so many goods I couldn't possibly describe. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"The more and more I thought of him the deeper I engaged myself in a dream that would never be a reality. It was a dream that I feared waking up to. It was a place I never wanted to span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"leave,/span and it was a place where Michael Wright was there. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Are you done? We got to hurry." Megan yelled from behind the door. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Oh shit! I glared at the watch I had just worn. My nonsensical thinking had delayed us of our departure./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"One of the best things about Megan was that she never invaded your privacy. She would always give you all the space required to be and do whatever you want. It was span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"comfortable/span living with her in a way, which I loved immensely. And she never judged you, which worked great with me when I first met her in college./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Almost done," I stated as I came out of the span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"beautiful/span illusion of Michael Wright. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"I lightly glided a nude rose pink lipstick on my lips and let my hair loose. span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"I then went on a hunt for a/span small span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"handbag/span to compliment my evening's attire. Luckily, I found my old black clutch, a gift from my mother on my twenty-second birthday, and it was perfect for my outfit. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"I then quickly opened the door to show Megan that I'm ready to go. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"The bar was loud and crowded, felt like half the population of Seattle decided to get drunk. The music was almost span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"deafening,/span and most the crowd was dancing to its tune. I spotted Janine at the corner of the bar, she waved at us. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Janine was a span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"soft-spoken/span, shy girl with large black eyes and chubby cheeks whom Andrew began span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"dating over a year ago and got engaged/span to three months ago. The big day for them was set in six span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"weeks,/span and she sounded ecstatically excited over the phone when she called to announce it./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Andrew stood next to her in a plain white shirt and jeans and a rugged look span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"like he hadn't had time to shave in/span over a week. I knew Andrew before I went to college with him. We sort of landed in the same college which was lucky for both of us, made is sustain through the initial stage in the new city. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Habitually he was somewhat similar to Janine which makes them a great couple. They were perfect for each other./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"I quickly jumped to Andrew's side and gave him a tight hug, my way of starting an apology./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Happy Birthday…!" I screamed through the pounding music of the pub. "I'm so sorry that I didn't wish you earlier. I was caught up with span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"work,/span and it slipped my mind."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Hey," he let go. "It's alright. You're here, celebrating with me. That's important."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"So how is the wedding prep coming along/span?" I asked him, excited that he would be the first among us to be married./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Honestly, it's going hectic. We are still running out of so many span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"arrangements,/span and there are only six weeks." He was gleaming with happiness, his eyes almost lit up when he spoke of his wedding./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""It will all come together just fine. Don't worry about it too much. And let me know if I can help you with something." I offered, he was always like a brother to me./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Actually, there is something that I was hoping you could help me with," he asked meekly./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Go on," I encouraged. "Anything to help you."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Janine is having some trouble with the arrangement of flowers. Maybe you could look into it. Help her out. She is really stressed out about this whole wedding." He remarked./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Sure thing." I agreed./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"And then Megan came after me to wish him again which gave me time to speak to Janine who looked a little weary./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Hey!" I gave her a quick hug, "You don't look so well."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""When people say that weddings are an exhausting affair, believe them." And we both laughed at it./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"I then went and gave a hug to Caleb the part Asian from his father's side. span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"He was a man of few words or/span that's how he introduced himself to others. He kept very few friends and mingled with even fewer, but he was friendly to Megan and me. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Then there was Kayla, the brunette with dark eyes who secretly had a crush on Andrew but withdrew once he got involved with Janine. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"I hastily shifted back to an empty place next to Janine, there were limited seats available and my legs still ached from the morning trip./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Andrew told me you wanted help with the flower arrangements," I began./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Most desperately," she pleaded. "The one I hired are not very comfortable with procuring the flowers I want. They are complaining about its availability. And I can't seem to find another in such short time."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Oh!" I sighed. "I know someone who may be able to help you. I can't assure you if she can get what you want. But it's certainly worth the try."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""That would be great," she appeared a little relieved./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""I'll pass you her number. You can speak to her and let me know if it worked out." The engagement ring – a span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"princess/span cut diamond sparkled on her hand under the flashy light of the bar./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Okay, guys. Let me get something to drink," Andrew announced in our table and disappeared into the crowd, heading for the bar counter. We all made ourselves comfortable at the corner of the bar, away from the dancing crowd. He came back with six small glasses filled with transparent liquid – tequila. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""I thought we might do some shots." And he gave a glass to each of us. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""To Andrew…" Megan span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"said,/span and we clicked our tiny glasses./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""And to my lovely fiancée, Janine," Andrew added. We toasted span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"again,/span and I took a quick gulp. The liquid burned through my throat as it seeped down./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""That was strong," Kayla complained against the bitter taste of the shot./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""That was good," Andrew reframed, his face still adjusting to the taste./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Whose up for another round?" Megan spoke up. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""I'll have a beer," Caleb shouted through all the noise of the club. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Make that two," I added. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Kayla, Janine, and Megan ordered their choices and span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"Andrew,/span and Caleb disappeared in the crowd to fetch our orders. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""So, six weeks more huh!" Megan said to Janine. "How does it feel?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Scary!" she replied in one word./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""I can't relate that. But if you are saying it then it must be true." Megan said. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""After this round, we'll dance," Kayla broke through the music./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"And the four of us agreed./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-no-proof: yes;"By the end of the night, I was/spanspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" three tequila shots down, and two beers to add to my mild tipsiness. The air inside the room began to feel span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"suffocating,/span and for the first time, I felt like I would choke on all the cigarette smoke. I wanted to breathe span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"fresh,/span clean cold air that didn't stink of intoxication, so I told Caleb I was going outside to inhale. The others were busy span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"dancing,/span so he decided to accompany me outside. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"The air on the exterior of the pub was icy as span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"a cold/span breeze swept across the streets of Seattle. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-no-proof: yes;"I took a deep breath and inhaled as much/spanspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" I could. It felt clean, moist and cold, damn cold but it was better than the polluted, stale air circulating in the club. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Feeling better?" Caleb asked as he walked out after me. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Much better. You know, the surroundings around you affect your brain more than the alcohol," I answered, a little dizzy. I could feel the booze crawling up my brains and killing all my cells. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""I think you have had more than usual." He gestured at my state. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"I laughed, a little too loud that a couple nearby turned and looked at me. Penitently, I pulled myself together and controlled my voice./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""I don't think I realized that I was having too much while I was having too much…" I said, trying to sound span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"reasonable/span but I knew Caleb could make out that I was losing it. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""So… what's new with you?" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Nothing really. Same old work, same old life." I almost sang./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"I desperately wanted to tell Caleb about my encounter with Michael Wright, the young billionaire model with whom I may have behaved like a total idiot. It could have passed as an entertaining span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"conversation,/span but I decided to keep the thoughts to myself. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"There was a time, somewhere during the college days and a little later when I confided in Caleb and valued his opinions, but of late we had grown span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"distant,/span and our friendship weakened. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""How are things with you? Haven't seen you much lately. You even missed Kayla's birthday." I spoke, cutting through the awkward silence that fell between us. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""I was caught up with work and most of the weekends I'm busy with the band practice. We are performing at the three strings, Saturday – two weeks from today, so you should come, I would be glad if you did." /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Oh, my God, that's great," I almost screamed but realized again that I wasn't alone on the streets. "Finally, you're doing something big. Caleb Morris, I'm proud of you," and I gave him a quick hug, "I wouldn't miss it for the world." /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"He smiled at me. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"My eyes prowled at the darkness of the street as the wind bit through my skin, a few teens were scattered across the locality, some in groups and others in pairs, and it was among these people that I spotted him for the first. He was standing there, alone in the silhouettes of inky blackness. His face almost shadowed in the night, but his physique was impractical to miss. He stood there patiently staring towards me like I was the prey and he was the hunter, analyzing me, waiting for me, gawking at me. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Do you see that man?" I tried to point out to the stranger with my eyes, avoiding suspicion. "There in the corner…"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Caleb followed my gaze and looked at the man who stood there still like a statue./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""What about him?" he asked./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""He is staring at us," I whispered./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Caleb looked at the man and then looked at me and chuckled. "I think it's the tequila talking now."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""No… No… I'm quite serious." I confessed. "Look at him."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"He did as I asked him to do and now we were both were staring at the stranger who still stood undisturbed by our actions. He patiently span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"leaned/span span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"on/span a wall beside him and continued his stare, fearlessly./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""I think we should go inside and stay with the others," Caleb spoke without looking away. He too felt odd about the stranger and wanted to go with the safer option./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"I nodded in span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"agreement,/span and we rushed inside, back to the deafening music of the pub./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"It was quiet and peaceful. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-no-proof: yes;"I flickered my eyes to adjust to the/spanspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" ostentatious light storming through the open window that had flooded the entire room. I tried to rise from my sleeping position but the aching the head had captured all my attention. My body ached enormously with every move I made to sit upright./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"I looked around and realized I was in my room, but the memory of me coming here and lying down had not quite clicked in my head. I was in my blue pajama's and a white span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"t-shirt,/span but I couldn't recollect wearing them. Everything was hazy and dark in my mind. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"emspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"How is it that I don't remember any of this?/span/emspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Shattered memories of last night began slithering in my brain. We were in a span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"pub,/span and I was drinking, we were celebrating Andrew's birthday and then nothing. That's all I remembered. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"I rushed out of the room, calling for Megan, probably she could fill in the empty spaces. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Megan," I called. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Oh, look who is up." It was Megan busy mixing something in the bowl with span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"an /spanegg beater behind the kitchen counter. Her tone was a little span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"dangerous,/span so I knew I was in trouble. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""How are you feeling?" I turned around and saw Caleb, spreading himself on the couch. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""You slept here? On the span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"sofa/span? Why?" I asked, confused. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Nice," replied Megan. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Here, have this. It will help you with span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"the headache/span." And she handed me Motrin for the pain. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"I poured some water and quickly popped the pill. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""So, are you guys going to tell me what happened?" I shrugged, ashamed even before knowing the story. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""What was the last thing you remember?" Megan asked./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""I remember… span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"we/span were in a club span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"celebrating,/span and we drank." /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Yes, we were celebrating," she continued. span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"And yes, we drank. But you drank a lot." /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""I did?" I doubted myself. "And?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""And then you got really drunk that we had to bring you home," she looked at Caleb. "We," she pointed out to Caleb and herself. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Both of you?" I was confused./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""That's what 'we' means in this room," Megan clarified./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Damn," I sighed. "I must have been really drunk." I took a stool opposite the kitchen table and pressed my temple with my palm./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""But Kayla was much worse. It's good you didn't see her throw up. It was disastrous." Her expressions were more than enough for me to figure out./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"emspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Urgh! /span/emspan style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""I'm sorry, I was reckless." I apologized, feeling horrible. "How is Kayla now?" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""No idea. Hasn't answered any of my calls yet."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Oh!" I muttered./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""I think I'll take off, got some work to wind up." Caleb got off the couch and slipped into his shoes. "You take care Xandra," he gave span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"Megan and me/span a quick hug and was gone. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"I shut the door behind him and crawled myself on the couch, trying to relax my body. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Megan was busy frying the span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"pancakes/span. I rested my head on the back of the span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"sofa/span and closed my eyes, forcing my brain to remember last night. But everything was black and blur./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""So, who's Michael?" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""What?" I cried out loud. My head jerked off and stared at Megan. Shocked. Surprised. Even petrified. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"I tried to swallow the lump forming in my throat. How does span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"she/span know that name? My eyes narrowed at her in suspicion./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Where... where did you hear that?" I stammered. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"Megan focused on me, trying to rattle out an answer. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""You blabbered his name last night while you were drunk." She vaguely put it. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"My cheeks went red hot, I had to answer her or else she would badger out the truth from me. I would have to blurt out my little stare incident and how I was in awe for span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"him/span. Or better I could lie and get out of this situation, but my creative senses had almost departed me that very instant./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""No one. Just a client. That's all." That was the best I cooked up./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""No one? Are you sure?" she stared at me. "You might have mentioned his name more than once," she teased me. She was enjoying this. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""I was at the site yesterday and my new client – Michael, was there." I struggled to find words./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""Is that why you were so tired yesterday?" she raised an eyebrow, curiously./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""No," I protested. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""So, is he hot?" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""What? No," I shrugged. "I mean sort of," I admitted, to myself more than to her. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;""No wonder," she gave a sly smile. /span/p
