Jamie and I sat down in the center court, opposite each other. It was a beautiful spring day. The sun was shining and the weather was warm. The sun great felt on my skin, and helped relaxed my building nerves. We sat there quiet just looking around and at each other; that is until Jamie broke the silence.
"So Winnie, I take it you're a transfer?"
"Is it that obvious?"
He let out a small chuckle. "Yeah kinda. So what brought you to this college?"
"I just moved here from California."
"Big change. How are you holding up so far?"
"Good I guess." I looked up at him. I had been starring at my coffee the entire time. Why did I feel so nervous around this guy?
"So why did you move here?"
"Jeez. Are you writing a book?" I looked up from my coffee.
"Call it intrigued."
I let out a big sigh, not sure if I should unload all of my problems on this guy I knew for five minutes. I decided that maybe venting to someone who wasn't my mother may do my head some good.
"Well my parents divorced when I was nine and my mom left. About a year ago my dad was diagnosed with cancer, and he died a month ago. I dropped out of college there and came here to live with my mother. She's the only "family" I have left."
I looked up from my coffee again to see Jamie intently starring at me.
"I'm sorry for your loss."
"It's okay. I don't need sympathy."
"Yeah well-"
"So why are you here?" I cut him off. I didn't want to talk about me anymore. I was finally adjusting to life here and I didn't need someone prodding at my new found acceptance.
"I'm studying to be an officer."
"As in the police?"
"Yes."
"Well that's noble of you."
"I guess you could say that."
"And you live with your parents?"
"No. Actually. I live with roommates."
"Oh really?"
"Yeah Charlie and Harry."
"Did I hear my name?" someone called from behind me. I turned around to see the two guys from history that sat with Jamie headed our way.
"Hey guys." Jamie waved them over. "This is Winnie. She's new." He gestured towards me.
"Thanks" I whispered to him
"No problem." He whispered back
Hey what's up?" the tall one asked. He had dark brown hair and eyes to match. He was actually kind of cute. "The names Harry." He held out his hand for me to shake.
"Hi." Was all I could muster. Next to Harry stood and equally as tall buzzed cut man with bright blue eyes.
"Charlie." He held out his hand and I shook it. His grip was firm, too firm for me. He was intimidating to say the least.
"Nice to meet you."
"Likewise."
"So Jamie what ya doing? You said you were gonna meet up with us."
"Sorry Harry. I bumped into Winnie on the way out of class, after talking to Andrews. Offered up a cup of coffee, ya know."
"Always the charming one." Harry shot back.
"I can't believe Andrews is back so soon!" Charlie spoke out.
"I know. I figured he would have been gone for at least a few more weeks, if not more."
"What are you talking about?" they all looked towards me.
"Mr. Andrews' ex wife passed away. Tragically I might add. His little girl was staying with her. He went out for the funeral and to get her and bring her back with him." Jamie spoke. His voice dropped down a few octaves.
"How sad." I didn't know really how to react. I hardly knew the man.
"Yeah it is. Such a nice guy. I've taken one of his classes each semester."
"Cause Jamie's a kiss ass."
"Shut up man."
"No it's true. Andrews and Jamie have a bromance going on. It's really starting to interfere with our…our triple bromance."
"First off that's not true. And second, that wasn't grammatically correct Charlie."
"Dude. No wonder you're still at a community college and how old?"
"Harry! I am not that old!"
"Whatever man."
I had a sudden déjà vu. I remembered this conversation. I started to zone out, trying to place where I might remember this from.
"Winnie? Winnie?"
"What? Sorry."
Jamie let out a small laugh.
"It's alright.
I listened as the guys carried on their conversation. I happened to glance down at my phone when I noticed a missed call. I opened my phone and saw it was from Corey. Shit. Corey is my ex I guess you could call him. We never officially broke up, but I made it clear that I never intended to carry out a long distance relationship. Nor did I want to carry out a verbally abusive one for that matter. I just figured that with us being on different sides of the country we would both forget about each other and move on. I decided I would ignore it, until my phone started to ring again.
"Maybe you should answer it." I glanced up from my phone to see all three boys looking at me. I held up my finger and hit answer on my phone.
"Hello?"
"Winnie! What the fuck! I've been so worried about you. Why the hell haven't you called me?"
"Because I made it clear to you that I didn't want to talk to you!"
"What?! What are you talking about?"
"Corey. I told you I. Am. Done." I carried out each word.
"You ungrateful bitch!"
"How am I an ungrateful bitch?" I shouted back into the phone. Everyone was staring at me now. Fantastic.
"I was there for you when your dad croaked, and now you leave and say we're done?"
"Are you serious?" my voice dropped down to a whisper as tears pricked at my eyes. How could he talk so carelessly about my dad?
"Goodbye Corey." And I shut my phone as one single tear rolled down my cheek.
"I'll catch you later man." Charlie whispered to Jamie. Both Harry and Charlie walked back from the way they came. Jamie reached out and lifted my chin. I felt a sudden shock again, and another pang of déjà vu.
"Hey. You alright?"
"Yeah. Thanks." I looked down at my phone again and noticed it was already 1:10. Shit I had to get to class.
"Common. I'll walk you to your class." Jamie said in a soothing voice, reading my thoughts.
X
After class let out I started walking towards the exit of campus. It had been a rough day, what with new faces, friends, and Corey's unnecessary phone call. It seriously had put a hole in my day. I wanted nothing more than to get home, and boy I never thought I would say that.
I had just made it to the end of campus when Jamie caught my arm.
"Hey stranger. How was your class."
"Enticing." I mocked fake enthusiasm.
"Oh I bet. What was it?"
"Math"
"Oh yeah. A truly riveting experience."
I smiled my first genuine smile since I had arrived here. It felt good.
"So where are ya headed?" Jamie questioned.
"Home."
"Oh. You're not going out with all the friends you made today."
I bumped his shoulder.
"Ha-Ha! Very funny."
"What?"
"Don't be coy."
"No seriously. You're gonna go home? You're in New York City, and that's where you're gonna go?"
"Yeah." Was this a trick question?
"Common I'll give you a tour." He started to pull on my arm.
"Not today! I really just want to get home. But I'll take a rain check." I smiled at him.
"Oh alright. Want me to walk you home?"
"Sure."
We walked in silence the entire way. But it was a nice and peaceful silence, not awkward at all.
"Well here we are." I turned to face him when we arrived at my building.
"Well it was nice meeting you today." Jamie smiled.
"You too. Thanks." I turned to walk up the steps.
"Hey. Do you have classes tomorrow?"
"Umm…" I pulled out my schedule. "No. Wednesday and Friday."
"Okay." He smiled and turned to walk down the street. Weird.
X
When I got home yesterday I took a shower and quickly changed. I went downstairs, ate dinner and went back up into my room. I wasn't much for holding conversations in general, let alone with my mother. I snuggled under my sheets relatively early and opened a new book. I didn't fall asleep until I finished it. It ended up being 3:00 AM, before I finally fell asleep.
I awoke the next morning to hearing the doorbell go off. I turned over throwing the pillows over my head to try and block out the noise. I heard footsteps on the stairs followed by a light knock on the door. I didn't say anything in hopes that whoever it was would know I am not in the mood and would go away.
"Winnie?" Obviously not.
"What?" I turned back over and opened one eye to see Jamie standing in my door way.
"What in the hell…"
"I am holding you to that rain check. I just didn't think you would be asleep still. Sorry."
"What time is it?"
"It's 10:33"
"It's 7:33."
"I said ten not seven."
"It's seven my time. California, remember." I mumbled still covered in my blankets.
"Oh. Shit. I'm sorry."
"It's fine. It's fine. I'll get up." I threw the blankets off of me and padded into the adjoining bathroom. I walked back out moments later with my hair and teeth brushed, and the contents of yesterdays makeup removed from under my still sleepy eyes. I walked over the closet.
"What's it like outside."
"It's nice."
I returned my focus to the closet and pulled out a pair of jean capris a light pink short sleeved shirt and a baby blue blazer. I walked back into the bathroom and quickly got changed. I emerged five minutes later to find Jamie sitting on my bed.
"Comfy." He smiled at me. I just shook my head, taking a seat at my vanity and sliding on my Sperry's. I turned and looked at my reflection. My eyes were wide and bright, and my hair fell down nicely. For once, it decided to cooperate.
"Ready?"
"Yes ma'am."
We walked down the stairs to find my mother and Troy sitting at the dining table eating breakfast. I tried to sneak past them, trying to avoid any conversation with my mother. I knew she would have something to say about-
"Oh honey!" shit.
"Yeah." I let out an annoyed groan. She got up from her seat and walked towards me.
"You didn't tell me you made a friend yesterday." Her eyes went from me to Jamie.
"I wasn't in much of a talking mood yesterday."
"Ahh well. So what are you kids up to."
"Umm…"
"I'm giving Winnie a tour of the city." Jamie cut me off.
"Oh how sweet. Here honey." My mom placed something in my blazer pocket. "Don't spend it all in one place." She smiled a sickly sweet smile at me and walked back to the table.
We walked out of the house quickly and down the street towards the starbucks.
"I need coffee."
"I can tell." He let out a small laugh.
I just rolled my eyes and pulled open the door to heaven. The smell of coffee greeted my nose, and it was oh so welcoming. I got up to the register and placed my order.
"That will be 2.28." the man said with a smile.
I reached into my pocket to grab the money my mother gave me, and pulled out five one hundred dollar bills.
"Are you fucking kidding me?" I was appalled. Where did my mother get off on giving me half a grand?
I dug into my purse and pulled out three one dollar bills and handed it to the man. He gave me my change which I tossed into the tip jar, took my coffee and exited the building. I had half a mind to go back home and throw the money back in my mother's face.
"What's wrong?" Jamie said catching up to me. I had forgotten he was with me.
"My mother." I said through gritted teeth.
"What happened?"
I didn't say anything I just pulled the money out of my pocket and showed him.
"Holy…" Jamie was lost for words. "Put that back in your pocket. You wanna get robbed? You're in New York." I shoved the money back in my pocket quickly.
"I don't know who she thinks she is. Just because she has some money, does she feel the need to flaunt it? You know I never saw a dime of child support and neither did my dad when I was growing up. And now she thinks she can just hand me "play money" like this? Is she crazy?"
I was hysterical. I really lost my cool this time. I was just so mad.
"Alright. Calm down." Jamie tried to calm me. "I know what will cheer you up."
"What?" I wasn't in the mood to explore anymore.
"Let me show you the magic of New York." And with that he took me by the arm and we walked up 7th avenue towards the wonders the city had to offer.
