The Apartment
By Emilie Trig
Chapter 3
I woke up to the delicious smell of pancakes in the early morning.
Somehow, my alarm clock had gone ballistic over night and hadn't woken me up. I ran out
of bed and swung my door open to see what was going on. And as it turned out,
Darien stood by the stove, flipping pancakes. He wore a suit. The vest had come off and his
dress shirt showed. I could only see his back.
"Darien?" I asked, making sure that it was really him. I rubbed one
sleepy eye.
He turned around and a smile reached my lips. He was wearing my pink
kitchen apron. It made a funny picture. I've never seen a guy in a pink kitchen
apron before, let alone a kitchen apron itself.
"Good morning meatball head." Darien smiled lightly. "I took the
liberty of making breakfast this morning. You've overslept."
I looked at the clock; 8:15 a.m. It was almost time for me to go to
work and it was way past the time he had to leave.
"It's late. Aren't you supposed to be at work?" I asked him, wondering
why he didn't leave earlier.
"I already called in. I told my boss that I was going to be a bit late
today. We're close friends so he understands."
"Really," I grinned at him with adoring eyes, "Thanks for staying at
home and making breakfast for me this morning. I know it's my job to provide
breakfast."
"It's no problem," he said with a polite smile etched across his lips.
His smiling eyes looked down toward me.
I smiled back and looked into his eyes. And suddenly thought, Darien's
eyes really were beautiful.
"Well then," I said to him, "I'll go change and see if your pancakes
taste as delicious as it smells."
I left him to flipping pancakes. And when I got back dressed in my
plain uniform again, Darien had already piled two plates with delicious looking
pancakes.
I took a seat and Darien did too. We started eating and I took the
first bite. These pancakes really did taste good. Darien was not only nice and polite,
but he was also a great cook.
"I leave in a few minutes," I said to him, swallowing my last bite.
"When are you leaving?"
Darien dabbed a napkin to his mouth and said, "Whenever you leave."
"Well, I guess I should leave now." I said to him. It was that time to
go to work again. I glowered at the thought of work. I wasn't lazy of working. I
just hated Pete and his wife. You know I can't stand them.
We both stood up and Darien took my plate along with his to the sink.
And soon after that we left the apartment.
"Have a great day at work, Darien," I said, when we were about to
part. I tiptoed up to straighten out the knot in his tie. "And thanks for making me a
great breakfast this morning. I appreciate it."
And I really meant it. I do appreciate his thoughtfulness in making me
breakfast. No one had ever made me breakfast before—except for Andrew. I've always
made my own meals.
"You have a good day too, Serena." He replied. His breathing had
become audible and I heard him inhale a quick breath.
I gave him a wide smile before I turned to leave. We both went
separated ways again. He drove in his car and I drove in mine—-both in opposite
directions.
******************************
The rest of the day and the next went by in a breeze of a second.
Thursday afternoon had come and the night of the club invitation was here. I was running
around in my room when I heard a knock.
"I need a couple more minutes," I said, then ran across the room to
check on my reflection in the mirror. I've spent a pretty good hour in my room,
trying to find an outfit that will look decent looking enough for a club. My room looked like it
had been ramshackle. It had built up to be worse than Andrew's room, which was
really bad. Have you ever even seen Andrew's room? A pig's pen would probably portray to his
hideous room.
"Okay," Darien replied patiently, "Take your time." He walked back to
the couch.
After a few minutes, I surfaced. I was all dressed and ready. I looked
over to Darien, who was sitting on the couch. What was he thinking? I asked
myself when I noticed what kind of clothing he wore.
"Darien," I said, catching his attention. "What are you wearing?"
"This." He replied quizzically, "Is something wrong with it?"
Yes! I thought to myself. Something is wrong with it. Darien was going
to Club Déjà vu wearing a plain tucked in white dress shirt and dark blue
pants. He looked more like he was going to work than clubbing. I can't believe the guy. I
knew I should have done a check on what he was going to wear.
"You're not wearing that!" I said pointing to his clothing like it was
too gruesome to even look at.
"Nothing's wrong with it." Darien replied, unworriedly.
"No," I said to him, "we'll go in your room and see what else there is
to wear."
Just then, a horn honked outside of my apartment and I knew it was
Andrew and Mina. They were here. Darien's one lucky guy, I said to myself. If they
would have given me a few more minutes, I'd probably drag Darien back in his room and
dress him myself.
"You're lucky, pal." I said to him with accusing eyes.
Darien smiled at a corner of his lips, knowing how lucky he just was
to escape my wrath.
I pulled Darien down the stairs and we were out of the apartment.
Andrew's car awaited us from across the street and I could see Mina waving at me
through the window.
"Hi big bro," I said to Andrew when I got in his jeep. How he even had
the money to afford the jeep, I had no clue.
"This is Darien," I said to Mina and Andrew. "Darien, this is Andrew
and Mina."
Mina said a cheery hi to Darien, while Andrew gave him a nod of a
welcome.
"So," Andrew said to Darien as he took a turn on the road, "You're my
sister's new roommate. She's not picking on you, is she? She can be real bossy
at times."
Andrew's face cracked a smile and I smacked him. The rest of the way
was all talks. Everyone was busy in making conversation except for Darien, who
spoke very little. He occasionally laughed at a few jokes on the way, but that was
probably it.
*******************************
"You big nerd," I whispered to Darien when we went in the club. I
still didn't forgive him for wearing the kind of clothing he wore right now.
Everyone was wearing skin-tight clothing and party attire, while nerdy Darien wore his work
clothing.
"So, I'm a big nerd," Darien said with a teasing smile, "So what?"
I whacked him in the arm with my purse and then turned my attention to
Andrew and Mina. "We're going to get some drinks. You want some?"
"No," Mina said then pulled Andrew to the dance floor, "We're going
dancing."
The music pounded loud and hard. People laughed and drank without a
care. The dance floor held a large crowd of wild people dancing.
"Hey!" I yelled loudly to Darien, "Amy and Greg are at the counter!"
"Who's Amy and who's Greg?" Darien asked in bewilderment.
"My friends," I said to Darien with a widening smile.
I pulled him to where Greg and Amy sat at the counter. They both were
talking and hadn't even noticed me. I wonder why they had gone to Club Déjà vu
in the first place. Greg and Amy were both careful people. They were the last two
people on earth that I thought would step into a club. Besides, they were supposed to be out
of the city to Greg's parent's home. Amy was supposed to 'meet the parents', since
Greg gave her an engagement ring.
"Amy!" I shouted her name again.
She wheeled her chair around. "Serena? Is that you?"
"Oh Amy," I ran up to her and gave her a hug, "When did you come back?
It's been a month since you were out of the city. When did you come back?
Why didn't you call me?"
Amy giggled happily. "I came back yesterday night. I was so tired that
I forgot to call you. I'm still fatigued from the flight home."
"Then why are you here?" I asked her.
"Greg's sister came home with us to Albany. She dragged us to the
club. You know I'd never step into a club if I didn't have to."
"It's so good to see you," I said then hugged her once more. Amy and I
both giggled in delight.
I looked over to Darien. He stood in silence watching me. I'd almost
forgotten about him. "This is Darien Corrigan. My new roommate since Andy moved
out." I said to Amy.
"It's nice to meet you," Amy said with a welcoming nod. "This is my
fiancé Greg." She said, pointing to Greg.
Darien and Greg both nodded a simple hi to each other. Guys, I
thought. Couldn't they do anything else, but give each other a nod?
And when we were going to start a new conversation. Amy eyes were suddenly
on a coming figure and I turned to see who it was that she was looking at.
"Hey cutie," the girl said to Darien. She elbowed Darien on the side and gave him a seducing wink.
"This is Melinda, Serena. Greg's little sister." Amy introduced me to
her.
Melinda looked as old as me, maybe a little older. She was utterly
beautiful and didn't even make a note to hide it. Her dress showed every curve there
was too see, which annoyed me at first. But if she had the body, it was hers to show
it off. Melinda's curvy brown hair was cut short to shoulder length. Her brown hair was
the only trait that I could relate her to Greg. They didn't even look a tiny bit identical.
Only their hair marked them as related.
"Is this your date?" Melinda asked me. Her voice sounded so seducing.
I gave her a quick nod.
"Mind if I take your handsome man to the dance floor?"
"Take him away," I said to her. Then to Darien, "Have a great time and don't be
afraid to show your wild side. I know it's in there somewhere."
I gave him a charming smile and he left with Melinda. Darien looked
reluctant to go, but Greg's sister pulled him right out to the dance floor. Greg
left immediately after that. He said he wanted to go to the restroom, but I knew Greg was only
giving me and Amy some time together. And as soon as Darien disappeared from my
sight, I went back to talking to Amy. There were so many things to say.
"How are you and the gang?" Amy asked. Her hands wrapped around a
glass of water and I smiled at that. Who would order a glass of water in a club?
How did Amy even find a glass of water in this place?
"I'm fine." I told her, "I haven't talked to Raye in a long time, so I
have no clue how she's doing. I just talked to Lita the other day. She's doing fine
too. She took a trip to Chicago a few days ago for some business reasons."
I smiled a cheerful smile then ordered myself a glass of alcohol. (AN:
I don't drink any kind of alcohol, so I don't know what brand Serena should drink.)
The bartender gave me a small cup and I quickly dunked it down my throat.
"And how have you been? How were Greg's parents? Did you like them?
Did they find you agreeable?"
Amy giggled. "You always have too many questions for me to answer."
"I can't help it. You only phoned me once during your whole trip."
"And I can't help that, either. His parents lived in the country side.
They didn't believe in 'phones'."
"Okay, I guess you're forgiven." I told her.
"I didn't even ask for forgiveness." Amy said in a laughing tone.
We both laughed and then the laughter died down.
"I miss Ken, Amy. He went to Chicago, too. A few days before Lita
left." I said to her. I really did miss him. He hadn't called me in a while and I was
beginning to wonder what had happen to him.
"Serena," Amy said to me gingerly, as if she was afraid she'd step on
my feelings. "Have you ever noticed anything between Lita and Ken?"
"What is there to know? They're best friends."
"You don't see the sparks in their eyes when they're together?"
"What sparks," I said to her in a laughing tone. "There's no sparks."
Amy looked down at her glass cup. She was silent. Amy looked like she
was pondering whether or not she should tell me something.
I sat in silence with her. Were there sparks between Ken and Lita? Has
it always been there? How did I not notice it? Am I the only one who missed it?
And that was when I stumbled across the possibility between Ken and Lita. Did Amy
suspect that they were cheating on me? The same suspicion that I thought Ken wasn't
capable of doing. Only now, Lita was involved in this whole messy business.
"Amy," I said with a voice full of hopes, "You don't think Lita and
Ken…" I paused. I couldn't finish the line, couldn't even bring myself to say the hateful
word.
"Yes, Serena." She drawled out slowly. "I had these suspicions for a
long time, but I've never told you. I think Mina had these suspicions, too."
"Oh, Amy," I said fearfully. "I suspected too, but Ken and Lita? They
wouldn't. Ken isn't like that. Lita isn't, either. I think we're jumping to
conclusions. We must be, Amy. There is just no way. How can we even think that Lita would do
such a thing?"
I rubbed a palm of my hand to my forehead. The loud music was getting
to me. I couldn't think straight anymore. I knew a nasty headache was coming on
its way to torture me. My head spun. Ken and Lita? Lita and Ken? Their names
whirled around my head. They couldn't, they wouldn't. I must be jumping to conclusions, I
told myself. I needed to get home. I needed to call Ken. Just to make sure. My
suspicion had gone overboard and I really needed to call Ken. I needed to regain my confidence and
Ken was the only one to tell me.
"Amy," I said to her. "I'm going home. Andrew and Mina are here. Can
you tell them I went home? Tell them I had a bad headache and needed to get home
real bad."
I picked up my purse and collected myself. Greg came back soon enough
and had asked me if I was okay. Was it that easy to see through me? I thought.
Was I that visible?
I told Greg that I was okay and gave him a quick goodbye kiss before I
left. I marched myself to the exit. My feet took quick strides.
God, I thought to myself. Help me. Don't let this nightmare come true.
I wasn't ready for it. The thought of Ken and Lita whirled faster in my head.
Lita and Ken. Ken and Lita. How could this be? I thought. A headache was definitely
forming. I needed to get out of this club.
I walked past the exit and a hand shot out to pull me back. It was
Darien. I'd forgotten about him.
"Where are you going?" he asked me.
"Home." I told him simply. All I wanted now was to go home. Nothing
else mattered.
Darien looked at me. I think he understood of my needs to go home
because he didn't ask anymore questions.
"I'll take you home," he told me.
I looked at him and then nodded. I didn't want to say anymore. I just
wanted to get home. He hailed for a taxi cab and we were on our way home.
Throughout the whole taxi cab ride, I was silent and Darien was too.
He didn't ask me what had happen or why I chose to go home so early. He remained quiet
and was letting me have my space.
When we got home, I ran to my room and shut the door behind me. I
didn't even bother to say anything to Darien. I knew he would understand that I had
personal business I needed to take care of. I threw my purse aside and grabbed
for the phone on my side drawer. I looked for Ken's phone number in my address book and
dialed it as fast as I could.
I waited impatiently for someone to answer. And with every unanswered
ring, my heart squeezed in anticipation. I needed Ken to answer my questions really
badly. What if he said yes, that he was having an affair with Lita behind my back? What would
I say to him and to Lita? How will I ever talk to Lita ever again? Everything would be
so confusing. How would I even react? On the other hand, if Ken said no
and that I was the one who jumped to conclusions too quickly, then everything would be
okay. It would only be my fault for jumping to conclusions.
In my heart and in my mind, I was hoping that it was my entire fault
for jumping into conclusions. I hoped and wished it my fault. I wanted everything to be blame
on me for jumping into conclusions.
The phone rang a couple more times and just when I was about to give
up, someone did answer the phone. Only that it wasn't Ken, but Lita who
picked up the phone.
"Hello?" Lita said cheerily over the phone. She sounded real happy.
I recognized her voice right off the bat and the instant that I
recognized her voice, my heart sank to the bottom. It was over for good, I thought. She and
Ken really did cheat me behind my back. I didn't even need to ask the question and I knew. A
sixth sense had told me. But I still had to ask the question anyway. I owed it to them
and to myself to ask.
"You and Ken, Lita. Is it true?" I asked straight out. I held my voice
firm.
Lita remained silent over the other line. She knew it was me speaking
to her. "I'm sorry, Serena." Lita started to apologize. "I didn't mean to tell you
this way."
From after she said I'm sorry, I blanked out. Overwhelming emotion
came crashing down on me. So I was right about all these suspicions I had about Ken
after all this time. I guess Ken was capable of cheating on me after all. I couldn't
believe he would do something like this. I couldn't believe they would do something like
this.
My heart squeezed tight and I could feel a block of pain over my
heart. The tears started to well up in my eyes, and I closed my eye lids to prevent any
tears from escaping. I didn't want to cry.
"Serena. Serena?" Lita repeated over and over again. I heard Ken at a
far distance from the phone. He asked who it was and when he founded out that it was
me; he'd taken over the telephone. "Forgive me," he started to say, but my mind was
too numb and too frozen to even listen. The tears started to seep through my eye lids
and I couldn't control them from escaping any longer. The pain had gone too deep and too large
for me to contain.
I couldn't speak for the longest time, but when I'd finally found my voice to speak again, I said
shakily to the the both of them. "It's okay." My voice was barely even a whisper and barely audible
to the ear. It was more than shaky now, but I'd tried my best to keep it calm. "I'll be fine. Everything's
going to be okay." I told them both and then numbly turn off the phone.
Everything was going to be okay, I had told them. I'll be fine, I had said. It was
all crap. Nothing was going to be okay and I wasn't going to be fine. I wanted everything to
be fine, but life didn't work out that way. And my heart doesn't mend quite as easily as I want it to.
Tears flowed freely down my face and I welcomed it. I needed to cry. I
sat scrunched up in a ball on the floor, my back against the bed side.
Ken, I thought, charming Ken. I could see a perfect picture of him in
my head, but my tears quickly blurred the sight of him. How could he? Why did he? I
thought he loved me, but I guess not.
I must have sat in my room crying for a long while, because I'd
forgotten about Darien again. He knocked lightly on my door.
"Are you alright, Serena?" Darien asked from outside. His voice
sounded concerned.
No, I replied solemnly to myself. I wasn't going to be alright. Not
alright at all. Nothing was going to be alright anymore. Ken was gone and so was my
best friend, Lita. They both betrayed me. I'd trusted both Ken and Lita with all my heart
and look at the outcome of the whole situation.
I felt like an abandoned puppy. I felt like I only had me and myself.
I was a lost and forgotten puppy without anyone to hold or comfort me. I felt deserted.
I didn't bother to answer Darien, and even if I did try, nothing would
come out. Tears started to pour more rapidly down my face and I'd let my face
wipe the tears off from my sleeve. My head bowed down to my knees and blocked everything
from my sight. It was just me in this lonely world.
"Serena?" Darien asked again. His voice seemed more concerned and
worried this time.
I looked up with wet eyes; I saw that he was close up now. Darien was
no longer standing behind the door, but knelt down beside me. His eyes looked so
tender and so warm, so understanding for something I hadn't even explained to him and
so inviting for me to tell him whatever problem I was having.
And it was the tender, warm, understanding, and inviting response
shining in his eyes that made my arms come up to encircle him. I'd pulled myself
against Darien and I'd cried my heart out. I needed someone to cry on and I decided that it was
Darien--my over-polite apartment roommate--that I needed the shoulder to cry on. I didn't care
if I was getting his shirt dirty and wet. All I needed was a friend and Darien was the
only one available.
To be continued……...
AN: That was chapter 3. This chapter was longer than I expected. My
sister said that I'd rushed on this chapter, so I don't know how bad I did.
Anyways, thank you to the people who emailed me. You know who you are!
Don't think that I think too lightly of u mailers. And THANKS A BUNCH to
my new editor midnight rose for editing chapter 3 and hopefully future chapters of 'the apartment'.
Thank You....midnight rose!. And Before I go…PLEASE...email me at roses2small@yahoo.com.
SUGGESTIONS, COMMENTS, AND EVEN criticism are welcome.
By Emilie Trig
Chapter 3
I woke up to the delicious smell of pancakes in the early morning.
Somehow, my alarm clock had gone ballistic over night and hadn't woken me up. I ran out
of bed and swung my door open to see what was going on. And as it turned out,
Darien stood by the stove, flipping pancakes. He wore a suit. The vest had come off and his
dress shirt showed. I could only see his back.
"Darien?" I asked, making sure that it was really him. I rubbed one
sleepy eye.
He turned around and a smile reached my lips. He was wearing my pink
kitchen apron. It made a funny picture. I've never seen a guy in a pink kitchen
apron before, let alone a kitchen apron itself.
"Good morning meatball head." Darien smiled lightly. "I took the
liberty of making breakfast this morning. You've overslept."
I looked at the clock; 8:15 a.m. It was almost time for me to go to
work and it was way past the time he had to leave.
"It's late. Aren't you supposed to be at work?" I asked him, wondering
why he didn't leave earlier.
"I already called in. I told my boss that I was going to be a bit late
today. We're close friends so he understands."
"Really," I grinned at him with adoring eyes, "Thanks for staying at
home and making breakfast for me this morning. I know it's my job to provide
breakfast."
"It's no problem," he said with a polite smile etched across his lips.
His smiling eyes looked down toward me.
I smiled back and looked into his eyes. And suddenly thought, Darien's
eyes really were beautiful.
"Well then," I said to him, "I'll go change and see if your pancakes
taste as delicious as it smells."
I left him to flipping pancakes. And when I got back dressed in my
plain uniform again, Darien had already piled two plates with delicious looking
pancakes.
I took a seat and Darien did too. We started eating and I took the
first bite. These pancakes really did taste good. Darien was not only nice and polite,
but he was also a great cook.
"I leave in a few minutes," I said to him, swallowing my last bite.
"When are you leaving?"
Darien dabbed a napkin to his mouth and said, "Whenever you leave."
"Well, I guess I should leave now." I said to him. It was that time to
go to work again. I glowered at the thought of work. I wasn't lazy of working. I
just hated Pete and his wife. You know I can't stand them.
We both stood up and Darien took my plate along with his to the sink.
And soon after that we left the apartment.
"Have a great day at work, Darien," I said, when we were about to
part. I tiptoed up to straighten out the knot in his tie. "And thanks for making me a
great breakfast this morning. I appreciate it."
And I really meant it. I do appreciate his thoughtfulness in making me
breakfast. No one had ever made me breakfast before—except for Andrew. I've always
made my own meals.
"You have a good day too, Serena." He replied. His breathing had
become audible and I heard him inhale a quick breath.
I gave him a wide smile before I turned to leave. We both went
separated ways again. He drove in his car and I drove in mine—-both in opposite
directions.
******************************
The rest of the day and the next went by in a breeze of a second.
Thursday afternoon had come and the night of the club invitation was here. I was running
around in my room when I heard a knock.
"I need a couple more minutes," I said, then ran across the room to
check on my reflection in the mirror. I've spent a pretty good hour in my room,
trying to find an outfit that will look decent looking enough for a club. My room looked like it
had been ramshackle. It had built up to be worse than Andrew's room, which was
really bad. Have you ever even seen Andrew's room? A pig's pen would probably portray to his
hideous room.
"Okay," Darien replied patiently, "Take your time." He walked back to
the couch.
After a few minutes, I surfaced. I was all dressed and ready. I looked
over to Darien, who was sitting on the couch. What was he thinking? I asked
myself when I noticed what kind of clothing he wore.
"Darien," I said, catching his attention. "What are you wearing?"
"This." He replied quizzically, "Is something wrong with it?"
Yes! I thought to myself. Something is wrong with it. Darien was going
to Club Déjà vu wearing a plain tucked in white dress shirt and dark blue
pants. He looked more like he was going to work than clubbing. I can't believe the guy. I
knew I should have done a check on what he was going to wear.
"You're not wearing that!" I said pointing to his clothing like it was
too gruesome to even look at.
"Nothing's wrong with it." Darien replied, unworriedly.
"No," I said to him, "we'll go in your room and see what else there is
to wear."
Just then, a horn honked outside of my apartment and I knew it was
Andrew and Mina. They were here. Darien's one lucky guy, I said to myself. If they
would have given me a few more minutes, I'd probably drag Darien back in his room and
dress him myself.
"You're lucky, pal." I said to him with accusing eyes.
Darien smiled at a corner of his lips, knowing how lucky he just was
to escape my wrath.
I pulled Darien down the stairs and we were out of the apartment.
Andrew's car awaited us from across the street and I could see Mina waving at me
through the window.
"Hi big bro," I said to Andrew when I got in his jeep. How he even had
the money to afford the jeep, I had no clue.
"This is Darien," I said to Mina and Andrew. "Darien, this is Andrew
and Mina."
Mina said a cheery hi to Darien, while Andrew gave him a nod of a
welcome.
"So," Andrew said to Darien as he took a turn on the road, "You're my
sister's new roommate. She's not picking on you, is she? She can be real bossy
at times."
Andrew's face cracked a smile and I smacked him. The rest of the way
was all talks. Everyone was busy in making conversation except for Darien, who
spoke very little. He occasionally laughed at a few jokes on the way, but that was
probably it.
*******************************
"You big nerd," I whispered to Darien when we went in the club. I
still didn't forgive him for wearing the kind of clothing he wore right now.
Everyone was wearing skin-tight clothing and party attire, while nerdy Darien wore his work
clothing.
"So, I'm a big nerd," Darien said with a teasing smile, "So what?"
I whacked him in the arm with my purse and then turned my attention to
Andrew and Mina. "We're going to get some drinks. You want some?"
"No," Mina said then pulled Andrew to the dance floor, "We're going
dancing."
The music pounded loud and hard. People laughed and drank without a
care. The dance floor held a large crowd of wild people dancing.
"Hey!" I yelled loudly to Darien, "Amy and Greg are at the counter!"
"Who's Amy and who's Greg?" Darien asked in bewilderment.
"My friends," I said to Darien with a widening smile.
I pulled him to where Greg and Amy sat at the counter. They both were
talking and hadn't even noticed me. I wonder why they had gone to Club Déjà vu
in the first place. Greg and Amy were both careful people. They were the last two
people on earth that I thought would step into a club. Besides, they were supposed to be out
of the city to Greg's parent's home. Amy was supposed to 'meet the parents', since
Greg gave her an engagement ring.
"Amy!" I shouted her name again.
She wheeled her chair around. "Serena? Is that you?"
"Oh Amy," I ran up to her and gave her a hug, "When did you come back?
It's been a month since you were out of the city. When did you come back?
Why didn't you call me?"
Amy giggled happily. "I came back yesterday night. I was so tired that
I forgot to call you. I'm still fatigued from the flight home."
"Then why are you here?" I asked her.
"Greg's sister came home with us to Albany. She dragged us to the
club. You know I'd never step into a club if I didn't have to."
"It's so good to see you," I said then hugged her once more. Amy and I
both giggled in delight.
I looked over to Darien. He stood in silence watching me. I'd almost
forgotten about him. "This is Darien Corrigan. My new roommate since Andy moved
out." I said to Amy.
"It's nice to meet you," Amy said with a welcoming nod. "This is my
fiancé Greg." She said, pointing to Greg.
Darien and Greg both nodded a simple hi to each other. Guys, I
thought. Couldn't they do anything else, but give each other a nod?
And when we were going to start a new conversation. Amy eyes were suddenly
on a coming figure and I turned to see who it was that she was looking at.
"Hey cutie," the girl said to Darien. She elbowed Darien on the side and gave him a seducing wink.
"This is Melinda, Serena. Greg's little sister." Amy introduced me to
her.
Melinda looked as old as me, maybe a little older. She was utterly
beautiful and didn't even make a note to hide it. Her dress showed every curve there
was too see, which annoyed me at first. But if she had the body, it was hers to show
it off. Melinda's curvy brown hair was cut short to shoulder length. Her brown hair was
the only trait that I could relate her to Greg. They didn't even look a tiny bit identical.
Only their hair marked them as related.
"Is this your date?" Melinda asked me. Her voice sounded so seducing.
I gave her a quick nod.
"Mind if I take your handsome man to the dance floor?"
"Take him away," I said to her. Then to Darien, "Have a great time and don't be
afraid to show your wild side. I know it's in there somewhere."
I gave him a charming smile and he left with Melinda. Darien looked
reluctant to go, but Greg's sister pulled him right out to the dance floor. Greg
left immediately after that. He said he wanted to go to the restroom, but I knew Greg was only
giving me and Amy some time together. And as soon as Darien disappeared from my
sight, I went back to talking to Amy. There were so many things to say.
"How are you and the gang?" Amy asked. Her hands wrapped around a
glass of water and I smiled at that. Who would order a glass of water in a club?
How did Amy even find a glass of water in this place?
"I'm fine." I told her, "I haven't talked to Raye in a long time, so I
have no clue how she's doing. I just talked to Lita the other day. She's doing fine
too. She took a trip to Chicago a few days ago for some business reasons."
I smiled a cheerful smile then ordered myself a glass of alcohol. (AN:
I don't drink any kind of alcohol, so I don't know what brand Serena should drink.)
The bartender gave me a small cup and I quickly dunked it down my throat.
"And how have you been? How were Greg's parents? Did you like them?
Did they find you agreeable?"
Amy giggled. "You always have too many questions for me to answer."
"I can't help it. You only phoned me once during your whole trip."
"And I can't help that, either. His parents lived in the country side.
They didn't believe in 'phones'."
"Okay, I guess you're forgiven." I told her.
"I didn't even ask for forgiveness." Amy said in a laughing tone.
We both laughed and then the laughter died down.
"I miss Ken, Amy. He went to Chicago, too. A few days before Lita
left." I said to her. I really did miss him. He hadn't called me in a while and I was
beginning to wonder what had happen to him.
"Serena," Amy said to me gingerly, as if she was afraid she'd step on
my feelings. "Have you ever noticed anything between Lita and Ken?"
"What is there to know? They're best friends."
"You don't see the sparks in their eyes when they're together?"
"What sparks," I said to her in a laughing tone. "There's no sparks."
Amy looked down at her glass cup. She was silent. Amy looked like she
was pondering whether or not she should tell me something.
I sat in silence with her. Were there sparks between Ken and Lita? Has
it always been there? How did I not notice it? Am I the only one who missed it?
And that was when I stumbled across the possibility between Ken and Lita. Did Amy
suspect that they were cheating on me? The same suspicion that I thought Ken wasn't
capable of doing. Only now, Lita was involved in this whole messy business.
"Amy," I said with a voice full of hopes, "You don't think Lita and
Ken…" I paused. I couldn't finish the line, couldn't even bring myself to say the hateful
word.
"Yes, Serena." She drawled out slowly. "I had these suspicions for a
long time, but I've never told you. I think Mina had these suspicions, too."
"Oh, Amy," I said fearfully. "I suspected too, but Ken and Lita? They
wouldn't. Ken isn't like that. Lita isn't, either. I think we're jumping to
conclusions. We must be, Amy. There is just no way. How can we even think that Lita would do
such a thing?"
I rubbed a palm of my hand to my forehead. The loud music was getting
to me. I couldn't think straight anymore. I knew a nasty headache was coming on
its way to torture me. My head spun. Ken and Lita? Lita and Ken? Their names
whirled around my head. They couldn't, they wouldn't. I must be jumping to conclusions, I
told myself. I needed to get home. I needed to call Ken. Just to make sure. My
suspicion had gone overboard and I really needed to call Ken. I needed to regain my confidence and
Ken was the only one to tell me.
"Amy," I said to her. "I'm going home. Andrew and Mina are here. Can
you tell them I went home? Tell them I had a bad headache and needed to get home
real bad."
I picked up my purse and collected myself. Greg came back soon enough
and had asked me if I was okay. Was it that easy to see through me? I thought.
Was I that visible?
I told Greg that I was okay and gave him a quick goodbye kiss before I
left. I marched myself to the exit. My feet took quick strides.
God, I thought to myself. Help me. Don't let this nightmare come true.
I wasn't ready for it. The thought of Ken and Lita whirled faster in my head.
Lita and Ken. Ken and Lita. How could this be? I thought. A headache was definitely
forming. I needed to get out of this club.
I walked past the exit and a hand shot out to pull me back. It was
Darien. I'd forgotten about him.
"Where are you going?" he asked me.
"Home." I told him simply. All I wanted now was to go home. Nothing
else mattered.
Darien looked at me. I think he understood of my needs to go home
because he didn't ask anymore questions.
"I'll take you home," he told me.
I looked at him and then nodded. I didn't want to say anymore. I just
wanted to get home. He hailed for a taxi cab and we were on our way home.
Throughout the whole taxi cab ride, I was silent and Darien was too.
He didn't ask me what had happen or why I chose to go home so early. He remained quiet
and was letting me have my space.
When we got home, I ran to my room and shut the door behind me. I
didn't even bother to say anything to Darien. I knew he would understand that I had
personal business I needed to take care of. I threw my purse aside and grabbed
for the phone on my side drawer. I looked for Ken's phone number in my address book and
dialed it as fast as I could.
I waited impatiently for someone to answer. And with every unanswered
ring, my heart squeezed in anticipation. I needed Ken to answer my questions really
badly. What if he said yes, that he was having an affair with Lita behind my back? What would
I say to him and to Lita? How will I ever talk to Lita ever again? Everything would be
so confusing. How would I even react? On the other hand, if Ken said no
and that I was the one who jumped to conclusions too quickly, then everything would be
okay. It would only be my fault for jumping to conclusions.
In my heart and in my mind, I was hoping that it was my entire fault
for jumping into conclusions. I hoped and wished it my fault. I wanted everything to be blame
on me for jumping into conclusions.
The phone rang a couple more times and just when I was about to give
up, someone did answer the phone. Only that it wasn't Ken, but Lita who
picked up the phone.
"Hello?" Lita said cheerily over the phone. She sounded real happy.
I recognized her voice right off the bat and the instant that I
recognized her voice, my heart sank to the bottom. It was over for good, I thought. She and
Ken really did cheat me behind my back. I didn't even need to ask the question and I knew. A
sixth sense had told me. But I still had to ask the question anyway. I owed it to them
and to myself to ask.
"You and Ken, Lita. Is it true?" I asked straight out. I held my voice
firm.
Lita remained silent over the other line. She knew it was me speaking
to her. "I'm sorry, Serena." Lita started to apologize. "I didn't mean to tell you
this way."
From after she said I'm sorry, I blanked out. Overwhelming emotion
came crashing down on me. So I was right about all these suspicions I had about Ken
after all this time. I guess Ken was capable of cheating on me after all. I couldn't
believe he would do something like this. I couldn't believe they would do something like
this.
My heart squeezed tight and I could feel a block of pain over my
heart. The tears started to well up in my eyes, and I closed my eye lids to prevent any
tears from escaping. I didn't want to cry.
"Serena. Serena?" Lita repeated over and over again. I heard Ken at a
far distance from the phone. He asked who it was and when he founded out that it was
me; he'd taken over the telephone. "Forgive me," he started to say, but my mind was
too numb and too frozen to even listen. The tears started to seep through my eye lids
and I couldn't control them from escaping any longer. The pain had gone too deep and too large
for me to contain.
I couldn't speak for the longest time, but when I'd finally found my voice to speak again, I said
shakily to the the both of them. "It's okay." My voice was barely even a whisper and barely audible
to the ear. It was more than shaky now, but I'd tried my best to keep it calm. "I'll be fine. Everything's
going to be okay." I told them both and then numbly turn off the phone.
Everything was going to be okay, I had told them. I'll be fine, I had said. It was
all crap. Nothing was going to be okay and I wasn't going to be fine. I wanted everything to
be fine, but life didn't work out that way. And my heart doesn't mend quite as easily as I want it to.
Tears flowed freely down my face and I welcomed it. I needed to cry. I
sat scrunched up in a ball on the floor, my back against the bed side.
Ken, I thought, charming Ken. I could see a perfect picture of him in
my head, but my tears quickly blurred the sight of him. How could he? Why did he? I
thought he loved me, but I guess not.
I must have sat in my room crying for a long while, because I'd
forgotten about Darien again. He knocked lightly on my door.
"Are you alright, Serena?" Darien asked from outside. His voice
sounded concerned.
No, I replied solemnly to myself. I wasn't going to be alright. Not
alright at all. Nothing was going to be alright anymore. Ken was gone and so was my
best friend, Lita. They both betrayed me. I'd trusted both Ken and Lita with all my heart
and look at the outcome of the whole situation.
I felt like an abandoned puppy. I felt like I only had me and myself.
I was a lost and forgotten puppy without anyone to hold or comfort me. I felt deserted.
I didn't bother to answer Darien, and even if I did try, nothing would
come out. Tears started to pour more rapidly down my face and I'd let my face
wipe the tears off from my sleeve. My head bowed down to my knees and blocked everything
from my sight. It was just me in this lonely world.
"Serena?" Darien asked again. His voice seemed more concerned and
worried this time.
I looked up with wet eyes; I saw that he was close up now. Darien was
no longer standing behind the door, but knelt down beside me. His eyes looked so
tender and so warm, so understanding for something I hadn't even explained to him and
so inviting for me to tell him whatever problem I was having.
And it was the tender, warm, understanding, and inviting response
shining in his eyes that made my arms come up to encircle him. I'd pulled myself
against Darien and I'd cried my heart out. I needed someone to cry on and I decided that it was
Darien--my over-polite apartment roommate--that I needed the shoulder to cry on. I didn't care
if I was getting his shirt dirty and wet. All I needed was a friend and Darien was the
only one available.
To be continued……...
AN: That was chapter 3. This chapter was longer than I expected. My
sister said that I'd rushed on this chapter, so I don't know how bad I did.
Anyways, thank you to the people who emailed me. You know who you are!
Don't think that I think too lightly of u mailers. And THANKS A BUNCH to
my new editor midnight rose for editing chapter 3 and hopefully future chapters of 'the apartment'.
Thank You....midnight rose!. And Before I go…PLEASE...email me at roses2small@yahoo.com.
SUGGESTIONS, COMMENTS, AND EVEN criticism are welcome.