Hey, guys! Thanks so much for all the great reviews! It really means a lot when I, a budding writer, get so many reviews! I'll take some of your suggestions under consideration. I try to update this story whenever I can. I've been busy lately, and will probably get even busier, so there might be some time between each chapter. Sorry about this. Well, I thank my loyal readers (all eight of them! Hehehe) for continuing to read my story, even though I'm sorta inexperienced as a writer. R & R, please! Oh, by the way, this story is going to go in a completely different direction than I first let on, just so ya know... :)
"You know, I didn't actually realize how much crap I own until I had to pack it all into bags." Neela leaned on the back of one of Abby's armchairs. Abby lay sprawled out on the couch. She nodded.
"Yeah, I know what you mean," she chuckled. She sat up straight and yawned. "What time is it?" Neela glanced at her watch.
"7:32 AM," she replied. Abby laughed. "What?" asked Neela.
"You always say 'AM' or 'PM' after you say the time, as if I couldn't figure out whether it was morning or night," said Abby. Neela smiled.
"Well, you know me," she said, flopping down into the armchair. "Never one to leave out details, am I?"
"Definitely not," said Abby. They sat in silence for a while. Neela glanced around the room and sighed.
"Well, I'm going to miss this place." Abby snorted.
"Oh, and you're not going to miss me?" she joked.
"Are you kidding me?" asked Neela. "You're like, my best friend! It'll be depressing coming home to a pile of dirty laundry every day instead of you." Abby laughed.
"That's for sure. Listen, you don't have to rush, you know. The other day... I was just having a freak-out moment. I don't hate having you around. Really, I don't." Neela smiled.
"Yeah, well, it's about time I got a place of my own... Well, so much for that. I guess Ray will have to put up with me now," said Neela with a sigh.
"Oh, you're not hard to put up with. You clean things. Ray doesn't," said Abby. Neela shuddered.
"Damn, I'll have to get used to that," she muttered.
"Just imagine," said Abby. "You'll have to make a trail to the kitchen through all the crusty socks, and spray the ceiling for mold, and-"
"Stop!" laughed Neela. "Oh, God, what have I gotten myself into? This is payback for eating all your macaroni and cheese and drinking all your diet Coke, isn't it?" Abby shook her head.
"Nah, I never really minded," she said.
"Even so, I think I should take some responsibility and live my own life, you know? I've been taking up space and not really doing anything for you in return for your hospitality, so..." Neela reached into her pocket and pulled out her wallet.
"Oh, no, Neela, that's not necessary," protested Abby.
"Of course it is. You've done so much for me, and I'd like to thank you," said Neela, pulling out a wad of bills and handing them to Abby, who shook her head when she saw how much money it was.
"Uh, no way. Sorry, no. That's way too much. Take it back," she said. Neela shook her head.
"It's the least I can do."
"Shit, did you hold up a bank or something? Where did you get all this cash?" asked Abby, flipping through the bills. Neela shrugged.
"I've been saving up, and since Ray and I are splitting rent, I had some left over," she explained. Abby shook her head in disbelief.
"Well, you know, it's not that I couldn't use this, but I just- Okay, here's what we'll do," said Abby. She pulled out several bills and gave them to Neela. "This is more than enough to pay for everything," she said, holding up the cash in her hand.
"Are you sure?" asked Neela. Abby nodded. "Alright, whatever you say," she said, putting the rest of the money back into her wallet. Abby shoved her new miniature fortune in her pocket. "Well, looks like this is it," said Neela.
"Yeah," said Abby. "But, you know, we'll see each other at work, and stuff, so-" She was cut off as Neela wrapped her up in a tight hug. She was slightly stunned. "Uh... Okay," was all she could say, hugging her friend back. Neela smiled.
"Thanks for everything," she said. "Really. I don't know anyone who would ever show so much kindness." Abby smiled.
"Aw, it was nothing," she mumbled. Neela slung her bag over her shoulder.
"Well, goodbye," she said, extending her hand. Abby stared at her hand for a moment, and instead of shaking it, she grabbed Neela and gave her another hug. They both laughed, and Neela smiled as she said goodbye. Turning around, she opened the door and gave Abby one last wave as she left. The door closed, and Abby felt very alone, a feeling she hadn't felt for a long, long time.