What day was it? She couldn't remember. All the days blurred together now into a mix of frenzy and exciting events. Zoey rolled over in her bed, her eyes still closed. She didn't want to wake up. She just wanted to keep on sleeping until… until…
Her eyes opened. She sat up in bed and yawned. The sound of a hair dryer had woken up her peaceful state. Sighing, she slid out of bed and slipped on her slippers. She ran her fingers through her hair. It wasn't greasy yet. She could skip a shower for today. Padding across the hallway, she knocked on the door that used to open up to the guest room.
"Come in!"
Zoey turned the doorknob and walked into Nicole's new room. She surveyed the place, noticing how it had lost the drab guest room look and had obtained a funky style that could only be described as Nicole's sense of beauty. After Nicole had come back with all her things the day before, she and Zoey spent many hours painting the walls of her new room and tacking things up on the walls.
Nicole was sitting on her bed, blow drying her hair. When she saw Zoey, she clicked off the hair dryer and eagerly jumped up on to her feet. "So, Zoey," she said, grinning broadly. "I was thinking today we could do something fun!"
"Like what?" Zoey asked, leaning against the doorway, wondering what she should have for breakfast. Her life didn't have much of a routine anymore and she no longer wished to go on morning jogs.
"Shopping," Nicole said, rushing up to Zoey and grabbing her hands. She started twirling around and jumping up and down. "The whole day we can go shopping!"
Zoey laughed. "Drop those hopes, Nicole. I'm not made of money."
"Don't you have a job?" Nicole asked. "I work at the toy section of the mall. It's hard work picking up after kids who just play with the robots and then live them there on the floor." She sighed exasperatedly.
"Nope," Zoey said shrugging. "I don't have a job."
Nicole's mouth dropped open. "Are you serious!" she cried. "How have you been supporting yourself? How have you been paying for this apartment?"
"I used my college tuition money," Zoey admitted. "Since I didn't go to college and all…" Her voice trailed off. She looked at her nails. "I guess I should get a job soon, huh?"
"Yeah, no duh," Nicole said, crossing her arms. "Okay then, forget shopping. We're going to go job hunting for you today!" She squealed and clapped her hands together. "Go get dressed."
"I haven't even eaten breakfast yet," Zoey said, suddenly feeling exhausted. N
"I'll buy you a muffin at the supermarket or something," Nicole said, pushing Zoey out the door. "Get dressed!"
Zoey sighed. She first went into the bathroom and quickly brushed her teeth and washed her face with soap. Then she went back to her bedroom to choose an outfit for the day. As she looked through her closet, a small smile spread across her face. Her life was changing for the better. No more lonely days of eating scrambled eggs and going for runs and passing by fire hydrants. She had a roommate now. She wouldn't feel alone again.
Selecting a pair of blue jeans and a red button up shirt, Zoey knotted her hair in a loose ponytail and tugged on some socks. She opened her bedroom door and crossed the hall to see if Nicole was ready.
"Nicole?" she called, lightly knocking on Nicole's door. "Are you ready?"
"Just a minute," a voice called out. A second later, the door jerked open to reveal a hopping Nicole. She was trying to tug on her socks, but they were inside out. Zoey laughed as Nicole screamed and fell over on to her back.
Once they were outside in the fresh air, Zoey felt a lot better. She felt new born walking down the streets with someone other then her shadow. Nicole was good company. She had a bright personality and clothes to match. She wore a yellow button up with a white tank top underneath and a swishy orange skirt which she said proudly, "I made it myself!"
They stopped at the supermarket to grab some quick breakfast. As Nicole was entering, Zoey had a thought. She quickly grabbed Nicole's arm and pulled her back. Nicole gave her a curious look. "What?"
"Um… doesn't Tony work here?" Zoey asked. "You don't want to run into him do you?"
Nicole glanced at the supermarket doors and then back at Zoey. "You're right. I don't want to run into him." She paused. "But I don't think he's working right now. Yeah… he's not working! Let's go in." She tugged on Zoey's arm and pulled her through the doors.
As Zoey marveled over the fact that Nicole had Tony's working schedule memorized, Nicole was examining a tray of chocolate eggs. She sighed when she saw the price sticker. $9.99 for caramel filled chocolate eggs.
"That's so not worth it!" Nicole cried.
"I can give you a discount," a familiar voice said behind the two.
Zoey and Nicole turned around to see Jake smiling at them. His cheeks were white and dusty with flour and he was holding a box of deodorant. Zoey stared at him. He looked so much like Chase… she scolded herself inwardly. No! Don't think like that, Zoey Brooks…
"Oh, hi, Jake," Nicole said, grinning and looking sideways at Zoey.
"Pretty expensive for the eggs," Jake remarked. "I can give you a discount. Maybe a dollar off or something…"
Nicole looked disappointed. "Only a dollar?" she said.
Jake laughed. "Hey, I need to make money off the job you know."
It looked as if a light bulb had clicked on over Nicole's head. "Hey, Jake, do you think Zoey could get a job here?" she asked eagerly.
Jake looked over at Zoey who glanced downwards to the floor. "Yeah… I can see if I can get her a job here. Yeah… actually that'd be great. I need some extra help in the bakery section." He pointed to his flour dusted cheeks. "I'm a… uh, bit of a klutz."
"Great!" Nicole said, grinning broadly. She reached into her purse and pulled out a pad of paper and a pen. She scribbled a phone number down and gave it to Jake. "There's Zoey's home number. Phone her to tell her the good news."
"Right," Jake said, taking the phone number and shoving it in his apron pocket. "Right, sure. I'll phone you, Zoey." He grinned.
"Sure," Zoey mumbled.
"How much discount can you give us on some muffins?" Nicole asked hopefully.
"Since I work in the bakery area I can give it to you for free," Jake said. Nicole lit up and looked at Jake with pleading eyes. He laughed. "What kind do you want?"
Nicole squealed. "What kind of muffin, Zoey?"
"Uh… blueberry," Zoey said.
"Hey, that's my favourite kind of muffin," Jake said grinning.
Zoey stared at him, her eyes huge. "You like blueberry muffins too?" she whispered. "So did…" Her voice trailed off. She didn't finish her sentence.
"So did who?" Jake asked curiously.
Zoey just smiled and shook her head. "Nobody…"
"Okay well, I have to get back to work," Jake said, smiling. "If you want your muffins then you better go get them now…" He started to walk and Nicole quickly grabbed Zoey's arm to follow.
"What's it like working here?" Nicole asked as they passed by a shelf of stuffed rabbits. A particularly over stuffed bunny fell on to the floor. Zoey bent down to pick it up. Dusting it off, she dropped it back on the shelf and continued along.
"It's ok," Jake said. "Nothing much to brag about really… it's not a millionaire kind of job, but it pays well and the work is… well, not easy, but not rocket science either." He laughed as they reached the bakery. Grabbing a paper bag that contained blueberry muffins, he went to the other side of the counter where the cash register was.
"That'll be 7.50," he said. Nicole raised her eyebrows and he rolled his eyes. "Right… free for the young ladies who like to take away an innocent man's paycheck." He started to pull a wallet out of his pocket when Zoey stopped him.
"I'll pay," she said quickly. She pulled a crumpled ten dollar bill out of her pocket and shoved it into his hands. "Uh… keep the change, ok?" She grabbed the bag of muffins and started to hurry away.
"Zoey," Nicole called after her. "Wait up!" She ran after her friend after quickly waving good bye to Jake. He watched them go and leaned against the counter, sighing heavily. He wasn't sure, but he felt mixed feelings about those girls ever since he first met them yesterday. He felt a bit awkward being around Nicole. Tony had informed him about their break up and it was strange being with a friend's ex. Also Zoey… well, he wasn't sure what it was about her, but it sparked up a feeling that he could have sworn he felt before…
"Jake, clean up on aisle 4," a voice said over the intercom. Jake snapped back to reality. "I repeat, Jake, clean up on aisle 4." He sighed and rushed over to see what the mess was.
Outside, Nicole was hurrying to keep up with Zoey who was walking at a tremendously quick speed. "Zoey, wait… for… me…" she gasped for breath. "You walk so fast! And anyway, why did you pay for the muffins? I thought you weren't made of money…"
Zoey stopped so suddenly that Nicole almost ran into her. She turned around, her blond hair whipping the side of her face. "I never said I was BROKE, Nicole. I can afford a couple of muffins, ok?" She turned and started walking again. Nicole just stood there, feeling shocked. Then she started to follow Zoey.
"I'm sorry," she called after her. "I didn't mean… well, ok, maybe I did mean that you were kind of broke. But the way you told me that you were using your college tuition… well I thought that…"
Zoey stopped and turned again. "Thought that what?"
Nicole shrunk backwards a little. "I thought that maybe you were a bit… I don't know… poor." She took a deep intake of breath as if she was expecting Zoey to slap her across the face.
Zoey felt stunned. "Me… poor…?" Her voice quavered when she spoke. She shook her head quickly and turned around. Taking a deep breath to steady herself, she started walking again and this time, even when Nicole called out to her, she didn't turn around.
When they reached the apartment again, Zoey took the stairs instead of the elevator and Nicole followed. By the time they reached the seventh floor, Zoey was confused and fuming at the same time and Nicole was exhausted out from the long flight of stairs.
"Zoey… are you mad?" Nicole said once Zoey had unlocked the door. "I'm sorry if I offended you in any way… you know I didn't mean it." She rushed in before Zoey could slam the door in her face. "I… I'll make it up to you." She snapped her fingers. "I know! Let's go to a night club tonight. I'll pay!" She paused. "Or you can pay if you want."
"I don't like night clubs, Nicole," Zoey said thickly.
"It'll be fun," Nicole said eagerly. "We'll invite everyone! Logan and Dana and Michael…" She thought for a second. "Would it be weird if your little brother is at the night club with you?"
Zoey sighed. "A little, yeah," she mumbled.
"And… Quinn," Nicole said, snapping her fingers and grinning. "She couldn't make it to our get together so we can meet her at the night club tonight! How does that sound, Zoey? A couple of drinks, dancing… it'll be fun."
Zoey sighed. She turned to face Nicole. "Fine, we'll go to a night club tonight and drink and dance and do all that stuff that you like, but only on one condition."
"What's that?" Nicole asked.
"You don't blow dry your hair so early in the morning," Zoey said, crossing her arms across her chest. "I think I'm going to start sleeping in sometimes."
Nicole paused for a second. Then she grinned and stuck her hand out. "You've got yourself a deal!"