Book Of Zay-Chapter 01-Condominium - Friday, December 31, 2021
In June 2021, Lucas and Zay, and Maya, and Riley were graduating from college. Farkle and Smackle had graduated two years before them, having taken Advanced Placement College courses while still in high school. So, actually, when the six of them graduated from Abigail Adams High School, Farkle and Smackle also had finished their Associate of Arts Degrees at Borough of Manhattan Community College. They immediately entered the Massachusetts Institute of Technology that summer as Juniors. And graduated from MIT in two years. They then joined Minkus International as full-time Management employees.
Lucas and Zay had remained roommates in an apartment, and now Lucas was moving back to Texas to start Veterinary School in Austin. Zay was able to move from their two-bedroom apartment to a studio apartment in the same building because all of the college students there were leaving after graduation. Zay was able to secure a six-month lease, which would expire at the end of 2021. Maya and Riley had lived in the college dorm their first year, then a one-bedroom apartment during the rest of their college time, and their lease also was ending in June 2021.
Farkle and Smackle met Maya and Riley at Topanga's a few days before their graduation. Farkle and Smackle met them, everyone hugged and kissed, and ordered smoothies. When the smoothies arrived, Farkle's expression changed to look very serious. He then offered Maya and Riley full-time Management employment at Minkus International. Smackle explained that their positions were going to be Director of Artistic Designs for Maya, and Riley would be Director of National Communications. Both girls were overwhelmed with these very unexpected employment offers.
Smackle continued by explaining their compensation package, which included a fully-furnished three-bedroom condominium in the Minkus International Residential Building in Greenwich Village. Farkle added that the condominium was a Gift from Smackle and himself and that Maya and Riley were being given ownership of the condominium, and Minkus International would maintain the condominium at no cost to them. This was one of the very few times they saw Maya spontaneously start to cry. She turned her head into Riley's shoulder as she sobbed with happiness. Riley held her tightly, trying not to cry too.
Maya and Riley started their new careers at Minkus International the first week of July 2021, and they moved into their Condo that same week. It took them the whole month of July to adjust to both their new Management roles and their Condo. They were so grateful and happy together. On the third floor of the Minkus International Residential Building, there were four condominiums. One Condo in the far corner was occupied by two ladies who worked for Minkus International Donna and Francine. They were part of the Minkus International Security Team and were actually Farkle and Smackle's Security Team and Drivers. The other Condo across from Donna and Francine was empty. Directly across from Maya and Riley's Condo lived a Puerto Rican girl younger than them. Bella worked for Minkus International as the Director of International Travel. She was rarely home, though, because she traveled most of the time.
All of the ladies became friends quickly and often met for lunch or dinner when Bella was in New York City. They decided to have a New Year's Eve party at Maya and Riley's Condo on the last night of 2021. In addition to Bella, Donna, and Francine, Maya and Riley invited Auggie and Ava, Cory and Topanga, Farkle and Smackle, Katy and Shawn, Stuart and Jennifer, and Zay. And they invited Aubrey Macavoy, Topanga's Law Intern, who was their friend from Demolition, and Evelyn Rand, their Crazy Hat Lady.
The night of their New Year's Eve party, everyone was having a great time, drinking champagne and eating finger foods, chatting with each other, and some were dancing too. Maya and Riley noticed that Zay was not being his usual social self, and was sitting on a sofa by himself, drinking champagne. Maya and Riley sat on either side of him and Maya asked him why he wasn't being his usual self. He looked at her, then looked at Riley, and finally said that his apartment lease ended tonight, and he hadn't been able to find another place to live in New York. Maya and Riley looked at each other and nodded. Riley told him he could stay with them until he could find another place to live.
Zay was shocked, then he realized that Maya and Riley were serious with their offer and he began to return to his usual self. He kissed each lady on their cheek and started to thank them by hugging each of them. They just chuckled at him. And they had not noticed two suitcases sitting over in a corner of the living area, but they walked over to them and each picked up a suitcase, then put their arm under Zay's arm and walked him back to his temporary bedroom, which was, in fact, a bedroom suite with en-suite bathroom including a shower. He was overwhelmed with all of what was happening to him. He sat on the bed and started to get tears in his eyes. Maya and Riley sat on each side of him and rubbed his back. They let him have his moment, then Maya grabbed him and pulled him up off the bed as Riley said: "Ok, now, welcome home, let's go back to the party." Zay again kissed each of their cheeks and they went back to the party.
Everyone continued to enjoy the party and then counted down to midnight together. Then, it was 2022!
Everyone hugged and kissed goodbye, and Maya and Riley, and Zay drank another flute of champagne and toasted to 2022. The ladies started to pick up the flutes when Zay stopped them. He smiled: "Ladies, I've got this, you two go to bed and I will clean everything up." Riley started to protest, but Maya gave her a look, and Riley understood. Zay needed to start to repay them for their friendship. They hugged and kissed Zay's cheek and went to their bedroom suite.
