chapter 3: Bree
I was having a good time. The four hours we spent in the car driving to Georgia actually passed like a blur. Lexi reminded me of Alisson and that helped a lot when I talked to her. She wasn't pushy like Alice or always fishing for more than I wanted to share like Jessica. She was laid back like Allison and letting me speak when I wanted to like Angela. Yeah, we're gonna be great together.
After about two hours of driving we pulled outside a little diner and each got dinner. Remembering Phil's advice on road trip diners I got a pre made chicken panini, that came in a protective plastic baggie from the dealer that had an expiration date. Lexi didn't seem to care about that so much and she got a cheeseburger with fries. Thankfully she seems to be a person that eats! I thought dryly.
We made idle chit chat over dinner letting the silence roam free sometimes. After a quick visit to the bathroom we were back on the road for two more hours. I am sure I had dosed off because I woke up to somebody poking me. It was 2 in the morning and we had just pulled outside an apartment building. After hailing our bags we took the ancient elevator and went to the 3rd floor. Lexi unlocked the door and headed in. She looked a little perplexed when I got in as well but I was too darm tired to wonder the why's and how's. We dropped the luggage to the front hall and after pointing me where everything was she led me down the corridor to the bedrooms. I took the one straight ahead that had a wall made by windows and she took her own which seemed darker. We bid each other goodnight and fell promptly onto our beds.
I slept like a baby that night. No dreams, no nightmares, no James chasing me, no Edward leaving me, no Allison dying on me. I woke up refreshed buried in the covers. I was still dressed and smelly! I sat up on the bed and looked at the room around me. It was painted a bright yellow and was well furnished. I was laying on the queen sized bed that had a bright pink bedding and a light summer blanket in dull red tones. The bed was next to the wall save for a bedside table that had a twin on the bed's other side. A phone with caller ID and an alarm greeted me. The other table had a lamp only. A large desk with maps and various clutter came next, right under the windows that were covered with thin white with yellow lines (much like French fries my hungry stomach made a comment). A smaller table with a radio stood flushed to the wall on my left. Another desk with a desktop computer and a TV was next to it. A set of a double closet and dresser embedded in the wall completed the room. On my feet was a seaslong. I got out of bed and gave a few mighty stretched feeling every muscle in my body protest. I quick glace and the clock told me it was a little after 10 am. Gingerly I got out of the room and headed to where my luggage was and opened one. I pulled a denim skirt and a simple tank top along with a pair of kitten heeled sandals and headed to the bathroom. I shampooed my hair twice to get it clean from the grease that always stayed behind after a long flight and while the conditioner brought my hair back to life I washed my body. After examining the awful condition of my legs, that reminded more of a wild animal than women's legs, I started shaving. Two ruined shavers later I was finally hair free. I'm pretty sure I lost at least 500gr in hair!
When I was done and got out I return to my room to get dressed. I was making coffee when Lexi made her appearance.
"Bella? Can you close the blinds please?"
"Erm, sure. Not a morning person?"
"That's not it. I... I have a condition, allergic to sunlight"
huh?
"Sure"
I closed the heavy curtain the kitchen had and Lexi joined me in cooking breakfast. We drank coffee and had a few slices of toast each. I couldn't help but look at her while we ate. Skin condition? Allergic to sunlight? Maybe it's just me but doesn't that sound a little farfetched?
Deciding it was none of my business I gathered the breakfast dishes and proceeded to wash them as Lexi headed to take a shower herself. We lounged around the house that day just talking and getting to know each other better. That evening, a little after the sun went down, we headed to a bar that a good friend of hers had. The bar was near the apartment so we walked the distance.
The bouncer asked for my ID and simply nodded to Lexi. After checking it we were allowed to go inside. It was a rather big place, dark with neon lights over the bar. A black woman in her mid thirties was behind the bar. She smiled brightly at Lexi and motioned us over. The two women hugged and then Lexi introduced me.
"Bella, this is Bree, the owner of this bar and a good friend of mine. Bree this is Bella, we met on the plane here"
"Hello, nice to meet you Bella"
"You too"
She seemed friendly and a little guarded. Soon the place was packed and she was running like a beheaded chicken and without a word Lexi went to the bar and started mixing drinks. Taking a page out of her book I grabbed a tray and starting waiting tables. Surprisingly I lost my balance only once and thankfully a friendly guy with dirty blond hair and a goatee, who had been checking Lexi out since the moment he came in, from one of the tables steadied me quickly. I nodded my thanks and was back to work.
The bar emptied as the first rays of sun came out and thankfully I dropped myself on one of the booths next to Lexi who was grinning at me. I grinned back and soon Bree joined us with a handful of shot glasses.
