Fortuity

Chapter 2

I spent my weekend getting settled in and organizing everything to have that homey feel. Come Sunday evening, I spent the rest of my time writing a research paper on Ethics until I fell asleep. I was jolted awake to my alarm blaring in my ear. I groan as I roll to my side to check the time 6 a.m. Monday mornings are the worst days of the week for me. I press the snooze button on the clock and lay on my back staring at the ceiling. Allowing my body time to catch up with the wake-up call. I roll out of bed at 6:15 and head to the bathroom.  

I take a 20-minute shower, brush my teeth, and pull my hair into a sleek pony-afro, before slathering on the cocoa butter and slicking down my edges. I grab my purple lace boy shorts and matching bra, before going to my closet grabbing my dark denim skinny jeans, purple 4-inch-high booties, and purple plaid long-sleeve button-up. I check the time. s**t 7:30! I rush out of the house, dropping by the kitchen greeting Martha, the cook grabbing the breakfast and lunch she prepared for me, before heading out the door. I grab the car keys from James, waving bye, and jump in the car speeding off to campus to not miss my first lecture. I grab my phone and dial Ashley's number.  

“Hello” she answers groggily   

“b***h, I know you're not still sleeping.” She does this every time. She did it in high school and now she’s starting it again in her first year in college.   

“No girl, I’m up I was just brushing my teeth.” she lies as she yawns.     

“Ashley, you got 10-minutes to get your ass down these stairs before you end up walking to school” I always threaten to leave her, although she knows I wouldn't.   

The thud on the line lets me know she must have fallen out of the bed trying to rush to the bathroom. “Ugh, you alright?”   

“Yeah, I’m good” she pants. “You’re outside already?”   

“Yes, I am,” I lied “Now hurry up!”   

“You know 10 minutes isn’t long enough,” she whines.   

“Too damn bad. You should have gotten up when the alarm went off earlier. Now hurry the hell up,” I say as I end the call. I pull over to the side of the road at the corner, of her street, as I finish the last of my breakfast. I laugh as I see her hopping out of the house putting on her other shoe with 2 minutes to spare. I drive up the block and stop right in front of her laughing at the mess of coils on top of her head.   

“b***h you said you were here.” she groans.   

“That lit a fire under your ass. But baby,” I giggle as I playfully grab strands of her wet hair “You should have you should have taken those extra two minutes to work on this head.”   

She swats my hand away and glares at me “Well if you gave me more than 10 minutes, I could have done my wash and go.”   

“No can-do toots we have class at 8 am sharp.” I say in a mocking tone “Look in my bag I should have some stuff in there to tame that mane of yours.”   

“Yeah, yeah, whatever,” she says as she reaches into the back to grab the hair supply kit. She slicks back her sides and braids it up into a high poof ball.   

“See, so much better.” I tease as she smacks her lips.   

We pull into the parking lot and head for our Sociology class. “You know your dad called me?”   

“My who? I ask modestly   

“You heard me.' she rolls her eyes. "He was trying to find out if you were at my place and I told him no.”    

“Okay!” I shrug.   

She looks at me “Want to tell me what's going on?”   

“Nothing really. I bought a house yesterday and moved.” I answer nonchalantly.  

She stops in her tracks and pulls me to a halt “You moved? How the hell did you afford that?”   

I give her a small smile “I can show you after class this afternoon and we can talk about it then, ok?”   

“Fine, but I want all the details,” she says pointedly.   

“Aye-Aye captain.” I joked as we walk into the lecture hall.   

Monday, Wednesday, and Friday we have the same schedules. I am a Business Accounting major and Ashley is still going with undecided. Had I not had her in class with me, I would have been bored out of my mind.  

After our last class, we decided to walk the campus a bit. See if there is anything that would spark an interest in campus life. We find the student union and the mesh halls, as well as stumble down Greek lane, before stopping for the day. 

"I can show you my place after we eat," I say as we get out of the car heading into our favorite Japanese restaurant. 

"Hi welcome to RA Sushi," the hostess greets. "Follow me." 

"Can we please get a booth?" Ashley asks her as she leads us to a table "I can't sit comfortably at those small tables I need to be able to stretch my legs." 

She smiles and leads us over to a booth closest to the grill. "Your server will be with you in just a moment." 

"Thank you," I smile. 

"So," Ashley begins, settling into her seat. "Tell me about the house." 

"It's cozy," I say sheepishly. "It's home." 

"It's home? That's all you have to say?" she furrows her brows as she studies her menu. "There has to be more to it than that Mo." 

I shrug my shoulder and shake my head. "You'll just have to wait to see it." 

"Whatever," she replies. 

Our server walks up and takes our orders. We both order the pork ramen with extra pork cha shu and spicy minced garlic, as well as a variety of sushi. 

"How do you use those damn chopsticks," Ashley asks as she stabs her fork into a dragon roll. 

"Why are you using a fork for sushi?" I ask scrunching my nose. "That's just wrong. Use your fingers instead." 

"And get soy sauce under my nails?" she frowns flashing me her freshly manicured nails. "No thank you." 

I shake my head laughing at her and wave over our server for the check and a to-go box. We head out the doors and get into the car. I stopped at Wally World to get home essentials and a list of items requested by James and Martha. I pull into the drive, turning to grin at a dazed Ashley. 

“Hold the got damn phones,” She stares with her mouth open “This is your house?”   

I give her a cheeky grin “Yup” I say popping the p   

“How the hell did you afford this? When you said you got a house, I thought you meant something like a 2-bedroom ranch, not a freaking mansion.”   

I just laugh and link my arm with hers and lead her into the house. “Come on let me show you around”   

After giving a tour of the property and hearing “no f*****g way” at every corner, I finally take her back to the living room. Martha arrives with drinks and snacks, which causes another “no f*****g way” to leave Ashley’s mouth.   

I chuckle “You like it?”   

“Like it? I love it. Moe, I never want to leave. Can I stay here please?” She pouts her bottom lip as she flutters her lashes.   

I give a dramatic sigh and place my teacup back on the tray “I don’t know. That would mean you would have to get up extra early just to get ready for school. I know you don’t want to do that.”   

She gives me an eye-roll which causes me to laugh “I don’t need sleep that bad. What I do need is that hot tub outback. Please, please, please.   

“Well, I was going to ask if you wanted to move in any way, so stop begging. There’s one problem though!” I state. “You’re stuck in campus housing for a year. Freshmen can’t live off-campus unless they stay with their parents.”   

“What? That is bull. Plus, how does that work for you? You’re a Freshman.” she retorts   

“Actually, I’m a Sophomore.” I state matter-of-factly “I took college courses online last year. Plus, I’m not on a Scholarship.”   

“Well, that’s bullshit” she whines. 

“Don’t worry this can be your weekend home” I offered.   

“Cool. Umm, Mo?” she clears her throat as she glances and points behind me. “Who is that caramel sundae standing there making me all thirsty?”   

I turn behind me to see who she means, and I catch those wonderful golden eyes piercing at me “That's my neighbor Damian.” I whisper standing from the couch as he walks in greeting James at the door. “Ash, can you go start the hot tub and I’ll join you in a minute.’   

She glares at me for a moment before smacking her lips and mumbling under her breath heading out to the backyard.   

“Hey Damian, how are you?” I ask with a small smile.   

“Hello Monica, nice seeing you again.” he laughs shyly “I came by to see if you wanted to maybe have a housewarming party this weekend. Just a way of getting to know your neighbors and make some new friends or acquaintances.”   

I nod in agreement “Um, sure I’d love that. How about Saturday around 1 pm? That way I can get my friend settled into her room”   

“Okay, sounds good, I can stop by with a few friends a bit earlier and we can get everything set up.”   

“Sounds like a plan” I smile as he heads out the door and I retreat to the yard to join Ashley. She wiggles her brows at me and gives a cheeky grin.   

“So, who is that God-like man?”   

“That’s my neighbor Damian. We’re having a housewarming this weekend.”   

“Girl, if you don’t snatch that one up, I might have to.” she laughs   

I grin “We’ll see what happens. Just take it one day at a time, okay? Come on, I can show you to your room and we can grab our bathing suits." 

"My room? Girl, you can be my sugar momma with all this spoiling," she nudges my shoulder playfully. 

"Yeah, No," I laugh leading her up the stairs to her room. 

"Oh snap, I can live with this," she squeals. 

"Get changed, I'll meet you downstairs," I walk out into my room and grab my red two-piece. I head down to the kitchen and grab a bottle of wine and a few towels. I walk out the door to the back, Ashley already brought down towels and has music blaring from the speakers. 

"I brought wine," I wave the bottle and cups at her and climb into the jacuzzi. 

"So, how have things been with Josh?" she fills her glass to the brim. 

"We've been," I shrug. Josh and I have been together for a year now. He left for college six months ago. We've been trying a hand at the long-distance relationship. 

"Things that bad?" she raises her brow. 

"I wouldn't say they are bad," I respond taking a long sip. "It's just hard not having him here, and not being able to talk to him as much as I'd like, you know?" 

"Things will work out," she encourages. "If they are meant to be, they will be." 

I nod in agreeance, "so anyone new?" 

"Well, I have been seeing someone," she beams. "He's an older guy." 

"Oh, do tell. How much older? Where did you meet him? Spill it.” 

"There's not much to tell. He's 29, a teacher, no kids and he is fine as hell.  We met at Ms. Weston's bakery and have been talking for 6 months now." she blushes. 

"Well, baby I'm happy for you." I hug her. 

We finished our drinks and chatted for a few hours before calling it a night. I decided to call Josh before going to bed. 

"Hello!" 

"Hey, you." 

"Hey, beautiful. How are you?" 

"I'm good. I moved into my own place." 

"Really? Off-campus?" 

"Yeah. It's ten-minutes away." 

"Well, I'm so happy for you." 

"I miss you. When do you get to come down for a visit?" 

"I miss you too. I should be down in November for Thanksgiving and staying until January 5th. My professors are allowing going to let me complete my courses at the time online." 

"Wow, okay! I can't wait to see you. I'll be sure to mark my calendar." 

"You do that. Look, baby, I'm going to turn in for the night. I'll talk to you later, ok?" 

"Okay. I love... you," I say as he disconnects the call, something he's never done before. I brush the thoughts from my head. Sleep comes the moment my head hits the pillow.