A Whole New World

3. Feeling Positive-Kinda

The next morning, I opened my eyes hearing the kid’s laughter and the smell of coffee and bacon!!!  Mmm, my stomach grumbled in the anticipation and the delicious flavors.  Dragging my butt out of bed, I noticed that I wasn't feeling too bad, phew, no hangover!  I made my way to the bathroom to freshen up and get dressed feeling content.  I really had a lot of fun last night and until now, didn't realize how much I had missed some of the things that I used to do.  Granted, before Glenn, ninety percent of that had been with Mike and or Tina but it was like a light bulb went off recognizing how much I had been missing out the past little bit.  When I was with Glenn, I was too afraid to go out with him in fear when he would turn into an ass and embarrass us both and well, lately...we've already been over that.

After brushing my teeth, I changed into my Sunday comfortable clothes- a pair of yoga pants and loose t-shirt.  Tied my hair up in a messy bun, washed the rest of the makeup off my face that I missed last night because by the raccoon eyes I was sporting, I missed most of it and made my way downstairs towards the mouth-watering aromas coming from the kitchen.  The kids practically knocked me over when they saw me coming with smiles, hugs, and excitement.  They missed me I thought with a smile on my face heading straight for the pot of coffee.

"And how are we doing this late morning?" Mike asked from his place at the kitchen table enjoying his 2nd cup of coffee.  He was wearing an old college t-shirt with a pair of pajama bottoms with the newspaper in front of him.  He was a 3 cup in the morning person, and it was always better to catch him after he finished the first one.

"Not too bad at all actually" I smiled back making my way to the table until I saw the clock on the wall above his head noticing for the first time that it was already 10 am.  "Wow!  I guess I really did sleep in.  I suppose I needed it after such a late night.  I'm not used to those” sitting down in an empty chair beside him wincing just a little as I declined into the chair.

"Not too bad huh?"  He joked "looks like you are feeling the effects of the day after leg day at the gym"

"Something like that" I laughed back.  "I had a lot of fun last night.  I haven't gone dancing in years but yes, my legs are feeling it a little today” I started to rub my thighs to loosen them up a little with no success.

"I hope the pain was worth it for you," Mike said eyeing me over the top of the newspaper with a small smirk on his face.  "I am really glad you decided to come with us.  I miss having my friend close by and I knew you needed a reminder of what it is like to have a life".  He had put the paper down and reached over in a brotherly attempt and placed his hand on top of mine.  "I know she is in there somewhere, and I am going to find my friend again and bring her back to me"

His puppy dog eyes were looking at me with concern and determination when I looked at him "I am trying" is all I could muster for a moment before continuing before remembering that Cody had a sleepover coming up this Friday.  "tell you what, I am at the office in the city on Friday.  I can meet you after work for a coffee and we can talk about what bothering you then"

"I think that can be arranged.  I just have to double check with Tina first to make sure she doesn't have plans for us" he said as he was finishing his coffee.  I had taken a bite of a pancake and held my finger up motioning 'just a second' while I finished chewing and swallowing.

"Sounds like a plan.  You talk to Tina and we can touch base on Thursday to confirm, you know...just in case something comes up between now and then" I paused, started smiling and then continued "sorry-'work Amanda' just popped into the conversation".  Sometimes I couldn't help it.  Especially when it came to a plan.  Planning was such a huge part of my life, that she tended to poke herself in on weekends.  

"Work Mandy is not scheduled to be on the clock for another 20 hours.  Tell her to bugger off" and then we were both laughing.  

Tina sauntered in shortly afterward wearing a tank top and p.j. bottoms head down hair a complete mess and headed straight for the pot of coffee.

"Someone's looking a little rough this morning” I giggled lightly “how are you feeling Hun?"

"Shhh, don't talk to her before coffee and bacon" Mike said lightly.

Tina slowly shuffled over to the pot of coffee filling up a cup and then grabbed some aspirin before making her way to the table where she plopped down in a chair across from me.   She rested her elbow on the table to hold her to prop her head up with her hand and put some bacon on her plate.  All the while the only reply she could muster was something along a groan.

Mike had lifted his paper back up and continued reading the newspaper.  We sat in silence for the next few minutes while we ate breakfast.  The only sounds were from the light rustles of paper and soft chatter from the kids in the next room playing a game.  I stood up and moved over to the counter to return with the pot of coffee and filled all our cups again before returning the pot.  As I sat back down Tina was coherent enough to speak.

"You do not look half as rough as I am, how are you feeling?" Tina said

"I feel fine.  I was a little tired, but I made sure to drink lots of water in between drinks last night so I didn't get dehydrated" I teased.

Mike turned to Tina, placed his hand on top of hers and replied with a small smirk, "You would think she would learn... but as long as it was worth the pain today, that all that matters."

"I'm doing better now.  And yes, Mr. Smarty pants, it was well worth it.  Mandy had a great night and that was our goal...remember?"

"Soooo, I saw a lot of hotties dancing with you last night...did you get any numbers?" tiny winked at me waiting for my reaction before Mike chimed in

"It looked like one man gave you his card, but I think someone else wanted to scoop her up last night" Mike announced.

I sat there for a few seconds trying to recall the incidents they were referring to before replying a little shyly "yeah, there was 1 man who gave me his business card, but I am not going to call him.  I mean, how unprofessional can you be to hand your card for work to a stranger at a bar?" I paused for another moment trying to recall what Mike was referring to before continuing "I am not too sure what you are implying though.  Who else wanted to scoop me up???"

Tina looked at Mike completely lost as well but very curious where this was going "oh???" Is all she could muster before Mike replied "Alexa.  We ran into her outside.  By the looks of it from where I stood, she had just finished the main course and wanted to order you for dessert!"

"I don't know what you saw, but it was just 2 people excited to see each other after a very long time" I stated matter-of-factly back towards Mike.

"Sure..., fine by me if you want to live in denial!  She had a huge crush on you in college and it seemed to still be there last night” he winked at me before standing and finished with "now that you ladies are up and coherent, I am heading for a shower." He laughed while heading upstairs.

"When did you see Alexa?  ...and where was I..." Tina asked bewildered.

I sighed then answered "when I went outside for some fresh air and to cool down a bit.  Mike had come outside with me and you stayed on the dance floor.  She came out of the bar a few minutes after us with a group of people." Recalling the interaction trying to see Mike's point of view.  I mean, yes, she was talking to me and didn't pay much attention to Mike at all really, but they weren't close in college either.  " she mentioned that I should contact her on the old chat line sometime, but that was it."

"I see.  Mike is normally a good judge on that stuff, you know that.  So, are you going to reach out?"

"Probably, it would be nice to have some more friends.  We both know I am lacking in that department"

"Hey now!" Tina laughed then replied defensively "we are not that bad you know"

I sighed then said, "I didn't mean it that way and you know it."  I reached across the table and placed my hand on top of here then continued " you and Mike are awesome.  You are the closest thing I have for family, but I also know that I am not your only friend.  I can have more too considering I basically dumped all of mine."

"Sweety, you didn't dump them, you just removed all negative people from your life...well, I guess you did dump them if you think about it"

"I know.  But I want to thank you for being there, sticking through this with me and getting me to come out with you last night.  I had an exciting time and didn't know how much I missed letting go sometimes"

"No problem Hun.  We will always be here for you.  It is what loyal friends are for.  Oh, and just so you know, this will be happening again.  Soon!"

I smiled, looking forward to it.  We both laughed and by that time our coffees were finished.  We cleaned up the kitchen together and Tina had made me promise that we were going to do this again next month.  Now that I had a small taste of clean adult fun, I had to agree with her that I did need it.  Everyone needs it.  Thinking back to the past year, I get why I became an introvert and I need to.  But now, it was time to start doing a few things for myself again-occasionally.

"Tina, I thought I would just point out that you lied to me yesterday" I was trying my best to hold back a grin.

"WHAT??!?!"  She had a shocked look on her face

"You told me that the only people that I would know at that bar was you and Mike- no judgement?"

"HA-HA-HA!  For one, we did not know that an old acquaintance from college (not in our circle as well for that matter) was going to be at the bar last night." she stated back as she started to head upstairs for a shower but not before turning back around with a devious grin and adding "oh, and from what I hear judging you wasn't all she was doing..." she then headed up the stairs leaving me standing there jaw open in shock from what I think she just implied.

We said our goodbyes, packed up the car and headed home.  We had an hour drive before we were home to the small-town, we all grew up in a place called Honeywood.  I still had chores to do around the house and I wanted to work a little more on an upcoming presentation at work on Tuesday but the closer we got to home, the smaller and smaller my world started to feel again.