F, H, & S: Part Two

Addison turned the corner of the gym and started walking toward the apartment as her cool down. She put her index and middle finger on her neck while watching the second hand on her watch. The next thing she knew her progress had been abruptly stopped by someone.

“Hey, watch it!”

“Watch it yourself! I wasn’t even moving.”

“Sorry,” was all Addison could manage as she took in the full stature of the man she had apparently accosted in the parking lot. “I’m Addison. Do you go here?”

“I’m Chase and yes I am a student here. Do you run into people every Saturday?” He flashed a confident smile as he leaned on the car he had originally been attempting to enter.

“Most mornings I run if that’s what you mean. Why?”

“Maybe I will have to run into you again some other time.” With that Chase opened the door and slid in to his car. As he drove off he shot Addison another toothy grin.

“What a strange guy.” Addison smiled to herself as she continued across the grass court yard to the front door of apartment 14.

Addison still had a smile on her face when she walked in to find Diedra and Raya in the kitchen holding a box of chocolate covered strawberries.

“Diedra, what are you still doing here? I thought you had to be at work 5 minutes ago?”

“Crap! Crap! Crap! Fill me in on everything tonight.”

Diedra ran out the back door and sped off.

“Fill me in on what? What happened while I was gone?”

“Jasmine got chocolate covered strawberries from her secret admirer, but before we hash that out why are you grinning so much?”

“What do you mean and what secret admirer?”

“I haven’t seen you smile like that since you first got here. Frankly, Addison, you have been a little well down. Now you walk in smiling! Are you going to tell us what happened on your jog or what?”

“Jasmine, how did you get a secret admirer? Any guess as to who it is?” Addison redirected hoping Raya wouldn’t catch on and get distracted.

“Oh no, I’m with Raya. Why are you so happy all of a sudden?”

“I don’t know. I think this guy was hitting on me.”

Jasmine and Raya both looked at each other, smiled, and surrounded Addison on the couch. Raya began the inquisition with “What guy? What did he look like? Where did you meet him?”

“Do you want an answer or are you going to just question me to death?”

“Sorry! Tell us what happened.”

“I just ran into a guy in the parking lot, literally.”

“Did you get his name?” Jasmine asked expectantly.

“Chase, but that’s all I know.”

“Was he tall with dark hair and a Celtic tattoo on his arm?”

“I don’t know about the tattoo, but he was tall and had dark messy hair.”

“Raya, that sounds like Ian’s friend. The one he said just moved out here from California.”

Ian was Raya’s boyfriend of ten months and one of the best huggers on campus. His long arms combined with his towering six foot six inch frame had the comforting effect of completely swallowing a person, even Raya and Addison who both neared six foot themselves.

“It could be. I will call Ian and see if he wants to bring him over for dinner tonight. I was planning on making Belle’s Italian marinade chicken anyway and that always makes a ton of food.” Raya stood up to go call Ian.

“Don’t you dare tell him I want to meet his friend or I will conveniently be out of the apartment.” Addison yelled at Raya as she walked into her room. She turned to Jasmine, “So what’s this about a secret admirer?”

“I don’t know, but it is kind of exciting. I guess Diedra found by doing a face-plant when she tripped over it. Whoever he is, he must know chocolate covered strawberries are my absolute favorite.”

“I thought Nutela and pretzels were?”

“That too.” Jasmine said and the two girls smiled. “Do you want one?” she asked as she started toward the box in the kitchen.

“Sure.”

“Alright, it’s all set.” Raya said as she turned the corner outside her room and entered the living room. Five steps later, she was with Jasmine and Addison in the closet kitchen. “The guys are coming tonight. They will be here at six thirty.”

“You know what that means,” Jasmine interjected.

“No, what?” Addison looked a little confused.

Raya finished, “We only have eight hours to make a scrumptious dinner and to make you gorgeous!” Raya said the last bit with her usual imitation of a New York accent.

Addison looked at them nervously. "What exactly is this going to entail?"

"First of all we have to get the sides for dinner." Raya smiled at Addison. "What did you think we were going to do?" Raya winked and headed back in to her room to get dressed.

"Hey, Jasmine, can I have one of your strawberries? These are my favorite."

"Sure. I won't eat that many anyway. I have to meet my mom and sister for some shopping, but I will be back in time for dinner. Heck, I want to see if Ian's friend is the same guy that made you grin like a kid in a candy store."

"I suppose I'm okay with being a project." Addison took a bite of the strawberry. The thick layer of dark chocolate cracked off into her mouth and mixed with the juice of the berry in an explosion of flavor. If only Addison had known how explosive that night would be and how it would alter the course of the roommates relationships with one another.