NEW BEGINNINGS

CHAPTER 6

She decided to drive to an eatery after work. She knew she wasn't going to cook tonight. Skipping dinner was something her sister hated with extreme passion so she decided to have dinner outside the comfort of her kitchen. She decided to do a little working while she ate. She had her head buried in her laptop when she heard someone call her name. She looked up

"I knew it was you. I would never forget the face"
"Gabriel?"

She asked. They had been classmates before they all went to college. Since Gabriel studied outside the country, she had misplaced his contacts and lost all means of communication with him. She got up from her chair as her hugged her

"It's so good to see the best journalist in the county. A blogger doesn't get that type of opportunity everyday"
"You still haven't stopped reading people"
"This is Val. She's my girlfriend. Val, this is my classmate from high school, Wanda"
"The same Wanda as in Arnold?" His girlfriend said
"Yep, that same one"
"It's so nice to meet you"
"The pleasure is all mine"

Wanna said as she took the hand Val was offering

"So what are you doing here?"

Gabriel asked her as she offered them the empty seats on her table

"I know I'm supposed to say I'm here to have dinner but really, I'm here to find some quiet so I can work"
"Still as hard-working as I remember"

She smiled. She didn't know whether to ask about Dylan or not. Val excused herself and went into the ladies room so she took the opportunity to ask

"How is Dylan doing? Heard from him yet?"
"Actually yes. He's doing fine. He's actually here"
"In new York?"
"Yes he is. He's here for good. He travels about but he resides here"
"How long as he been here?"
"Almost a year"
"Oh that's cool"
"I heard Ken was getting married"
"Yeah, next month. Would you be attending?"
"I wasn't going to miss it for anything. I'm a blogger remember?"
"Yes, that's your job"
"Don't worry, I've promised Dylan not to publish anything about your post or private lives"
"Were you going to do that before?"
"Maybe"

She gave him the "Are you kidding me?" look

"What? it is a good story if you think about it" Gab said to her

She rolled her eyes. She had to admit. She really did miss those good old days where all they had to worry about was some homework and detention. She shook her head and told him that she wouldn't be on the front page of his blog

"Whatever Wanda"
"So how's life treating you?"
"Fine. I sent you an email recently. Did you bother to open it?"
"Not really. It must have skipped my mind"

They talked a little longer before Wanda left. She got home and replayed the whole conversation. Dylan was back in the state and she didn't know. Not that he deemed it fit to call her, not after he left the way he did. She had her shower and headed to bed

***

Gab walked into the house. He met Dylan on the sofa, reading a magazine

"How did it go?" Dylan asked
"As expected. Guess who I ran into?"
"A super model?"

Dylan said without looking up. Gabriel was a blogger. He was always running into models and celebrities more often than not

"Actually not a model but  journalist"
"Really? What did she give you? An autograph?"

Dylan said without interest

"I wish she did. She asked of you though"
"Me? Who was she?"
"Wanda Arnold"
"You ran into Wanda? Where?"

He said with undivided attention

"At the eatery. If you've probably went with me, you would have seen her too. She's twice as pretty and twice as sexy. You should have seen her"
"Wow, how is she?"
"She seemed fine"
"Did she have a ring on her finger?"
"How am I supposed to know Dy? I didn't notice"
"Why wouldn't you?"
"I don't know, I wasn't looking out for a ring. If you're so bothered, maybe you should man up and go see her because if you keep doing this, you'll end up old and miserable and alone"

He said as he went into his room. Dylan couldn't believe that Wanda actually asked about him. If she did, that meant she didn't hate him. He was relieved to know that. He knew he was going to sleep a whole lot better tonight. He wasn't going to see her though until Ken's wedding. He couldn't. He had so much to make up for. The wedding was just weeks away. Three now. He had approximately twenty one days to man up, like Gabriel had put it