Trust Must be Earned

Chapter 25

Emily and I unpacked all of her shit at UConn first. Then she stayed to do all of her decorating and orientation activities. I drove to Yale and the second I began to unload my car two cute black boys came over.
"Hey lil mama, wants some help with that?" The taller boy winked.
"Nah I think I got it." I smiled sweetly.
"You sure baby doll?" The second boy asked.
"First, I'm not your baby doll. Second, I don't need any help." I said as politely as I could.
"Fine fine we get it you're not interested." The first boy held his hands up in surrender.
"Yeah I've got a man back home." I explained. "I'm from a city about two hours south of Seattle."
"Oh I getchu, well then why don't you call us after that break up." The second boy laughed. I just rolled my eyes.
"Bye!" I glared at them both. And they walked away. I looked back at all the stuff I had to haul up stairs. I decided to live off campus, sure it was more expensive but I liked it better this way! There are no rules except the ones my roommate and I agree on. God I hope she isn't a freak! All I knew what that this apartment came with two bedrooms and I could rent them both or I could rent one. I agreed with my mom, it was best to just rent one. The apartments were side by side instead of up and down. They looked more like townhomes to me. My apartment was 13 and coincidentally that's my favorite number. Even though it's off campus housing, only students live here. Students pretty much live in all the housing for a good mile or two around the main campus. I carried box after box into the house. Once I was done I locked the car and went to explore my new house for, well possibly for the next four years.
"Hello?" I called out. No answer. Maybe I got here first. When you walk in the front door the first room you hit is the kitchen. It's pretty small but it still has everything I need to cook. I'm not about to eat microwave meals for all of college. Hell no! I could never be one of those kids. The kitchen had white tile floors and simple wooden cabinets. It wasn't anything super special but I am grateful for it nonetheless.
"Hey!" I heard a sweet voice. I jumped. I never even heard the front door open! "Sorry I didn't mean to scare you! I'm Mariah, but everyone just calls me Riah." She was a petite black girl with lighter skin and blonde curls. She looked almost exactly like Danusia Francis on the UCLA gymnastics team!
"I'm Tatianna. I also go by Tati, but really both is fine." I smiled.
"So what do you think of it?" She beamed at me.
"Well I've only seen the kitchen so far." I laughed and so did she. So far, Mariah seems pretty normal. Thank God!
"So do you want help carrying your stuff up stairs? I already took the room to the left, but if you really can't handle the bench we can trade."
"Uh what bench?"
"Come on I'll show you." She smiled. This girl seemed to be a very smiley person. I liked that about her. We each took two boxes and walked up the six steps to the second level. The stairs sat in between the living room and the kitchen. The living room had plush gray carpet a coffee table in the center, and a black leather couch behind it. It seemed pretty cozy. The far left corner had a black leather lazy boy chair to match the couch. In front of the room there was a relatively large HD tv. I was honestly surprised I wasn't paying more for rent.
"Ok so on the left is my room. To the right is your room. This door in front of us is just a closet, and that door behind us is the bathroom." Riah pointed in all the different directions like a tour guide. On her room door there was a pink glitter name plate that said "MARIAH" in big cursive letters.
"Ok awesome! Thank you so much!" I really was grateful and relieved that she was she was cool and not totally nuts. "I was thinking we should exchange schedules so we will know when we have the apartment to ourselves."
"Oh yeah for sure. That's a great idea, although I probably won't spend a lot of time here I usually stay with my friends from the dance team or at a guys house." She blushed and we both giggled.
"Get it girl!" I winked at her and we both giggled.
"Ok well it was really great to meet you and I'm excited to be your roommate this year, but for now I gotta go. When I get back tonight, let's go over the logistics of being roomies."
"Ok perfect! If you don't mind me asking, where are you headed?"
"I work at a small cafe a few blocks from here. It's called Where We Met. It's kinda like a Panera but much bigger and it's the only one in the world. I have to work the closing shift today."
"What time do you get off then?" I asked curiously.
"My shift starts at 6 and I'll get off at 11 tonight. Technically we close at 10:30, but then I have to clean up."
"That's nice. Good hours. Enough time between classes and work to study and enough time after work to go out and party." I commented.
"You should come down and check it out! It's a great place to hang and I think Jana is hiring."
"I'll definitely come check it out but for now I think I'm gonna get settled in. I've got a lot to unpack." I sighed.
"Yeah I totally get it. Well good luck. I wish I could stay and help." Mariah smiled. Then she hugged me and bounded out the door. I think we are gonna be really great friends. I went up to my room and the first thing I noticed was the bench Riah had mentioned earlier. It was one of the benches that opened up so you could put stuff inside it. The best part was that it sat right inside of a half circle shaped window. I could sit on the bench and look out at our block. It reminded me too much of the arch window in Andre's penthouse. It made me tear up just a little bit. I decided is send him a picture of it.
T: Look at what's in my room! It makes me miss you but it's also like having a piece of us here.
A: Aw baby girl that's amazing! I miss you so much it hurts so fucking bad!!
T: I miss you more than words can describe Dre!
A: Not more than music can describe.
T: I miss you. I miss your smile, and I will shed a tear every once in a while. And even tho it's different now, you're still here somehow. My heart won't let you go, and I need you to know. I miss you. Sha-la-la-la-la I miss you. -Miley Cyrus
A: You appeared right in front of me before you march down south the university. It's where you spend your daylight! but we're both just waiting for this Friday night. Although the distance is daring. We both know how to drive. -NeverShoutNever
T: I've been to heaven I've been to hell. I've been to Vegas and god knows where. But nothing feels like home like you babe. I love you more than you will ever know. Dear, I love you more than you will ever know! -NeverShoutNever
A: Where'd you go? I miss you so. Seems like it's been forever since you've been gone. Please come back home. -Fort Minor
T: I know I've been selfish. I know I've been foolish, but look through that and you will see that I'll do better. I know, baby I can do better. -Secondhand Serenade
A: Taxi cabs and busy streets, that never bring you back to me, I can't help but wish you took me with you....And this is when the feeling sinks in, I don't wanna miss you like this. Come back... be here, come back... be here. I guess you're in London today, I don't wanna need you this way. Come back... be here, come back... be here. -TSwift
T: Baby you know that I miss you. I wanna get with you tonight but I cannot babygirl. And that's the issue. Baby you know I miss you. I just wanna kiss you. But I can't right now so baby kiss me thru the phone. -Soulja Boy
A: *MUAH*
T: *MUAH!!!*
A: I love you angel.
T: I love you Dre!
A: Skype??
T: Of course baby! As long as you don't mind me moving around and setting things up at the same time.
A: I don't mind as long as you wear those little shorts I like ;)
T: Perv!
A: You love it!
T: I'll call you in five
I got out my laptop, plugged it in, and called Andre. I put the laptop on my bed and I opened the box with all the pieces to put my new desk together. Basically, our conversation consisted of me holding up a piece of wood and the instructions to the camera so Andre could tell me where it goes. Every time I messed it up he'd laugh at me.
"No Tatianna, the side labeled as F goes connects to G and then a screw goes into the hole at the top." He chuckled.
"Ugh fuck this shit!" I put the pieces down and got up to decorate instead. I'd tackle this another day. I could do without a desk for a little.
"Baby girl, come on. You can do it. It's not that hard. It's not a double twisting back flip thingy."
"No Dre, a double twist is easy compared to this cluster fuck!" I pouted, and naturally he laughed. But once he got me to calm down we were able to work through each step in about half an hour. It really wasn't so bad.
"So now what can I help you do from all the way across the country angel?" He winked suggestively but I completely ignored it.
"Well I don't suppose you can help me hang posters?" I said sarcastically.
"Well no I can't help you hang them but I did leave you some surprises when I packed your stuff. The box with all of your posters and picture frames, open it. You'll find a little something new." Andre promised. I looked in the box and on top of all of my usual posters and pictures there were several framed pictures, all of Andre and I! I moved my new desk across from my bed and next to the window. The first thing I put on my desk was the photo of him kissing my cheek. I arranged everything to perfection as we talked. Occasional he would randomly moan or lick his lips. That's how I knew exactly when he got a good glimpse of my ass in these shorts. TAlking to the love of my life on skype was nothing compared to being in his arms, but it wasn't nearly as bad as I expected. This long distance really wasn't gonna be so bad.