The Rich And Bold

Hospital room

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

SCARLETT

I closed my eyes as I delightfully bit into the delicious tacos that I was eating at Lupi's Diner. I loved food. Food was life. I was never allergic to anything. I ate everything as long as it was delicious.

I found Lupi's diner when I was at my old school. My old chauffeur liked to order it. He would usually pick it up on his way to pick me up. The aroma alone was mouth-watering, and I would crave to have a taste. So, one day, I convinced him to let me buy tacos from them and I fell in love with their food. I usually had it delivered to me, but since I didn't want to be alone with my thoughts at home I decided to eat at the diner on my way home from Susan's.

I placed the taco back on the plate and picked up the chilled lemon chia fresca to push down the delicious food. As soon as I set the drink back down, I saw someone standing by the seat opposite mine. I looked up swiftly and met the black eyes of Leigh- Anne Ramos. My eyes widened in shock, and I sat up straighter in my seat. She was dressed in the black long-sleeved top and white cap that the staff at Lupi's Diner wore. I wondered about the number of places she worked at. She folded her arms and continued to stare at me.

"H-hi..." I offered. I looked around and realized that there were only two other customers in the restaurant.

"Why did you help Andrew out the other day?" Her voice was melodious. She hardly spoke, but when she did, I loved to listen to her, and it made me a tad bit jealous. I studied her face and realized that she was not angry. She was just curious.

"H-He's serious about wanting to date you..."
"Let me rephrase my question, Why are you friends with those people?"

"Th- they are nice p-people"

"I need more information. I'm careful about the kind of people that I befriend I have heard some negative things about Andrew and his crew. I know you don't like trouble and per what I have heard, they appear like trouble, especially when it comes to their sex scandals. So why are you friends with them? Why do you think I should give the guy a chance at all?"

I sighed and looked at the table before I looked back at her.

"They are the only people who despite my anxiety and awkwardness, have stayed friends with me. They don't judge or insult me. When I had a panic attack around them, they didn't treat me as though I were a freak. They brushed it off as if nothing happened. They've been friends for more than a decade, but they never make me feel like I'm not part of them. I feel like I've been friends with them for more than the two months that I have known them. Andrew makes me laugh. He treats me like I'm normal, they all do. And they are honest. They don't pretend, so I know they are not pretending to like me. They make me feel like I belong, and I have never had that before."

"Don't you think it is because you are Kai's girlfriend?"

"We became friends before Kai and I started dating. Pierce and Andrew have had girlfriends before, they never treated them the way they treat me. They never actually befriended them."

"So, they are entitled, picky people."

"Well...y-y-yes." I wondered why she was asking so many questions. I guessed that it was because she was beginning to like Andrew. I felt giddy on the inside and blurted out in excitement, "Are you planning on dating Andrew? He tells me you take a long time to reply to his messages and you don't let your conversations flow." I cringed. Sometimes I gave too much information.

She smiled, a small smile, and asked instead "So, they won't like me because I'm poor."

"If you and Andrew become serious, they will accept you."