A Tinge Of Cray Ray

Chapter 2

Delilah

"Wakey wakey lazybones!" A voice sang.
Ugh!
Is it morning already? A couple of shufflings later and I flinched from the bright sun rays that attacked my eyes.
Yup it's morning.
Jocelyn must have pulled down the slat of the venetian blinds.
Geez...She's evil!
A soft chuckle followed.
I guess I said that out loud, Oops not sorry.
Jocelyn sat at the dressing mirror going through her skincare routine.
"Morning baby sis." She greeted cheerily.
"I wish I could just sleep in..." I muttered groggily rolling over to my side beneath the disheveled sheets.
Jocelyn dapped some color to her cheeks before grinning at her reflection and making several poses at the full length mirror.
"Would you be stop preening yourself on the mirror? You're still ugly."
That was a lie.
Jocelyn was an epitome of beauty, With her short bobbed auburn hair, the blue eyes that we both shared and a killer fashion sense. I gazed at her with pride, feeling like that grace had been transmitted unto me as well. Today she was dressed in lemon green pantsuit with a black shirt underneath the blazer and black stilettos.
Jocelyn may be stylish but she wasn't extravagant, If she flaunts a couple of outfits from a low-end store, you could never tell. We weren't rich but we were comfortable. With she being a promising lawyer and me scampering up the greasy pole of journalism, We were good to go.
Baby steps now.
"That's rich, coming from you." She said with folded arms and a smirk.
I gasped dramatically.
"You didn't!"
She dislodged herself from the mirror and turned to me with a faux glare.
"Yes. yes I did. Just look at you."
She shoved a small mirror in my face and I gasped.
Oh my word.
I narrowed my eyes at my sniggering sister. It turned into a huge stare down. After a minute or so, we broke down into laughter unable to control our mirth.
I dragged my feet from bed and gave her a side hug, our cheeks pressed against each other's.
"I love you. But is it just me or aren't you a bit too cheery for so early in the morning?"
Jocelyn giggled in response.
"You think?"
I nodded.
"You know why..." She trailed blushing like a school girl.
When I still looked confused, she sighed.
"Oh Lila... You have the attention span of a child with ADHD."
"Hey!" I whined.
"I remember telling you that I have a date tonight."
I perked up at this as the memory resurfaced.
"Oops my bad." I grinned sheepishly.
Jocelyn rolled her eyes and added.
"With Max."
I groaned and retracted my arms from her waist.
"No way!"
"Yes way!" She said cupping her own face and stared dreamily into nothingness.
Jocelyn has always had a knack for the tall,dark  and handsome (I mean who doesn't?)
She jumped out of her reverie soon enough and outstretched her hand expectantly.
"Don't tell me you still remember that?" I asked in disbelief. I had hoped that she'd forgotten.
"Of course I do. Now cough up!"
Max was this dreamboat Jocelyn had a thing for. I bet 10 bucks that she couldn't get him to go on a date with her but No surprise there he agreed.
"I hate you." I grumbled, fishing out some notes from my purse and slapping them onto her palm.
"I clearly remember you saying you love me a moment ago." She taunted.
"I take it back." I snapped blowing a raspberry.
"Sour loser."
She gave me the loser sign and slammed the door behind her.
Yup. That was us.
Jocelyn was just a year older than I was so were super close. We grew up together and passed all phases of our lives at almost the same time.
Puberty, boy problems and all the rest of the stuff that came with it. We were totally fine with sharing a room for 25 years, Of course we had our bad times where we fought like all sibs do but it was mostly good times.
Good times...
Until Dad's demise.
Our father met his demise when  I was 15. At first it was difficult but I learnt to adapt... and  accept the cruel reality.. with the assurance that I wasn't alone.. that I had a comforter, a fortress and I could find solace in their embrace.
Yes. Their...
Plural.
My sister and the most wonderful woman in my life.
Mom.
I smiled as I watched her flip pancakes,  a polka dotted apron tied around her waist while she boogied to one of her all time favourite oldies band.
Mom was my superhero, levering her work and motherhood perfectly.
I knew it wasn't easy for her, especially with the meagre amount she earned but she put up a strong front for us and worked extra hours to make us comfortable.
She taught us to never drift apart from each other and to have each other's backs always.
I hugged her from behind taking her by surprise.
"Good morning Mom."
"Lila? I was beginning to think you weren't leaving your bed. You big bag of bones you." She chided with a laugh.
"Mommmm.." I pouted.
"Go sit down sweetie."
I sat opposite Jocelyn who was pigging out on pancakes with a thick blanket of syrup and freshly brewed coffee on the side.
Soon I had an humongous pile of pancakes ready for me to devour courtesy of Mom.
What? I'm a Momma's girl!
"Eat up"
"Hey! How come she gets that much? She's already spoilt enough as it is!" Jocelyn whined.
I grinned victoriously.
"Gimme that!"
I snatched the syrup bottle from her, squirting them onto my pancakes and began shovelling them into my mouth.
"Rude."
"Girls..." Mom sighed, discarding her apron.
You would think that in our 20s we would be acting like grown ups.
Nope. We chose not to.
An idea struck me and a wicked grin stretched on my face. Jocelyn eyed me warily then it clicked.
"No no no! Don't you dare!" She hushed.
"Mommmmmm! Jocelyn's got a boyfriend!" I screamed like a maniac.
Payback's a bitch.
"Really oh how wonderful. Who is he? He must be a good and handsome man yes? You must invite him  over dinner. Try finding out what he likes so I can add them to the menu. I hope he likes pasta, I have been waiting for someone else to try my Fettuccine Alfredo. You girls just say it's good because you're obliged..." The gushing went on to my content. I wouldn't say so for Jocelyn who  groaned exaggeratedly.
"Mom he's not my boyfriend. It's just a date."
"Then what are you waiting for honey? I gave you enough of my good genes to get you going." Mom said sassily.
I puffed up my cheeks, trying to hold myself from exploding, earning a scowl from Jocelyn.
"Hmm I'm sure you did." Jocelyn hummed giving our unsatisfied mom a kiss on the cheek and left for work.
"And you?" Mom turned to me sharply.
"What?" I asked with my mouth full.
"When are you getting a boyfriend?"
I blinked stupidly.
I wanted to annoy Jocelyn for winning the bet but I didn't expect it to come back to bite me in the ass!
"Uh...Never?" It came out more like a question and Mom gasped like I said something scandalous.
"My my, Is that the time?" I said dramatically giving my mom a quick kiss.
Then I fled.
Literally fled.
"Delilah Elaine Summers get back here!"
"It's okay to cry..." She said soothingly. "One day, everything will fall into place, I promise."
She was right, They are my family and I wouldn't ask for anything more...

                            ******
Huffing and puffing, I whooshed out of the elevator that was barely opened. Brushing past stunned waiting to-be passengers.
"Excuse me! Coming through!"
Past all the bustling in the winding corridors of the 2nd floor and blasting open the door to my department.

"Sorry I'm late!"I froze, feeling flustered before the 20 something pairs of eyes looking at me. Some waved while some glared behind their cubicles as I made my way through the aisle to my little space.
The office was already in full swing, there was the usual whirring of printers, the clattering of keyboards, the whiff of strong coffee, ink and fresh new paper.
"

Okay no time to lose." I flexed my fingers and got to work, typing a couple of  handwritten drafts into my computer.
"Looks like someone's getting hauled over the coals today."
I jumped at the voice but relaxed once I saw who it was.
Platinum blonde hair and silver eyes, her cherry coated lips stretched out in a playful grin, Hailey Gadson.
I rolled my eyes with a smile.
"Tell me about it. So what's up? I missed the morning inspection didn't I?" I rested my elbows on the desk to peer into her face.
Hailey was leaning on the divider between our cubicles from her side.
"Nah there wasn't any."
"Strange, she never misses out on the opportunity to poke at our every single flaw."
Clatter.
"If you ask me she's planning on taking us unawares."
I hummed in agreement and commenced with my work.
"I wouldn't lose my guard if I were you so don' go thinking you've escaped the devil's clutches." She added. There was an abrupt pause in the clattering then I turned to face Hailey with a smirk.
"I wouldn't dare."
We erupted into silent giggles before going back to work.
Hailey and I are both journalists working in the editorial department of a popular hybrid news, 'The Quill'
We were once patnered up for a project and we got along pretty well.
Though we were about the same age, she was more mature and a great person to work with. A hard worker who managed to secure her own column in the paper.
Unlike me, she was introverted and a total sweetheart. When I first met her, I dropped my stereotypical judgement that said 'All blondes are bitches' . All the more she was a beautiful soul.
"So how's that feature coming up?" She asked.
"Great, Any news?"
"Nothing much, Mason and Katrina's Relationship-Advice column seems to be holding up good. The calls are coming in droves."
I turned to look at Katrina and Mason, scurrying to answers the persistent telephone calls. I clicked my tongue.
What a hazzle... Pity...
I'd hate to be the one listening to strangers drone on and on about their relationship issues.
But as they say different strokes for different folks.
"Got the new scoop?"
Gossip I mean.
"Oh brother...." Hailey murmured shaking her head.
" 'Gastordale's eldest son flashing his privates in public.' " I proclaimed  dramatically with my arms stretched wide.
"..and the events that followed
were far from PG. Who knew Kyle Gastordale was hiding a monster in his pants? Apparently Payton has been tailing him for a week now and she looked traumatized when she returned with the juicy report, or should I say rather 'impressed' if you know what I mean..." I wiggled my brows.
Hailey burst into a fit of uncontrollable giggles as I went on with the imitation of a particular jiggling appendage.
"Lilahhhhh! Oh my God...Stop it!"
Ahhhh What a way to start the day!

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