Melting

Chapter 2: Breakfast

The morning was quiet, well as quiet as Manhattan could be at 5:30 in the morning. I ran with music pounding in my ear as I did every morning, keeping my step in pace with the beat. I had the hood for my over-sized sweatshirt up, and it concealed my face taking its place of a curtain and played its essential part of concealing my identity.

My mind was all over the place, but I was currently trying to focus on one thing. That one thing was the lunch I was going to with an old friend that had more power than she used to. She was hiding something and so was her fiancé and whatever they were doing, was shady. I know it isn't my business to dig deeper into things don't involve me but it was too sudden and it didn't fit. Selena didn't date, especially with men that had a long history of women and were, excuse my language, assholes. Plus the fact that she lied to me was beginning to piss me of. How I knew? She was seeing my cousin at that time. Unless she was cheating on him, but she couldn't because they were both staying with me at that time. Why? Because they both wanted to escape my mother's ball and her controlling role in her life. 

The reasonable part of my brain was arguing that it wasn't any of my business what she was involved in. But the other part wanted the truth, the full truth and I had to find a way of getting it out of her without getting to cold. Selena may be hiding something, but she was an old friend, a very close.

I rounded the corner and stopped as I realized that I had ran further away from my normal route and had ended up on some unfamiliar road. I looked around, hoping to find something that looked familiar but I came out with nothing. Sighing I pulled out my phone and dialed the number of a person that was usually my savior in these situations.

"Alison, I need you to send someone to find me."

"Right away Ma'am!"

I had trained my employees well.

I tapped my foot impatiently and looked around the room. Having to wait for a late person was my least favorite thing and it really irritated me when people were late. Especially people that knew me well enough to know my dislike for late people. I looked down at my clock and took an angry deep breath, I had been waiting for 20 minutes and Selena still had not appeared. Picking up my phone, I decided to work instead of sit around idly doing absolutely nothing other than sip tea.

"Good Morning," a chirpy voice greeted and I looked up at the happy looking Selena. 

"Your late," I stated with a  straight-face "I wonder."

"I was busy." She answered simply as she sat down in the seat opposite me and put down her purse.

"At 9:00 in the morning, you weren't even at your apartment, haven't been for two weeks." I asked, raising an eyebrow at her. Leaning forward I said,  "You've never woken up before 9:00 in the morning and if you do you lay in bed."

"I'm concerned as to how you know that," she answered stealing my cup and sipping it before wincing and taking another gulp, "Why am I not surprised that your black coffee is strong?"

"It's just like my heart, black and strong." I joked, finishing of the text and pressed send.

"I thought your heart was made of ice." she mused.

"It's made of black ice, then," I replied, shrugging it off, "Why wouldn't I know, we've been friends since the crib and we've lived together for four years before I moved."

"Oh the God old times," she joked, "when there was laughter and happiness in your life and you weren't a moody old witch!" she said, her tone light but the serious message well disguised. 

"What makes you think I'm not happy now?"

"You don't smile anymore."

"Smiling justifies happiness, does it? Selena, if a facial impressions showed what you were feeling on the inside then what's the point of keeping your emotions to yourself, you could easily be manipulated, which is weakness." I replied, pointedly and took another sip from my cup.

"How did you just go from smiling to being manipulated? I will not understand you." she shook her head with a frown and picked up the menu.

"It's better if you don't try; you have a wedding to prepare for." I mentioned, taking a sip of the coffee, I noticed her grimace slightly and look down at her hands and then out of the windows.

"Why don't we order?" I asked, she nodded and I signaled and waiter was instantly standing in the space beside me.

"A plate of pancakes and a latte." I ordered, pacing the menu back to the waiter, who nodded and scribbled down my order before turning to Selena for her order.

"I'll have the same, but extra creamy latte, please." she offered him a smile and handed him the menu.

"There's something I wanted to tell you Alas." she meekly said, looking everywhere but me with a glint in her eye, that told me that this was something she had not told anybody else.

"But you have to promise me that you won't tell another soul, living or dead about this!" suddenly she was leaning in and her eyes were focused on me.

"I have no friends to tell," I replied, my eyes narrowing at her, "What has little Miss sunshine done?" I asked my voice mocking. She threw me a glare, before looking around. She straightened up and her eyes focusing on something behind me and I turned to see the waiter returning with our orders. He quickly placed it in front of us and left and Selena dug in as soon as he was out of sight. She moaned in delight, and quickly took another sip.

"Calm down sweetheart, you have to put those pounds somewhere?" I joked, Selena was one that liked to keep healthy and on point with her body.

"Your place makes the best pancakes ever, so don't judge me," she shrugged before taking a sip of the coffee, "and if I'm going to die today, than I'm dying with pancakes in my stomach."

I remained silent and turned to look out of the double doors that lead to the balcony. This room was on one of the higher up levels and was part of the private sector of the restaurant that could be hired for small groups or couples. Downstairs, I had on my way up seen the rush starting to build as breakfast was being served. Currently this room was for those that wanted a little more privacy but not be completely alone. It was lonely eating alone sometime, with only your mind to occupy the thoughts of your own doubts. At least when there was someone beside you in the room, added to the sense of normality.

I took a bite out of my pancake.

"You wanted to tell me something?" I reminded and instantly Selena paled and nodded meekly before taking a gulp of her latte.

"Yes, I did. You have to promise not to be angry."

"I have my own demons to be angry at; it is not my place to judge yours."

Selena visibly relaxed at my promise, and looked up from her cup.

"I'm pregnant."