When He Showed Up

2

*UPDATED*
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"Jess.."

“Mm, yeah Mom?" 

"We're here!"  Here? .... Oh yeah! I completely forgot! I looked out my window to a multitude of skyscrapers and little-itty-bitty cars driving down the long highways. My first thought was: “It’s all so small,” then I realized that I was still in the plane. Ugh, I can be so out of it sometimes.

When we finally landed in Florida, we grabbed our things and walked out of the plane into the airport. Suddenly, I saw a man in a suit with our last name on a card. I guess he's here to drive us home.  When Mom and I walked up to him,

"Hey guys! Welcome to Florida!”

“Thank you, Mr. Jameson!" Mom said, as she shook his hand softly. "This is my daughter Jessica. Jessica, this is Mr. Jameson. The man hiring me into the management position I was telling you about."

I nodded and smiled as he shook my hand gently. He then told us that he was, in fact, there to drive Mom to her work to let the CEO know that she had arrived (and learn where her office was, who she was working with, and so on).  Mom looked at me, concern in her eyes, and took in a shaky breath.  I held her arm comfortingly, crossing my fingers as I looked into her eyes with excitement. 

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Once we got to the company, we immediately headed upstairs to the CEO's office. When we got up to the waiting area, I noticed there was another girl approximately my age sitting in a chair across from the door.  Mom explained why she was there, while I sat next to the girl.

"Hi..." I said softly.  She looked at me, smiled really big, and said, "Oh hi! I'm Clare; I'm the CEO’s daughter." I grinned back. Wow, this girls really open!  "I'm Jess. It's nice to meet you!" "It's nice to meet you too!" She replied, chirpily.

We got to talking and found out that she and I were the same age and we're both going to attend the same college in Florida. Min Su suddenly perked up and said, "Ooh, you should have dinner with us tonight!" "Oh.. I would love to! But I don't want to be an imposition..." "It's not an imposition if I ask you!  You're coming, ok?"

"Ok!” I agreed readily.  “Sounds fun!"

Just as I finished my sentence, a man came out of the office and motioned mom to come in. I sighed, this is going to take a while. As if she read my mind, Clare said "Ugh, this is going to take forever Jess, why don't you come over to my house now?  We can start dinner!" offered Clare.  "Sounds good! Just let me tell Mom." I got out my phone and texted Mom:

I'm going to Clare's house to help make dinner. I love you! C U soon!

We exited the building, got in the car, and before I knew it, we were at Min Su's house. The place was HUGE! The size of 8 mountains all put in one spot!

"Holy cow! This is your house?!" I exclaimed in awe.  

"Yeah, why?" asked Clare, sounding slightly confused and embarrassed.  

"It's just so...BIG! I've never seen a house like this!"  

Clare blushed.  "Dad can be a bit... extreme with his lifestyle choices."  

I shrugged.  "He's the CEO of a big company. He probably wanted a big house to go along with it."

"Maybe,” admitted Clare, chuckling to herself softly.  “Come on! Let’s go make dinner!"

We walked inside, and let me tell you! The inside was even better. It looked expensive, but it was also so...homey!  It was simply beautiful.  "Wow! It's even prettier on the inside!" I said, not sure where to look first.  Clare laughed and led me to the kitchen, which I have to say was awfully nice! Plenty of granite counters with an island right in the middle of the kitchen, and an enormous Vulcan stove with a huge heat vent and running water spigots overhead!

"Clare! You sure you're not rich?" I said jokingly. We both laughed and thought about  what we should make.

"Ooo! We could make spagetti! With meatballs... " suggested Clare.  

"Mmm, spagetti!  I haven't had that in forever!"

I began making the meatballs while Clare started the sauce.

"So, are you excited about school starting soon?" She asked, shaking some unfamiliar spices into the simmering pot.  

"OH MY GOSH, YES!” I answered happily.  

“I know, right?” giggled Clare.  “I can't believe it's starting up tomorrow.  I'm so excited!"

Tomorrow? I just got here today! "W-what? School is starting t-tomorrow?" I asked, stunned.

"Yep! So you better get ready for all the guys falling at our feet when we get there!" We both laughed, until the painful memories of Jake came back to me.  Gosh, why do those memories always ruin the best moments?

"I really don't want to be in a relationship right now, but it would be funny to see how they act!" I admitted.  

Clare looked genuinely confused.  "Why? Do you have a boyfriend already?"

"No! No! I just had some...stuff happen back home with my ex-boyfriend..." I muttered vaguely.  

"Oh. I-I'm sorry." said Clare, looking down.

"It's ok," I told her, not wanting to make my first real friend feel bad.  

"But! You are so pretty!” she retaliated.  “Whatever that guy did, he was a jerk for doing something so terrible to someone so sweet and beautiful!" she said with a confident stance.  I couldn’t help but laugh at that statement. If I was as beautiful as she would have me believe, I would still have a lover and a best friend...

A few minutes later I got a text:

Just got finished with the interview! I got it! I'll see you when you get home!~Mom :)

I smiled to myself as I put my phone back in my pocket and finished the dinner Clare and I prepared.

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