“Remember the insane couple next door? I came from the gym yesterday and guess what? I literally caught them making out behind my door. My door. Can you believe that? And oh—the receptionist? Got a huge crush on me—”
“I’m not surprised with the people next door. But how do you even know he likes you?”
For the last few hours she's been telling me the occurrence particularly about what's happening around in this hotel she's been staying at. The first week that she slept here she's been hearing sudden screeching coming from the wall in the middle of the night that made her first time staying horrendous. She wrapped herself with a blanket only to get up damp with sweat at an early morning. She even had to question a staff about the previous person that resides here before, she didn't get any answer considering that no one ever had a complaint. Maybe she was just being paranoid. A number of things can really come into mind when it's the first time moving. It has to be the right color combination throughout the entire place otherwise there's regret in the end, the expenses in terms of brand new and additional furnitures, the stuffs you will be compelled to purchase so the place wouldn't look dull, I believe Laurel succesfully did a nice work here. And a bunch of other things which includes the interruptions around you.
“He keeps giving me directions in this hotel that I should try, this room is high-priced for myself already.”
“I’m pretty sure it's part of his job here.”
She's convinced the waitress in the restaurant of the hotel greatly dislike her because of the prolonged cold glare each time she orders some take out after she accomplish going to the gym. The woman turns out to be someone Austin used to go out with that made Laurel dig further about his relationship before, by asking him multiple questions about people he used to date. Rather than getting actual answers they would fight about it the entire time they're together. Just imagine the amount of time arguing with Laurel, it's just the hardest thing that could happen. She doesn't get sick of it. When there's something she could toss around she won't have any doubt just to bear with her beliefs.
“That actually makes sense. What were you going to tell me?”
I don't really wish to be looking dubious at this moment with her considering there was a lot of effort just by admitting guilt and clearing myself. I nearly have forgotten about the major thing I was going to say with all of her dishing with people during the several hours. Honestly the idea of Laurel only speaking and me just paying attention makes both of us at ease since then. “I left home. I had a big fight with my dad—”
“What?”
“I’m now staying with Sam for the time being—”
“God. Are you okay? I'm sorry I had no idea.”
“It’s fine. You know me and dad.”
"That's different. You never think to leave home. Ever. You could have stayed with me here.”
I didn't wanna show up with my handful of baggage, in the middle of sobbing when we still have this obstacle between us. I know that only Laurel could carry on with my character but even so, I didn't wanna be too much for her and with the unforseen current relationship, I don't wanna concern myself with it, not after I blurted words that offended her. “There’s something else.”
I took a deep breath and told her every single thing that had happened from the fight at home and the thing that took place late last night. The disturbing thing to think of yet the most stirring thing to keep flashing in my mind. I don't wanna lie about it anymore. It makes me queasy just for the fact that I have to be thoroughly as I tell Laurel how it came to that initially. She was extremely interested that our faces are only inches from each other, eyes wide open as she process whatever comes out of my mouth. This is making me self conscious from my seat but even so I know I have to continue this. I figured this is not something I should conceal from her this time. This isn't just some insignificant thing to keep from your bestfriend. It's not some safety pin you stole from her the last time you had a sleepover and that pin meant something to her that I haven't given back and don't plan to, given that I think I lost it. It's not about her personality that often displease you however couldn't discuss it with her because of the fact that you have lived through it. This is different. “My goodness, Cari.”
“I’m starting to like a guy, Laurel. I mean—I’m not supposed to.”
“Oh stop that. What are you gonna do, put a stop on your feelings? Who does that?”
“I honestly don't know what to do.”
“Cari, you both made out! You wouldn't do that to someone you don't like, don't you think? You know what to do.”
That's the ordinary issue, though the world foresees that any complication can be resolved constantly and when people around you think you got the situation under control, it's not the apocalypse, in reality you just don't. You no longer have all the ability to figure things out because it just happened. And for someone who doesn't work it out soon after it happened, it's always the refusal next in line. I don't think I want that at this moment, not with this. Either I skate on thin ice or have my heart shattered two times in a week. I can't bear with that anymore.
“I should talk to him.”
“Yes, right now. Go back there and tell him.” When she sees me still having doubt she immediately grabbed my arm through the door. “I’ll be waiting for your call.” She unlocked the door behind me and pushed me faintly following with a delighted bream.
I haven't even set foot inside the cab my phone is already packed with Laurel's text reassuring me it's not gonna be as bad as I think it would be. She keeps sending these optimistic stickers that I don't even like seeing and she knows that. On top of everything I don't think my approach will turn out badly when we finally talk considering we're both seeing this as mutual now. I'm sure he knows that I feel the same way too. What I'm anxious about is how I tell him that. I have a propensity to not know what to say that would make people get bewildered or worse, make the situation more complex and I don't want that. But how would I know the outcome if I don't take my chances.
I found Sam staring at some photographs from the screen on the couch along with his work camera connected to his laptop. I don't know about him but clearly he's not fond of locking his front door as I just burst inside without even knocking first. When I came in he immediately stood from his seat and the silence between the stares and our halt was like in the movies. “Hey. S-sorry I left without saying anything.”
“Are you okay, Cari? I thought you freaked out about this whole thing—I thought I'm never gonna see you again.”
“When my job depends on you? No.” I awkwardly placed both of my hands on the back and clenched my other hand to make me gravely realize with what I'm gonna say next. “I—”
“I like the way you make my head calm. I only felt that with you.” He smiled. I woke up in the morning and Mom was there, smiling at me. The day wasn't even starting yet for me but she made it already. It was the first beautiful smile I've ever seen. She wouldn't make me roll out from bed when she comes in, instead she would climb on the bed with me and we'd stare at this rainbow in my ceiling. After that first time was my Dad's. I couldn't get it out of my head for the past 10 years since mom passed, I saw him smile at me once more. I pretended to excuse myself and sobbed in my room. I wasn't weeping because I thought I would never see this day, it was because I knew that it would make Mom happy knowing it came back.
“I like it when you're around, Cari. It makes me wanna keep going.”
