Don't Make Me Cry

Chapter 1

MARCH 16 2024
4 YEARS LATER
LOS ANGELES

"Jenna, could you please get these ready for tomorrow's meeting?" one of her coworkers asked. She looked away from her laptop and took the stack of papers from her. Yeah, I'll do that now," she said with a smile. "Thank you," her coworker said, and Jenna got to work on the paperwork. She wanted this done before she left the office today.

She had plans that she couldn't change. "So, are you excited about your date tonight?" her friend Adriana walked into her office. "Kinda, I'm nervous," she said truthfully. It had been four years since she dated anybody, and she didn't know how this date would be, but she hoped he liked her. "Don't be. You got this, and if something goes wrong, call me, and I'll help you with the date," she said, winking.

Jenna started laughing at her friend. "Thank you, but I think I got this," she said, looking at her friend. "Okay, but I'm taking this," she took the papers that Jenna was working on. "I will finish this for you while you go home and get ready." Jenna looked at her friend. She felt so grateful for her. "Thank you, Kate, I owe you one." she hugged Kate. "Yeah, when you get home, I want cheesecake and the details," Kate said, walking out of the office.

Jenna smiled and shook her head. She looked at the time and saw it was late. She needed to get home, shower, and get ready before she was late. She packed up and left her office. She got in her car and drove home. Her phone vibrated in the cup holder. She picked it up and read a text from Dustin.

He was her date tonight. She met him two months ago at the gym. She thought he was cute and funny. At first, she wasn't trying to go on a date, but for two months, Dustin didn't let up on asking Jenna out sooner or later. She said yes, and now they are going out on a date.

"Let me know when you leave," she read the text. She replied with an okay and put her phone in her purse. She made it to her apartment. As she found a parking space, she noticed a moving truck. "New people," she said to herself. She walked into the lobby towards the elevator that was going to close. "HOLD THE DOOR, PLEASE!" she said, running toward the door. She didn't think the person could hear her.

But they did hear her as they stood in front of the door with boxes in their hands. "Thank you," she said softly before going to hit five but realizing it was already lit up. They both stood in silence. It wasn't Awkard; it was just quite comfortable silence, the sound of the door opening. Jenna walked off the elevator and to her apartment. She noticed the apartment next door to her had boxes nearby. She made a mental note to say hi to her new neighbors

She walked into her place and closed the door. She went straight to her room. She had already picked her dress out in the morning. She went to the bathroom and showered. After a good hour, she got out, did her makeup, and fixed her hair. "You look good," she said, looking at herself in the mirror

she walked into her bedroom, grabbed the dress off the bed, put it out, ran her hands down her body, and picked up a cute little black dress that fit her just right. She smiled at herself in the mirror. She checked the time "shit, I'm late." She grabbed her things and sent Dustin a text she was locking up her apartment when she heard.

"Jenna? Is that you?" she looked up and saw Gustavo. He was Arias's brother. She looked shaken. She hadn't seen him in forever. "Omg, Gustavo," she said, walking up to him. She hugged him, and he hugged hers back. "How have you been?" he asked. "I'm good, how about you? How's your family?" she said, asking more about Arias and less about his actual family. "Good, and every one good," he said. Keeping it short

"You live here?" she asked, looking at the boxes in his hand, "no, someone I know is moving in, and he asked for my help," he said. She looked around. "Where's your friend then?" she said, questioning him. "He forgot he had a thing come up at his new restaurant and left to handle that," he said, snapping her back to reality. "SHIT!" she yelled. He jumped a little at her voice. "I'm sorry, I have to go. It was nice running into you," she said, walking away, forgetting all about her dinner with Dustin