Esmerelda the Flower

Chapter 25: Esmerelda

Thanksgiving was in a week. Me and Christopher were going over to my parents house since his parents obviously weren't an option. I honestly felt bad for his father, he would be spending thanksgiving with an insufferable woman.

I was at work during my break sitting in my car. Thinking about our thanksgiving plans, I realized Chris wouldn't be with his family at all. He's an only child and he told me thanksgivings for him growing up were just filled with drama. Last year when we didn't know each other, he told me he spent this thanksgiving with Brandon's family. This year that wasn't an option, neither I or Christopher had been in contact with Brandon or Camryn for a week.

Our fallout was so all of a sudden. Sometimes I still couldn't believe I had lost my one true friend in a matter of minutes. It saddened me that she truly believed I wished ill on her but there was nothing I could do about it now, only time could heal.

So I decided to take my phone and call Bill. I secretly sent his number to myself from Chris's phone. I wasn't sure how Chris would feel but my intentions were good. I loved him but the love you received from your parents is different, and I wanted him to have that.

"You damn telemarketers! I told you I don't want your shit!" He shouted on the phone after I called him 3 times.

"Bill, it's just me Esmerelda" I said trying to assure him.

His tone immediately changed. He apologized, explaining that recently he'd been getting lots of phone calls from telemarketers. "It's okay, I wanted to ask and formally invite you to thanksgiving with my parents."

He hesitated a bit behind the phone, "oh wow! I'm happy you're inviting me but I don't want to be a bother. Besides I'm not sure Ellen would let me..." Oh right. I forgot that he was married to a shrewd. 

"Bill I understand. It's just that my parents would love to meet you. They've been wanting to meet the two of you for some time but I told them your wife would be a bit difficult but I knew you'd come through. Please?" I begged.

It's like he could feel my puppy dog eyes through the photo be because he finally agreed. He told me that he and Ellen had spent  thanksgiving with Ellen's large side of the family for  years and that he needed  a break.

I thanked him for agreeing to my invite and dropped the call.

"Score!" I said while pumping my fist.

My break was over. I headed back into work to continue my job. I was working in a laboratory studying the genetic properties of HIV.  It was a 10 week study. We got assigned with other coworkers to facilitate our work. My partner was named Denise. She was 3 years my senior. She was extremely funny, always making the most boring parts of work fun. And she was gorgeous, she had a dark complexion and her skin was glass and she had her hair laid perfectly all the time.

"Hey Esmerelda!" She waved at me as I entered the laboratory. "Hey!" I responded enthusiastically. There was nothing I loved more than making new friends. Work went by in a blur thanks to Denise. When it was time to clock out, she came up to me.

"Hey, I'm going out with a couple of my girls tonight for drinks and you definitely should join us!"

I wasn't sure. I was still a pretty reserved person and sometimes I didn't know how to act around friend groups. Especially among people who were close to each other. But what choice did I have? I needed a new group of people since Camryn and I haven't talked and my other coworkers weren't as fun.

"Oh, okay." I ageeed and Denise hugged me. "Great! I'll text you the address, okay?"

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