The Virgins Guide to a Happy Life

14-Shay and a House

"Someone is passing later." I said to Terrance as he pulled out of the campus.

"Who?" He asked not taking his eyes off the road.

"Harley Quinn." I said and watched as he made a right instead of a left to head home. "Where are you going?"

"To look at a house. Who is Harley Quinn?"

"An undergraduate psychology student." I looked at him as he unbuttoned his shirt. "Where is this house?"

"A gated community in Chaguanus."

"Chaguanus! That's so far." I all but shouted at him.

"Yeah, but it's within the budget." He said and continued driving.

"What is the budget?" I asked looking at him.

"1.2 million." That's a high budget.

"Are you looking for a move in ready or a fixer upper?"

"I prefer a move in ready. But if we like a fixer upper then we'll get that."

"How do you know about all these houses?"

"I have a real estate agent. She only has one house after this to show us and then we could decide accordingly."

"Will we be meeting with her today?" He glanced my way then continued looking at the road.

"She'll be there. Did you eat?"

"Yes. I had lunch. And I took my pill."

"Do you want anything to eat now?" He asked.

"Maybe when we come back from looking at the house." I gave a shrug. We sat is silence for a bit before I decided I needed to know more about my fiancé. "So, what's your favourite colour?"

"Red. You?" He glanced at me.

"Black. Even though I know it's not technically a colour. Oh sorry." I cut myself off.

"What are you sorry for?" He asked and I frowned.

"You didn't ask."

"If you want to talk about something, feel free to talk to me, I am not going to shut you up." I bit my lip.

"What's your favourite food?"

"Ribs. Yours?"

"Curry shrimp. I'm a vegetarian but anything meat related, I could cook."

"How long have you been a vegetarian now?"

"Not that long, 3 years at most."

"Why didn't you go into engineering?" He asked and I spun around and stared at him. I bit my lip.

"I was in the hospital for three of my IA's and for my physics multiple choice."

"What did you get?"

"Unit 1, I got all ones. Unit 2, I got a one in Caribbean Studies, a 2 in Pure and GMED and a 4 in Physics."

"Why were you in the hospital?"

"I was having a splint removed." He stared at me when we stopped at a red light and turned back when the light turned green.

"From?"

"My hand." He was silent but I knew he wanted to say something.

"Have you ever filed claims for domestic violence?" He said and his question startled me. I had tried once. But I had gotten caught and I had a huge handprint on my cheek for it. I didn't bother going through it again. He rarely ever hit me. It wasn't something he was fond of but when he did, it was either going big or going home.

"It wasn't that bad. I was okay most of the time." I said solemnly. I tried remembering a time if he ever beat me half to death and there was only ever that one time. The first time he had hit me, he himself and helped me get better. I knew he didn't like doing it, but why he insisted on doing it, the world may never know.

"Gwyn-" I cut him off.

"Don't patronize me for a past I can't change. Either take me as I am or I would get out of this car." I huffed.

"Don't be stupid. You're wearing my ring aren't you." I rolled my eyes. I glanced out the window just as he pulled up outside a flat house that was decorated with shrubbery and many windows. He took off the engine and turned to me. "How are your ribs?"

"They're fine. I forgot to bandage them this morning, but they are okay." He thought it over and got out of the car. I opened my door and climbed out after him. We made our way along the red brick path and as we neared the door, a woman opened the door to greet us. She was about my height with dark brown skin, brown eyes, small thin lips and she wore a peach skirt suit.

"Hi Terrance." She said and flashed him a smile. He slung his hand over my shoulder and pulled me to his side.

"Good afternoon, Ms. Weeks." He said very professionally. I resisted the urge to giggle at her facial expression.

"Oh, enough of the formalities. Call me Shay." She said with a easy smile. Terrance ignored her and looked down at me.

"Are you ready love?" He asked and I nodded my head. Shay pushed open the door and gestured for us to come in.

As you walked through the door, about four steps to the right was the living room which had a little furniture and a television set. Opposite to the living room was a small open space which was overlooked by the kitchen. The kitchen wasn't anything grand. Cream countertops and off white cupboards, with a gas stove, a one door refrigerator and a single basin sink. We walked out the kitchen and walked down the hall and was met by two door. One on the left and another on the right.

The one on the left opened to a half bath that needed help because the tiles were hideous and the one on the right opened to a study. The wall was covered with books and there was a desk on the side wall. We left there and continued right where there was a kind of hall and a door before a small stairway. The door opened to a small bedroom, decent for one person with little storage space and a door off the side opened to a bathroom. We walked up the stairs and instantly walked into the master bedroom. It was big and had a pair of French doors which opened out to a balcony and a door which led to the bathroom. The room had potential, with the right design.

We walked back to the living room and Shay smiled at us, well Terrance.

"So what do you think?" She asked Terrance and he shrugged.

"It's a nice house, I don't know just yet. What's it priced at?"

"Well, it's actually 1.275 million, and I know it's a bit over your budget but I wanted to know if you wanted to put any extra money forth and then we could decide to get the owners to drop the price." $75,000 was a lot of money, right?

"Do you like it?" He asked me and I saw Shay's smile fall.

"Not exactly. I don't particularly like the kitchen or the bedrooms. There is also no yard." I gave a shrug.

"This is a starting house. If you are worried about your kids running area then you should stop looking at starter homes." Shay hissed at me and my blood boiled.

"Why don't you keep your nose out of my business, stop flirting with my husband and do your damned job." I said with a snarl. She looked taken aback for a second before her eyes fell on my ring finger and she looked at me with spite. She gobbled like a fish and I turned to Terrance. "I don't like it."