Made With Love ✔

Chapter 2: Brown Eyes & Cupcakes

           Apparently, the answer to my question was that Brooklyn was moving out. This morning when I woke up, Brooklyn asked if I minded, and being the great friend that I am, I said that she should do whatever makes her happy. She's moving into Chase's off-campus apartment in 2 days. I have 2 days to find a roommate. I glanced at the clock as I left the empty apartment with 2 cupcake carriers in hand It read 7 am. I had 20 more minutes than I needed to get to class, so I instead turned to the campus newspaper office and placed an ad for a roommate and dropped off the cupcakes to the Restaurant. Then I went to Human Anatomy and took a test on blood pathways. Great!

After class, I ran to the Performing Arts Center to have my dress fitted for the concert and was delighted to see that my favorite seamstress, Becky, was there.

"Hi, Becky! How are you?" I asked as I stepped into her office.

"Oh, Vanessa. I'm great, you?" She replied after looking up from her latest work. I nodded and she continued,

"I got an email that I'm not doing your gowns, I'm doing the alto gowns, sorry. Soprano gowns and baritone tuxedos are being done in the next office over." Becky informed me. I nodded and walked over to the next office to see Damien, the other head of Choral Wear.

"Hello Damien, I came for my gown?" I told the French guy behind rows of Choral dresses.

"Ah, your gown is right here Ms. Wellington. Try it on and I'll see if any adjustments need to be made. Switching gears, I saw you place an ad for another roommate and thought I might help my favorite vocalist out. I sent two of the guys I saw earlier in the day for a fitting to check the ad and they said they'd come visit you at 8 pm. I hope that's okay." He replied, handing me my black choral gown to try on in the dressing room.

"I don't mind at all Damien. Thank you. My roommate is moving into her boyfriend of 8 years apartment and I can't pay the rent all on my own. Can I ask who you sent over?" I asked, hoping it was someone who had a similar schedule as mine so cooking, shopping, and laundry would be easier.

          "Lance Fields and Hamilton Townsend. Lance is majoring in Biology and Hamilton is majoring in Pharmacology. I know you and Lance are majoring in the same field so schedules would be easier to manage." Damien replied, taking an appreciative look at his work. I didn't mention the fact that I had no idea who these people were even though we are in the same choir.

         He and Becky are the only ones who know how to make a choral gown look flattering on the rolls I call me. After taking the necessary measurements, I change out of the gown and into my waitress uniform so I save time at work.

            I say bye to Damien and head towards the Campus Restaurant. As I walk in, the smells of the daily special quiche, filled the air and students milled around, mingling and eating. I headed to the kitchen where Richard, our head cook was shouting out orders to the rest of the staff. He made eye contact with me and pointed towards the prep station. I put on an apron and started julienning the carrots for the salads. After a few carrots, a yell arose from the order window. Alice, our best waitress, had sprained her ankle when she attempted to open the door with her foot while balancing 4 trays in her arms. I dropped everything and rushed to help her. I had already finished the course on emergency aid, so I knew what I was doing. Meanwhile, the others were prepping replacement dishes for the ones we lost.

       "It's swollen, so you are going to have to have the nurse wrap it up. Danny!" I diagnosed. Danny is the backup meal delivery guy and our head server who is majoring in the Culinary Arts. I help Alice into the car and get back to rush hour craziness.

         "Vanessa, you're gonna have to take over for her. You are our other good waitress. Just get out there and take care of Alice and Danny's tables. I'll try getting Kate in. The dishes are in the window." Richard frantically instructed me as I put on the waitress apron and balanced the 4 dishes on my arms. I was hurriedly ushered out and steered towards the crowded table in the corner. They looked like football jocks after the Saturday practice. I hurried over the table careful not to tilt any of the trays and set them down on the old oak about to turn when I heard one of them say to me,