C H A N G E

{12}

"Now I need those essays submitted by Monday's 9am class. Have a good day kids." Professor Strauss says dismissing us all. 

"Ms Jenner could you stay back for a second." I nod packing up my books into my handbag, which is practically a Mary Poppins bag.
"Could you hand the assignment sheet to Ms Monty, I heard she's just been released home from hospital so maybe she could get this done at home if its not too much trouble. Just please tell her I wish her a good recovery and not to stress over this." He says surprising showing quite a lot of empathy and consideration for Aspen's situation. Turns out not all of my professors are completely cold hearted.
"Yes sure thing, thanks Professor Strauss." I smile shoving yet another thing into my bag. I walk out alone almost being trampled by freshman rushing to their next class or lecture. Only what three more years of me being here and I'll be able to be nurse. Gives me time to get over my aversion to hospitals, which is quite a stupid and peculiar aversion to have for a Med Student. But I'm far, far away from normal so what's new?

**********

I knock a couple times at apartment 23b, the cosy home of Aspen Monty and Sydney Varaquez. My friendly lesbian friends. I wait for a second before hearing Sydney's cheerful voice and footsteps pattering across the floor boards, damn these walls must be paper thin.
"Hey! Riley it's so nice to see you. Aspen! Riley's here!" She greets me with a hug followed up by her screaming at Aspen.
"I bare gifts of an assignment and some chocolates I bought on the way here." I say loudly as I approach the master bedroom. As I walk in Aspen is lying in bed with her foot propped up on a few pillows and her arm all bandaged up?
"How are you feeling? Any better?" I ask sitting on the end of the bed grabbing the two 'gifts' out of my handbag.
"Yeah a bit better actually just really want to get out of the house. But my doctor said I need to rest before I start physio on my leg. Also I'm still a bit drugged up so all is good in the world." She says light-heartedly.
"So Professor Strauss thought maybe if you're up for it you could complete this week's essay on Chapter 6, but he told me to tell you not to stress about it and all the best for your recovery." I say handing her the assignment sheet.
"Thanks might try writing it tomorrow or reading the chapter at least."
"Good."
"So how are things Rye?" She asks shifting the conversation.
"Things are okay. I'm staying on top of all my work and yeah."
"What about Mason how are things going with him. Gotten and down and dirty with him yet?" She asks wiggling her eyebrows suggestively making her look like an absolute weirdo.
"No we have not. But he's been really sweet lately. Oh yeah I also had a run in with and Ex." I say changing the subject off of 'getting and down and dirty'.
"Who? You're ex-fiancé Jakob again?"
"No this time it was Brandon. We dated ages ago, we fell in love then crushed my heart before I went onto my first tour. Yeah anyway I'm way over him. But I ran into him like three times in one day. Fricken small world isn't it?" I explain quickly.
"Jeez honey how many lovers have you had?" She asks just comprehending everything I said so quickly.
"Only three serious ones; Brandon, Jakob and Mason. Also I'm like what two? Three? Years older than you." I explains.
"Oh aren't you just so mature." She laughs before wincing at the pain it causes her. Aspen is clearly still bruised and battered all over.
"Are you alright? Here let me help you." I say helping her with her pillows, I can see her eyes welling up with tears as she tries to move her leg. I just wish I could help her more than just arranging a couple cushions around.
"Thanks um do you mind leaving. I just really need to sleep I do appreciate you coming though." She says with glassy eyes.
"Yes I can leave don't worry. Call me anytime. Love you." I say before shutting the bedroom door behind myself.
"Leaving so soon?" Sydney turns herself to face me from the couch.
"Yeah, she needs her rest. How are you holding up?" I ask her genuinely, seeing her eyes that are far from tireless.

"I'm alright, but I've become so protective of her now. I have this motherly side I have never seen before come out of me it's so odd. And I can't stop it. I guess I..."
"You love her."
"I love her."

I can't help but smile on my way up the stairs to my apartment, even with the lift broken and can see my life is looking up. My two closest friends are in love, one of them is no longer in hospital, I'm not failing any of my classes and I have a boyfriend waiting outside my apartment to study. Is it odd I sort of can't wait to write this in my diary like a love-struck teenager because finally a positive diary entry. But I have to keep grounded, as depressing as it sounds being too optimistic is too unrealistic.

"Bit puffed are we?" Mason lets out a small laugh as I stand at the top of the stairs.
"Well I do live on the twelfth floor." I say chucking my keys at him to unlock the apartment door.
"So how were the girls?" He asks, piling out the heavy textbooks and exercise books filled with notes.
"Yeah Aspen is doing well still in a bit of pain but you know who isn't after being in a car crash with her injuries. Sydney is looking after her but the icing on top of the cake is Sydney thinks she's in love with Aspen!" I say excitedly repeating his steps taking my own study notes out.
"Do you think there are wedding bells anytime soon?"
"Well I don't know but same sex marriage is legal in Florida, so who knows when we'll get this lesbian wedding." We talk as if we know every bit of their relationship, when in reality I would be lucky to say I've known them all for a few months.
"Weren't you married?" He asks, speaking up quietly.
"No. Engaged, but it never worked out. It was for the best cause otherwise I would've never gone to university and met you, if he didn't leave me I would probably have a wedding band on my finger, a bun in the oven and a new album coming out." I say quietly, reminiscing on the plans Jakob and I had.
"So you think going to uni and meeting me is better than being famous, married and pregnant. I'm honoured."
"Well yeah. Because if, I'm sorry to talk about my ex again. Anyway if Jakob left me after that one bump in the road than we clearly weren't cut out for each other. Anyway we should study we have a massive thesis to write."

"Bump in the road?"
"Thesis."
"I'm just curious."
"Fine a literal bump in the road."
"You were Pregnant?"