Nouveau

Chapter 1: What Now?

"You gotta go."

Laive internally rolled her eyes so hard she could see her brain pulse inside her skull.

"2 years is too long to be living at home with your parents. It's time for you to go." Her mom pressed.

It's not like she chose THIS situation for herself. She was indeed the black sheep of her family. She was traumatized of memories of how much she suffered through undergrad in New Orleans. This was her life after graduation. When her lease ended in New Orleans, her parents and family convinced her that moving home was the best decision. They pushed that she would have their support and help while she attended medical school at LSU. They were all liars.

Starting her day at 5:00 am. Laive showered, groomed, and dressed frantically to run out of her apartment by 5:30. She bustled through a 15-minute walk to catch the Haynes or the St. Bernard bus (whichever came first) to her university.  One bus transfer at Cemeteries, and two hours later...she arrived to her 8:00 class.

20 minutes late.

"Fuck RTA." They were never on time, Laive seethed.

After 11, she would catch the Tulane in front of her private university to go work retail on South Claiborne until 2:00 pm, and catch the bus back to her university for Physics class.

At the expense of being 10 minutes late of course.

"Shit!" Laive was annoyed. She should just accept being tardy.

Laive was an awesome student. She sat front row in every class. In BioChem Lab she was continuously prepared with her lab protocol and calculations, and always able to leave 30-minutes to an hour earlier than everyone else. It was a 3-hour lab. 

And she didn't even have a lab partner.

The other 14 students hated her ass. She did all of her assignments alone. Laive had to get an override just to get a spot in BioChem lab in order to keep her job at Lakeside Mall. She worked in an efficient manner so her professor never complained. The girl was good, gifted even. Dr. McTiere said it himself! He also knew her situation, and was sympathetic toward her. She never used that to her advantage.

"No excuses." Laive affirmed.

She couldn't afford to be a half-ass student. And she damn sure didn't have the luxury of being mediocre. Even if she tried, life would give her some rude ass awareness that she was in this shit on her own. If she didn't push herself, shit just wouldn't happen for her.

Pulling off her lab coat and rushing on the elevator, Laive headed to the first floor and changed into her work clothes in the restroom. Laive had a missed call from her best friend, and proceeded to call her back.  They should definitely be sisters by now Laive thought.

"Hello..."

"Sorry Chelle (short for Michelle). I was changing out of my lab clothes. I'm in the MDG on the first floor. I'm ready."

"Ok, I'm leaving the dorm now. I'll be there in 5 minutes."

"I'll be outside."

Laive packed her excess clothes in her black and pink graffiti themed JanSport. She halted in front of the bathroom mirror and exhaled. She just wanted to break down. She was sick and tired of being tired.

"It's ok Laive. Work hard now, so you can vacation later." She encouraged herself as she wiped away her brimming tears. 

Laive gathered herself, shook off her feelings, and walked out the double glass doors in front of the foyer as Chelle pulled up in her pearl black Volvo CC.

"Lai! HEYYYY BOO!" Chelle screamed at her as she buckled herself in. "I feel like I haven't seen you in forever."

"Chelle, your ass just saw me last week. That was like four days ago."

Chelle pulled onto the interstate.

"I know, I know. I just miss you! Ever since you moved off campus, I feel like I never see you."

"I know! I feel like I don't have time for anything. I barely sleep. Are y'all coming to the basketball game tomorrow?"

"Is it a girls' game or a boys' game? "

"It's a double header. We don't perform until the boys' halftime though."

"Yeah. We'll be there."

The car pulled off the Causeway Blvd North/Mandeville exit. Chelle treaded lightly, "Lai, How you feel?  I mean...you're doing a lot."

Laive was the President for the university's dance team, she was a classically trained dancer, and could dance her tail off. She had the performance, the technique, and the sass. That was one position she held on a list of extra curricular's and organizations she was a part of. After all, home girl was going to medical school. Her Pre-Med Advisors emphasized that she needed to be a "well rounded" student. Medical school admissions committees wanted to make sure their prospects had a healthy school-life balance. 

"I'm good Chelle. I'm tired sometimes but I just keep going."

Chelle wanted to press the issue further, but she reserved her interrogation for another time.

"What time you get off? You need me to pick you up?"

"I get off at 10:00. You don't have to come pick me up. I'm good."

"I'll pick you up Lai, and we can just hang out or go eat after that"

"Chell- "

"I'll see you at 10."

Laive exhaled and giggled lightly, "Ok Chelle. Ok."

Laive grabbed her things and opened the glass double doors to lakeside mall. Passing Bath and Body Works, she halted at White House Black Market. She always made sure to stare at the sophisticated yet sexy suits and dresses that adorned their display windows.

"One day I'll be able to afford that," Laive imagined herself in the 2-piece blush pantsuit. But for now, she just worked at the shoe store, minimum wage plus commission.