Affinity

Chapter 33: Eyes Wide Shut

" Trish, Trish, calm down, you got this okay. Now look on your desk next to your laptop, I put a green sticky note next to the signature line for you." I heard the opening of her office door, followed by the shuffling of papers, pens, and other objects that resided on my boss' desk.

" Oh God, thank goodness, I found it Ab." I heard her sigh and laughed to myself as I remarked on how easily she was flustered.

" Sis ima need you to start doing some meditating or yoga, anything, ok? You are stressing out wayyy too much over this expansion. You've already got the clients on the hook and they're happy with our work. They will not stop being happy with our work over a two percent raise in our fee. We've talked it through with them and they've already agreed. Just take a breath, everything is gonna be ok."

I leaned against the school building and twirled a curl around my finger.

" This is hard. Expanding is hard Ab, it's taking a toll on me." I knew Trish all too well, her nerves were shot and her anxiety was getting the best of her. I had about three minutes to talk her down from the ledge before she spiraled fully and gave up on her new clients and endeavors altogether.

" Take the rest of the week off Trish. Send an email, alert the team, and I'll cover for you. It's Wednesday..." I had to slip a peek at my phone to assure that I was referencing the correct day of the week, " two days without you won't break the camel's back."

I heard her inhale her breath sharply before exhaling in a huff because her mouth wouldn't allow her to exhale the substance in a calm manner. She was weighing my words for fault, checking her calendar for upcoming important tasks and dates, while whipping her chair around to try and make out the feeble horizon that was clouded by winter's cloak. Years by her side had me well versed on her precursors to a freak out, and right about now was her tipping point.

" I can't just leave you with all this shit. Ab, you have school, Rah, and now your own bus-"

" Stop." I raised my hand in interjection as if she could see the movement as I broke her speech pattern. " I offered. I'm willing and capable. I will not take no for an answer." I knew I was setting myself up for a rough couple of days, but Trish was family and I could see she needed a break.

" Shit, look at the time Ab! I'm gonna make you late for class!"

" Chill." I chuckled at the influx of her tone briefly before responding, " I'm literally right outside my class door." I'd taken the stairs to the fourth floor my class was located on just to avoid the loss of cell service the elevator provoked.

" Oh, thank God. Ok, I'm leaving the office now....I'm not gonna bother you anymore ok."

" You good sis, quit tripping. Just text me ok?"

" Of course. Thanks Ab, I owe you big fucking time."

" And you know I'll hold you to that." With a smirk and a full heart we exchanged goodbyes as I walked into class.

I greeted the professor as I took my seat in the front row, and said a general hello to everyone else in the room as my eyes glazed over the group. The sentiment was returned promptly as I sent Jay a text that I made it into the classroom safely. Despite the fact that he'd dropped me off and was parked legit across the street from my school this man insisted on these texts. After receiving his reply I put my phone in my bag and got my mind ready for the task at hand.

" Hey there queen." The same nuisance who'd had the pleasure of receiving the curse out from me months earlier sidled next to me as I gathered my books and prepared to leave. I was about to open my mouth with a smart ass remark when I realized just who was waiting for me outside of school.