Powerful

Chapter 3

Such as Hayley unlocked the door to her small apartment, she spotted Nadia just standing in the middle of the hallway, holding a bottle of champagne – more likely clutching the bottle in her fingers like baseball bat. She had the brightest smile on her face -- eyes like little glimmers in the night sky.

That very look told Hayley exactly what Nadia wanted to ask. What she craved to hear, like it was in her nature to know everything about everybody - knows the gossip about everything that happen. But this time she was waiting, patiently.

Hayley closed the door behind her, sighing. She threw her purse with the papers on the dresser by the door.

"So?" Nadia asked, impulsively. She couldn't stand the pressure, the silence that took place as Hayley walked in their shared apartment.

"You won't believe the crap day I've had." Hayley said, shuffling toward her roommate, her face carefully solemn.

"No." Nadia pouted, thrusting her lower lip out. She placed a bottle of bubbly beverage on the kitchen island counter and rushed to enfold her desperate-looking best friend.

"Tell me where that son of a bitch lives, and I'll deal with him." Nadia muttered into Hayley's shoulder, rubbing her back and forth as an act of comfort. She has always been able to relate to other's feelings. Even at school, they supported each other. They were like kindred spirits who instantly noticed a problem on their other half. "I'm serious!"

Hayley couldn't take it much longer, feeling an urge to giggle she burst out laughing, hugging Nadia as hard as she could. "I got the job, Nad!" She beamed wildly into her hair.

The redhead on the spur of the moment pulled herself away, to the length of her arms, her eyes snapped open. "Say it again. You what?"

"I've got a job!" Hayley yelled, cheerfully. Her face reflected the same wide smile Nadia had when she got home.

"OMG!!! You've got the job!" Nadia gave a kind of scream and threw herself on her friend, and both girls began to laugh and then bouncing and spinning like cliche idiots.

"That needs a celebration!" The redhead woman exclaimed, reaching out for the bottle. She quickly unwrapped the paper around the bottle's neck, pointing the cork towards the apartment.

BUM.

With practice at her bar, she opened a bottle of bubbly beverage without any struggle, the foam slowly rose to the top of the bottle. Hayley held both glasses and Nadia poured.

"I have to say, sometimes you can be real bitch." Prate Nadia with a small laugh at the end, holding a glass in the air to make the toast. "But I love you, Hale. Because even in difficult times, you stayed with me and encouraged me to work on myself when I wanted to quit. . .Cheers."

Hayley laughed, bubbly, and warm. "Oh, I love you, too. Even your occasional moods." She taunted with a smile.

Nadia rolled her eyes and sipped from her drink. "Now," The woman sitting across from her roommate spoke, placing the glass aside and propping over the counter. "You're going to tell me about your new boss. I want to know every, tiny, detail."

Hayley sucked in air, putting the glass carefully down on, looking at the nearly half-empty glass. "Well, I don't know. . . It was. . .When I saw him there, I had goosebumps, butterflies started flying in my stomach."

"Oh, come on, Hale." Nadia whined like a petulant kid. "Stop pulling my leg and just say it!"

Hayley opened her mouth and closed as if she were trying to speak up but she didn't know what to say, but eventually, she pushed herself to speak up. She leaned on her arm, folded on the counter like she was trying to tell a secret that no one should hear, even if it was just the two of them living in the apartment.