Love at First Page

Three

The clock turns to 7 pm

Stepping out of the steaming hot shower, feeling refreshed after the pretty eventful day I have had and it's barely over since I promised Chantal my time tonight.

Hearing the doorbell ring, my body jumps causing me to drop my phone. Picking it up with no damage, I rush to the front door. I look out seeing no one but a box, taking the box inside hesitant to open it. Nik'u came through my back door with her hands full, "Baby" she sings. Meeting me in the living room she looks at me in disbelief, "Is that a Louis Vuitton box?"

"It could be a bomb for all we know"

"Well I mean it's already in the apartment" we sat in silence, "I'll do the honor" I move out her way as she gently opens up the box to a dress. Nik'u picks up the bright orange short dress, the dress owned a unique pattern on the chest and collar. "Now this is a fashion editors dream. The question is, where the fuck are you going?"

"I met someone"

"Oh just a someone Jordyn?"

"It's Chantal"

Nik'u burst out in laughter, "I know why you didn't think the interview went well. Something happened there"

"I actually haven't given her anything but my time"

"So a sugar mama" she stares off trying her best to take herself seriously. Making eye contact with her she burst back into a peal of laughter. "I hate myself"

Scoffing I walked away holding the dress close.

Clock turns to 8pm

Nik'u and I stare at myself in the mirror. I just want to know who would have thought a black journalist from NYC who makes 15 an hour would be wearing a designer dress. No one. The doorbell rings and the butterflies begin to spur, spraying myself in perfume I shuffle in my clear strap heels towards the door. Opening it to Chantal's bright face, "Hello"

"Hi" I breathe.

"I see the dress made it in perfect time, I freaked out a little I got to the store pretty late. But you look beautiful, like I know you would've"

I smile taking her hand, Nik'u runs to close the door after us. "Hi, Nik'u Ohalia. If you have friends, I am available." She pauses, "But you know the deal, get her home before midnight"

We walk away from the door and laugh from the second hand embarrassment, I love Nik'u. During the ride to god knows where I couldn't help but ask Chantal why me.

"What do you mean?" She squints her eyes "I know you felt what I felt the day of that interview. I am not sure where this going to go, but I haven't felt that feeling in a really long time. If you would allow me to get to know you, that would be an honor"

Thinking she can literally have anyone, I shut my insecurities up. "Okay, I would love to get to know you too"

"Good" she lands a kiss on my cheek.

"Now, where are we going?" I look around, "you are actually in the driver seat this time, I don't know if I should be concerned"

"Are you a concerning person?"

"Very"

"Why?"

"Because for 21 years I never ever been able to relax, I have been concerned about everything, my life, my career, my family. In a snap of a finger it can all be gone, due to the fact that life is short but I also am black."

Chantal stares at me in the most understanding way, our contact broke when the light turned green. I am a sucker for eye contact.

"So, where are we going" I ask for the second time.

"Perfect place for a journalist"

The car pulls up to the metropolitan art museum, a crowd sits outside with paparazzi. "I think I just shit myself. I have to go home"

Chantal laughs and exits the car, noticing that's the first time I witnessed her laugh. My door opens and I slowly step out, the noodle feeling sets within my legs again and I groan inside. Aspen walks up to us with another female, "It's important you stay close, they are going to throw a million of questions at you. I would just smile for pictures and keep it pushing. You will get interviewed with Chantal seeing as you are her guest, just say your name if they ask. That's it. Welcome to your first red carpet" her words move fast and instantly I was thrown onto the carpet holding Chantals arm.

Just smile Jordyn, smile. I shake my shoulders and everything began to come naturally. Chantal smiles and twirls me in front of the cameras. After going through the red carpet, then came interviews. This is the perfect event to write about, spacing out I start to analyze and study the surrounding celebrities' outfits. "And what's your name?" I snapped back noticing the lady from E-news asking for my name.

"Jordyn, Jordyn Williams"

We sat in on a fundraiser dinner, the food was spectacular. My body was full of wine and endeavors, slowly getting up I needed to use the bathroom.

Checking my makeup in the mirror I look next to me seeing Ryan Destiny. "Your dress is so dope, something the carpet was not expecting" not sure if she was intoxicated or not because she immediately left after. I look back at myself and I hear a sharp faint scream coming from outside the door. My body freezes, the sounds of two shots sound in the distance. In all situations, my body couldn't decide if it wanted to stay where the hell it was at or find Chantal.

I forced myself to exit the bathroom, people scattered around the venue trying to find an exit. Walking back to the table which was empty and my belongings were gone, turning around not sure of what to do next I start to walk away from the table. My arm was pulled and I turned around seeing Chantal, "We have to go now"

We get back into Chantal's car as nothing but havoc surrounded us. Aspen sits in the back pretty unfazed, I break the silence. "What the hell happened?"

"I don't know, they heard gunshots outside and stopped the presentation" Aspen had an annoyed undertone.

I questioned where the other female went but then I didn't bother to bring it up. The sound of the shots seemed so close, the sound plays over and over in my head. To the point I didn't even know we dropped off Aspen already and have been sitting outside my apartment. I stare at Chantal, she holds my hand. "You seem a little shaken up, sure you want to be home alone?"

"No it's okay, I have work in the morn–"

She cuts me off "I'll have someone bring you"

I shut up and let her drive away from my place. Falling asleep on the way to her place, she wakes me up with a soft touch to my hair. Placing my eyes on a house, "You've got to be kidding me" my voice cracks with each word. Exiting her car I walk up to her front door, the house sat quite. She turns on the lights and like always I am astonished. Her home was feminine yet masculine. I held her hand as we walked up to her bedroom, she gave me clothes and I took the best shower ever. Once I got out she hopped in, while getting dressed I notice her family pictures. Why do I know nothing about this girl, but then why am I also comfortable with not knowing anything at all.

I got comfortable in her caramel silk sheets, she comes out of the shower and smiles at me. "Why are you smiling?"

"I never thought an actual girl would ever be in my bed"

"Why is that? Where do you–"

"They never make it past my office"

"You have one night stands in your office, how classy" I laugh to myself.

She gets into bed next to me. "Yeah, I know it's pretty shallow"

We sat in silence and I pull her close, "I want to let you know I'm not in this for what you can provide me materially"

Chantal grabs my cheeks with one hand squeezing them "I'm only in this for you"

"Let me get to know you"

She hesitates, "Okay"