Love at First Page

Four

Waking up the next morning felt refreshing, I took advantage of her huge kitchen. Surprised there were even cooking essentials in it, the house owned loneliness. Waking up without the city screaming at you was a nice change. Making two cups of coffee, sitting them on the counter I turn around to add creamer and noticed one of the cups missing. Then I made eye contact with a middle-aged woman "It's okay I like it black" I scream, "I see you made it to the house, that's a huge step for Chantal and you cook!" She says astonished.

"Jordyn?" Chantal rushes around the corner rubbing her tired eyes, then she notices the random women. "Mom, I forgot you lived here"

"Don't be a dick" she responds taking a pancake "nice meeting you" and leaving.

Chantal and I make eye contact and a smile takes over my face while I gesture to the breakfast. "I have been meaning to ask about your family and where the hell are you from?"

"Well, I have two sisters and of course my mother and father live here with me. We are from France, I got discovered there got to model around the country. Landed myself in journalism, started to act and worked my up and NYC felt close to home as France will ever be'' She holds my hand from across the table, ''You are from Connecticut?''

''Yes I don't like the part when I tell someone about myself''

''Why''

''I am a struggling artist from Connecticut, isn't always my opening story"

"I don't think you've been opening up to the right people" Chantal gets up and starts cleaning up the kitchen from the mess I made. I got too comfortable in the chair in the kitchen, watching the clock turn at 7 am I cried a bit inside.

"What time do you have to be at work?" I turned around making eye contact with her.

"7:15, I'm going to leave out in a few though. Busy day ahead of me, everyone is going to be talking about that shooting. I'll have an outfit left out for you when you get back upstairs" Chantal walks towards me and lands her lips on my forehead.

It was about time I removed myself from the chair and start to get back to my normal life away from Chantal. Staring at the outfit she left on the bed, I freak out that she has me wearing Gucci business casual clothes to go to work. I instantly texted her.

Me: Are you trying to get me mugged?

Chantal: What is the problem now love?

Me: Stop giving me these nice clothes...before I get mugged.

Me: I'm not mad, I appreciate it.

Chantal: Didn't you hear? Your price went up. Dress like it.

I placed my phone on my lap and smiled.

-

Walking onto the office I had exactly what I wanted to write about for today's story, besides editing a million others before the paper is published tomorrow. Being greeted by Nik'u she sat in one of my chairs with her laptop, still focused on her work.

"You are like famous, the entire office is talking about your appearance on E-news. Who would've thought" her face remained glued to the screen. It was a blessing because I went straight to my laptop and began writing my story about the fashion I saw last night. My brain went crazy with inspiration. Time flew by as my timer went off that it's time for my break. Nik'u still sat cooped up in the corner of my office finishing up her article.

Taking a walk to the break room making myself a coffee, bringing the cup slowly to my mouth I noticed the news and my mind did a back flip. The news started to mention the shooting about last night, someone actually died. I looked closer at the tv, my jaw fell realizing its the woman that was with Aspen last night. Dropping my coffee on the floor I thought back to the screams and how close the gunshots sounded. Why were Chantal and Aspen so relaxed about the situation? Is it a rich thing? I grew more upset with time.