Taking a Bite from the Big Apple (Complete)

3

Cheryl gratefully took her first sip of her sweet morning coffee, trying to visualise the caffeine flowing into her bloodstream in an effort to make it work faster.

“Morning, roomie,” Toni greeted playfully, coming out of the bathroom, tying her hair up in a ponytail.

“Hey,” Cheryl greeted groggily, her senses coming to full alert as she took in the tiny black shorts and tight-fitting white blouse the brunette was wearing, something she’d become accustomed to seeing in last month, as it was Toni’s work attire. Nonetheless, the outfit had the same reaction on her each and every time; basically stopping all train of thought, “Um, work?”

Cheryl knew she was lucky that she didn’t have to work to fund her education; her parents had been adamant that she focus on her studies so were paying all her tuition fees and still giving her an allowance to pay for everything else. In her efforts to have some independence, she had chosen her own place to live, hence going for the place with the lowest rent so she would have the spare cash to do what she wanted with.

“Yea,” Toni nodded, rolling her eyes, “Trying to get as many shifts in as I can before college starts. Sorry I haven’t been around to show you the sights much.”

Cheryl shook her head as she took another sip of coffee, in actuality, she had enjoyed the month or so that she’d been living in the city immensely, Toni had shown her Washington Square Park the day after she arrived, which was just a five minute walk from the apartment, and she had been reading over the study material for her course everyday in the park ever since, as well as getting acclimated to her neighbourhood, and exploring the Village.

The simple fact that she knew the guy who sold coffee on the street corner, Joe, by name, thrilled her. She’d never had much contact with anyone other than family members and the people at church, and even then it had been sporadic, her house at home was situated miles from any neighbouring houses, pretty much isolating her as she grew up.

Being thrust into the flurry of people, everywhere, all the time - though she thought might overwhelm her - actually made her feel great, less pressured. No one was watching her, making sure she was studying, to ‘fulfil her potential, fully and completely.’ She had to admit though, if all that work her parents had enforced upon her got her to where she was now, she was eternally grateful, because life was pretty wonderful at the moment. Even if she had to endure watching Toni looking delicious everyday and having to resist reaching out and touching her.

“It’s no problem. I’ve been enjoying the park and, um, getting to know the neighbourhood,” she reassured.

“Cool. Well, I better go or I’ll be late. Want me to bring home one of those muffins you like?” Toni asked, shrugging on her jacket.

She worked at a coffee shop that doubled as a piano bar at night, had been working shifts there since she was sixteen, the owner was a family friend and almost like family to her. She’d spent the summer working as much as she could so she would be able to ease off and concentrate on study when college rolled around, and in the last weeks before she started, had been working doubles as much as she could, becoming kind of a recluse in the process, only seeing Cheryl for a little while at night when she arrived home before falling into bed.

On the bright side, she had also found that her dreams were filled with a certain redhead that always made her wake up with a smile on her face. The constant work also meant she wasn’t going out at night, something she generally did regularly, and was looking forward to Freshers Week to blow off some steam.

“Ooh, yes please. Cherry,” Cheryl nodded eagerly.

“You got it, sweetie,” Toni chuckled and grabbed her purse, slipping out of the door.