Everything Means Nothing

Ch. 5

Sunday, October 13th.

11:00 a.m.

Jay Harlow.

Me and Ally had been in my apartment for two hours, just catching up.

Ally told me that she went to school, too, and had pursued her equestrian love. She got a Master's in Equestrian Training, and became a full time trainer.

Ally didn't have a lot of friends, but stayed distantly connected with some she'd met in college. She had one specific friend, her college dorm roommate Bailey Austin, that she stayed semi-close to.

She told me there wasn't a lot to her life, she hadn't dated anyone either, and tried to spend most of her time with Bella, Jenna or Bailey. But knowing Ally, she'd pour every ounce of energy, life, joy, encouragement and passion into her friends.

I explained to her I had a few friends I made in college that I'd hang out with, some roommates that passed through but never stayed at the apartment long, a few professors I'd lunch with every now and again, but nothing serious. Mostly, I focused on getting my PhD done as quickly as possible while tending to Dale and his every need.

"Do you ever see my family?" I asked, standing in my kitchen. Ally had looked over the list I'd made and told me promptly after a single glance that it wasn't detailed enough; apparently the color of your dishware matters...

"Yeah. I actually have hung out with Emily some, seen your dad and Jack in the cafe a lot, and your parents I'll catch at the grocery store every now and then."

"That's nice." I noted, glancing over the island in the kitchen, my eyes ribboning over every item on her list. "What exactly are you putting down?"

"Well you have all your furniture, which is one less headache and financial burden, but you need dishware, some more organizing tools, some decorations --."

"Decorations?" I questioned, my mouth hanging open.

"Yes, Jay!" She insisted. "You need to make it feel homey! I feel like I'm in a rich businessman's apartment, and by the way, that businessman is cold and senile, let me tell you."

"Oh really?"

"Yes. The kind that goes to Starbucks and orders a hot black coffee, even when it's 105 degrees out!"

I laughed. "I don't plan on living here long, you know."

She shot an overwhelmingly horrified glance over to me, but I reassured her by shaking my head and letting out a slight chuckle. "No, no. I just want to buy a house, that's all. I've been saving up for a down payment, I just have to go house hunting, now."

"Oh." Ally let out a relieved breath, putting a hand to her chest. She found the pen again and scribbled out her list. "Well then." She kept writing, and I smiled, noticing how she bit her lip when she concentrated the way she was right now. "We'll just pick up the essentials, and make a separate list for your house!" She grinned, her spine straightening up. "How close are you to having the money?"

"Pretty close. I'd say another couple of months or so I should have a good amount."

Ally kept writing, and I watched as she hurriedly scribbled across what she thought was the bare minimum for my apartment. She found a new page and created a separate list for my house.

"You should go shopping with me when I go." I said with a smile. "You know you'll come up with thirty more things when we get there."

She glanced up to me, paused, and gave a dorky grin.