Invisible String

Chapter 4 - New Romantics

Alex woke up early to catch a flight back to Los Angeles that departed at nine in the morning. He would be in L.A. until Saturday night, and he promised that when he returned, we could have our first real date.

It was around eleven by the time I rose from my bed. I was in the middle of cooking breakfast when there was a knock at the door. And that's when I remembered.

"Shit!" I set down a spatula and ran to the door, unlocked it and opened it quickly, "Sandra!" I shouted.

"Hannah!" My long-time friend, Sandra Scott, threw her bags on the floor and wrapped her arms around me in a tight embrace. "Did you forget?" She pulled back and pouted as she examined my purple silk bathrobe. "I reminded you ten times, Han!"

"I know, I know... I'm sorry. Last night was crazy and I... I forgot. I'm so sorry," I hugged her again tightly then picked her bags up off the floor and gestured for her to come in.

She looked stunning in a dark red mini dress, with her hair up in a messy, but intentional, bun and a single diamond teardrop hanging from her neck. Her legs seemed to go on for miles, as she was already half a foot taller than me, usually putting her at 5'11", but with the red heels she had on, she was undoubtedly over 6". Her body was slim like my own, but she had a decent cup size over my respectable B's, and her dark beige skin was radiant and especially accentuated by her spearmint green eyes.

I feigned innocence as I stared at her sad eyes, "Honey, you are absolutely gorgeous, though, and I'm so glad you're here."

"Ugh, me, too." She walked over to me and we embraced awkwardly, with my hands full of luggage. "I really missed you, Hannah. I can go weeks without seeing you, but months? Way too long."

"I know, I'm sorry. I've been trying to get a book to my publisher... and it hasn't been easy."

"I know, sweetie." She rubbed my shoulder and I led her to the guest bedroom. When we reached it, I set the bags on the bed. "You've been here before. I mean, this might as well be your designated room." I laughed and she smiled back at me. "But this is it. You can unpack, I have to get back to the food before it burns beyond repair."

"Ooh, you were cooking? I'm starved."

"Me, too. It'll be done within ten minutes."

I left her alone and headed back into the kitchen to stir the scrambled eggs, which were on low heat. I grabbed fruit out of the fridge and diced it up quickly and put it into small bowls. I added cheese and pepper to the eggs, then took them off the burner and portioned them out between two plates and set everything up at the small dining room table.

"Coffee, tea, or orange juice?" I shouted down the hallway.

"Coffee, duh!" She exclaimed as she came down the hall, heels now off, and her hair hung loosely to her bottom.

I watched as her hips swayed, walking towards me. "How many times have I told you that you should be a model?"

She entered the kitchen and laughed, picking up a cut-up piece of cantaloupe and popping it into her mouth. "A hundred. At least?"

"Seriously, you are far too pretty to not share it with the world."

"Oh, stop it. I have a job. Teaching, remember?" She playfully smacked at my arm as she passed by. She went to the table and sat in front of a plate. I set a cup of coffee in front of her.

"I know, I know. Two tablespoons of pumpkin creamer, right?" I asked, dropping the spoonful's in already.

"Of course!" She grabbed the cup from me and blew on it quickly before taking a long sip. "Oh, God, you make the best coffee."