New Years Resolution

2. Sweet Southern Girl

"She came up from down south to visit and she liked L.A. so much that she I told me that she wanted to move out here," Phil says pulling his coat on.

"Oh! I remember! Her name is Bria, right?"

"Abria, actually but I've always called her Bria. I haven't seen her in over four years but we have a good conversation on the phone every couple of weeks or so."

"She seems cool, it's good that you've kept in contact over all these years." "I put my coat on, lock the studio door behind me and the two of us step outside. "You said that the last time you spoke to her, she had been accepted into the police academy."

"Yep, that's right."

"But if she's as sweet of a southern girl as you've been telling me, why did she become a cop?"

"Something happened in her past," He pauses. "Her older brother Michael was caught in a fire fight between some cops and a gang. I got shot up pretty bad.

"Is he alive?"

"Yeah, but he had to have part of his left leg amputated."

"I see."

"Yeah," he says as we get into his car and head over to the bistro down the street. "So that's why she wasn't to be a cop; she wants to keep things like that from happening." I turn on the radio to lighten the mood Phil and I sing along to the songs that play until we arrive at the bistro. As we walk in and my eyes go wide.

"Bria!" Phil says with excitement folded into his tone. Standing just a few feet away from us is Bria but she doesn't look like she did in the pictures Phil showed me. Silky dark brown waves fall a few inches from her shoulders, bright brown eyes, a small nose and soft looking full pink lips. She is wearing a simple white top with a black blazer, dark skinny jeans, a pair of flats a black purse, gold earrings, a crucifix chain and a pair of aviators that hang at the from the front of her shirt. She crosses the seating area over to Phil who gives her a big hug. "I thought you said that you were moving in next month!"

"I know, I felt like it was time as soon as I got my transfer to L.A.P.D." her southern drawl is just as sweet or even sweeter than I imagined. 

"You got the job! 

"Uh huh, I'm really excited but I don't start for a week or so. Oh! I'm sorry," she says looking from Phil to me and then back at him. "Hi, I'm Abria Coleman." she offers me her hand; I shake it without a word. Her palm is smooth and soft. My throat fees dry as though I haven't have a bottle of water after a long recording session. 

"This is my 'partner in crime' Bruno," Phil says with a smile as he takes notice of the stunned look on my face. 

"Bruno Mars, the singer. Philip talks about you all them time. I love your music." I swallow and then form words. 

"Th-thank you, it's nice to finally meet you. Phil talks about you quite a bit too." She looks at Phil and laughs lightly. 

"So, are you here at the bistro for lunch?" she asks. 

"Yeah actually I already ordered, you here for lunch too?" Phil replies. 

"Mind if we join you?" 

"No, no, not at all. In fact ," she says glancing over at me once more. "I'd love it. You two go order, I'll find us a table." She walks away but my eyes stay on her.

"You sure that's the same girl you showed me in those pictures?"

"Yup that's the same girl," Phil replies with a smirk. 

"That's crazy."

"Yup she's grown up quite a bit." 

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