From the perfect start

Chapter 14- Sometimes we all need a break

But then the little smirk breaks out into a huge grin.

"Wow, that was emotional and a lot of physical touch for someone who can't deal with it."

"I felt like it and I don't necessarily hate it, just not in public. Not everyone has to see who I love, only the people it's directed to, need."

"I know and it's cool. It's special about you and when you show it, it's way better than when anyone else does." I say, leaning up to kiss her on the cheek.

"Yeah, ok... This was too much now. I love you and I would do anything for you but this is where I draw the line." She says and I let out a laugh.

"Fuck off." I throw a little pillow against her face.

"And now... that we made clear that you should have a break I thought it would be cool if we could hang out with the guys. You know... Harvey, Ray, oh, and Eshima, the girl I work with for the project, I invited her too."

I let out a strangled breath.
"I don't know, Emmabell. I don't want to party and I am not interested in seeing Kaden at the moment after the comment from a couple of days ago. I have to see him tomorrow and that's enough."

"Well, then you will be happy if I tell you that we are not going out, just hang out without much liquor. Maybe I will drink a beer but nothing more and Harvey said Kaden isn't there. So...?"
I think about it, going through the things in my head I could do instead.

"Come on. It will be fun."

"Ok, when I am here alone I will just feel bad anyway, so I will come."

"Yes, that's what I wanted to hear. Thank you, bro, and please don't think about this idiot. First, he doesn't even say hello when you see each other and then he insults your hair. He is probably just jealous because he doesn't have such a good hairdresser as you do." She says and I tilt my head, trying to hold back my laugh.

The sad thing is... she actually thinks this.

"Don't say anything, it turned out good. Way better than when you wanted gray hair in middle school. That shit looked awful. But thankfully, now you have me if you need a change and the depression will piss off."

I let out a snort.

"It still hurt, though. He was so nice on the rooftop. "

"Yeah, I get it I would feel insulted too but he can fuck off. You look gorgeous with every haircolor and he was drunk that evening so you can't compare him to that. And now... stop thinking about him and get dressed."

I look down at myself.

"What's the dress code? Honestly, I want to stay in my sweatpants."

"Yeah, sure you look good in them, it's not like it will be a business meeting. Wear whatever you want. I am sure Ray will appreciate that, though." She says pointing at the top I am wearing that accentuates my chest and makes my boobs look better than ever.

"You are so funny, Ray probably forgot about that make-out session," I reply.

"Not from what Harvey told me." She says but before I can ask further she quickly leaves the room and I glare through the door.

"Shut up if you don't tell me anything," I yell through the door and let out a laugh.

Ray is gorgeous and from the little things I know a gentleman... and what I definitely know is that he is an incredible kisser... but we will see.
I promised myself to not think so much about those things anymore so... whatever the future holds.
~~~~~
"I like the look." A deep voice speaks up behind me and I quickly turn around, the glass of water I just brought from Harvey's kitchen, nearly spilling over.

„Fuck, I am sorry, I didn't want to scare you." He says, looking apologetic.

„Don't worry, nothing happened," I say, cringing at how weird this sentence sounds.

Ray's muscular body towers over me, his black hoodie making him seem even larger. A smile is on his lips as he steps closer and carefully wraps his arms around me to give me a firm hug.

"Thank you, I guess. Too lazy to dress up." I hug him back, uncertainly answering his compliment.

"I get it, I live with my little sister and the standards she has on her shoulders are exhausting."
I raise my eyebrows at that. I like him.

"You live with your little sister?"

"Yup, well with my mother and sister. College is expensive." He says., rubbing his palm over his neck, nervously.

"That's cool. So you have a good relationship with her?"

"When she isn't annoying me, she is a nice girl. But 14-year-olds aren't the easiest."

„Yeah, they go through a lot, I am so thankful this time is over," I say thinking back to it.

So, so thankful this is over.
I turn around and Ray and I walk back to the others.

On the huge leather sofa, Emmabell and Harvey are sitting and an unfamiliar face I haven't seen minutes before is next to them.
I have never seen such healthy black hair which surrounds her beautiful features and matches her dark eyes.

„Oh, Aleandra, this is Eshima, my project partner, she just came in. And Eshima, this is Aleandra, my best friend." Emmabell introduces us and I give her a soft smile and hold out my hand.
She takes it and shakes it carefully.

„It's nice to meet you." She says and Ray and I sit down on the couch next to them.

And as so often before, Emmabell knew me better than I know myself. This was what I needed.
For the next hours we laugh, share stories and talk about the shittiest professors.
Eshima is a shy girl with an energetic inside and after a while, she loosens up. Especially when I tell her about Cleopatra because not like Em and me she is totally obsessed with cats. She likes candles, Harry Styles, and the stars... nothing like I would have expected at the first glance but I like those kinds of surprises.

And I think... I might made a new friend.

„Where is Kaden, anyway?" my best friend asks and I try not to look too interested as Harvey answers.

I am so nosy, God.

„What do you think? It's Wednesday, he is f-„
„He is helping finalize a contract with his father." Harvey interrupts himself with a cough.

„Yeah, he is working." Ray confirms and looks at Harvey, giving him a short glare.

Tomorrow I will see the idiot again.

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