Chapter 6 Rosa
ROSA
Iwake up to the familiar sound of the old red clock deafening my eardrums. Shit.
I groan as I sit up in bed and press the stop button.
Harry Potter’s “Prologue” blares from my phone, signaling it’s time to wake up.
I put one on my phone as well, just in case my clock had died during the night. Again.
She and I became roommates in college. At first, I didn’t get accepted, and I was driving back and forth every day from home. I was really tired, the constant traveling was taking up almost my whole day, alongside my classes. Those were a long couple of weeks.
But then, around the end of October, I got an email saying that they have a spot for me. I swayed in, and there she was. She studied marketing and communication. It was uncommon to put people together in a dorm who had different majors, but maybe that was the key that kept us together.
We had so many differences, but we turned them into little puzzle pieces that would add to each other’s personality. It was like meeting my long-lost twin.
“Hey, girl. Looking fresh.” I see her beautiful, bright face as I accept the video call. That’s also a difference between us, she’s an early bird and I’m a night owl. For weeks, it was the biggest problem we had, but we figured it out.
“I can’t help it. It’s too early,” I whine, and she just laughs again. I’m jealous.
“That’s what I’m here for. Yoga instead of coffee.
Come on now, where’s your mat? Look alive, Ro.
” I follow her instructions and we start the class.
It really does make wonders. I always feel fresher after her class, which sounds cliché, but I mean it.
“So, what’s up with you lately? When can I see my little witch again? ”
I laugh at the nickname. I haven’t heard that in a while. “Whenever you have a wedding, or a company party, maybe a birthday party with 500 people.”
Lana and I watched quite a lot of horror movies in our dorm, despite us being the most scareable people on Earth. So after they were over, we watched a couple of episodes of Winnie the Pooh, since that’s our favorite childhood series.
I told her one time that my family sometimes called me a kangaroo, cause I often mimicked Kanga and Roo, and Ro comes from that nickname. I first hated it but I grew to like it.
“I’d be happy if I could find 5 friends to invite for my birthday party, let alone 500.”
“Anyway. No idea. I’ve got some big events coming up now, and I’m quite busy. And I’m still following my uncle around. Maybe I’ll go back home after the summer break.”
“Ah, my busy bee working her ass off. From now on, I’ll call every morning.”
“Hell no. 9 AM. Minimum. I can’t wake up at seven every morning when I go to bed at midnight or later, Lana.”
“You’re getting old, girl. But alright, nine works. I’ll hold you to it.” She smiles and I smile back.
An hour passes, and we finish up the class. I’m getting closer and closer to being flexible. Now I’m not pissing myself in pain when she asks me to do a split. I go to the bathroom to take a shower and get ready to meet Trina.
After I’m done, I pack my stuff, since I’m flying to Monaco in the afternoon. I got an email back, saying that they want me to assess the place before the party, so I’m flying there today, but I’ll only have time to grab my suitcase before I have to leave for the airport.
I call an Uber and go to the address that Trina texted me, a cute bar for our wine date. It doesn’t take long to get there, and I text her as I go inside, sitting down in one of the booths. I ask for a glass of wine while I wait for her.
“Ah! Rosalia!” I hear a loud squeak as a familiar brunette steps through the door. I stand and wrap my arms around her as soon as she walks over.
“Trina. You didn’t change much.” We sit down, and she clinks our glasses.
“You either. Thank god we got good genes.” She was all about class and style back then. The star of the faculty of law. Those damn eyes swept everyone off their feet. She was the Elle Woods of our University.
“How are you? How are the twins?”
“Oh, you know, growing up too fast. They’re turning three soon. Anthony recently got a new job, and I’m still at the same old Demboski & Pearson. We’re doing great. And how are you? Spill the tea.” I can’t help but get a little jealous of how her life turned out.
She got a job at a successful law firm even before she finished University. She had the twins, and now she’s living her happily ever after. She achieved her dreams. I’m so happy for her. I’d love my life to turn out like hers.
“I’m doing good, too. Snatching clients, working my ass off. Just the usual.”
“Your clients don’t mind you drinking wine in the middle of the day?” We both laugh.
“Weren’t you the one recommending this place?”
“I thought we could loosen up a little more.” She smirks. That’s where trouble usually starts. But I have to take it easy today, I won’t let her win me over. I can't get drunk. “What about men? Did someone finally earn your heart?”
“Not really. I dated Tim for a while after we graduated, but it didn’t work out. Nothing since then.”
“Nothing? Not even a hookup? Aren’t you worried about spider webs down there?”
“Hey! I don’t need sex to have fun and enjoy life. Sure, I could use it, but I’m not desperate for it. And I have a friend named David. He…helps me out sometimes.”
“Oh, he does? So you had a hookup. What is he like?”
“Well, he’s pink. He’s quite long and thick. And I think I have to charge him.” At first, she looks confused, but then bursts out laughing.
“You naughty girl. At least you have someone to keep you company.” The laughter dies down, and we just sit there in comfortable silence.
We slowly sip the wine, remembering back to University. Trina was the third in our trio. We were glued together the entire time as soon as we finished our classes for the day, Lana, Trina, and me. Except that all three of us went to different faculties. We were unstoppable with our brain power.
“You wanna play darts?”
“You sure? Last time it didn’t end well.” Maybe she’s right.
Let’s just say, we won’t ever mix arrows with drunk men again. I would not like to rush to the hospital again, because someone has a hole in their palm from a dart.
“It’s only the two of us now. Come on.”
She reluctantly gives in, and we play a couple of rounds. We go on for a while, until my phone reminds me that I should go, if I don’t want to miss the plane.
“Shoot. I have to go soon. I have to be at the airport in an hour.”
“You’re going to Monaco?”
“Yeah. They asked me to look around before Sunday. It was good to see you, Trina. I missed you a lot.”
“Good luck with that, babe, and have fun. It was good to see you too. Take care. I’ll see you soon.” We give each other a hug and kiss goodbye. We pay, step out of the bar, and go our separate ways. I hope we’ll talk more from now on. I really missed this woman.
I call an Uber and it takes me back to the hotel. Thankfully, I was able to ask him to stay and wait for me, so that I don’t have to call another one to take me to the airport.
I take my suitcase and bag, take one last look, and go down to the reception. The receptionists are quick to check me out, and when they give me the green light, I go to pack my stuff inside the car.
One thing I hate about Miami is the traffic. It’s so easy to reach places, but there are so many people on the road, especially on the way to the airport, so you have to leave earlier than you calculated. Luckily, my driver did not get his driver’s license last week.
He speeds through the cars where he can, and I arrive at the airport in time. I only have an hour left, but it’ll be enough to catch my plane. I rush inside and drop off my suitcase, then head to the gate where I’ll be taking off.
After a while, my gate opens, and the passengers start to make their way inside the plane. I sit down and get comfortable. It’ll be a long 12-hour flight, but I’m excited about what’s to come.