Down by Joy’s apartment they just put in a small office space the company that she used for putting her daughter up for adoption. Everyday she walks past it being reminded of the day she meet in their office to say good bye. I wonder if they have the same couches in the back room? They were yellow with flowers, you sunk into the couch and it made you feel a sense of bliss. Perfect when you are far a long in your pregnancy. I would feel so stressed out from not being at work and losing my support system. I never thought of adoption. Goodness why they have to put this in. Joy walks off to get her food in the organic shop she gets all her food from. Without this place she would honestly starve. 

What did I have last night? “Joy is that you?” I know this voice. Joy picks up her head to see a girl she had gone to college with. They were in the same sorority and even were roommates in one of their satellite houses.

“Michelle? Oh wow, oh are you?!”

“Good, I actually have been crazy busy with life you know. Wow it’s so good to run into a familiar face, I just moved here.”

“Oh where?”

“I live actually just across the street. All I really know is this shop and how to get to my job. I was living in DC after we graduated but then got laid off so now I got a job here. The job gave me a place until I find one of mine own, which might be across the river since I see the bill and no way could I keep it.”

“New York taxes, all I can say. I live actually about a block up. We should get together for dinner sometime and catch up! There are a few girls from Zeta here and we get drinks on Saturday or Friday’s, depending on how stressful the weeks been.”

“That sounds wonderful. For now I will agree to catching up. I could actually do coffee, rather than drinks. I just don’t know my way around yet so day light is my friend.”

“I totally understand.”

“Well here is my card with my number, cell, and email. Give me a call tomorrow about when would work for you.”

“Oh I would love to. Oh it was so good seeing you!” The two embrace and part ways. Michelle. Wow what a wonderful girl. She went to Georgetown with me, she was from North Carolina and was so humble and basically a southern bell. Georgetown changes people, well those not used to that environment. Not her though.

Give and Get is Here!

Give and Get is Here!: "Enjoy 30% off from November 11-14 at Gap, Banana Republic and Old Navy plus we'll make a 5% donation to a non-profit."

I know not a story but an important cause! Enjoy the shopping :)

“Tony as I told you yesterday and all of last week there is going to be nothing to add to the story. I was sent to me anonymously. I can’t find out who sent it. All I know is they added an account number, that wont give out information. It will only accept money sent to it for being published. And there was money attached to it for 500 copies to be printed. That’s the only number they wanted printed.”

“Joy. I hear you, but frankly I don’t give a damn. This novel is finaminal. I want to publish more.”

“My hands are tied. Now my two o’clock is waiting. I still need to meet with those willing to show their identity.”

“Fine. But work on this story Joy. We need to get more copied out of them.”

“Alright. Bye Tony.” Joy hang up before Tony could get any last words in. If only he knew the tragic “fiction” novel he’s loving was my life story I wrote to help with the depression I was in during my pregnancy. Great my two o’clock is a happy young college grad with probably a perfect family. Oh and look at that, an engagement ring. I was engaged. He knocked me up and fled the country. Literally.

“Joy this is your two o’clock.”

“Great follow me. I feel like going for a walk. I’m not one fore formal interviews so don’t bothering introducing yourself. You know who I am so I wont bother introducing myself. Frank need to know your name, you need to worship Frank. You trouble him too much, then your done. Okay leave your story with him and it was great meeting you.” Joy gets on the elevator leaving this girl very confused. Joy waves and enjoyed her slight power to she just got. Now walking out on to the marble lobby where her heels echo but more of a song than the awkward smacking. Today it gets better.

It has been two years since Joy gave birth to her daughter. The family who adopted her has moved and is no longer in contact with Joy. the scares stil show on her body of giving birth, but only slightly. Stepping out of the subway on 33rd Street to walk the three blocks north to her office, Joy knows no one around her knows the pain she carries with her everyday. Nobody can step out without showing a past in this city. Last year I broke down in y office and my boss’s receptionist walked in. Work gave me a personal day to “get my hormones in check”. God if only they knew what that day was. I held that job for three years then left for six months of leave for a ‘missions trip’ with no photos or stories and nobody questioned it. What a world I live in.

“Joy call for you, it’s the editors wanting the rest of the story.”

“Franky when are they not wanting more? Never satisfied. Tell them I sen it last night.”

“OKay.” Franky what an assitant. He thinks I don’t know about all the unpaid hours he works. Kid keeps my life in order. Even when I was gone he sent me emails of what was going on. He’s going to take over this company someday and no one will be able to stop him.

Over

I hope that you have enjoyed the story! That will be all that I am posting to it. Now I have started on a new story which I hope you all enjoy! Thank you so much to all of you who have checked it out. I did not know what to expect from this and you all have been great! Sometime this week I will add the new story but for now go to the older post and see what stories there have been.

Seeking Originality

“Alexa hurry up! Why does she always take so long. We told her yesterday what time we were going at, I even called her three hours ago to make sure she had started getting ready so this wouldn’t happen.”

“Summer calm down. She take forever cause she went to school for fashion so she needs to always make the world known of that.”

“True. Oh how did things go last night with Austin?”

“They didn’t. I got held up at work and had to work late so told me I couldn’t. Surprisingly he asked to go out again. Normally when I do that. Well I shouldn’t say normally. When I use to say that I couldn’t he would get mad and just call another girl but nope. He was texting me through out the night seeing how work was going and he was with the guys for a poker night.”

“Wow. Still don’t trust him. Are you sure he doesn’t have a twin brother out there who is just pretending to be Austin?”

“Oh funny.”

“Guys come on we have to go.” Alexa just blows past us on the stairs to the door while Summer and I stare at each other. We should not be surprised by this anymore. This happens every time. We wait around impatiently then she storms down and wants to leave right away. If we did that she would just leave. I’m not talking about the leave as a joke and still wait. Oh no she would say, ‘I’m ready. We’re leaving.’ Then she would leave.

“It’s like night and day. Guess we’re going. Ready Summer?”

“Does it look like we have a choice to be ready.” Summer darts her eyes in the direction of the door and there is Alexa pulling it open. “Alexa your driving?”

“None of us are?”

“I’m not walking across town in these shoes!” Summer always forgets when it is Alexa’s turn to be the driver she will order a town car or some sort of driver so that no one will drive and she could have as good of a time as she wants.

“Let’s go Summer.” I nudge her to the door. We get out in front. To my surprise not town car, limo or form of transportation.

“Alexa where’s your car?”

“Don’t be silly you know I don’t have a car. I hate driving.” Alexa starts walking towards the street. Not in a I’m going to hale a taxi kind of way. More of I’m on a mission. Summer and I stood there frozen. Were we suppose to follow or was this some kind of joke? Alexa turned and kept walking the corner

Amazing I was not left waiting. When I got to the bar Austin was already there and drinking water. I had to do a double take. Then he gave me a hello and talked with me instead of at me. I could not believe this was the same person. We have been broken up for about three months now. He told me that he had changed. But still could not give in. He asked to hang out again. Thought I have heard that many times so I said sure just give me a call. Which is a normal ending to when we would see each other. I would normally be the one to call and him being his usually self. I did not expect anything so just nodded and said sure.

To my surprise the next day he actually called like he said he would. However the mystery boy from Jersey called and I already made plans. This could get interesting.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Sadly Jersey boy did not remain a mystery when I saw him. His name had been deleted from my phone book when we stopped dating after my freshmen semester and deleted I wanted to keep it that way. However drinks are harmless and I have not seem him in two years and a lot can happen. I know my world has definitely changed.

Waiting is honestly the worst. Why do I always have to be on time or a little early. Some things you just need to come late to but I have never been good with that. I hate being late. Sudden I feel someone putting their arm around me, my New Jersey instincts come through of about to punch with I realize its Jersey boy. “Oh my goodness hey! Don’t you know not to surprise people from Jersey. It could get you punch.”

“I had to take my chances. See if your still slapping people.”

“Oh those days. The last time I slapped someone was my freshmen year of college when a guy was being an uncalled for ass to me.”

“Who me?”

“Well should have been you but no.” I give my sly little smile and sip on my drink. The old feelings aren’t there it is just slightly weird thinking of where out life was to where I am not. Not sure what he’s done or why he’s here. “How long have you been living here or are you just visiting?”

“I have been here for about a week actually. My first night here was running into your friends on your 21st birthday celebration. You looked like you were having a good time.”

“I was. Wow only a week. Did you transfer or something?”

“No. Got a chance to move out here with some people from school. I wasn’t really enjoying it and had just broken up with my girlfriend of the past three years basically so wanted a change. It was also hard staying there, home she had been, we visited each other every weekend of school so I just need out. This was my way out. Parents not paying for anything. In a world where no one knows me. A fresh start. That’s all I needed and wanted. Plus I have always heard good things of the area and came here a few times through out school and figured why not.”

He has always been a talker. Just wondering when he’ll stop or if he has changed at all. So far, still the same. “That all sounds good. Sorry about you and your girlfriend. Everyone was beginning to think you both would just get married.” Well actually no one thought that you just told everyone after a week of dating this was who you wanted to spend the rest of your life with.

“It happens. I was always relationship driven when I got in that and also jumped into things after everything so I wanted to forget. Then spent the time figuring out why I was in this relationship. Never got my answers so ended it.” It was almost something clicked and realized there needs to be two sides for a conversation to last. “Enough about me though. How long have you been out here?”

“I want to say going on a year. A job opportunity came from my internship that also said they would pay for my schooling while I worked for them so I jumped on it.”

“Well congrats where are you going to school.”

“UCI. Its pretty good. After freshmen year I actually visited it. Never thought I would wind up going to school there and graduating from it in the spring.”

“Oh wow your already graduating?”

“Yes I came in with enough credit, did a bunch of summer school classes so that I could. I enjoy school, but love working so much more.”

“You’ve always enjoyed working.”

“Enjoyed isn’t even the word. First job did not love but after that I have loved them all.”

“That’s good.” Jersey keeps nodding his head not sure where to take the conversation to. However I am a master of conversation. But I want to make him a little uncomfortable to going to drink my drink. Oh this worked out too perfectly. While drinking my drink I see over Jersey’s shoulder Austin. Like I said this is going to be interesting.

“Yeah I have enjoyed it. This place is nothing like New York City but I’ll take it. Plus gives my parents an excuse for a vacation.”

“Oh how are your parents doing?”

“They’re great. They-”

“Hey you.” I turn slyly over my shoulder to see Austin now resting his arm around me. I turn give him a hug and a kiss on the cheek and just smile.

“Hey. What brings you here?”

“What do you mean I’m here all the time.”

“No your not I’m always here. I introduced you to this place.”

“Okay your right.” Austin throws his arm up in a playful way of back off and you win. I love winning. There are very few things that are better.

“Oh well this is rude of me. Austin this is a friend of mine from New Jersey.”

“Hey man it’s nice to meet you. Mind if I join you guys.” Jersey still looks confused so I figure I will not let this continue.

“Actually this is our first time seeing each other in a few year so mind if we catch up? But we are still of for tomorrow right?”

“Oh wow sure I’ll let you guys continue. She’s a great girl this one.” Austin adds in while giving me a hug that seems more of a stand this is mine back off to Jersey rather than out of love. “Tomorrow night I’ll pick you up around 7, and we’ll go to the new place that just opened.”

“Sounds good. Isn’t there a wait of months for that place?”

“Not when your me. Have you forgotten what my family does for a living and what I do. I may of changed but that part wont.”

I give him a little playful giggle. Smile. “Alright Austin I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Good. It was nice meeting you man.”

“Yeah you too.”

“Should we get another round?” I don’t think Jersey new he even finished his drink or what to say next. Either I have just gotten myself into some serious trouble or some serious fun.