11 Newfound Friendships

I spent the rest of the late afternoon drowning in guilt and comforting my weeping sister that I wasn't, in fact, dead or missing. My lack of presence and care caused her to become so upset that she actually shed tears, something I haven't been able to witness for quite a long time. Scarlet slept soundly under my care that night, the baby fat on her face made her look adorable when napping.

I slowly crept out of the room after she had fallen sound asleep. Children do sleep earlier than adults after all, and I've still yet to update Theodore on yesterday's events. Pulling out of my phone, I texted him promptly.

"Are you still awake?" I texted.

"It's 8 PM, why wouldn't I be?" Replied Theo, he also attached a confused emoji, which made me smile.

"Are you free?"

"No, but I will be in two hours, why?"

"Just thought it would be better to update you on what happened and all that," I replied quickly.

"Sure, meet you at the usual place?" He asked with a coffee emoji. This man sure likes his emojis, I thought.

"If that you mean the cafeteria, then sure!"

"Okay, see you then."

Just as I finished reading his text message, I heard a gentle knock on my door. I slowly approached it and peered outside to see Geneva Hamilton standing in front of my unit, waving directly at me.

"I know you're in there," Geneva announced.

"Wow," I said as I opened the door, "I really didn't expect you to find where I live."

"I heard you quit your job," she said and invited herself into the apartment unit.

Geneva casually found a comfortable looking area and decided to sit on one of the couches. As she sank into the soft couch, she crossed her legs together and proceeded to look around the apartment.

"Well, come right in, Geneva," I replied and chuckled slightly, "but seriously, how did you know where I lived?"

"I snooped, or more like asked Robert for your apartment number."

"Fair enough," I responded, "I am glad that you are here, it's a pleasant surprise.

"Of course! I want to be here, being by myself in the residence is boring," Geneva smiled again and gestured me to sit next to her. I followed and sat beside her, but I was still curious about why she had even bothered to visit me.

"I didn't think you'd actually come and find me."

"Why not? We made a deal that you'd wear the stuff I make, quitting that janitor job doesn't change anything. I just came because you never came back and told me that you quit!" She explained.

"I'm sorry, I've been busy this entire day and honestly I totally forgot about it. Even quitting my job has been surreal, to be honest," I admitted.

"So, what happened?" Geneva pressed.

"You mean what happened today?"

"Rumours say you got into a fight with Hayden Whitehall, but others say you are officially dating each other. I'm not one to spread gossip and rumours, but I'd like to hear it from you," she asked.

"Wait, what? No!" I objected. "I did fight with Hayden but we made peace afterward. We're just friends now, and I also happen to work for him now which is why I quit my janitor job."

"You two looked quite chummy together this morning," Geneva said as she showed me a picture of Hayden and myself together this morning in the cafeteria enjoying our brunch. Someone had already decided to take pictures of us and post it on the school's social media gossip site.

I sighed deeply, "What do people gain from this?"

"Fame, entertainment, fun perhaps," Geneva said nonchalantly.

I took some time to explain what had happened last night and this morning. In the meantime, Geneva ordered some pizza for the both of us to share. It only took us half an hour to devour the entire pizza between each other. Of course, I had saved a few slices in the fridge in case Scarlet wakes up hungry. The slices were a true divine creation from the heavens and I cannot thank the world enough for the existence of Pizza and all things Italian. Throughout the entire conversation, Geneva was possibly the calmest and best listener, never interrupting and never casually making unnecessary commentary.

"The most important thing is that I overnight I somehow became Hayden Whitehall's friend and that he's actually helping me pay off my debt by just working for him."

"It's funny because out of the entire campus, Hayden Whitehall chose you as a friend," Geneva finally commented, clearly amused.

"I do get it's weird, but what do you mean?"

"You see," she explained, "Hayden Whitehall isn't just someone that anyone on campus can be friends with. Valentino is full of heirs and children of those who are powerful and wealthy, but even among the elites there is an unspoken tier system."

"Tier system? Like how some people have castes?" I asked.

"Exactly like that, it's certainly not as extreme or strict as clear-cut castes, but let's just say someone like Whitehall wouldn't normally associate with a son or daughter of a small company CEO," Geneva clarified.

"But isn't a small company CEO's status high enough to enter the school, which is already better than everyone else?"

"Yeah, but that's the baseline, right? In order to even be considered admission to this school, you have to already possess that background with you."

"And that's not enough for someone like Hayden?"

"Not really, his family owns an entire corporation with multiple investments and dabbles in many industries, what can the Whitehalls benefit from being friends with the child of a small company CEO?" Geneva asked rhetorically, "It's not unless they acquire the company or need the company, in which they don't really need Hayden's help anyway."

"But it doesn't mean that he can't make those friends, right?" I followed.

"Like I said, there are no rules for that, but why bother making those friends, unless by pure chance, when you have close friends that you grew up with who have similar backgrounds as yourself?"

"That does make sense, well I guess I got lucky?" I laughed to myself.

"I wouldn't say you're lucky," Geneva quickly added, "I've known Whitehall my entire life, and he's honestly not the type to make friends with a scholarship student. I can't tell what he's planning when he offered you a position as his assistant, to be honest."

"Well he did make it clear that he thinks my character and personality is fun to be around, and that I'm supposedly his charity case, because why not," I sighed.

"Right, you did mention he gave you no choice. But if something is suspicious at least let me know about it so I can do something. It's Hayden we're talking about, only a handful of people can really stop him and that includes me," she smiled, but she definitely sounded worried.

Suddenly my phone began to ring, I quickly responded and picked up the phone. Who could it be at this hour?

"Hello?" I asked.

"Cafeteria?" Theodore's voice suddenly responded.

"Oh shoot, what time is it?"

"Well I've been waiting here for half an hour, so I got worried."

"Shit," I cussed, "I'm so sorry."

"It's fine, did you want a raincheck?" Theo asked.

"Nono, I asked you, so I'll be there right away," I responded, looking to Geneva who seemed to have immediately understood the situation.

"Is that Theo?" Geneva whispered. I quickly nodded in response, not wanting to waste any more time.

"Theo, if you hear me just come up to the twelveth floor, unit twelve-o-eight," Geneva announced.

"Is that Geneva?" Theo asked through the phone.

"Um, yeah," I responded hesitantly.

"Just come up, I'm leaving anyway," Geneva leaned in and spoke directly into the phone.

"Um, alright I guess I'll just come to you then," Theo said, "See you in a couple of minutes."

"I'll wait until he comes up to leave, but sorry for taking up so much of your time, I had no idea you already had plans," Geneva giggled.

"It's not like that," I replied urgently, "we're just talking and I'm going to catch him up about what happened."

"That's weird, Theo and Hayden aren't on the best of terms lately. But I'm guessing because he was involuntarily dragged into your argument that you kind of owe him that at least."

"Yup," I agreed.

"Well, I'll start making my way out of your place, we'll talk soon, you have my number, come find me at least once a week for some girl talk," she winked.

"Oh wait, the maid outfit," I said as I hurried into my room, trying to find the outfit.

"You can keep it, it's not a problem," Geneva smiled as she opened the door to the entrance of our unit. I followed her back to the exit, preparing to send her off for the night.

Just in time, Theodore dashed into the picture, smiling at the both of us.

"Hey ladies," he said, still slightly confused at this gathering.

"And that's my cue to leave," Geneva shrugged and waved goodbye. Theodore and I both waved back and looked at each other.

"Hey," Theo smiled.

"Well," I sighed, "we have a lot to talk about don't we?"