2 Chapter 2

I realized I caused a commotion yesterday, but today will be different! That's because I don't work today. I should plan something to properly apologize to Julie. I know she likes going out for walks and just eating street food on her days off. The more I think about her the more I realize, Julie is like an active dog. ~Sigh~ well the worst that can happen is she would be too busy to hang with me. I pick up my phone and text Julie. I asked her if she was busy. Ten minutes go by and still no text back. I begin wondering if she was still piping mad at me. I twist and turn in my bed. She's still mad, she's not still mad. I turn each time asking myself the same thing. ~Ding~ she's still mad, I did my final turn. Check my phone and see a message from her. Looks like she's still mad. Oh boy! ~Sigh~ ok I got this. I read the message. "Leave me alone, I'm too busy hanging out with friends that don't yell at me in front of a crowd" That's Julie for you, she's petty. She definitely is still mad at me. I text back, "I want to make it up to you for the other day. Let me take you out on a date...all expenses paid." I hit send and continue the waiting game. She's still- ~ding~ my game was interrupted by Julie's speedy text. That girl, she knows what she wants. "If it's like that then let me bring a couple of friends. Also, remember you're doing this for me, not for anyone else." A couple of friends? That's right Julie isn't like me at all. She has other friends, Yet. She knows how I get around other people. Maybe I shouldn't go? Wait...She knew I was gonna come up with an excuse not to go. That's why she so kindly reminded me why I even asked her out in the first place. I got to go. I get ready for the big play date forgetting to text Julie back on whether or not it's still on. "Alright" I say to myself, "I'm ready to make a fool of myself." I smile in the mirror and go straight for my phone. "Yikes! I forgot to text back!" I call Julie instead of texting her. She let two rings go by before she picked up. "Open the door you idiot!" She hung up. That's weird, Julie sounded buzzed. She usually doesn't drink and when she does, it's always with me. I walk up to my door and open it to find Julie and some of the workers I saw her sit with yesterday. However, my attention was completely stolen by Adam who was hanging with them too. "What. the. hell. is going on?" I was more shocked than confused. "What! This is the secret chairman that nobody gets to see!!!!" The girl next to Julie cries out. I looked at Julie stunned. She was supposed to keep that a secret. I didn't want people knowing and didn't want people talking. What's more she let the new guy know too! "Hey big head, ~hiccup~ let us in already." She was already at this stage of drunk! I move aside letting them come into my house one by one. Adam helps Julie onto the couch while the others take a good look at my house from the inside. "What happened to her? Why is she like this? Why was SHE DRINKING IN THE AFTERNOON?" I just kept on getting angry. The group of people looked at me a little bit scared. "Well for starters, it's her day off. She wanted to have some fun the whole day. Said something like 'forgetting she was young too' and 'she doesn't have any kids so she should let loose.' " Adam spoke crossing his arms as if he wasn't pleased with me. "So, this was her idea?" I looked to the group and to Adam. I look like a mad-man. "Yes, but boy are we shocked. To think the mystery chairman- I mean chairwoman was someone we knew all along. Wow" right...I forgot there was still that. "If you tell anyone about me I'll work you all like dogs." I snap back "oh! Would you please stop being so closed off!!" Julie cries as she drunkenly stands up. "I'm worried like crazy for you do you know that? I'm not your sister, or your mother or even your aunt. But, I can't stop worrying about you. I'M LEAVING IN LESS THAN A WEEK YOU LITTLE PUNK!!!" Julie broke out into tears. The room lay silent. Even if there was any sound, I wouldn't be able to hear it. My mind froze, and my heart sped up. She's what? Leaving? Where? When? How? Why? Right Julie always mentioned that she didn't stop looking for her dream job. She just never cared to tell me what it was...no that's not right. I never wanted to know, because if I did I knew I would try to help her. I wanted her to stay by my side for as long as she could. I was selfish and inconsiderate. Yet, she did it. She found her dream job. Without my help. "In...in less than a week you say." I stare at Julie trying to hold back the tears in my eyes. Julie looks at me shocked. As if to say she didn't mean to tell me like that. "So when...when were you planning on telling me? The last day or maybe the day of? Were you even planning on telling me?" I was looking at Julie in her now sober eyes. I could tell she knew I was hurt. "Lizzy, I...I was-" "save it. I've been a terrible friend. So I deserve that." I throw a weak smile at Julie in hopes to see her smile. I no longer want to be selfish when it comes to her. I keep forgetting, Julie is my best friend not my personal life assistant. She has her own dreams and goals she needs to meet. I should be happy for her. Even if it hurts, I should support her like she supported me. "I'm sorry Julie, I was too caught up in my own drama to notice you. I shouldn't have yelled at you yesterday either. You're my best friend, I love you and wish you nothing but the best. So I'll be supporting you every step of the way." I was successfully able to hide my own hurt and say what I really wanted to say. Julie starts to tear up. She looks around and then proceeds to change the subject. "Everyone lets play some card games!" She excitedly pulls uno and poker cards out of her purse. And the heavy atmosphere that was set became light and bubbly in a second. I broke out in laughter. "Alright, but I won't go easy on you just 'cause you're girls." Adam jumped in. Everyone followed after. It was honestly nice. We spent hours playing and drinking. I learned something new from everyone there. There was Janice who was a married mother at the age of 23, Jake who was working another job to pay off his student loans, Sarah who was single and a lesbian, and Adam who had to say his final goodbyes to his parents just 5 years ago. Once I got to know them a little I began seeing them as regular people like Julie. "Adam, I'm sorry about yesterday. I wasn't...I'm not used to hanging around people." I apologized to Adam when everyone but Julie who was passed out on my couch left. He was helping me clean up. "Yeah, what was that about anyway? Did you have a bad day and I happened to catch the wrong end of it or?" Adam stopped what he was doing to look me in the eye. "It was me, I was already on edge 'cause that drunk girl over there didn't get treated like a decent human being." I threw a small smile at him letting him know Julie and I talked about him. "Oh that! That was because I was talking to someone. She came from behind me and tried to interrupt us. Haha I did say hello back, but I was a little annoyed at how rude she was." I stood in my place dumbfounded. That girl! She had to leave out some important details!!! I'll get her for this! "She probably didn't notice the other person. Forgive her if she had known then I'm sure she wouldn't have done that." Adam smiled at me as he continued to help clean up. "You two must be really close?" "Yeah, I've known her for quite a long time." I smiled back at Adam. Now that I see Adam as a regular person it became easier to talk to him and smile with him. Adam stared at me stunned as if to say I shocked him. "So you can make that face towards other people too." He grinned wider. I instantly fell shy and focused more on the cleaning instead of his face. "I don't know what you're talking about, what face?" Adam threw the garbage out and set aside the plates in the sank. He then walked over to me and pinched my cheek. "Your smile is beautiful, you know that?" Adam let go of my cheek and continued cleaning as if he didn't do anything. "Adam...don't do that again. ~Sighs~ I know you're a very affectionate person or at least around me you are, I don't feel comfortable with you suddenly touching me like that." I gave Adam a stern look reprimanding him for his actions. "I don't think you get why I'm like this…" Adam gives a distressed look as he moves to the kitchen to wash the dishes he had picked up from the center table. Stricken by confusion I move towards him. "Then, why are you like that?" I innocently asked, having already made an assumption. "I think you can figure it out for yourself. You are, after all smart." Adam cracks an evil smirk letting me know I won't have my way to make him confess. "Fine! Don't tell me! I don't even care, but…" I stop and stall. I didn't realize it before, but I was having fun with Adam with everyone here and when everyone had left. "But what?" Adam now carries a jokenly confused face. "Chicken Butt!" I burst out into laughter and tears. I couldn't help it, my childish side came out. "I like you, let me take you out on a date." Adam smiles.