Chapter 3- Sweet

Emerald

"Sounds sweet." Mimi's laughter echoed as she glided into our living room with a tray of muffins and coffee. A small smile appeared on my face, inhaling the delectable aroma of the muffins. Mimi cooked good-- scratch that, baked well. She was pretty good at anything that didn't make me miss home much, instead made me travel with samosas and other Mexican cuisines she made.

As she placed the tray on the center table of our cozy one-bedroom apartment, my hand on its on accord grabbed one before looking at her beautiful hazel eyes that didn't seem to get tired from smiling or laughing.

"Define sweet." I took a bite while she sat beside me on the couch. It surprised me how funny this was to Mimi after we had spoken about it our drive home-- like after I almost died of a panick attack with her yelling.

She half shrugged, smiling amusingly. "I don't know. A guy coming to say hi on campus. It's like so original."

"Yeah," I said and pointed at her. "And his dress code too."

We burst into laughter. 

"This is so good!" I took another huge bite. "You should own a pastry shop. Name it Perez-tries."

"What the hell?" She gave a horrified look and that made my day. "It wouldn't be a bad idea though. I mean making pastries. I hate name combos. Never bring that up." She put a hand in the air, while the other held on to her coffee.

My mind danced around the fact that even circus boy hadn't found me interesting enough to get my number. Not like I liked him anyway. He wasn't my type at all.

Leaning back on the chair, I pulled the soft throw pillows to my stomach. "So, what about you, met anyone?"

Of course she hadn't and here I was asking rhetorical questions. I knew her to the point I could tell what underwear she had on. Gay shit? Well, we lived together. Although it had only been a month since we became friends, it felt like a lifetime. Ever since we met at our apartment, I knew I liked her.

Safe to say, it wasn't exactly friendship at first sight because we both wanted this very apartment, but it was expensive. So, we reached an agreement to getting it together which led to us being roommates and now, best friends. 

"Me?" She scoffed. "Nah, I've been to busy with school work to meet someone."

I nodded. Mimi wanted to become the new Einstein and it was totally cool, honestly. It just wasn't what I'd consider doing. Even though life had become boring ar my end, I wasn't going to spend my leisure time after reading, going to the library to read again. No, thanks.

"Has your mom called?" She asked, playing with her charcoal black hair that plummeted at her back. 

"No." I got up to get my coffee off the table. "She should call anytime."

The thought of that made my stomach turn. How was I going to tell my mom I was broke again for the second time in a month?

In a way, I was glad she hadn't called. 

Mimi only smiled at me.

"What?" I asked.

She jerked a shoulder forward. "Nothing."

Great.

              

                                       •••

As Mimi dropped me off my department, I blew a kiss that spelled 'You're the best!'. Having a test today, she woke up early to drive me, even though she had a later class.

"Don't forget to stop by the mechanics!"

"I hear you," I said, hips swinging, sashaying my way into class.

 Ransacking the class for an empty seat in my favorite spot-- the middle, I didn't find any available ones so I went to the almost back of the class. It surprised me that while I thought I was early, people were there already.

I adjusted myself on the chair and brought out my notes, reminiscing and cramming what I didn't at home. After a surprise test in Ethics class, I didn't want to take any chances. You never know what joke Riverside had in store for you.

With the two years in front of me roaring about a soccer match, it was grueling to focus. Foiled, I shut the book and placed my elbow on the table to observe the whole class. 

Almost everyone seemed to have a company but me. I squinted in search for a particular brunette that usually sat in front of me (when I was sat at the middle). 

There she was, at the front wearing earpods. She was cool, didn't talk much and was always buried in her business, although she wore the oddest of lipsticks. Like today, she was wearing purple lipstick on a green top and high waist jeans. Not bad was it?