Chapter 4

“Wakey wakey, lazy bones” Connor was trying to get me up from bed by tapping my forehead. What is it with people always trying to cut one’s sleep short? I was not a morning person, so waking up was usually a difficult task for me. Cradling a pillow to my chest, I stirred in my sleep.

“Ugh, why did you have to wake me up so early?” I checked the time on the clock on the nightstand and groaned. I purposely did not set the alarm cause I wanted to enjoy my sleep peacefully.

“What a beautiful morning it is, we need to catch up and explore,” He explained.

He was way too excited. Sometimes I wonder if he should have been born as a female. He fits the description of a female friend.

“I’m awake. You can leave the room. I’ll come to join you soon,” I told him. Hearing that, he left the room.

I got up from the bed groggily. My body was still numb. Probably from the previous day’s trip. I had on oversized black tees with pink shorts, and my hair was all tangled.

I went to the bathroom, splashed cold water on my face and brushed my teeth.I could feel my stomach rumbling. Hungry was the word. I didn’t even bother to untangle my hair. I just wanted to get something to eat. I don’t joke with my food.

I could hear people talking downstairs, so I decided to join them. The smell of toast filled my nostrils. Susan was making toast in the kitchen, and the boys were in the dining area.

Lowell was frantically chewing something that seemed inedible. I suspect it to be a pen cover.

Why would he even take a pen cover to the dining area?

I cleared my throat, and they all glanced up at me.

Lowell stood up to hug me. This was his first time seeing me.

“Hey, Lovette, it’s been a while,” he said while taking the unknown object from his mouth.

It was a pen cover. I was right. I looked at him disgustingly.

“Lowell Really? Of all things to chew at the dining area, a pen cover. You must have been so starved I presume,” I said, raising my eyebrow.

He shrugged in response. Some habits never die down, I guess.

I sat beside Connell on the table and waved to Ralph, who was opposite me. He was engrossed in his phone. He waved back and smiled.

A few seconds later, Susan appeared with a plate full of toasts.

“Hi there Lovette,” She said, placing the plate on the table and reaching out for a napkin to wipe her hands.

“Morning, Susan” I stood up to take milk from the fridge. I enjoyed eating toast with a glass of chilled milk.

She smiled at me and asked the trio, “what are you all up to today…any plans?”

“Just hanging out together as one big family,” Connor said with a goofy smile.

“And by a big family, you mean… Lowell stated, urging Connor to explain what he meant.

“Oh, don’t be ridiculous. I didn’t mean the whole family at large, Just you, me and Lovette”, Connor replied as a matter of fact.

I looked towards Ralph’s direction, but he didn’t say a word. He just kept eating his food like it was the only thing that mattered.

He seemed to have changed since the last time. He wasn’t always this quiet. He was full of energy and playful. Like I said earlier, he enjoyed making fun of me. Where did all of that go, I thought? Adulthood sure must have taken a toll on my guy here.

“How about we go to the orange house” later in the day, Lowell suggested.

Susan noticed the confusion on my face and said, “it’s just a restaurant with an off name, dear” she smiled then shook her head as if thinking what person in the right state of mind would name a restaurant the orange house.

“Well to be fair, the restaurant is painted orange, so let’s not judge the name”. The owners must have had their reasons. Connor said, rounding up his meal.

“Yeah, actually”, I added.

We all sat in silence, enjoying breakfast. It wasn’t one of those awkward silence. It was peaceful.

***********

“Woah, this place truly is the orange house,” I said, marvelling at the building we were in. We were now at the restaurant, situated on a busy street in the town. The floor of the restaurant is made of beautiful orange checkered tiles, making it attractive to the eye. The chairs and the wall were orange in colour.

Lowell chose the table beside the window for us to sit, and Connell and I followed suit. We ordered our food and were waiting patiently for it when I saw a beautiful girl in the corner of the room, on the verge of tears.

She was with a guy that looked a little older than her. They looked like they were in a heated argument. She was distressed, and I felt the urge to meet her and ask if she was okay.

“Earth to Lovette,” Connell said, snapping his fingers in front of my face.

I gave him a pointed look. “What?”

“What do you mean what? We were having a conversation, and you weren’t listening” He frowned, not liking that I wasn’t paying attention.

“Oh”, I had no idea what they were talking about. I was too engrossed with the scene in front of me.

“Guys, I would be right back, I need to go see the girl with the black hair” I fixed my gaze on the girl, hoping they would catch on, not wanting to point at her with my hands.

“Why do you know her?” Lowell asked curiously.

I nodded my head, saying no. They both looked at me weirdly.

I ignored them and proceeded to meet the girl. Just as I got there, the boy with her stood up and left her sobbing quietly.

She was beautiful. Her black hair made her beautiful dark brown eyes stand out. I studied her carefully for a second and saw that her face was filled with mixed emotions.

“Hey, are you okay?” I asked with genuine concern

She looked at me unsure, contemplating telling me the truth or lying.

“Erm, that’s my boyfriend. He broke up with me just now,” she said in a muffled tone.

Oh, another relationship is down the drain. This is why I find it hard to give my heart to a guy.

I took a deep sigh. “Look, dear, he isn’t worth it. If he rejected you, then it’s his loss. There is more to life than sulking over a boy that doesn’t deserve it.”

She nodded, accepting what I had just said.

Wow, that was easy. I wasn’t expecting her to be calm on time.

“I’m Lovette by the way” I smiled

“My name is Tasha,” she said shyly

“Tasha, short for Natasha right?” I asked

“Yeah”

“Oh cool, Tasha, my friends are over there, you care to join us” I grinned, showing her where the boys were sitting.

“Yea, sure” she carried her food tray, and we headed toward where the boys were.