Chapter 24
“So what is the real reason, besides that stuff you said back there, that you don’t want to be our manager.” Kevin asked while he drove down the freeway. Kevin and Christin had become close friends in only a day. She knew how to sorta read him and vice-versa.
“The real reason?”
“Yeah and no bullshit answers either.”
“The real reason I didn’t want to end up hurting you. It seems every time I manager a group or something, I taint their image. I don’t want to ruin what you guys have worked hard for. It’s not in me.” Christin said convincingly.
“And? I know there is something else you’re not telling me. What is it?” Kevin asked. He knew what the other thing was he just wanted to see if Christin would tell him or if he would be forced to drag it out of her. He really thought that Christin would tell him if just given enough time.
“You’re right. I guess the real reason is because of a business rule I promise myself I would never break. I guess I still believe in a promise. No matter who you make it too.”
“What one rule is that?”
“Well-maybe I shouldn’t tell you. You’ll probably think is absolutely retarded. Sometimes I even think that. It’s the hardest rule anyone could follow.” Christin shook her head.
“What if I guess it? Will you tell me if I am right?”
“Sure. Go for it.”
“Let me see. Well you have yet to give one of us a kiss so I’m guessing that it’s something like mixing business with pleasure. Am I right? I bet you I am.”
“Oh my God. How’d you know? There is no way you could have guessed that. None. Someone must have told you. Who told you?”
“No one. I am just intelligent. Plus it’s obvious who you’re into.”
“Who? If it is so obvious?”
“A.J.”
“A.J.? How do you figure I like him? You’ve lost your mind.”
“Well you are always whispering with him, alone with him, or just flat out flirting with him. Admit it. You like the boy. Any girl would.” Kevin turned off of the freeway.
“I do not. Why A.J.? What if I like you? Why do you think I asked you to drive me to my place? I might just wanna get ya alone and do some nasty stuff.” Christin rubbed his arm.
“Yeah. Good acting. You don’t like me. The reason you asked me is because you didn’t want Nick knowing where you live. You don’t know D or Brian very well and didn’t trust yourself alone with A.J.”
“Whatever.” Christin said yanking away and crossing her arms over her chest.
“Oh did I piss someone off with the truth? I’m so sorry.” Kevin reached over and flinged Christin’s hair in her face causing her to laugh.
“You know Kev, I’ve only known you a day but I can tell we are going to be good friends.” Christin smiled.
“Good? We had best be great if not best friends.”
“My best friend, Amanda, might get jealous though.”
“You mean you’re cheating on me. Then had the nerve to tell me about it. How dare you? You have no consideration for me. Do you?” Kevin did a drama act.
“Yep and you might actually meet her next week. She is the best friend anyone could want. She is always there, understanding, nice, sweet, and not like me. She isn’t a smart ass.”
“Well how long has this been going on behind my back?”
“Sixteen years.” Christin smiled brightly.
“Sixteen years” Kevin grew serious. “You’ve had the same best friend for sixteen years. That’s impossible.”
“Why is I impossible?”
“Because you don’t look more then twenty. Plus some people don’t even stay married that long.”
“I’m twenty-one. This street right here.” She pointed out.
“Well that means you’ve been best friends since…”
“Five. Yeah. She lived down the street from me. We were play buddies. Her parents were the best. Unfortunately they were killed in a bad car accident when we were seventeen. I was hard on her. Hard on me too. I love her parents like I loved my dad. They were great. Amanda and I thought for a while that she might have to go to North Carolina to live with her mom’s sister and brother-n-law. But it was great because my dad was good friend of her parents and her aunt. Her aunt realized how hard moving across country would be on Amanda so she signed over her rights to my father. He is her legal guardian. She’s not just a best friend she’s my sister I never had.” Christin wiped a tear off her cheek. Growing up she had spent more time with Amanda’s parent then she had with her own father. Her father was a police officer and was always busy with a case. It had devastated when she found out that the Ashford’s had been killed.
They pulled up in front of Christin’s apartment building about 3 minutes later. They sat there in silence for a few minutes before Kevin got out and went around to open Christin’s door. “You want me to walk you to your door?”
“If you don’t mind. You ain’t gotta though.” Christin climbed out of the seat and took Kevin’s hand that he offered her.
“I don’t mind. Which place is yours’?”
“That one.” Christin pointed towards 56A. They started to walk towards to apartment. “What are you going to do tomorrow? Do you know?”
“Nothing. Why?”
“Come by the office tomorrow. We’ll get the whole manager thing straighten out and your contracts ready.”
“Our contracts? Who said we were signing?” Kevin teased.
“Well look at it like this. You don’t sign you don’t have a manager. You do and you’ve got one.”
“Ok then I guess we sign, huh?”
“Yeah I guess so. Well here we are. Tomorrow around eleven. Cool.” Christin found her keys and unlocked her door.
“Yeah, fine.” Kevin agreed.
When Christin opened her door. She was surprised to find a piece of paper on her floor. She picked up and read.
Dear Occupant,
We are sorry to inconvenience you but it is time for our annual fumigation. We will begin fumigating April 15, 2000 and recommend all occupants are out of their apartment by April 14 at 10:00 p.m. We will finish fumigating on April 17 and will let occupants move back in April 19, 2000.
Thank-You
Amber Thompson
Amber Thompson
Building Management
“Shit.” Christin said when she finished reading it. She walked in to the house and flopped on the couch. She read to letter over again.
“What?” Kevin asked as he followed her in.
“Well I have less than twenty-four hours to pack and get out. Then I can come back five days later. What the hell am I going to do?” Christin asked worried.
“Why?” Kevin took the note out of Christin’s hand and read over it. Now he saw why Christin was worried. She had only been in town a week and now she had to come up with a place to stay.
“If it’s an annual event, why didn’t they tell John before he picked it out and paid for it.”
“John? Who’s John?”
“My boss and friend.” Christin rubbed her face.
“Oh. Well there is only one reasonable solution to this.” Kevin said. He was probably going to regret what he was about to say but what else could he do. Nick and A.J. would either hate him or thank him for what he was about to do. Hopefully though they would never find out. Hopefully.
“What?” Christin asked wearily.
“Stay with me. I have plenty of room. I will be the perfect gentleman.” Kevin offered sweetly.
“You. Stay with you. Haha. You be a gentleman. Haha haha. Very funny Kev.”
“Well I could tell A.J. or Nick that you are homeless. Believe me when I say they would force you to stay with them. Believe me.”
“Okay. I’ll stay with you until I find a good motel. That we probably be tomorrow. I won’t get comfortable. Oh and don’t tell anyone.”
“My lips are sealed.” Kevin pretended to zip his lips.
“Okay. Well my new one day housemate, you can help me pack.” Christin bounced up off the sofa.
“What? I was kind enough to let you stay with me and you’re making me pack.”
“Stop bitching and get your ass up and help.”
“Aw man.” Kevin got up and followed Christin.
They finished packing Christin’s stuff around three in the morning. They had fun doing it though. They made fun of each other and acted like they known each other for years.
“Kevin, I have an extra room and a sofa, you chose which ever one you want, but let’s crush here tonight. Get my stuff to your place after we had a good nights rest or a good days rest. And besides you are to tired to drive.”
“Yeah you’re right. I am pretty beat . I don’t think I am in any shape for driving either.”
“I agree again but now I am going to bed.” Christin started towards her bedroom.
“What about work tomorrow?”
“Oh shit. I guess I’ll take a sick day. I have bunches of them.” Christin yawned.
“Yeah okay. See ya tomorrow.”
“It is tomorrow.” Christin shot back.
“Shut up and go to bed.” Kevin pointed towards her room.
“I’m going.” Christin walked into her room and shut the door. She changed into the pajamas she left out and climbed into bed. A minute later she was sleeping.
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Chapter 25
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