When the night came, Keri and Terrie headed out to their destination. “I wonder if they’ll show up?” Terrie said it more to herself.
“Of course they will, didn’t you see the way they kept staring at you?” Keri teased. She knew her friend had no self confidence when it came to her looks, so she took it upon herself to bring up Terrie’s ego.
“Don’t be ridiculous, I saw Chris…is that his name?” Keri laughed as she nodded “He was talking to you for a long time there.”
“He was asking about you!!” the girls got closer to the Theatre and parked their car. They walked to the front where the guys would be waiting.
**********
“You think they’ll come?” Chris said anxiously.
Richard looked around at the crowd trying to spot the girls, but they were nowhere in sight “Maybe they stood us up? They’re already 15 minutes late.” He glanced at his watch.
“I m glad Eric didn’t come along or he’ll complain and talk crap again.” They had to admit that it was more fun without the party pooper with them. Eric was always so plain and never wanted to try new things. Although he had to work that night, they would have wanted him to join them despite of his complaints.
“Oh, they’re coming!” Richard said as he waved to the girls. “Hey, you made it. Did you get lost?” he teased.
“No, we had some errands to run before we came here. I didn’t think it would have so much traffic. Okay, who’s ready to lose?” Keri asked. She was a great bowler.
“I m ready.” The guys chimed in. They walked to a bowling alley a few blocks down from the Theatre. Chris paid for the fee and shoes, while Richard got drinks for everyone.
The guys insisted on ladies first, so Terrie and Keri were the first to bowl. Keri was the first to hit a strike while Terrie got a 9. The guys seemed to be intrigued as they took their time and bowled. Surprisingly, Chris wasn’t bad at all, while Richard could have used more lessons. At one point in the game, Richard went to the restroom while Keri was still bowling. Chris took his moment to talk to Terrie “Hey, so do you two have a boyfriend?” his question was more directed towards the girl in front of him.
“No, I’ve never had one.” She said casually, while Chris raised his eyebrows with interest “I know, I m strange. But Keri is a dating fanatic…don’t tell her I said that.” She whispered and then giggled “She’s in a serious relationship at this time. But I think she can do better.”
“I don’t think its strange that you’ve never dated. Its quite rare now a days. Can I ask why?” he didn’t want to pry but she was already intriguing him.
“I guess you could say Im waiting for Mr. Right.” She smiled.
He nodded “Well, what do you think of Richard?” his question threw her off.
She wrinkled her forehead “I don’t know, I just met him.”
Suddenly a hand touched Chris’s shoulder “Talking about me again?” Richard asked.
“Yeah, got a problem?”
“No, just make sure that its all good stuff.” He took the empty seat on Terrie’s other side. “So, what are we doing next?”
“What’s wrong? Not having fun cause you’re losing?” Keri teased. The other two laughed while Richard scowled. “I think we should go get some ice cream or something. I feel like resting for a bit.” Keri offered.
The other three nodded in agreement as they packed up their belongings and left the bowling alley. They reached the ice cream shop and ordered the dessert. They sat in a booth together, silence was broken by Chris “So, how old are you girls?”
Keri answered “26.”
“I m turning 26 soon.” Terrie added.
“When?” Chris asked. He had a birthday coming up too.
“In November.”
“Me too!” Chris said. “What day?”
“The third.” Terrie became a little more interested.
“Me too!” Chris laughed, he wasn’t kidding either. He was about to comment but she was quicker with her own comment.
“But you don’t look 26.” Terrie joked.
“No, I’ll be 28.” Chris seemed reluctant to go on.
“I can call you Dai Lou!!” Terrie said excitedly. “I have no brothers and sisters and I’ve always wanted an older brother.
“Uh…sure…It’ll be my honor.” Chris said honestly, although he wasn’t too sure about being the big brother.
The other two listened in on their conversation, Richard couldn’t help but feel a little envious of his friend. He had a little in common with Terrie.
********
After they returned home that night, they made another date to go to an amusement park. This time they promised that Eric would also be there. Richard called Terrie about 3 times a week to chat on the phone. They got along really well, keeping an open mind about all opinions and discussions about life, love and future. She was the kind of girl you normally don’t like at first due to her cold exterior, but after you break into her good side, she’ll never stop talking. Richard found he was more interested in her than the first time they went out. She was very friendly and not at all stuck up like Chris said.
When their next date came up, the guys came to pick them up. They squeezed in one car and drove off to the amusement park. They went to most of the rides, but Eric and Terrie stayed behind each time the other three went on the roller coasters. Terrie was petrified from heights while Eric didn’t like fast rides. Keri was the dare devil, who would try everything. Chris and Richard loved tall rides, the faster the better. “So, its Eric right?” Terrie asked. She almost forgot his name.
“Yeah.” He laughed. “I guess I m that forgettable.”
“Sorry.”
He shook his head “No, its okay. I wasn’t exactly friendly that night. So let me start over. Eric Chung.” He put out his hand.
She smiled “Theresa Lam.” She shook his hand firmly.
“So, what do you think of those guys?”
“Very nice, but I think they didn’t have a very good impression of me.” She was quick to her human instincts.
“Wow, you’re good.” He teased. “Yeah, we thought you were kind of stuck up.”
Terrie smiled “Most people have the impression of me the first time we meet. I guess Im just mysterious like that huh?” she laughed comfortably. “I was just into the concert. It was my first and I didn’t want to miss anything.”
“I understand. It was my first too. And Chris’s second I believe.”
“So, you always seem so busy, do you have a girlfriend?”
He swerved his eyes elsewhere, embarrassed to answer her “No, never had one.”
“Wow, you too huh? I thought I was the only picky one.” She giggled.
He turned his full attention to her “You never dated either?”
“Nope.” She shook her head, swinging her curled hair from side to side. “I am waiting for the right guy to come along and sweep me off my feet.”
“Any chance it’ll be one of them?” he pointed to the guys that were running back to them.
She shrugged her shoulders “There’s always a chance for anything.”
Richard was the first to arrive as he breathed heavily. Leaning his hands on his thighs “Gosh, you guys are missing out! Its such a rush when they drop you…” he was talking about the roller coaster ride.
Terrie and Eric exchanged glances as they laughed “Nah, we’ll pass.” Eric said.
Chris glanced at the two seated. They looked more comfortable, looks like Terrie had a nice talk with his friend. He smiled secretly to himself, he’s rarely seen Eric so casual and happy.
The night quickly came as they ate dinner at the park and took a final round on the roller coasters. Keri was walking with Terrie arm in arm when suddenly she pointed to a huge teddy bear “That’s so cute!!”
It was the big prize you win if you can crawl up a rope ladder and ring a bell. It looked easy enough but the group watched as everyone fell one after another. Richard saw Terrie’s eyes bright up “You want one?” he asked her.
She nodded while Keri spoke up “Me too!”
Richard began to take off his jacket as he handed it to Terrie “Hold this for me.” He walked over and stood in the line to try it out.
Terrie felt a little lump on his jacket and pulled out the object to see what it was. She found a pack of cigarettes and a match lighter with his initials on it and a date. Terrie turned to Chris “He smokes?” she asked. She personally couldn’t stand people that smoked, her father use to smoke but he stopped when she turned 8.
Chris nodded “Yeah, he’s been doing it since 16. When we first met Richard, he was a little punk. With spiked hair dyed blond, he was like a wannabe gangster. All three of us had to be nice to each other for his girlfriend, who happened to be our friends.” He pointed to himself and Eric.
Keri nodded “I see. Well, we really don’t like guys who smoke.” She glanced at her friend who nodded in agreement.
“Well, just take it away from him then. He won’t get made if you do it. We’ve been trying to get him to quit a long time ago, but he would always chicken out.” Chris said to Terrie.
“Yeah, one time we took the cigarettes away and he blew up on us.” Eric chimed in.
“Wow, maybe I should just put it back then.” Terrie had put it in her pocket, when she was about to return it, Richard came running back so she stuffed it back into her own jacket.
“Hey, its hard man! They rigged it, no one’s gonna win it.” Richard said as he reached for his jacket sitting on Terrie’s arm. “Thanks. Come on, lets get a snack.”
“He’s always eating!” Eric whispered to Keri, who muffled a giggle.
Their final ride was a haunted house, which was the busiest ride in the park. They stood in line as it inched its way closer to the ride. Richard reached in his pocket for his cigarettes and found it missing not to mention his lighter. “Where’s my cigarettes? And my lighter? Guys, its not funny.” He put out his hands waiting for them to give it back to him.
Chris and Eric shrugged their shoulders innocently. “We don’t have it.”
“You guys gonna be that way?” he asked angrily. Terrie looked at Keri with a worried expression. That was the first time he raised his voice. He was normally so giggly and goofy.
“I took them.” She spoke up weakly.
Richard’s mad expression quickly softened as he turned to Terrie. She pulled out the pack from her pocket and handed it to him “No, you can keep it. Maybe I’ll have control not to smoke it now.” He smiled as he pushed the pack back into her pocket. “How about my lighter?”
“I threw it away.” She was testing to see if he’ll lose his temper with her.
He was quiet for a while “Its okay. I need to let go of it anyways.” Terrie wrinkled her eyebrows “It was given to me as a birthday gift from my girlfriend back in high school.”
“I didn’t know it had a special meaning.” She pulled out the lighter and handed it to him.
“No, you keep it. I don’t mind if you hold it for me.” He smiled as they continued down the line. Terrie put it back in her pocket and followed him with the group. They said their final goodbyes when the guys took them home.
“You want this back?” Terrie pulled out the lighter and cigarettes. “You know, its not good to smoke so much.” She said sincerely.
Richard nodded “I know, maybe I’ll stop if the right girl ask me to.” He took back the lighter and reached for the cigarettes but Terrie pulled back.
“I don’t think you’ll need these.” She reached over at the public trash can that was in front of their apartment building and tossed it inside the opening. Keri gasped unable to believe what her friend just did.
Richard shrugged “I can always buy more.” He said nonchalantly.
“I’ll throw them away each time I see you.” Terrie replied with a sly smile.
He laughed “Sure, if you want.”
“Thanks guys, we had fun tonight.” Keri said sincerely.
Chris and Eric replied in unison “Thanks.” They waved goodbye before disappearing down the street.
The girls returned to their home as they went to bed that night, feeling tired from walking but they both agreed that it was really fun.
Chapter 5
The month passed by quickly for the new five friends. They hung out every weekend, sometimes Keri’s boyfriend would join them too. Even though he wasn’t the best person to talk to, he was still polite.
Terrie was preparing sandwiches for their hiking trip the next day when the phone rang. She expected it to be Richard or Chris, who’s been calling her every so often. Chris even dropped by her office to take her out to lunch. “Hello?”
“Hey there stranger.” The familiar voice brought goose bumps to her skin. Its been almost two weeks when he left for Japan.
“You’re back?!” she asked excitedly.
Paul laughed “Yeah, how did you guess? Anyways, you should be expecting a little gift in the mail within next week.”
“What is it?” she cradled the phone between her shoulder and ear.
“It wouldn’t be a surprise if I tell you then. You’ll find out.” He said mysteriously.
She laughed “Okay, I guess I can wait.” She was never the type to push people. If they wanted to tell her then they would.
“Oh, you’re no fun!” he said disappointedly. “Anyways, how’s your family? And your new friends?”
She smiled, he was always so thoughtful about her parents “They’re doing good. My dad just gave me some money. He likes to feel that he can still support me. I guess parents will be parents.”
“No wonder you don’t care about my little gift. Daddy’s there to spoil you!” he teased.
“I never said I wasn’t spoiled.” She replied.
“I see. Shall we call you Princess now?”
“Hmm…how about Little Princess?” she offered.
“I like that.” He said honestly. “We’ll call you Little Princess now.”
“You probably call all the girls that.” She teased.
She heard his comfortable laugh, the one that always makes her smile “Of course not! You are the only one I’ll call Little Princess.”
“I was just teasing, Paul. But you can call me whatever you want. I don’t really mind, but whether or not I’ll answer, that’s a different question.”
“You little sneaky girl…hey, you still didn’t answer me. How’s your new boys?” he knew all about them over email. Even though Terrie was out every weekend, she still managed to squeeze in a few emails to Paul, telling him everything about her new friends.
“Their fine. We’re going hiking tomorrow.”
He sighed “I love hiking, but I don’t have the time. I am a work fanatic. But from what you wrote to me, I can tell that Chris really likes you. Richard does too, but somehow he reminds me of me.”
“Why do you say that?” she asked curiously. He had a special power when it came to analyzing people.
“He seems almost fickle. For me, I can be interested in a girl and then when she shows no interest, I’ll move on to the next. Does that sound like Richard?”
“Hmm…that’s very interesting. I’m not sure if that’s how he is, but I’ll ask Chris.”
“Talking to him more, I see.” He teased “This guy is not your average guy. I bet you he’s taking his sweet time trying to woo you.” His analyzing was right on the nose again.
She refused to believe the guy she called ‘Dai Lou’ could have stronger feelings for her. “No, I don’t think he’s that smart. But to be honest, I like patient guys. Most of the guys that claim they like me only know me for about a minute.”
“Well of course, cause my lil princess is so cute!” he laughed when her side of the line went dead silent “I’m just teasing! Hey, talking about you, I want to see a picture of you.”
“Why would you want to see my ugly face. I’ll just describe it big eyes, flat nose, round face, medium size lips, shoulder length hair. There, I guess that’s it.”
“Hmm, interesting, sounds like my little puppy.”
She giggled at his comment “Too cute to be me. But if you want to see a picture that bad, I’ll find a recent one and mail it to you.”
“Great! I’ll show you mind too.” He gave a loud yawn “Okie, night time. Gotta go to sleep now, long flight you know.”
She smiled “Okay, sweet dreams.”
“Only of you. Night.” The dial tone came on. Terrie took the phone away from her ear, the smile still plastered on her face. Something about Paul that made her so intrigued. She knew that it was a somewhat crush, but she could never like a guy without ever meeting him. She went back to her sandwiches as she packed them in plastic bags and put them in the fridge.
**********
Keri was having her usual disagreement with her boyfriend, Andrew again. It was always on the same subject, relationship “Where are we going here? Im getting really tired of waiting for you to answer me.!” Her tone full of fustration.
“I told you. Im not ready to have a family. But I do care for you.”
She sighed as her tone softened “Andy, you’ve never said those three words to me before. Do you actually love me?” she was debating on asking him that for the past few months. Almost into their two years relationship and he was still afraid to use the word.
“Don’t push me, Keri.” He said almost coldly before getting up.
“Well, I can’t wait around forever you know. We’re not getting any younger.” She reasoned.
“Do you want to date other men? Is that it?” he asked unreasonably.
“Why do you always bring it up. You know that I love you and I want more than anything to be your wife one day. But I don’t want to hang around with someone that has no future plans with his girlfriend. If you’re not serious, I am willing to move on.” She got up from her seat and took her purse with her. She was heading towards the door.
“Wait, Keri.” He blocked her way “Im sorry.” He sighed “I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I know that you mean a lot to me, but…Im simply not ready for marriage.”
Her eyes lingered on his before she spoke up “Not everyone can wait forever for love. Im not even sure if I love you anymore.”
The words hit him with a pang. He couldn’t believe what she just said, it was almost like a wake up call. “I understand why you would be mad. What do you want me to do?”
“Give me time to think things over. You are my first serious relationship, you know that I dated a lot of guys. None of it lasted for too long. I want to know if there is a better person out there that is more compatible for me.”
“You want an open relationship?” she turned away, not wanting to answer him “I am willing to let you try it, if that is what you want.” Her eyes moved to his as she slowly nodded. “Can I chose the guy?”
She looked at him oddly “How are you going to do that?”
“I want it to be someone you know.” She smiled with interest as she nodded, taking on his request “You were telling me about the three guys you just met. Hmm..Richard, he’s too short. Chris?”
“He only has eyes for Terrie.” She said quickly.
“How about Eric?”
She wrinkled her face in disagreement “No, he’s so cold and quiet. He doesn’t like to try new stuff, he’s just so boring.”
“He’s perfect then.” Her eyes widened in shock “Don’t look at me like that. You let me choose. Anyways, you can use your charm to break him in.”
Her face turned serious “Aren’t you afraid that I might fall for him?”
He smiled confidently “I know you more than you. I think you just want a last fling before you settle down. Am I right?”
She smiled “You know me best.”
***********
It was close to 10pm before Keri came through the door. “Hey, you still up?” she asked her friend, who was still fixing snacks for the next day.
“Hm mm.” She mumbled. “How was your date?”
“Okay, I guess. Well, we’re gonna wake up early tomorrow, so Im gonna go to sleep early.”
“Night.” Terrie said.
She was cleaning up the mess she made when the phone rang annoyingly. “Hello?” she quickly picked up not wanting her friend to be disturbed.
“Keri?” the voice was familiar.
“No, I’ll call her.”
“No, wait! Its me Chris. I was looking for you.”
“Oh.” She said quietly “What did you need? A request for a special sandwich?”
“No no, whatever you make, I’ll eat.” He said quickly. “ I just want to talk to you a bit. You don’t mind do you?”
“Nah, I can’t sleep anyways. Its my first time going hiking so I m a little excited.” She said honestly.
“Didn’t you do anything in your life before you met us? It seems that everywhere I take you, it turns out to be your first time.”
Terrie, cleaned the last of the dishes as she wiped her hands and took a seat on the comfortable couch. “I was very sheltered when I was young. Being the only child, my parents were very overprotected and strict. I couldn’t even walk over to my neighbor’s house without their knowing.”
“Wow, that is strict. Hey, I’ve been meaning to ask you. How did you and Keri meet?”
“It’s a long story.”
“Try me, I have all the time in the world. Im use to waking up early in the morning anyways, if you don’t want to tell me, I understand.”
Terrie laughed “No, of course I don’t mind. Well, we pretty much grew up together. We’re more like sisters than just best friends. We went to school together, joined sports together and spent every weekend together. After high school we got so sick of each other that we stopped hanging out for a few months. After that time, we realized our presence in each other’s lives were very important.”
“Why did you guys get sick of each other?”
“I was just very tired of living in her shadow.” Terrie said softly, not wanting Keri to hear her. “Don’t get me wrong, I love her dearly. But during Junior high to High School, I felt like her shadow. Where ever she went, I was there. She was the popular one, the pretty one, the one that everyone wants to talk to. While me? I was known as ‘Keri’s friend’. I came to accept my fate. I wasn’t very good looking, I was quiet and odd, no one really liked me nor accepted me. I didn’t really care because I knew I wasn’t pretty or popular. You know I never told anyone this, but I have this skin disease when I was young. I’d have these blotches of white patch on my face. My mom took me to every doctor she knew, none of it helped. But I tried whatever medication she gave me cause it was so important to her to fix my face.”
“I m sure she meant well for you. But I have a feeling it scarred you for life?” he could tell by the serious tone in her voice that it wasn’t the best time of her life.
“Yeah, you could say that. After High school, I stopped the medications and suddenly the blotches disappeared. Needless to say, my mother was so happy. But apparently, my best friend wasn’t too happy.”
“Of course, you took the lime light away from you. Its only natural.” He quick observation was surprising her.
“Well, I guess she wasn’t use to all the attention that I got in college instead of her. For me, I still think my face has the blotches. People are staring at me because Im ugly.”
“But in reality, they’re staring at you because you’re so pretty.”
Terrie laughed “Thanks. You know, I usually don’t take compliments that well, maybe because most of them are just trying to hit on me. Yours sound a little more sincere.”
“Anytime you need one, I’ll be here. Anyways, its close to 1am, we have only four hours to sleep. So I’ll let you sleep now.”
“I didn’t even realize the time. Okay, see ya tomorrow. Thanks for listening.” She said earnestly.
“Thanks for telling me.” They hung up and went to sleep.
Chapter 6
The next morning the girls got a wake up call from the guys. Terrie and Keri both overslept, they bounced from their beds and ran to the bathroom at the same time. They were calling from their cell phone. The girls had 15 minutes to get ready. Terrie was done within five while Keri was still in the bathroom trying to put on her face. It was a normal routine she did every morning and she still can’t seem to cut the time shorter.
Terrie was taking the sandwiches from the fridge and placing them in a boxed cooler to keep them cool when the doorbell rang. She ran to unlock it and returned to the packing. The guys strolled in as they looked around at the apartment, they didn’t notice her scrambling to get the stuff packed.
Chris was commenting on a drawing that was framed on the wall “This is incredible, who did this? Did you buy it?” he turned and found Terrie packing the food so he rushed over to help. “Why didn’t you ask for help?”
Terrie laughed “Because I can handle it. That drawing was my high school final project for my drawing/painting class. It’s the only thing that Im really proud of.”
Chris’s eyes showed complete admiration as he smiled at her “That’s amazing. You did it in pencil huh?”
She nodded “You’re an artist too I see.”
“Just a little, I do more of comic book style drawings.” They finally finished packing. He picked up the cooler and carried it out by the door as everyone waited for Keri to come out.
“Why are you working in a bank then?” she remembered he mentioned it at that time.
“Because he’s too lazy to go back to school.” Richard chimed in “I’ve had so many talks to him about it but its useless.” He shook his head sadly.
“Well, if we have the chance, I want to see your work one day. I could critique it for you.”
He chuckled “Sure, anytime you’re free.”
“What is Keri doing in there?” Eric asked “Does she have to put on a mask or what?” he sounded irritated.
Terrie shrugged her shoulders “I’m use to it and if you guys want to hang around with us, you’ll have to get use to it too.”
“Anyways, I’m not going anywhere with my pale skin and lips.” Keri appeared by the hallway, she was glaring at Eric. She just didn’t have a very good impression of this guy.
They arrived to the mountains within 2 hours, it was a bumpy ride and not to mention tight. All five squeezed into the compact car, since it was Richard’s car he ended up driving. He had a special habit of not letting anyone drive his car, the only person he trusted was Chris. Eric sat in the front while Keri and Terrie sandwiched Chris.
When they arrived there, everyone was glad to be out of the car. They grabbed a few sandwiches from the cooler and drinks. Chris was the first to lead the way as he followed a trail taking you up the mountain. When they got deeper into the mountain, they found a tiny waterfall with a river trailing down the mountain.
Keri was snapping her camera at everything she saw, Eric was giving her strange looks “She’s a picture fanatic.” Terrie explained. She knew her friend so well, it didn’t matter where they went, she would always have a camera with her.
After an hour of hiking everyone stopped at the tip of the waterfall and set up their picnic there. They ate and soaked in the fresh air of the mountain around them. When they continued on their way, Keri had a little accident. She had tripped over a rock and sprained her ankle. “You guys go ahead, I’ll be fine.”
“I’ll stay here with you.” Eric offered.
Everyone turned to him with surprised expressions, you would have to be blind to not notice the tension between Keri and Eric. “No, don’t leave him with me, he’ll murder me.” Keri said with a touch of tease.
“Don’t worry, I don’t like doing the dirty work, I’d hire someone to do it.” He took a seat next to Keri on the rock “I’m too tired to go on.” He waved to the other three “Go on.”
“Well, be careful.” Terrie warned before she followed the other two guys up the mountain.
The day flew by quickly as everyone was tired from the hike. On the way down was a lot easier than going up. At one point Terrie was practically running down the mountain. The pebbles on the dirt made it more difficult to go fast, so eventually she fell scraping her knees on the rocks. Chris was instantly by her side. “You okay?”
She laughed at her carelessness “Yeah, just some scratches.” She looked behind her and didn’t see anyone. “Where are they?”
“Eric and Richard are helping Keri down. I saw you skipping down the trail and was going to warn you of the slippery pepples. But I guess it was too late huh?” he smiled.
“Just a little late.” She teased. She picked herself up and dusted off the dirt on her legs.
“We have to clean the bruise up or it might get infected.” Chris said as he pulled her to the side and pulled out his water bottle. He poured it carefully over her bruise and took out some tissues that he normally carried, dabbing it lightly so it wouldn’t sting her.
“Thank you.” She said sincerely.
“Hey, anything for my lil sis.” A nickname he came up with for Terrie. “Come on, lets go, they’re catching up.” He pointed to the three a few yards away.
Terrie nodded as she got up and walked down the trail more carefully. Chris didn’t dare touch her since he didn’t know how she would react to it. Instead he watched her every step.
They got home that night feeling so tired. Keri’s ankle was wrapped up as she sat on the couch “Its nice to be home.” She sighed. “Hey, I saw you two all affectionate.” Terrie didn’t answer her friend, instead she shook her head “Don’t tell me that you can’t see it? He likes you, I swear.”
Terrie smiled at her friend “Maybe as a sister, but nothing more. I don’t have any feelings for him.” She said honestly.
“How about Paul? Or Richard?” she sounded a little envious of her friend.
“Paul is too far away, I don’t want a long distance relationship. Richard, hm…he’s missing something.”
“Well, whatever it is, maybe you can ask him tomorrow.”
Terrie looked confused, she knew that Keri wanted to do a name change at the Convention Center where legal work was done. “Don’t tell me he’s coming too, I thought I was taking you?”
“Yes, you are, but he knows exactly where the place is, while you said we were going to look on the map and you still can’t figure it out. Hey, I have a deadline and I can’t be late.”
“He’s picking us up then?” Terrie asked. Her friend nodded while she watched television.
***********
The next morning Richard was at their house on time, the drive to the Convention Center was busier than normal. “What’s going on this weekend?” he asked out loud.
“It’s the last call this month for legal changes.” Keri answered, she peered ahead at the cars in front of them. “By this rate, we won’t be able to get there.”
“I know a little shortcut.” Richard said slyly as he turned at the light. He drove down a tiny alley that curved around to the parking lot of the center. He was quick to cut through the other drivers and ended up in front of the traffic that he was stuck behind earlier.
“Not bad.” Terrie commented.
He smiled proudly “I know this place from the back of my hand.” He got out of the car and showed the girls into the center. It was a huge place with rows and rows of chairs. He saw a sign on the door. “I don’t think we can go in.” he said to Terrie. The sign said people without paperwork were to stay outside the center.
“Its okay, you guys wait for me here, it should take that long.” She disappeared into the center.
“Let’s go outside before we get kicked out by that security guy.” Terrie said as she nodded towards a big man in a suit. Richard agreed as he led her outside where the a huge balcony was connected to the center.
“So, you gonna tell me why you never had a boyfriend?” he leaned on the edge of the rail.
She shrugged her shoulders “Don’t want to scare you.”
“I don’t scare easy, try me.” He said with interest.
“I don’t know, in a way I know Im just waiting for Mr. Perfect. But then there were guys that were interested in me during college. I talked to a few of them and well, I just felt we weren’t compatible.” She smiled as she remembered one incident “I remember this one guy, he seemed really nice. One of my friends set us up, we talked on the phone at first. He called me everyday for 2 weeks straight. Needless to say, I was really annoyed, maybe because he called me at the wrong time? I have no idea or maybe it was just not meant to be. Anyways, I went out with him one time. It was okay, we kept in contact and occasionally went out but then in the end, he wanted more than just friendship. He asked if he had a chance with me, so I was honest.”
“What did you say?” he seemed intrigued by her response.
“I said ‘No, not at this time. Because I only see you as a friend. I don’t know what the future will be, but if you feel that you can’t hang around and wait, well, Im not the one to tie you down.’ And then after that conversation, he disappeared. I really scared him away.” She laughed to herself.
“Not really, I mean at least you were honest. Its not your fault he couldn’t wait.” He commented. “Well, your turn. You can ask me anything you want.”
“Anything?” she raised her eyebrows.
“Yup. Shoot.” He smiled, prepared to take on her question.
“Are you still a virgin?” she wasn’t curious but she wanted to see if he would answer her.
“I knew you would ask that!” he exclaimed and then laughed “No, I lost my virginity to my first girlfriend in high school at age 16.”
“Wow. That early huh?”
“Is that a bad thing?” he asked.
“Not really. I just think that everyone has their own opinions about virginity. I prefer to save myself for my husband. It’s a special thing to me. But its still your choice in the end.”
“That’s very humble of you.” He nodded “Yeah, Chris and Eric are still virgins. Chris said he wanted to wait until marriage while Eric is a little more eager to lose it, although he is still waiting for the right girl.”
“I see.” She glanced at her watch. Its been almost 2 hours “Think we should call her?”
Richard nodded as he pulled out his cell phone, dialing her number “No one’s answering.” He whispered.
“I guess she’s still not done.” Suddenly her face changed as she turned her body position. “See that guy behind me?” she whispered as Richard nodded. “He keeps staring at me.”
“He is?” he peeked to her left side and found the guy eye’s darting back and forth from Terrie to the sky. “You don’t like people staring at you huh?” Terrie shook her head shyly. “I’ll take care of it.”
She watched in amazement as Richard walked over to the guy, Terrie quickly followed close behind afraid that he might do something crazy. “You have a problem with her?” he asked the guy with an attitude.
“No, what’s it to you?” He replied with the same attitude.
“You wanna tell me what it is?” Richard asked with a little more force.
“Can’t I stare at her? She’s not yours.” He snickered.
“No, but she is my Dai Lou’s girl.” He pulled out his cell phone and dialed a number “Dai Lou, yeah, there’s a punk that’s staring at your girl. What? Finish him? Okay, send over some backup.” He hung up the phone and pointed it at the obviously frightened guy “If you have balls, you won’t go anywhere.”
“Hey, I don’t want any trouble. Sorry.” He quickly rushed into the center and disappeared.
Terrie laughed “That was great! I can’t believe you just did that!”
He shrugged his shoulders “Those little punks are just immature, I can take care of them easily.”
“Thank you.” She said sincerely.
Suddenly his cell phone rang, “Hello? Keri? You’re done? Okay, we’re coming.” He hung up “Lets go.”
The grin was still fresh on her face as she followed him inside of the Center. He was such a character.
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