Everyday seemed to blend together.
After Kellie invited me to stay with her, I became a lot more involved on campus. Pierce and I joined a few clubs that ran at the same times. It allowed us to still carpool. But other times, I would have to drive in Daisy to get to school. It's not that I hate Daisy, I actually love my car. But after being in Pierce's car for a long time, Daisy started to really annoy me. Between her odd smells and noises, I was scared she was going to break down.
Kellie and I became friends pretty quickly. She seemed to be lacking in friends as much as I was. She told me that typically, sophomores already live off campus. But she couldn't afford to so she's still staying at the dorms. It created a huge gap between her friends from last year. The only one that stuck around was Jackson. Even though I live off campus too, I tried making it priority to be with Kellie. I was thankful to have her around and I could tell she was really touched with me trying to hang out with her.
I also situated myself great with Victoria at the hair salon. She said she would teach me Spanish but I had this odd sense that I was learning a lot more slang than actual terms. I'd come home and ask Pierce what certain words would mean and he would simply laugh at me. Victoria and I were somewhat opposites. She was loud and Latin. I'm quiet and white. But we fit fine and it was interesting watching her go on her Spanish rants.
School was becoming more interesting. I was finally taking classes that had to do with my profession. Freshman year seemed like a repeat of my senior year in high school, so it was a complete bummer. Now, I was signing up for a project that would be monitored by my architecture professor. The best thing about being in a dying field is that the classes tended to be smaller. I was interacting a lot with my classmates and professors. Most of them already knew me by my first name. It was never like that in Michigan.
With my architecture classes I would sometimes stay late to study with classmates. Some of them were as passionate as me, people who truly want to do architecture. The rest were simply minoring because their major is engineering and they thought it would get them farther. Other times, I stayed at the library waiting for Pierce to get out of his own study sessions. And if I had time, I would hang out with Kellie and Jackson. They were really entertaining and it was refreshing talking to people that have totally different classes than myself.
Basically, I felt like I could finally call Miami home. After the first rough couple of weeks where my mom would still call to see if I was truly staying in Miami, it became routine. I can't even imagine living anywhere else. A small part of me was still thinking of my friends up north. What they're doing and what traditions they would be completing now. Then I would look around my campus and realize I wouldn't want to be back in Michigan. No way.
Sure, my best friends and acquaintances from high school would text me every few days to see how I was doing. My best friend—who was also my roommate last year—really missed me and a small part of me missed her too. But the best part of moving to Miami was my ability to start over. I needed a reset button in my life and this was it. I just wished I had pushed it a year or two ago.
"Are you doing alright?" Mom asked over the phone.
I was headed towards my car because I had work today. I didn't have any classes and I didn't have a chance to tell Pierce. He was out the door before I could say anything. "Yeah I'm doing great," I answered my mom as I took my car keys out of my pocket. "Hey, could you ask dad to transfer a few bucks into my account?"
Mom sighed. I tried hard not to depend on them, but that didn't stop the fact that a few couple dollars into my bank account wouldn't hurt. "Yes honey," She said. "I'll tell him when he comes home."
"Great." I got into my car and turned it on letting the air conditioning blast for a few seconds to cool it. "Tell the boys I say hi."
"They really miss you!" Mom pushed on. She knew I was about to hang up and whenever she started feeling sad she would try and keep me on the phone longer.
I smirked, "I sincerely doubt they do."
Having three older brothers meant constant torment. All they ever did was pick on me when I was little. Sure, we got along, but we also didn't. The good thing about being the only girl in the family meant that my mom and dad would typically side with me during an argument. Especially if it involved my brothers doing something to me. The downside to it, is that the three of them would gang up on me. I will never forget the constant yelling matches we would have. Followed my wrestling over the remote control or whoever gets the last Poptart.
I love my brothers. And I do miss them. But being back home where they would give me noogies and poke fun at everything feminine I would do, nope. I'd rather stay in Miami where I don't have to worry about their commentary.
"They miss their baby sister," Mom cooed.
"Aw," I played along in the same baby tone my mother was using. "Well you can tell them to grow a pair of balls or mine will accommodate for theirs."
"I'm not repeating that." Mom grumbled.
I laughed just picturing my brothers reactions to my comment. "I got to go. I have work."
"Be careful!"
"I'll remember that next time I'm at a party and people are snorting cocaine that they got from Scarface. Then Miami Vice is going to barge in and you'll have to bail me out of jail."
"That's not remotely funny."
"Bye Mom." I grinned and hung up the phone. I loved playing with her emotions like that. She probably thought I was changing and I didn't blame her. She just wanted me home. What she didn't know however, was how much I'm enjoying my life here. She used to have me on a leash during high school. In college, all she did was extend it. But I was the one that ran off. I finally cut that stupid leash and now I'm like Scarlett O'Hara, gone with the freaking wind.
By the time I arrived at work I could already see the gray clouds forming outside. I had checked the forecast, it had said it would rain a lot tonight but I was hoping it would start later. I walked outside feeling the humidity the rain was bringing in. The best thing about Florida rain compared to Michigan rain is that it's not cold. In Michigan, if it rained you'd freeze. Here, it was like taking a dive in a pool. The difference is, when it rains here it rains hard. No exceptions.
"Hola amiga," Victoria greeted me when I walked in through the back.
I smiled, "Hola Victoria."
"See?" She grinned. "You're getting better."
"Better for a gringa," Isabella added. She walked by me to grab a few dyes and gave me a small smile. Isabella and I were getting along a lot better. After I became one of Victoria's friends, she started treating me like extended family.
I wasn't working very often, but when I was it was always fun. The ladies here started out by making fun of my accent when I would attempt to speak Spanish. But then I started to bond with them over their kids. They're all either in college or graduated. For some reason I loved being surrounded by my Latina co-workers. They're all very charismatic and understanding about paying for college which I think is why I got the job. That and because Victoria convinced her mom.
After getting to know the ladies in the salon, I realized they all vigorously worked to make the lives of their children better. "I got a Visa," one of them told me once. "I came here from Cuba. Mi hijo was born here and I want to make sure he has better life than the one of his Mamá."
"Mhmm," A lot of the other ladies nodded. One spoke up and told me she came over with her husband who was a citizen. They don't have a lot of money and her husband was recently admitted to the hospital. She's working two different jobs to pay the bills and try and save as much money for her daughter who's in high school.
I couldn't help but smile at all of their stories. I was born in a home that taught me I had to fight for everything. My brothers weren't easy on me growing up, so I had to form a backbone against them. Once I turned sixteen, I went and got my own application to work at a nearby ice cream parlor. The truth is, I never liked having to depend on someone else. And all these ladies work hard to make their lives and their children's lives the best thing possible.
Sure, I don't make a lot working at a hair salon. But I still make something. Which is completely better than nothing. And having a job taught me to look at everything in a different perspective. I guess that's why I'm so shocked whenever I get into Pierce's car. How could someone have that much money?
"I work because I need to help this bruja pay the bills." Victoria said in a joking manner as she pointed at her mom.
"This bruja is the reason you're here chica." Isabelle said pursing her lips. "Mejor me respetas, eh?"
"Si Mamá," Victoria rolled her eyes when her mother wasn't looking. I couldn't help but smile. She never admits how much she loves and respects her mother but I know that she does. She knows how much her mother works. She just loves teasing about it. Just how I tease my mother.
I sat up in the front of the salon, helping anyone that would walk in or call. Sometimes they would speak Spanish and no English which was when I would ask Victoria to help me. Victoria doesn't do much in the salon either. She helps to entertain the elderly and sometimes do easy work like wash someone's hair. Other than that, she would clean up after one of the ladies finished. Or on occasion, do someone's make-up.
When no one was around in the front she would join me and start teaching me certain words in Spanish. "Esto es imposible," She muttered after a few minutes of me butchering several words.
"That means this is impossible." I said mentally high-fiving myself. "At least I know something."
She laughed, "You're a lost cause Parker."
"I disagree," I said putting my hand to my heart. "I just need practice."
"You need more than practice mi hija." Isabella said from the back. She was brushing through someone's hair and started shaking her head. Even the client was nodding in agreement.
"Doesn't your novio help you?" Victoria asked. She was sitting in the chair beside me, spinning around.
"I don't have a boyfriend." I said.
"A gringa without a novio?" One of the hairdressers said laughing. "Mi hija you have pretty face. Not great hair. But pretty face. What you mean you no boyfriend?"
I instinctively but my hand to hair, "What's wrong with my hair?"
"Too...How do you say?" She waved her hand around looking at my other co-workers in search for a word. "Boring."
Victoria gave me a sad nod in agreement. "The most energetic I've seen your hair is when it's puffed out because of the humidity."
I never thought there was anything wrong with my hair. It used to be a darker brown but now that I'm always out in the sun it's gotten a bit lighter. In Michigan I used to get it highlighted but when I moved here, I didn't feel the need. Especially because getting my hair done here is twice as expensive as it was in Michigan.
"One day I'll do your hair," Victoria said smiling. "After I get the right amount of practice so I don't accidentally make your hair purple or something."
The women explained to me that there isn't anything wrong with my hair. There's just nothing going on with it either. I never thought of it as plain but then I realized that everyone in the salon always has something going on with their hair. So I might just be putting myself in a pool of high expectations.
After everyone with a reservation had come to get their hair done, we all started cleaning up and slowly leaving the shop. I was one of the last people to leave. I would always help Victoria and Isabella close the shop. Victoria would blast the Latino music while cleaning up. It made it worth staying and helping if it meant Victoria and I could play around while sweeping.
"You good to go chica?" Isabella asked as we huddled at the backdoor. We could hear the rain outside coming down hard.
"Yeah, I'm good." I answered while I put up the hood of my jacket. Then the three of us stepped into the rain. Isabella locked the door behind us and put up the hood of her raincoat. They shouted their goodbyes and I returned them.
Victoria and her mother headed together in the same direction while I went towards my car. It was already dark which meant the only places that were really open where the bars across the street. The small strip where the salon is located is next to a few clothing stores but they were all closed. The rain was coming down hard. Harder than I expected. It wasn't a real quick rain that would typically happen at two o'clock in the day. This was a huge cloud that was blanketing over Miami.
I got into my car shaking off any of the extra water I had on me. I just wanted to leave this alley as fast as possible. Alley's always gave me the creeps and this one wasn't any better. The only thing back here was a giant dumpster and a few cats that like to go through it.
I twisted the keys into the ignition of my car but instead of turning on it gave a few little rumbling sounds. "Come on," I said out loud. I twisted the keys again and my heart sank. "Come on Daisy."
I gave it a few more turns before realizing it wasn't going to start. I started thinking of everything I could do. I could call Victoria. But I'm sure she and her mother live on the opposite side of town which would mean them having to take an excursion. The last thing I needed was for my boss and new friend to start driving me home.
I could call my dad and he could tell me how to start my car if there's anyway to. But it's dark and raining. So I know for a fact it would probably take even longer than if he were standing right next to me. I could call a tow truck. But the idea of having to spend money wasn't appealing.
I sighed and pulled out my phone dialing Pierce's number. It took a few rings but he finally picked up. "Hey," I said.
"What's up Parker?" He sounded somewhat rushed. He wasn't really talking, more like whispering loudly.
"My car won't start," I suddenly felt absurd. Pierce was probably doing something right now. I might have interrupted him being in class.
"Are you in a safe neighborhood?" He sounded concerned but I still hinted at the rushed tone.
"I'm in an alley. Behind work." I started to fumble with my words, "Hey don't worry about it. I'll call an Uber to pick me up."
"No no wait," Pierce said. He paused for a second and I could hear talking behind me. I was wondering where he was but didn't ask. Someone in the background called for him. Calling him Mr. Mosdenea. I was somewhat surprised but still didn't say anything.
"Pierce it's ok," I said. "Don't worry. You're doing something. I'll get an Uber."
"No it's cool." He replied. "I'll be there in ten minutes. Don't go anywhere."
I didn't feel any strength to argue. The selfish part of me was very thankful. I sighed and quietly answered, "Thanks Pierce. You're the best."
I imagined him smirking as he said, "I know."
"I'll make it up to you, I promise."
With that we hung up. I hope I hadn't interrupted anything important. I sat in my car a few minutes before stepping outside. Maybe there was something I could see under the hood that could show me what's wrong. I'm not a car expert, but I've been watching my brothers take care of Daisy basically my whole life. And James, my youngest brother, is majoring in engineering.
I popped the hood of my car open and held it up. Oh look, I thought to myself, Wires. And more wires.
I could name a few parts of the car. But the rest looked like junk. It looked like someone compiled objects and then rearranged them to fit like a Tetris puzzle. When I started feeling the water soaking through my hoodie I went back to the door of my car. I tried opening it and I realized it was locked.
"Dammit," I muttered looking through the window. Right in the ignition was my keys. I slammed my hand on the window of my car realizing I locked myself out. Luckily, I wasn't stupid enough to leave my phone inside.
I looked around to see if there was anywhere I could stand under to shield myself from the rain. The night was humid and warm but the idea of soaking myself in rain water wasn't that appealing either. There wasn't anywhere I could stand under. I could walk through the alley, around the buildings, through the parking lot, and over the road that separated the salon from the bars.
Then my mind started to think about a million ways I could die in that process.
So I waited. I waited by my car in the pouring rain like an idiot. The thing about Florida rain is that within a few minutes, every part of your clothes and body is soaked. My hair looked like I had just walked out of the shower. I might as well have taken a dip in a pool.
When I finally saw headlights turn into the alley, I had a small heart attack. Then I realized the headlights belonged to Pierce's BMW. He stopped in front of me and I ran over to the passenger door.
"Thank Cheesus," I said once I was inside and buckled my seat belt. "I owe you one Pierce."
When I looked to my side in the driver's seat instead of Pierce was Aaron. A part of me was completely stunned. He had an eyebrow raised at me but the look on his face was more of concern.
"Are you ok Birdie?" He asked.
For a few seconds I didn't say anything. I was too caught up with the idea that Aaron was in the car with me. I think the last time he and I were this close was when he was sitting across from me in the booth at Denny's. I had to overcome the fact he was talking to me because his voice sounded like it always did. Thick like syrup. Only this time, he was actually worried.
His eyebrows were scrunched up and he was looking at me like I had just injured myself. "I'm f-fine." I stuttered suddenly aware that the AC in the car was giving me chills. My jacket was completely drenched. It seriously looked like I took a swan dive in the ocean.
Aaron immediately turned off the AC. He switched it for the heater and directed it all on me. Then he went as far as taking his iconic leather bomber jacket off and placing it over my shoulders.
A part of me was in complete shock that I was wearing Aaron's jacket. It was heavy, heavier than I would have thought. But it was really comfortable. And really warm. I wasn't sure if it was meant to be warm or if Aaron had been wearing it so long that it was still warm from him. Taking his jacket off left him in a tight fitting black t-shirt.
"Thank you," I said hesitantly. "Where's Pierce?"
Aaron kept eye-contact with me for a few more seconds and I found myself drowning in his eyes. He finally nodded and started backing out of the alley. "He was meeting up with someone. He called me to come and get you. I had just arrived home."
"Oh..." I said quietly.
When we were finally on the road he asked, "So what happened?"
"I think Daisy died."
"Daisy?"
"My car."
Aaron nodded looking at me from the corner of his eye. "I can take a look at her tomorrow if you want. While you're at class."
I furrowed my eyebrows. "Really? You know about cars?"
"What?" He asked somewhat amused. I trained my eyes on him, waiting for a smile that didn't come. "Just because I drive a motorcycle doesn't mean I don't know anything about cars. Who do you think helped Pierce choose this one?"
I hadn't thought of it until now. Pierce told me that he and Aaron have always been together. That there weren't any parents involved in their lives. Maybe it was Aaron that was the one with everything. I had always assumed both Aaron and Pierce leeched off of their parents, but if parents aren't in the picture then what even is the picture?
After a few seconds of silence I asked, "What kind of motorcycle do you have?"
"2017 Yamaha Fz-10." He answered swiftly. "I try to update it every year."
I had absolutely no idea what any of that meant but I was glad to put a name to the infamous motorcycle he drives. Whenever I'm in the parking lot I can't help but stare at his parking space. Mainly because his ride is pretty badass. "Why a motorcycle instead of a car?"
Aaron looked at me for a second before turning his attention back on the road. I hadn't realized he was tense until he relaxed against the seat. I guess he was feeling somewhat weird about picking me up too. Except, I didn't feel any awkwardness between us. Just a lot of questions because we seem to know so little about each other.
"A car is so much more confining than a motorcycle." He answered. His voice dropped lower than usual like he was about to take a nap. I guess it came with being relaxed.
"But they're really dangerous." I remembered everything my parents ever told me about motorcycles. I remember my brothers asking for some when they were younger because they thought they were cool. My dad told us that if any of us ever got a motorcycle, he would disown us.
"So are cars," Aaron retorted. "What's life without a little danger?"
"One where I don't die."
He smiled.
Aaron actually smiled. My heart did a somersault. Mainly because I had never seen him smile. He looked so content and at peace that for a second I didn't believe it was Aaron. I thought Pierce had a great smile, but Aaron's seemed even better because it was like undergoing several trials until reaching a treasure. It only lasted for a second, but it was there.
"Well Birdie," He said. "Motorcycles for me mean freedom. They're fast. No walls around you to protect you. Nothing to keep you in. And the fact that I can cheat my way around say, a really congested interstate? I'll take that option any day."
I thought about it for a second, "I think I would die the first time I'd be on one."
"It's the same feeling as driving a car and riding a bicycle. Once you get the hang of it, it comes naturally." Aaron placed his arm on the window of the car keeping one hand on the steering wheel. He wasn't playing any music like Pierce usually does, which meant we were left to the sound of the water droplets outside.
"Did you say 'cheesus' when you got in the car?" Aaron had a confused expression on his face but kept his eyes on the road. He seemed to finally recall my vocabulary.
I smiled, "Yeah. Why?"
"That's what I was going to ask you."
"My friends never let me say 'Jesus,'" I answered his question. It wasn't the first time someone was asking me about my choice in words. I just kept thinking it was really funny. "So to substitute, I started saying 'Cheesus.' It works out great. Almost as good as 'your pants.'"
Aaron didn't question me this time, he just kept his eyes on the road, occasionally looking in my direction. I was looking out the window when I asked, "So if you could go to any place in the world where would you go?"
"Colorado." He answered quickly. "Or Alaska."
"Why?" I was suddenly interested. If someone had asked me that question, I wouldn't even be able to choose somewhere. I'd settle anywhere with an amazing beach that I could see my feet through the water. Even though I live in Miami, the water here isn't the same. It's amazing, but not deep-blue-I-can-see-my-feet same. The more south we head down Florida, the clearer the water. But there's still a lot of seaweed and murky water.
"I've heard that's the best place to see stars." For some reason, even though his voice didn't seem to change tone, it sure did seem to sound quieter. I wasn't sure how tone and pitch work, but Aaron somehow managed to warp the rules.
"Pierce told me you want to be an architect," Aaron added. I expected to suddenly hear about how it's a dying field. Instead he asked, "Is that why you're always studying? For architecture?"
I couldn't help but smile. Have you ever been so passionate about something that the very thought brings out this light in you that you never knew was there? Aaron seemed to notice how I lit up because he instantly raised an eyebrow. I didn't feel cold anymore and my body turned in his direction as I started telling him about why I love it so much.
"I was always good with my hands," I said. "Ever since I was little building things with legos and blocks was fun. But then I started drawing. And in high school I took a small intro class to architecture and I loved it. You should have seen me in my history classes. I could name everything from Renaissance to Asian Temples."
Aaron gave another split second smile and for some reason that had me more intrigued than anything else, "So why study all time? Sounds like you're set."
I sighed rolling my eyes, "Because architecture is dying. People don't want people anymore and it's a disappointment. I guess having a studio and drawing on big boards and having blueprints is old school. Which is dumb."
"Very," Aaron smirked. I wasn't sure if he was mocking me but if he was, it didn't intentional.
I started ranting about architecture and my favorite styles. Aaron didn't stop me the whole way back home. If he got annoyed I didn't notice and he didn't tell me. He listened intently and occasionally give a facial expression.
When we finally parked in the building, I realized I had drenched Pierce's passenger seat in water, but Aaron told me it'd be ok. The moment Aaron turned the car off and the heat wasn't being blasted towards me, I had to wrap his jacket around me tighter because of the string of chills that crawled down my back.
"I think you've got your heart set," Aaron added as he got out of the car. He came around and opened the door for me before putting his hands in his pockets. "Follow it."
I sat there in shock for a moment. Mainly for three reasons:
One, no one has ever supported my idea of being an architect. My family and friends all tried getting me out of my career choice. But in the upcoming spring, I was going to declare it as my major. Another reason I escaped my home was to get away from the constant negativity that was throw in my direction. I wasn't looking at the architectural field as dying, but a field that was lacking because people have a misconception of believing what they read online.
People are talking about how architecture is old-fashioned. That drawing on paper and having physical blue prints instead of a flash drive is something from the past. But I grew up with brother's that obsessed over the past. If there's anything I learned it's that the older something gets the more valuable it becomes. Maybe in twenty years people will realize that architects can never be replaced by machines and programs.
Two, out of all the people in this world to support me, it just happened to be Aaron Mosdenea. I can't even recall the last time we had a conversation, but here I was accepting the hand of my ghost roommate that seemed to disappear to unknown places all the time. Even Pierce questioned my choices, not Aaron though. Aaron seemed to be supporting me.
Three, Aaron was a gentleman. I had this image of him being a distant and heartless soul that seemed to run around my apartment and occasionally eat my leftovers because he thought they belonged to his brother. But behind his devastating eyes, he was an absolute gentleman. I didn't even realize the word 'gentle' could be part of Aaron's characterization, but here I was pleasantly surprised.
"Thank you," I said when I took his hand. I was still completely drenched in rain water. The moment I was going to step foot in the apartment I was automatically going to head to the bathroom for a hot shower.
Aaron looked at me with his melancholy eyes. He gave me another heart wrenching smile—only this one lasted longer than a second. "You're very welcome Birdie."
My heart started beating in my chest and my palms felt sweaty even though I was cold. I knew exactly what I was feeling, and I knew it wasn't going to go away. I could have melted into a puddle then and there but I managed to walk myself up to our apartment.
Aaron Mosdenea was more than meets the eye.
*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*
Well...I thinking about adding songs to the beginning of each chapter. Maybe not each chapter, but like every other. They'd all be Coldplay though because that's Parker's favorite artist. Thoughts?
And what do you think? I love hearing feedback don't be shy.
Guys, I'm so happy this book is shooting up so fast in the rating. I didn't think it would even be read to be honest. Keep the votes coming, it's making me smile so much.
Vote
Comment
Share
Thanks