ANDY MILES

BOSTON

"I can't believe you spent that long on a shower. You never do that. What were you doing?"

Andy raised her eyes, just a little away from the plate of bacon that was placed in front of her. The moments in the bathroom got her once again. She shifted, just a little bit on the stool, her core was aching again.

"I was taking my bath Mia, what else would I be doing?"

Mia shrugged, a teasing look threatening to cloud her face.

"Maybe, imprinting the last details of the stranger's touch on your body"

Andy paused, she wasn't far from the truth. Suddenly, Mia gasped, dropping the frying fork down in the pan, she turned off the gas and sat at a stool close to Andy

"Please tell me you got to know his name"

Andy narrowed her eyes. The only conversation she could remember having with him was

'hey beautiful' and probably her reply. hearing those words repeat once again in her memory, made her feel special. She felt beautiful, truly.

"You are smiling Andy" Mia said.

Mia knew she was off, this minute she was with you and the other, she was lost. Maybe, the other night had her feeling bad but that smile certainly wasn't ordinary. Maybe, she wasn't regretful after all.

Meanwhile, Andy was groaning, she was embarrassed.

Is it possible to feel embarrassed in front of your best friend?....Maybe.

"I didn't get to know his name"

she replied.

Mia cleared her throat in a dramatic manner, raising an eyebrow to Andy who was trying to act all cool.

For a moment, they were pulled into silence, eating bacon eggs and Andy avoiding Mia's intruding gaze.

"Your nightstand set aside girl, your first class starts tomorrow. Hope you're ready?"

Something finally out of her lust feelings, Andy smiled. She had things to worry about than a nightstand with a man.

"I'm always ready Mia."

For the hundredth time that morning, Andy cursed under her breath. Tons of journals to deal with and so many clubs introducing and reintroducing themselves. By the time she finally got out of the damn building, it was an alleluia.

She walked down the streets,luckily there wasn't much cold in Boston today. Mia worked at a coffee shop near to the school, which was something to be glad of. So yes, they lived in two different cities. She had the apartment in Las Vegas where she grew up in and Mia had the apartment in Boston where she stays with her parents. That was another blessing, Andy counted.

Getting to the coffee shop, Andy peeped in. There weren't much people, which was totally what she needed. She went in, her back ached as she dropped the back bag she has been carrying all day to the floor and slouched on the seat. A few glances here and there from strangers couldn't matter at the moment. They maybe really didn't know what it took to spend a day at HLS as a newbie.

She stared at the counter and the baristas that stood there attending to people, she had no energy to talk to anyone, it was better off calling Mia.

"And before you think of calling me Andy Miles, I ain't with my damn phone"

Andy puffed out, her fingers folded under her jaw, she made a pout

"I'm so tired Mia. I feel like crying"

"I'm surprised you are not doing that already"

She was probably hoping to get a comeback and none was coming forth. It really was bad.

"Was it really that...bad?"

Andy nodded. Her eyes were getting watery.

Mia rubbed her neck. Sometimes, she really didn't know what to do with Andy.

"uhmmmmm...ohkay....Andy, you...okay..it's your dreams baby girl and..."

She hit a hand on the coffee table and shook her head

"I will get you coffee instead, it will do the talking"

Andy laughed, a witty one. She rubbed her palms off her eyes in an attempt to dry her blurred eyes. Mia was never made for over charged emotions. It always had her short of words and running. She didn't know why she always found herself crying. It really was pathetic.

"The smell of coffee is like therapy to the soul"

Andy said, her head bent over the cup in a strong inhale.

Mia rolled her eyes and scoffed. One minute she was emotional and the other minute, she was saying what ever made sense to her. From her peripherals, Andy watched Mia. She was frowning or at least making an attempt to. Andy smiled as she took a sip of the coffee and hummed.

"This taste just perfect Mia"

"I'm sure it does"

They sat in silence, the coffee shop was almost empty, a few persons who were involved in a discussion. Mia wasn't less surprised, it was usually like this most Monday late afternoons by evening, there certainly will be swirl of people in here once again, you could hardly tell it was empty some hours ago.

"Were they able to beat the time of the seminar?" Andy asked. She had remembered Mia's parents arguing the night before if they were going to make it to the family orientation at Hawaii or probably keep the whole idea aside. Long story cut short, Mia got their ass moving this morning.

Mia nodded. She was staring at a billboard of a bodyguard agency. At first, Andy thought it was the hot guy up there, his abs probably made him....hot? but then, Mia wasn't staring at that, she was staring at...nothing. Andy breathed out, the strong ones did have breakdowns.

"Hey" Andy said. She covered her hand with hers.

Mia looked away, it dawned on her she might have gone off again but this time in front of the wrong person.

"It's hard right?, to manage everyone and everything?"

The first instinct was to deny that but it won't be bad to let your guard down for just once.

She nodded looking at everywhere else that didn't show Andy's face.

Andy topped her other hand

"I'm really sorry Mia. I'm sure things will get better. When I get my wits together in school, I will find a job as soon as possible here in the city and support you and I haven't found someone to rent out the apartment to in Vegas but as soon as that happens, I will give you half the payment for the house. Thanks for allowing me stay with you Mia"

Mia wanted to cry