Heated Abscondment

Chapter Eight

5 years before

The girls clinked their beers together as they stood around their kitchen island.

This island has been at the center of these young women’s lives the last 2 and some years.

They’ve sat around and cooked together, gossiped together, and had 'end of projects and tests' drinks. They’ve sat at the island doing homework and papers.

They’ve cried and rejoiced at this counter.

Now, they rejoice.

It was graduation.

They’ve all finished their bachelor’s and were having a private celebratory drink together before they get ready for their ceremonies.

They got a large sheet cake together and a basic party spread. They just wanted close family and friends to drop by if they felt like it.

For a house of 6 women graduating, there were 5 sets of parents. But 5 sets of parents all came to the house and graduation for 2. Their own daughter and the girl their daughter had befriended. So, Ada felt lucky to have 5 sets of parents lay claim to her. Her heart was full of love, but it still wasn’t cured of feeling pangs at random times. Like when she feels left out whenever family pictures are taken, or when she achieves a massive accomplishment, she doesn’t have that one support pillar to call and rejoice with.

Ada mentally shook her depressive fog off and downed her drink.

Today was going to be a great day.

It was a special day for all of them.

And she wasn’t going to be the one to ruin it.

She smiled as she looked around the island and her friends circled around it. Right now there was an ongoing debate about whether to bust out the cake prematurely to go along with their late morning beers.

She reveled in their hope and happiness. She tried to do right by her friends and help them get a leg up in their start in adulthood. Ada had successfully invested a lot of her lottery winnings. She had a substantial income that she was receiving from the interest alone that she earned off the investments. She paid the monthly rent for the whole house for their group, then everyone split utility and groceries. When they went out as a group, Ada usually picked up the tab.

Her friends were respectful and never tried to take advantage. They also all kept it quiet about Ada’s wealth. No one wanted Ada’s adoptive family sniffing around for handouts when they had been successfully shaken off at her junior college. They also didn’t want anyone with the wrong intentions pursuing Ada. Ada’s knights in shining armor were these very women in front of her. They helped scare away anyone who had no integrity. So thanks to them, her experience in boyfriends was without mishap and drama.

She hoped she did enough for them. She didn’t want to do too much and drain her accounts, she also didn’t want to end up crippling her friends for real life by coddling them. It looked like she did it perfectly, but time will tell. They didn’t have to spend more time than their friends working to cover rent, which meant more time was spent hitting the books.

Which everyone did, especially Rachael and Abigail. They were going on to grad school. They were able to save money which they will be able to use for living expenses when they need to concentrate on their projects. Ada is paying the rent for a smaller house with two guest rooms for the pair, on the condition they all have a place to crash when they visit.

Astrid got her degree in graphic design. She had an opportunity dangled in front of her, she hooked her claws into it and never let go. She started interning at an office for a well known magazine. The internship was highly competitive to get and only had a meager amount of pay. But she was able to work there because of Ada’s help. Astrid repeatedly interned there, got some part time jobs, and even full time during the summer. She was offered her dream job on the condition that she graduated with graphic design. Astrid was all too happy to agree to those terms.

Marissa, “Mari” and Lisa got their degrees in marketing. They had jobs lined up also, they joked that they aren’t hitting it big right away like Astrid, but they’ll be able to live within their means and get a head start on their loans because they were able to save money during college.

Ada wasn’t too sure what she wanted.

She was at home in college with her best friends and diving deep into her projects for her accounting degree. She had an affinity to numbers and her friends teased her, calling her a prodigy.

But now that she’s getting her degree, she’s not entirely sure what she wants that will be fulfilling.

She’s picked up a basic entry level accounting position at a local company. She'll continue living with Rachael and Abigail while she stays local. But she feels she won't stay. She figured she’d get real life experience under her belt while she ponders what’s in her heart and how to pursue it.

A second beer was plopped in front of Ada. Her eyes snapped up to her friends. They all smiled, used to her momentary lapses into her own head.

“We’re making a toast!” Mari exclaimed.

“You guys, I still have to drive.” Ada protested.

“No, you’re not. We’re ubering or walking.” Lisa said.

“No way in hell are we going anywhere near that parking mess today.” Rachael said.

Ada smiled and picked up the second beer.

“Okay, who are we toasting?”

“You.”

Ada gaped at them.

“Because of your help, we were able to pursue exactly what we wanted, we were able to study and keep our grades up.”

“We were able to actually save money during college instead of being broke.”

“And we are extremely touched that we have you in our lives. That a beautiful soul like you trusts us and has us as your best friends.” Mari finished.

“To Ada.” They quietly said in unison.

“You guys!” Ada said, sniffing as tears escaped her eyes. Her friends giggled and crowded her into one big group hug.