This Spinning Mess
1863 Words
KIARA FALLS
~~
By the time I left Professor Benson’s office, I was literally a new being.
“God can she talk down on others…” I thought to myself just as I closed the door of her office behind me.
Although a huge part of me appreciated the lecture and corrections from a senior colleague who was good at her job, I still believe she could have done that without being mean and reducing me to nothing but a disciplined professor who couldn't control and manage her class.
I could have sworn she yearned to use the word “childish” but she didn't. She controlled herself better than I did with Jack Miller.
I was ashamed of myself, to be honest.
Thankfully, my phone chimed with a message at that minute, saving me from beating myself even more than Professor Benson had done. I moved to the side of the large corridor, took out my phone, and smiled as I read the text from Cherry.
“Let’s meet at the new Chinese restaurant close to your university. See you in a few minutes, Ara.”
I could just tell she chose the Chinese restaurant because she was hoping I would invite Joel to the lunch date we were about to have. Joel loved Chinese dishes and Cherry knew that, of course. However, she wouldn't be seeing Joel there today.
Rather than type that to Cherry, I simply typed and sent, “Alright, Cher. See you soon.”
Cherry unknowingly helped me get into a better mood as I returned to my office. Since it was supposed to be a temporary office, I haven't taken much time to survey the area and even decorate. I will be moved to a new office when I make it past the probation phase.
Without wasting time, I left the building and headed for the parking lot. I sneaked past the bodies of students, trying to avoid their judgy eyes because of the state of my car.
“As much as I love you, I am changing you as soon as I can,” I said to my car after I settled behind the wheel.
Suddenly, I recalled all the benefits Steve mentioned earlier this morning, especially the part where he mentioned a car. How I wished it was that easy to pack my bags and move into the mansion just because I needed to upgrade my car.
In fact, the meeting with Professor Benson had only supported the motion “Stay the hell away from Jack Miller, Kiara Falls”.
I sighed and again, I pushed my worries out of my mind, hoping that I would be able to hold myself together till I saw Cherry and asked for her advice. I looked forward to speaking to my best friend but when I arrived at the restaurant and spotted Cherry sitting in an isolated corner, I realized it wouldn't be easy to speak to Cherry about Jack.
Not as easy as I initially thought it would be.
“Oh, my precious smart Friend. The most beautiful professor in the history of professors….” Cherry started hyping me the minute she set her eyes on me.
She made me feel on top of the world even though I have had a shitty day.
I slumped onto the soft leather couch opposite Cherry before saying, “Hello, Cherry. You are as beautiful as always. I feel like a mosquito before you. An ugly mosquito, to be precise.”
Despite being called beautiful by her, I still couldn’t sum up her beauty. Maybe I wasn't confident, or I just had a high regard for my friend. Maybe.
“Don’t be a mood killer, Ara.” Cherry chimed, rising from her seat to pull me into a bone-crushing hug.
I chuckled as I hugged her back, inhaling her expensive perfume as well.
“You’re no ugly mosquito, just so you know,” Cherry announced as she returned to her seat with a bright smile on her pretty oval face. “In fact, you are no mosquito at all.”
I tilted my head and gave Cherry a “be f*****g for the real look”.
Cherry rolled her eyes but agreed with me. “Okay, you do look like you have been dragged through hell today, but trust me, you killed that look. You are still breathtaking.”
“Thank you. I guess.” I etched in response, sighing as I stared at the menu while I thought about how best to present my worries to Cherry and where I should begin from. My eyes shifted from the menu to Cherry and I noticed that she was staring at the door with expectation buried in her eyes. I scoffed and spelled out to her, “He isn’t coming, Cherry. Don’t even bother–”
“Who? What are you on about now, Ara?” Cherry quickly acted like she wasn’t looking at the door in anticipation of Joel’s arrival.
I rolled my eyes, “I didn't invite him, Cherry, and I know you chose the restaurant as an indirect way of telling me ‘it’s okay to bring Joel along, Ara. I’m dying to see him.”
Cherry signed defeatedly, pouting like a toddler, “Then you should have invited him. I really wanted to see him.”
“When are you planning to admit to his face that you like him? The guy would take down the world for you but–”
“It’s not that simple, Ara,” Cherry replied, letting out another sigh.
I gave her a pointed look, “It is very simple, Cherry. You just don’t want–”
“Enough about me and my drowning love life, Kiara.” Cherry turned the conversation around as she asked, “What did you want to talk about?”
It was my turn to stammer and be evasive, which caused Cherry to frown. “What are you not telling me, Kiara Falls?”
To avoid her dramatic side, I blurted out, “My mom is getting married.”
If Cherry was surprised, she didn't act like it. Instead, Cherry asked, “You mean she is getting remarried? Again?”
I laughed, forgetting my fears for a minute, “She was never married, Cher. This is her first wedding.” as I said those words, I smiled, amazed about the fact that my mom had never gotten married to anyone… ever.
Until now.
“Are you kidding me?” Cherry’s jaw dropped, finally surprised.
“I wish I was,” I answered. “My mom is getting married to Steve Miller, and he so happens to–”
“The Steve Miller? The same one?” Cherry exclaimed loudly.
“Yup. The same one.” I confirmed this with my stoned friend. I quickly added, “Before you yell, Steve Miller happens to have a son who I met earlier in my class yesterday and I had to face him again at dinner last night and==”
“Calm down, Kiara.” Cherry held my hand as I breathed harshly, becoming overwhelmed by my emotions.
Like the universe was punishing me for dreaming big, the weight of my worries chose that second to crash into me and I found myself sobbing silently. Cherry consoled me without saying a word, but when I pulled myself together, Cherry etched, “Don’t tell me you are moody because your mom is getting married to a famous scientist who has a son that is your student. I would have thought you would be the happiest.”
I nodded, sniffing as well, before saying, “Dave has been acting weird, Cher. My mom’s new son is a jerk. Steve wants me to move into their mansion, but his son kinda saw me naked.”
Cherry’s eyes popped so wide, but she gave me the chance to narrate everything to her. I let all the cats out of the bag eventually, and I anticipated Cherry’s words as she stared at me like I had just fed her with chemicals.
“Dave is a bastard and I will only say this once, DUMP HIM. If he is threatened by you, trash him.” Cherry started from there, glaring at me as I tried to defend Dave even though I knew she was probably right.
She continued by moving straight to Jack’s case, “If I’m you, girl, I am moving into the damn mansion just to torment the rascal and make him understand that you are more than he can handle.”
Cherry left no room for argument. She told me I have to appear dominant to show Jack that I can handle myself in a place of authority. “You are his professor. Moves into that mansion and becomes his sister as well. If he raises hell, make the damn flame a thousand times hotter.”
I thought she was done, but Cherry's voice with an evil aura, “And kick the brat into it. You can decide to make a toast out of him but eating him would upset your stomach–”
“I’m never eating him, Cher. Stop!” I yelled. Overreacting.
Cherry didn’t miss that, but before she could make a comment, a waiter walked up to our table with a pleasant smile, “Good day, Pretty Ladies. What would you like to have?”
We placed our orders, enjoyed our meals, and left the restaurant earlier than planned because Cherry got a call from a client she had been hoping to work with.
Before she drove off in her flashy car, Cherry whispered to me, “Move into the mansion and at least get yourself a better car. I mean it, Ara. The next time I see you, you should be in a Lamborghini.”
With that said, she left, leaving me to stare into space and hate my car even more.
But Cherry has also helped me to crush some of my worries even though she didn't help me find solutions to any of my current problems.
I drove my jaded ass back to my apartment, with the intention of hitting my bed as soon as I got there, but I didn't get to enter my apartment.
Before I got to my street, I noticed the strange presence of countless police officers and onlookers. Eventually, my car was pulled over by a female officer.
“Is there a problem, ma’am?” I questioned.
“You can’t go that way, Ma’am. Please turn your car around–”
“But I live two blocks away,” I argued politely.
The police officer stared at me with an emotion similar to pity as she responded, “There has been a disaster, ma’am…”
I thought the long day was about to come to an end when I parted ways with Cherry earlier, but I realized at that moment that the day had just started.
“You and others have to vacate the building and….”
That was all I needed to hear to know that my life had spun… and I couldn't handle this spinning mess.
- Writer
