If she knew

Chapter 3.

     Azalynne is still sound asleep when Nancy walks in Brian's room. Nancy holds back the lump that's forming in the back of her throat, looks at Azalynne then walks over to the window. She pulls the curtains back to allow the morning sun to fill the room. She looks around once more at Brians room. She didn't bother cleaning his room. She didn't want to disturb anything. Still Looking around the room, she hears Azalynne starting to stir. 

"Good morning dear. I have coffee brewing." She said looking at Azalynne. 

"What time is it?" Azalynne groans while stretching. 

"It's quarter til 9" Nancy responded back, walking to the door. "Meet me down stairs when you're dressed."

"Ugghhh." Azalynne groans again while pulling herself up. She sits on the side of Brian's bed for a moment. " Morning B. Guess it's time for me to get dressed." She said out load as she got up and put her clothes on. 

She walks down the stairs, through the living room and into the kitchen. "Morning" Gary sings soon as she reached the kitchen. "Get you a cup of joe and come sit." 

Azalynne complies. 'Coffee does smell good' she thought to herself. She pours herself a cup and joins Nancy and Gary at the table. 

"How'd you sleep?" Nancy asks before sipping her coffee.

"Ok, for the most part." She responded back looking down at her coffee. 

"You know, that coffee won't drink it's self." Gary said, trying to get a smile out of her and it works. 

"Thank you guys for letting me stay last night." Azalynne began. " I just need one more night of feeling him. I'm not going to take anything." She contiued. " But I will ask if you can keep his room the way it is and let me come over anytime." She finished lifting the cup to her lips.

"Of course we will." Nancy says putting her blue 'MOM IS #1' coffee cup down on the table. "Azalynne, you're like the daughter we never had. You will always be welcomed here." She continued reaching over to grab Azalynne's hand. 

"I know, I just... I don't really. Still can't believe...." Azalynne started but trailed off and looked back at her coffee. The cup was green. Just green. It was Brian's favorite cup. 

"Sweety, we will always be here for you no matter what. We love you just as much as we do Brian. Our home will always be opened." Gary said, getting up and hugging Azalynne.

"I know." She responded hugging him back, holding the tears back. "I think I'm going to head home. I have to shower and brush my teeth, then get ready for the day." She said, releasing Gary, then walking towards the door. Gary and Nancy followed. 

She grabbed her coat, turned toward them. "I love you guys." "We love you too." The said together.

                                             ***************************************

Azaylnne walked in her apartment and just stood there. She was lost in thought and didn't hear the man walk up behind her. 

"Hello neighbor." He said. 

"HOLY s**t!!!" Azalynne yelled out as she turned around. "Dude you just scared the f*****g s**t out of me. Can you atleast warn me?" 

"So....Sorry lady. I didn't mean to scare you. I was just being nice and saying hello." He said backing up. " I just moved in yesterday. I knocked on your door and no one answered. I figured nobody was home." 

She calmed her racing heart before speaking.  "No, no it's my fault Misterrrrr?" 

"Names James." He said reaching his hand out to shake hers. 

"Azalynne." She responded back shaking his hand. 

"Azalynne? Beautiful name. Different. I like it." He grinned at her. 

"Thanks" She smiled back at him, " I really have to go and shower though. Nice meeting you James." She said as she began to shut the door.

"Nice meeting you too, Azalynne. Maybe we can catch up later." 

"Maybe. Bye Now." She says shutting the door. 

She stood there with her back against the door. 'He is really cute.' She thought to herself pushing her self to her bathroom. 

After 30 minutes of showering, she gets out and wraps a towel around her wet body. "Look B, I'm soaking wet. I hope you like what you're seeing from the world of dead" She said out loud giggling. 

"What am I doing? Of course he can't see me." She scoffed at herself. "What the hell am I going to do today?" Talking to herself as she left the bathroom to walk to her room.

She was so lost in thought, she didn't see the man standing in her front doorway. She continues to make her way to her room and starts looking for something to wear. Still unaware of the man quietly walking to her room. 

'AZALYNNE, TURN AROUND!' She heard a voice scream at her and she did. She's frozen in fear as she see's the man standing in her bedroom door way. 

"Please don't scream" James said quickly. 

"HOW THE f**k DID YOU GET IN MY APARTMENT?" She yelled at him. 

"Your front door was opened. I was walking past and noticed it. I was making sure you was ok." He said backing away. "I'm sorry. I'll see my way out. " He said turning away.

"James, listen, I'm sorry. This isn't how I normally speak or meet people. I just lost my best friend and buried him yesterday. I'm all over the place." She said, while standing in her towel. "I'm just lost at the moment. Trying to get myself together." 

" I am sorry for your loss, I was just worried, being the respectful man I am, I'm going to see myself out. You are still in your towel." He said as his green eyes traced over her body. 

Clutching the towel tighter to her body she responded "Oh s**t. Tell you what, give me 20 minutes to get ready and I'll treat you to a brunch. To apologize for being a bitch." She said, hoping he'd accept her crazy apology. 

"It's a deal. See you in 20." He said then left. 

"What the f**k is wrong with me?" She asked herself as she sat down on her full size bed. "Here is a handsome guy, being nice and looking out for you and you act like a total bitch." She scoffed at herself walking back to her closet, grabbing a pink turtle neck and a pair of miss me jeans and threw them on. 

She walks to her living room/kitchen. Looks around in disgust. 'This place is a dump'. She thought to herself. Her living room had a small off white sofa, a brown coffee table, and an ugly ass green carpet. Her kitchen was small with only a line separating the living room from it. A small stove, small fridge, and small sink. She gave one last look at her small apartment and left.