A Seat in His Heart

Chapter 2 - Friends

[Gold]

“Oh thank goodness.” I mumbled as alighted the taxi in front of my school gate. It was a bright Monday morning today and I have never felt this happy. I have a blue and white blocked, short sleeved shirt over a black skin tight jean pants and a pair of black leather flat shoes. I had my hair braided so long to reach my waist, but since today is Monday, I decided to be formal, so I held it up into a fancy doughnut bun at the back of my head. My makeup has always been very light or none at all. But hey, I’m in college now so I have to act not my age. I just have magic lip gloss on, this gloss is green but when you have it on, it turns red. With the sun gracefully shining on me, causing my skin to glow, I was drop dead gorgeous or so I thought. Okay, lets avoid my narcissist part unveiling, I’ll stop there. I marched forward into campus, I earned some stares and some bad boys by the pavement whistled, their looks giving off bad boy vibes.

I hurried to my lecture hall and took a sit, found some early birds where already there, I wonder if they slept here last night. I shrugged. I took a sit in the front row and started revising what I missed the previous week. I was deep in my revision when a shadow covered me I looked up. It was Pete. He flashed me a smile revealing perfectly arranged white teeth, and it was a killer smile, the kind that makes you bubble up with happiness without a cause. He looked cute in his blue body fitting shirt that hugged his muscles dearly over carton coloured chinos pants. He had the sleeves rolled up to his arms, and speak of wavy dark arm hairs against his caramel tanned skin, he was blessed with it while his prominent veins wrapped round his arms like climber roots, also his perfect jaw line, all Making him breath taking. I looked down at my book immediately I met his intense dark eyes that possessed a black hole effect that keeps drawing you in. I was not checking him out…okay, I was just observant.

“Hi, good morning.” He greeted me still smiling. He had a light voice for some one of his size. “Good morning.” I replied, letting go of the breath I didn't know I was holding. At this time my heart hit a thousand beats per second. Not because I was feeling butterflies or anything romantic but because he was sitting next to me and I’m not used to a guy talking to me let alone being this close to me. I mean how does everyone else find it normal to be free with people.

“Am I disturbing you?” I’m sure he noticed how nervous I was that he had to ask. “Not at all.” I shook my head. I don’t want to be rude to him now, at least he helped me on my first day.

“Okay, so what are you reading?” Pete asked. “the notes you gave me on Friday.” He furrowed his brows, “the notes I gave you?” he asked. My heart sank. He doesn’t remember me.

Why would he remember you, when you were like a shadow on Friday? You didn’t even tell him your name, you dumbass! Since when do you need people to remember you anyway, I thought. I pulled my self together.

“I met you and Beatrice-”

“Wow! W-was that You? I-is this you?” his eyes widened.

I nodded my head. I couldn’t help but smile to myself at his astonishment. Last Friday I was very casual, just a tank top and jean pant with sandals and a small clutch, my hair was messy bun. No make ups.

“You look different…I mean a good difference.” I just nodded.

“so what time do we have first lecture?” I asked expressionlessly.

“In twenty minutes” he said checking his wrist watch. “may I know your name? I never got it last time.” he asked.

Isn't it a bit late? He should have asked on Friday not now. If my subconscious was out here, I would’ve rolled my eyes at it. I keep getting my own playback of thoughts.

“I’m Gol-”

I was cut off by a loud “Hello handsome.” Mixed with giggle and flirty batting of lashes from the Queen bee herself, Beatrice.

“hey Trice.” he flashed that gorgeous smile at her. Okay, so he gave her a nick name already, they must be really close. I was not jealous though but I was annoyed as I hate being cut off rudely. I just resolved to move away to the next row as I know I won’t cope with the chatter of these two. Whatever they are, I survived them on Friday, I won’t go through it today.

I was just three steps away from my target seat I saw books drop on its desk. “sorry it’s taken” I heard the voice I looked up. There it was those beautiful brown eyes, perfectly carved eye brows with a slight parting cut through the left one, pink lips, pointed nose, beautiful tanned skin, perfect jaw line, one stray braided hair loosely dangling from his forehead down to his chin. He is wearing a black body hugging T-shirt, over a black jean pant and white Nike. He also has a splatter of shiny wrist watch, rings and golden chains and this creature is towering over me, I’ve never felt this short before and why is every guy I meet at college so handsome and this one is a perfect work of art. I never knew black guys could be this picturesque.

“Here you can sit beside me dearie.” He patted the sit on the left. “Um…s-sure.” I turned to the seat and settled in as he did same as that was my next option anyway. I could not understand why I was stuttering anyway, was it his looks or cologne, what ever it was, I Goldie Argent never drool over a guy okay. I fought my mind.

“And why are you checking me out dearie? Take a picture it will last longer.”

I felt his eyes on me, OMG! did he just read my mind? I scoffed and turn to face him. Jeez! there it was, the devilish killer smirk. If I faint hold this guy responsible, why is he so hot?

“Oh please get over yourself… you aren’t even half as hot as Peter Griffin of family guy.” I sassed, while maintaining my best black girl, pissed off face I usually give to majority of guys that try flirting with me. even though my body is reacting weirdly to this one right here and I can’t understand why. I know I hit him hard. He had an expression that tells he isn’t used to anyone telling him off, especially the comparison to a fat cartoon character. For some odd reasons I felt like laughing out loud and wondered why he is even sitting in the front row, his type, you know, the bad boy type should be at the back row. I looked away still feeling his stare on me.

Before he could say anything, the lecturer walked in and Class begun. Wow! That was close, I sighed quietly. wondering what he would have done to me, mean words, a punch, a threat?

Classes followed in chains with only ten minute intervals, and in each ten minutes I was just glued to my seat, playing games on my phone. The last class lasted for about thirty minutes, this was an introductory class in computer Architecture, the lecture was good I understood clearly some of the concepts and made a mental note to go through my notes before bed.

After the classes we had, I had to leave since another class was to take place in this lecture hall, not my class though, but where do I go?

“Care to join us for Lunch?” came a female voice, quite familiar.

I turned there they were, Pete and Beatrice. “Sorry, I let you leave like that in the morning, this lady here is a wild one.” he said pointing to Beatrice and she giggled.

“We are good.” I shrugged, even though I was not pleased.

“Shall we?” Beatrice chirped walking side by side with Pete.

“yeah…sure.” I replied hesitantly. I’m not the type to warm up immediately to people but, these two proved to me they had manners and seemed cultured too. So, I went with the flow.

We moved to the love garden, as every diner on campus was made to station in same location in the love garden while letting out a large area of land beautified with trees, grasses and flowers for students to sit out. We got to the diner and Pete ordered for us while Beatrice found us a table. I just tagged along. While we waited for our food.

“Sorry, can I still get your name?” he asked. I looked up to him.

“you know, I’m dying to know as well” Beatrice spoke, can this girl just stop butting in?

“I’m Goldie Argent you can call me Gold.” I let out the breath I never knew I was holding.

“Pete, this is the longest sentence she has made to us.” Beatrice squealed and Pete smiled. No matter how awkward it sounded, I knew I liked those two, I mean, they were so free spirited. The waiter brought our lunch. We dug in almost immediately. “girl, you have to shake it off a little,okay, we know you are the quiet type but girl how would you survive college without a single friend? Or even mingling with any one.?” Beatrice spoke before taking another bite of her burger.

“She doesn’t mean to go talk to everyone in college, but few persons, no man is an island you know.” Pete added. I just chewed my food quietly, staring at them. “Are you two married?” I asked pointing at both of them. They both looked confused. “Nope” they chorused still looking a me. “what? you both sound like an old married couple giving advice to a teenager. ” I chuckled while they looked at me like I was some rare specie. “I’m trying to make my first friends in college like you advised.” I laughed accompanied by a round of laughter from both of them.

“You are a funny one.” Pete chirped.

“Remind me to be careful what I say to you, lest you use my words against me in future.” Beatrice spoke amidst giggles.

“Beatrice!” I slurred.

“You can call me Trice too.” I nodded. Pete offered and paid for our lunch before we left. Since there was no other class for the day we left school. “Let us take a stroll today don’t you think?” Pete suggested. “Ah..great idea.” I said. “um…guys I’m sorry, I’d catch the taxi, I have to be at this place like right about now.” That was Beatrice. “let me get you a taxi then.” Pete said. “What a gentle man!” I cooed and they giggled.

Just Pete and I left on the road now that Trice is gone my destination is not quite far from school. It felt awkward, I still am not used to guys. And the silence between us is killing me as it felt very awkward.

“Sorry, I’m more boring than a desert, unlike Trice.” I said looking down at my feet, not knowing what else to say.

“Who said you were? look at me.” Pete said. I looked up to meet with my eyes a smile that made my heart flutter. I smiled back.

I have been smiling a lot this few hours past, I wonder why.

"Do you mind giving me your contact?” He asked. “Nope, I don’t mind.” It came before I could even stop myself. I felt like slapping myself. Well this could be a good thing as this would be the only foreign contact I’d have apart from my parents and family members. He brought out his cell and I called out my numbers.

“Thank you” he said.

“You’re welcome, Pete.” I said looking up to his face Just then a bike passed by me almost knocking me down, I was swirled away by powerful arms wrapped around my torso and upper back.

“Watch where you going!” I heard Pete yell to the biker.

“Are you okay?” he said softly. My face was buried in his chest, I slowly opened my eyes to meet his and our faces were just inches away, as he held me in position seen frequently in romance movies when the girl is about to fall, except it was happening to me and I felt so safe in the curves of his hold. I struggled to stand on my feet as I did not like what my body was doing in only split seconds. I felt like I was there forever. He balanced me on my feet as he too got the memo.

“Sure, I’m good.” I blinked like a hundred time, as I was completely lost on how to describe what just happened. Did a guy just hold me? What would my strict mum say if she saw this? What would Cindy say? What would my uncle say?

My family is quite high on morals, so they see things other parents would consider normal as immorality.

All I could do is slap myself mentally and make a note never to walk home again with any guy. Thank God by this time, I could sight my uncle’s apartment.

“I am close to my place, where are you heading to?” I asked.

“Don’t worry, I’ll just see you off.” He was such a gentle man or maybe he was trying to be mysterious and impressive. I nodded. While on my street, I earned a few stares, they have never seen me with any one before let alone a guy. The girls flashed flirting smiles at Pete and to be honest I don’t like it. He didn’t notice them though.

“Thanks for walking me home.” I said, as I reached the front of my apartment.

“What are you thanking me for? I’m glad I walked you home today, say hi to your parents for me.” Pete smiled.

“ I don’t stay with my parents, I stay with my uncle.” I said looking down.

“Then say hi to your uncle.” He said playfully and started to walk away, was he insane? why would I send his regards to my uncle?

“I will. Goodbye.” I struggled to smile even though my heart squeezed painfully as I said goodbye. I have always hated goodbyes, goodbyes hurt a lot and even more when I stayed at my uncle's.

“Goodbye.” Pete called back to me snapping me out of my little cocoon of thoughts.

I walked into the house, Cindy was laying on the couch with her headphones on and eyes closed, she didn’t hear my conversation with Pete, or did she?

“Goldie! Go get Diamond from school this instant.” I heard her yell. I frowned because she was due for pickup like an hour and few minutes ago and here she is so relaxed at home, what did my uncle sign up for when he married this woman? I just got home, I deserve to rest for about ten minutes. “okay I will” I said in a nonchalant tone, I dropped my bag and headed out.

“This woman will make me lose it one day” I murmured and stepped outside.