You Came Back

Elevator Out-of-Service Bullshit. This whole. damn. place. is bullshit. I thought as I shifted the box of groceries in my arms. I opened the door to the stairwell and began my climb. "Stupid. Ass. Building." I made it one floor up before I has huffing. "I really need to hit the gym." By the fourth floor, I had to take my heels off. The box cut into my palms as I finally reached my floor. I should really think about moving. Maybe someplace with a working elevator. I finally fished my keys out of my purse and walked into my one bedroom studio apartment. Yeah, that's what the paper told me. They made it out like it was a big deal. Total bullshit. I sat the box down on the counter and then grabbed my trusty bottle of wine out of the fridge. I poured me a full glass before slipping behind the curtains to my room to change. I threw my bra across the room before pulling a tank top and some sweats on. When I walked back out, Oso, my cat, jumped onto the counter, next to the box, and began circling it like prey. "Oh no. I'm not doin it. Not tonight mr." He meowed as he walked behind the box. I quickly placed my glass of wine on the coffee table. "Oh no you don't. You better not." Oso meowed again. He looked me in my eyes, as he pushed the box closer to the ledge. "Oso! Don't you dare!" I pointed my finger at him. He looked at me, then back at the box. He began to walk away, making me believe it too. Then, he did it. Completely ignoring my pleas, Oso tipped the box forward, as I jumped up to catch it half the groceries landed on me, and the other half went scattering around the floor. "You fucker" I mumbled as I knelt down to gather the items. Oso jumped off the counter and then climbed into my lap and purred as he nudged my chin with the top of his head. I glared at him for a moment, before my heart went soft. "Fine. I accept your apology." I kissed him on the forehead and he walked away. I quickly began picking up the items scattered around the floor, trying my best to clean up the mess. My phone began to ring, but seeing as I was on the floor, surrounded by loose apples and boxes of mac and cheese, I let the answering machine get it. "Hi. It's Nikita, sorry I missed your call. But please, leave a message and I'll call you back. Bye!" BEEP I rolled my eyes at my own happily annoying voice. If only the younger me knew. "Nikita..... it's your brother." Which one? "Niko." Great. "Did you forget you were supposed to fly in tomorrow?" No. I don't go till the 17th. "Today's the 16th. Just reminding you. Love you." Click What the hell? I looked at my phone. Yup, sure enough, he was right. s**t! I ran to my room and grabbed my suitcase. "What do I need? What do I need?" I sang to myself as I walked into my closet. "Mari already has the dresses and shoes for Saturday. So I just need a few outfits, definitely some sweats, and some shoes." Yes. I really do talk to myself. But as long as I don't answer, then I'm good. Deciding that I would buy make up and a few personal items when I got there, I zipped my bag up and placed it by the door. When I turned around, Oso was watching my every move. Head tilted and all. "s**t. I forgot about you buddy. Who can watch you? Let's see. I'll text Ashley. Maybe she can." Oso meowed and walked back into my room. Like he understands me. I sent the text to Ashley and then checked my e-mail for the ticket info Niko had sent me. Three months ago. To be completely honest, I forgot all about Zain's wedding. Zain is my other older brother. And he's marrying my best friend, Mari. I opened the e-mail and gasped.  Is he out of his damn mind! 6 am flight? Really?  I closed the e-mail just as Ashley messaged me back. She told me to drop my keys in her slot and she'd care for him and the apartment in my week long absence.  God, I love that woman.  I met Ashley when the building manager messed up and gave her my apartment number i stead of hers two years ago. I thought she was trying to break in, which wouldn't be the first time of someone doing that. I quickly grabbed my spare key and jetted to her door. I slipped the key through the slot and went back down to call Niko.  "Nikita!"  "Niko! Really?! Six in the damn morning!"  Laughter. This boy was laughing at me.  "Come on Kita. You can sleep on the plane. I'll be there to pick you up."  "Yeah you better be!"  "Goodnight Kita" he laughed, calling me by the nickname I've come to hate.  "Don't call me that! It's Nikita!"  "Whatever Kita. Goodnight"  Then the line went dead. I silently cursed him and downed the glass of now warm wine I left on the coffee table. I set my alarm and laid down, and drifted into a memory filled sleep. Memories of my first love, and my first heartbreak.