Chapter 30- Cheer You Up

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"There you are. I was starting to think you weren't coming," Mark says when I join him at the table at the back of the library.

"I'm so sorry. I was at a job interview and it went a little long," I apologize.

"No worries. How did the interview go?" he asks.

"It went well. I got the job."

"That's great!" he smiles. "So where will you be working?"

"It's this cute little boutique about a block away from my apartment called Sassy Season. The owner said she was in dire need of help and basically told me as long as I wasn't a criminal, she would hire me."

He laughs at that. "And I'm assuming you're not, right?"

"My record is clean," I reply. "I've never so much as stolen a packet of ketchup from a restaurant."

"So Sessy is a good girl," he smirks.

"Yeah, I try to be anyway," I chuckle.

We get started working on my overdue projects and before I know it, two hours have passed by. It's nice to talk and laugh with someone my own age after all I've been through in the past two weeks. Mark is a nice, funny guy once he lets go of the nerves.

But it's getting late and I'm really hoping to get a phone call from Tyler tonight.

"I think we've done enough for today," I tell him, packing my things back into my bag. "I need to be getting home."

"Oh, okay," he replies, watching me as if he wants to say something else.

When he doesn't, I stand up and sling my bag over my shoulder. "Thank you for your help, Mark. I really appreciate it. I can breathe easier knowing I'll be able to turn this in on Monday."

"I'm glad I could help," he says, standing and gathering his things. "What are you doing tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow?"

"Yeah. Tomorrow is Friday, so I didn't know if maybe you had plans or..."

"No, not really."

"Do you want to do something? I haven't done anything I'd consider fun since I moved here. It would be nice to get out and experience the night life in Baltimore."

I almost say no right away, but why? I want to make friends and memories here too. I can't just sit at home each night and expect that to happen.

I'm caught up on my assignments for now. And Mark is the reason for that.

"Okay, yeah. We can go do something. But I don't know that much about Baltimore. I wouldn't even know where the night life might be," I shrug.

"Neither do I, but hey, maybe we can figure it out together?"

"Sounds like fun," I smile. "Thanks again, Mark. I'll see you in class tomorrow."

"See you, Sessy," he waves as I'm walking away.

I hurry back to my apartment, anxious to tell grandma that I actually have plans. I've been so obsessed with what's going on with Tyler that I'm missing out on the last four years of my student life. After this, I'll get a real job and start planning for my future. It will be time to get serious and there will be very little time for fun.

When I get home, I'm surprised to see a brand new, plush, black leather sofa sitting in the living room. I walk over to it and sit down, laughing in relief when I feel just how comfy it is.

Grandma comes into the living room grinning ear to ear. "Do you like it?"

"Did you do this?" I ask her.

"I did, and I don't want to hear a thing about it. You need somewhere comfortable to sleep and since you won't take the bed like I've asked you to, I took matters into my own hands."

"But grandma-"

"Don't you but grandma me," she interrupts. "This sofa pulls out into a bed and I ordered a custom mattress with that fancy memory foam. My future doctor needs her beauty rest."

"This is really sweet of you, but it's my fault you're here. I took you away from your home," I frown.

"I'm fine, Miss Sessy," she assures me. "In fact, I'm really enjoying all this time I have with you. Especially when I thought I wouldn't see you for four years."

"I'm enjoying our time together too. You're the best roommate I've ever had," I say, kissing her cheek. "And thank you for the sofa. I can't wait to try it out."

_______________

"This place isn't what I thought it would be," Mark says, looking around at the crowds of people.

We decided to come out to a popular bar near campus called Shockwaves. And it's definitely popular. There's so many people here, I'm wondering if we're not violating some kind of fire code.

"Yeah, it's kind of packed out, huh," I grimace.

"Imagine the germs being passed around right now."

I curl my nose in disgust. "Gross. Let's get out of here. There's got to be somewhere else we can go."

We aimlessly wander a few blocks, not really finding anything that catches our eye.

"Where are you from?" Mark asks me as we walk along.

"Slidell, Louisiana," I answer.

"Ah, the bayou," he nods.

"Have you ever visited Louisiana?" I ask.

"No, never. I've never been to the southeastern United States at all."

"Where are you from?" I ask him.

"Los Angeles," he answers. "I guess it makes sense we're not finding anything interesting here. This place has nothing on where we come from."

"Definitely not."

"I've always wanted to go to New Orleans and experience a Marde Gras parade. Have you ever been to one?"

"Only every single year of my life since birth," I answer excitedly. "My grandmother was born and raised in New Orleans, so the culture was a big part of my childhood."

"Is she Creole or Cajun?"

"Creole and African American," I answer proudly.

"I bet she's an amazing cook," he says.

"The best. No one can cook like she can," I chuckle.

"Maybe I'll have to get her to cook for me sometime. I always enjoy a good meal. I would even consider food a hobby."

"Really?" I ask in surprise. "But you seem so fit."

"I like to work out too," he smirks. "I usually eat healthy, but I like to be naughty from time to time. I especially like to try things I've never had before."

"Me too."

"Have you ever had Korean food?" he asks me.

"No, never."

"Are you not into Asian cuisine?"

"Not particularly. I mean, I like Chinese food, but...the only Chinese I've ever really had is from Panda Express."

He laughs. "Not that I don't enjoy a little Panda from time to time myself, but it's far from the real thing. I've traveled to Beijing with my father when I was about fifteen. The thing I remember most about that trip was the food. It was amazing."

"I've never left the country, so I haven't had the pleasure of such a cultural food experience," I chuckle.

"Really? Never?" he asks as if he doesn't believe me.

I shake my head. "I've been on a school trip to New York and I've been all over the southeast, but I haven't really seen all that much of America, much less what's outside of it."

"I've had the opportunity to see a lot of places, thanks to my dad. He wanted me to follow in his footsteps and major in international business, but I found the business world...boring. I was fascinated with the human mind, so psychology seemed like a good fit. But unlike you, I don't plan to become a therapist. I'm planning to continue learning and researching, so amazing doctors like yourself will always have access to the best resources."

"That's very admirable of you," I smile.

My phone vibrates in my back pocket, and like always, my heart starts to pound.

Please let it be Tyler this time...

I pull it out and furrow my brows when I see it's my grandma.  "I'm sorry, I need to take this," I tell Mark.

"Hello?"

"Sessy, I hate to bother you, but there's someone here I think you might want to see," she says.

Now my heart is really pounding.

"Who?" I ask nervously.

"Just get home!" she says excitedly.

"Grandma, who is..." I check my phone and realized she's already hung up.

"Everything okay?" Mark asks.

"Yeah, that was my grandma. She said someone was there to see me, but she wouldn't tell me who."

"Oh. Maybe it's a friend from back home?" he shrugs.

That's what I'm hoping for.

Maybe Tyler's lawyer was able to help him and he finally got away and was able to come visit like he promised me he would. Why else would grandma sound so excited? Why would she ask me to rush home when she knows I'm out with someone else?

"I don't know, but I need to head back. You don't mind, do you?" I ask him.

"No, of course not. In fact, I'm a little excited for you," he smiles.

I smile back. We didn't have time to really do anything tonight, but I still had a lot of fun with him. It was nice to get out and try to enjoy myself instead of sitting at home, waiting for my phone to ring.

Mark and I start back for our apartment building and while he talks, I only pretend to listen. I'm so excited to get home, so sure it's going to be Tyler there waiting for me, that I can't concentrate on anything else. It's been two weeks, but it's felt like an eternity. I can't wait to see him with my own eyes. I can't wait to hug him, kiss him, tell him how much I've missed him.

But then I start to wonder what might happen if he came here. His siblings are obviously keeping tabs on him, so what if they were to follow him here? They would know where I live. They would know my grandma is here with me....

"Cecily? Are you okay?" Mark asks.

I try not to look totally caught off guard and nod. "Yeah, just wondering who could be here."

"Well, who do you think it is?" he asks.

"I have no idea. I wasn't expecting anyone," I shrug.

"If you were expecting their visit, then it wouldn't be a surprise," he smirks.

"I guess not," I smile.

"If it could be anyone, who do you want it to be?"

I take a second to give my answer some thought. I can't tell Mark about Tyler. I barely know him and telling him about my love life feels strange. So I decide to improvise a little.

"If it could be anyone? I guess I would want it to be my best friend, Lizzy. We were roommates back in New Orleans. She moved to New York after graduation, so I haven't seen her in a couple of months."

"That would be fun. A surprise visit from your best friend could be just what you need to cheer you up."

I look at him in surprise. Cheer me up? Do I seem sad? I didn't think so, but maybe I'm wrong.

My reaction makes him smirk. "What? You didn't think I'd notice?"

"Notice what?" I ask, playing dumb.

"That look in your eyes. Something is bothering you, and it's keeping you from focusing on school or having any sort of fun."

I hang my head, feeling rather exposed all of a sudden. Mark is also a psychology major, so I shouldn't be so surprised that he can read me like an open book. But surprised or not, I don't like it.

"Leaving home was just a lot. My grandma was in bad health so we made a last second decision to move her here with me. I'm not bothered, just...overwhelmed," I try to explain.

"Hey, it's fine. You don't have to explain anything to me," he smiles warmly. "I understand moving to a new place can be overwhelming. And taking care of family is important. Believe me, I know. I'm Korean. We're known to move in our grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles if the situation calls for it."

I laugh in relief.

"Just know...if you ever want to talk about anything, I'm here," he says, meeting my eyes in a way that makes my heart flutter.

I quickly look away, feeling guilty. "Thanks."

We walk back to my place and I eagerly run all the way to the door, so excited I can barely contain myself. I look around before I go inside, just to make sure no one has followed me. When I'm certain all is well, I swing the door open expecting to see Tyler standing there.

But he's not.

Instead, it actually is Lizzy.

When she sees me, she runs and jumps into my arms, hugging me tight. "Cecily Martin! I have missed you so much!" she cries.

While I did really miss Lizzy a lot, I can't say I'm not disappointed it wasn't Tyler who came here to surprise me. I was so sure it would be.

"I missed you too," I whisper, letting the cocktail of emotions I'm feeling bring on the tears.


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