Chapter 2 Trip to San

"Here!" The excited lady told the driver.

"Ohhhh, okay Miss." The cab man said, halting at the front of a big gate. "It's a lovely house you've got."

Ignoring his comment, she got down from the taxi, dragging her box with her.

"Ma'am?" The driver called, removing his face cap. "My fees."

"Ohhh!" Ava said, stopping in her tracks. "I'm sorry."

"Nah. It's fine," The man said, watching her bring her purse from her handbag.

"Here," Ava said, handing him notes. "Thank you."

"Thank you, too." The man greeted, putting his cap on his head again while he drove off.

She started her journey into the compound again, dragging her box from behind. "Flat 4," She said, rehearsing the house number Maya had told her over the phone.

She walked into the gate, beholding the beauty and size of the big compound. "I can't live in a house like this," She concluded, passing by the first flat.

"Welcome." A Japanese looking woman greeted while she passed the second flat. She smiled at the woman, waving her hands.

"Flat 3," She said, looking at the window to take a peep. "No chairs," Ava concluded from what she saw.

"Flat 4!" She stopped to exhale, "Maya!" She called, almost screaming.

"Ava Smith?" Maya called, peeping from the door hole.

"Nay. Maya Taylor." Ava said, sarcastically. Although, a smile was on her face.

"Yayyy!" The woman from the inside screamed, opening the door to meet her friend.

"Best friend," Ava said, walking in through the door. "What's good?"

"I thought you'd make it on the D-Day of the wedding, Avv." Maya complained, opening the door wide to accommodate Ava's box.

"I told you," Ava said, pushing the box she brought with her into the living room. "How is the bride?"

"Fine, baby," Maya said, hugging her shortly. "I've missed you!"

"I've missed you too, my lady," Ava said, hugging her again.

"How long will you be staying?" Maya asked, looking at her face. " You look good!"

"That's what you keep saying, especially when you're lying." Ava replied. "I know you."

"Ohhh, dear. I'm serious," Maya said, laughing.

"Ava Smith?" Mark's mature voice thundered from the doorway of the kitchen.

"No," Ava answered, moving close to a chair. "Maya Adams."

"Hahaha,"Mark commented, laughing heartily. "How was your trip down to San Francisco?" He asked, taking the chair closest to her.

"Fine," Ava said, resting her head on the pillow meant for the couch and raising her head again almost in one second. "Why is Maya this fat?"

"I'm not fat, Avv!" Maya spat, looking at herself to be sure she was saying the truth.

"I'm not fat," Ava mimicked, a thin smile spreading on her lips. "I know, right?"

"Okay, okay, okay," Mark said, standing to his feet. "I'd leave you two to do your thing. Okay?"

"Yes, honey," Maya said, sprouting her arms to get a hug and a peck on her cheek from him. "Stay safe out there."

"I will," Mark said after kissing her on the lips. "Don't bulge this woman for me, Ava Smith."

"I won't, Dad." Ava said, smiling. "Stay safe out there."

"Yes, yes!" Mark said again, walking out of the apartment through the entrance door.

"Girlllll!" Maya said, turning to see her friend again. "Why did you cut your hair? To start with."

"Nothing," Ava said, laughing. "I got tired of spending half of my time watching and treating."

"I know, right?" Maya said, standing from her chair to sit on the chair Mark sat on before leaving.

"What's good?" Ava asked. "You've added weight."

"Have I!" Maya exclaimed, looking at her belly side. "You think so?"

"I know so, baby." Ava answered, smiling. "Tell me something."

"Something?"

"Are you pregnant?"

"Ava!" Maya hurled. "Don't start."

"What?" Ava asked, laughing. "I just asked a question."

"Getting pregnant before the wedding isn't really a good thing," Maya said. "I'm not pregnant."

"How about having sex?" Ava asked again, enjoying the moment.

"You know what?" Maya got up from the chair.

"What?" Ava asked, her gaze fixed on her best friend's face.

"I think you should take the next flight to Los Angeles, I'd make it at the wedding."

"What!" Ava exclaimed, laughing. "It's not going to happen."

"I know, right?" Maya said, stopping to see her friend's face again.

"I'm tired," Ava said, yawning.

"Come." Maya said, taking her box with her.

"Are you gonna sell me this time, Miss?" Ava asked, following her.

"Ofcourse!" She answered, walking through a door into a room.

".....Back to the Smiths."

-

The priest had binded Mark and Maya together, with a few friends present at the church. Except her brother, Jack. She had turned around many times awaiting him to hand her to the priest.

"Oh, no." She had muttered to Ava's hearing.

"Relax, okay?" Ava had cautioned from where she sat. "I'd do it myself if he doesn't show up, okay?"

Maya nodded, as though she liked the idea of a lady handing her to the priest before she is handed to her husband.

"Shall the parents of the bride give their daughter's hand to the priest, already?" Father Marcus had asked, looking around.

Maya's parents were late, long before the two friends met. Maya's only family was Jack, until now, Mark joined the small list.

Effortlessly, without shame, Ava got up on her feet, taking Maya's hand and giving it to the priest. A thin smile spread on Mark's lips like he was saying: "Ava Smith and surprises."

"Thank you," Maya had greeted after the church service, giving her friend a long kiss on her cheeks.

"I'm here," Mark said, chuckling.

.

.

Palace of Fine Arts:

The bride stood transfixed to a spot, smiling at the photographer.

"Am I gonna stay here for a while, taking pictures?" Mark asked, his eyes red.

"It's a once in a lifetime event, you should have a fill," The photographer answered, making a sound with his camera that tells he has taken another picture.

"Really?" Mark exclaimed. "What exactly did you snap this time?"

"A few more shots and I'm done with your pretty face, Mrs." The photographer addressed Maya, patting the fine garment she wore for the wedding's reception.

"Y'all should stop addressing me as 'Mrs' and wait till I get home!" She complained, making a pose with her lips.

"Why?" Mark chuckled. "You're someone's wife already. So, you're 'Mrs.'"

He chuckled again.

"I know, right?" Maya said, raising her hands to make another pose.

"Do like this!" Ava said, running to catch up with them.

"Where did you go?" Maya asked, giving room for Ava's fine body to join in the queue.

"Powder my face, Mrs. Adams."

"Perfect!" The photographer commented, taking a glimpse of the last shot. "Perfect!" He said again.

"Anything?" Ava asked, looking at her friend's face.

"Can you tell these people to call me 'Miss'?" She complained again.

Laughing heartily at the comment, Ava said, "Aren't you 'Mrs'?"

"I...am," Maya answered, smiling.

"Good!" Ava said, making a pose. "Answer it, then," She said again through clenched teeth.

"Did you have to talk like that?"

"I don't want you spoiling my pictures, Mrs. Adams," Ava teased again.

"Aunty Lizbeth!" Ava greeted, recognizing the woman that walked into the scene.

"I don't know ya," She said, looking at Ava's face. "I'm sorry, things happen to my poor brain these days."

"I'm sorry," Maya whispered, smiling at Ava.

Aunty Lizbeth is an aunt to Maya. Although, she has memory loss and you'd have to introduce yourself over and over again for her to remember you.

"Hello," Someone's voice sounded, causing a turn from the two friends.

"Maxwell." Maya greeted, smiling at him. "Welcome."

"And how is the new Bride?" His thick baritone voice sounded again.

"Fine," Maya answered, smiling at him again. "How are you, ma?" She asked the woman holding his arm.

"I'm good," The woman answered, holding Maxwell's arm firmly and tighter.

"Ava," He called, causing Ava's gaze to meet with his.

"Hi." She greeted simply, showing her dentistry, a beautiful one.

"I see you came for the wedding," Maxwell commented.

"Yes, I did." She answered, handing Maya's flowers to her. "I want to use the toilet, baby."

"Hurry," Maya said, receiving the flowers. "And come back here to resume your maid of honour duties!"

"Excuse me," She said, walking away from the scene after winking at Maya.

.

.

"God!" She cried, pouring more water on her face. "That bastard!" She said, uttering expletives.

The last person she wanted to see was Maxwell. How did he get to know about the wedding?

"He's a friend to Maya too, remember?" Her conciseness said, pricking her.

"I know!" She answered, looking into the mirror before her.

"Why do relationships not work out well with me?" She asked herself, pouring water on her face again.

Maxwell, the last guy she dated and the last relationship she had left her for the woman holding his arm at the reception minutes ago. She was said to be older than him.

"Kahoot!" Ava coughed, spitting into the sink and washing her face one more time.

"Get over it!" She told herself. She wasn't going to let her ex's presence at her best friend's wedding ruin the day for her. She thought and turned to leave when she tripped.

"Hoof!" The man's voice said, holding her firmly. "You okay?" He asked, looking at her face.

"Yeah," She said, raising her face to meet his gaze. He is handsome, she thought, her gaze still fixed at his.

"I...sorry," She said, standing firmly again, patting her dress.

"Wait one minute," The man said, bending to her face. "Were you crying?"

"No," She lied, her legs fixed to the floor. "I wasn't."

"Come here," He said, giving her a hug.

"Thank you," Ava said, embracing him, her hands wrapped around his waist. "Thank you."

"You'd be fine, okay?" He said when he let go of her. But, she didn't let go.

He bent low to her face again, planting a kiss on her lips.

His lips were placed on hers in a simple manner. The scene, romantic to behold.

Her lips parted, taking in whatever he was willing to give to her and her hands found its way to his neck.

"God!" Ava thought inside of her, taking the kiss to another level.

He was going to do his thing when she let go, finally moving away from him.

".....I have to go," She said, breaking off. "I'm sorry."

"Hey..." He tried calling her back. But, she was gone.

"Fuck!" The man cursed. He liked her already.

She walked at first, and ran the next second, finding her way to her best friend's side.

"What took you so long?" Maya asked, turning to read her face. "You okay?"

"Yeah," She answered, collecting the flowers she had given to her moments ago. "I had to clean up."

"Guess who's here." Maya said, smiling.

"Who?" Ava asked, scared for herself. She didn't know why.

"Jack! The almighty Jack," Maya said mockingly.

"C'mon!" Jack said, joining them where they were seated. "I was hooked up with an appointment."

"Yeah, you were." Ava said this time, taking in her best friend's brother. "And that's why I did the man's thing for you. Well-done."

"Ava Ava Ava Smith!" Jack hailed, laughing. "I've missed you, ma. How do you do?"

"I'm alright," Ava said, cheering up. "What's up with you?"

"Music, of course. What else?" He asked, hugging her from where he sat.

"Heard you work with big people already," He said, looking at the plate of food before him.

"Who told you that?" Ava asked, laughing.

"Maya Adams, who else?" Jack asked, rolling his eyes.

"I haven't been interviewed yet, nor employed." She said, sipping from her glass. "Wait till it happens."

"Yes, ma."

-

"It's Maxwell's wife's height for me," Maya gossipped over the phone days after her wedding. Ava had returned to Los Angeles.

Laughing at her friend's comment, she replied, "if they love each other, then it's fine."

"I'm sorry, Avv."

"What did you do this time, Maya Taylor?"

"I should have told you I invited him to the wedding," Maya said.

"Really?" Ava laughed. "I'm not angry, trust me."

"Are you sure?" The married woman asked.

"Yes, baby!" Ava answered, chuckling. "I'm not angry."

"Prove it to me, then," Maya said.

"Don't ask me for money," Ava warned. "I don't have any to give to a married woman. "

"Nah," Maya said, laughing. "Not that."

"What, then?"

"Have you been called for the interview already?"

"No. Why?"

"Why haven't they called yet?"

"I have no idea. I'm losing hope."

"Nah. They'd call you, I know."

"Right....so?"

"Come spend time with me in San before you are called."

"What? Maya!" Ava called, screaming.

"It's so boring here, baby."

"Didn't you think about it when you were getting married to Mark?"

"I didn't!" Maya exclaimed, laughing.

"Well..."

"So?"

"I don't know if I will make it, I've got appointments."

"That's a lie and you know it!" Maya said, laughing and screaming. "Ava Smith."

"What do you mean by that?" Ava asked. "Can't I have appointments?"

"With who exactly?" Maya asked, laughing. "Or 'what'?"

"I see."

"You don't have a boyfriend, nor a job. So?"

"Well..." Ava said. "I don't want to come."

"Really?" Maya asked.

"Yes," Ava answered.

Silence...

Silence...

"Say something, Maya Adams."

"It's fine," Maya said.

"I'd come," Ava said, waiting for her next reaction.

"Thank you, best friend!" The woman said, excitedly.

"Don't ask me for such favours next time, I'd kick your ass!"

"Okay, Mom."

"Thank you, Avv," Maya said again. "I'd clean the guest room."

"It should be sparkling," Ava said. "Your aunt, Lizbeth. How's she?"

"Ohh, dear. She didn't seem to even recognize me at the wedding," Maya answered.

"I can imagine."

"It seems to be getting fatal," Maya said again. "She's a living dead."

"Don't say that!" Ava cautioned. "It can only get worse and get better. Maya."

"I know, right?" Maya said, her mood lightening. "I have Jack."

"And Mark," Ava added.

"And you!" Maya added.

"Aunt Lizbeth too, and my whole family," Ava said. "You have all of these people to yourself."

"I'm not a glutton," Maya said, laughing.

"I know, beautiful." Ava said. "You deserve your happiness."

"Right?" Maya asked, although she didn't want an answer. "We all deserve happiness."

"Ofcourse, wifey."

"When will you be in San?" Maya asked.

"In days time, I guess."