Ten Dates

The morning sun was peeking through my windows lighting up the whole room. The thought of new day put a smile on my face. I stretched my hands and sat on my fluffy bed. The light was blinding my eyes more that I expected. I jumped out of the bed, dancing through the bath and got ready. Breakfast was ready by the time I went downstairs.

"Good morning parents", I said smiling before sitting in the dining table. "What's special?", I asked looking at various dishes on the table. "It's just my daughter is leaving us in a month and I want her to enjoy every homemade meals as much as possible", my mom said placing another dish on the table. I smiled and hugged my sulking mom. "Mom ", I said with a pout.

"Honey, it's just feel weird that you are leaving us", my dad said. I looked at him, he was dressed for his job. My dad was a detective working at Rockford Police Station and my mom had a little flower shop in the city. They were the most supporting parents one could ever get. They were there behind my every achievements, from my first grade running race to my admission at Pennsylvania State University. One month was all I'd left with, before I started my college.

It was difficult for me to leave my parents behind, but my dad encouraged to pursue my Under graduation in PSU. "I can't believe you grew up so fast. It was just yesterday they gave you wrapped in a white cloth looking like a button and now, you are taking your own steps towards your dreams", my mom said with tears threatening to fall. I hugged her tightly, "I love you so much Mom". We heard someone clearing throat, "That's why I wanted another kid. At least I would've had someone when I am abandoned like this ". We all started laughing. I hugged my dad, "Love you Dad ". He held me closer to his body and asked, "More than your Mom?". I whispered him a yes and shook my head no.

"What are you doing today ?", my grandfather asked me. "I don't know papi ", I replied. "When are your friends coming over?", he asked plucking the remote out of my hands. We were at the middle of remote war for an hour changing between channels. My grandfather was a navy retired and he never ceased to surprise me with his memory powers. He had told me he could memorize 20 locations in one glance and the medals proved them right. Dad followed his way and got a job as a detective. "After two hours", I replied.

My friends came by around 5 in the evening. I got in to the car with them and we all drove off. "What are we going to do first?", I asked. "First we eat and then we go get things we want", Lucas said from the drivers seat. Lucas, Matthew and Abby were my best friends from kinder garden. Lucas and Matthew were twins with blonde and silver eyes, with only difference is the shades of their skin, where Lucas a bit tan than Matthew. Abby was Hispanic with a shoulder length black hair and attractive as hell. We all grew up together "Okay".

We crashed at McDonald's filling up our tummies. "I can't eat more ", Abby said holding her stomach. "You should've stopped a burger before, Abby", Matthew teased her. "Shut up Matt", she said shoving him in the head. We were roaming in the city mall for past hour buying nothing other than towels. "Let's go there", Abby pulled me towards the lingerie stores. "No No! I am not going there ", I said pulling her back. "Come on Emily. Let's go in there", Lucas told beside. I was shocked to hear it from Lucas even I knew he was low-key pervert. "Lucas !!", Abby and I shouted at the same time. The boys started laughing, " Just kidding", Lucas said wiping his tears. "You should've seen those faces. Precious". Eventually I had to go through the lingerie store. This time, it was better. No showing off in front of strangers.

By the time I came home, I was drained and was feeling heavy with all the bags with me. "Did you purchase all you wanted?", my Papi asked me. I swiped the sweat, " I hate shopping and yeah, more or less". He wore his glasses and walked in front of me with hands on his hip. "Did you buy my Oreos?", he asked with those puppy eyes. I smiled with adoration, "You are not supposed to eat those. ", I said with a playful smile imitating him. His cute face changed into a pout, "This old man can't eat anything in this age. Your granny was nicer than you, she used to fall for my puppy eyes. I just miss her now", he said with a pout. My Papi was a baby and my granny was his one true love.

They both were best friends backing each other while pranking my parents or sneaking out on a date. They would play in the rain. When she was strict with him, he would give the same puppy face and my granny gave up with a blush. The little winks and small kisses had them going. Papi was devastated when granny lost her battle with cancer. He told us that he would live his life with her memories because he promised her that he wouldn't be broken and would take care of my dad. There were many nights that he waited for my dad to return home and would advise him to go on a dates with my mother. Maybe these times brought us close.

I slowly pulled out the Oreos and handed it to him. The smile that overtook his face was valuable. He was the one in million person, who would love every person in the world. He hugged me after a little dance and said, "You are just like your granny. Thank God, I thought you are like your father". We both laughed.

Dinner came by in an instant, "Did you get it all, honey?", my mom asked. "I think so", I said. "Emily, why do I smell Oreos on my dad?", my dad asked. We both were opening our mouth and spoons were suspended in the air. Papi was as scared as me, sitting across the table. "I told you", I mouthed him and he mouthed me back a 'Sorry'.

My dad cleared his throat after knowing our little secret. "I am sorry. I bought for me and I gave only one to him", I said pleading my dad with my eyes. "He is not supposed to eat those. Why can't you get it?", my dad said disappointed. "I am sorry", I said looking at the floor. "Don't do it again", my dad gave me a final warning. I looked at Papi smiling secretly while eating. I shook my head at his behavior.

What do I do with him?

A week was all left for us to leave our parents, friends, and the place we've born and brought up. It would be our new beginning in a few days.

We all had dinner with Abby and Lucas's families. This time it felt different like we were leaving for real and not gonna come back. I just wish it not to be true. I loved my city and there were so many precious memories here, that I couldn't give up on those.

"Did you get all the stuff needed?", Abby asked sitting on my bed. " I think so. I am so nervous right now. Is the apartment ready?". She hugged me with such love that I calmed down in an instant.

"Everything is set. We just have to move in there. Don't worry about those. Think about college life, food, and especially boys.", she said hitting my shoulders with hers and a playful smile on her face. "Okay then", I said with a wink.

My parents visited the apartment we were going to stay in. Abby's father being a realtor was able to find a good apartment for the four of us to lodge in. According to my dad, it was safe and to my mom, it was surrounded by many restaurants. The two important things were checked already. Leaving out the worry of staying and studies, I was prepared for the new phase of my life.

"We are getting a boyfriend", she cheerfully said next to me. "Yeah, you are getting a boyfriend", I said in a bored tone. She shook her head in disappointment. "Why are so hostile towards getting a boyfriend?"

" I am not hostile, it's just I didn't have any need to have one and I am scared after what happened", I shrugged. "Not everyone is like that asshole. That shit head doesn't deserve you. I just hope you meet someone who changes the thoughts you have about being a friendship.", pity was one thing I saw in her eyes. This was one of the reasons that I was afraid of being with someone.

"Says someone who never had a committed relationship", I said sarcastically. She turned dramatically with a smirk, " The boys I dated weren't my standard. I am no ordinary and no ordinary can catch me".

We both started laughing. Papi was watching TV when we both went downstairs. Seeing at our smiling faces he asked, "Care to share the joke with me? Or I am not to be spoiled by such jokes? "

"We were just talking about college and hot guys we will be meeting", Abby said laughing. "Kids these days are never hot. You should have seen me then. All the girls would run for water if I walk on the streets. I was such a type of hotty.", Papi said proudly. My stomach was hurting laughing at his joke. He was a man who loves to make women laugh. That's his charm. I just wish if I ever met a guy, he would be like Papi.

He makes me search for his characteristics in every guy I meet. That was the other reason, no guy stood a chance, not many that have asked me.

We were all doing the same nonsense talks until Lucas and Matt joined us. Lucas is Papi's favorite because they shared the same humor meter and mostly perverted.

" I love you so much", my mom said hugging me. The week went by in an instant and now we were loading the car with my luggage. "You sure you'll be okay?", my dad asked concerned." I will be fine Dad. Abby's dad is coming with us and you said it'll be safe there. I'll manage", I hugged him. The familiar warmth that I'll be missing for a while. "She is my granddaughter. Not to mention, she takes after your mom. She was one tough lady I have come across. She can do anything, Don't worry", Papi said to Dad. Tears welled up listening to him. He was the one I'll be missing the most, I hugged him firmly, " I love you, Papi".

"I love you, sweetheart. I know you can do anything you want and I want you to see great heights in your life.", he then whispered, "Don't you think I should've stocked some chocolate and Oreos?". I cracked up listening to him.

After few more tears from my mom, advice from my dad and sweet jokes from my grandfather, we all started to ride towards the next step of our life.

After 6 hour travelling, we arrived at Port Richmond. When I say the apartment was big, it was very big. It was much larger for 4 people. The apartment was on 4th floor. It seemed more like a penthouse with only two houses per floor.

Abby's dad is showing us all the rooms in the house. The house was full furnished with tv and even gaming stations fixed. Each of us gets a room along with bathroom. The windows in the living room displayed the beauty of the city.

Apart from this, there was two small rooms. The kitchen was pretty large compared to the one from our house accompanied with a big dining table. The fridge was already packed when we came here. Our parents imported all our requirements before we arrived here.

Our parents imported all our requirements before we arrived here

"The house is so..", Abby trailed off. "Big", Matt completed the sentence. "Don't you think its too much for us", I asked Lucas who was standing next to me. "I know but our parents leased it for next five years, so we have to enjoy it to the fullest", he said with smile playing on his lips. I shook my head smiling at his words. Lucas's and Matt's cars were delivered within two hours of our arrival.

Everything was set. Food, car, shelter and even a cycle was prepared for us. We ordered food for lunch and dinner. Next day, Abby's dad and Lucas's parents returned home leaving us in the new city. Every one of us was curious to find more things about the house. First things first, we chose our private spaces.

The room I chose was the simplest of all. It was painted with blush pink, a single cot at the middle of the room with table on one side and study desk on other. The size of the closet was moderate like my moderate clothes, so was my bathroom. My room was located in the left corner of the house opposite to the studio room, which was empty now. Lucas resides next to me while Abby next to the studio room and Matt on other end of house along with theatre room.

Abby's room was the largest among us. It was painted steel blue with a single cot and study table. The closet was big and had one to have bathtub. Lucas's room was painted terracota giving an authentic look to the room. He had the same setup as us but with more traditional setup. The room perfectly didn't match his character. Last, Matt's room was painted soft black with a window showing the city.

It took a day for all of us to arrange our things in the room. The boys were busy setting up the theatre room with a gaming console, while we both were studying the kitchen for ingredients and snacks. " I think we can manage with this one", Abby pulled out a nuggets packet. "So, nuggets it is".

"I think we should go explore the neighborhood. You know, restaurants, stores etc", Matt said while we were resting in the living room. Matt was the more practical one in our group and Lucas was the least. "Okay, I'll get my bag", Abby rushed to her room. " I'll take mine too", I said and left to my room.

The apartment had a community swimming pool, gym, park and a bar. This was what we found before we hit the roads. The complex was pretty much deserted with no shops and only other compounds. It took us 15 min into the downtown. We were looking at everything new in the streets. We found a small store and local restaurant to be grasped first. The sausage in the shop became our first favorite in Richmond.

After roaming for 15 minutes, we all started walking back to the apartment. "I am going to the gym and ask for membership details. You guys go", Luke said and started walking towards the gym section.

Abby was opening the door, when we heard noise coming from the opposite house. They were playing loud music and were shouting at the top of the lungs. We smiled looking at each other. "I think we've got party neighbors", Matt said leaning on the wall facing their door. "Do you think there'll be boys in there?". There she goes. I shook my head and entered the house.

We were watching our first movie after completing our day. Everything felt different. In the middle of the movie, somebody knocked the door. "Did you order something?", I asked Luke. He shook his head and so did the others. Lucas got up to check on the door. He left for good 5 minutes and there is no sign of him. " Where did he go?", I asked waiting for him to walk through the door. "Nothing worth kidnapping him, so don't worry", Abby said.

I went to the door, when Lucas burst entered the door shocking the heaven out of me. " What the hell were you doing?!!", I asked him still holding my heart to calm down. " That's the neighbor guy. He is drunk and came to our house by mistake. Just delivered him there", he then went and we all completed the movie.

My parents were ringing me every hour checking if I was fine. Even Papi called once asking where did I hide my stack. It was only two days and I was already missing my family. Abby proved it that I was not the only one, when she came into my room in the middle of the night and told she was afraid to sleep alone in the room. Girl, you should've thought when you took that dark room.

We slept hugging each other. That's how our first day went.