He nodded. "I know. I know what you mean."
"And I'm okay holding off until you are mine, Jack." He nodded again. "I just need to know if that is a reality for us one day or if I'm just wasting my time on you."
He thumb caressed her cheek affectionately as the time stretched between them. "I don't think you're wasting your time. When I'm with you, I know I'm not wasting my time."
Lexi nodded letting a smile touch the edges of her mouth. "Oh Jack," she sighed happily planting another kiss on his mouth. She hadn't felt this euphoric in nearly two years. Something about him always brought out the best feelings in her. And now it looked like things were actually going to work out for them, and they were going to do it the right way.
They let the night recede into morning as they stayed up together sharing stories and remembering what it was like to be in love. The easy flirtatiousness that they had always shared was dampened by the impending emotions that were sure to come forth once they got everything worked out. Instead, they enjoyed each other's company along with the rest of the bottle of wine until the candles died out and they both fell asleep.
* * *
K.A. Linde
Gummi Bears
That maybe it's true
That I can't live without you
And maybe two is better than one
But there's so much time
To figure out the rest of my life
And you've already got me coming undone
And I'm thinking two is better than one
-Boys Like Girls & Taylor Swift "Two Is Better Than One"
* * *
Chapter 16: November One and A Half Years Earlier
"Are you sure we have to have this sleepover at your place?" Chyna asked eyeing the dorm hallway reproachfully. "You do know I own a penthouse overlooking Central Park right?"
Lexi rolled her eyes dramatically. "Yes, I've been there before. It's beautiful, but you can't get the college experience in a penthouse."
"I take it back," she said looking at a particularly large brown stain on one wall, "I don't want to know what its like to be in college. That's why I didn't go. I've been dating college guys since I was fifteen. If I've managed to avoid a dorm room for five years, then I'm not meant to be in one. Really, I'm peachy keen chica."
"You're not getting out of this that easy," Lexi growled snatching a hold of one of Chyna's delicate wrists and yanking her further down the hallway. "And anyway how did you get away with that?"
"With what?" she asked innocently.
"Dating college guys."
"My penthouse was my sweet sixteen present. Happy Birthday princess! We're getting divorced. Move out," she said giggling sardonically. "It really was the best thing they could do for me since I didn't have access to my trust and couldn't purchase it myself."
Lexi had gotten used to this loathing hateful attitude Chyna displayed towards her parents. It was pretty common place. Lexi tried not to broach the subject too often since she had no experience in what Chyna was going through. Her parents, after all, were still happily married after nearly thirty years together. It truly saddened Lexi that Chyna's perception of relationships was so warped due to her parents. The fact that it hadn't completely jaded her towards all human interaction was a miracle in and of itself. "Well now that you have access why don't you get rid of it?" she asked. Though, she couldn't blame her for holding onto the beautiful apartment.
"I've replaced nearly everything inside from knocking out walls and replacing the floorboards. So it's not really like it's the same place anymore. Not to mention the fabulous view."
Lexi resisted the urge to mention that the penthouse was also the last gift Chyna had ever received jointly from her parents. She highly suspected this accounted for never selling the place. Some things just didn't need to be brought up, especially when Lexi was finally getting Chyna into her dorm room. Lexi could easily admit that an NYU dorm room was nothing compared to Chyna's apartment, but she was far from ashamed of the place.
She shared a common area with three other girls all who had been admitted into the law school that fall. The space was cluttered with nick-knacks from each other's previous residences. A mismatching couch and loveseat were crushed together in front of a tiny tube TV. The kitchen didn't even have a stove due to the safety hazard this produced. This explained why their tiny freezer was always overstocked with microwavable dinners. Four doors on the far wall opened up to the bedrooms. Lexi had the first room, if you could call it that, on the left. She hadn't lived in a lofted bed since her freshman year of undergrad. But if she hadn't put her bed nearly touching the ceiling, nothing else would have fit in the space. A tiny desk, rolling chair, and miniature refrigerator were crammed under the bed. The rest of the furniture was built into the room. Somehow she wasn't a bit embarrassed to bring her rich friend back to her place even if her room was as big as the girl's closet. She was in New York City at a top five law school. This was how people were supposed to live or at least, that's what she kept telling herself.
"Here we are," Lexi said hearing the lock click and pushing the door open. Chyna inspected the shared living space while Lexi produced another key and unlocked her bedroom.
"It's so…quaint," Chyna announced cocking her head to the side thoughtfully. Her eyes scanned the room purposely avoiding the ugly carpeted floors before landing back on Lexi.
"You haven't seen anything yet." Chyna turned towards Lexi following her into the bedroom.
"Wow. You didn't prepare me for this," Chyna mumbled her jaw slackened in surprise at the size of the space.
"Yeah, well, I didn't think it would be possible to prepare you anyway."
"You're probably right," she agreed in awe. Swiveling in place, Chyna observed the size of the room before saying, "You do realize my closet is bigger than this room."
"Well, maybe next year I'll move into your closet," Lexi quipped only half-joking.
"Then where would my clothes go?" Chyna asked her hands placed lightly on her hips.
"I'll work around it."
"Fine. Just don't touch the cashmere," she said giggling.
Chyna placed her Louis Vuitton handbag and matching backpack in the empty desk chair and sauntered towards the bay windows, which Lexi repeatedly claimed was the only redeeming feature about her bedroom. Lexi watched her for a few minutes recognizing the wheels turning in her mind. Something was going on up there, and Lexi had a feeling it wasn't going to be in her favor. Chyna constantly got this look on her face that said she was about to propose a crazy scheme. Normally, Lexi went along with her, but seeing that look on her friend while in her room made Lexi a bit anxious. She knew that Chyna would speak up again when she was done assessing the situation.
Whirling on her kitten heels, Chyna faced Lexi with a beautiful smile tacked onto her face. "Can I redo your room? You know I just met this amazing new designer. I'm pretty sure he would be able to fix this um…problem."
Lexi rolled her eyes dramatically. "My room is fine the way it is."
"Well of course, dear," she said linking their arms and nuzzling close to her friend, "but I could make it gorgeous. You would absolutely love Frederick too. He's a mastermind. He did the renovations in my guest bedroom recently and they're stunning…"
"Chyna…"
"He could really do a number on this place," she continued oblivious to Lexi calling her name.
"Chyna chill out," she said shaking her out of her reverie. "How about we just have a good time?" Lexi suggested.
"Oh, but Alexa, I'm telling you. The man is a decorating genius."
"I'm sure he is sweetie, but this is a college dorm room. It's supposed to look like this."
"I'll get to you eventually," she warned her poking her playfully in the ribs.
"Yeah yeah," she said waving her off.
"So…" Chyna drawled, "what do girls do on slumber parties?"
Lexi's jaw dropped open slightly. "Haven't you ever been on one?"
"Well yeah I have, but those were different. Usually we just took over the house of whoever's parents were out of town that weekend. We'd either have a huge party and get hammered or it'd just be us girls and we'd still get hammered. You know how I like my alcohol," Chyna said with a wink.
"I'll admit alcohol is involved," Lexi told her diving into the freezer of her mini fridge. She pulled out a tray of what looked like frozen gummi bears. Chyna's eyebrows shot up at the treat. "For those of us who had to sneak alcohol past our parents, we made these."
"You made gummi bears?" she asked incredulously looking at the tray with humor in her eyes.
"No, they're vodka gummi bears. You soak them in vodka for close to three days, then they are just as potent as the real stuff, but it looks like you're just eating gummi bears. Not to mention they're delicious," Lexi informed her popping two red gummis into her mouth and letting them slide down her throat.
"Oh exciting," Chyna said grabbing a handful. "You're right," she said between bites, "these are delicious. I can't taste the alcohol at all."
"It'll hit you later," Lexi told her giggling as she swallowed a white gummi.
"So what do we do after we're drunk from these things?"
"Usually manicures, facials, late night chick flicks, junk food, the works…"
Chyna sucked her bottom lip in between her teeth as she looked at her perfectly done fingernails and imagined the amount of work out time it would take for her to process said junk food. "You know…I don't think I was missing anything."
Lexi smacked her arm. "Hey, don't diss on my childhood alchy!"
"I can't help it if your childhood activities don't appeal to a twenty year old," she said playfully. "Let's finish off these gummis and then go party."
Lexi had actually planned for this. Chyna partied nearly every night, and though Lexi couldn't join her most nights since she was in school, they did end up out together at least one night every weekend. "Fine, but we're still staying here tonight without bringing a guy home," she added hastily.
Chyna stuck out her bottom lip adjusting her features into a perfect little pout. "Alexaaa," she whined.
"No buts about it missy."
"But but but but…"
"No!" she cried tossing a gummi at her.
"Don't waste them!" she squealed ducking the assault and reaching for another gummi.
The girls changed as quickly as Chyna would allow for, all the time complaining about the ramifications of four girls sharing one tiny bathroom. Lexi laughed along as she pulled a straightener through her hair which she had let grow near to her waist. She knew it was a poor choice. Even though the evening air was close to freezing compared to the Georgia atmosphere she was accustomed to, the club where they would be was sure to be suffocating, and she would be in need of a ponytail upon entrance. This hardly mattered to her at the time though. She would deal with the consequences of her choices at a later date.
As they exited the building, Lexi recognized an onyx town car which immediately drove up to meet them. Lexi slid against the black leather interior with Chyna following behind her. Apparently, the driver already knew where they were headed, because instead of offering a destination, Chyna popped open a chilled bottle of Cristal resting in a bucket.