Chapter 3 -
After slamming the phone down, Nia knew she needed an escape. So, she grabbed a spoon from the kitchen, and headed to her best friend’s place, seeking any form of solace she could offer. She had a spare key to Isa’s apartment, just as her best friend had hers. Though they didn't use it unless it came to an emergency, or with permission from the other person. If it were up to her, heartbreak counted as an emergency, because she was presently in Isa’s cozy living room, filled with the warm scent of vanilla candles.
Nia was seated on Isa’s couch in a lotus position, with a bucket of Isa’s rich, creamy chocolate ice cream balanced on her crossed legs. Her friend wasn’t home yet, but when she arrived, she would be surprised to see Nia spending the night with her instead of celebrating her one year long relationship—the longest she had been in.
A loud sigh escaped her at how her thoughts unconsciously spiraled back to Alex. Despite her need to erase him from her memory, Nia couldn’t seem to stop herself from reflecting on a year’s worth of nostalgia that still lingered. The sound of the front door unlocking and locking broke her gaze, alerting her that she wasn’t alone. Then not a minute later, Isa appeared in the living room, bewildered.
“What’s up, Nia?” Her friend inquired with wide blue eyes taking her in.
Another sigh came from her before answering that question. “I just said goodbye to my relationship, I’m single again. Yay!” She tried to make light of the situation but failed miserably with how her lips quivered right after, holding back more sobs.
“Ay mi amor!” Isa practically ran to her on the couch, enveloping her frame with hers as she patted her back soothingly like a big sister would do.
They both stayed in each other’s arms, the silence around them peaceful and tranquil. Nina had thought she was going to rant then cry, but with her best friend here, and her cocooned up in Isa’s embrace, she didn’t feel like it anymore. They remained in the same position, with Nia resting in the comfort of her friend, and basking in her warmth. She knew the question and answer session was coming. And after what felt like several minutes passed, Isa pulled away to ask.
“What caused both of you to break up?”
“He had been cheating on me for months and decided to come clean today.”
“Alex? Cheating on you? I barely see him with any woman.”
Nia snorted at that, if only Isa knew her ex boyfriend was gay, but she doubted he had come out to anyone. And even though she hated his guts for hurting and betraying her, she wouldn’t do the same to him—at least not in this delicate situation.
“Don’t tell me he took those social climbers to a fancy restaurant.” Then she gasped, “or did he? How dare he do that to you?” Isa seethed, coming up with a possible explanation of having not seen any woman with Alex in the apartment.
“That bastard! I will kill him when I get the chance,” her friend’s expression switched from shock to rage. Isa pulled her into another hug. “Don’t worry about that scumbag, you’re staying here with me.”
Nia smiled weakly, grateful for the presence of her friend. “I kicked him out,” she divulged. “But you’re right, I can’t go back there for now. So, I’ll just sleep here tonight with my favorite person in the world,” she praised her best friend who nodded delightfully, “and I will deal with the aftermath tomorrow.”
Isa tied her shoulder length blonde hair into a messy bun as she asked. “Dinner?”
“Yes please,” Nia responded cheerily, having gotten enough comfort ice cream.
“Come on,” her best friend pulled her up, and dragged her down to the kitchen.
“How about my signature chicken noodle soup to cheer you up?” Isa asked as they walked side by side in the apartment.
Nia mewled, this was one of the reasons she ran to Isa, and her friend knew exactly what she needed to cheer her up without having to ask.
“You know you’re a lifesaver, right?” Nia said, assuming her usual position on the stool behind the kitchen counter.
Isa only smiled, “that’s what friends are for,” she remarked, before clapping her hands. “Now, let’s get this soup cooking and forget about Alex tonight,” she said before proceeding to the refrigerator to bring out the vegetables.
Nia watched her friend closely as she prepared their dinner. She tried to pay attention to the present, but her mind kept going back to the phone call. It was unusual—someone like that asking her about Alex’s whereabouts. Her ex boyfriend didn’t roll with those kinds of people, the kind that threatened others on the phone. She couldn’t help but wonder what he had gotten into, if she was being technical, it seemed like a loan shark kind of situation. Her friend must have noticed her distraction because she snapped in her face twice. “Earth to Nia, everything okay?”
Of course she wasn’t okay, so many things were going on in her mind, but a recent conversation was topping the list. Nia was unsure whether to share with Isa or not, but the uncertainty of things ate her insides, and she gave into the fear.
“After I sent the douche packing, I got a strange phone call from some guy who was looking for Alex.”
That got Isa’s attention, because she ceased chopping the carrot in her hold. “What did he say?” She inquired, concern heavy in her voice. Nia recounted everything that transpired between her and the man to her best friend who listened attentively and appeared shocked at the point of the threat.
“Dios mio!” her friend gasped. “What has Alex gotten himself into?” Isa asked rhetorically, neither of them knowing the answer to that.
They both stared at each other, their minds turning with possible explanations for that mysterious phone call.
“Whatever it is, I don’t want to deal with it. I’m done with him, along with everything pertaining to him.” Nia whispered to herself, trying to calm her anxious nerves. Isa, who was standing in front of her nodded in agreement.
“Exactly! You deserve better.” Nia didn’t say anything to that, she only remained in her stool, watching her friend work her magic. The vegetables had been sliced, now it boiled down to the actual soup, Isa was rummaging in her spices cabinet when her exasperated voice filled the kitchen. “I’m out of black pepper. Do you happen to have any at your place?”
Nia remembered the bag of groceries she bought from the supermarket to prepare the special lasagna for her and Alex’s one year anniversary. She was certain a bottle of black pepper was in the bag.
“Hold on, let me go get it,” she informed Isa, standing from her stool.
Her friend resurfaced in the cooking area. “Are you sure it’s fine for you to go back there so soon?”
She knew her friend was just worried but it wasn’t something Nia couldn’t pull off. Sooner than later, she would have to go back to her apartment. And, maybe it was better to get used to not seeing Alex in there early enough, maybe she would heal faster.
“I’ll be right back,” she reassured her with one of her fake smiles which Isa knew well, but decided not to press on.
Walking the familiar path back to her apartment, Nia was in the building hallway, with Isa’s door far behind her when she perceived a strong cologne in the air. It was strange because there was no one in the narrow hallway, yet the scent lingered, a scent she hadn’t smelled on any of her neighbors. She shook her head at how paranoid she sounded because of a mere cologne that could belong to anyone, probably a visitor of her neighbors. At her door, she put the key in her hands into the hole and turned it twice until the lock made a sound indicating it was open. She walked into her home, refusing to stare at Alex’s shoes on the rack beside the wall, nor their couple pictures mounted on a frame by the door. Nia ignored all of those damnable signs and walked further into the place, immediately sighting her grocery bag resting on a couch in the living room.
Then something piqued her olfactory senses, that same cologne was in her living room. But this time, the owner was with her, standing somewhere behind her. His closeness allowed her to get a good sniff of the scent—leather and tobacco, with something unnerving underneath.
There was an intruder in her home, and he happened to catch her in her most vulnerable state, no knife or anything that could act as a weapon in her hold.
“Nia Wallace.”