Graham was relieved to know it was Pizza they were eating for lunch. They got in line to order, Graham looked around and didn't see a group of girls. Hopefully they were still coming and were running late. He checked his phone, he and Noah were actually early. Graham got a slice of Buffalo Chicken and Noah got a slice of Mac and Cheese Pizza with some garlic bread to share.
They found a place to sit and in a few minutes a group of girls walked in. Graham's mystery girl was among them. He was relieved but still nervous. He just wanted the mystery solved. Noah stood to greet one of them Graham assumed was Emma and invite them all to sit by him and Graham. The girls agreed and joined them after getting their food.
Once they had sat down with their food and unbundled from their winter wear, the Emma began introductions, "This is Noah and his housemate Graham, and I'm Emma, then Lauren, Georgina but we call her Gina, Tiffany, Audrey, and Lilliana or Lily." Emma pointed at each girl as she said their names. Emma was petite with strawberry blonde hair that was in a messy bun, poking through her pink beanie cap. Nods and hellos were exchanged.
Graham finally had a name for the face, Georgina, but that still didn't help him place her. He decided to just ask. "Georgina you look familiar, have we met?"
"I don't remember meeting you, but I was thinking you look kind of like my grandfather when he was younger, maybe we could be cousins?" Georgina suggested.
"Maybe." Graham said disappointed. He didn't know of any family other than his aunt. Since his parents had died and his dad was an only child and his Aunt was his moms only sibling there really wasn't any other family. He also knew his housemates would get a laugh at him when Noah told them the hot girl suggested they were related. John would be happy though. Georgina was beautiful and definitely John's type while Graham was more attracted to women like Audrey or Lilliana.
"It could be fun to figure out, what are your grandparents names?" Georgina asked.
"I'm not sure, they died before I was born and my parents died when I was little. My Aunt that raised me didn't know my dad's parents and she never really talked about her parents, I think there was some bad feelings." Graham gushed out.
"Oh, that would make figuring it out more difficult." Georgina replied. "What is your last name?"
"Johnson." Graham said.
"I don't think I have any relatives with that name." Georgina said after a minute.
"Maybe I've just seen you around campus and that's why, what is your major?" Graham wanted to change the subject away from family. It always made him uncomfortable to discuss how he only had one living relative especially since their relationship was currently strained.
"Law, although since we're all Sophomores, I'm mostly doing generals now so I'm all over." She answered.
"Any in the business school?" Graham asked since that's where he spent all his time for the past two years.
"Nope." Gina shook her head.
"Maybe you just remind me of someone." Graham shrugged.
"Possibly, although I have an assignment for my bio class about doing a genetic test - it's suppose to show your relatives who have taken it. It's extra credit but could be fun if we both send one in to see if we're related." Gina eyes lit up as she spoke.
"Um..." Graham stalled. He could obviously see her enthusiasm but was he willing to find more information that his Aunt refused to provide without asking her first? He knew that would make her upset, but now he was an adult, shouldn't he be able to make his own decisions?
"You should do it, you've always wondered about your family, since you only know your Aunt." Noah jumped in.
"What would I have to do?" Graham knew better than to commit before knowing what was involved.
"I was going to order my kit today and then when it comes I think we just spit in a tube and send it back. I can order you one and meet up when it comes." Gina explained.
"Doesn't sound too bad." Noah told Graham and gave him a look that said, do it and then if you're not related you can ask her out.
"Sounds interesting, what does it cost?" Graham asked.
"Not much, I'll just cover the cost since it's for my class." Gina said, then noticing Graham was about to object added, "My parents cover all my school expenses so no worries."
"How can I say no then?" Graham smiled. He pushed his qualms about what his Aunt would say aside. He let his curiosity win.
"Great, let me get your contact info and I'll call you when it arrives." Gina gave him her phone so he could add his digits.
"Should I enter myself as Cousin Graham?" He jokingly asked.
"Sure, just put it in quotation marks, then it will be easier for me to find you when the kits arrive." Gina suggested. "And easier to change it if it turns out we're not cousins."
Gina had a brief pensive look, Graham wasn't sure he read it right since it was gone so fast. He entered in his info and handed her phone back to her. The conversation was a bit awkward since they two groups didn't really know each other. Graham did enjoy interacting with Aubrey and Lilliana.
Graham made a mental list of what he liked about each. Aubrey was a bit more outgoing, Lilliana didn't talk a lot but made very interesting comments that made Graham think and Graham loved to analyze everything. Aubrey was a bit shorter than Lilliana who was a few inches shorter than Graham. But neither were short enough that he'd have to bend over awkwardly to kiss them, which he'd happily do with either of them once he got to know them. Aubrey had light brown hair pulled back into a ponytail, the ends curled and constellation-blue eyes. Lilliana had medium brown that fell to her shoulders and the light caught the golden highlights as she moved her head, and hazel eyes.
After his conversion with Gina, Graham was more than content to sit and enjoy his lunch while listening to everyone else interact. He occasionally made comments, but only when needed.
Noah texted Graham toward the end of their lunch with the girls.
NOAH: We should invite them to our house for dinner this weekend. Our housemates would love it.
GRAHAM: You'd love spending more time with Emma.
NOAH: Perfect excuse, right?
GRAHAM: Yeah and if we invited the whole group she wouldn't have to worry about her safety.
NOAH: Always the gentleman.
GRAHAM: Someone has to be!
NOAH: Saturday?
GRAHAM: Make it 7.
Noah nodded. "Hey we were wondering if you all like to come hang out and have dinner at our place on Saturday. We'll be eating around 7."
Emma smiled, "Sounds fun, text me the address and I'll let you know who can come later."
"I'll be waiting to hear back, Emma." Noah smiled.
"It was nice to meet all of you. Hopefully we will see some of you on Saturday." Graham said, he specifically looked at Aubrey and Lilliana as he said that. He stood, pulled his coat on and cleared his area of the table. "Can I get any of your garbage while I'm taking mine?"
He collected as much as he could manage and Noah grabbed the rest. They waved and headed out the door.
"You totally like her, admit it." Graham teased Noah after they'd walked out.
"She is cute and not ditzy so there's a plus." Noah replied, "and she didn't imply we were related."
Graham laughed, "Or do more than imply."
"Tough break man."
"Gina's totally more John's type. I'm just frustrated that I still don't know why she looks so familiar. It really seems like I should remember her." Graham sighed. "Even knowing we were cousins would help."
"I guess if she follows through with the DNA test you can learn if she's related and that may give you an answer."
"Yeah, but if nothing else it's made you connect with Emma, so not a total loss."
"We'll see if Emma even contacts me again, it seems like a stall tactic to not let us know right away. Then she can ignore my texts and not show up." Noah groaned.
"Dude she was totally into you back there, I doubt that will happen, she may need to convince some of the others to come with her." Graham said. "Plus she has to know you're a decent guy, you're her friends boyfriends brother after all."
"Quite the chain of connection you just spouted, and I guess I do have that going for me. It's not as if I'm a total stranger." Noah agreed.
"Plus you're not that bad looking ... so I've heard." Graham said.
"Glad you clarified, because I like you bro but I'm straight." Noah laughed.
"I know that but maybe we should consider that someone has realized they were gay, I mean no one at The Ark has had a date in months so things could have changed, although lately I've been too busy to date." Graham looked thoughtful, "Although I've wondered about Lucas."
"Really, Lucas? I'd have guessed Elijah." Noah mused.
"Just don't tell them we said that. It might ruin our happy household." Graham commented.
"Now I'm wondering about you, who says that about a houseful of guys?" Noah joked.
"My aunt would say stuff like that." Graham shrugged.
"Crazy how things we've heard growing up come back at the strangest times."
"Seriously, you should have went into philosophy."
"Why study it when I'm a natural?" Noah joked.
"I suppose it will help you in your discussions as a doctor. People may listen to you better."
"I've got to run to my next class, I'll see you at the house." Noah said as he turned toward the bus stop.
"Later." Graham nodded and headed the opposite direction to the Business building.