Two weeks since the incident, I was staying with the Browns who were happy to help me in any way they could. I had received help from many well-wishers in the community and was more than grateful and had spent it all including the money I'd saved for my tuition on hospital bills. I was all alone in the house, staring at yet another bill in Charlotte's room. They had moved Jane to a special rehabilitation centre specially made for coma patients and it was pretty expensive, if I didn't pay this one, they'd stop treating her and kick her out. I chose to keep this bill to myself, I didn't want to trouble the Browns anymore, they already did so much. I folded the piece of paper and put it in my purse, right next to the money that I got from selling the truck. I was going to use it to pay the hospital the next day, I had no idea what I was going to do for the other bills to come. It was my day off and I thought the least I could do was do the chores around the house, I cleaned every corner of the house and when I was done, I returned to Charlotte's room and sat at the window just like I always did in my own room. With the little change I had to spare I had bought myself another notebook for my poems, I was pretty sad that all the poems I wrote ever since I was a kid had burnt to ashes and I wondered if I should rewrite them, that's if I could remember. I pulled my new notebook from my bag with a pen and waited for the inspiration, normally it would hit me as soon as the pen touched the paper but these days I was suffering from severe writer's block and I found it so frustrating. I threw the notebook on the bed in defeat and just stared at the sky. I just wish everything would go back to normal, just Jane and I. I sighed and decided to sleep. It was late in the afternoon and I just wasn't in the mood for lunch, I got up and laid on the bed drifting to sleep. When I woke up it was evening and that's when I quickly realized I had forgotten to do one more chore. Laundry. Loading the washing machine, I remembered the police report that Donald, the friendly officer, had told me when he came to visit me a few days back. He said Jane was found on the floor in the kitchen and suspected her attackers were trying to burn her along with the evidence but luckily the firefighter's had arrived early and saved her with only minor burns, an investigation had been launched but it was pretty hard since they were no leads. Once I find out who did this, I'll kill them I inwardly hissed as I grabbed her pants and removed the contents of my pockets, a dollar bill, her handkerchief and the card. I studied it again, perhaps this was the answer to my problems. I took my phone and searched up Ventura Enterprises. It was a multi-billion-dollar company and guess who was the CEO, Mateo Ventura. I scrolled through the pictures of him receiving awards and making partnerships with other big companies. Should I just ask him for a job? He did leave me his card after all. I bit her my contemplating.
"Hey Mimi, I'm back." A familiar voice said in the doorway. "And I brought company."
I nearly jumped out of my skin, I shoved the card in my pyjama pocket and turned to Charlotte and Sandra with a half-smile.
"Oh hey, I didn't hear you come in."
"Scared you didn't I?" Charlotte laughed.
"Yeah, you really got me there." I replied while I threw my pants in the washing machine and turned it on.
"Anyway, Charlotte and I were thinking of going out for some fun, want to come?" Sandra asked as they made their way to the kitchen. They sat down while Charlotte got some apple juice from the fridge.
"I don't think I want to, with Jane in a coma I just don't want..."
"Come on, it will be something simple just some ice cream and then we'll go to our favourite places, please." They all begged giving her puppy dog eyes.
"Okay fine." I gave in rolling her eyes. Maybe a little fun with my girls would take my mind off things and I couldn't remember the last time they had gone out together, it's the least she could do.
"Yay." Sandra squealed with delight. "Now let's go pick out your outfit, you look like a depressed housewife."
"Hey." I said offended, I took her juice away before she could sip. "No juice for you."
Charlotte laughed as we bickered, I was running around the kitchen trying to keep the cup away from Sandra who was getting desperate and began begging.
"Okay you two, if my mum finds us here, she's going to find a reason for us to stay so let's go upstairs and freshen up so we can leave."
We picked out an outfit for me, which was a short black dress with a jean top, Sandra just added a white jacket to her baby pink dress and Charlotte rocked a green corset top and black pants. We were cleaning up when Charlotte picked up Fernanda's pyjama's and the card fell out. She picked it up and turned to Fernanda. "Mimi, what's this?" She asked. My eyes widened when I saw the Card in Charlotte's hands, I quickly went over to snatch it but Charlotte was too quick.
"Nope, let me read it."
"Come on Char, it's nothing."
"Mateo Ventura? Who's that?"
"It's no one, now can I please have the card back?"
"Hey Sandra, would you search up Mateo Ventura please."
"On it." Sandra said picking up her phone.
"No guys you really don't have to search to search him..."
"Oh my..." Sandra stared wide eyed at the screen then turned to Charlotte. "It's the hot guy... The one who came in the café the other day. It looks like his loaded too. Take a look."
She turned her phone so we could see, Charlotte gasped and they both turned their attention to me crossing their arms.
"Mimi, what's going on?"
"Okay look, I found the card under his cup when I went to go clean his table." I explained snatching the card from Charlotte and placing it in my notebook on the bed.
"Well why didn't you tell us?"
"Because I knew you guys would make a big deal out of it."
Charlotte gasped with her hand to her chest.
"First of all, I am so offended. Second of all, we can definitely say that the man wants to fuck you."
Sandra nodded in agreement.
"You see this is exactly what I was talking about." I shook my head in defeat.
"Well what else would it be?" Sandra cocked an eyebrow.
"Maybe he wants to give me job."
Charlotte and Sandra laughed and I stared at them annoyed.
"Why would a billionaire playboy want to hire a teenager whose only work experience is at some local café?" Charlotte dried a fake tear. "Babe look, I have read enough Wattpad stories to know that he wants you, that's how they all go. Boy meets girl in café, boy wants to fuck girl, then they screw each other till they fall in love and live happily ever after."
"Well I don't want him and this isn't a Wattpad story."
"Then why are you keeping his card?"
"Uh..."
The door opened and Mrs Brown entered. I sighed in relief, I had never been more grateful for Mrs Brown.
"What's all the noise about?" She asked her eyes scanning the room probably wondering why we were all dressed up.
"The girl's and I are planning on going out." Charlotte explained.
"Oh okay, have fun but I need you back here by eleven."
"Don't you mean ten?" Sandra asked confused and Charlotte kicked her in the shins. "Ow."
"I'm giving you guys an extra hour and not a minute later, got it?"
We all nodded and she smiled.
"Why you busy staring at me for? Get your asses out there."
"Thanks mum." Charlotte gave her a hug.
"Sandra, Mimi, I'm gonna need a hug from you too."
I blushed. Mrs Brown had never called me Mimi before. She gave us both a warm hug and we finally left and got a taxi to our favourite bowling place.
"Your mum is so cool." Sandra said to Charlotte as she paid the taxi driver and they walked in the building.
"I know she gets it from me." Charlotte said smugly.
"I don't think that's how it works." I pointed out, I had to admit that I was already starting to feel better. The neon lights, the scent of cotton candy somehow made me feel more relaxed. We went to the counter and traded in our shoes for bowling shoes.
"Today is the day I mop the floor with your asses." Sandra smiled as she grabbed the bowling ball. Charlotte and I rolled our eyes, she always said that before a game and almost always ended up losing. She threw the bowling ball and missed completely making us burst into laughter.
"I got distracted that's all." She pouted.
It was Charlotte's turn next and she stood up and gracefully picked up the ball.
"Let me show you how it's done cry baby."
She swung her arm and let go of the bowling bowl, it knocked down all of the pins giving her a perfect score. She smiled and blew on her nails.
"And that ladies, is another reason I'd make a perfect girlfriend for Hunter."
"Speak of the devil." Sandra smiled mischievously at the alley on the end, Hunter was with his friends bowling as well. And as if he knew we were talking about him, he noticed us and came over. He hadn't changed much since the last time Fernanda saw him which was on their prom night. He had grown taller and looked more of a man with his dark hair that somehow complimented his dark eyes and this irresistible smile.
"Hey girls." Hunter smiled.
"Hey." They greeted back.
"You like you're having fun, want to join me and the boys for some more?"
"Sure thing." Charlotte shrugged she looked so composed but I could tell that her insides were going crazy at that moment, we walked over to where Hunter's friends were.
"These are my friends; Nico and Blake" Hunter said introducing them. Nico had this curly short hair and blue eyes, that scanned me and instantly made me feel a bit uncomfortable while the other guy, Blake was playing, his bowling bowl only hit half of the pins and he shook his head before turning to us running his hand through his blonde hair. Blake had this look about him, like he liked causing trouble. "Dudes this is; Charlotte, Sandra and Maria Fernanda."
"Nice to meet you." Nico smiled. "Want to join us for a game?"
"Sure thing, Boys against girls?" Fernanda suggested.
"A chance to show you why boys are a hundred times better than girls? Bring it on." Blake challenged.
"Let's make this more interesting." Sandra said putting her hand on her hip. "If we win, ice-creams on you, if we lose, it's on us."
"Deal"
"How can you be confidently betting like that when you're the one terrible at bowling." Charlotte nudged her with her elbow.
"Ladies first." Nico smiled handing me a ball.
"Watch and learn how it's done boys." I said confidently, I threw the ball and got a perfect score. They all looked at her impressed. "Beat that."
After a lot of cheering and hollering the game unfortunately ended in a tie, the top scorers being Nico and I.
"This means Girls are slightly just as good as boys." Blake said shrugging and Sandra scoffed
"You wish."
"Enough, the competition's over." Nico laughed. "Let's go for ice cream, bills on me. Come on."
We used Nico's car which by the way looked expensive, I wasn't all gung ho about cars but I did know that it was a Ferrari, I concluded that he was probably from a rich family. We drove to the carnival and honestly it was one of the best nights of my life. We took tons of pictures and I got to ride the Ferris wheel. I should definitely come here with Jane sometime. I thought and instantly felt bad, there I was having fun and goofing around while Jane was in a coma. My good mood disappeared and I quietly broke away from the group without anyone noticing, I then sat at a bench alone quietly thinking.
"Why'd you leave?" Nico asked sitting next to me. I got startled because I thought nobody noticed that I had left.
"I just needed some time alone that's all?" I shrugged.
"Something's wrong, tell me."
I looked at him wondering if I could really tell him, there was something about him that made me feel like I was talking to someone I'd known for a long time, someone I could trust.
"Okay if it makes you feel better, I'll tell you my problems too." He smiled and I couldn't help but smile back at him.
"Well, I was abandoned by my mother when I was born and Jane, her friend raised me, she says my mother didn't forget about me and that she cares and I know she just told me that to make me feel better but the older I got the more I realized that I was abandoned ." Fernanda could feel her the tears welling in her eyes. "Jane is the most wonderful person I've ever met and sure she's tough and people say she's crazy but she has a heart of gold and means the world to me, one day I go to work and find out she's been shot and almost got burnt to death and now she's in a coma. The doctors aren't sure if she's ever going to wake up and I..."
Fernanda burst into tears. Nico pulled her close and let her cry on his shoulder.
"I'm sorry I got so emotional..."
"It's okay, I know it must be tough. Guess it's my turn."
He went silent for a minute before sighing.
"My family owns one of the biggest companies in New York and my father puts his whole life into it that nothing else to him matters. Him and I have never been close, even after the death of my mother we never comforted each other, if anything we grew more distant and right now he's always on my neck since I'm going to inherit his precious company one day, he's been teaching me his ways but honestly I want nothing to do with the family business, I want to go down my own path you know."
"I guess both of us have it rough huh."
"I'll be there for you, if you're there for me."
"Deal."
We smiled at each other before the tension between us made us kiss.
"Well hello love birds." Hunter's voice said behind them.
We pulled away from each other embarrassed that we'd been caught by their friends
"If you two needed some alone time, you could've said so instead of disappearing like that." Charlotte laughed, she pulled me off the bench. "Come on the night is still young."
We continued our fun and a couple of times Nico and I would share glances that made me blush to my roots, I'd never forget that night. I was glad to have friends that made me happy.