Outside the Box

by H. M. Montes

  Destiney laughed, “OKAY JEEZ! Rich this is Alexia, a.k.a Lexi.” She waved her hand dismissively and smiled.

  “Pleased to meet you, what do YOU like to be called? I call Miss Lancaster, D, per HER request.” He told me as he started pushing our luggage rack into the lobby of the building.

  “Lexi…you can call me Lexi.” I said and smiled. Once we were in the lobby my mouth fell open. “WHOA!” I turned a circle and looked at the lobby. It was all very modern, the front wall was all glass, the walls were all a very creamy off white, dark hardwood floors stretched the length of the room, long white cylinder lights hung down at different levels creating a beautiful modern chandelier. A lady sitting at the desk smiled and greeted us.

  “Good afternoon…”

  “Lexi!” Destiney interrupted her and smiled.

  The lady nodded, “Lexi, I’m Ginger. You be sure D doesn’t skip out on giving you the tour of this wonderful building.”

  “Oh I can’t wait!” I waved at her then hurried to catch up with Destiney and Rich. We stood in front of the elevator for a few minutes, “What floor do we live on?” I asked.

  “Twentieth!”

  My eyes got big, “How many floors are there?”

  Destiney grinned and shrugged a shoulder, “Twenty.”

  Once we were all in the elevator Rich looked down at my pet carrier, “I take it this little one is Frank?” He asked and knelt down to look inside the crate. Frank meowed and rubbed her head against the cage door. Rich stuck his finger through the holes of the metal door and scratched behind Frank’s ears. Frank started to purr so loud we could hear her over the soft elevator music.

  “What the hell Frank!” Destiney said with a shocked look on her face.

  “What?” Rich asked and stood back up just before the elevator glided to a stop on the twentieth floor. The doors wooshed open, he pushed the luggage cart out and stood in a small entry way waiting for us.

  “That cat hates ME! If I would have done that she would have ripped my fingers off.” She told Rich as she slid her key card through to unlock the door. Rich just shook his head and laughed then pushed the luggage cart through the door way and down the short hall into the apartment.

  “Oh my god seriously?” I gasped when we reached the living room. It was breathtaking, floor to ceiling windows lined the outer wall, light bamboo flooring stretched the length of the room. The kitchen had dark brown granite counter tops, the cabinets were a glowing white with back lights in them. The walls were painted a beautiful natural tan color, it was an open floor plan that flowed beautifully and looked VERY expensive. “How much does this cost? I can’t afford to help pay for this Destiney!”

  Rich patted me on the shoulder and walked out of the apartment shutting the door with a soft click of the lock.

  “You don’t worry about it, okay?” She walked past me into the kitchen and grabbed us each a bottle of water out of the refrigerator.

  “I’m going to worry about it! This has to cost a fortune…”

  “Daddy pays for it he is alumni I told you, so he gets a discount and wanted me to live in a safe place. I’ve already talked to him I told you that!”

  I blew out a breath and sat down at the kitchen table, “I know but…it’s so…”

  “HUSH! You deserve this, okay! Let Frank out so she can explore while I go show you the rest of the building.”

  Frank darted out of her cage and right for the glass windows, we both laughed as she slowly walked closer to the window trying to peek over the edge of the glass. Destiney stomped her foot, “Watch out you’ll fall!” she whisper yelled causing Frank to jump, hiss, and screech then take off running away from the windows.

  “Jeez I don’t know why she doesn’t like you.” I said and started calling for Frank so I could show her the view from my arms.

  “Come on, she’ll be out before we get back.” Destiney stood and walked to the door not even waiting for me. One thing about Destiney is when she says go, you GO or get left. I rushed to catch up with her.

  We spent another thirty minutes touring the building, it had EVERY amenity possible, fitness room equipped with weights, treadmills, elliptical machines, and every other possible fitness related equipment. Swimming pool, dance studio, pool tables, and a racquetball room. “There is a doorman here twenty four seven. You have to be on the list of approved guests to get past the front desk. Tomorrow we’ll get you a key before we head over to the college.” Destiney told me. When we got back to the apartment Frank was sitting the small carpeted perch by the window. “See I told you she’d be fine. Rich didn’t get a chance to bring everything up here before we arrived, he did have the litter box here hopefully she found it.” She walked over to the small bathroom, “It’s in here, it’s cool as heck!”

  “The litter box is in the bathroom?” I asked and walked to the doorway where she was standing. Sure enough there was a high tech litter box tucked in the corner of the bathroom. “What’s that hose for?” I asked.

  “It’s hooked to the water line so it cleans each times she uses it, it’s supposed to make it odorless as well.”

  “You’re spending way too much on us!” I sighed and walked away.

  I sat down on the couch, Destiney came and sat down beside me. “I’m not! I love you like my own sister, you mean the world to me I’m going to help you any way I can. My parents want to help as well so let them…okay?”

  I wiped a tear off my cheek, “I just…I don’t know how I’m going to repay you. I don’t want to be a charity case.”

  “ALEXIA how dare you talk like that, you’re not a charity case…you’re a friend and I love you. You are going to love it here, I know it’s a HUGE change but just give it a chance okay?”

  I nodded my head and smiled then hugged her. “Thank you so much, I’ll repay you even if I’m still giving you money when we are in the nursing home hitting the call button just to see whose nurse responds faster.”

  We both laughed and decided since it had been a long day of traveling and getting things situated for me that we would just order some Chinese take-out instead of cooking. While we were eating we talked about her internship at her dad’s law firm ‘D & D Lancaster Attorneys at Law’. Her dad David is a high profile divorce attorney, her mom Shelley is a secretary for him, the other ‘D’ is for Destiney. She’s said she was going to be a big shot attorney like her daddy since we were about five years old.

  After we finished supper, I cleared our dishes and put them in the dishwasher, Destiney went to her room while talking on her phone to who I presumed to be one of her parents. I found Frank sitting on the perch next to the window and picked her up. Destiney came out of her room just as I was walking down the hallway to my room. “I’m so sorry Lex but dad needs me there by noon tomorrow so I’ll be able to go with you for a little while at least to the college.” She said sounding upset that she couldn’t spend the day with me.

  I petted Franks head and smiled, “I’m sure I’ll be okay if I get lost I will call you or ask some random stranger.”

  Destiney shook her head, “You’d better call me FIRST!” she smiled and then went back into her room, opened the door, “Night love!” she called to my back.

  “Night lovey!” I yelled back.

  I grabbed some sleep clothes, then went in the spacious bathroom and showered, Frank sat on the sink and stared at herself in the mirror the entire time. I took time to make sure I shaved and scrubbed until my skin was a nice red. The day had finally caught up with me and I almost fell asleep leaning against the tile wall. I got out, dried off, flipped my long sandy blonde hair over and braided it in a ponytail, put my sleep clothes on then tiredly made my way to the bed. As soon as I climbed under the deep red comforter the sheets felt like silk against my skin and I drifted off to sleep within minutes.

  About six thirty the following morning I was woke up by Frank slapping my nose with her paw, I had forgot to leave my bedroom door open so she could still get to her litter box. She ran dow
n the short hall and made a bee-line for the bathroom, I went to the pantry and got a can of her cat food out and put it in her bowl. She zigzagged between my legs and swished her tail then started eating. Then I decided I needed to get a pot of coffee started, I looked through the pantry for coffee and filters but couldn’t find any. Scanning the counter top there was no coffee pot, I even looked through the cabinets. Leaning against the counter I stared up at the ceiling, “Really Destiney…who doesn’t have a coffee pot?” I sighed and looked around the kitchen one more time.

  “I don’t have one because Starbucks is next door to the building.” Destiney said and yawned while pulling her hair into a pony tail. “Go change we are starting our new workout TODAY!” she told me.

  “No!” I said trying not to whine. “I NEED COFFEE FIRST!” I demanded.

  “After our workout!” She said and turned me towards the bedroom by my shoulders and gave a shove.

  “I don’t like you very much right now!”

  “You’ll love me when you have a nice big cup of Caramel Macchiato to sip on!” she said and laughed.

  I found my running shorts, t-shirt, and running shoes. My hair was still in a ponytail braid so I twisted it up to make a bun and made my way back to the kitchen where I found Destiney having an intense stare down with Frank. Destiney stuck her tongue out at Frank then looked at me and smiled, “I think she’s warming up to me.” She told me.

  “You only hope! You’re about to see my Frank side if I don’t get coffee A.S.A.P!”

  “Jeezo chill out, our jog will only take about thirty minutes, then we’ll use the gym.”

  “Destiney can’t we do this in the evening?” I whined

  She threw her head back and laughed, “No way! We’ll NEVER actually get a workout in if we say we’re going to do it in the evening. I know how you operate.”

  We stretched as the elevator descended to the main lobby, the doors whooshed open and there stood a group of guys in workout clothes. They were visiting with the bellman, I smiled at them I didn’t get to speak to them because Destiney tugged me by the hand and out the large glass doors. “I forgot to mention that this building is stacked with hot college guys, hot CEO’s, and college professors that’ll make your panties catch on fire.” She said and took off jogging.

  “What?” I caught up with her, “Those guys live here? I mean in the same building?” I stopped at the corner and waited for the hand signal to turn green.

  “Yep! Most of them are nice.”

  “Okay…”

  “Just be careful Lexi, I don’t want one of them to think that you’re fresh meat and that they can just treat you like I’ve seen them treat other chicks.”

  “Well, Okay then. I hadn’t planned on spreading my legs for the first guy that makes me all hot and bothered.” I told her and laughed.

  We jogged through Morningside Park then part of Central Park, on our way back we passed the same group of guys as they made their way through the same running trail as we were. One of the guys had striking blue eyes, dark black hair, and was built like a football player. He smiled at me, after we passed each other I turned around and he was looking back at me too. “Well that’s embarrassing.” I said with a laugh.

  “That’s Derrick he plays on the Lions soccer team, he’s one of them you have to watch out for. Just promise me not to let them woo themselves into your panties. You’re a virgin you deserve to…”

  “Really? I don’t think all of Manhattan just heard you!” I whispered yelled at her as we walked through the lobby to the elevators.

  “I’m just saying.” She shrugged a shoulder.

  I shook my head, “Destiney I know that you think I should hold on to my virginity until I meet Mister Right, but, let’s face it, that happens how often?” I told her.

  “Okay Okay!” She raised her hands in surrender, “At least you didn’t give it to dick weed Carter. You really would have regretted that.”

  “I agree, but can you please not treat me like I’m made of glass? I want to be able to have fun like a college person. I’m not saying I’m going to turn into a slut or anything, I just want to have fun.”

  She hugged me, “Fun it will be!”

  I thought about bringing it up that we didn’t go to the gym like she had said we would but I kept my mouth shut instead. I liked working out, just not first thing in the morning, I usually worked out in the afternoon or in the evenings when I was more awake.

  After we had each showered I rummaged through my clothes to find something to wear, I knew the first place we would be going was the college. After that I was going to go around some of the boutiques, clothing stores, and small businesses to apply for a job.

  I was standing in the small walk in closet with my towel wrapped around me, flipping through the hangers, “Ugg, I can’t find anything!” I sighed, I turned around when I heard Destiney laugh.

  “Here, wear this.” She laid a black pencil skirt on the bed with a pale blue silk sleeveless blouse and a pair of sky high stilettos. “Dad gave me this to give to you, he said you’re going to need some new clothes and accessories.” She tried to hand me a credit card.

  “Nope, I’m not taking that!” I pushed it back towards her.

  “I told him you wouldn’t take it, so tomorrow I’m taking you shopping. END.OF.DISCUSSION!”

  “No you’re not I do have some money saved up.”

  She raised an eyebrow at me, “Just let us help okay? Pleaaasssee!” She whined.

  I shook my head, “Do you know how it’s making me feel? This apartment probably cost more than I’ll ever make in a month, these clothes and shoes cost more than I’ll make in a week, and I don’t even want to know how much is on that credit card IF there is even a limit.”

  “You either TAKE it, I take you shopping which we both know you’ll hate, OR I have the personal shopper do it and I “gift” it all to you. We just want you to be comfortable, please let us help?”

  I yanked the card out of her hand, “I’m only buying a week’s worth of clothes that’s it and I’m paying every single dime back.”

  “Okay, Deal!”

  We shook hands and she left the room to finish getting ready.

  I looked at myself in the mirror, the outfit she had laid out for me made my curves look beautiful and my legs look amazing. Neither of us were a size zero or even a size three, we were both athletically built and wore a size seven. Destiney stood about five foot five and I stood at five foot six and a half, we had always been the same size and shared our clothes since we were pre-teens. I walked out to the kitchen area when I heard Destiney laughing so hard she was gasping for air.

  “What’s so funny?” I asked looking at her as she bent over and laughed harder.

  “Oh god…oh…oh…she…Frankie…she…”

  “Frank what?” I asked with my hands on my hips.

  Destiney continued to laugh, “She…” she couldn’t even talk, she held her one hand up with her middle finger and index finger pointing down like a walking person. Then held her other hand up like a wall. “She…” she jumped one hand from the air to the wall.

  I looked over at Frank that was licking her paw and rubbing it down her face, then back at Destiney. “Oh god…(she sucked in a breath) She jumped from her perch right into the window after a bird…THUMP…meooww…” was all Destiney could say.

  I shook my head as she wiped the tears off her face from laughing so hard, I walked over and petted Frank then grabbed my purse. Destiney walked down the hall to her bathroom a few minutes later came out. “Sorry, I had to fix my mascara.” She said and tried not to start laughing again when she looked at Frank that was glaring at her from the perch.

  She tried not to laugh about it once we were in the elevator, even I couldn’t hold my laugh in so when the elevator doors opened and the same group of guys were standing in the lobby they all turned to stare at the crazy ladies on the elevator. Derrick smiled and looked me over from head to toe, but neither of us spoke. One of th
e other guys elbowed him and smiled at me as Destiney and I made our way out to a waiting cab. Clancy the doorman tipped his hat and wished us both a good day.

  The drive to the college took about fifteen minutes, I asked Destiney why we didn’t just walk. When she pointed at my heels, that was a good enough answer for me, the Luna Jimmy Choos were definitely not meant for walking very far. We walked into the admissions office and were greeted by two elderly ladies. “Good morning Miss Lancaster, what can we help you with?” the one lady said.

  “Good morning to you too Sherry and good morning Brenda. My friend Lexi is wanting to fill out financial aid and enrollment forms for the Accounting program.”

  “Oh dear you two, there’s a huge waiting list for that course. But we can sure get the paperwork started.”

  “How long of a wait?” I asked.

  “Only a few months but maybe longer, let’s get the paperwork sent in though.” Brenda said with a smile. We all sat down at a table while I filled out all of the forms, “Don’t forget to list your parents too, that way over spring break we can still mail out our newsletter.” Sherry told me.

  I looked at her, “Uhmm I…”

  “Her parents passed away, she just moved here with me.” Destiney told them.

  I looked back down at the form and put Destiney’s parents as my emergency contact. Brenda reached over and patted my arm, “I’m so sorry sweet heart. You’ll love it here, you’ve got a great roommate and the people in your building and neighborhood are super friendly.” She said with a warm smile.

  After I had all of the financial aid paperwork filled out we visited a while longer with Sherry and Brenda. I told them that I was also interested in finishing my school for cosmetology, Sherry walked over to her desk and wrote a name and number down on a sticky note. “Give my niece Julie a call she’s in charge of the beauty school here, tell her you talked to me. You’ve got a great personality and this area is in pretty high demand for beauticians, while you’re waiting for a call from us finish cosmetology school.”