Brand New Start in Old New York

“Jesus! I'm coming!”

I yelled as I threw on a robe. It was past one in the morning on Saturday when Jonah and I were woken up by a loud pounding on our door.

Jonah rubbed his eyes and rolled out of bed. “Stay here. I'll get it.” His feet slide across the wood floors as he walked out of the bedroom. I didn't listen to him. Instead I tip toed behind him curious to see who could possibly be outside our door so late at night.

The only light in the apartment was coming through our tall windows from the street lights below. I couldn't see much as I trailed behind, but I knew my apartment well enough to know I wouldn't run into anything. Until I did. I stubbed my toe on the entry table and wailed over in pain. It took a minute for my eyes to adjust to the darkness, but once it did I saw Jonah turn around to give me a look. “I told you to stay inside”

“I want to see who it is.” I whispered back just as aggressively.

Jonah shook his head and reached for the door. I peered over his shoulder as he slowly opened it. “Rebecca?” I pushed Jonah out of the way and squinted my eyes to make sure what I was seeing was true. She stood there with a carry on bag in hand and a tired look on her face. I suddenly remembered Kadie telling me that Rebecca was planning on moving to New York, but with the chaotic-ness that had became my life the last few weeks, I'd quickly forgotten.

“Lynn!” Rebecca dropped her bags and threw her arms up. Jonah opened the door wider for her to come in and she engulfed me into a hug. I was so taken back by the surprise I'd forgotten to hug her.

“You're here!” I squealed. What I really wanted to say was, “What the hell are you doing here at 1AM?”

“I'm so sorry if I woke you two up!” She covered her mouth when she saw our pajamas and bed head. “I was going to surprise everyone, but my connecting flight in North Carolina got delayed. I figured I'd come here since I didn't want to disturb the newly weds.”

Jonah and I looked over at each other. I could tell he found this whole thing comical. My old friend showing up at my doorsteps just when I thought life couldn't get crazier.

“Oh, it's no worries!” I gestured for her to come inside.

“I tried calling you.” She walked over to Jonah to give him a hug. His response was more along the lines of a normal person than mine.

I closed my robe as I wrapped my arms across my body. “I know...I'm sorry, things have been crazy lately...I meant to call you back...”

“Oh!” Rebecca paused as she suddenly remembered “Congratulations!” She was awfully energetic for the time of day. “Let me see the ring!” She grabbed for my hand. Jonah stood next to me proudly as Rebecca complimented his taste.

I filled her in on the proposal while Jonah grabbed Rebecca's stuff from the hallway and brought it in.

“Anyway, I was just calling to tell you that I'm planning on moving to the City!”

“Yeah, Kadie told me you'd be here by the end of the month.” I shut the door behind Jonah and the three of us stood by the kitchen island.

“I was planning on coming before Summer, but then I thought, what the hell!” Jonah and I both tilted our heads slightly back as her voice grew. “So, I booked the next flight and I'm here! Well, temporarily, I wanted to find an apartment first.”

“You're more than welcomed to stay with us while you're searching.” Jonah offered even though we all knew by the luggage she brought with her that she'd already been planning to stay here.

Rebecca smiled, “that's so sweet! Thank you!”

Jonah excused himself and went to get the guest bedroom ready. We already had it set up with a bedroom set in case we had guests stay over, but I was currently using it as my study room so there were books and papers sprawled out everywhere.

I grabbed a bottle of water for Rebecca and the two of us sat in the living room as we waited for Jonah. The room was lit, only this time by the light from the kitchen in the distance. I could have easily turned the living room light on, but I was still half asleep and the thought of my eyes being pierced by the light didn't seem appealing.

Rebecca went on to tell me how things had changed since Kadie and I left town. I couldn't blame her. We were the staples of the group. Kadie being the Alpha and me being the Beta. We held everything down making sure our group always stuck together growing up. But, life happened and after high school we all took our separate roads. Adding the distance only increased our admiration for one another. Eventually after college everyone slowly moved back to our hometown and that's when I decided to move to the city and Kadie came shortly after.

I could completely relate to Rebecca. She sounded like me two years ago. I moved away because I was tired of living the same life I was living before growing up and going to college. I always did what I had to and never what I wanted to, so when the opportunity for moving came up I couldn't help but snatch it. I needed a change and that's exactly what she was going through.

For as long as I knew Rebecca she was always a solid friend. We teased her and called her Switzerland. When ever Woody was annoying Kadie or I couldn't stand something Lacey had said, Rebecca was always the only one in the middle never choosing sides because she didn't want any of us to feel like she loved one more than the other. It was annoying at the time, but I'd grown to find that as one of her best qualities.

“So, why New York?” I asked unsure of what was calling her to the city other than Kadie and I being here.

“I don't know” Rebecca shrugged her shoulders and looked away. “I guess seeing how good you and Kadie have it makes it desirable.”

“Trust me” I laughed. “By no means are our lives easy!”

“Oh, come on” Rebecca lowered her gaze at me. “Kadie built her own company, found a lawyer who's a partner at his firm and got married to him. Please tell me how difficult her life is.”

I rolled my eyes. “Kadie's always had better luck than any of us.” We laughed as we thought about all the ridiculous situations she'd gotten into and ended up coming out on top.

“Remember when her company was hosting that private party and she snuck us in because we were dying to meet Kenny Chesney?” Rebecca smiled as she thought about that night.

“Her boss's assistant was livid!” I closed my eyes and joined her in memory. “When Kenny found out we jumped the rope he was so flattered. He praised Kadie to her boss and she ended up getting a promotion.”

Rebecca sighed. “I see what you're saying.”

“She can't help it.” I shrugged. “She's just one of those people whose life falls into place for her.”

“I guess I just needed a change of scenery.” Rebecca folded her arms. “I thought about Nashville, you know Elizabeth is out there.” Elizabeth was Rebecca's younger cousin. She'd moved out to Nashville to pursue her love of music. “It woulda been more familiar, but I don't know, Lynn, I've been waking up every day thinking I haven't done anything crazy in life, you know?”

“Quarter life crisis, trust me, I know that feeling all too well.” I smiled.

Jonah walked out of the guest bedroom. “The bed is made and I put your things away in the closet.” He snuggled himself between me and the armrest of the chair I was sitting in and rested his arm over my shoulders.

“Thanks!” Rebecca smiled at Jonah. “So, when's the wedding?”

“Some time this year” Jonah said at the exact moment I said, “We're not sure yet.” We both looked at one another silently as our eyes did most of the talking.

“Sounds like you two need to get on the same page.” She laughed as she examined our uneasiness.

I continued to stare at him. “Yeah, we do.” We were both squinting our eyes at one another. The wedding had been the last thing on our minds since we'd gotten the baby news.

“You must be exhausted!” I jumped up from the couch and gestured for Rebecca to follow me. I settled her into her temporary bedroom before Jonah and I went back to bed.

“When are we going to tell our families?” Jonah whispered.

“I don't know” I sighed loud enough for him to hear. “I don't think we should tell them at all.”

“Oh yeah? And how's that suppose to work exactly?” The room was dark and I couldn't see anything, but I felt Jonah's head turn my way as if he were looking at me.“We pretend we adopted a baby that looks exactly like us?”

I giggled quietly. “Or we can fake our deaths so no one ever comes looking for us.”

“A little extreme, but I like it.” He whispered back. I felt Jonah's hand run up my neck as he rested it just behind my head. His thumb softly caressed my jaw. “Here's an even crazier idea, what if we just told our families the truth?”

I laid quietly lost in my thoughts for a brief second. “Can we talk about this later?”

“Fine” Jonah softly kissed my forehead and rolled back over.

I stayed up most of the night blankly staring up at the ceiling. So far Jaime, Sarah, and Kadie were the only ones who knew. Kadie was probably the most supportive. I went to see her the night after Jonah and I decided to go through with the pregnancy. She reassured me that she'd be there through the journey that my life was about to take on. Sarah wasn't as supportive as I wished she would have been. Then again Sarah is more of a free soul. She doesn't like having any sort of attachments, so I didn't take her thoughts to heart. Jaime's reaction was probably the mot neutral. He reminded me that I still have time to think it through, but he'd support me either way.

Jonah and I had this conversation a few times already. He wanted to tell our families and I was a little more hesitant. It's not that I was second guessing myself, because I wasn't, I just didn't know if I could handle the backlash. My family was so traditional. I couldn't even imagine what everyone in town would think if they found out. Jonah thought I should drop the small town thinking and not worry about a place where I no longer live. But, that place was still home.

It was all just too much to think about.

I woke up the next morning to the sound of Jonah and Rebecca talking in the kitchen. I felt like I was hit by a train. My body was aching from the lack of sleep I'd been getting. I forced myself out of bed anyway. After attempting to make myself look presentable I joined Rebecca and Jonah for breakfast.

“Hey Sunshine!” Jonah wrapped one hand around me and kissed the top of my head. The other hand was holding a plate with scrambled eggs and toast. “I hope we didn't wake you.” He set the plate down on the kitchen island and gestured for me to sit on the stool.

“Thanks babe” I kissed him back before I sat down. “So, what were you two talking about?” I asked Rebecca.

“I was just telling Jonah that I have to find a job if I want to stay here.” She took a bite of her pancakes before she finished talking. “You know I'm planning on taking my CPA exam by the end of Summer so I'll need tons of time to study.”

Jonah finished her sentence for her. “So, I offered her to work at my place.”

I wasn't sure how they came to that conclusion. “But she's not a writer or even in any sort of media.”

“Yeah, but, our receptionist is leaving before the end of May. It'll give Rebecca enough time to train.” Jonah shrugged his shoulders. “The position is geared more towards college students so it'll allow her enough time to study while she's at work and she's free to leave once she gets a new job.”

“Isn't that perfect?” Rebecca covered her mouth as she spoke.

“Well then it's setlled!” I raised my glass of OJ and Jonah and Rebecca did the same. “You're moving to New York!”

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Xx

Zara

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