June 5, 2016

So, this past week was interesting.

First, I had run into Evelyn—as I write it, I can see how it may not sound like that big of a deal, but then you add a few... fun facts, and it starts getting interesting.

First, I ran into her at my building.

Second, she was accompanied by Miranda, who although is still my doctor—not for long though—, has not really been very friendly ever since we got stuck in the elevator together and Nay decided to run her mouth.

Third, they too are friends, and Miranda did not like it much when she found out I was also acquainted with her girlfriend's best friend.

Fourth, this one is just so I make it clear how annoyed she must have felt. Apparently, the doctor still does not know Cecilia is my professor. So, in Miranda's eyes, I was the annoying neighbor who was there to her girlfriend when she decided to flee the scene, and who was also friends with the best friend. I am guessing she thinks I was one hell of a consistent rebound if I were to know Evelyn.

And last, but not least, dear clever Evelyn Mace, seemed to like to get on Miranda's nerves just as much as Nay. All the way until they got to the seventh floor consisted of the professor playing naïve and bathing me with compliments.

And that, oh that got Miranda fuming. Especially because Eve was focusing on how pretty and young and on my prime I looked, which for a middle-aged woman, who has birthed two kids, and feels like I am competition, I am going to guess was not exactly sunshine and rainbows.

So that was fun.

Also, I really need to get a new neurologist. The headaches are gone, and I feel great, but I should really find someone new to see me through the end of my treatment.

A couple days after I had run into Evelyn and the doctor, yesterday to be exact, once again unannounced, my favorite professor showed up on my door.

Just this time it was around eight in the freaking morning. Like, can a woman get her beauty sleep? Not that I am complaining really, after all I had just finished preparing myself some breakfast.

Cecilia was in a great mood and she looked ready to go somewhere, but not just anywhere, SHE wanted ME to go dirty biking with HER.

Of course, I was all in for that. I mean, the woman did look hot on her little outfit which I assumed she googled just to make sure it was the right fit for this.

And just when I was about to think of refusing because well, she did have a girlfriend—it was Saturday, and I would assume they spent those together—, the professor told me how she was super hyped and needed something to put all that energy on, but the most important part was that the mentioned girlfriend was out of town on a convention.

Let me just throw this here because it is not like I would say this to her face. I did not believe it for a second that there was truly any convention. I mean, I believe Cecilia believed it. She probably bought that crap without even thinking twice.

If there is anything I have learned from overhearing my mother's stuck-up friends talking to each other, is that convention is just another word for affair, and I am fairly positive before the dear doctor ventured on this sapphic relationship of hers she was exactly like those women.

But then again, it is not like I did not predict this perfect romance of theirs had an expiration date, right?

So back to what really matters.

I invited Cecilia inside to have breakfast with me. Just to clarify it, I did run to the bathroom before opening the door to try and look a more appealing version of my just-out-of-bed self.

We ate on my table that was no longer under piles of books-thank you, Eve-, and small talked in between bites, which by the way was sort of weird, but in a good way.

I mean, I have met her when classes stared, right? But I just really did meet her, as in she acknowledged my existence, when we first ran into each other downstairs while we were doing laundry, respectively of course.

So, we have only known each other for like a little over four months and in the meantime, we have managed to bicker like an old couple more times than I have ever done with any family member or friend, or ex for the matter.

She had gone so completely nuts on me so many times that right now, thinking about it, I sort of feel flattered cause I do not think anyone else in her life, has seen this unfiltered, crude side of hers.

Which is funny because I think I can probably read her emotions right there on the spot, just by looking. Which for many people—most actually—could mean I know her better than most. But in fact, I did not know a lot about her, I only knew her emotions well, but not really the background stories behind them.

This probably makes no sense whatsoever. This is what happens when you start writing at two in the morning.

Okay, back to it then. We talked about ourselves in a not cocky way—like we used to when we talked about how our relationships were going great. She told me about how she has a sister that looks like her twin, even though they have almost a five-year age gap.

She also told me about her sister's daughter, who is her only niece so she would completely spoil the girl before she started dating Miranda, which I am guessing stopped because she sorts of put all that affection towards the doctor's children. Which is such a mistake by the way.

After we were done eating, I left her looking around my living room—sort of living room—as I got myself ready to our little kind of date, not in a date-date way, more like a friendly date.

Just cause I though the doctor was cheating, did not mean my conscious would be any lighter to be part of something like that.

This time around, we took her car though, she said she was too hyped to be doing nothing while I got to drive. Not that I would complain anyway, I like driving, but I was still sleepy and as a matter of fact I did end up sleeping for most of the drive.

She was super sweet about it though, because when I woke up and looked her way, it felt like I was watching a five-year-old after all the Halloween candy—and I mean it, I was literally watching, seeing as I waited a good two minutes before letting her know I was up.

The last eight minutes or so of the car ride was filled with her voice telling me more about herself.

We spent a good four hours in and out of the track. We would stop occasionally, just to go to the restroom and for water, and then we would go straight back to the track.

To be honest, I think she would have kept going.

I was beat as I sat on the grass beside her car as she went on for two more laps before deciding it was not as much fun by herself—her words. After she had gotten herself cleaned and changed, she met me by her car.

It was close to 3 pm, and we had yet to have lunch. I was not even sure we were having lunch together, but I was hoping the day would not end there.

As she walked my way, I am sure she could see how starstruck I was by the view. And by view, I mean her in a sort of messy yet sort of sexy ponytail, with a plain thank top that hugged her just fine, and yoga pants.

There she was again. The Cecilia I had seen in that frame. Lately she was showing up more and more frequently, even while she was teaching—never when she was around Miranda though, not that I had seen much of the latter.

She sat beside me, and I just kept on accompanying her with my eyes, not saying a thing. "Are you okay?" She inquired with a knowing smirk on.

"Yeah, just hungry. Wanna grab something on the way back?" I pretended like I did not get what she had implied, and she too did not press on it.

"Sure. How about we go to that Italian place you took me? At least this time I actually have an appetite." I nodded like a kid who had just found out they were getting a happy meal.

I stood up and as I helped her up, I sneaked the car key out of her hand and ran to the other side getting in and turning it on before she could protest.

She kept shaking her head with a smile on her face as she got to the passenger seat and I pointed for her to put her seatbelt.

"You know, I've never let anyone drive my car. Not even Miranda, and we have the same model." She said as she got comfortable.

"You wanna drive?" I asked seating back and turning to look at her.

"I can't bother, and besides, I wouldn't know how to get there." She seemed so carefree. I wondered if Evelyn was right—she had said once how Cecilia would change for the better whenever she was around me.

All the way there Cecilia was making too much an effort to keep the conversation flowing. Not that it was forced though, she just seemed to have a new topic whenever it felt like we were done with the previous one.

Once I parked the car she asked if I were sure, we would not run into any students. I assured her they would not set foot there. The professor did not seem like she would turn around and leave even if I had said otherwise though—I guess that had just sort of become second nature to her whenever we were together.

That was the one place I knew for a fact, students would not set foot on, it was not a cheap place, and if we did end up running into one, it would probably be someone who liked privacy just as much as we did.

I have ever only seen one person from law school there, and it was a guy whom I had been friends with back when we were in high school. He only went there when he was with some boy. He was closeted and knew no one would bother him there.

We walked inside and she insisted I ordered the same I had done the first time around. It was starting to feel like she was trying to recreate the first time we went out together, I could not figure out why though—I still do not know why.

We ate much like the first time, only this one she could not help but mention how good it was with every bite she took.

Seeing as we were both starving and there were not many people left from lunch hour, we ended up being quite quick. Once the waiter brought the check, he attempted to hand me the bill, probably because I was the one who had ordered, but before I could get it, she snatched the thing out of his hand.

"C'mon, I was the one who suggested we had lunch, it's only fair I pay." I said but she was having none of it, she handed him her plastic and he left with it.

"I suggested the place though, and besides, you paid last time we were here, it's my turn," she said matter-of-factly. I tried once again, but she told me to quit before I ruined the day, that did the trick.

We walked side by side to the car and just as we were about to enter the car her phone rang, "Lucy, I'm with a friend." There it was again, sweet old friendzone. "That's what your husband's for." Cecilia answered back in an annoyed fashion and I could not help but chuckle, earning a glare in return, that made nothing but increase my laughter.

"Do you mind if we go pick my sister up?" The professor asked me as she covered her phone with her hand, I told her it was no problem, so she spoke back on her phone that we were on our way.

We got inside the car and I noticed it was a little muddy—I just hoped her sister would not be grossed out by it.

"I could drop you off first." She offered, but like, seriously?

"And lose the chance to meet your sister? You've been telling me about her all day, c'mon." To that she laughed, a little too nervously for my liking—right then I thought it was because she would rather keep me a secret, but later on I figured she was more worried with how her sister would embarrass her.

Turned out her sister was just a few blocks from us, and as soon as she got inside, Cecilia made sure to introduce us. "Remi, this is the other Bailey, Lucy. Lucy this is my friend Remi."

I turned myself to the back seat so I could shake her hand, "Other Bailey? Thought she said you were married." I said starting small talk.

"The obnoxious lawyer in the family convinced me not to change my last name once she explained how much of a headache it would be." Lucy retorted as Cecilia got back to driving.

"Oh, so true though. Nicely done!" I praised gently squeezing the professor's shoulder while still turned to the back to face Lucy.

Lucy kept the talking going with a curveball. "I take it you're a lawyer too."

I almost froze because if I were to say yes, I would be lying but if I ended up saying no, we might just get to the point where she would figure I was her sister's student.

Before I could stress too much over it though Cecilia beat me to it, "Not just yet. Remi's my student who also happens to be my neighbor." She kept her eyes on Lucy through the rearview mirror.

I do not know who was more surprised, Lucy or me.

I could not believe how nonchalantly she had said that. Had it been the month before she would probably made up some bullshit lie just to cover it up.

Lucy on the other hand was shocked for a whole different reason, she was not scared to voice it though. "To be honest, I thought you were the rebound and figured the friend thing was just a lame way of hiding it."

To that Cecilia broadly laughed, "That's what Miranda thinks to this day." Ah, I knew it! "I've no idea how she is still taking you as her patient to be completely honest. I'm getting tired of the whole jealous act." Cecilia said, this time directing her attention to me.

Lucy seemed to be loving all the gay drama. She interrupted me just before I could mention how I was thinking of looking for a new doctor.

"I can see why she'd get jealous and I'm straight." Lucy pointed, eyeing me up and down the best she could—she reminded me of Amy. I could see the professor's cheek getting hotter by the second, and I am pretty sure mine were the same.

"How long are you staying over for?" Cecilia asked, changing the subject, and I discreetly squeezed down her thigh close to her knee, as to thank her. I could feel her muscles getting tense under the tip of my fingers.

Lucy rolled her eyes to the question, not noticing our interaction, "Way of saying I'm not welcome, sis." She shot back. "I figured we could have a girls' night, just wine and shit-talking your girlfriend, but if you guys have plans, I don't want to intrude." She looked at me with pleading eyes.

"Actually, I guess we are pretty much done with our plans. We went mudding." I told her before Cecilia could shoo her away.

"I don't exactly know what mudding is, but clearly whatever it is this car did it as well. What the hell were you guys even doing? Your car looks filthy, sis." Lucy was such a girly woman. It was funny to watch.

"We went dirty biking. Have you ever tried it?" I explained and to that she gave us a horrified look, "Cece, if mom knew you were driving a motorcycle, she would kill you!" Lucy pressed on both Cecilia's shoulder almost making her hit the car beside us. I was loving their dynamic.

"You had to open your mouth, didn't you?" The professor directed her glare at me, the whole thing was just too comic.

"Seriously? You told your sister you befriended a student, but your mother knowing her forty-something daughter was on a bike is what gets you worried?" I couldn't help but full-on laugh on her face. It did not last long though because she used her free hand to truly slap my arm. Someone was pissed.

"Thirty-something, you know my age, don't go aging me before my time!" I rendered my hands up as I resumed to my laugh. It was only once I caught my breath that I noticed Lucy was watching us in a funny way.

"You guys look cute together. You sure you're friendzoning her? Because she's hotter and funnier than that bi-curious you're with. Also, this one I can approve." Lucy just had to get back to that. She sure knew how to make us blush and not in the best way-although I loved what she was saying.

I turned back to properly sit on my seat so I could give all my attention to the driver who had yet to answer her sister.

"First of, can I not stress you enough on the student aspect of her status? Also, I'm already with someone, and you know it." Okay, to be honest, I did not know what I expected her answer to be, but that was not what I expected. What she said made it seem like, if we were in different circumstances, she might just actually give us a go. And I guess I was not the only one to pick up on that.

"You go girl!" Lucy said patting my shoulder excitedly, "That was the furthest of a friendzone I've ever heard, because one I am assuming you won't be her student for much longer, and two everyone can see that relationship is just waiting for one of them to call it off."

Lucy could not possibly make me more delusional, even if she tried to. It did hit a nerve on the other Bailey though.

"Can you just not? First, she'll still be a student, even once she's no longer my student. Second, stop shitting on my relationship like it won't last. We've been together for two years, it's time you stop doubting it!" Cecilia was close to shouting by the end of it.

I could faintly hear Lucy mocking it being two years.

When I looked ahead, I saw we had just made it to the front of our building. "And we are here." I could feel my voice falter as I tried to lighten the mood. It did help though.

Right after the professor parked and Lucy had left the car, the professor and I stayed inside. Cecilia got my attention by softly holding my hand and keeping me from unfastening my seatbelt.

"I'm sorry if she made you uncomfortable, she can be too much sometimes." She apologized letting go of my hand.

"Don't bother, if anything she made me feel flattered." I winked at her in a semi-flirtatious way before leaving the car.

It was so out of character for me to act like that towards her, but at the same time it felt so good to be able to do so—even if my hands were shaking and sweating, and even if I felt like my stomach was making turns inside me.

We all got to the elevator, and I figured that was where we would part ways, but as we were about to reach the seventh floor, Lucy invited me over to Cecilia's.

At first, I did not know what to say because I did not want to intrude, but before I could say anything Cecilia herself reinforced the invite, and to that I could never say no.

We agreed I would go to my place to get properly cleaned and changed into comfier and warmer clothes—for some reason I felt shivers all over. We would meet back at Cecilia's in about an hour.

It did not take me as long as I first anticipated though, and about forty-five minutes later I was in a cropped sweatshirt and high-waisted shorts as I stood in front of the professor's door knocking on the door.

I could faintly hear some music playing and it smelled like someone was making popcorn. I had no idea what they had planned, but it did not take long to find out.

"Fuck me, please. If I wasn't straight, and married, and a mother, I'd so do you. You gotta tell me, while she's not around, you guys never even kissed? Not even once?" Lucy fished as she greeted me at the door with a glass of red wine in hands and a bow of popcorn on her other arm.

I just laughed at her comment as I shook my head to her question. We both got inside, and she lifted her glass as if to offer me one as well, but I declined.

We walked to the couch and sat comfortably beside each other. She sat the bow of popcorn on my lap, and to that I did not decline.

"She's still in the shower, she was making something at the kitchen before you got here, I don't know what though." The younger sister answered my unasked question.

We small talked for a while and she showed me a picture of her, Cecilia and her daughter, and just then I took notice on how much they all looked alike. They did look like twins, even if you could see Lucy was younger.

I looked around, curious to see what had changed since Miranda had gotten back, and to my pleasure and surprise—even though most was rearranged, and the family pictures were back—the main frame, the one that was right in front of me, stayed the same.

It was the one I had seen when Miranda was moving out. The one I had fallen in love with. The young happy and carefree Cecilia, just now that version of hers was no longer such a stranger to me.

I was caught off guard by Lucy's peppy voice.

"Don't you just love that one? Honestly though, I've never even seen my sister look like that. Sometimes I feel like that's someone else in that photo." By the end of it though, the peppiness had worn off and been replaced by sadness.

"I love that one. If it makes you happy, a common friend of ours says lately she feels like she's finally meeting the Cecilia from that picture." I said not taking my eyes of the frame. I did leave out the part in which Eve said that was all my doing.

That was enough to get Lucy's mood back to its cheerfulness, "I bet it's because of you. All Miranda does is mess with her insecurities. Do you really not see it, how good of a couple you guys would make? Fuck, are you gay? Is it alright for me to ask? I just always assume every one of her friends are."

She started overthinking her wording, a little too much like Cecilia would, and it was endearing to see how much they were alike in more than their looks. Before I answered I checked to see if Cecilia were coming, but I could hear the water still running.

"Out and proud, you can chill. Also, you're not the first to say that to me, but you were probably the first who dared say it to her. She used to be really freaked of anyone seeing us talking, so you can imagine how freaked she'd be if she knew people thought that." I said truthfully, even Eve had mentioned it once, although not as adamantly as Nay and Amy.

The younger sister clapped on her glass with her wedding band as if she had just gotten the lottery numbers right.

"I knew it! She never takes me seriously, that's why I say whatever comes to my mind, she will either dismiss it or not care at all." She said the end with a shrug of her shoulders. "I really don't like her with that doctor. Did you know the woman was straight and married to a man when she met Cece?" No surprises there on my part.

"I figured as much." I said back. She wasn't done though.

"She was still married when she started going after my sister, and it was so annoying, she acted like a creepy stalker, and sometimes I feel like she won by exhausting Cece. She would never date that kind otherwise, the doctor wasn't the first to try, just the first not to get the memo."

Just as she finished her gossiping Cecilia walked in with her hair still wet, and a stay-at-home dress that mimicked an oversized shirt, she looked hot.

I could not help but unbashfully eye-fuck her. I actually felt bad for the frat boy inside me and tried to avert my gaze before she would notice—although I am aware I was unsuccessful.

"What are you two talking so much about? I could almost hear you girls from the shower." Glad she seemed to be unaware of our subject, I answered before Lucy thought she could just run her mouth.

"We were talking about your picture and how much we love it." I said as she walked to the kitchen, still nodding her head as to say she was paying attention.

She came back as soon as she had left, only this time with two glasses in hand, one with red wine, and the other with something I did not recognize.

"This is for you." Cecilia said handing me the mysterious glass as she sat on my other side, leaving me in the middle. "No alcohol?" I asked just to make sure, and she nodded in response while she pulled her legs up the couch, completely touching my thighs.

Her right arm went to the upper part of the couch, and I could almost feel it brushing against my hair.

She was turned so she could face us, and it probably looked like she was sort of spooning my side. The damn woman knew exactly what she was doing to me—I am sure no one was left unaware of what she was doing.

I concentrated on looking inside my glass as they chatted.

Not long after I decided to interact again out of curiosity. "Honestly, what's in this?" I asked too scared to drink whatever it was she had given me.

"Relax, it's just sprite with pomegranate in it. I'm not an awful friend, I know you can't drink, I just didn't want you to feel left out." I did not know how many flips my stomach had done by the end of that sentence. She was being so sweet and amazing altogether. I could surely feel myself falling a little further for that woman.

I tried the soft drink she had prepared me, and it was better than I thought possible, and also very aesthetical. They both seemed content I had liked it and then they resumed to their conversation while I just laughed at their childhood stories.

When it seemed like the professor was distracted, Lucy looked at us as to point how cute or how much of a couple we looked and then gave me a thumbs up alongside a childish overly forced wink.

That was pretty much how the rest of the evening went. Wine for them, sprite with pomegranate for me, and popcorn and laughter for all of us.

So, it is clear to see how exquisite yet accomplishing of a week it was. It does feel like the version of her I am charmed by has come to stay. And the best part is that apparently, it is all because of me.

Remi