There is something the way Matt, Melody's newest suitor, admires my best friend. It has been 8 years ago since I graduated Jacksonville High School, and Melody and I are still the best of friends. Though we have chosen a different universities, we still communicated at each other almost every day. We had to do Skype, through Facebook's Messenger, through Kik, but we mostly talked through Skype.

Melody and Donnie broke up; Donnie cheated on her with Melody's nemesis Diana Morris. Diana succeeded on taking Donnie away from her, after we graduated. Melody caught them almost having sex at the party, hosted by one of the basketball guys. I couldn't remember his name, but he was the one who threw the party. Of course Donnie tried to explain, but Melody knew that she had lost to Diana. According to her when she told me the story, her nemesis just threw her a smirk and rolled her eyes like a diva.

Donnie tried to apologize and explain himself, but Melody was having none of it. Of course I had told her that Donnie was a guy, and guys will be guys but men will be men. I had told her that Donnie's a jerk, a complete idiotic moron, who only cared for his looks and muscles. And it was true.

Melody and I fought after that; she claimed that I was happy she lost him, and that I had now a chance with him but it would probably be hellish because Donnie had now a taste of Diana Morris. I made a face in disgust; Donnie was cute, but I wasn't really attracted to him. It's like he was an ice cream, strawberry flavor, which I like, but I prefer the chocolate flavor.

After we fought, in the morning, Melody went up to my house, hugged me like she had lost me, and cried her eyes out, saying sorry for her attitude and that she was scared to lose me, her number one best friend in the world. I had told that it was fine, that it was natural to feel, but Melody told me it wasn't, so she treated me like a king – she treated me ice creams, bought me clothes (which I didn't like, but I was grateful), and hooked me up with guys that, according to her, might be interested on me. They weren't. But they were interested in sex.

"Stop staring at Matt, Pierce." Melody says in a sing-song voice. I roll my eyes at her and whirls the chair around, facing my computer and deciding to be productive for today. "He's mine."

Though I'm not looking directly at Matt, I can practically see his ears perking up like a dog when Melody mentions that he is hers. I roll my eyes again, and open up the Word 2013 on my computer, then type rapidly for the report that I'm going to make for the business.

My best friend and I are at the same office, having the same work and line of business; when we graduated Jacksonville High School, and entered universities, we promised to each other that we'd apply at the same company; that we'd still be together. We promised that if one was declined and the other was accepted, the accepted one would deny the job offer and we'd apply to a different company. It was crazy, believe me. Because I have been rejected several times, and she has been rejected several times, and then at this company, we both got offered a job when we applied.

"Keep your boyfriend to yourself," I mutter loud enough for them to hear. "Ain't gonna still him."

Matt is really cute; he's a down-to-earth person, a real fun, and a complete gentleman. His hair is auburn, and his eyes are light blue. He's as tall as Melody, and sometimes when Melody wears heels, which is a lot, she becomes taller than Matt. But they both won't mind. I can see that my best friend is head over heels with Matt, and Matt is just as whipped. My best friend giggles.

There's a beep on my computer, indicating that I have received an email.

I re-open the Chrome browser, check my e-mail tab, and see that it's from the CEO of the company – from Mr. McKenzie. His email reads:

This afternoon, we publicly announced the new CEO who's going to take the company after me. I have resigned to pursue another career opportunity. I have been a CEO of this company for a very long time, and watched it succeeded, even watched it downfalls. I want to express my gratitude to you for your hardship and diligent work. You have been part of the company, and you still are, and you have been a core part of the leadership team and has served as our key external contact with investors and bankers.

We will introduce the new CEO tomorrow, and you're cordially invited to witness the rising leader of Hyatt Company. Tomorrow he will take an oath, and tomorrow you shall know his name.

Thank you,
James McKenzie, CEO of Hyatt Company.

"This is a short message for a good-bye," I mutter to myself. Mr. McKenzie has been good to us; there were a lot of times he came to each floor of the building just to greet us. There was even a company outing, and he treated us more than an employee should be treated. Mr. McKenzie knows me well; I'm like his secretary, though he personally has a secretary of his own. And I've heard that the secretary of his, named Michelle, is going to resign as well. "Do you think we should give him something, like a gift?"

Melody scrunches up her nose up as I turn around. "I think so," she responds after thinking about it for a couple of seconds. Matt is still staring at her with admiration, eyes twinkling. The cup of coffee is placed on his assigned table, near the keyboard of his computer, and I assume that it has gone cold. It's untouched. "What should we give him? He basically has everything."

"Give him food, perhaps?" I offer. Melody and I just neighbors; she has an apartment of her own and I have an apartment of my own. Best friend goals. "Homemade. He will appreciate it, I think."

My best friend nods in agreement, smiling brightly. "Okay, later tonight, we'll decide." She goes back to flirting with Matt, his new suitor that has been admiring her ever since she came into work. I get back to work.

The city of Brooklyn at night is magnificent. I'm crossing the street – Plymouth Street, alone, and I can perfectly see the glittering lights of the Brooklyn Bridge. The Atrium DUMBO is still packed with people, milling in and out of the restaurant as I take a left turn to Main Street. Though it's past 9 in the evening, the streets are still filled with people.

I decide to hail a cab, who's just about to pass me. I stretch out my arm, and wave frantically, trying to get the attention of the cab driver. He pulls up in front of me, rolling down the window of the passenger seat and I lean down just to get a better look at him. The driver has a crooked teeth, and a thick mustache. I try not to groan out loud. I'm being an asshole, but this cab driver looks like a criminal. It has happened to me once. I was really afraid. Fortunately the only thing that was robbed to were my phone and wallet, not my life.

"Avalon Fort Greene, 343 Gold Street. It's in between Johnson Street and Myrtle Avenue." I say, climbing into the back seat and telling him the full address. The cab driver hums in response, grabbing a hold of the clutch and moving it forward. The cab jerks forward, and I'm thrown further. I glare at the back of the cab driver's head. I am almost tempted to say fuck you, but I resist the urge to do so. I stay silent throughout the journey.

I'm disappointed at myself; I have forgotten my earphones in my apartment, and now I'm suffering. This seems like the perfect moment to shut the world out and not be awkward, but since I forgot my earphones, I have to suffer. I almost groan out loud if it weren't for the cab driver looking through the mirror at me, and I become uncomfortable.

When we reach the street where I live in, I hastily hand the cab driver a $30 dollar bill (and I don't dare get the change), and get out immediately, running into the building. I swear I've seen him wink at me, and just the thought of that makes me shiver. I head inside, punch the up button on the side of the entrance of the elevator, and wait impatiently. As soon as the elevator dings, and the door opens, I head inside and wait again.

Matt and Melody have a date, so I'm left alone. I doubt that they'll be back not until morning. We still have a job tomorrow, and Melody can't be absent. Mr. McKenzie needs her presence there, and he'd be disappointed if ever that Melody will not come into work.

The elevator makes a ding sound again, and I get out of the elevator and head to my unit. Melody and I's units are located on the 16th floor, where we can see the beautiful view of the Brooklyn Bridge, though it's just almost a dotted figure from here, in my apartment. I let my bag slip my shoulder, and throw it on the couch. I head over to the kitchen, and decide to get me some water. The cab driver scared me. The fact that he winked at me, it meant something.

"What a creep," I mutter to myself.

I decide to call my mother. As soon as I dial my mother's number, she immediately picks up and a sigh of relief escapes her lips. I feel guilty about leaving her. Both of my parents are now just staying home; Aunt Maya and her kids are staying there for good. I was the one who suggested it, and my parents agreed. Since I'm an only child, nobody's going to look out for my parents, and I told Aunt Maya about that. Since they were looking for a house to live in since they were about to move, that's when I suggested about living with my parents; I had talked to mom and dad, and they pursued Aunt Maya as she was hesitant at first. Mother pulled out the guilt card.

"Oh my God, thank the Lords, I thought you died already," mom's voice laced with worriedness comes through the speaker loud, and I pull the cellphone three inches away from my ear. I frown. "How are you, my baby?" According to her, I'm still her baby no matter what.

"I'm fine, mom." I say calmly, missing her voice just as much. "I've been doing great. Both me and Melody. I miss you, mom." She sighs a sad sigh and I can practically see her shaking her head. "I'll be home soon."

"You better be," her voice is threatening me, though it's playful. "Your Aunt Maya is killing me here with her kids. I swear your father and I won't survive." She lets out a giggle, and I picture mom smiling brightly. "I wish you could call me almost every day. I'd love to hear your voice."

"I'm going to try, mom." I say. "I just want to let you know that I'm okay, that we're both fine here."

The last time we've seen each other is six months ago, and her hair was turning gray. I wonder if her hair is grey now, since six months have passed. I remember when I was a still in High School, in my junior year – my mother was preparing breakfast, and my dad was scolding me because I did not wake up early just to prepare for school. The truth was I woke up early, but I pretended that I was sleeping because I didn't want to go to school because I knew it would suck and my bullies would be there. My mom protected me, told my father to shut up, which he immediately did. She was like a dragon that day, and I admired her for that. I still do, every time it crosses my mind.

"Well, take care."

"I will, you, too." I say, and then she hangs up.

I stare at the dotted figure of the Brooklyn Bridge through the window of my unit, and I wish my parents could see this.