Chapter 1- Moving In
It was about the hundredth time Rina had looked at the paper which had a little address scribbled on it. She squinted at the swirly written letters and numbers.
“Hmm.. Cherry Blossom Lane...” Rina raised her head again. “Aha!” she exclaimed seeing a small sign that had the words CHERRY BLOSSOM LN. printed on it. She stepped down from the curb and crossed the narrow one-way street to the other sidewalk. Walking about five houses down, she saw the building she was looking for. This must be it, 2168 E. Cherry Blossom Lane...
Dragging her rolling suitcase behind her, Rina climbed the stairs leading to the quaint light green door, faded by the sun's rays. She knocked three times and pushed her bangs out of her eyes and smoothed her skirt. The door opened to reveal a tall slender girl with long black hair that came to about the middle of her back.
“Hi I'm Rina! You're new roommate!” Rina smiled her brightest.
“Oh you must be the girl my dad told me about... your father works for him correct?” she asked, one hand on her hip.
“Um yeah I'm pretty sure. Are you Karin McFarland?”
“Yeah that's me. Are you Caterina Beckett?”
“Yep that's me! I love your house,” Rina said, looking around from the doorway.
“You can come in, put your bag in the kitchen,” the girl said with a swift turn that made her light hair flutter gracefully. As soon as Rina stepped into the room, her eyes widened. “You like?” Karin asked.
“It's perfect! So cozy!” Rina gasped. There was a small tan sofa and beautifully printed chairs that matched the tan and white striped walls. The molding that separated the walls and on the ceiling was breathtaking. The kitchen shone with cleanness and the air smelled of sweet cherries. Ironic... Rina smiled. She parked her bag right outside of the kitchen.
Just as Rina turned around, she saw Karin standing right in front of her. “You know, you're totally flat chested,” she said absentmindedly.
“Wha-?” Rina glanced downward. “I'm not that flat...”
“I'm kidding! Love to tease the newbie,” she laughed a whimsical chuckle. “Anyway, a little bit about me-” she plopped herself down onto one of the chairs in the living room. “-I write a fashion column in Expression magazine, I'm 18 years old, and I like to swim. You?”
“Uhm...” Rina sat softly on the other floral chair. “Well I'm a high-school student, a senior, at Tenbrook High. I'm 17 years old and umm... I like to cook...” she said, casting her eyes down.
“Interesting! Alright my turn again. My favorite color is dark purple but I like to wear black because it makes me look older. My favorite food is pasta primavera... yum! Maybe you can make it for me sometime,” she laughed.
“Yeah!” Rina giggled. “I also like animals, especially cats. My favorite food, well, I like any type of sweets.”
“So you've got a sweet-tooth hm?” Karin put her chin on her palm. “Okay now, have you ever been asked out by a guy before?”
“Ah.. no...” Rina blushed. “I'm not as pretty as you Karin, you're beautiful. Guys don't like me much...”
“Don't say that! Here,” she reached over and yanked on one of Rina's buns on the side of her head. Her golden brown hair tumbled to her shoulders in waves. Karin yanked on the other one. “Ow!” Rina winced as the other half fell from it's tight bun. “Much better!” Karin sat back to admire her work.
“But my hair is so puffy!” Rina whined, covering as much of her brown hair as possible.
“You look fine!” Karin pulled her hands off of her head.
Rina tried to dodge her but fell off of her chair.
“Hahahah- whoa!” Karin yelped playfully as Rina pulled her arm. The two girls sat on the floor laughing.
“We're like best friends already,” Karin pinched Rina's cheek.
“Or sisters,” Rina joked.
“Hey... we should totally watch a movie tonight! I have a huge collection of DVDs in my closet that I haven't bothered to watch forever!” Karin suggested, getting up from the floor.
“Yeah, sisterly bonding time,” Rina said, pushing herself off the ground.
“Roomie night!”
“Where the hell is the pizza?” Karin groaned. “I'm starving!”
“I told you I could make the pizza!” Rina raised an eyebrow.
“No, no! You just got here, relax a little 'kay?” Karin nudged her.
“I just feel like I need to repay you...”
“You repay me by paying half the rent, so chill!”
Diiing Doonnngg
“Finally!” Karin exclaimed in relief and jogged over to get the door.
Karin paid the guy and rushed to set the pizza down on the table.
“Oh god...” she opened the box and grabbed a slice, stuffing it in her mouth.
“Jeez you weren't kidding!” Rina raised her eyebrows as she took a bite of her piece.
“Mmm... wait... wait... I'm in my happy place...” Karin closed her eyes for a few moments. “Okay back to reality, let's watch the movie.”
“Which one are we watching again?” Rina asked as she curled up on the couch in front of the TV.
Karin crouched down by the DVD player, “Umm Gone With The Wind,” Karin smirked and pushed the DVD into the player.
“Gone With the Wind?! What inspired that?”
“I dunno I just grabbed it,” Karin shrugged, sitting on the couch next to Rina. She clicked a button on the remote and the movie began.
“God this movie is so old...” Karin threw a pillow at the screen. “Right? Rina? RINA!?”
“Hmm?” Rina's eyes fluttered open.
“Don't fall asleep on me now! The daughter is about to commit suicide!” Karin pounded her fist on the pillow.
“The daughter doesn't commit suicide she falls off a horse,” Rina rubbed her eyes.
“I call that suicide.”
“Well I'm really bored... and it's only...” Rina glanced at her watch. “Eight thirty, wow.”
Karin picked up the remote control and turned off the television. “Okay let's talk,” she said, sitting back down on the sofa, facing Rina. “Have you ever kissed anyone before?”
“What?! No!” Rina blushed.
There was a few moments of awkward silence.
“Rina close your eyes.”
“What?”
“Just do it.”
Rina closed her eyes slowly. What am I doing!?
Rina felt Karin's soft lips touch hers gently.
“There, your first kiss,” Karin smiled softly and pulled away.