New Old Friends

One day after a few hours at work, Justine Hernandez, the branch manager at the local bank, goes outside to smoke a cigarette. After putting the cigarette in her mouth, she takes a match and prepares to strike it. However, right before she gets a chance, her phone rings.

“Hello,” she answers with an attitude. As the man on the other end begins to speak, Justine is able to get her cigarette lit. The man states that he is a lawyer handling the estate of her aunt.

“She left you twenty thousand dollars from her estate,” the lawyer informs Justine. After hearing this, she chokes on cigarette smoke after taking a puff.

“What? Who are you?” Justine demands to know after recovering. After explaining that he is the executor of the estate, the lawyer states that she can go to his office to pick up the check. Once finished smoking, Justine goes inside of the bank to cancel some meetings. After that, she walks to the bus stop. After getting off the bus a few doors away from the lawyer’s office, she needs another smoke. After satisfying the craving, it is time to see if this is for real, or just a load of crap.

“Como on in and take a seat,” the lawyer says as he points to the seat across from his. “Julio Medina,” he introduces himself. “You must be Justine Hernandez.”

“I know, I know, bad habit,” Justine says as she notices the lawyer smelling her. “I’ll quit one day.” At that point, she sits down. Julio hands her the check. She cannot believe this is for real. After hugging Julio, she walks out of the office and lights another cigarette. Soon as she is done smoking, the bus pulls up.

“Wow, congratulations,” the teller says after Justine signs the check so it can be deposited into her account.

“Thanks,” Justine answers. Once that is done, she goes about the remainder of the day. This consists of two meetings and quite a few coffee and smoke breaks. Upon arriving home, she ponders about what to do with the money. A few days later, the money has cleared and is in the checking account which it was deposited into. Once at work that day, she withdraws the whole thing. After withdrawing the whole thing, Justine knows how to spend it immediately. But first, she needs a cigarette.

“Wow, are you sure?” The deli worker asks her after she declares that the whole sim will be spent on mega millions lottery tickets.

“As sure as I am when I get my coffee, cigarettes, and gum,” Justine answers. After keying the purchase into the lottery machine, the worker counts the money that Justine pays. This takes forever, of course.

“Good luck,” the worker tells Justine after verifying the money is the correct amount. “If you win, I’ll miss your long, beautiful hair.”

“The same way you’ll miss my gum chewing, the smell of smoke on me, and most importantly, my business,” remarks Justine. At that point, it is time to go back to work to finish the day. Upon returning home, she falls asleep while waiting for the drawing. Of course, the lottery website is experiencing technical difficulties also.

“Congratulations,” the cashier says after Justine checks her tickets. When she gets near the end of the pile, it is discovered that she is the lone winner.

“Thanks,” Justine tells the cashier. “How the hell do I go about getting my money?” The cashier gives her the information necessary. Also two packs of Marlboro Menthol 100s that she pays for along with three books of matches. At that point, Justine goes to work.

“Not a problem,” the customer that was waiting to meet with Justine says after she apologizes for being late. Everything else goes smoothly that day. Once home, Justine goes over the paper that she has to fill out.

“Shit,” Justine says as she steps out of her building to smoke a cigarette. She bangs her left hand against the door. Unfortunately, she is left handed, so this impacts her ability to light her cigarette. After four matches are lit, the fifth is the charm. After satisfying the urge, she goes back inside. A few feet away from the elevator, there is a little black book laying on the floor. The name says Richard Bates. Since it has a phone number on the inside cover, Justine decides to text it, resulting in this exchange:

-“Hey, did you lose your notebook.”

-“I did. Thanks. Can I pick it up from you.”

-“Sure. I’m in apartment 5C”

-“Can I get it from you at around this time tomorrow?”

-Sure. Sorry. Just a little tired today.

-“No worries. I understand. I’ll text you when I’m in front. Thanks again.”

After the exchange, Justine takes off her clothes and goes into the shower. Once clean, she goes into the king sized bed of her studio apartment and falls asleep. The next day, it is the usual routine of meetings, cigarette breaks, and several cups of coffee. While she is on the bus going home, Richard texts Justine to inform her that he is in front of the building.

-“On the bus now. Be there in a few,” Justine sends that message to Richard.

Once she gets off the bus, Justine lights a cigarette to smoke as she is walking toward her building. Richard is standing in front waiting for her.

“Do I know you from somewhere?” Richard asks as he recognizes her face, slender body, and long black hair.

“You look familiar also,” Justine answers once she recognizes his orange hair and freckles.

“I’m Richard Bates. Did we possibly go to school together?”

“Justine Hernandez. Did you go to St Francis Catholic School?”

“I did. I believe you were a grade ahead of me. You haven’t changed much at all. I, as you see, have gained a ton of weight.”

“I’ve been fortunate on that end. However, I’ve picked up a bad habit or two as you can see,” Justine declares before taking a drag of her cigarette and blowing the smoke away from Richard.

“No worries. We’ve all done things we regret,” Richard answers.

“That we have. So, how long have you been living here?” Justine asks Richard.

“I actually don’t live here. I unfortunately live in the area we grew up in. Want to move one day so I like to check out other areas. Had to use the bathroom. Fortunately your hallway had one.”

“It’s always good to check out new areas,”Justine replies. “Anything good in this book?”

“Just some story ideas and outlines. I’m thinking about writing a novel. Still a little old school. It’s amazing how much things have changed,” Richard says.

“They sure have. Maybe we can meet up and catch up one day?” Justine suggests.

“That’ll be nice,” Richard concurs with Justine. “We’ll keep in touch. I should get to the train station now.” Once that is said, the two give each other a hug and then part ways for the night. Once at the train station, he checks the news on his phone. Once seeing that the winner of the $550 million dollar mega million prize winner is named Justine Hernandez, one can only wonder if it is the individual that returned his notebook to him.

-“I’m home,” Richard texts Justine upon arrival, like he said he would.

-“Sorry, I fell asleep,” Justine texts back in the morning.

-“No worries,” Richard texts back. “Want to meet up Saturday?”

-“I’d love to,” answers Justine.

The two meet up Saturday evening as planned. The date goes well. As a result, they agree to meet up the following Saturday as well. They go to a vegan restaurant for both dates.

“Maybe we can meet up Friday?” Justine suggests.

“I work Saturday, but sure,” Richard answers.

“Is that going to be ok?” Justine asks.

“I’ll manage. The store usually isn’t too busy on Saturdays.”

“See you then,” answers Justine. That date also goes well. It is on that date, that Richard asks if she is that mega millions winner.

“That’s amazing,” he states after getting his answer that she truly is the big winner. “But how long until you get your money?”

“They said in a few weeks, but who the hell knows?”

“Those things take time,” Richard replies. After a few weeks, Justine gets her lump sum. Two days after, Richard proposes to her.

“Yes!” Justine says excitedly. A few days after the engagement, Richard moves into the apartment with her. About 13 months later, the big day arrives.

“A little over 13 months ago, I felt like my life wasn’t going anywhere. Then I got reacquainted with you,” Richard says to Justine after officially tying the knot.

“Yes, you’ve written two best selling novels,” Justine says as she lights a cigarette. “Unfortunately, some things never change”

“You’ll quit one day,” Richard says.

“Yeah. One day,” Justine says after taking a puff and blowing the smoke in Richard’s face. He responds by giving her a kiss on the cheek. The two know that there will be many adventures awaiting them in this new chapter of their lives.