Hypothesis: The Hekapolis Trilogy by Anna Bastow - HTML preview

MU

The next day, I felt like I'd slept a whole day even though I woke up at ten. I felt energized and refreshed. I decided to have a large breakfast: coffee and milk, bagels with cream cheese, orange juice, and some fruit. I had a leisurely workout on my stationary bike while listening to some music and catching up on my SCIAM. I always donated old issues to my local high school library, so I had to keep up to date.

It'd been a while since I last saw Glenda and Tess, so I decided to send them a message:

I hooked up last night.

I knew congratulations would be in order. They both sent me smiley faces, and we agree to meet briefly before I had to meet with my partner, at our usual spot at The Marketplace.

I dressed with my only pair of jeans and a white shirt with the periodic table I got in a garage sale.

I found Tess first. Today she had a lime green blouse with sequins that sparkled in under the sun light. It was opened in the back with a deep overture, showing a section of the serpent she had tattooed in her body. She told me once, that it took her a whole year to finish it up and even though I visited once at home where she was swimming on her pool. I had not seen the whole tattoo in her tiny bikini. But I could guess were the tail and the head finished and I shuddered thinking how much those parts had hurt.

"Finally!   I was thinking about getting some bug spray for the spider webs you must had grown in your vajayjay," She  said, laughing loud and hard. I decided to keep the details murky.

"I had my condoms with me, is all I will say." I told her with a cheeky smile and a wink.

Tess screamed like I'd just won the lottery or something. I felt so relieved that I was one of them finally and not the weird one. I just needed to not describe too much and make sure this happened again soon so I'd have more stories to share. Glenda arrived a few minutes late. She didn't look as happy as usual.

"Something's wrong?"  I asked. Tess narrowed her eyes, but once I moved my head she noticed her mood. She sat down.

"My brother and his wife told me that they are planning to start a family this year..."

"And...?"

"It's not that I'm not happy for them, I am. Is just that I don't like children..." She said sipping some water.

"So you are planning to move out?"

"If I can afford it. I checked the listings for apartments and they are way over my budget. I guess I should get a job..." Tess again was texting, but she got her head up to comment.

"You can always get a roommate to share the costs...What about you, Gabrielle? If you are finally hooking up, then living with a roommate would be the best move." I froze up.

"I wish I could but not even sharing I could afford it."

"You could let Glenda crash with you and your mom too, until she gets back on her feet."

I swear she had a wicked smile while saying this. Glenda eyes lit up; I had to try to explain better.

"I never mentioned it before but mom is really sick, it wouldn't be better than a child." I felt so selfish.

"Maybe you should consider telling her, she could keep the secret." Gabe said. Glenda was nice enough to save me.

"Tess that is a nice idea, but I don't even know Gaby's mother.  It would be too much for all of us." Tess just continued texting in her new iPhone, she seemed amused.

"I'm really sorry." I said. Glenda held my hand.

"Don't be. I will find a way to solve this or suck it up. I will survive..." She said winking and flexing her arms singing the last part as a popular song went.

We spent almost an hour talking about my hookup and she about hers. After that, I got ready to meet William. I was thinking that I would have actually liked to have Glenda as my roommate, but then even if I cou