“Earth to Piper,” Anastascia teased. “If you're not careful, you're going to get left behind.”
I look around, startled. I hadn't even realized we'd reached the train station. I gave her a puzzled look. I would've thought we'd be taking a taxi to her apartment.
She smiled, most likely guessing what I was thinking. “I moved out after graduation.”
“Seriously?”
Anastascia had gone to Columbia for their paralegal program and I knew the law firm she wanted to work for was just a few blocks away from her family's place.
“Mom and Dad bought me a place in Fishtown.”
My eyes widened. “Are you kidding?”
She shook her head as she stepped onto the train. I followed, taking the aisle seat next to her.
“I'm still at Masters and Griffin, but I wanted a place of my own. One of their friends was selling their place so my parents asked if I wanted it.”
She kept gushing about her new place as the train started to move. I was happy for her, but at the same time, I couldn't help but be jealous. I shared a tiny two-bedroom apartment with another stripper and could barely make rent while her parents had bought one of those brick row-houses for what was probably just under a quarter of a million dollars. I looked out the window as we started to pass my old neighborhood. It hadn't changed in the past two years and as I saw kids playing basketball as we passed, I wondered if I knew any of them.
“I bought you something,” Anastascia said suddenly.
My eyes narrowed. “Why?”
“Because I missed your birthday and Christmas twice these last two years.” She was still smiling, but I could see the sympathy on her face. I was right. She knew things weren't going well for me. Her voice softened and I could see compassion in her deep brown eyes. “And because I knew you'd be thinking about not having anything to wear tonight but you'd be too proud to ask for help.”
“Ana,” I started to protest.
She put her finger over her mouth just like she used to do when we were younger and I'd start telling her she was being too generous. “It's your birthday and Christmas gifts, as well as an 'I'm glad to see you' present. Besides, I can't return it and we don't wear the same size.”
That was true. I was about five-six and nothing to be ashamed of in the bust department, but Anastascia was five-eleven without heels and somewhere in an E cup. I'd borrowed a couple t-shirts when we were younger – and wore them as nightshirts. Whatever she bought me would end up going to Goodwill if I didn't accept it, and considering that was where I bought most of my clothes, I nodded.
“Thank you.”
She beamed.
When we got off at Fishtown, I was surprised at how quickly it all came back. I might have been in Vegas for the past two years, but this city was in my blood. I wasn't sure if that meant I'd come back permanently some day, but it did mean I felt at home even though this wasn't my neighborhood. I smiled at the fishes decorating the doors and sidewalks.
“This way.” She led the way, telling me about her job as a paralegal for a civil rights law firm.
I'd never been a very talkative person, so it was just like old times as she let the conversation flow from one topic to the other. She'd occasionally ask questions, but when I'd only offer a short answer, she didn't push it. Talking on the phone with her had been different. I'd forgotten how much of our friendship was intuitive. She knew when to move on and when I wanted to talk but was reluctant to do so. A lump formed in my throat as she showed me to the guest room. The pain I'd been expecting at seeing the city again wasn't coming from memories of my mother, but rather from how much I missed having someone around who cared about me.
She left me alone to clean up and by the time she returned with my dress, I'd gotten my emotions back under control. I would enjoy this time with her, but I wouldn't forget why I'd left or why I was going to stay away.
“I was really hoping you hadn't gone through any extreme weight loss or something,” she said as she handed me a hanger with way less fabric than I'd expected. I glared at her. “Trust me, Piper.”
I sighed. It wasn't like I had much of a choice. I took the dress and wondered what I was going to wear underneath it. All of my underwear was nice enough, but I'd never had the money for fancy lingerie. Not that I needed it. What I did need, however, was a strapless bra and a thong because there was no way anything I'd brought with me would work with this dress.
“I got these with it.”
As if she'd read my mind, Anastascia held out lace panties and a bra that both matched the dress. She gave me a grin and practically skipped out of the door, leaving me alone to change. I didn't even glance in the mirror as I put on the bra and panties, or as I wiggled into the impossibly tight dress. Only when I'd gotten everything adjusted and in the right place did I finally look up. And gasped.