Page 17 of Love me, Maddie Mendoza

I opened my door, and she did the same, heading towards the entrance. I kept my strides short so she could keep up with me. It was a dance I was used to since my growth spurt in sixth grade and she remained a foot smaller. We navigated the busy hallways. I opened the front door, and she went in under my arm. I said hi to a few people as they called my name and hers straight away. We were a package deal.

For many months, when we first started school, people thought we were a couple. And I got it, sure, Maddie usually knew my moves before I could understand I was moving. We walked in synchrony and talked in an endless stream of our own language. Eventually, people caught on that we were nothing but friends. I dated people and Maddie did, too.

Just like in high school, we became the sexless duo. The brother and sister type. No one asked about our relationship status anymore. The women I dated weren’t threatened. They actually went overboard trying to make friends with Maddie, since she seemed to be the gatekeeper of my heart.

In truth, she was. I always believed if someone didn’t like Maddie Mendoza, it was because they were a bad person in hiding. I used my oldest friend as a sniffing dog.

Maddie jumped on the heels on her feet, clapping the flip-flops as she went. “Going to a party as official roommates is different, Z. We are like a team or something.”

“We always have been.”

She pouted, and I bumped my shoulder to hers. Well, in reality, I bumped my upper arm to her shoulder. “I’ll think about it, Mad Max.”

Satisfied by my answer, we got to class. Straight away we spotted our people; Aisha and some girls Maddie knew. She skipped ahead to give them her love as I waved to a couple of guys I knew through Jason.

By the time I reached the middle of the class, I caught Maddie hanging on Aisha’s neck, bringing their cheeks together.

“I miss you so much already!”

Aisha laughed, grabbing our best friend by the waist and squeezing as much as she could. Maddie had a way of making long-lasting friendships with people completely opposite of herself, and Aisha looked as far from orange-hat-wearing-Maddie as a friend could get. First, she was tall, five-seven or eight and towered even further in heels. Maddie had a golden quality to her skin, and Aisha was smooth, dark cinnamon. And finally, Maddie’s hair had its own zip code, while Aisha kept her head shaved and bleached platinum.

“We saw each other Saturday.” Aisha laughed.

“Too long.” Maddie claimed.

I came over and sat in a chair behind the one Maddie threw her backpack on and a patted Aisha’s back to say hello.

“Hey, Aisha.” I sat and watched as Aisha was almost curved to keep the cheek-on-cheek action.

“I get what you had to endure every Wednesday, Z.” Maddie was known for giving koala bear hugs.

Maddie finally let the woman go. “You guys can’t complain that I love you too much. I wish we three lived together.”

“God, don’t say that to Jason or I will not hear the end of it.”

Aisha chuckled and took a seat beside Maddie’s chair. “Isn’t he the cutest?” She spoke about Jason like he was a teddy bear.

I rolled my shoulders and decided not to reply. But Maddie did. “He’s hot as hell, you mean?”

I choked on my tongue. “What?”

Maddie giggled and sat on the chair in front of me. She glanced at Aisha, who laughed and rolled her eyes at the same time.

“Excuse me? You just calledourroommate hot?”

“Ah calm your tits.” She replied, taking her laptop and propping on the table. “I can look at the menu and order nothing.”

I blinked. Aisha waggled her finger. “Clean the living room and get no visitors.”

“Window shopping.” Maddie added, turning the computer on while she took an electric yellow thin yarn and a crochet needle from the bag.

Aisha glanced at me, and to my expression, she scoffed. “Come on, the man is all pecks, blond hair and the craziest blue eyes. He’s gorgeous. It doesn’t mean I want him to call me mama.”

“He would, wouldn’t he?” Maddie chuckled as she started crocheting right there in the middle of the class. It wasn’t the first time.

“Call me mama during sex? Definitely.” Aisha nodded and started her laptop as hell.

“Is this the way you talked at your home?” I asked, just to confirm.

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