Free DC Affairs by Selene Chardou

have on.”
    The hairs on the back of my neck stood up. I didn’t think he cared much about what I wore but apparently he did. I didn’t know whether to be flattered or worried about the chance he could be a closet bisexual who wasn’t comfortable enough to come out to me.
    “Listen, before you accuse me of being gay, I’m not. I’m comfortable with my sexuality though and I really, really like you a lot, Sigourney. There isn’t much about you I don’t notice so please don’t take my comment the wrong way.”
    “I wouldn’t dare.” I smiled at him and the slight crease of worry on his forehead disappeared with ease.
    “Where’s your roommate?” Russell wondered as he grabbed my suitcase. One of my shoulders was already weighted down with an oversized hobo bag and I’m glad he noticed my predicament though I could have easily taken the suitcase as well.
    “Andrea? She works for The Capital Post , and she’s dating her editor. They’re going to Martha’s Vineyard for the weekend but aren’t leaving until tomorrow afternoon. She’s at work. Unfortunately for her, she doesn’t have an awesome job like us where the boss gives you an extra day off.”
    “Yeah, we do have a very cool job, don’t we?”
    “I concur, Berkeley.”
    I didn’t speak further as we walked through my condo and left through the front door. Immediately, I locked up behind us and vowed to text my best friend as soon as we got to our destination. It seemed only fair since we hadn’t spoken much to one another over the past few days.
    I knew Andrea wasn’t jealous but I did feel a spark of resentment. Maybe she thought I’d had it too easy and found Russell a bit too convenient after my fan-girling about Peter but she had to know I would rather move on than to pine about a man I couldn’t have. It wasn’t in my nature to ever accept a situation as hopeless as that one. I was all about finding an alternative solution that would work out in my best interest.
    Yes, I was still attracted to Peter and would definitely have liked us to pursue something but at the same time, I wrestled with my conscience and my new-found lust for Russell. Two opposing forces, which allowed me to view everything in my life a bit differently.
    We walked out to Russell’s car and I opened the passenger door after he’d unlocked it. The evening was beautiful, warm and bright. I couldn’t have asked for a better setting for the soundtrack that had become my life. Apparently, interesting company wasn’t good enough. I had to be able to feel the beat of everything and if I could put the moment on replay, I would’ve.
    All the sudden, my mother’s words spoken to me as a child made sense.
    There are moments, however fleeting, you know you’ll remember for the rest of your life. You ask me how you hold on to people and that is the only way. Through your memory, my daughter, because if you can memorize everything about them at that moment, it’s better than the best photo that can ever be taken.
    How true she was and now I knew her words were a type of gospel. That exact moment between Russell and I was so perfect, I knew I wanted to hold on to this memory for as long as I could. He loaded my stuff in the back seat before he opened the driver’s door and slid in beside me. His hair, perfectly tousled with golden and flaxen highlights weaved over a pallet of sandy strands, and the way his aquamarine eyes demanded my attention, the center around the iris so green in its intensity, it reminded me of freshly cut grass.
    “Is everything all right? You’ve been quiet for a while now.” He drove toward the direction of Dulles International Airport and a small smile played upon my face. I hope it meant we were going somewhere unexpected for the weekend.
    “Yes, I’m fine. Should I have brought my passport?” I questioned, attempting a girlish glance in his direction that fell short.
    “No, not at all. We aren’t leaving the States but yes, we’re going to