Aftermath of a Tragic Event

Jake honked the horn as he pulled to the curb in front of Diane's house. He and Diane had been dating since ninth grade, and were off to see a new movie. They had to hurry if they were going to pick up Brian and Ellie and get to the theater on time. Diane's best friend Ellie had been dating Brian since their junior year, and the four of them were best friends and partners-in-crime. Graduation day was fast approaching, and college was just around the corner.

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Jake had just finished unloading the last of his things from his car, and into his new apartment. He was just about to start his second year at the state university. After a year in a dorm room, he was really looking forward to having his own place. Sure, it was only a small efficiency apartment, but it would be all his. He hadn't liked living in the dorms, especially when Diane visited. Now, they'd have a place to be alone.

He was also looking forward to the private gym in the building's basement. Jake was a big guy, six foot two, two hundred pounds of muscle. He'd started working out when he was on the football team in high school. Now it was one of his favorite things to do. It made him feel good to be in top shape.

Diane was in her second year at a small, exclusive all-girl arts college. Jake couldn't really visit her because men were not allowed in the girls' housing. So, she visited him about once a month. With his private apartment, he suspected that they'd spend those entire weekends in bed together. Well, not the whole weekend. They'd make time for Diane to see her best friend, Ellie, who attended the same university as Jake did.

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Jake returned from classes to see fire and emergency vehicles clogging the street in front of his apartment building. He hurried up until he was stopped by a police woman.

"What happened?" he asked. "I live in that building!"

A fireman stepped forward and answered. "There was a fire on the second floor. Apparently, someone left a candle burning and it lit the curtains on fire. The damage is pretty extensive."

"Shit, shit, shit," grumbled Jake. "I live on the sixth floor. Did the fire get up that high?"

"Most of the fire damage is on the second and third floors. Water damage goes up to about the fifth floor. You might have nothing but smoke damage up on six. It's still too early to really say. But the structure has extensive damage. I doubt that they'll repair the building. Probably just knock it down and rebuild."

"Oh, man," sighed Jake. "Can I get up there and get my stuff?"

"Not until the building is inspected. That'll probably take a day or two. I'd suggest that you find a place to stay if you can. If not, the Red Cross will find a temporary place for you. Officer, can you get this boy's information and put him in contact with the Red Cross?"

"No problem, chief. Come with me, young man."

Jake spent the next hour talking with the police and some of the other people who lived in his building. It was agreed that they'd all be escorted to their rooms at 10AM the day after tomorrow to salvage whatever they could. A few people went with the Red Cross to their shelter, the rest felt that they could find a friend to crash with for a few days. Jake knew that he could find somebody who'd let him sleep on their couch.

He called Diane and told her the bad news.

"Wow, Jake, I'm sorry. But this cloud has a silver lining. I talked to Ellie this morning. Her roommate Abigail had to drop out of school because her mom is sick. Ellie's worried that she'll lose her apartment unless she finds a new roommate. I'm sure that you can stay with her until things get settled. In fact, I'm sure that she'd love for you to move in permanently. Give her a call."

So, Jake called Ellie and told her his story. "Jake, you come over here right now! I insist that you stay here until you figure out what you wanna do. My roommate took her bed and furniture, but I've got a big couch that's yours as long as you want it."

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Two days later, Jake had collected his belonging from his old apartment. The apartment had been furnished, so all he really had was his clothes, books and papers, computer, and big screen TV. Everything smelled like smoke. He washed all of his clothes twice at a laundromat until they smelled clean. His computer and TV smelled so bad that he just threw them in the dumpster.

They had discussed it over dinner last night, and Jake had decided to move into Ellie's apartment with her. He'd have a big bedroom, and the rent was cheaper than at his old place. His dad had agreed to use the money saved on rent to buy Jake a new computer and TV, as well as a new bed and a used desk.

That evening, Wednesday, found Jake settling into his new apartment, with his new roommate Ellie. It turned out that Brian would be visiting that Friday, and Diane was also planning on visiting, so the old gang would all be together for the weekend.

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At the library the next day Jake finally had some time alone to consider things. There was a reason that he didn't really hang around with Ellie at school, and why he had been skeptical about moving in with her. But, it had all happened so fast, and he hadn't had much choice.

The reason? Ellie was fucking gorgeous! Jake had had a secret crush on her for years. He had seen her grow up from a skinny, cute girl into a shapely young woman. The summer after high school found the foursome at the beach almost every day. They had a blast together, laughing, joking and teasing each other. But, seeing Ellie in her bikinis had almost been too much for Jake. The skinny girl had blossomed. She was now about five foot eight, still thin but with what had to be C-cup breasts, her thin waist flaring to shapely hips and a tight, sexy ass. When she came out of the water and her long, reddish-blond hair was plastered to her chest, he'd had to force himself not to look for too long.

Diane was also a beauty, and Jake loved her deeply. He knew that he'd marry her some day. He'd have to be very careful around Ellie. If Diane ever suspected anything about his feelings there'd be hell to pay.

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The first knock on the door came at 5:15. Ellie was in her room, so Jake went toward the door. "I'll get it, Ellie." He opened the door and greeted his friend Brian.

As they shook hands Brian yelled out. "Hey Ellie, what are you doing with this strange man in your apartment?" Ellie ran from her room and wrapped Brian in a hug.

"Don't mind him, he's just one of my many boyfriends that you don't know about. Jerk." She gave her boyfriend a passionate kiss.

Brian grabbed his bag and followed Ellie into her room and closed the door. Jake could hear them talking and kissing. "Don't get carried away in there you two, Diane should be here any minute."

About twenty minutes later another knock sounded. Jake hurried to the door. "Diane, honey, I've missed you." They were wrapped around each other when Ellie and Brian came back into the living room.

"I'd tell you to get a room, but I guess you already have one. Diane!" Ellie pushed Jake aside and hugged her best friend. "So, how do you like my roommate upgrade?"

Diane smiled. "I like this one much better than the old one. He's got a bigger chest and a better ass."

They all laughed. This was the way that they'd been joking around for years, a part of the glue that held their friendships together.

Over dinner, Jake told the whole story about the fire and the days since. He praised Ellie for taking him in. She told them all about her roommate's sudden departure due to her mom's failing health.

They drank, talked and laughed until around ten o'clock, when Diane spoke up. "Well, guys, I need to get a little better acquainted with with Ellie's new roommate. Come on, Jake, show me your bedroom."

"I've got to warn you, Diane, our bedrooms share a common wall and it's a thin one. If you're as loud as usual, we'll hear everything."

"Me, loud? Remember the time at that hotel in the Black Hills? We could hear you guys from two doors down! You'll just have to turn your music up."

The two couples retired to their respective rooms. Ellie cranked her music up loud, and both couples started out trying to be quiet. That didn't last long. In

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THE END