Chapter Two

The goodbye with mom was heavy.

She asked me about a hundred times if I didn't forget anything and if I needed more time to think about whether I wanted to go to a university so far away from home. A hundred times I replied that I was sure, but she kept insisting until I got on the plane.

If I had just said I needed time to think about it, I'm sure she would have given me a speech that I had to be strong and that I was sure I could do it. In short, she only asked me that because she wanted to play the role of an understanding mother, but she never was. She wants that college even more than I do.

I slept most of the flight, the sleeping pills I bought myself were amazing. I'm not one to use those things, but I have a horrible fear of airplanes and more so today that I'm traveling alone, at least the other times there was always my mother's wrist or my brother's hand to break.

Lacking them, I'll just say that I left a slight sag in the arms of the seat.

When I got off the plane I was a little lost, it had been too long since I had been here. Also, that as a little girl an airport didn't seem exciting enough for me, so I never paid much attention to it.

I didn't know where to go, so before I got lost I stood in the seats in front of the exit.

"Samantha!" someone shouted through the airport crowd, I turned and saw Olivia waving her hand and heading towards me. When she arrived she gave me a hug. "My goodness, look how big you look and how beautiful!".

Olivia is my stepfather's sister. She was always obnoxious, so I don't have fond memories of her.

I think it's totally unnecessary to refer to a person's physique when you see them after a while. I didn't consider myself pretty, I mean I'm not ugly, but I don't consider myself a pretty girl. I have black hair, brown eyes, I'm not thin I'm rather normal and I'm 5'7".

"Thank you," I reply forcing a smile.

I'm not particularly happy to see Olivia. She never had any interest in seeing us. My mother called me many times over four years, but rarely returned my calls. After a while she stopped calling. It was as if she suddenly no longer wanted to see us and neither of us knew why.

My mother called her future husband two weeks ago and Olivia answered the phone. One apartment was too much and my mother didn't trust me enough to let me live alone. Bottom line, I either lived with my stepfather and Olivia and went to Fermont University or I was going to State in Seattle. I didn't have to think long and hard about it.

Actually, it was a mind game, like everything else she did. She would not, under any circumstances, allow me to pass up the opportunity to go to Fermont. It's the college we both always dreamed of. She only threatened me because it's her best way to make me obey and she knows it. She knows that she terrifies me more than the devil himself.

This college has one feature that other institutions don't have. It's pretty strict. They don't let you get smart. I know, in college you're supposed to be able to make your own life, do the things you want to do, but in this one it's not like that. If you accepted and applied to this college, these are their orders and their rules. You have to go to class, you must not be late, you must fulfill each and every homework they send you and more if you have scholarship. In short, I didn't get out of high school, but the difference is that when I get out of here I'm going to have a degree.

"How was the flight?" she wanted to know as she looked at my clothes. I was wearing worn jeans, sneakers and a t-shirt. I looked at her outfit and it was very formal, she was wearing heels that if I wore them I would break my neck, a pencil skirt and a white shirt. Her physical appearance was not bad at all. Ten years passed and she was just as I remembered her. Her platinum blonde hair was perfectly coiffed and she had made herself up quite nicely for the occasion.

I looked up and Olivia was looking around, praying that she didn't run into anyone she knew. I guess she doesn't want to be seen with me.

"You're not making any points in your favor Olivia," I said to myself.

"The flight was fine," I let her know and turned to leave the place.

"Well, let's go home and on the way you tell me all the details of what your life has been like these 8 years I haven't seen you."

Technically we spent it talking about her life, her ex-boyfriend, her job, the effort she put in for Nick all these years and a couple of other things I didn't hear.

What I did hear was her explanation as to why she still doesn't have her own place and still lives with her brother. Short answer: She doesn't want to give up control of all the loved ones around her.

We pulled into the driveway after forty-five minutes, when I got out of the car I saw a giant two-story house. You can tell my old-new stepfather earns excellent. 

"Let me help you with the luggage," she took the luggage out of my hand and headed inside the house.

"No need," I shook my head and followed her. She didn't respond and crossed the threshold.

As I walked past her and into the room, she couldn't help but open her mouth in awe.

It was the most beautiful room I have ever seen in my life. Against the window on the right is a white Chaise Longue sofa and on its sides are lamps, a glass coffee table in front of the sofa and around this part of the room is full of pictures.

The floor has a diamond patterned carpet. Everything is perfectly cared for.

Then to my left is the staircase and in front of me a hallway full of doors.

"How much stuff do you carry in there?" she asked almost panting, I shrugged.

"What you need to live here," I indicated contemplating this beautiful house.

"Well this is your new home now, I hope it's to your liking", 

I laughed. "Yes it is very nice."

And I understated the word, nice is an understatement for what this is all about. If this is the living room, I can imagine what all the rooms in this house will be like.

"I'm glad you like it, follow me I'll take you to your room," I followed her, carrying my bags this time.

We walked up the stairs and there was a hallway with four doors, we stopped at the last one and Olivia opened it. She moved just enough to let me through and my mouth dropped open even wider than when I saw the room.

The room was gigantic and painted a rather delicate French blue. The bed was against the wall facing me and its sheets matched the color of the room. Next to it was a small table with a lava lamp resting on it. Against the left wall a desk with a laptop and on the right wall a very modern bookshelf, next to it a white door. I walk up to that door and it's a small closet, but all my clothes fit in here, when I close the door I look at Olivia with my shocked expression still on my face.

"This is your room, make yourself comfortable. I have to go to work, if you need anything feel free to call me, my phone is on the kitchen fridge and I think Nick, he's in his room. He doesn't live here, he lives in an apartment near Bloomsbury, he's staying here for a while because of some problems he's having at home, if you need anything give him a call."

Olivia pointed to the room across the hall.

"No problem, thanks for letting me stay," I mumbled feigning shyness. If I wanted to stay, she had to like me.

"Honey, no need to thank me it's my pleasure to have you here," followed by that, she left.

I couldn't help but glance at the front door, would Nick be there? I understood he wasn't, the idea was not to see him unless there was a family dinner or something. Maybe I was acting very childish by still thinking about something that happened eight years ago, but it was all too confusing.

Should I let him know I had arrived, should I greet him?

I dared to try, it had been a long time anyway, he probably wouldn't even remember. Besides, if we were going to live together for a while, we should at least have some minimal interaction. I had to do it right, I couldn't lose my place here, my mother couldn't afford an apartment all to myself.

I knocked on the door several times and got no answer. As I guessed, he wasn't there.

Before I closed the door to what is now my room, I felt the door across the hall slam open. I looked up and a tall, thin, black-haired and very.... handsome was standing in front of me. I couldn't help but look into his eyes, they were the most beautiful thing I had ever seen, there were various shades of green in them. It was hard to identify what color they were, but they were beautiful.

Startled, I slammed the door shut.

I felt much better.

Until I remembered that I had just slammed the door in the face of my prospective roommate.

That wouldn't make for a very good reputation.

Is it Nick?

No, it couldn't be.

I slowly peeked my head around the door, hoping he'd gone into his room, but he hadn't. He was still in the same spot where I'd left him 30 seconds ago.

"You... Are you Nick?" I hated myself for stuttering and gasping.

He raised one of his eyebrows and looked at me like I was a weirdo, which I was, but I could be more polite and dissemble. Once he shook his head, answering my question in the affirmative, I straightened up and cleared my throat.

«"What am I doing, why am I acting like this, he's looking at you silly! You look like you've seen a ghost!"». I realized, he was looking at me seriously. I would have that look on my face too if someone had looked at me the way I look at him.

"Hi," I managed to say half embarrassed looking down at the floor. My voice didn't sound as shaky as I felt inside.

"Hi," he mumbled leaning against the door frame, what had happened to the boy I had met? I'd expected that skinny, short guy, but instead there's a tall, muscular guy.

"How long," I pleaded hoping the heat I felt in my cheeks had disappeared." How have you been?"

"I'm not complaining," he said coldly and curtly.

"Oh, that's okay, I just came by to say hi and ...."

I would have said getting to know each other better, but Nick had other plans. He wanted to show how rude he could be.

"Well, you already have, I guess that's the end of the conversation," He said and slammed the door in my face.

I didn't get it, why so rude? He was worse than my mother on her period and that's saying a lot. Was it because of my reaction earlier?

I tried to ignore him, he would stay here for a few days, it wasn't definite, I shouldn't worry.

Later that afternoon, when I had unpacked most of my things, I started looking for the bathroom. I entered through the fourth door without even knocking. Big mistake. Nick was there with a towel around his waist leaving his entire chest exposed, my heart started beating very fast.

I stared at his strong and defined body for quite a while, there was definitely a lot of exercise there. I went into the bathroom without permission and here I am a minute ago contemplating her half naked body.

This is spectacular. First I slammed the damn door in his face and now I went into the bathroom without permission to see him half naked. 

Tomorrow I'm sure he'd be on his feet in the street.

Oh, great, great, great.

Again.

"Sorry."

I turned around and started to close the door, but something was stopping me. Nick had his hand on the end of the door, we were inches from each other, I could feel his breath on my face. My heart was beating so fast and hard I was afraid he'd hear it, what the fuck was I doing?

"Get out of the way," I indicated, nudging his shoulder. I barely altered his posture. I was too small and he was too big.

For a moment I felt a chemistry between our bodies that consumed me.

"I'm home!" yelled Nick's aunt from the living room.

I turned around and headed for my room, walked into it without looking back and lost myself in the complete darkness.

What had she just done? Well, technically he hadn't done anything, but he had come close to kissing me, hadn't he? I don't think she intended that with her reaction this morning.

What happened eight years ago was kid stuff, neither of us knew what we were doing, but now we're adults and we don't even know each other. I am clearly paranoid.

I lie down on the bed and lean my face against the pillow letting out a sort of groan How is it possible that my heart is still beating so fast? I'm still flushed and I'm sure if I speak I'm going to stutter.

He was about to kiss me without knowing me? How dare he?

Maybe he didn't know me. Maybe I misread the situation and I had a giant spider in my hair that he wanted to get out of my hair to be a good person. Yes. 

I'm just stressed from the trip and the change in routine, that's all. I need to rest.

I put on my pajamas and settled into bed. As I closed my eyes images of me and Nick in the bathroom popped into my head, I opened them again and sighed. It's going to be a long night.