"Good morning." I greeted the receptionist with a smile.

"Hi, what can I help you with today?" She responded smiling back at me.

"I have a second interview with Mrs. Duncan today at 10am." I replied. I felt a bit nervous but confident that the interview would go well.

"Oh yes, our executive director. So, this would be your final interview. Your name?"

"Regina Mills."

"Alright, you can have a seat and Ms. Duncan will be out in a few minutes. Okay?"

"Great, thank you."

I walked towards the living room like setting at reception. Before sitting I pulled down my pencil skirt since it would rise on occasion. As I was waiting I noticed the layout of the office. Flyers posted all over of different events hosted by the organization and its programs. There was Youth Voice, College Bound, 415 Ink, among others. All providing resources so young kids could thrive and have a safe place to express themselves and be guided. I thought working at a non-profit that helped youth was the perfect place to start for myself. I wanted to help youth. I wanted to make the difference that was never made in me. So, working as a youth counselor, to me, was the perfect start to my career.

As my mind spaced out thinking of how I would have wished for someone to fight for me at a young age I heard a voice call me name.

"Regina Mills?" I look up to see a woman standing near the front desk.

"Yes, that's me."

"Rachel Duncan, pleased to meet you." She said smiling as she extended her hand.

"The pleasure is all mine" I reply trying to be as professional as possible.
"Follow me and we can get started" she said smiling as she leads me to the conference room.
As we walked I went through all my interview practices that I had worked on the few days before. Nervous, but excited to hopefully start fresh. As we made it to one of the conference rooms I was in awe. There were spray painted art pieces on the walls. Inspirational quotes and the room layout was so amazing. Lots of colors and designs to make youth feel interested in it.

"As you can tell we do let our youth express themselves. All art pieces on the walls were created by our youth. This is what we are about, giving kids an outlet and safe place to find and be themselves." She said as I sat and looked around the room.

"This is all so great!" I said excitedly.

"So! Let's get started, shall we? Tell me why you want to work at Project Reach?" She asked intently.

"Well..." I began.

I walked out of the office building feeling confident and hopeful I would get the job. As I started to walk down the street into the underground station to get the subway I felt truly hopeful for once in a very long time. I started to slow my walking a bit and stood still. I felt the cool breeze coming from the bay and I closed my eyes. I wished to myself as hard as I could. Please, please, let this time be different. I thought. I need this fresh start, I need this to work. No more second chances. This is the last time.

I opened my eyes and felt my left cheek suddenly got wet. I brushed my tear away, and walked down into the subway station.

.*.

I had decided to go get some groceries at the local grocery stands on the streets on my way back. I was cravings something sweet so I decided to treat myself and get a small tub of my favorite ice cream, chunky monkey. It was about 1:30pm when I arrived back to my house. I had found this beautiful Victorian like house on one of San Francisco's hills that had the most perfect view of the city. The sunrises and sunsets were breathtaking. The house was a deep red with black roofing and gold accents. And of course, as high as the rent is in San Francisco I would be renting half of the house. I was given the first floor since that was what was available. The second floor neighbor had moved out within 2 days of my arriving to San Francisco so I was happy to have the house to myself in a sense. I walked up the stairs to open the main door that gave way to a small hallway that had stairs that lead to the second floor entrance and next to the staircase was the door to my part of the house. I had two grocery bags in my hand and had already struggled to open the first door and now I felt my hand getting weak from the weight of the groceries. I was about to put the key in the lock when my bags fell and my groceries fell to the floor.

"Shit!" I exclaimed.

"Regina! Hey, let me help you." I heard a familiar voice coming through the main door.
"David... oh hello." I responded surprised.

David Nolan, my landlord, very rarely made appearances, so to see him here meant something was going on.

"What are you doing here? Is everything okay?" I asked.

"Oh yeah it's nothing bad, we just-" he tried explaining as he helped me put the food in my grocery bags.

"And so, this is the main entrance..."

David was interrupted by his wife Mary who seemed to be showing someone the house.
"Oh! Regina, you're here! Perfect! So, this is Regina, she would be your potential neighbor if you do decide to rent with us..." Mary explained as she walked towards me.
"Regina, this is Robin Locksley, he is very interested in renting the 2nd floor!" Mary said excitedly to me.

Mary was nice but she was a bit too rainbows and unicorn stickers for my taste. And David for some reason was just in love with that about her.

As Mary presented the man to me he bent down before entering the house to pick up my ice cream tub that had rolled to the entrance.

He picked it up and looked at the tub, "Chunky Monkey" he stated.
English accent I thought.

He entered the house and turned to walk towards me and our eyes met. The bluest of blue eyes I had ever seen. He was so handsome. But all I could see were those blue eyes. He did not look away from me as he walked towards me. I was frozen still, and felt goosebumps run down my arms and chills on my spine.

He extended his hand giving me the tub, still his eyes locked on mine.
"It's my favorite." He said with a smile.

I quickly knocked out of trans and took the tub and for a slight second I felt his fingertips meet mine. I just took the tub and placed it in my bag.

"Nice to meet you...Robin." I stated half nervous.
"Oh, the pleasure is all mine." He replied smiling looking at me with those sharp blue eyes that were froze me again.

"Uh, well enjoy the rest of the tour." I said moving to try and open the door but stumbling as I turn to unlock the door.

"Careful." He says moving closer as to preparing to catch my fall.

"I'm fine thank you." I reply quickly

"Here I'll help you with the other bag!" Mary said.

"Oh, thank you. Just set it on the table."

I walk in setting my groceries and standing for a moment trying to refocus myself. What was I thinking? I looked like a drooling kid.

"Let me show you the second floor." I overheard David tell Robin as the stairs creaked towards the upstairs.

"Oh my god! You are so into him!" Mary started yapping.

"What do you mean? No, I'm not." I stated seriously.

"You may say that but what I saw! Oh, that's another fairytale!" She said helping me put the groceries away.

I roll my eyes.

"Okay, relax. You're reading too much into this. And you've been watching too many Disney movies. You're trying to find love where there is nothing. And either way, I'm not interested." I stated.

But I was. But either way, I was not in the point in my life to be testing the waters with a man. However, captivating he was. My life was too complicated and torn apart to try and be finding a "soulmate". I couldn't risk getting too close to anyone. It was too dangerous.

"Well fine. Any who-" Mary started to speak when David stepped in.

"Mary, good news! Robin has decided to move in. He says he has fallen more in love with the house after being inside. I'll go get the paperwork from the car." David stepped it.

"Hear that? He's in love!" Mary teased me.
"Oh stop it." I said rolling my eyes.

"Fine, fine! I'll leave you alone to eat your chunky monkey" Mary teased once again and walked out.

Great, a neighbor. And it had to be exactly the one that I acted like a deer in headlights.

Hello guys! So I hope you enjoy and keep reading! :) please comment and let me know what you think so far?