Chapter 1 - The Beginning
For some reason, life doesn't always turn out like you have planned. As a kid you expect your life to unfold as the movies or in my case the books that I've read countless times. I always thought that by now I would've found my purpose but instead, here I am at Washington State University with my major undecided. At first, I thought that I would study English literature and work within the publishing industry but the more I thought about the job opportunities the more impractical it seemed. If I'm going to be in debt the rest of my life at least I have to study something that will pay out in the end. Don't get me wrong, my goal isn't to be rich but I want to be able to live. Be independent, travel and not always have to think about money. On the other hand literature and reading is my dream and I'm not sure if I'm ready to give it up.
Two weeks of the semester has passed and I have settled into the dorm room and the college lifestyle. I get along with Kate, my new roommate. She's gorgeous… and kind of intimidating. Kate seems like a very hands-on and direct kind of person. As I got to experience first-hand the first day we met. Her policy is every question is worth asking, which is perfect since she's majoring in journalism to as she says "keep up the family tradition". As a consequence of her inquisition we got to know each other pretty well. I've never really had many friends before. I have a few back home but honestly I doubt that our friendship could survive 133 miles and college. To be honest I think that my closest friends are my mom and my dad, but there are certain things that you can't comfortably discuss with your parents such as sex and relationships. That is why I hope that Kate and I can be friends and we're off to a great start.
Kate has been invited to an off-campus party tonight that according to her is going to be "totally fun". I roll my eyes at her and agree to accompany her to the party. I mean it could be fun; I've never really been to a party before. So, here we are now, blasting music as we're getting ready. Kate is wearing a dark blue dress that compliments her figure and bronzed skin. Her heels are sky high and as I watch her walk around the room i become more impressed Kate is wearing a dark blue dress that compliments her figure and bronzed skin. Her heels are sky high and as I watch her walk around the room I become more impressed by the fact that she walks around effortlessly. As if walking on four inch sticks is the most comfortable thing in the world. I go to my closet and pick out an outfit that consists of black jeans, a t-shirt and a pair of black Converse and when I'm done I sit back down and wait for Kate. I can feel I pair of eyes looking at me. I look up from my book to find Kate looking at me through her mirror as she is curling her hair.
"Are you really going to go to the party dressed like that?" she says with surprise in her voice.
"Is there something wrong with what I'm wearing?" I ask looking down at my outfit. I think it looks good but in this case, she's the expert.
"It's not that it's ugly… it's just boring." She says as she styles her now perfectly curled hair. Kate goes into my closet searching for something. After a few moments she realizes that the rest of my clothes are just as boring as those I have on and gives up. She walks over to her closet and hands over a black tank top with criss-cross detailing on the chest along with some red pumps. "Now, put this on."
I do as she says and then she starts to do my make-up. She puts a bit of eyeshadow and a little bit of eyeliner and mascara. Then she sculpts my cheeks with some bronzer and finishes of the look with red lipstick that matches the heels I'm wearing. When I look myself in the mirror I barely recognize myself. My legs are long and toned due to the shoes that I have on. My face is upgraded from the ordinary to the kind of hot. My blue eyes are enhanced by the makeup, my lips look plump and my hair falls straight down my shoulders. I must say that I'm very impressed by Kate's skills.
"Now you're ready!" Kate says proudly while admiring her handy work.
"Do you have everything?" I ask her while avoiding her statement. Accepting compliments is not one of my talents.
"Yup, phone, portable charger, money, pepper spray, condoms and liquor." She says "You?"
"I think so…"
"Then let's get the party started," Kate says while dragging me through the door. "Tonight is going to be so much fun!" She squeals.
I thought that I would be the designated driver but clearly, Kate had other plans. She had ordered an Uber for us and then she proceeded to tell me with a stern voice to have fun, "Just let loose, Steele!"
When we arrived at the small apartment it was jam packed. People were holding red plastic cups and talking loudly in small groups that were distributed evenly throughout the apartment. Suddenly, high pitched squeals fill the tight space and few girls start to dance and sing along in the middle of the living room. Guys start to join the girls with hopes of getting lucky. The hot and sultry air seemed to pound with the beat of the music. Kate took my hand and led me to the impromptu dance floor and started to dance herself. Her sensual moves made it seem like she was one with the music.
"Come on Ana! Dance with me I love this song." She whisper-yells in my ear. I start to dance. My hips sway and I try my best to mimic Kate. Slowly but surely I start to relax and dance without feeling as self-conscious.
We are laughing and having fun when a guy starts to dance with Kate. He is tall and has brown hair that is a little bit too long which makes him seem younger than he probably is. For what I can see he has a slim body and a great dancer. Kate seems to be enjoying the attention so I decide that I should go get myself something to drink. I go to the kitchen grab two cups and pour some liquor and soda to make it taste better.
"Elliot, I don't understand what I'm doing here. I should be home working not being here with a bunch of drunk people." A man says behind me.
"Relax, bro, live a little! This is your perfect opportunity for you to get laid. I swear if you don't start using your dick it will shrivel off." Another man answers and laughs.
"I'm leaving - this is a complete waste of time. I can't believe I came with you to this shithole."
"Chris, calm down I was joking. Here drink this; I'll owe you back I promise. I need you to be my wingman. Lord knows I need to get laid."
"Elliot, I don't even know what a wingman is."
"Basically your job is to make me look good in front of the ladies. That shouldn't be too hard - I mean look at me."
"If you look so good then why the hell do you need me?"
I started to ignore their conversation and instead I concentrated on making our drinks. Taking the two cups I turn around and start walking towards the living room. However, a person stands in my way and I end up spilling the drink on me and the other person. My clumsiness strikes again, and there I stand wet and mortified.
"I'm so sorry!" I cry out to the stranger while looking for something that I can clean up the mess with. "Here, let me help you dry off…" and before I know what is really happening I feel I hard push. I land on my right hand, and it hurts pretty badly. I cry out in pain.
"Hey! What the hell do you think you're doing?!" Kate yells at the stranger. I look up and I'm met with a pair of beautiful gray eyes. All his features on his face are beautiful but his eyes are by far the most striking. There are so expressive and right now I all I see is fear, he looks like a scared little boy. My heart flutters and aches at the thought of a little boy being afraid. The only thing though is that the boy isn't a boy at all. He's a man around his twenties with copper hair and a well-toned physique. And he probably is the most handsome man I have ever met. He looks around the room for someone or for something as he murmurs to himself.
Kate is by my side and carefully takes my hand and examines it. It is swollen and I can feel it throbbing. I hope that it isn't broken… it's the hand I write with and I don't have insurance. He bends down and takes a closer look at me. I see his eyes widen when he sees my face and can feel his eyes roaming my body. My cheeks flush at the thought of how I must look like right now.
"You have to forgive me, it was an instinct. I wasn't prepared." He says pleadingly.
"Get away from her asshole, you have caused enough trouble," Kate yells at him.
The party starts to die down a bit due to the commotion and I can see people start to gather around us. I try to get up so that we can get away from the people looking at us. My cheeks are now burning from the attention.
"Kate, I'm fine I just need to get some ice on it and it will be as good as new." I try to look optimistic but that is all ruined when I move my hand and a groan escapes my mouth.
"Ana, I'm taking you to the hospital, it looks broken." She says sternly
"I can drive you to the hospital." The attractive man says.
Both Kate and I look over at him. Did he just offer to drive me to the hospital? What a shame that I'm not going. I cannot afford to go to the doctor right now. I don't want to call my dad and ask for money it will just add to his worries. Kate glares at him with such anger that it makes him back off a little.
"You are not going near us. We're taking a cab and you're going to disappear before this starts getting creepy. You said your apologies, Ana doesn't accept them. Just walk away." As Kate speaks she starts pointing a finger towards him. She's starting to get aggressive.
"Hey, get your hands away from my brother. What the fuck is going on?" a blonde man steps in between the copper haired guy and Kate. He's taller than average and has long dirty blonde hair that reminds me of Kate's. The only difference is that Kate's hair is lighter and the new guy's hair is more like honey. He's also muscular like his brother.
"Your brother pushed my best friend for no apparent reason and now she has a broken wrist. Ana come on we're going." She gathers our stuff, takes my uninjured hand and leads me out of the apartment. Of course, we don't move very fast because I can barely walk in the killer heels I'm in anymore. My feet hurt almost as much as my hand. Kate tries to call an Uber but she doesn't have any reception. She lets out and frustrated grunt. We're both thinking about how we're getting back to our dorms when the two brothers appear.
"I insist on driving you to the hospital. Look what happened was an accident; let me make it up to you." The copper haired boy said to me. I was going to insist that I didn't need medical attention when I looked up at him. I don't know how but suddenly I found myself in his car and on our way to the hospital.
The ride was awkward, to say the least. No one said anything and the only thing you could hear was the motor as the copper haired god drove. It was a very nice car, the kind of car that only rich people have. Kate kept asking me if I was okay and if there was something she could do for me. I noticed that she felt bad like this was somehow was her fault. I tried to make her feel better, but she only responded that no one is going to touch me ever again. The car was once again silent and somehow even more uncomfortable than before.
"So… my name is Elliot and this is my brother Christian. We're both very sorry for what happened. What are your names?" Elliot said trying to start a conversation.
Kate just looked out the window, ignoring Elliot. "My name is Ana and her name is Kate." I took a deep breath "would you mind if you drove us back to our dorms instead of the hospital, I'm fine really."
"No, I'm driving you to the hospital," Christian says with a stern voice. He almost sounds angry.
"I'm sorry but it isn't your decision to make. I don't want to go to the hospital, you can't make me." I answer him. I'm well aware that I sound like a petulant child, but he is really getting on my nerves.
"You need to get your hand checked out, it could be broken." He says it like he's explaining something to a three-year-old.
"You don't need to talk to me like I'm a child; I'm an adult and can make my own decisions."
"It doesn't seem like it." He mutters under his breath.
"You know what, screw you. If it weren't for you I wouldn't be in this mess. There are several reasons as for why I don't want to go to the hospital. One - I'm fine I just need to rest, two - I don't want to be near you and three - I DON'T HAVE AN INSURANCE. So just drop us off wherever you can."
The silence in the car is now unbearable and the air is filled with tension. Kate just looks at me like I have grown a new head. She looks proud and sad at the same time.
"I will help you pay the bill, just get your hand checked out, please," she whispers in my ear. I sigh and close my eyes. I don't want to argue anymore.
When I open my eyes again were at the hospital, there is barely anyone around in the ER. The doctor throws a quick look at my hand and immediately says that it is most likely broken. X-ray is just a formality. My hand was indeed broken and they put a cast on my right arm. Christian and Elliot seem to have disappeared when I'm done and I found myself disappointed by that. I go out to the reception to find out how much I owe the hospital since I don't have insurance.
"It's already been dealt with, dear. You don't owe us anything. A handsome young man paid for everything. Oh, and before I forget he asked me to give you this for your cab back home." The nurse explained to me.
The journey back home was silent. We were both tired and wanted to go to bed. After taking off our makeup and putting our pajamas on, we lay on our beds. And as I laid there I found myself wondering if I was ever going to see Christian again.