Author's Note: Welcome to the First chapter. This chapter is in the point of view of our OC. I hope that you enjoy this story as much as I've enjoyed writing it. For those reading for Jasper or the Major, he will not be in the story for a while. The first part of the story is about OC and Peter. I'm sorry about that but this is the way it has to be.
Hope you enjoy!
-Part One: Mates-
1. Meeting
Lubbock, Texas
August 2010
Robyn
I pushed my glasses further up my nose as I dragged my huge suitcase behind me toward the apartment complex in front of me. The complex was bigger than the article online stated because it was just the thing I needed. A man walked out of the building with a hat on his head and shades covering his face. It made no sense to me because it was already cloudy with approaching storms.
He bustled past me without sparing me any glance. I glared at his back, "Asshole," I muttered under my breath knowing he couldn't hear me. Inside the building was cooler. Every time it got closer to raining the temperature would rise and it would be blistering hot outside. I pulled out the piece of paper with my apartment number checking the floors for the room numbers.
3rd Floor. Great.
I sure hope there's an elevator. God must have been on my side as I found a decent elevator. I found my room easily enough sliding the key in the doorknob. Inside, my bags were already sitting everywhere with boxes stacked on top of each other. My eyes took in the apartment with a ragged sigh. Considering I was only nineteen this apartment was what one would expect as my first apartment.
I rolled the suitcase inside the room before shutting and locking the door. My breath blew out as I shuffled out of my jacket groaning when I realized just how small this place was. It was safe to say I probably wouldn't be inviting any of my family over at this point. Not that any would come anyway since I left mostly without a word. Things between me and my family weren't that great at the moment anyway.
Flipping on lights throughout the apartment, I realized that the living room would double as my bedroom as well. This meant that I would be better off buying one of those sofas that either contained a bed inside or turned into a bed itself, which were expensive. The tiny kitchen area only had an out of date fridge, stove, two counters which one housed a small sink. It's what I expected on my income at the moment. Thankfully I was still drawing the money on my grandmother's life insurance policy for another few months. I could pay the rent, get a few things for the apartment, locate a job, and get settled in the nearest community college. College was paid for mostly by scholarships and finacial aid.
It was a surprise that my boxes had arrived before I did. My mother barely paid much attention to me during the summer. Perhaps she thought I was lying about moving for college. I could have easily attended the local community college campus that was in Greenville, Ms, but I chose not to. Living in that house after my grandmother died was hell on earth. I pulled my thoughts away as I started shuffling through boxes. I was tired, but I knew these boxes wouldn't get unpacked until I bought a closet, dresser, and not mention something besides the matress and box springs that were already on the floor.
Suddenly the contraption in my pocket began to vibrate. Pulling it out, I saw my father's number flashing on the screen. For some reason I had decided to move closer to my reclusive father who lived in Lubbock. It wasn't until I had already decided on a place and was working on sending the first payment that he told me, they were moving. Apparently Lubbock wasn't up to his and my stepmother's ridiculous standards. They were still in Texas but nowhere near Lubbock as they moved to the other side of Texas. I felt like they purposely moved away from me for some bizarre reason.
I chose to ignore the call. I had been ignoring most of my calls except for my younger brother on the ride into Texas. I had updated him on the ride and about the unfortunate hotels along the way. Not to mention the new truck I managed to get which was actually used but it was good enough for me.
Shuffling through the boxes, I found my decorations for the living room itself and tomorrow I'd go first day shopping for my apartment. While I was excited about this move, part of me was terrified. I had always lived with my mother who provided everything for me. There were never days where I went hungry in her time to provide for me. I wasn't sure if that would always be the case on my own.
Glancing at the time, I knew I had enough time to get a shower, take a nap, and then call for a pizza. All in all it was going to be a pretty lonely night.
I stared down at the credit card in my hand. It contained the last of my grandmother's life insurance. Honestly a good portion of her life insurance paid for her burial back in Mississippi. I was thankful that she loved me so much because after her death, I left. I got tired of playing second fiddle to everything else my mother found more important.
The store was huge, something of a surplus that sold more stuff than I could count. I needed a complete makeover of the living room/bedroom. This meant that I needed to get a couch bed and I was still leaning toward a futon. I decided down the couch and chair isle and found exactly what I was searching for. The futon was just what I needed giving me the exact ideas for the room.
After I found the futon, everything else was easy. The futon was practically a center piece. As I was shopping, I was thinking about the bathroom and how awful it was. Obviously it needed some cleaning and some scrubbing. I couldn't bare to think about the previous tenants activities in the apartment from the living room to the bathroom. When I checked out, my eyes widened a little bit at the price. It wasn't quite a thousand dollars but it was close.
Thankfully I owned a pickup truck which I drove from Mississippi into Texas since I had never flown before. I pushed the carts outside into the blistering summer heat of Texas. Droughts were going to cause fires with this heat. I was already used to the heat from Mississippi which was always humid. I shoved everything into the back of the truck thankful to have a cover so I didn't have to tie anything down. Being a nineteen year old female without any muscle on her bones, made it hard to move things around when necessary.
Back at the apartment, I was once again happy to have elevator in the building. I pocketed my keys and took a deep breath because it was probably one of the only ones I'd get for a while.
After two trips to the truck, I was nearly at my wit's end. Having a tiny apartment, sucked. Nearly everything I owned was sitting in the living room. I heaved as I tried sliding the mattress and box springs with me down the hall toward the elevator. When the elevator dinged, someone else stepped out and I had to quickly step back. I did have manners somewhere in my head but lately they were hard to find.
"Oh," the person said and I realized it was a guy.
I had zero experience with the opposite sex. It was embarrassing to be nineteen and never been kissed. That movie with Drew Barrymore would probably become my life but instead I wasn't going to be a journalist who would find an English teacher to fall in love with me. It wasn't meant to be.
"Do you need some help?" he asks lowly. I look up shoving my hair back since the band has grown loose. "I think I've got it," I state glancing over at the mattress. No sooner than the words leave my mouth, the mattress threatens to tilt.
God, I have the worst luck in the world.
We both reacted reaching out and pushing the mattress against the wall. I flush groaning as I shove my head against the rough mattress. "Maybe I do need some help," I mumble under my breath hoping he doesn't hear. He laughs which only furthers my embarrassment.
"Let's see if we can get this in the elevator this way. It wouldn't fit turned around," he says moving to the end.
I sigh watching him move but he's moving too fast for me to notice what he looks like. Knowing my luck, I've probably managed to get the complex freak to help me. Somehow with his help, we manage to get the mattress and box springs sitting against the furthest wall of the elevator. I sigh licking my dry lips as I jam the button for the lobby.
"I suppose I should join you. Throwing that away is going to be a pain," he says.
As he enters the elevator, something suddenly smells sweet.
Growing up in the south or really with my mother and grandmother, I knew what a house could smell like with a southern dinner. Sometimes it was a nasty smell but during Thanksgiving all the trimmings came out. Certainly during Christmas too but it was a certain smell that was exuding from somewhere. It was probably his cologne but in any case, I caught myself enjoying it. It was that same smell right before you discovered what was cooking, what smelled so damn good. It was that feeling of hope and home. The good parts of my home and that time. The idea nearly brought tears to my eyes but instead of really making me homesick, it just made me happy. For the first time, I felt truly happy with my decision to leave. Until then, I had been feeling guilty for leaving my younger brother, and even my mother shortly after grandma's death.
Turning my head, I took him in. He was in a dark jacket that was thick and obviously rain resistant, jeans, and dark black boots. I could see blonde hair peaking out from underneath a beanie on his head. It was strange to see someone bundled up toward the end of summer. Then again maybe he was just cold matured. I avoided his gaze when the elevator finally dinged with our arrival to the lobby. Once again god must have finally been on my side because the lobby was empty. No one going back up right now.
He helped me locate the back door that led to the dumpsters. It was hard work, at least for me, but we made it to the dumpsters. He grabbed one side while I grabbed the other and we heaved. I was sure I nearly pulled a muscle but the best thing was the loud crash of the box springs falling to its death toward the bottom of the dumpster. I clapped my hands to get of the dirt as I turned to him.
I gave him a smile and held out my hand, "Robyn. Thanks for your help."
He turned and I finally saw his eyes which were dark but were obviously contacts.
"Peter. It was no problem. You seemed to have it figured out before I came along. How long have you been staying here?" he asked wiping his hands off on his jeans.
"Oh, I just moved in. College starts soon, but I was thinking about online college instead of the university down the street. Though I'll probably have to attend for exams. What about you?" I ask as we turn back toward the building.
"I just moved in too. Getting started late on the whole college prospect but I'm hoping to do something with my life. Parents already ragging me hard about it. What are you majoring?" he asks as he opens the back door for me.
I blush mumbling a thank you as I enter. "Probably English with a minor in creative writing. Ever since fourth grade everyone has told me what a great writer I am. Have to do something with my life besides sit around."
He glances at me pressing the button for the elevator. "At least you've got an idea. I don't know what to do. I've heard that they'll let you have a year to be undecided. Hopefully by then, I'll have figured something out."
I shrug hitting the third floor since we both came from there. "So, you're on the third floor?" I ask rocking on my heels. Obviously he's on the third floor which is making my question awkward.
"Yeah, I think I might have a room right next to yours. Are they supposed to be extremely tiny?" he asks with a smirk.
I giggle shrugging as the elevator finally releases us, "Apparently on a budget they sacrifice space for living quarters. Do you have a room or...?" I feel awkward again asking something like this.
"Actually, I do, which I'm supposed to be lucky for according to the manager. What about you?" he asks as we stop in front of my door.
"No room. I think the living room is suppose to double as the bedroom, which is what I'm doing. It's the real college experience without the roommate or the loud parties hopefully."
He laughs smirking with his hands in his jacket. Staring into his eyes, I realize that the contacts must have a color on them. They seem strange on his face like they conceal something I haven't figured out.
"I'll make sure they keep the keggers to a minimum as well as the music. There can be some real riff-rats around here."
I grin turning to my door, "It was nice to meet you, Peter. I should probably unpack."
He nods, "See you later, Robyn. Maybe one day I'll invite you over."
I flush as unlock the door before escaping into the apartment.
