One Night Stand
Chapter 2
"England"
by Liberty
Some sun rays managed to enter the luxurious cabin from the small scuttle. Candy was able to listen to the sea water on both sides of the ship, making her move on a unique rhythm. Candy's hand searched for the body next to hers on the big bed. To her great surprise there was no one there. Candy opened wide her green eyes. She looked next to her and still there was no one. Her eyes just made sure what her hand had earlier discovered.
She got up, wore her robe and went to the bathroom wishing to find…who? A perfect stranger whose first name was the only thing that she knew about him?
"Maybe he went out to take some fresh air," she thought.
She put on her clothes, a simple dress, and got out of her cabin. There weren't many passengers on the deck, probably because of last night's celebration. Candy walked trying to find the man that she wanted. But there was no sign of him.
"I can't have just imagined him. He was real. And every single thing that happened between us was for real, too."
A tear rolled down her cheek. Her emotions were too confusing. On the one hand she was thinking that yesterday it was going to be her wedding night with Anthony, but he died that horrible day… On the other hand it was Terry, the man that she met on the board, the man that kissed her with a passion that she couldn't forget, the man who made love to her and now he was gone! She remembered her mother's words:
"Life is full of surprises", the night before the accident happen.
Candy had tears in her eyes and she put her face into her hands.
"Oh my God! What have I done? A one night stand was surely not what I had in my mind…So I guess it was just a fling…"
Candy looked in front her. England's coastline was able to be seen from afar and so Candy knew that today, Queen Mary II would reach its destination. She found it useless to continue looking for him so she went to her cabin and lost herself in her thoughts until a cabin boy knocked her door, informing her that she should be ready soon enough.
The ship came into port. Many passengers were leaving and Candy was still looking with her eyes for Terry. Although she kept reminding herself that he wasn't worth it, she seemed unable to forget her last night with him. A cabin boy was carrying her things to the car that waited for her at the port. Candy was ready to get in the car when she saw a familiar figure from behind. She was going to go towards him when a crowd of people passed in front of her and by the time they gone he had already left.
"Oh, well I guess it meant nothing to him after all. He's a lout, he didn't even write a note."
Candy kept telling that line in her head over and over again as it was the only thing that would keep her disturbed from the other memories that she had with him.
The car took the Birmingham- Oxford Avenue and soon enough Candy was in front of the big gates of the Oxford University. She took out the paper which had her room number on and the driver helped her with her things. After a while Candy was all alone in her room which was pretty big for a university dorm room and cosy. It had a small living room with a kitchen, a bathroom and a room with a bed, a wardrobe, a desk and bookshelves. Candy connected her laptop and started putting her clothes in the wardrobe, when there was a knock on her door.
- Hi, said the girl
- Oh hello.
- I'm Patricia O'Brien, I live next door saw I thought I should greed you. You can call me Pattie if you like.
- Oh hello Pattie, I'm Candy, Candy Andrew, nice to meet you.
Pattie was a girl with brown hair and a pair of glasses; she had a rather chubby face but was really sweet. She seemed like a smart young woman, but very shy too.
- Pattie, Pattie! Oh there you are! I was looking all over for you!, said another girl who was gasping for breath as she was running trying to find Pattie.
- Hello, Annie. This is our new neighbour, Candy Andrew.
- Hi, I'm Annie Brighton. Wait a sec. You said that your name is Andrew? As if the great Andrew Enterprises from Chicago?
- Well yes… I'm William Andrew's daughter.
- Oh my God! I can't believe it! I'm from Chicago too.
- Really?
- Yes! Pattie is from Florida and for some reason there aren't many students from our area.
- Do you live with Pattie next door?
- No, Pattie lives right next to your room and I live left next to your room. You are right in the middle.
Annie had black hair till her shoulders and blue eyes. She was a happy young woman but like her friend Pattie a shy one too. Both girls, Annie and Pattie noticed some kind of sadness on Candy's face but they didn't want to interfere in her personal problems. Especially the first day that she met them. So instead they decided to help her with the unpacking, her clothes and get settled in the university. As they were more time than her, they showed her everything in the campus. From the cafeteria till Oxford's huge library, where you could see many students studying in complete silence.
- So Candy, which programme are you going to attend? Pattie asked
- The 6 month business programme. You?
- We are going in the same programme too. We just came 2 weeks ago so we could settle in easier. Annie answered.
- Oh I see. Well we will be together in the same classes then, Candy said smiling.
- Yes we will. We can study together too. Pattie said enthusiastically.
- Yes of course. Candy answered.
- Great! The other two said smiling.
The three girls spend their time talking about many things. Their families, their studies, but candy seemed to avoid a certain issue… The love issue. It wasn't easy for her, to open up to those girls yet. And it seemed strangely enough, because the other night she had told everything to Terry. She thought that it would be easy to tell to these girls too. She could talk about it to Annie and Pattie too, she just wasn't ready yet. But they seemed very nice girls and from the first day she saw in them two, really, good friends.
It was already late and since Candy was tired from her trip, they called it a day and they went to their rooms. Candy was lying on her bed thinking. Thinking about everything and everyone. How her life would've been with Anthony, the dreams that they made, their house and suddenly everything broke into a thousand of pieces…Shattered dreams of a life that never started. The ring of her cell phone, pulled her out of her thoughts.
- Mom!
- Hi honey, how are you feeling?
- Fine, well a little depressed but I'll get over it.
- Oh Candy I wish I was there with you.
- You're always with me mom. Your presence is always with me. How are Billie Jean and Junior?
- They miss you, but they are fine. In fact they are here waiting to speak with you.
- Hand them to me.
- Candy! I miss you already.
- I miss you too sweetie.
- How is your room?
- Big enough and cosy.
- And the campus?
- Well the campus is great! I'll send you some pictures.
- Do they have basketball courts too?
- Hello to you too, Junior.
- Hello sis…Well do they?
- Yes they do. They have also teams of many sports.
- Wow…Cool! Will you send me a jersey?
- Well…if I am able to…
- Take care Candy, I love you, Junior said as Billie Jean was struggling to get the phone from him.
- So, did you make any friends there?
- Well, there are two girls that I met and they are really nice. Annie and Pattie. Annie is from Chicago too.
- Great. Oh here, dad wants to speak with you. Kisses from me Candy.
- Bye sweetie.
- How's my Mary Sunshine?
- A little cloudy… But everything will be fine pa.
- Candy…
- It will be you'll see. I have already met two great girls, with whom I think I can be best friends and tomorrow I start my lessons, so I will keep my mind busy.
- You're a strong girl.
- Well time to prove it. Candy added smiling.
- Take some rest honey. Good night.
- Good night dad.
- Good night angel.
- Good night mom.
Candy felt relieved for having talked to her family. She closed her eyes and slept, without crying that night.
oOoOoOoOoOo
In another dorm room of a campus someone seemed unable to sleep. He got up of his bed and started walking around his room.
"I can't get her out of my head. Kissing her and making love to her was the best thing that ever happened to me. It was like she was the first, the only one."
He hit his fist on the wall.
"And I left like someone was chasing me away. Without talking to her. What will she think of me? That I am lout, that I took advantage of her situation. I hate myself for doing that! You're a jerk Terrence Grandchester. You couldn't stop yourself. You had to kiss her!".
He laid on his bed trying to sleep once again, but it was useless, so he just closed his eyes wishing to take at least some rest.
oOoOoOoOoOo
The next day Candy woke up and got ready to start her course. Annie and Pattie waited for her outside so they could go all together to the amphitheatre. Annie was narrating something that happened to her during her summer vacations and they were all laughing. Candy felt good that was able to laugh again. She felt thankful for that to Annie.
They got in and took a sit. The professor still wasn't there and students were coming all the time… In 10 minutes most of the amphitheatre was full of students who were mumbling and laughing waiting for the lesson to begin. Candy was talking with her two friends when suddenly her look fell on a group of boys who entered the room. There among them she saw him. Tall, with brown hair and his elegant figure. He was laughing with his friends while walking to find a sit. Candy was more than surprised. In the mean time the professor entered the room. As hard as she tried Candy seemed unable to stop gazing at Terry who was sitting 5 rows in front of her. He hadn't seen her that was sure. Annie and Pattie noticed that their friend was travelling somewhere else and they brought her back to reality.
- Candy are you ok?
- Yes sure, Annie. Why?
- You seem unable to concentrate. Pattie said
- Oh no, I was just thinking about what the professor said.
- Ok then.
"What is he doing here? He's studying of course… What do I care about?"
The class was over and the students started to empty the amphitheatre Candy looked down as Terry passed cause she didn't want to be noticed.
- Candy are you coming?
- Go ahead girls, I'll catch up with you in a sec.
- Ok.
Candy walked to the yard. There she saw him with his group of friends again. She gathered all her courage and walked towards him. He was talking with his friends when Candy approached them. They stopped talking and Terry looked towards her with eyes full of surprise which managed not to show.
- Hi, Candy said to Terry.
- Hello miss but excuse me do I know you? Is there anything that I can do to help you?
Candy couldn't believe in her ears. What was he talking about?! He didn't recognize her? Or she was that wrong that she thought he was another person?