Chapter 4: A dorm room and a strange shadow
Georgie dropped down on the stone steps.
"Miss Ravenwood?" she heard Nathan's voice behind her. "Miss Ravenwood, are you alright?"
"Go away," Georgie said. Hot tears formed in her eyes. Over whelmed by all that has happened she finally broke down and leaned on Nathan's shoulder. She let her tears fall onto his soft shirt.
"I hate him," Georgie cried. "I never want to see him again." Nathan gave no comment. He handed her his handkerchief.
Georgie took the fabric and wiped her eyes. It smelled like peppermints. Sweet peppermints. She loved the smell of peppermints.
"I apologize," she said. "I can be so childish sometimes.. That was completely immature of me. And your shirt. It's probably ruined."
"No need to apologize. From what I understand, you're having a pretty tough time," he said.
"Yes, it has been horrible. I'll be okay though," She said handing back his handkerchief.
"You keep it. You need it more than I do," he said. She smiled through her tears.
"You do look a lot like Dr. Jones," he said.
"Thanks," she said, voice dripping with sarcasm.
"If your not going to stay with him, where will you go?" he asked.
"Nepal," she said. "My mum had an establishment there and she wants me to see that it's taken care of."
"But what about school?" he asked.
"It's fine," she said. "I'll be fine." He's expression wasn't changing. She sighed.
"Where's your hotel?" he asked.
"Umm…well…it's yet to be found," she said. He smiled at this.
"You'll stay at hotel de la Nathan," he said trying to throw a French accent in his voice.
"Oh, and is this place nice?" she asked.
"Best in the country," he assured her. Think George, you've got no other place to go and he blushes to easily to be the kind of person to try anything. So, accept.
"Fine," she said. "Only because you recommended it though." He held out his arm for her to take.
"Right this way, miss," he said. She giggled and followed. He led her up three flights of steps and to a wooden door that said 3C on it. He opened the door only to shut it quickly. "Um…let me go tidy it a bit. You wait here." He disappeared behind the door. He started throwing all the clothes in the floor into the closet. He quickly made the bed and stacked the books onto the desk as neat as possible. He ridded of the remaining food items left about and straitened the picture of his family on the wall and re-opened the door.
"You look flustered," she said setting her bag down. "Couldn't have been that much of a mess?"
"You've had a long day. You must want to take a shower or something," he said.
"Yes, actually," she said. She picked up her smaller bag with toiletries in it.
"Right this way," he said leading her to the women's showers. She stopped at a shadow playing against the wall. She looked at it for a minute.
"Georgia?" he asked. She stopped and smiled.
"Thanks," she said.
"Well, I have to get cleaned up as well," he said leaving.
She walked towards where the shadow was. She heard quick footsteps and door slamming. The shadow was gone.
She hesitantly walked back towards the showers. She stepped into the steamy shower. A sudden noise startled her. She gripped the curtain and turned around.
"I'm telling you this probably isn't the right showers," a man's voice said. A hand gripped her curtain. She screamed and started hitting his hand with a brush.
"HEY! OW! QUIT!" he yelled recoiling. She glared out at him covering herself with the curtain.
"Excuse you, sir!" she snapped.
"Hey, tuts, we thought this was the abandoned showers," the brown haired boy said.
"How did you ever get into college? It's obvious you can't read," she retorted sharply.
"Feisty! My boys said that there was a women's showers that no one ever uses anymore," he explained. "Because there was a murder or something."
"You are so idiotic. Don't you think they would've turned off the water if no one was using it?" she snapped.
"No," he replied.
"Don't you think you ought to get out?!" she said.
"Well, why don't I just hop in with you seeing as you already got it nice and steamy," he said.
"You think I'd let you in the shower with me?" she asked bewildered. Her tone turned t o sarcasm, "Well, by golly, that would just be swell."
"Really?" he said excited.
"No, you idiot!" she said. "GET OUT!" She started hitting him with her brush again.
"OW… I'm going. I'm going." he said as he ran out. Georgie sighed and quickly dried and dressed. She hurriedly walked towards Nathan's dorm room. She locked the door behind her.
"Nice shower?" Nathan asked.
"Hardly," she said. "Some imbecile tried to get in the shower with me!" There was a knock on the door followed by a "Nathan, open the door!"
"Dear Lord, IT'S HIM!" she said.
"Hey, is that chick that was in the shower?" the man called. Nathan opened the door.
"You tried to get in the shower with another one, Charlie?" Nathan asked.
"Hey, can't help it when a beautiful woman's in the shower," Charlie replied sitting on a bed.
"Georgia, this is my roommate, Charlie. Charlie, this is Georgia, she'll be staying with us," he said.
"Pleasure," Charlie said. "Hey, aren't you that girl that was fighting with Dr. Jones earlier?" Georgie chose not to answer this question. "You two going out tonight?" he continued.
"Not as a date," Georgia was quick to reply.
"Good, that means you're still available," Charlie replied.
"You must truly be dimwitted to believe I would ever go on a date with the likes of you!" she snapped.
"Well, George, let's get going," Nathan said.
"Wait a minute, young man," Charlie said fixing Nathan's collar and mimicking a female's voice. "You two don't stay out to long. Your father and I want you back by twelve. Don't you try anything on this sweet girl. Oh, my boy is getting to old."
Georgie couldn't help but giggle. Nathan sighed and followed her out the door. "I love you, honey," Charlie called after them.
"Love you too, Mum," Nathan laughed.
Later on:
"Try it," Nathan urged. She looked hesitantly at the greasy burger.
"Is it safe?" she asked. Nathan sighed and took a big bite out of his.
"See," he said.
"Fine," she said taking a reasonable bite out of hers. "Mmmm…."
"See," he said.
"See. See. See, " she mimicked.He laughed. "I can't believe you've never tried a burger before."
"Sorry," she said sarcastically. "I prefer my mother's chicken casserole. Makes the best in the world."
"That's a matter of opinion," he said.
"As well as reading material," she said picking up his mystery novel he was reading.
"Well, what do you like to read then?" he asked.
"King Arthur is my favorite book," she said.
"Women and their brave knights!" he said.
"I prefer Lancelot really," she said.
"Why?" he asked.
"Because, he's more realistic. I like the side kick. They're the real heroes," she said.
"I see," he said thoughtfully. A new song had come on. It was a more up-beat tune.
"Come one let's dance," he said.
"Oh, I really don't dance-" she started. He dragged her out of the seat though. She stood there awkwardly for a moment but soon loosened up.
"See, you can dance," he laughed.
"I do a waltz way better," she said. He spun her around.
"Really?" he said.
"And a tango and a salsa," she laughed.
"Really?" he asked again. They danced through two more songs. Then a slow one came on.
"Well, I'm thoroughly tired," she said.
"One more?" he asked. She thought a moment, but felt his hands around her waist, not waiting for an answer.
At the moment she least expected, Georgie's world stopped with a sudden head long rush of the universe. She melted against his soft lips. Her eyes closed in pure enjoyment.
That Night:
Georgie awoke to a light scratching noise that sounded like tumblers in a lock.
She got up and carefully walked towards the door, being careful not to step on an out cold Nathan. She unlocked the door and looked out into the empty hallway. She didn't even see the person who's hand clamped over her mouth.
"Say a word and I'll kill them both," A German accented man said. He dragged Georgie to a car and shoved her in.
"Drive, Horton," another German accented man said.
Bertram! she thought.