A Twist of Heart; Change of Fate
Chapter 10 - Graduation
I could feel Randy's tear droplets slide down my neck as mine did the same on his. I hugged him even tighter and he too tightened his grip.
"I've missed you," I managed to mutter. We pulled away from the hug for a second as he pressed his lips against my forehead.
"I've missed you too, baby girl," he whispered with his voice a bit steadier than mine. I closed my eyes unwilling to allow any more tears to fall through. His thumbs gently wiped away any tears that had spilt onto my cheeks. I opened my eyes once more as I gazed into his. "How about you come over to the hotel?" I smiled a bit.
"I'd love to, but…school," I whispered still a bit overwhelmed.
"I'll help you pack, and we'll start heading to the hotel," he proposed. I grinned and embraced him once more. However, the colour in my face soon left as I realized what would happen inevitably - he'd leave again.
"W-Wait, when are you leaving," I asked softly. It seemed as if this realization had just occurred to him as well.
"After this week," he whispered lowly. My eyes gazed down at the pavement we'd both been lingering on. "but, hey, isn't graduation right around the corner?" He asked in an attempt to cheer me up.
"Well, yes," I stated as I looked back up at him.
"And then we'll be able to buy a home…for us," he whispered as his hands slowly took hold of mine. With my eyes now glittering with tears, a slight smile managed to appear as I nodded. I could see his lips pull into a smile as well. He gently lowered his lips to my cheek pecking it softly. "Let's get moving then, love," he whispered. I nodded overwhelmed in not only the aroma of his cologne, but him.
His hands had gently taken mine as they had done once upon a time. We wasted little to no time in travelling to the university, gathering my things and checking in to the hotel. At around 9:30pm we were all settled in the hotel suite. I had just finished unpacking my suitcase and laying in clothes when I heard the sound of a sliding door open. I rose, leaving the bottom drawer of the chest of drawers slightly open and peeked out to see Randy standing outside on the veranda, his back facing me, under the starry night sky. I smiled softly as I slowly approached him. The wind had certainly picked up, but it was nothing more than a gentle, cooling breeze.
I closed the sliding door behind us and turned around to face him. Inconspicuously and to a slight surprise, he had already turned around and stood there with his arms opened. I wrapped my arms around him as he did the same. His embrace felt soothing - calming. I looked up into his bluish-grey eyes and he looked back into mine. Slowly our lips had succumbed to each other's as our embrace tightened. Our lips fought with that same intensity as they once had. His hands fastened themselves on my waist as mine found their way to the middle of his back.
I gripped his olive green shirt as his hands left my waist. With his arms now raised, the shirt slid up his perfectly sculpted body and was dropped onto the tiled, veranda floor. His hands found my waist once again - his grip tightened as the kiss passionately continued. Our tongues intertwined within each others' mouths as the intensity of this once simple kiss grew. His hands pulled me closer to him, and now, our chests heaved and fell in unison. Eventually, however, the kiss slowed down as both of our lips pulled away reluctantly from each other. I opened my eyes slowly staring into his.
"I've missed you," he whispered softly. I nodded, unable to speak as if this kiss had stolen my ability to verbalize this moment, this feeling. My head rested itself on his bare chest as his fingers ran themselves through my hair. We stood there - unspeaking beings -enjoying each others' company. I listened to his steady heartbeat as it contributed to the serenity and perfection of this moment.
"Let's get back inside," his voice whispered into my ear. I nodded and scooped up his shirt stepping inside to the much warmer hotel room - more specifically the bedroom. I laid the shirt on the bed as I attempted to pick up my pyjamas before being stopped by two incredibly strong arms. I giggled slightly. Just then, as I had glanced up at his face, it was no longer Randy's. It was…Adam's. My heart raced as I unlatched myself from his embrace and tried to make even a bit of sense out of this situation. His cheeky smirk found itself on his face as he approached me.
"I don't bite," he whispered calmly. I screamed, rather loudly, I may add. This- all of this- wasn't possible. Where was Randy! He was just-just- "Get up," his voice commanded loudly. I shook my head without realizing I had actually collapsed onto the floor. "Get up, Yasmin," he shouted.
"No," I screamed at him as his hands grasped onto my arms shaking my being.
Suddenly, my eyes opened; a concerned Adam sat beside me. I propped myself up to a sitting position quietly looking down at my hands which had been balled up into fists. It was all a dream…seeing Randy again, the kiss, it was all a dream. "Some intense dreaming," he whispered comically. I didn't laugh - I couldn't. My throat began to knot, and I could feel the stinging tears fill the tear ducts. "Hey, what's wrong," he said softly as his hands took mine. I looked up at him, tears now streamed down my cheeks.
"Nothing, just a stomach ache," I whispered back as I slid myself out of bed. He tugged at my hands, and I spun around only to face him. He hadn't risen, but he sat there confused. Our fingers intertwined as he stared up into my eyes scanning them. I lowered mine until they refocused themselves on the carpet. Quietly, the crying began as he rose slowly wrapping his arms around me.
"It was about him, wasn't it?" I nodded as I looked up at his face.
"It was s-so real almost as if he were right here," I relayed before burying my face in his chest. I could feel his chin rest lightly upon my head whilst stroking my back. Quickly, I ceased crying. All tears had been dried or stained on his mustard-coloured v-neck. Our eyes met once again looking into one another's. My eyes slowly left his as he held me tighter.
"You really do miss him, don't you?" I nodded.
"Adam, I'm so sorry that you're here, listening to all of this when you really don't need to," I sighed, "you don't even need to be here. You should be home - resting."
"No, but I want to be here," he answered quickly, "I like being around you." I half-smiled as I glanced at the clock.
"Oh shoot," the time was now 10:30pm, "I'm sorry. You probably had to cancel the reservation and … "I sighed. "Sorry."
"Nah, forget about it; plus, this means you kind of owe me." I smirked a bit releasing my grip around him as he mimicked the action. "I should let you get some sleep." I nodded as we both proceeded to the door which by a quick glance was kept unlocked while I had snoozed. Adam stepped outside and turned back with a courteous smile. "Goodnight," he bed softly.
"Goodnight," I replied with an identical smile. I watched him as he proceeded down the hallway. Did I like Adam? Maybe. As a good friend, I suppose. Do I love him? Perhaps like a sister would love a brother, but my concern wasn't for Edge or Jeff. It was for Randy. These two months had felt like an eternity. I needed to call him.
I crawled onto my white-quilted bedspread picking up my Motorola Slvr and dialling Randy's cell phone number. As I pressed the receiver to my ear, I could not help but re-think the vivid dream I had thought was so real. His touch, his tears, his…kiss it all felt so real.
"Hello," a deepened voice sounded lazily through the phone snapping me back to reality.
"Hi," I greeted softly.
"Baby girl, how've you been," his voice sounded a bit more excited than it did a few seconds ago. I smiled - it was nice to hear his voice out here, instead of in my head.
"Uh, good," I relayed hesitantly. Hesitantly, you ask. Well, he's travelling, working, do I really need to give him something to worry about?
"That's not very convincing," he spoke. I half-smiled.
"I've just been missing you, I suppose."
"I've been missing you too, love. At least graduation's in a couple of months, am I right?" I nodded, although he couldn't see me, it was more for a personal, concrete reassurance.
"Yeah, one more month," I admitted directing my eyes to the calendar hung up on Misty's side of the room. I don't remember what we talked about after that. I do remember though that it was the longest we've had in months.
So here we are now - graduation. The ceremony proceeded as every other one had. We received our diplomas, etc. etc., and our suitcases were packed. I glanced over at blue gowns everywhere surrounded by what seemed like dozens of relatives. I smiled and no, there wasn't anyone there for me, but with a brother in the Marine Corp and a mother in a country two hours from here, how could you expect there to be?
It didn't bother me, that's for sure. Upon leaving, I realized there was something I hadn't said goodbye to yet - my dorm. Okay, it sounds silly, but it's been my place of refuge for 9 years. It was like a second home to me. I stepped onto the carpet for the last time while changing out of my gown to something a bit more comfortable. I looked at the walls remembering the times Misty would walk straight into one especially during the early morning.
I smiled as the nostalgia filled me up inside, but as this began to fill I realized that the past is the past. There's nothing more for me here, and I'm going to go wherever I need to. I looked at the plane ticket in my right hand which had also been clutching my suitcase and sighed. This was it. This is me beginning the rest of my life. I walked out of the dorm slowly closing the door behind me. Approaching the corner, I hailed a cab and was on my way to the airport. I'd loaded my luggage onto the carousel and sat near the gate my plane was arriving at.
With a book opened across my lap, I quickly divulged myself in reading perhaps in the naïve mentality that time moves faster when you don't think about it. Then suddenly a hand had lain itself on my shoulder as I shuddered a bit and hastily looked in the direction of the being. A smile spread wide across my face as I stood up allowing my book to make a loud thud as it slid itself onto the floor. My arms wrapped around his neck as my eyes gazed into his.
"Congratulations, baby girl," his deep voice said. Tears filled my eyes as they had done in my dream. Finally and really, Randy was here. Moreover, as for knowing where I'm going, all I know is there's nowhere else I'd rather be but here.