Chapter 32

(Iris POV)

It's been over a year since I have seen Steve, 6 months I stopped hoping to ever see him again and 4 months I finally stopped crying. He just disappeared, I heard on tv that he was a wanted man but why didn't he tell me? Did he not want me to go with him? Why didn't he ask me? I would gone with him, I would have been happy to go into hiding if it meant being with him. He hasn't called or even written to me. All he told me was he would be gone for a few days and that's it. I don't even know if he's okay. I finally believed in someone, I told him things I have never told anyone and had put myself out there more then anyone and he just left. I thought about leaving college, I thought why bother? But then I told myself I was not going to let him stop me from doing what I became to really want to do.

I am sitting in class as my professor is finishing his class, "Okay, we'll finish this next week." he said as I get up he turns to me "Miss Watson, can I see you for a second?"

"Yeah?" I walk up to him.

"I see you requested to be my TA, you have been approved." He tells me, "We'll make it official next week."

"Really? Thank you sir." I say with a smile. "When will I start being able to work with children?"

"Oh, I would say maybe in a couple months. Just keep up the good work, you'll get there." He said.

"Thank you." I said and I left the class.

This TA job will allow me with supervision from my professor to start working with children. I had been working so hard between going to school and continuing the work at the bar at night, it did make it difficult to study but I toughed it out.

I walked out of class and I see someone walk beside me, it was Nick, he was in most of my classes, also studying to be a councilor.

"Hey, what did he want?" He asked me.

"None of you business." I replied as I continued to walk.

"Oh come on, I'm just trying to make conversation."

"Fine, I got the TA position."

"Awesome, good for you. He turned me down."

"Too bad." I said as I continued to walk as I carried my books.

"Those look heavy, would you like me to carry those for you to your car?" He asked.

"Thanks but I got it."

"Okay...Listen, maybe we could go celebrate." He requested.

"Thanks for the offer but no, I work to night."

"Oh, I guess I'll see you in class then."

"Yeah, sure." I could only say, I was trying to be nice but he annoyed me.

I study the rest of the night until I come into work for my shift. I am so tired and I try hard to not let it show but I do go behind the bar with a smile because I am so excited to tell my friends.

"Hey, guess what? I said with a smile.

"What?" Renee asked.

"I got the TA job!"

"That's great, when can you start?" Amber asked.

"Well, I start next week but he said I could start working with children in a couple months." I told them.

"That's great but are you sure about this though? It could be very difficult to hear. Especially from your past boyfriends." Renee asked worriedly.

"I'll be fine, it's going to be hard to hear but If I can help one child...then it's worth it."

"Well good." They both said with smiles on their faces.

I started taking drink orders when I recognized a familiar face, it was Nick. He sits right down at my station, I sigh to myself and walk up to him.

"Nick, what are you doing here?" I asked coldly.

"Iris, calm down, I didn't know you worked here." He replied with his hands up, "I'm just grabbing a beer is all."

"Fine." I could only say.

"You do look great though." He said as he looked me up and down.

"Thanks." As I rolled my eyes again, "I'll grab that beer for you." I walked away to grab more mugs.

"Who's that?" Renee whispered to me.

"Nick, remember I told you about him." I told her.

"That's him? He's cute...you should go for it."

"Uh no, I don't think so." I replied again rolling my eyes.

"Iris...it's been over a year...you gotta move on." Amber chimed in, "I'm mean just because Ste..."

"Please don't say his name! This isn't about him...I just have no interest in dating..." I said as I interrupted her, I was trying to stay calm and not snap at them especially here at work, they both gave me sad looks that was making it even more difficult.

I went over to him and gave him his beer. He smiled at me, reached for his beer and grazed my hand with his fingertips, I pulled my hand away immediately, he continued to smile at me while he drink his beer.

"Thank you." He said with a grin, "Look, maybe after you get off work we could go do something."

"No thanks. I have a lot of studying to do and plus I don't want to." I responded as I started to walk away.

"Look, I want to get to know you better. I think we could have a lot of fun." He replied following me, he extended his arm trying to go for my hand again.

"Hey, don't touch me, I told you I have no interest in you so that's a no. Now if you will excuse me, as you can see it's a busy night, I have work to do."

"Okay, how about we just be friends then." He asked suddenly.

"No." I said quickly.

"Well, I knew that was a long shot, how about instead we come study partners? Professor Smith said we should and I could you use one."

"I don't know..."

"Come on, no funny business, we'll just be study buddies, that's it."

"Fine, I'm only doing this because I do need one. Get this straight though we aren't dating, friends, buddies or anything other then study partners." I said with a very stern voice, I would have told him no but my Professor was pushing everyone to get one and I really did need one. With becoming a TA now, working nights and trying to study, it was all getting a bit overwhelming and classes were just getting harder.

"You got it." He replied with a smile, "I think we're going to get along just fine."

"Yeah, sure. Now if you will excuse me." I said as I walked away, I had to get away from him.

Nick touching my hand was the first time that a man had touched me in such a way since Steve. It took all of my willpower to not smack him across the face. But that touch brought all my thoughts back to Steve, I forced myself to not think about him. Renee and Amber stopped bringing him up, tonight was the first time in months that they mentioned him. It was difficult just to say his name out loud.

I came home to my empty apartment, well other the Luna who welcomed me home. As I kneeled down to pet her I looked around my apartment and it felt so cold and I felt so alone and I missed him...as angry and heartbroken as I was I just missed him more then anything.

I went inside my closet and pulled out one of his shirts that he had left that I couldn't bare to throw away. I held it close and couldn't help smelling it, it still smelled like him. I couldn't help but cry in his shirt. It's been over a year, I should just forget him but...I can't. I have to accept that I am never going to see him again. He didn't give a damn about me, if he did he would have told me somehow, not just disappear.

I put the shirt back and tried to study but with no such luck tonight. I instead go to my window and look out at the night sky and I wonder...is he also looking out at the sky thinking about me? I end up having another sleepless night wondering if he will ever leave my thoughts.

I know this chapter is short and sad! And can Nick be trusted?