Chapter Two
In London on the first day of the class Hallie was taking an empty seat in the classroom. Other empty seats sat around her. The instructor was sitting at his desk and watching the students straggle in one by one. Hallie was looking over the textbook when Spencer sat in a seat next to Hallie. After sitting down Spencer said the punch line to the joke that got Hallie to laugh. Hallie quickly turned to face Spencer with an uncertain expression on her face.
"So how was your flight," said Spencer.
"It was good," said Hallie. "I didn't know you were attending classes here."
"I was getting to that part, but our conversation was cut short when I was paged away."
"Why were paged away?"
"My grandma had me paged when she couldn't get me on my cell phone. She worries about me and she just wanted to hear my voice after my plane landed."
"You're not from London?"
"I am, but my grandma moved to France not too long ago. I spent the summer with her."
"Spencer, this may be too complicated to explain, but all though my name is Hallie you need to call me Annie."
"Okay, I will call you Annie."
Hallie looked at Spencer in a curious manner. She then said, "You seemed to be too okay with calling me Annie."
"I have a confession to make."
"What are you confessing?"
"I know why you are calling yourself Annie."
"You met my sister Annie."
"A day after we met, I mistakenly thought she was you."
"At what time of the day was that?"
"It was around one."
Hallie stood up and said, "Spencer, please excuse me for a minute."
"Of course," said Spencer.
Hallie got her phone from her purse and as she was walking out of the classroom she hit send on her phone. The phone rang a few times before it was answered.
Annie, while lying in bed with the phone to her ear, asked, "Do you know what time it is here? I still have two hours before I have to get up."
"Annie James, I know what you did to me."
"Don't announce to who you are talking to over the phone. If the wrong person hears you saying that, you can get us busted."
"That bit about you wanting a break with Colby was just a lie."
"Would you have switched with me if I would have told you the truth?"
"No," said Hallie.
"Then I made the right choice."
"Annie, I'm not going to date Spencer and forget about Scott."
"I'm not expecting you to, but according to Spencer he got you to laugh again. To get you to laugh again is the only reason I done this. All I ask is for you to give this a chance."
Hallie looked around her to see who was able to hear her. She then said, "Next semester we are switching back."
"One semester is all I ask for. Now can I go back to sleep for two hours?"
"Goodnight." Hallie then went back to her seat and sat down.
"Is everything okay?" asked Spencer.
"Spencer, I want to get one thing straight with you," said Hallie.
"What's that?"
"I'm not sure what you and my sister schemed up, but I'm not interested in going on a date with you or anyone else."
"Who said anything about us dating?"
"I just want to be up front with you that's all."
As a student was walking towards Spencer, Spencer said, "You're being up front with me is noted." Spencer saw the student as the student walked up to him. "Neven did you bring it?"
"Here it is that movie, 'Gangs of New York' you requested," said Neven. Hallie watched as Neven was handing Spencer the movie.
"Thanks, Neven. So when do you what it back?"
"I'm in no rush. Well, I'll see you later I have to get to class before I'm late."
"I'll see you around," said Spencer.
Neven then left the classroom.
"So you are going to watch 'Gangs of New York'." said Hallie.
"I've never seen it before and I was told it is a good movie. An American actor name Leonardo something stars in it."
"His name is Leonardo DiCaprio; however, I believe you knew that."
"Why would I know that?"
"Because Annie told you my favorite actor is Leonardo DiCaprio."
"No, I don't believe so."
The instructor got up and started the lecture.
Hallie whispered, "No offence, but I don't believe you."
Spencer grinned. He then whispered, "Hallie… I mean Annie, since you like who stars in this movie how about viewing it with me."
"I don't think so."
"Well, suit yourself."
After the class ended Spencer walked out of the classroom behind Hallie. He then called out, "Annie."
Hallie stopped and turned around. When Spencer walked up to Hallie, Hallie said, "Spencer, I'm going to the library to do the assignment."
"I was going to ask if you would like to study together."
"As long as studying is all you have in mind we can."
"Well, I was also thinking of telling you a few more lame jokes so I can see that beautiful smile you have," said Spencer. Hallie slightly grin. "Well that's almost the grin I was looking for."
With a nice grin on her face Hallie said, "Let's go study."
"There's that grin I'm looking for."
"I'm going to the library. If you want to study with me then follow me."
"Do you know where the library is?"
"Not at the moment."
"Then you should follow me."
Hallie motioned for him to lead the way.
12:55 Hallie walked into a restaurant off campus. After entering the restaurant Hallie saw Spencer at one of the tables eating a bowl of chili.
Hallie walked up to him and said, "So, Annie didn't tell you anything about me."
"Is there a problem?" asked Spencer.
"I like this restaurant for its chili and I just find it too much of a coincidence that I find you here eating chili."
"Hallie, has anyone told you that you are paranoid?"
"I was tricked by my sister to change places with her so I don't think I'm being paranoid."
"Annie just has your best interest at heart."
"That I'm sure of, but I'm not ready to move on after Scott."
"Hallie, until you are ready to move on please don't shut me out as a friend."
Hallie looked at Spencer for a second. She then said, "I'm going to get a bowl of chili."
"Hallie, please join me when you get it."
"I'll be back in a few minutes." Hallie then walked away from the table.
The same time at Harvard Annie walked into her first class. Cindy, Hallie's roommate from the previous year stared at Annie as Annie walked passed her. Cindy got up from her seat; walked up to her and called out. "Hallie."
Annie turned to face Cindy. As she looked at Cindy as if she was a stranger she said, "Oh, hi."
"Hallie, how are you?"
"I'm okay. This is going to sound weird, but I just can't seem to remember your name."
"I'm Cindy. I was your roommate last year."
"Of course I know you were my roommate last year. After all you introduced me to your cousin Scott. For some reason I couldn't remember your name. So how are you?"
"I'm doing well."
"Well I'd better take a seat."
"There is a seat open next to me. Sit by me. Also like last year we can study together."
Annie said in an unconvincing tone. "Sure."
"Hallie, are you sure you are okay?"
"I'm fine."
"You seemed different to me somehow."
"I'm still bothered by Scott's death that's all."
"Hallie, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bring up bad memories."
"Don't worry about it. Well we've better take our seats."
As Cindy sat down Annie sat in a seat next to her. Cindy then said, "Oh Hallie, I saw Samantha Mitchell earlier."
"I know that name, but I just can't seem to place the name with a face."
Cindy looked at Annie in a curious manner and asked, "Hallie, what is going on with you?"
"What do you mean?"
"Let see, you walked passed me when you walked in as if you didn't recognize me. Actually, so far, the only memory you seem to have of your freshman year is Scott's death."
"Cindy, I was real shook up over Scott's death. I guess I just repressed certain memories."
"Okay. Well to jog your memory, Samantha hated you for Scott dating you and not her."
"Oh yes, now I remember."
The instructor walked into the room as Cindy asked, "So Hallie, who is your roommate this year?"
"Kristina Carpenter is my roommate."
"I don't know her."
"She went to Stanford her freshmen year. Who is your roommate?"
"Hallie, I moved in with Craig. I told you four months ago that I was."
"I must have blocked out that memory also."
The instructor started the lecture.
In London Hallie was finishing her chili when Colby and his friend Marcus walked up to her and Spencer.
Marcus stared at Hallie and said, "If I didn't see it with my two eyes I wouldn't believe it."
"Marcus, what are you talking about?" asked Hallie.
"You are cheating on my mate Colby," said Marcus.
"Marcus, relax. All I'm doing is eating a bowl of chili with a classmate. I'm not cheating on Colby."
"Marcus, she is not Annie anyway," said Colby.
"You're Hallie?" asked Marcus.
"Colby, why did you tell him?" asked Hallie.
"Hallie, Marcus is my best friend and I trust him to keep the secret," said Colby.
"Now I have no choice, but to trust him. Marcus, please don't give me away."
"I have no reason to give you away," said Marcus. "So why are you and Annie switching places?"
"We have our reasons."
"Hallie, can you do me a favor?" asked Colby.
"It depends on what it is," said Hallie.
"This restaurant is okay, but while you are pretending to be Annie can you stay out of restaurants that I take Annie to? Otherwise more of my friends will be acting like Marcus and think that Annie is cheating on me."
"I do understand your concerns, but as I told Marcus, all I'm doing is eating with a classmate. Besides, there are only a few restaurants in London that Annie and I agree on anyway."
"Hallie, please keep out of sight from my friends when you have lunch with your classmates."
"No problem."
"Thank you."
"Spencer and I are done eating, but you two are welcome to join us."
"We should get going. We only stopped in because Marcus saw you and Spencer through the window."
"Well, bye then."
"I will see you later."
As Colby and Marcus were walking away Spencer asked, "So I don't rank as a friend?"
"What are you talking about?" asked Hallie.
"You told Colby that all you were doing was having lunch with a classmate."
"Spencer, I never meant for that to sound the way you're taking it."
"So am I a friend?"
"Spencer, please don't take this the wrong way. I'm just a little uncomfortable with calling you or anyone else new in my life a friend at this moment. Right now I just want my life to be constant. I want nothing new in my life and I want nothing to change in my life."
"Is there a possibility that I can get on your list as a friend?"
"Your name will be the next one that makes my list of friends." Hallie looked at her watch. "I need to get back to campus. I have a class in forty minutes and I'm not sure where the classroom is at."
"I'm in that class also."
"So we have more than one class together?"
"We have three classes together… or was it four?"
"Well, we have better get back to campus then."