Disclaimer: The characters in my stories are completely made up characters and have temporally been given borrowed names for the sole purpose of satisfying the qualifications for posting on this fanfiction site. These stories are fiction and should be perceived as such. They in no way reflect the lives, beliefs or views of any persons living or dead and any similarities are coincidental. I am not affiliated with any company or professional wrestler in any way. No disrespect or copyright infringement intended. And if any of my favs happen upon my stories, I hope your not offended because this is not about you, it is about feedback on my story ideas. :) I love and respect what you do and I thank you for all the joy and entertainment over the years.


This is a rewrite of one of my very first stories written on FF. Second draft. New characters. Hope you enjoy. (Remember this is fiction. Some character facts will not be accurate)


Chapter 3

I stood against the wall with my hand over my thumping heart. I didn't know if I had been more frightened by Will or by the unknown giant that followed me home. Another tap on the door nearly made me jump through the ceiling. I gingerly unlocked the door even though I saw no one through the keyhole.

"Hey there."

"Hi Auntie Gracie." I said. She had just walked through my already open door. She nodded back over her shoulder.

"I see you met Roman" she said. She must have passed the stranger in the hallway.

"You know him?" I asked. I had already come to enjoy seeing the little old lady. She was so sweet and thoughtful.

"He lives here in the building." she stated. "He is your neighbor actually. Right across the hall actually." she pointed to the door across the hall from mine.

"Really." I did not realize he lived close to me because he left by the staircase.

"He's a very queit fellow. He doesn't say much."

"He doesn't say anything."" A man from the trash can fire the night before stood against the wall with a box in his hand. I know I wore a blank expression.

"Just bring in here." Aunt Gracie showed up then. And he wasn't alone. "This is Matt." Aunt Gracie walked in carrying a box herself. Matt entered and before I could blink a half dozen more were coming in all carrying boxes.

"Oh my goodness." I couldn't believe the generosity of my neighbors. I was just in awe. I couldn't get over it. People in wealthy neighborhoods wouldn't do so much for someone they didn't know.

"This should get you started." Aunt Gracie said looking around at the bare room. I had been very grateful and gave my gratitude. Aunt Gracie introduced me to everyone. Some lived above me some below, but they all had big welcoming smiles. They all hugged my neck and wished me luck. These people! The ones I would have been scared and suspicious of only a few days before.

"Hello Roman." Aunt Gracie said with a little laugh. He stood a moment, then threw up a finger..

Roman returned carrying a very new looking boom box style radio.

"Oh, no. I couldn't."

He brought it in, tipped it towards me. It wasn't very big. But I knew the brand. It wasn't a cheap radio and there was a dock for my phone to connect and charge.

"It's just too much."

"He's not going to let you say no." Aunt Gracie placed a hand on my shoulder then leaned in to whisper. "He must have taken a fancy to you. He never comes out. Not for parties or any get together we might have."

Roman was gone as quick as he had come in. I couldn't get over how tall he was. Or that wild dark hair. And his eyes. They were the prettiest color. They were like a very pale blue. Almost greyish, but I had yet to get a good look at his face. His hair covered it most the time.

None of my visitors stayed much longer. They all said goodbye and went back to their lives.

I gave Aunt Gracie a hug. "Thank you so much."

"Just pay it forward some day, sweetie." She grinned. Her bubbly personality seemed to make everyone in her presence happy. "Like that movie. Oh, I love that movie. Except the ending. They always seem to mess it up at the end these days." She giggled and was off.

I pulled the contents of the boxes out after they left and examined them one by one. Most of them looked as if they had never been used. There were pots and pans, towels, sheets, a toaster in one. In the second I found a set of plates with matching cups and saucers. There also was a set of silverware wrapped neatly with tape and a few glasses.

The third contained the prettiest two sets of curtains I have ever seen and a blue shower curtain. It looked as if they had gathered all the basics they knew I would need to begin my life again. I put all the things away.

Then, I put all my groceries away and set the paint bucket on top of the coffee table. I looked at the living room and made up my mind that it would be the room I would paint.

"Damn." I said out loud thinking that I should have asked for permission to paint the room when Auntie had been there a few moments ago. I grabbed my keys and headed out the door. I also realized that I didn't have a paint brush and would need to buy that and a pan to pour the paint in.

The very idea of redecorating excited me. It had always been something I enjoyed doing and I couldn't wait to get the powder blue paint on the wall and hang up the dark blue framed pictures on them. The curtains I had been given were white lace with blue trim and would go great with it as well.

In my excitement I missed the first step and almost tumbled down the fifteen steps below me, but a strong arm caught me. I looked up.

"We got to stop meeting this way." I kidded when I seen the outstretched arm belonged to Roman. He beamed a smile at me and I thought I heard him chuckle. I steadied myself and he turned away. Heading to his own room I guessed.

"Roman," I said meekly. He turned and faced me as if he were a robot. "Would you like to join me for dinner tonight? I'm not having much but I would like to thank you for your help today."

He only nodded. I didn't know if it meant yes or no.

"Around five if you want." I added. Again he nodded and walked into his room. Auntie Gracie was right when she said Roman didn't speak. I couldn't help but wonder why. My mysterious neighbor had made an impression on me. But the funny thing was that I felt safer knowing he lived across the hall from me.

"Paint." I reminded myself out loud. Luckily I didn't have to go far to get permission to paint my walls. I caught a glimpse of Taylor, my landlord on the second floor. He was fixing a door of another apartment.

"Hey doll, what can I do you for?" he asked when he noticed me walking his way.

"I bought some paint at the thrift store today and I was wondering…."

"Knock yourself out, that room needs it." he winked. I didn't have to finish my sentence. "You got a roller?"

"I'm on my way out to get one."

"No need. Just grab that one over there." he pointed inside the apartment. I saw a pan and a roller sitting in the middle of the room. He had just painted the walls and they were rinsed and sitting neatly on a chair.

"You might want to get that plastic to so it doesn't drip on the floor. This here is one of the last buildings with the hard wood still intact." I nodded and collected the items.

"Thank you."

"Not a problem. You're doing me a bigger favor than you know." he said as he eyed the screw he was about to wind into the hinge of the door. "Maybe I will hire you out to paint some of these others." he kidded.

"Anytime." I said and made my way back to my apartment once again.

It took me less than an hour to paint the room. The roller made the amount of paint I had stretch much further and I was actually able to put two coats over the walls. The second coat made the color more vibrant. I stepped back and eyed my work. It was much lighter than the little spot on the top had said it would be, but I loved it. It was much prettier than I'd expected.

After I rinsed out the pan and roller and had folded up the plastic, I hung up the large picture I had bought and the two smaller ones. I took great pains not to let them touch the still tacky paint. I then hung up the pink rose decoration that I had found above the large painting. When I finished I was very satisfied with the new look of my home. It still needed some trim work, but in time I knew I would get that done too.

I quickly returned the borrowed items so I could get started on dinner. I was not sure if Roman would stop by but I wanted everything to be done on time if he did. I got out a large bowl and began to mix together the ingredients for a meatloaf. Once it was baking I sat down and began to read the second hand book that I found inside one of the boxes. It was one of those romance novel that I normally didn't read, but I quickly got into it and almost didn't hear the timer when it went off.

I had set the timer to go off a few minutes before the meatloaf would be done. I only planned on making some instant mashed potatoes and I opened a can of corn to go with it.

The meatloaf was cooked to perfection by the time I had finished with the side items. I was very pleased with how well it had stuck together. Most of the time my meatloaf would fall apart and would resemble sloppy joes.

I set the small table that had been there when I moved in, with two plates and I got my jug of freshly made sweet tea out of the refrigerator. I had just set it on the counter and was reaching for the glasses when I heard two, light, but distinct knocks on my door. I opened it and stepped to the side to gesture for Roman to come in.

"Everything is ready." I said waving my hand toward the table. He looked around my room and smiled his apreciation. He then sat down and I handed him a glass of tea. He nodded his thanks. I then took my seat across from him. I had already placed the food on the plates before he arrived. He looked down at the plate and then looked back up at me. His mouth formed an o and he held up his fore finger as if to tell me to wait. He got up and left my room.

I sat there staring curiously at my door as I watched him leave. He returned a few minutes later holding a small basket with a towel over it. He handed it to me and beamed a smile. I lifted the towel to reveal a batch of freshly baked biscuits.

"Thank you." I said. "Did you make these?" He imitated opening a can and placing them on a baking sheet.

"My favorite kind."

He smiled again and we began to eat. I couldn't help but smile. Right from the beginning we seemed to have our own way of communicating. When Roman had finished his meal he sat back and gave me a thumbs up and rubbed his belly. I smiled at his compliment. I still wondered why he didn't talk but I didn't say anything at that moment.

What shocked me the most was when he took the dishes out of my hands and pointed to himself letting me know that he wanted to do the dishes. I smiled and let him do so while I put up what little food was left over.

When he finished he took my hand and led me to his room. I was a little worried. I still barely knew him and I had no idea why he suddenly wanted to drag me to his room. But that feeling was really nothing more than an old lesson I was taught as a child. You know. Don't talk to strangers and crap like that. I trusted Roman. Immediately. I really can't explain it. He waited while I shut my door and we then went into his. His room had little in it just as mine did. He gestured toward a big screen TV that took up one wall.

"Sure." I said and we sat down and watched a movie that had just came on. He must have noticed that didn't have a television and I thought his gesture was very sweet. I really enjoyed the movie we watched even though westerns were not usually something I would have chosen myself. This particular one I found very funny. It starred John Wayne and he and his wife had problems, but he got her back in the end by spanking her. I loved it and will remember that movie for the rest of my life and the way Roman threw his arm across the back of the sofa. I believe it was a habit for him. Perhaps the way he'd always sat. The poor guy's face turned three shades of crimson when he realized he's put his arm around me and he jerked it back and placed his hand in his lap.

"So you like westerns?" I asked as he walked me to my door that night.

He shook his head and smiled.

"Oh, you like comedies." I guessed and he smiled. We said goodnight without words. It felt like I had always known him and I knew we would be really great friends.