DISCLAIMER: All of the characters from the Fifty Shades Series used in this story belongs to E.L James
Chapter Two: It's Quiet Uptown
APOV
Present/2015
"Alright a couple more boxes and we're all set!" Kate says excitedly. I give a soft smile to her, and bring the last of my boxes into my new room. Kate and I decided that since it is our senior year, we should probably get an apartment rather than stay in the dorms. While they aren't cheaper, we don't have to worry about any annoying freshman, and I don't have to worry about ever running into him. Kate has been really helpful this summer, ever since what happened. I pretty much owe her for everything that she has done for me these past couple months.
"Steele?" I am suddenly brought out of my thoughts, and when I am finally able to focus I notice Kate is in front of me.
"What did you say?" I ask quietly.
"Are you okay?" Kate says concerned. I just nod, give her another one of my small smiles, and settle my boxes onto my bed that thankfully got here a couple days before we officially moved in. I know I haven't been the same, and I really am trying to get my life back in focus, my priorities straight. But I can't help myself. Everything reminds me of him, and coming back to school hasn't made it any easier. Everything around here reminds me of us, and it will take a long time before those memories fade, if they ever do.
"Ana." Kate responds with the tone that she knows I'm not okay.
"Just leave it Kate!" I yell. I soon realize that Kate is only trying to help, and there is no reason for me yelling at her. Like I said, she's been amazing, and there's no point in me taking it all out on her.
"Please?" I say quietly. She nods, tells me she is getting the rest of her stuff, and heads out the door. I head over to my box, and begin unloading my clothes. During this task I am brought back to the first day of freshman year, it was definitely a different experience from this one. I feel like I was a completely different person during that time.
We thankfully finish setting up both of our rooms a couple hours later, and soon enough we are each drinking a glass of wine while relaxing on the couch. The cable and Internet is not couple until Friday, and it is only Tuesday, so until then we will just have to entertain ourselves. Kate's phone ends up ringing, and she heads over to answer it. I notice that when she looks to see who it is she looks up at me. I just pretend that I don't notice her worried glances at me.
"Hey Elliot." Elliot and Kate have been going strong since Kate's freshman year, and Elliot's junior year. Even though Elliot is back in Seattle, he still makes sure to call Kate every single day. When he's not too busy he'll facetime her, and there have been many occasions where flowers will randomly be delivered. While Kate seems to talk to Elliot every day, I haven't talked to him in months. Elliot and I used to talk just as much as she and Elliot do, but not because I have any types of feelings for him. Elliot is like a brother to me. He has helped me on many days that he couldn't. I wish that I could see Elliot, or even talk to him, but it is just too hard right now.
"Alright love you too. Bye." I am pulled out of my thoughts at the end of Kate's conversation.
"Elliot is just finishing up with his family." I nod thinking that Kate is finished with what she has to say.
"He wants to come over." I instantly look up at her, my face emotionless.
"What do you think?" She asks.
"You can invite him over, I'll just hang out at the Starbucks or something."
"No Ana, I'm not going to make you leave just because my boyfriend wants to come over."
"And I don't want my best friend to have to choose her roommate over her boyfriend." Kate grabs my hand and looks at me sincerely.
"Best friend Ana, not just a roommate." I nod.
"How about I just hang out in my room when he comes over? Then we both get what we want." Kate agrees to the compromise, and soon enough I am in my room setting up a few more things, while Elliot and Kate are talking in the living room. After a couple of hours I begin feeling hungry, and realize that I am going to have to come face to face with Elliot. I decide to put my big girl pants on, and head out to the kitchen. Once I am out there all of the talking has stopped. I decide to just make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich because it is easy, and will get me out of this room a little faster.
"Ana?" I don't want to look up, but know that it would be rude not to. I look up to see Elliot in front of me with the tiniest smile.
"Hey Elliot." I murmur. I am not surprised at how he hasn't changed one bit, his hair is still as long, and blond as it was a couple months ago. It may even be a little longer, now that I'm thinking about it. I can feel Elliot's eyes watching me as I make my sandwich.
"Yes?" I say while still focusing on my sandwich.
"So how are you?" He asks. Really Elliot? He can tell that I am just as annoyed as head-voice Ana, and tries to recover from his stupid question.
"Right." He turns to go back to Kate who is wearing a saddened expression, and I believe it's for both Elliot and I. I know it must be hard for her, she doesn't want to choose her boyfriend over her best friend, but she doesn't want to lose me either. As I make my way back my room with my sandwich in my hand, I hear Elliot's voice once again.
"You know he really misses you Ana." I can't help but feel an immense amount of anger at Elliot's words even though I know he is just trying to help. I think Kate is realizing this too because she quickly tries to get Elliot to shut up.
"Misses me?" I murmur while slowly turning around to face him.
"He's going crazy Ana, I'm really worried about him." He says worriedly.
"You're worried about him. Him! He did this to himself Elliot, and if he didn't want this all to happen he should have never-" I have to take about 3 deep breaths before continuing because I know I'm going to say something stupid, and in the end the only person who will get hurt is Kate.
"He broke my heart Elliot. He made the choice, and in the end it was a very stupid one … one that he made. Now I'm just going to give you the benefit of the doubt because I know he's your brother, and you don't deserve this to get between your relationship. Just … please don't talk about him anymore okay? I've spent the past three months trying to get over it, and I don't need anymore reminders on how stupid I was." Elliot nods at my words, and I notice a few tears at the surface of his eyes. Oh Lelliot.
"Okay … I understand." Before I know it Elliot gets up and has me in a tight hug.
"Love you bonanza." He whispers.
"Love you too Lelliot." I know this is a nickname he gave to Elliot, but after you hear it for four years you can't help but tag along.
Two Days Later
"So I think we should try to do all black frames in the living room, and hallways. It would give this modern, but chic kind of feel you know?"
"Yeah." I respond even though both Kate and I know I'm barely paying attention. Shopping hasn't always been my forte, and I quickly learned between our friendship that Kate loves shopping, so every once and I while I will tag along to make her happy.
"Steele! This is your apartment too, I can't be the only one making the decisions." Kate says while looking through the different style picture frames.
"I know I know, I just don't see the point of paying attention to every single detail, especially the picture frames." I say while rolling my eyes.
"Because having all different types of picture frames looks tacky." Kate says, and I can't help but roll my eyes again while she sticks her tongue out playfully at me. We have gone through a dozen types of picture frames before settling on a set, and now we are looking through the kitchen supplies. It hasn't been too easy cooking with plastic utensils, and since I'm the one who mainly cooks between the two of us, I'm pretty excited to move on to this stuff.
"Alright so what color scheme should we go for?" Kate asks while looking through the different types of spatulas, mainly looking at the color rather than the quality.
"For the kitchen?" I ask, looking at her like she has two heads.
"Steele! Get it together." I can't help but laugh at the frustration I am causing her.
"Okay okay, sorry. How about we do all silver utensils, with black cooking tools, and then choose a color for the bowls, and stuff?" I suggest.
"Wow Steele, first smart thing you've said today." She teases, and I can't help but nudge her shoulder. We have finally settled on a turquoise green for the plates, and are finally making our way to the register. I know that it is going to be quite the receipt. As we wait in line I look around the story, and what I see causes me to instantly duck.
"What the hell are you doing Steele?" I pull Kate down with me.
"Shhh!" I whisper to her.
"Why are we whisper?" She says with a confused look on her face.
"Leila's here." I tell her. I instantly feel my heart starting to tear … I haven't felt this much pain since that night.
"Christian's Leila?" Her words cause the sob that I've been trying so hard to hide come out. She brings me into her arms and holds me while we wait in line, we must look absolutely crazy but we don't care. We are finally able to check out without being noticed by her, and make our way to Kate's car.
"What the fuck is she doing here!" Kate screams once we're in the car.
"She goes here Kate." I remind her solemnly.
"I'm so sorry Ana." Kate whispers while grabbing my hand.
"It's fine … he chose her. Christian chose her." We make our way back to the apartment in a much different mood than before. She looks exactly the same way she did when I met her; I begin to laugh when making a mental note. Kate looks over to me like I'm absolutely insane, which I bet is how I look right now.
"What Steele?" She asks.
"At least this time she has clothes on." I say, and when I look back at Kate she once again has a frown on her face. Same here Kate, same here.
AN: I have a pinterest board for this story and it is Laters Baby by Sade Pram. Until next time!