Disclaimer: I own only the plot of the story. The names of the characters belong to S.M.

CHAPTER 2 - University

2008

APOV

"Thank you," I said fuming at myself, as the closing doors missed me by mere inches. I just stayed there, outside Building 4, inside which I was supposed to be in ten minutes for my next class.

I knew I shouldn't get angry, that I should be used to indifference by now, but I can't. Despite the "Different people – Equal rights" motto around the university campus, my fellow students tended to forget it regarding me. My peers usually paid little attention to my waiting to enter a building, and I couldn't recall the countless times that I was unable to find a single person willing to hold the door open for me. It was like I didn't exist for them.

Many times, I had to be persistent to get the answers to my questions, and I had to practically beg them to let me copy their notes, the few times I had been absent from class. Meanwhile, they would expect me to always be nice and cater to their needs; answer their questions, give them my lecture notes, help them with homework.

And did they treat me better? Of course not. Did they even try to invite me out once? Again no. I didn't even bother listening to their lame excuses now. I would just smile politely and leave, always swearing that I would change, that I would be cruel like them.

But I couldn't, I wasn't a cruel person. My dad would always tell me I was too sweet and kind-hearted for my own good. Even on my worst times, I never wished anything bad to befall all those people that have hurt me.

I don't know, maybe they kept hurting me because they were afraid of me, afraid that if they had any contact with me, they might catch the "virus" and be like me. And, in a world where only looks and appearances mattered, there was no place for people like me; physically or mentally different.

To them, I was less of a human being. I was a freak, a dud, an invalid. In their minds, I was not perfect; I couldn't keep up with them, living their lives to the maximum. I couldn't have fun like they did…hell, I couldn't even walk more than a few steps without collapsing down in pain.

Then, my stupid wheelchair wasn't being easy to move around, especially in the confined space of the popular bars and clubs, and it wasn't very stylish, too. I couldn't go anywhere without causing too much inconvenience to my companions, as they would feel obligated to baby me a lot, and they would end up not enjoying themselves like they wanted to.

I always felt eyes on me wherever I was, always the odd fish in the pond. The stares were extremely embarrassing inside the lecture theater, whenever I would try to get seated, because, due to the wheelchair, I was only able to sit in the front row. And that was where the "real show" began, when I would start my usual ritual of getting seated; I would approach a spot in the front next to the lane, stop my wheelchair, and drag myself to walk to the nearest seat, slowly and with great difficulty. Curiosity and pity literally was trickling down on me.

Once, a guy felt bold enough to ask me, in front of the entire class, if I really was "a cripple", as he so eloquently put it, since I could walk. I can't describe my mortification and my anger. Not just towards him, but to everybody out there eager to jump to conclusions, instead of actually trying to find the truth about my condition. Shooting daggers at the idiot, I shook my head in disbelief at his audacity, and turned my attention to the professor, just starting his lecture.

Not that the teaching staff was being much better. They would all get on my nerves with their polite condescending, driven either by pity or by political correctness, making gag every time I had to interact with them. I guess my being bound to a wheelchair reminded them how fragile human life was, and how easily they could find themselves in my place.

God, I hated all this self loathing and hate. But I couldn't help it. Every morning, when I would wake up, all these thoughts kept popping up in my head, and I would find myself drowning in depression.

Why had I decided to leave home? Oh, yes, to make a new start, away from my tormenting peers back home. Plus, I always dreamed of furthering my education, and study more about my main interest; medicine. So, I had came to this University, to study in its acclaimed Medical School, to be as far away from home and all the bad memories, and to try being alone and independent.

It was hard. Maybe I should have stayed home, with my parents, where I was safe and loved. Here, I was alone…unwanted. After being here for almost two years, I had no real friends, only a few acquaintances, mainly people attending the same elective subjects with me.

And I should admit I was being jealous of my peers. I envied the bonds between them, the emotions running wild around, the funny and sad moments they shared, while I had nothing…at all. I was alone inside this bitter prison that had been my existence since the day I was born. And I didn't say life, because I was not alive. I just existed.

I knew it shouldn't bother me by now, I should be used to it, but I couldn't. I wanted…no, I craved to be normal, and experience all the things a woman my age should have; I wanted to be able to walk without pain, to have friends, to fall in love…..

I winced at this last thought. I looked around me, and everywhere I turned, there were couples talking, laughing, holding hands, kissing…I was being surrounded by so much love and lust that I was suffocating. How I wished…

Yeah, dream on, Alice, dream on. This is the one thing you can never have. I couldn't seem to be able to make a friend and keep him, and I was thinking about falling in love with a decent man? Right, as if there were any decent men around here. And even if there were, it wasn't as if I was their number one choice.

When hell freezes over, I will be loved….

JPOV

I had the same strange dream again tonight, as I did every night for the past year. It seemed to have a meaning that was still eluding me.

I was inside a forest, tall thick trees surrounding me. I was running to a specific direction, still not aware of what I was searching for. Was I looking for something…or someone?

It was dark and quiet, the only sound my feet stomping on the ground. My heart was pounding inside my chest, and I kept feeling a magnetic pull inside, a beacon calling at me…I am here…

I was alone, but still, I could sense her presence near me, waiting for me. I had no idea who she was, but she was the one calling for me, begging me to go to her. She was my life, my heart, my reason to live.

I am coming….I miss you…I need you….

She was closer now, her sweet fragrance already around me…freesias and strawberry. I could sense her emotions, a whirlwind of want, need, desire, hope…fear? Why was she afraid of me?

I burst through an opening to a beautiful meadow, and there she was, waiting for me. She was exquisite. Although a bit short, she was an angel in disguise, with short black hair and grey eyes shining like stars on her face. She was really a pixie fairy, floating over the ground, a creature not form this earth. Yet, I knew she was the one I had been waiting for so long. My heart was bursting from happiness, but strangely enough, she took a step back and fell down, her fear more evident now. I felt confused.

"Please, don't hurt me," she said, though her lips didn't move at all. "Please…."

In a flash, I was right by her side, her face inches from mine. Her eyes opened wide, taking my appearance. I took every detail of her inside my mind, locking them in my memory. She was precious to me, and my fingers involuntary touched her softly. When I reached the spot where her pulse was stronger, I moved closer and pressed my lips there. Her body arched towards me, a tingling feeling coursing through, and desire pouring out of me.

She is mine….

"What have you done to me? Why can't I move?" she shouted angrily. I pulled back, our eyes locked. I stared at her, conveying my feelings to her, to make her feel more at ease.

I heard her breath hitching, her heart skipping a beat. She was still afraid, her eyes were brimming with tears; she had surrendered.

"Have mercy on me..." she whispered, "please, don't kill me."

What? Kill her? My love, the woman I have been waiting for all my life? You have it so wrong, darling….I cupped her face gently.

"I will never hurt you! I could never live with myself if I did. I have been waiting and searching for you for a long time..." I whispered back, calming her. She was studying me, trying to understand the meaning of my words. There was a steady flow of energy between our bodies, getting stronger by every passing second, making us feel whole.

Suddenly, she was calm and relaxed, and seemed to have an epiphany. I could see it in her eyes; she knew I wouldn't hurt her, couldn't hurt her. My heart soared, my feelings flashing though my eyes; concern, determination, lust, love. And these feelings were echoing back from her, accompanied with self-doubt.

She tried to move closer, but couldn't, getting frustrated.

"What have you done to me? Why can't I move? Answer me!" she screamed.

"I am not doing anything. You are doing this to yourself," I said, willing her to understand. I would never do anything to hurt her, I wanted to protect her, to keep her safe and happy.

Suddenly, she was no longer lying on the forest floor, but was seated, my arms still locked around her. She gazed down at her body, and closed her eyes in disappointment.

I inched closer to whisper in her ear. "It doesn't matter, angel. I love you nonetheless. You are the only one I have been waiting for a long time."

I kissed her softly and she remained still, enjoying the feeling. In a blink of an eye, I found myself away from her.

"Where are you?" she cried frantically.

"I am waiting for you," I answered…and then I was being jolted to consciousness. She was gone…for now.

She will come to me…when the time comes.