Rocky, Ingrid, Oscar and Gunther were out for at least 3 and a half hours. In that time, they went shopping for food, clothes and any other stuff they thought they would need. During this trip, they realised that they were already a family. Even though Rocky was the youngest she was the smart responsible one, always looking out for a problem to fix. Ingrid was the comedian; always there to make the others laugh. Gunther was like the protective big brother who could always be counted on in a crisis. And Oscar was the most likely leader of the small group as he was cool and instantly likeable. Not to mention, he was a great listener.
When they reached Prudential Centre Management Office, they decided that they could pool their money together to buy all the supplies when Gunther told everyone that it was on him. His parents had been overly-enthusiastic with his allowance. Ingrid and Rocky had protested at first, but he wasn't kidding. For his first week, he had been given $2,000 to spend. It had only taken about an hour and a half to go food shopping and the total was $125.6. When Oscar produced his credit card, Gunther gave him a look that said 'Back off, this is my treat'. But, as always, Oscar had completely ignored him and let the girls go crazy buying clothes.
Rocky spent at least ten minutes in the dress section pondering over whether to buy a short dress that would let her dance at the party that night, or a long one so it didn't look like she was showing off. In the end, she bought some jeans and T-shirts under Ingrid influence.
"They can be smart yet they are the perfect chilling clothes" She'd explained. And when Rocky tried a combination that Ingrid had picked out, she saw she was right. They were so comfortable, she bought a least three different combos.
Ingrid picked out a few dresses for the party and then bought a new pair of jeans. She also handed Oscar a new shirt and Gunther a bomber jacked to go with a beanie he had purchased.
Now the total money count was around $194.3.
Feeling a bit guilty that they had spent at least $70 on clothes, the girls told the boys that lunch was on them. They found a quiet place to eat. It was serve your-self buffet. They all went up at least four times for the main course and don't even get me started on the desert. Over the table, they talked and Rocky found out tons of interesting stuff about her roomies.
Oscar was actually born in Russia and could speak fluently. He had three other siblings, a younger brother and two older twin sisters. Because they had such a big family, they could only afford to send twins to school, in the hope that they would graduate and get them some more money to pay for the others. Because of this, he had to get a job and the mere age of 12. He worked in a shop as the assistant for five years under the ruling fist of justice of an old man called Bob. It was great a first, as Bob felt pity for Oscar and his family. He even let Oscar take a quarter of the shops earning every month. This meant that Oscar's parents could afford to send one child to the local school. They wanted to send Oscar as he was the one who had got the money, but he made them send his little brother instead.
He thought maybe he could lie like this for the rest of his life, but then a customer told Bob that the youth had tried to rip him off and as a result, Oscar was fired.
Oscar confessed to his friends that neither he nor the Bob knew what this meant, but with the customer threatening to sue the shop for what little money it had, Bob was forced to let Oscar go. But he gave him his monthly earnings and gave him a great review in the hopes that maybe it would help with applying for a new job.
Oscar used the money to fly to Scotland where he lived for the next nine months. He got a new job as an engineer and worked like that until he met Gunther who had been traveling the world during his gap year. Gunther gave Oscar some money and they both applied for Boston University. They both got in and flew over together, not knowing that they were in the same flat.
"So," Ingrid grinned. She had decided to swap egos and now she sounded like a normal eighteen-year-old New York girl. "What I am hearing that blonde, bold and brooding over here actually had a heart." Gunther scowled.
"Yep. I was so surprised when he became the Gunther we know today." Oscar grinned.
"Is that why you're always so cool around him?" Rocky asked. "because you've met the real him?"
"Probably" Oscar shrugged. "I never really thought about it like that though. I always assumed that he just didn't get to me."
"Can we stop talking about me?" Gunther pleaded. Everyone laughed.
"We can agree to that," Rocky said. "But only after you have told us your story."
"I can agree to that," Gunther mimicked. "But only after Oscar proves that he can speak in Russian."
"Ok!" Oscar agreed. "Привет, меня зовут Оскар, мне 18 лет. Я жил в России, в Шотландии, и теперь я делюсь с вами в Бостонском университете.
Привет, меня зовут Оскар, мне 18 лет. Я жил в России, в Шотландии, и теперь я делюсь с вами в Бостонском университете."
(Pronounced: Privet, menya zovut Oskar, mne 18 let. YA zhil v Rossii, v Shotlandii, i teper' ya delyus' s vami v Bostonskom universitete.)
Everyone looked at him. Oscar grinned.
"That was so cool!" Ingrid commented. Gunther just gawped.
"What does that mean?" Rocky asked.
"I just said 'Hello, my name is Oscar and I am 18 years old. I have lived in Russia, Scotland and now I am sharing a flat at Boston University with you guys." Oscar replied. Rocky nodded in approval.
"Go on then Gunther, your turn for the family history show" Ingrid said. Gunther grumbled to himself but sat a bit straighter and began.
He was born in Ireland and his parents were ridiculously rich. Gunter had two older brothers, Kevin and Max. They had always picked on him for being so smart. His parents didn't really care about him as he was technically adopted. They blatantly favourited his older brothers as they would be the heirs to all their land.
For example, Kevin and Max had got a mega tenth birthday bash as it was double digits. The parents planned an all-out paintball war that took place in a few of the field that surrounded the house. Then, they were taken out for a huge dinner and spoilt rotten.
On Gunther's tenth birthday, he was told to plan it himself. He wanted to do something big, but wasn't given any money to work with. In the end, he did nothing except make his own dinner.
On Max and Kevin's eighteenth birthday, they were given matching monster trucks and three of their infinite holiday homes that the family owned around the world, each. Gunther never found out what he would get for his eighteenth as for their parent's anniversary, Max and Kevin gave their sixteen-year-old brother to their parents as a slave. He was then no longer known as a boy, a son, a brother. He was property of his parents and they beat him up whenever he did something wrong.
Eventually had enough of this life and he ran away. He stole a ton of money from his parents and got on a plane to America. Whilst there, he tracked down him birth parents. His search led his to Texas where he finally found his father. He was called Steve and his wife, Claire, and Gunther's mother was in the madhouse after they had lost their son. Steve was a poor man and there was little that made him smile. But, reuniting with his son was the happiest moment of his life, just before having his son.
Gunther had lived with his father for the next two years. Using the money he had taken, they send him to school and bought a big house. Gunther thought he was happy, then his mother died in the madhouse, ripped apart by a crazy man. Steve had grown distant so Gunther graduated from school and left home, touring the world on his gap year before he went to college.
"And you know the rest" Gunther finished dully. "I met Oscar in Scotland and all that stuff…"
"Gunther" Ingrid whispered. "I'm so sorry."
"I never knew" Oscar said. Rocky stayed silent. Gunther was glad. He knew that if Rocky had a pitying comment for him, he would start crying and he wasn't about to do that.
"Have you moved on?" She asked instead. Gunther nodded.
"It's why I came here with Oscar" he replied. "I wanted to move on."
"That's good" Rocky said. "You shouldn't dwell in the past"
They stayed silent for a few minutes. No one had the appetite for any more food.
"I think it's Ingrid's turn" Oscar said, breaking the silence. "The floor's your"
Ingrid smiled sweetly. "Don't think I'm goanna be laying down my secrets that easily" She said.
"Oh, come on!" Oscar protested. Ingrid smiled again. They were about to start a full-blown argument when Rocky kicked him and nudged her. They both looked her.
"I think that's enough for now anyway" she said, glancing at Gunther. "We should get back any way. It' almost 9:30 and we have to get ready for that party."
Oscar checked His watch and gasped. "We've been here for almost two hours!" he cried. He frantically called over the waiter and Gunther used his credit card to pay for the bill. Not caring about the total cost of the trip anymore, they all rushed back to the flat and each went into their rooms to get changed. Rocky didn't know what to wear at first, but then she recalled Oscar saying that it would be quite a casual party. So, she changed into a pair of black jeans and a short blue top. She put a bit of lipstick on and then went out into the living room. To her surprise, Gunther was in the kitchen putting away the food they had bought today. He was wearing a black T-shirt, ripped jeans and his new beanie. After a bit of thought, she went over and joined him. He smiled at her and touched her shoulder. Rocky flinched.
"Thanks for helping me out, earlier," he said quietly.
"That's fine." She replied. She laughed nervously. "Although, all I did was stop them from arguing" He smiled and cupped her face.
"But did so much more and you know it." He told her gently. Then he leaned down and kissed her.
A million thoughts rushed through Rocky's head:
Did she really want to be doing this? She knew and couldn't deny that she liked him even though they had just met. But was this feeling only coming across because she couldn't have Deuce?
Gunther pulled away and smiled at her.
"I know you're conflicted right now Rocky." He whispered. "So, I let you take your time. Tell me if your answer is yes." He left the room. Rocky was left confused and torn. He was right, she was conflicted. But she needed to move on from Deuce and maybe accepting Gunther's offer would be the way to do it.
Before she could completely make up her mind, Ingrid and Oscar came out of their rooms.
"You ready to go?" Oscar asked her. Rocky nodded and grabbed a jumper while Ingrid banged on Gunther's door. When he was ready, they all left the flat.
Rocky remembered nothing after that…
So, that is the chapter! Sorry to leave you on a cliff-hanger with the Gunther thing and the fact that for some reason Rocky can't remember what happened at the party (HINT, HINT).
See you as soon as possible,
RI16