It's Always Been You

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Kori’s POV

Holy shit! Oh fuck my life! How in the hell is this happening to me?!

My mind was going crazy. It’s him. Jeremy. The love of my life and the only one that I’ve thought of since I “left”. How is it that he randomly walks into my life like this and I can be so calm on the outside, but completely going nuts on the inside? I hope that he didn’t notice the surprise on my face when Garrett first introduced us. He couldn’t have. I hope not. At least he doesn’t seem to recognize me. Thank God for plastic surgery! Although, I also have a new name. Good thing too.

As I’m leading him around the newsroom, I’m mentally cursing myself for being in such close proximity to the man who has held my heart in his hands since I was sixteen years old. God, all I want to do is jump into his arms and tell him how much I’ve always loved him and apologize profusely for everything that I did to leave. He couldn’t possibly forgive me for faking my own death. Oh my God, what a mess I have made of my life.

Ending the tour at his desk, the desk right next to mine, I want to actually die now.

“So, this is your desk. Since we will be working closely together, I guess we should set up a time to actually get to know one another.” I say to him, knowing that he has to get to know the fake me. He already knows me, the me that I used to be anyway.

“Yeah. Sounds great. How about we go for drinks tomorrow night after work?” He says, giving me a dazzling smile.

“Sounds great.” I am trying to keep my voice as calm as possible, while inside my head, I’m screaming. At least he would never recognize my voice. Not in a million years, since he’s never heard it before. Wow, I can’t believe this. I am really going to have to try and watch myself around him. I know him so well and if I do anything that even hints at who I am… I don’t even want to think of the ramifications of him finding out.

XXX

Walking into my apartment that night after drinks with Garrett, my head is spinning. All I want to do is take a sleeping pill and let it carry me off to a less complicated world. In fact, that is definitely what I’ll do. Hopefully my nightmares won’t get in the way. I really just want to forget about what happened today, even though that will be completely impossible, since Jeremy and I work together now. Side by side. Oh God!

XXX

I’m dreaming I know I’m dreaming. I must be. I’m sixteen years old again and I’m hanging with Jeremy at his house, watching a movie. I can’t figure out what movie it is, but it’s some sort of comedy. He is sitting so close that I can smell his wonderful cologne and it’s intoxicating. All I want to do is snuggle into him and get lost in everything that is Jeremy.

Just then, Jared comes into the room. I absolutely love his brother. He’s 6’1” with dirty blonde hair and green eyes. He got his hair and his eyes from his dad, whereas Jeremy got his brown hair and eyes from his mom. I love their parents too. They are the nicest people in the world. His brother is built like a weight-lifter. Huge, very muscular, where Jeremy is muscular and toned, but not as gigantic with the muscles.

Just then, I’m scooped up into a huge bear-hug and love every minute of it. Jared is like a gigantic teddy-bear. Putting me down, he gives me a wink, and sits down on the other side of me. I think he knows how I feel about Jeremy, even though I have never told him.

Wow, this feels more like a memory than a dream. It could be both, considering things like this actually happened all of the time. Except, something is different. Very different. Jeremy’s arm is wrapped protectively around my waist and I feel his hand caressing my side, lovingly. He always wrapped his arm around my shoulders, but never around my waist, in this very romantic kind of way. Huh.