Life as a Flower

Moving to the city

Hello everyone, this is my first story, so please be patient with me! I hope you will enjoy reading it. The picture on the right is of Emilie, the main character. The same girl as on the book cover. Here goes nothing....

Edit:

I just want to note, this is rated R because the story involves drinking, smoking, partying and mild sexuality. If you don't think you can handle it, then maybe this isn't the story for you. I don't intend for anything overly vulgar to happen though!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

I winced as I carried the thick brown leather suitcase up the third flight of stairs. Stopping for a breather, I wiped the sweat from my forehead. Why do we have to live on the last floor of a building with no elevator? I asked myself as I dragged my suitcase to the next flight of stairs, which seemed to be threatening to burst open with every step I took. Only two more floors to go, I told myself as I bared my teeth in the effort it took me to carry the heavy suitcase. My red hair cascaded down past my shoulders, and despite the long day I had just spent moving, it still looked freshly curled.

Hannah had been living here alone for a year now, and I started to understand why she was so against moving somewhere new with me. It would be total hell getting all the furniture out of this place without an elevator. I counted myself lucky that my bedroom was already furnished and I didn't have to worry about that. 

Finally, I got to apartment 504, which was going to be my new home for the next 3 years, at least. I would be living with Hannah, my older sister. Truthfully, she was actually my cousin, and she was only a year older than me. We'd been raised together as sisters though, because my parents died in a car accident when I was five years old. Although that might seem like a traumatic experience that would scar anyone for life, I actually lived a pretty normal life and was happy. My aunt and uncle were loving, caring people and I loved Hannah more than anyone. Sometimes I wonder what my life would have been like had my realy parents not died, but I can't ever imagine it would be better than my life right now. 

I kicked the door open, it was already ajar. Hannah grinned at me as I let go of my suitcase, the very last one I had to carry today. I collapsed onto the floor as a joke, knowing it would make Hannah laugh. It did. "Here, before you die." She said, handing me a very cold beer. I grinned at her and greedily took it from her. I knew something was wrong with this situation, but unsuspectingly I still opened the can. Beer sprayed in my face and all over the front of my shirt. I looked up at Hannah, my mouth open in shock, but I couldn't stay serious for long. Hannah was practically rolling on the floor laughing, as was I. So much so that we didn't hear when someone walked in.

"Err, you must be Emilie? Hannah's cousin?" A voice came from the entrance. Hannah and I looked at eachother, before turning around to the young man standing there. He was tall and blonde, with blue eyes that sparkled with amusement. "Hannah's sister..." I corrected, and got up. I had kept my father's last name. My aunt was my father's sister, so Hannah and I had different last names. "Are you Mickael?" I asked, wiping my hand on the front of my jeans and offering my hand. I grinned, knowing it would probably be kind of sticky because of the beer.

"Yeah, I'm Mickael, nice to meet you." He shook my hand, and made a face after as he wiped his own hand on his pants. I laughed as did Hannah. Mickael just smiled. "My father is out of town for a bit, but he asked me to check on you guys and make sure the move went well. I also brought a spare key in case you guys might need one. We have keys down in the office, if ever you get locked out. But I'm sure Hannah already told you all of this..." He handed me the key, suddenly looking a little shy as he was trailing off.

"Oh, yeah! Thanks very much, the move went well I've just finished actually. Would you like to join us for a beer? I'm sure we have some in the fridge which haven't been shook beforehand." I said, laughing a bit. Hannah went to the fridge, but Mickael stopped her before. "Um, I'm sorry. I really want to, but I already have previous engagements. I have to go, or I'll be late. Maybe some other time?" He proposed, looking a little embarassed. He ran his hand through his blonde hair and looked at Hannah. She smiled at him and nodded. "Ok, some other time for sure. I look forward to it..." The smiled lingered on her lips.

"So...what was that about?" I asked Hannah. We were siting at the kitchen table now, both of us on our third beer. It was weird, drinking with my sister in our apartment. I felt grownup somehow, even though I was 19 and had been for a few months already. Hannah had never liked me drinking or going to parties in high school, so this was a little funny to me. "What was what about? Why I shook your beer?" Hannah asked, her eyes twinkling. She knew what  I was asking, she just wanted to play stupid. "That guy! What's the story?" I asked, laughing. There was obviously some kind of history, they had just starred at eachother for a few moments too long, it was suspicious.

"Well...I've been flirting with him ever since I got here really, but he's so damn shy! I can tell that he likes me, at least a little bit, but he just wont get over his shyness. I don,t really know what to do about it really..." Hannah said, shrugging as she downed the rest of her beer. I grinned at her and did the same. Hannah was gorgeous. She was a different kind of beauty from what you usually see.  She had dark brown hair that went to her shoulders, and the loveliest mossy green eyes. Her skin was like porcelain. I always assumed every boy was in love with her, so I was a little surprised this Mickael kid hadn't fallen for her charms yet. "He'll come around soon enough." I said as I got up stretching. It was pretty dark out, and I was still wearing the t shirt that had received all that beer. "I'm going to hit the shower." I winked and left for the bathroom.

The apartment, although it was old, had been renovated recently. The furniture was mostly crisp white, as were the walls. It was scandinavian style, somehow, and totally Hannah's style. Personnally, I like ecclectic, bohemian style, but this was nice too. It felt like home, because this was how Hannah had decorated her room back home too. The apartment was situated in downtown Montreal, and all the buildings around us were old. Hannah had chosen this two bedroom apartment because it was relatively inexpensive, and it was close to the university campus. She was studying to be a lawyer, which was probably the perfect job for her. She was one of the smartest people I knew, and she loved to study. I, on the other hand, was far from being a model student. In high school, I could probably attribute passing most of my classes to Hannah, as she was always there to help me memorize things, and would read through my essays and correct them. She was a real life saver, so selfless and caring. I wanted to try to be like that too.

I was going to be attending university too, but only part time. I chose anthropology as my major, but I wasn't convinced yet. I was going to work at a coffee shop down the street when I didn't have class. Class started in one week. I couldn't believe it, this was so strange to me. I grinned and hoped into the shower, after having stripped from my beer smelling clothes. I was looking forward to tonight, there was a welcome party for new students and Hannah and I were going.