SONDER

4

5 minutes before 5pm I was already inside the locker room grabbing my purse. After applying lipgloss on my lips I turn around to check my self; any fly-aways that needed to be tamed, checked for wrinkles on my dress; when I saw none I gave myself an encouraging nod.

Good to go.

As I exit the room I take my phone out and searched Nikolai's name in my contacts. Taking a deep breath I press call, and with two rings he answer.

"Lilly." His voice sounds so different through the phone, much deeper.. Definitely deeper.

"Where are you?"

"Parking lot angel."

"Okay, I'm on my way."

Without hanging up I headed to my school's parking lot in quick steps as if my ass was on fire. The thought of seeing Nikolai and having dinner with him brought my mind to different kinds of scenarios, heat on my cheeks began to spread at the indecency that went through my head.

Calm down Lillian, it's just dinner.

God I've only seen him today after so many years, but it seemed just like yesterday. Everything, every touch felt so familiar.. The way he carried himself, those green eyes that I always got my self lost in. It all seemed like yesterday.

Me and Katie had been friends with Nikolai for 2 years, and in those years Nikolai was like a grumpy big brother of Katie who always visited her in the hospital, in every visit he would always drive me home. The faint touch on my back as he guides me to his car, the pats he gave, everything was never forgotten. His brows would always hold its frown, but in some rare occasions I would notice him tapping his fingers to the beat of the music from his stereo; in those moment he would look serene and I always watched him in silence; like art, Nikolai was timeless.

The memories with him made the period I spent in that silent house more bearable. At least at that time I was able to go home with a smile.

And now I am going to have dinner with him.

"I'm here, but where are you?" My eyes wandered around the parking lot searching for the gorgeous man; suddenly a black Rolls-Royce stopped in front of me. I take a step back feeling my whole body tense at the unfamiliar car.

"I'm here." Nikolai's toe curling voice echoed through the phone.

The other side of the car opened causing my body to go on full alert, Nikolai steps out of the car as he straightens his suit.

Oh.

He walked around and opened the door for me placing a hand on my back gently ushering me inside.

As I sat on the leather seat, I noticed a burly man who sat on the driver seat wearing a black suit.

Nikolai then entered the car and sat beside me, his body heat incredibly close as he leaned his weight on the arm rest.

"Where to Mr. Moretti?" The bear like man asked.

"Asolo."

"Yes sir."

I watched the short exchange feeling overwhelmed with the current situation, the big guy switched gears keeping his eyes to the front while wearing a nonchalant face as he drove away.

Silence once again greeted us, I looked around the luxurious car, its interior covered in leather, a voss water bottle sat on the cupholder in front of us; slowly turning my head to Nikolai who now sat comfortably with his legs spread, his arm resting behind me over my seat.

Letting out a shaky breath, I straightened my back placing my purse on the seat near my lap.

I relinquished the silence..