My curse

Elijah

Who is he? And why is she okay with him side-hugging her? The blond guy clears his throat and I remember he asked me a question. ''Elijah, Elijah Woods. Sky's classmate and neighbor.'' I answer extending my right hand for him to shake. I look at Sky for a brief moment and I can't help notice how the color of her top compliments her skin nicely. The guy distracts me form her by shaking my hand. I don't like him with her. I don't like him at all in fact. ''And you are?'' I ask not bothering with a polite smile. ''Nathan, Nathan Daniels. Sky's friend.'' He answers still shaking my hand. Relief is the first thing I feel upon hearing he is only her friend. That relief slowly morphs to suspicion as I notice the smirk that appears on his face. I remove my hand from his and hear Sky ask '' You said you were waiting for me. What for?''

''It seems you are busy at the moment. Maybe another time.'' My eyes land on hers and my jaw clenches at the sight of her and Nathan close. It doesn't make sense. I thought she couldn't be close to anyone, I thought she couldn't touch anyone. But it seems I was wrong. It could all be personal to her. Maybe she has a problem with me only. Does she know about my past?

''I want to...'' she starts to say but I turn around and head for my apartment. Her small voice is cut off by my door closing in a bang. Why am I so worked up over someone I met only yesterday? It doesn't make any sense. But it bothers me to see her close to another person when she despises my touch. At first, I thought it was a fear she has with everyone but I am starting to believe it's only me.

I lay on the door and start sorting my thoughts. I can hear Sky and Nathan whispering outside my apartment. I clench my fists and head for my room. This is a mess. All of it. Since I left Tennessee, everything went downhill. It started with the news of my grandpa passing away, then I got the phone call from my dad, I had to move out in less than 48 hours and start a new life here. I had no say in any of this, and then my grandpa's will just made everything so much worse. To top it all there is her. Sky Lindson. My neighbor, my classmate and my unwelcomed distraction.

Moving-in to this place in a haste left me in need of many things I forgot back in my previous place. Plates for food, hangers for my clothes, my blender, my protein shaker, my elastic band for workout... I did some grocery shopping the day before but in all my distraction I forgot many things. Today when I wanted to cook I only had pasta, no sauce, no protein, no spice, not even salt. So, I thought let me lend some from my less favorite neighbor and by the same occasion talk about the group project. When I knocked on her door she wasn't home. So, I waited for a few minutes and there she comes, glowing and happy next to a man.

I have bigger problems to tackle and she is slowly taking more room in my brain. I don't like it. I should think of a solution to the biggest problem I have right now. And that is my father. I know him well. He won't rest until he gets what he wants. Currently what he wants is me back in the house with him and his wife. His wife that single-handedly destroyed my life with a lie. A lie that cost me my friends, my reputation and my happiness. I never want to see her again. But I know the lengths my father will go to to get what he wants. Especially if there is money involved. Money, he had his eyes on for as long as I remember.

Even after my dad explained everything about my grandpa's will I still don't fully understand. I need to speak to my grandpa's lawyer. I grab my phone from my desk and call my dad. Anxiety grips my stomach as I wait for him to pick up. ''Elij...'' he answers in his cold voice but I demand cutting him off. ''Give me the number of the lawyer carrying out my grandpa's will.'' A long pause follows and I wonder if he hung up but then he asks, suspicion evident in his tone: ''What for?''

''I need to speak to him. I have some questions about the will.'' I answer, annoyance slowly creeping into my voice the longer this phone call gets. ''You can ask me. You don't need to speak to him.'' He replies in his authoritative, cold voice. That used to work on me when I was a little kid. I wouldn't talk again after hearing it. But I am a grown adult now and all the anger I kept inside these past few years is threatening to make an appearance right this moment. '' If you don't give me his number, I will find it regardless. So, are you going to or not?'' My voice is strange to my own ears.

There are two facts about my father that never changed throughout the years. One, he can't stand losing to anyone and two, he knows when a situation is not worth the fight. And right now, there is a dilemma, is he going to lose to me and give me the damn number or fight an unnecessary battle. A full minute passes before I hear a grunt and he hangs up. Seconds later, I receive the lawyer's number via text from him. A smile finds its way to my face at the sight, I click on call and wait for the lawyer to answer.

We agree to meet the next day after my classes, I have so many questions for him. What is at stake? How much money will we lose if I refuse to cooperate with my dad? Who are my grandpa's friends that will judge my relationship with my dad? What happens after we get full access to our money?