Shattered Rose

1. APARTMENT 204

Four Months Earlier...I hated change. Totally detested it usually, but not today. Even though change meant I hauled all my meager belongings-currently packed floor to ceiling in my Toyota Corolla-to yet another residence in less than two weeks. But I refused to complain. Truth was, I would have moved for days if it meant the same end result...my first apartment. The housing office had placed me with two girls I didn't know. Kaitlyn Summers and Naomi Bennett, who was currently on exchange to Portugal. I knocked lightly, my nervousness blending with excitement. No answer. My lungs deflated. I wasn't expecting a welcome party or anything, but I did feel a little disappointed no one was home. Opening the door, I was pleased to see that the apartment was fairly clean, dishes in the sink and in the living room, but nothing unbearable. I walked through the room, running my hand along the large brown and tan sectional sofa, and set my bag down on the end table. It would have felt much like a waiting room if not for the outrageous loveseat sticking out like an eyesore. It was fuzzy, bright red and in the shape of lips. My laughter echoed in the room as I wondered which roommate purchased that thing. I unlocked my bedroom door and noted the room was identical to those in the dorm, cold and sterile. The loneliness of freshman year threatened to resurface, but I pushed it down, choosing instead to focus on the positive-a small, private bathroom. I inched to the window. In front of me were two large trees, parted just enough to expose the sun glistening off the campus lake. Pulling up the blinds, I let the rays warm my face. I felt happy and healthy for the first time in years. Grabbing my cell phone, I plopped on the bare mattress and dialed my best friend. I had known Cara since middle school, and she was one of the few people in the world I trusted. "Hello?""Guess where I am?"I asked, my voice gushing with excitement. "Um, could it be your new apartment? Or did our amazing summer together convince you to transfer to Georgia and go to school near your hometown?""I wish. Tell the administration to give me an alumni scholarship, and I'm there."That wasn't entirely true. I loved that Winsor was in Ashville, North Carolina, putting nine glorious hours between me and my family. "Have you met any hot neighbors who are just dying to help you move all your stuff in...without shirts on of course?""You are officially boy crazy. I haven't met anyone yet, not even my new roommate."She must have sensed my unease. "Are you nervous? I mean, are you feeling anything we should talk about?"I wasn't surprised Cara asked me that question. I had had struggles peak last year and let the pressure of maintaining my grades get the best of me. In a moment of full disclosure, I opted to tell Cara about my issues, but had since wondered if sharing had been a mistake. "Cara, I'm fine. I haven't thought about it. You don't need to worry."I was lying, but I didn't want to start a long conversation about decisions that weren't a factor today. Today was all about the future, not the past. "Okay, but I do worry, and I want you to know I'm here for you if it becomes a temptation again. You got it?"She was stern, but I knew it was because she cared. "I got it. I promise. Okay, I have to go. I left all my things in the car. I'll call you later."I pressed END on my cell phone and headed back out the door. Seven trips later, I was pulling the last box out of my car, the heaviest one, of course. My legs burned like wood under an acid wash. It seemed crazy that something like stairs could wind me so much when I ran at least three miles a day. Even the thought relaxed me. I loved to run. It was my retreat. A place where I could clear the chaos. I was my own worst enemy, analyzing and re-analyzing everything around me, but when I ran, I felt invincible. Unfortunately, I wasn't invincible climbing the stairs. I missed the first step and went sprawling forward. The box slammed into the staircase. In my attempt to recover, my exposed shin slid across the concrete step making me wince in pain. I got to my feet and watched the box bounce down the stairs, hitting the ground with a thud. Footsteps approached from behind. "Hey there, need some help?"I turned. Cara must have seen the future because there stood two attractive men in running shorts, sweat glistening on their bare, muscular chests. Heat filled my cheeks. "I'm okay."My awkwardness around guys was annoyingly obvious. The one with light brown hair and matching eyes grabbed the box easily off the ground while the other, the more attractive one of the two, eyed me like a lion stalking his next meal. He was the first one to notice I was now bleeding. "I think you may need to put something on that,"he noted, walking up to me. "I'm Aaron. This here is Danny. You must be new here."He said the words as if he knew every woman that lived in the building, but then again, he was looking at me as if he already knew me too...in the biblical sense. My skin crawled as if tiny little ants were marching through my veins. Danny adjusted the box in his arms. "Don't mind my roommate; he has no manners. What apartment are you in?"His words allowed me to break Aaron's eye hold. "204. You don't have to. I can get it.""Nonsense."Danny navigated up the stairs with ease despite his heavy load. I followed behind him, trying not to fidget. I felt Aaron's gaze on my backside. The ants returned and with greater numbers. My shorts weren't that short, but I still wondered if the back of my legs looked grotesque. With each step, my insecurity got more and more extreme. I hated when anyone looked at my body. The door was propped open, so Danny strolled in casually and set down the box on the coffee table. "Are you new to Winsor?""No. I'm a Sophomore, but I was in the dorms last year.""That's cool."He looked around the apartment as if searching for someone. "Is your roommate home?""No. Do you know her?"Aaron snorted. "He wishes."Danny hit his friend and hissed something under his breath. A second of strained silence followed. "Well, thanks for helping me."I walked them back out to the hall, a silent encouragement to leave. Danny hesitated, his voice soft and unsure. "We're in apartment 315. Y'all are welcome to come by tonight. We're having some friends over."Aaron leaned his hand against the frame and moved closer than was natural between two relative strangers. The scent of sweat and raw masculinity assaulted my nose. His gaze drifted from the top of my head down the length of my body. I didn't know how it was possible to feel so violated without even a touch, but I did. "You should definitely come... um?"He raised his eyebrows as a way to ask my name. "Avery."I hugged myself, wishing I had something to cover my tank top. Maybe a full sheet or oversized lab coat. Anything that would stop his perusal of my body. A body I couldn't look at in the mirror without flinching. He winked at me one more time before Danny pushed him along. "See you around, Avery. Hopefully tonight."I shut the door with a sigh and then scolded myself. I couldn't be a recluse forever. New apartment. New me. Oh, who was I kidding, I wasn't going anywhere near those guys.