four months prior
"Are you sure you have to leave me?" Zara groaned, her sloppy and shiny eyes directly looking at mines, which were hiding all my inner emotions. " And what if they assign me with a stinky, annoying roommate?"
"I guess you'll have to accept it." I giggled at her while grabbing my suitcase, ready to leave the room I've been living in for three years.
Taking a long breath, I stepped towards the door, that's literally seven feet from the bed. I never thought I'd leave this room for my last year of college. But then again, never did I think I would be living in this country, or even go to university anyways, for all that matters.
"Please, my family can pay your stay here, you don't have to move into an unknown apartment god knows where you found it." She begged once more.
"Zara, you know that I hate when people offer me money." I intervened, not allowing her to keep going. "You and your family have already done too much for me. I can't let you do this for me. That apartment is the only thing I can afford right now, so the apartment it is."
She sighed, knowing there was no way I could let her pay the housing fee for me. I had to start making my own way to the city, to the world; not depending on anyone else but myself. The first step happened to be getting my own apartment with my own little money I received by the 30 hours of work my student visa allowed me to do.
Before crossing the doorframe that would have lead me to the hallway and shut me out from the campus forever, I turn around to face what I'll be missing out on my last year in college. All the memories that I made here, all the laughters Zara and I would share, the serious talks she and I would make in the middle of the night, the happiness and the pain I've gone through, will be always locked here, in this small double room I've been with my second sister for three years now.
I turned my head to look at Zara. Her small figure was standing beside the feet of my, for once made, bed. Tears already started to stream down her face but she didn't bother to hide them. I suddenly remembered the hot day of August of three years ago when I opened the door of this room for the first time, she was situated in the same exact spot she was right now. Expect, then her eyes were full of joy, uncontained exuberance of meeting and getting to know her roommate, that only grew when she discovered I wasn't American. With her, there was no quiet moment, no bitter resentments, only pleasure. Though, I have to admit it, sometimes she was overwhelming, so much that I had to put a stop on it and ask her to let me read, or go out to the closest school's library in order to read in peace.
Zara in these past years helped me so much. Even though I didn't apply it that much, she showed me a way to be happy, to not think about the past, to not worry. She became my new sister. Plus, she reminded in so many ways of my sister, the typical party girl who doesn't care about life.
My body contracted at the thought of Giulia.
Shaking away the memories, I take a few steps ahead, hugging tightly Zara.
"Gosh, I'm only moving a few blocks away, it's not like we're never gonna see each other ever again." I broke the infernal silent the room was wrapped in, trying to cheer her up.
She lets out a quick giggle, releasing her arms from my body. I looked at her closely before kissing her cheek and saying a silent goodbye.
As much as it hurt, tears did not find their way out my eyes. How could they. I haven't cried in years.
* * *
The apartment I found was a good twenty minutes walk from the university, the best I could find with the limited budget I had. It wasn't big, but not even small; enough for a student in search for peace. A long hallway was located on the left of the entrance. On it, there was a decent bathroom with a shower, which was the best for me as I did not like baths. The brown couch of the small living room lacked of a person's sense of style. It needed to be changed as soon as possible. The kitchen's size was decent, but useless, since I didn't know how cook anything.
The bedroom at the end of the corridor was bigger than I expected. The double bed placed on wall adjacent the door, made the room look even larger.
I placed my only luggage beside the bed while looking at the clock and sighed. With nothing but key in my hands, I quickly left the accommodation, not ready to get to work.
The library was half-empty as always, filled just by some students sat on the different sofas. I greeted Frank with a small nod, before watching him leaving.
Hours of reading had already passed, until a boy entering through the entrance captured my attention. He was tall, taller than most of the other students in the school. The smooth way he walked sent me vibes across my spine. His adorable curly hair pushed on his right side. His all-dark style made him look even sexier, and his multiple tattoos all up his arms more dangerous. He didn't look much older than me, he could have been my own age.
He slowly made through the counter where I was standing at.
When I looked in his eyes for the first time, I lost myself in those emerald pools he had. I didn't know him, yet his face felt so familiar.
"Hey, uhm, I was looking for a book?" The thick English accent could be heard from miles away, but that's not what drove me crazy. His slow, raspy voice did.
The ghost of a smile on his face made me realize that even if I had no idea in hell who was he, or if I will ever see him again, I would never forget that angelic face.
—
Hey guys! I just wanted to thank you all of you for giving me a chance with this fanfiction. Hope you're enjoying it as much as I am writing it.
Thank you for all the wonderful comments & votes in the prologue. Totally didn't expect all of that!.
I love you. xx
