Destination: Beautiful (It's back!)

Chapter 20

School always came easy to me. In elementary school I was that girl that always had her hand raised, always listened to the teachers, and always had good grades. I also was not well liked. I was called names like 'teacher's pet' and 'know it all.' 

I wish I could say I worked my butt off in high school, but the work still flowed with minimal effort on to the teachers desk and eventually back to mine with a big fat A on it.

High school was also a place where I was considered socially awkward. That is, until I found Holly.

Holly scooped me up and took me under her wing sophomore year. She said that at first, she wanted me as her tutor, but she grew to like me. We've been best friends ever since.

As for Columbia, I had to work really hard, and by then, I was done with school. I wanted to get out into the real working world. I had long nights of studying, and days of classes with little or no sleep. It was pretty bad at the time, I felt like at one single moment I finally could not function anymore.

Now, a working girl with my dream job, I find myself bored to tears most of the time. I love the overall concept, just like I did with college. However its the little moments when you find yourself sitting at your desk putting off working because you just can build up the energy or the drive to do it.

That's why I was so grateful at the 978 area code popped up on my phone Monday at work. Mom.

"Elle, how are you sweetheart?"

"Hi Mom, I'm good," I answered, comforted and a bit homesick from hearing her voice.

"Are you sure? Are you eating okay? How's work?" She rushed. My mom was a worrier. She was very skeptical about sending me to New York. I'm the baby of the family, so I guess I can't blame her.

"Yes mom I'm fine. Work is great. I've been eating out more than I should, but I eat regularly if that's what you're asking."

"Is Holly still setting you up on all those dates?"

"No." I got mad at Holly after a particularly bad date and called my mom to vent. Bad idea. She asks about it all the time now. I debated telling her about Hollis, but I didn't want to be bombarded with questions while I was at work.

"Okay, sorry Elle. I just worry, that's all."

"Mom, it's fine. I'll call you tomorrow,okay?

"Okay bye Elle."

I rested my head in my hand and fought off a wave of longing to go home. I had been thinking about it for awhile now, but I can't leave everything that I have here also. I guess it's just my impulsive side. Like the part of me that disobeyed my parents and moved to New York for college and stayed.

I breezed through the rest of the day, and put off any homesick feelings by burying myself in work that needed to be done for the DOC which was quickly approaching.

It was starting to get a little colder outside now that it was September. All the kids were back in school, so there was less of them playing on the sidewalks and in the basketball courts a block down from my office.

The leaves on the trees were a slight orange and yellow as I passed the park. There were very few people on the lawn, but still a few, holding on to the last days of summer.

The signs of fall were evident all around me and I was just starting to recognise them, the light jackets worn by the people passing by me. The scents of gingerbread and pumpkin spice radiating from coffee shops and candle stores. 

The decorations on light posts in the promanade by my building change from a clear blue and green to a warm brown and red.

I was happy that the seasons were changing. Fall was my favorite. All the signs, the cold weather, the warm food and drinks, the heavy layering, was all predisposing me to a lazy winter, with Christmas and my birthday. 

I jogged up the stairs to my apartment and turned the key in the lock. I opened the door slowly, making sure Jenna wasn't out and about in the kitchen or the living room. 

The coast was clear, so I made myself a quick dinner and ate it before retreating to my bedroom for the night. 

I don't remember falling asleep, but I remember being jolted awake in the middle of the night by a noise from the living room. I knew it wasn't Jenna, because she had been staying somewhere else more often than not, and I normally hear her come in seeing she slams the door.

I got up slowly, careful not to make any noise, and grabbed a high heel from my closet. I tip toed slowly and opened my door a sliver.

I heard a few more footsteps, and they abruptly stopped, I held my breath, hoping the intruder didn't see me. The footsteps continued and I heard the springs of the couch creak as someone sat on it.

The couch faced away from my door so I took the opportunity to open my door enough so that I could almost silently slip out of my room and into the same room as the perpetrator.

I heard a shift on the couch and watched a shadow of a head move in the darkness. My heartbeat sped up and I froze in my place. 

I gained the courage to take the last few steps toward the lamp. I counted to three and turned on the lamp, ready to strike with the point of my high heel.

I watched the intruder turn around in the light and my heart stopped.

"HOLLIS!" I yelled and fell into his lap, gripping him hard. He smiled at me and I kissed his cheek, realizing how much I'd missed him. 

"I thought you were breaking into my house!" I gasped, out of breath from my little scare.

"I noticed," he said, pointing to the heel in my hand. I chucked it on the floor and smiled, glad to hear his voice.

"Mmm, I missed you so much, but what are you doing here?" I asked, snuggling further into him.

"The door was unlocked, I wanted to be here when you woke up."

"That's really sweet, but you scared me half to death." I laughed.

"Yeah, it wasn't a well thought out plan." He said, rubbing his jaw, pretending to be in deep thought.

"How was the trip, catch anything good?"

"Eh, it was okay. I'm just glad to be back. My dad also kept asking me about my recent 'catch'" He nodded in my direction.

"So I'm a catch?" I asked, curious.

"Of course, Hun."

He kissed me, and I fell into him, smiling against his lips. He held me for a long while before I finally asked him if he wanted to come to bed. He gladly agreed.

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Yay. He's back!

Things are soo peachy(:

But just you wait...Muhahaha

-Abbey

P.S. Hi Lindsey.