Conbellia

Chapter 4

I open the door and immediately move a few steps back in shock. There, in front of me, is standing a boy with brown eyes, short brown hair and tan skin. He is not too thin but he's not fat, instead what makes the impression of him having a fuller body, are muscles. Lots of them. I bet he'd be able to throw me in the air with one arm. I push my own waist-long brown hair over my right shoulder. Brown hair and eyes is probably the only thing we have in common. My skin is white and my cheeks don't show the slightest hint of red like other girls'.
"Hey" he says. And even though you wouldn't expect it from a guy like him, he smiles.
"Hi" I reply. I can't help looking at his beautiful arms. I smile back and probably make the impresion of a silly 10-year-old-boy-obsessed girl.
"I'm Jeremiah" he says "and you must be Jeanine?"
Jeremiah Damer. Of course I know who he is. I've seen him a thousand times on television, fighting for sports in the big arena in our town, I saw him in his family's car (in our town we only have electric cars) and maybe once or twice in passing, at school. After all, he's just one year older than me. All the girls always had a crush on him. He never even so much as looked at one of them. I didn't pay much attention to boys. There weren't cool ones in my class and I want very interested in that topic either. I'm  this typical girl who had just As in all subjects and who loves to read. As far as I know, my feeling towards boys was mutual.
"Do you like it?"
"Huh?" I look at him, startled.
He let's out a small laugh. "The room" he says. "Do you like it?"
"I've never seen anything like this before. It's... kinda huge" this time I let out a small laugh. I wonder how close to the surface my nervousness is. "I might need some time to adjust but it's beautiful."
I notice him looking at me. I stare at the floor. I'm not the kind of girl he's been expecting. I'm simple, from a middle class family. For the first time on my life I find myself wishing my parents had got higher ranks.
"Hey" he touches my arm. "What is it?"
I shake my head. I feel my eyes fill with water.
No. No. No. Don't cry. Jeanine. Stop. Now.
I try so hard to push it down. A single ter rolls down my cheek. I can't remember when I cried the last time. Now he'll think I'm weak. "I, it's just... maybe you should give me some time... an hour or so. I'm just not ready yet. It's been happening so abruptly. I didn't even get the time for a proper goodbye. I'm sorry. I'll..."
"Don't" he ushers me to my bed. Softly he wipes the tear off my cheek. "Hey, don't pressure yourself. I can't imagine what you're going through. People think of me as strong, ready to win every fight. But that's maybe all I have. I don't know what I'd do if I was you. A lot of people would break down. You didn't. I've seen you at school Jeanine. Your parents might just be Office-Workers but that doesn't mean you're not special. Because you are. Not just because you're a Conbellia. You've always been different from the other girls. You'll make it through this. And I'll make sure you won't end up as some nasty servant." I can't help but laugh at his last words. "I'll teach you fighting, some dance moves and a bit of leading. Mr Lane will teach you most of the leading part and Miss Courney will be your entertainment teacher. The last subject is Hunting. I'll do a part of that too but mostly it'll be Jake Ramen. And now I'll show you around the house." His eyes meet mine and suddenly I believe that I'll make it. He's right. I won't give up. Not now.