Winter girlfriend. h.s.

Part Eleven

h.s.

The time passed slowly in the car ride and still feels like it's perfectly cozy. In no time we are close to the apartment and I ask. "How do you plan to continue your studies if you're going to be with me during the winter?" With the end of my eye I saw her get stiff and uncomfortable by my words. I turn to right and enter one of the streets. She sighed and answered " I talked to my professors and we agreed on having an hour or two per week over Skype for me to get the basic information on what I need to do and that I needed to email my assignments by certain dates." I nodded. "And for the next semester I shall not take any courses but I'll be working on campus as a mentor to freshman and it would help me finish my debts." She continue saying and looked ahead on the road. I look around and realize that we've been followed. So I decided to have some fun. I took the longest ride practically going in circles until I called the reception of the apartment. When they answer I told them my situation in which they already know what to do, I end up the call and direct myself to Beth.

"Don't get scared, or stressed." She looked at me unsure of what to say. "We've been followed and this is a normal thing for me. Don't worry, you have to trust me like you haven't trust anyone else." Her face when pale and she nodded. "Okay when I tell you to get out and change or car you're going to enter the car just like this one that's going to get you to the apartment without being noticed." "How? Aren't there going to be anyone back at the building?" She asks a bit confused. "Yes, there'll be there. But you are going to enter as someone who lives there. And you do; but they don't know it's with me." She leans her head to the right questionably and I continue. "You see... I'm not the only one with this car model on the building. They'll think is me and as soon as they see the serial numbers on the license plate they will realize that is not me and that will not exposure this early." She sighed and agreed to it understanding. We still being followed and I start driving like mad until I hit I tunnel and is to the car at the very end of it and tell her to change cars. She did and I made sure she has my keys and she gets into the car safely. Once that happens I drive away. I don't know where I'm going but I'll make sure there's enough time so that they give up on me.

My thoughts turn into silence as I approach a well known hill top in which not many people are aloud. I park the car and get off. I walk until there's not going up anymore. I sit on a small bench and look ahead. The cold is visible from my breathing. A small smile creep on my lips as the nostalgic memory of Gemma and I playing on the swings one early winter afternoon. And this is when I realize once again that I miss her.

I take out my phone and scroll into my contact list and hit call on her name. I press the phone against my ear and close my eyes. Ring after ring, I wait patiently for her to answer. But she doesn't. I sight and take all in me to call my mum.

She picks the phone very greatly. "Afternoon Anne speaks." I breath in listening to her voice. "Hi mum." I simply said. "Harry is that you?" She asks surprised. "Yes." I answer. "How are you love? We haven't seen you around in a while. I'm guessing you've been very busy." "I have." I interrupt her. "Oh well darling I hope you're not getting over worked." Mum says. "I miss you and I want to go home." I say breaking in tears. "Aw baby... Of course you can come! This will always be your home, we are your family and we can always fix things over dinner. We miss you a lot. More than what you think." My mum said crying just like I am. We are like that, we can't see or listen to the other cry, because we'll end up crying as well. "Thank you mum." I say.

"Now, remember to bring coats and boots for when you come, I'll be expecting you to bake your infamous blueberry muffins for breakfast and please don't torture yourself with another fake girlfriend." Mum says making me sigh. "This one is not fake mum." I say. "What ever you say Harry. Now I have to leave you because I'm about to burn the stew. Can you imagine... Me burning a stew! Heaven forbid. I love you Harry." "I love you mum" I said sniffing my nose and soon afterwards she hung's the phone.

I continue to look ahead and all I can think of is giving her a hug. She deserves it. Taking it all in feeling the cold against my face I dried the reminding tears on my face and close my eyes. My breathing begins to steady and my shoulders feel heavy. My mind begun to block sounds and old memories, but the last two days stuck on replay. I've forced a lady to not only become my girlfriend but to loose her family's trust because she won't be there for the holidays. She sacrifice her studies and hasn't run away. She's not scared of me, or infatuated either. She's herself and yet she adapted herself without much hesitation. She's strong and mind set yet naive and scared.

She was funny in a darker way. She's not a fan that's for sure. She's no longer a number. She has a face, a voice, a career on a making and a set of values. She knows how to combine and she reads people. She gives me options and she set rules straight. She prefers coffee, while I just like the smell.

She's not fake. The only fake thing about her is that she'll be my girlfriend. And at the end of the day I'll be haunted by her name.

Her.

She.

Beth. I jump at the thought of her name, opening my eyes and realizing it's already turning dark. I get up and stretch my arms and legs, I walk to the car and before entering I nodes to my reflection to make the most out of this 89 days of winter.