The Guardian

Chapter Twenty-Six

"What did you think of Seth?" asked Julianna as she walked back into Allyson's office.

"I thought he was nice. He was looking for a roommate when you told him that you were looking for a place to stay?"

"Yes. He said it was serendipitous. He was about to put an ad in the paper, but if I was interested he would just rent the room to me."

"How much will he charge?" She opened her drawer and took out a vial of medication, and handed the vial to Julianna. Julianna took one of the tablets and put it under her tongue.

"He said one hundred and fifty per month", she said a second later, after the medication had dissolved. "I told him that it was too little, especially considering that it includes food, but he told me that he wasn't looking for the money. He was looking instead for someone to share some space with him. He said that he's lonely."

Allyson put the medication container back in her drawer and took out the tube of antibiotic cream. She handed the tube to Julianna and a tissue to wipe her hands with afterwards. "I don't know. I'd hate for him to be taking advantage of you. It just seems like too much of a coincidence that he was looking for a roommate at the same time as you found out that you were looking for a room."

"I know, and I was worried about that as well. But I like him, and Michael thought that it was a good solution. He said that moving in with Seth was a good idea, partly because he already knows about my cutting and would be able to help me with that."

"How will you react if Seth is interested in you in a romantic way? You're a beautiful woman. I'm concerned. He's twenty-five years old."

"I know, and I know that seven-year difference is a lot of years. If I was thirty, it wouldn't be such a big deal. But I'm not. Having said that, I think I can trust him not to take advantage of me. Michael trusts him, and that's a great endorsement."

"I suppose so. He looks at you like you're important to him. And that worries me. You just met him."

"I know I did, but he's already important to me. I can't describe it. When I'm with him, I feel like he completes me." She transferred her elastic to her other wrist and spread a thin layer of ointment on her abrasions. She capped the medication again and handed the tube back to Allyson. She ensured that her whole sore was covered by the cream and wiped her fingers off on the tissue.

"I'm worried for your sake. I think you could have your heart broken by this guy. He's twenty-five and you're just seventeen. I'd expect for you to have your head turned by him."

She sighed. She had been worried about Allyson's reaction after seeing how quiet she was at dinner. "I'm almost eighteen. But what if he likes me as much as I like him?"

Allyson, worried, said, "what if he doesn't? You'll be living there with him, sharing space. It would be easy for you to fall in love with him."

A brief burst of anger washed over Julianna, and she struggled to keep her calm. "And maybe it would be easy for him to fall in love with me."

Allyson patted her hand. "That's what I'm worried about. You're so young. You've never had a boyfriend before. I don't think the person for you to start with should be a person who is working full time as a doctor. Something isn't right with the situation. Now, I can't tell you what to do. I can just guide you. However, I think you should move very carefully. I don't want your heart to get broken. You've been through so much."

While Julianna was happy that Allyson was as protective as she was, she also didn't think Allyson was considering the bind she had put Julianna in. "I understand, but I only have a week to find out about a place. This is perfect. And Michael is supportive of me moving in with Seth."