Room For Two ✔

thirteen

After four hours of lectures and classes my stomach grumbles in hunger. I stroll passed the other students in the passageways and finally enter the cafeteria doors. There are so many people in the cafeteria and I feel like I am not going to get food on time. I stand in the beeline for hamburgers when suddenly I feel a tap on my shoulder. I recognize the boy as Romeo.

"Hey Autumn." he waves. I wave back to him and grin, "Hi Romeo."

"I notice that you have been standing in that line for quite while now." he tells me.

I bob my head in agreement, "Is there a nearest fast food restaurant anywhere around here?"

"There is a KFC next to Starbucks just a block away. Come on, let us go. I am starving." Romeo's soft and gentle hand pulls me out of the cafeteria doors.

After a ten minute drive in Romeo's Audi we finally arrive at the shopping market that is surrounded by at least six fast-food restaurants and four coffee shops, including Starbucks. The both of us get out of the car and make our way to KFC as Romeo has promised we would. After ordering our food we get them and then enter Starbucks which is literary across from KFC. While we wait for our coffees Romeo and I sit quietly before he asks me if I have any siblings.

"Oh yes, I do. An annoying younger brother Eric. Since he is sixteen years old he thinks that he is an adult and can do anything he wants." I laugh when I tell Romeo who laughs as well.

He starts to explain to me, "I have an older sister Emilia. She ran away from home with her foreigner boyfriend back to his home country somewhere in South America."

My eyes widen in shock. I never would have thought that this conversation would take that turn. "What? That is so crazy!" -- I admit to Romeo. -- "So when last have you to spoken?"

"A couple of weeks ago. We Skype occasionally, but she says that she is coming back to Canada in a few weeks for Dad's movie premiere." Romeo shrugs casually and I soon become interested in his life.

"Hold on," I lift my index finger up. "Your dad is a director?"

He shakes his head and corrects, "He is an actor an an entrepreneur. I am sure you have heard of him or seen him in a couple of action movies. Morgan Hart."

"Oh yes! I have heard of him. My mom has a huge crush on him since his 90s days." I chortle as I shake my head in amusement.

"Wait so your parents are famous?" I ask rhetorically.

He nods, "As well as Nick's parents. Our parents have been best friends since they were very young."

"That is so cool. I used to dream of being an actress." I allege truthfully.

"So did I but I soon learnt that even being the son of two famous people is not relatively that easy." Romeo admits.

"But I am sure that besides the crazy paparazzi your Dad's movie premieres and your mom's tours and concerts are worth it." I suggest with a warm smile.

He rolls his eyes and gets forward to get his mocha latte and my hot chocolate at the front desk. He quickly thanks the girl behind the counter and pays for the coffees. Then he turns to me to reply saying, "Well of course those are fun. Especially the red carpets."

"So that is where I have seen you before!" my smile widens when I finally become more aware.

"I looked dazzling did I not?" he wiggles his eyebrows suggestively.

"Well of course you did." I laugh.

On our way out the door we bump into a young woman in a black pencil skirt and a white blouse. She looks very formal with her hair tied back. Due to the impact, the coffees in her hands tip over and spill on her blouse.

"I swear I am going to lose it if someone else spills their coffee on me after this!" she groans furiously.

I recognise her voice and look to see her face. "Ruth?" I say.

When she looks up her face lightens up and she smiles. Behind her stands a handsome man in a navy blue business suit. He does not look too pleased with her nor with me. His forest eyes darken when he shouts at Ruth, "Miss Lewis do you have to be so clumsy all the time!"

Ruth and I, as well as a couple of other people in the coffee store, flinch at his tone. How could he be so rude and disrespectful to Ruth in public! She has tears in her eyes but she does not let them fall. She fakes a smile on her face then apologizes to him.

Romeo nods at him, "Jared my man."

"Ah Hart. I never thought that I would see you here. Where is your friend, Payne?" the man in the suit smiles at Romeo, changing his whole mood in a split second. I swear all the men here are bipolar.

"I honestly do not even know. Are you and Tatum still working on that new suit line?" Romeo replies.

Jared agrees as he bobs his head and fixes the cuffs on his blazer, "Of course, Romeo. Oh and do tell Mr Hart that my father wants to meet up with him really soon."

"I will do so." Romeo agrees then he notices that Ruth and I are confused about how they both know each other.

"Autumn," Romeo turns to me and gestures to the man before us. "This is Jared Balmain. The son of Alister Balmain the founder of Balmain clothing line."

Then Romeo turns to him, the one and only Jared Balmain, and points at me. "And this, Jared, is my friend Autumn. Nick and her have something going on so back off,” both Jared and Romeo laugh at this.

I bite a smile back when Romeo calls me his 'friend.' I never would have thought that he sees me in that way. He is so hard to read, but I am glad he thinks we are friends. Mr Balmain looks at me, his once dark eyes gave changed into a brighter color. He grabs my hand and pulls it up to his lips. "It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance Miss Autumn."

"Oh it is a pleasure to meet you Mr Balmain. I absolutely love your father's works." I compliment to which he grins widely.

"Well Autumn and Romeo, I must get going for I have a meeting in about an hour that I have to prepare for." Jared alleges.

"You go do your thing, Mr Balmain." Romeo grins.

When Jared and Ruth leave, Ruth looks back at me one last time with a sad smile. Before she lets the door close after her and the two of them get into a black SUV.