The One That Was Once MINE

Chapter 4

I walk up the stairs feeling tired as hell, it was such a long day.
My mom always says 'When you complain, you make yourself a victim.
Leave the situation, change the situation, or accept it. All else is madness.'
Crap I miss her.

I pull my keys from the bag as I get to our floor, and I'm shockingly met by the same chocolate brown eyes I delivered to the cab this morning,
"Hey, Annika is it?" He says standing up dusting off his pants, he was sitting on the stairs, ...waiting for me?
"Not drunk anymore huh?" Wiggling my eyebrows, trying to joke around but he has that shy smile and sorry look in his eyes.
"I'm here to thank you for today, it was quite a night for me, I dont think I would've gotten home if it wasn't for you."
"No worries, just happy you got home safe." I'm really glad he got home safe, getting intoxicated to that extent is a crazy experience.
"Umm how did you get my address?" I laugh, honestly I feel a bit creeped out by it.
"Oh, you told my step-sister, Natasha about it? You were sitting with her yesterday.."

ohhhh so that makes a lot of sense, Yes Anne give your address to a girl you just met, yes good girl drunk Anne.
"Ahh yes, so she's your sister?"
"Step-sister." He is quick to correct, well that means they aren't quite close or he's not really ok with his step-mother.
"Umm would you like to come in? We have some Chinese food coming." I awkwardly invite him in.
"We?" He asks, raising a confused brow at me.

"I live with ginger, By the way her name is Allie."
I wink and continue, "She'll be fuming if she hears you calling her ginger." I whisper and he laughs.
Finally, this breaks the ice.
He has a joyous, rollicking, contagious laugh.
His eyes squint and his hair falls on his eyes, I could watch him laugh all day.

The door opens slowly, making a loud screeching sound, which makes us both turn, facing a confused Allie.
She quickly opens the door and smiles, "Why are you standing out here? Please come in." She rushes to be the kind, gracious, welcoming person she is.
Arabs are like that, welcoming strangers into their house, and being very nice to them.
It isn't the safest thing, but they can't help it, they have been raised to do that since childhood.

Nate smiles and enters, I'm quick to follow.
Allie winks at me flirtatiously, I bet what she wants to say 'Who is this beauty'
I shake my head vigorously, Please Al dont embarrass me.
What a night its going to be.....
Nate sits on our messy couch, the apartment is so messed up.
But looking at the bright side, Al cleaned the vomit, or it wouldnt have been such a pleasant view to look at.

"So you work at O'briens?"
I nod my head, "And so does Allie." I point a finger at her and she smiles.
Allie is so confused, not knowing who this guy is, and why he's here.
"Allie this is Nate, I met him or more precisely bumped into him yesterday at the bonfire." I finally say, chuckling ,coming back to my senses,
"Oh you go to UC?"
"Nah I was there with friends, I study architecture at Woodbury's."
"THE Woodbury?" Allie gapes and Nate nods.
"We are not loaded or anything, my Dad just works there and he managed to get me a scholarship."
He quickly explains.
We nod our heads, that completely makes sense, all professors working at Woodbury have a student scholarship there.
Conversation continues.

We talk about everything , including our families, friends, jobs, we tell Nate all about how we moved here and our plans.
He is such a good listener, nodding his head from time to time and smiling kindly.
Bell rings, "That must be the food." I say standing up to get to the door, and oh no...

Its not the food.

"Allie it's for you." I call over my shoulder, Allie carries a confused look, which is shortly replaced by surprise,
"Mother?"