Chapter 4

• I snuggled up a bit more, holding onto the sheets for as long as possible because I knew what was about to happen. My fabric refuges didn't last five seconds. The annoying ringtone of my phone started echoing through the room. I picked it up from the bedside table and brought it to my ear while still lying down with my eyes closed.
• "Hello..."
• "Samantha, it's eleven in the morning. Are you still in bed?" My mother's voice made me jump up and get out of bed.
• "No."
• "I told you, just because you don't live under my roof anymore doesn't mean you can ignore my rules."
• I wanted to contradict her. Tell her that I'm 18 years old now and legally I can do whatever I want, but it would lead to another argument, and I'm not in the mood for that. According to her rules, I should have been up four hours ago.
• "I know, Mom. I'm sorry. I was up late unpacking my things here, and I was exhausted," I heard her let out a big sigh as I squinted my eyes.
• "It's fine. I don't want it to happen again."
• If it does, you'll never know.
• "I'll know, Samantha."
• As I brought the phone to my ear, I went to the closet to find something to wear. "Tell me what happened with your stepfather's sister. Diego told me she didn't come to meet you, but he's still glad you're at his house."
• Sure, of course, he doesn't believe it either.
• "As soon as I arrived, she left, and we didn't talk," I heard another sigh from her side. "Anyway, it's not a big deal. I didn't really feel like talking to her, and you know what? She's not really my aunt, you know that."
• "Stop with that ungrateful attitude. She's letting you stay in her house, and I don't like the way you're talking about her. Besides, she is your aunt," my mother's complaining voice was already getting on my nerves. Luckily, someone knocked on the door, interrupting my mother's scolding.
• "Mom, someone's at the door. I have to go," I hung up without even letting her say goodbye. I'm not in the mood to argue or even talk with her.
• I grabbed a pair of jeans and a t-shirt from the closet and hurriedly put them on. The noise at the door grew louder.
• "I'm coming!" I shouted, but the noise continued, this time faster and more constant, and it was making me hysterical.
• When I finished putting on the jeans, I got up and quickly walked to the door. "What?!"
• "I see you're in a good mood in the mornings," Nick said sarcastically.
• I don't know what I would have preferred, to keep talking to my mother and hear her scolding or to stay here looking at Nick in front of my door, arms crossed, and a sour face. I knew nothing good was going to happen.
• "Delighted, especially when I love hearing the door being knocked like a woodpecker," I crossed my arms just like him and lowered my gaze to my shirt. He lifted the corner of his lip and looked at me again.
• "Besides waking up delighted, do you also like wearing your clothes inside out in the mornings?" He pointed out, and I looked at my shirt. I had it on inside out. Nick was about to burst out laughing. I turned around, embarrassed, and entered the closet. I felt the heat rise to my cheeks, not from embarrassment but because the idiot had gotten on my nerves in just five minutes of being in my presence.
• "What do you need, Nick?" I asked while taking off the shirt and putting it on with force.
• "I don't need anything, and I'm not here of my own free will."
• "How kind of you."
• I looked at what Nick was wearing for a moment and was stunned. He had on a tight white t-shirt on his big torso and a jacket over it. He looked even better than yesterday, and I have to admit that the bad boy look suits him well. I was never attracted to those things in guys, but Nick's physique fits perfectly.
• "Thanks. I'm glad to see you're checking out how I woke up," I said coming out of the closet.
• "You look better now. At least now you don't look like an idiot," he said referring to my shirt. I took a deep breath. He just wants to provoke me, and I won't let him.
• "Olivia told me to take you to the University to check it out and get familiar or whatever she said."
• "I'm not going anywhere with someone who calls me an idiot," I said, showing him the door to leave. He didn't.
• "I don't know who made you think that disrespecting people would get you somewhere. Now, please, leave," I took the brush from the nightstand and started brushing my hair when I heard the door close. I let out a sigh of relief when the door opened again, and this time, I heard high heels on the floor of my room.
• "Why don't you want to go out with Nick?" Olivia suddenly asked, as if I had offended her, her house, and her entire life.
• A million excuses ran through my mind, like "your nephew is rude" or "I don't like obnoxious people," but I chose the one that would allow me to stay here. "I'd rather not go out today. I'm tired."
• Olivia shook her head, closing her eyes tightly and putting her thumb and index finger on the bridge of her nose, expressing exaggerated displeasure. "I thought you two would get along. You were inseparable as kids, and now this? I can't believe it."
• I knew she was acting. I knew everything was a play for me to accept. My mother did the same thing; that's why they get along so well.
• "Okay, give me a minute, and I'll be down soon," I indicated, and she smiled radiantly. She left my room. I thought about going down and rejecting her offer again since she has no interest in being with me, but the truth is, I want to see the university. It's not the same to see it in pictures as it is to see it in person.
• I quickly took a bath, brushed my teeth, dressed, and went to the living room. As I descended the stairs, I could hear Nick talking on the phone.
• "Yes, I'll do it," he whispered. "Don't you know me?" he added.
• I made noise with a step, and he turned to look at me. "Did you hear something?" he asked accusingly.
• "No, I was just coming down the stairs, and I happened to hear you. It wasn't intentional," I wasn't sure what else to say, and it's not entirely false. Next time, before coming down, I'll send him a registered letter to see if he approves.
• He ignored my joke and approached dangerously. "Did you hear anything?" he asked in an accusatory tone.
• "No, I just heard you say you'd do something," Nick continued to stare at me to see if he could find a hint of a lie in my eyes. I realized he couldn't because he turned around and grabbed his keys.
• "Are we going?" Nick left the house, and I followed him.
• We arrived at a white convertible parked in front of Olivia's house. "Is this your car?" I asked surprised. It was beautiful.
• "Yes, now stop drooling and get in," I glared at him, and he smiled. I got into the car and slammed the door shut.
• "Hey! Be careful."
• "Oh, sorry, it wasn't intentional," my innocent expression didn't convince him, and he looked at me with hatred as he got into the car.
• He touched me. "Next time, I won't let it pass," he warned as he started the car. I let out a giggle.
• "What are you going to do, throw me out of the car?"
• He shrugged. "Could be. I don't think you want to find out," Nick didn't look at me and kept his eyes on the road.
• "I'm not afraid of you, Nick," I asserted.
• "Well, you should be," he said, tightening his grip on the steering wheel until his knuckles turned white.
• I closed my mouth and started playing with the ring on my index finger. I didn't want to continue with this useless conversation.
• During the next ten minutes of driving, neither of us said anything. In the distance, I saw a giant building with a red flag on top with the letter "L" in the center. I knew it was my university, and I couldn't help but smile.
• When Nick stopped the car in front of the university, I got out and hurried to get closer to the building. It was beautiful.
• I crossed the entrance of the campus and couldn't help feeling small. Those brick buildings and those hectares of land were gigantic.
• This university looked nothing like the photos I had seen on the internet. Seeing it here, in person, was even better. The photos on the website didn't compare to this.
• I continued my way until I reached the university gates and peeked a bit inside. It was also incredibly impressive inside and out.
• "What are you doing here?" a man roared. His voice startled me, and I flinched a bit. He was a burly man, very tall, and he was wearing a uniform. I realized he was the campus security guard.
• "I'm sorry. I thought we could come in to see the campus," I pointed at Nick, and I saw him burst out laughing. I glared at him, annoyed. Didn't he realize they could arrest us?
• "And Griffin?" Nick asked the man.
• "Nick, you know you can't just come in here whenever you please. You're going to get me into trouble, kid," the guard begged Nick while rubbing his forehead.
• "I don't want to get you in trouble, Griffin. I just wanted to show my stepsister the campus. It's her first year here," Nick informed him, putting his arm around my shoulder.
• "Okay, but please, can you leave now?" The man stiffened, and Nick nodded.
• "We're leaving," Nick still with his arm around my shoulder walked past Griffin and patted him on the back. See you, Griffin.
• Nick hugged me until we reached the car. He let go of me and went to the driver's side.
• Although the visit was brief, it was more than I expected. I thought if Nick and I were together for more than ten minutes, one of us would end up killing the other.
• We didn't say anything during the entire drive, and when we arrived home, he threw the keys on the table next to the door and ran to his room. I heard him close the door a bit... too loudly. I sat on the sofa, letting all my worries fall with me.
• It wasn't that bad.
• But still, I'm an idiot.