Chapter 7

• It's been over a week since I arrived in England. Since I went out with Nick to see the university, I haven't left the house at all, except when Olivia told me to check the mailbox. I'd love to explore the place a bit, but it doesn't make sense to do it alone. I hoped Olivia would take the time to accompany me, but I rarely saw her.
• The only thing on my schedule so far was waiting for my mother's call every day at four in the afternoon. I'm always eagerly waiting for her call because it's the most exciting thing that happens to me during the day, and not talking to anyone is driving me crazy! Yesterday, when I came out of the bathroom, I started talking to myself in front of the mirror about how to take care of my hair. Talking to myself isn't a good sign of sanity.
• I'm lying on the bed, staring at the blue-painted ceiling, wondering if my mom will ask me about Nick again. I told her everything was fine, that we got along well and talked a lot so she wouldn't pester me. The truth was very different; I rarely talk to Nick, and when I do, he doesn't respond, he just turns away and walks off.
• I don't know what to do to get him to talk to me. I want to learn to get along with him; it's my only way not to be alone while I explore the city, but how?
• Last night, I dreamed about the day when I was little, and he bandaged my leg. He was worried about me, and I know he was saddened to see me cry. I still partly think that was the reason for the kiss; he wanted me to stop crying.
• I need to talk to him, understand what triggered him to treat me with such contempt. The reality was that I didn't care if he ignored me; we had been friends for a long time, and we didn't have to get along, but here it's different... He looked at me with anger, as if I had committed a heinous crime. What could I have done to him during this time? Does he hate me for entering his room? Or just for the simple fact of intruding on his home?
• I didn't want to have these questions in my head all day. I wanted answers, or I would leave, simple; I wouldn't stay in a place where I'm not wanted. I got up and headed for the door until my phone started vibrating in my pocket. It was my mother; I answered right away.
• "I'll call you later."
• I opened my room's door. I approached Nick's door and knocked three times quite loudly, waited for a while, but no response...
• "Come on, Nick, I know you're in there," I assured him, shouting, knowing his aunt wasn't home. "I need to talk to you," still no response. "It's very important!"
• Immediately he came out of the room and looked at me with a concerned expression on his face. He examined me from head to toe.
• "Did you hurt yourself again?"
• I remembered the blisters that had appeared on my hand and foot.
• "I just need to talk to you," I said, exhaling a breath I had been holding.
• "Don't ever do that again," he said, looking at the ground. He seemed angry, but he didn't look at me.
• "I wouldn't have done it if you bothered to open the door," I questioned angrily. Nick looked at me this time and came closer to me; I didn't move.
• "Sam, learn to read between the lines, because I've been giving you hints since you arrived. Stay away from me," clarified Nick. That was the last straw.
• He entered his room, but before he closed the door in my face, I stopped it with my hand and entered the room. He's going to listen to me whether he likes it or not.
• "Get out! Now!" he ordered, pointing outside his room with the door open and his eyes finally looking at me.
• "Look, if you don't want me here, I'll leave until they fix your apartment. Every time you pass by me, it's like you can't stand me. I can't live with someone who hates me. Why do you do this? I can't explain it; I don't understand it, but if that's how things are going to be, I'd rather leave."
• He fell silent for a few seconds until he decided to take a deep breath and walk around the room, running his hand through his beautiful hair, upset.
• "It's not your fault, it's not you, it's me. I'm sorry if I made you feel that way, but... It can't be any other way. You don't understand, but believe me when I tell you that you have to let it go," he said as if it should be some kind of revelation to me. The anger that had been present in his eyes was surprising.
• "Then what is it, what reason do you have to hate me if it's not me? I haven't seen you in years, and suddenly, you can't stand me. It's only natural that I'm angry in this situation."
• I didn't want to bring up the topic, but he didn't leave me any other choice.
• Nick looked into my eyes and abruptly came closer to me; we were even closer than five minutes ago. What was he doing, trying to make me feel attracted to him?
• "Then why aren't you?" he almost whispered. His eyes were looking into mine so closely that I was doing the same.
• "Why am I not what?"
• "Angry, if you know what happened years ago, why are you still here with me?"
• "Because I've already forgotten it, you should do the same," I tried to show indifference. He stepped back from me and ran his hand through his hair. He was frustrated. He looked at me and laughed, but there was no humor in that smile.
• "You're right, I should forget it. I'll start now; now leave," he said, pointing to the door.
• Well, I'll have to use my savings for temporary accommodation, great, everything's going according to the plan I had when I came here.
• "Don't get me wrong..." he began to say just before closing the door of his room behind me. "I don't want you to leave the house, just my room."
• Was he joking? I couldn't deal with this. He was playing with my patience; he can't be such a jerk.
• "No, I'm leaving. Thanks for the condescension, but I don't need it. See you, Nick," I closed his door behind me, and immediately he opened it again, lightly grabbing my wrist to get my attention.
• Was he trembling from the nerves caused by the contact of his skin with mine? Yes, he was definitely trembling, and I felt hot, very hot.
• "Tell me what you want so you won't leave, please," he pleaded. He seemed defeated, but I still couldn't believe everything I was seeing and hearing. I don't know why I have a feeling that he'll laugh at me later. It would be the most sensible thing.
• "There's no need for this, Nick..."
• "Tell me," he said very seriously.
• Well, I'll say it. "I want you to talk to me and stop looking at me like I'm a plague, if it's not too much to ask."
• He nodded and let go of my wrist. "I will."
• Well, since we're at it, I could take advantage of the fact that he's now tamed and go out of the house to see the city. "Also, it wouldn't hurt if you showed me around the city, and we could go out together sometime. I'm tired of being locked up here, and we could try to change the shitty perception you have of me."
• I didn't wait for his response; I turned around to go back to my room, and before crossing the threshold, Nick took hold of my arm, and I turned to look at him.
• "Okay," he simply said.
• "Okay, what?"
• "Let's go, tomorrow at five. I'll take you to explore the city," I couldn't help but raise the corner of my lips.
• "Agreed. Thanks."
• I quickly walked back to my room. I couldn't help but smile and lie on the bed; I'm finally getting out of here; I was going crazy, I was even about to invent an imaginary friend... His name was going to be Oscar.
• Nick was kind to me, tender, and... I went over our entire interaction, and yes, I blushed. My heart suddenly started beating fast; what's going on?