Chapter Three | Letting go

T h r e e

"Sorry about the mess," Rafael gestured to the grey painted medium sized kitchen Island, standing in front of her while she sat on the counter biting into an apple.

"Nah, it's okay," She continued to chew on her apple. Quite frankly, she was too hungry to care about anything else.

"You will get through this as you will enjoy your stay here, I'll make sure of that." He gave her a small smile that somehow enhanced his looks, and she gulped, oh God! so many hot boys in the house, it should be illegal to be around them!

Sadly, whether they're off-limits or not, she felt it'll be way too awkward to date either of them when they'll practically be living in the same house. So her official rule number 1 was: No dating the housemates! "Let's get you to your new room, shall we?"

She got off the counter letting him lead her, but stopped by the doorway, "Why are you doing this for me Rafael? I'm sure it's more than those stupid words I blurted out for you."

He turned to face her, "It isn't in me of resisting helping out someone in need. Don't ponder much about it, what matters is that you're here, having a roof over your head for as long as you want it." He smiled.

Smiling back, she said, "Thanks, I can't repay you enough for your kindness, Rafael."

They exited the kitchen and went to where her stuff was. Rafael took most of it while she helped with the remaining, as soon as she slung one of the bags, Julian hurried towards her.

"It is unacceptable for you to carry that much load on your beautiful, fragile shoulders when a hunk like me is in the house." Julian boosted and Riley rolled his eyes, typing on his phone. Anna laughed at his statement, he wasn't much of a hunk really, his height alone complimented his slightly muscled arms.

She let him take the weight off her shoulders. Only Riley stayed behind, but somehow she noticed that his face wasn't as hardened as few moments back, she hope they all get along because the last thing she needed was any sort of drama.

"Welcome to your new room, m'lady!" Julian announced, bowing, and it was classically unruffled, it brought a smile to her face and Rafael snorted, brushing past her and she, stood by the door not moving an inch until she felt a slight touch of Julian hand on her arm motioning her to get inside.

The room was cozy, but with a dark theme. The only thing, she noticed, in the room that seemed right was the light brown paint, other than that, a bunch of ugly posters and ridiculous bed sheets of green and orange made the whole decoration so off.

Deeper into the room just by the window covered with maroon drapes, stood a book-shelve almost twice the height of the desk, a chair was absent, but when she glanced beside the nightstand, it stood there carelessly with an open book flat down on it.

Her overall conclusion was that the room was a serious mess, clothes and books were all around the place and completely not in order. Besides that, the room had a faint masculine scent that smells like the mixture of cologne, aftershave and something she couldn't quite decipher.

"No offense, but are you guys usually this messy?" She folded her arms across her chest studying the two guys standing in front of her. They glanced at each other and just shrugged.

"Well, I used to keep the house in order, but give them an hour and they'll make the place messier than before, so I said to myself, 'Why waste my energy on these bastards when all they know how to do is destroy?'" Rafael explained and she laughed.

"If I'm staying in this room, then why am I seeing guys' stuff all over the place."

"That's because you'll be sharing the room with the owner of the room." Julian explained, grinning from ear to ear. His light brown eyes was filled with mischief, with a streak of amusement in his voice.

She raised an eyebrow, "Riley?"

"Dimitri Hunter." The guys said at the same time.

"Thank God," She sighed, flopping on the bed not even bothering to remove her boots. Just a little longer, she told herself. It had been a rough long ass day. To say she was exhausted will be an understatement. "The guy doesn't like me much."

"How is it remotely possible to not like you, I mean look at you!"

"Back off Julian, if you don't stop hitting on her I'm telling Samantha about your little misbehaviour."

Julian grumbled with a glare. "Spare me the agony of trying to deal that woman's rant and rave, I beg of you."

"Then get out!"

"On my way!" He snapped, stalking away muttering something about stupid housemates and fun-poopers.

"He's one of a kind." She said, and then smiled when Rafael told her that he'd have to keep a closer eye on his behaviour towards her, and that she shouldn't be swayed by his looks and flirtatiousness because the only heart he managed to not break in 3 months happens to be his current love interest: Samantha.

Oh, but with her, he needn't worry, is what she wanted to tell him instead, pushing herself up, she shot him a casual question. "So basically this Dimitri guy is my roommate, yes?"

Because Dimitri was her current interest, not in love, goodness no, merely to get a bit of facts about the guy she'd be living with.

Rafael nodded, leaning his back against the wall, and crossing his arms across his broad chest, "Is that alright with you?" He scratched the back of his neck. "We don't have any spare room, if not, I promise Anna that it wouldn't have been so."

She grinned at his sweet concern, letting out a casual shrug, "I guess it's fine, but what about sleeping arrangements?" Out of all necessary questions, sleep was the first thing that came to her mind, she loves sleep, big deal! And sharing such a hobby with a complete stranger doesn't appeal her, what if he's so huge and snores and, and...

She glanced at the bed, it was pretty big but still. Besides, being the only child, she'd never had a reason to share a room or a bed with anyone.

"It's a twin bed, you can push them as far apart as you're comfortable with, the en suite has a key, so you can lock it anytime you're in, and finally, there's a walk-in closet besides this mini wardrobe because Dimitri is the Fashionista among us, he owns more clothes than your average clothes Shopaholic."

A guy who literally worships fashion, gay much? She mentally slapped herself, as if that was any of her business, but that'll be a plus side to her, right? For physical and emotional protection, or whatever.

"Thanks for the info Rafael, I'm sure they'll come in handy." She thought for a second, "But why, if I may ask, don't I see this mysterious and stranger roommate of mine around."

"Oh, he's at his mother's, expect to meet him anytime tomorrow."

"I'm looking forward to it, I guess." She decided.

To which he beamed. "Good night, Anna."

"Nighty night." She waved at him, watching him open and close the door behind him after letting himself out.

She flopped herself on the bed in a force that made the bed bounce a little. She wasn't separating the beds tonight, she was enjoying the big, spacious bed. And somehow she finds herself hugging one of the floppy pillows and inhaling it.

Whoever this Dimitri is, has a fine smell that she just might get addicted to. She hugged the pillow close to her tighter, as though it held the magic of the comfort and warmth she needed and maybe it did, because before long, she drifted into a kind of sleep she hadn't had since her usual spat with her father skyrocketed, making her come back home late at night so they don't have to meet face to face thinking that he'd want that, but it only made things worse.

Somehow, she always did feel it in her bones that their time together was coming to an end, she just wasn't financially ready to make a move. But what did he care? He did what he wanted.

Anna had decided on one thing before she gives in to full unconsciousness: She will demolish her past, and then they'll be no choice but to move forward.

Yes, she will.

***