Sabrina Ross

My mother grew very fond of him so I know she would be devastated if anything were to happen to him. I wouldn’t want to break her heart. My parents adopted Whiskers when we moved to the island, as a peace offering for moving again. My father was in the army so as a child it meant never getting attached to anyone—anywhere. Then as a teenager it was even worse.  I felt like a ghost walking the school halls, people barely spoke to me and I couldn’t bring myself to talk to them. Six months here twelve months in another place it was pointless.  Then when my father retired I was a year away from College, a new start. It’s been a little over a years since I had been to the house.  I spoke to my parents a few times a week, I just never went home. Most times I was able to convince them to come to the city for a visit and we would end up out for lunch or dinner, eventually end up at the market.  My mother loved antiques and there was a great store not far from the campus. Luckily while I house sat, my roommate Jeff, who is also my ex-boyfriend, promised to join me at my parent’s house in a couple of days.  Despite my mixed feelings about him, I’d rather be uncomfortable than scared.

Here’s the thing; Jeff and I met during our first year in college, we dated for a little over a year. It was amazing—he was amazing . . . until it ended rather abruptly. Long story short his mother hated me. He cheated on me because she set him up with one of her tea party wenches’ daughter, then mailed me an envelope revealing his deception which led to our break up.  It was pretty wicked of his mother to send photos of her son’s infidelity.  I swear she is the Devil’s wife. Eventually, after a long time, when time healed plenty of wounds, we became friends again. We still live together near campus with two other roommates, whom have also become great friends, Liz the girl from California, and Suzy the girl from Texas.  We were all looking for a place to live, something decent and close by. Typically, I would have preferred to live alone giving my life’s history however, my father just retired and the college I was attending was not cheap.  Apparently, fate had it so that we would all meet at the same time, a house next door to the campus. I agreed to split the rent and move in with the three of them.  Way out of my element of course. Roommates were never something I dealt with in the past. Being an only child and all, I never really had many friends either.  I was a loner, but I liked it that way, no one to hurt or disappoint me and vice versa. Jeff however, did catch my attention quickly; from his boyish good looks, perfectly manicured brown curls, intense blue eyes, and fabulously sculpted body.  Thankfully enough, we both felt the attraction and we both needed roommates or so he claimed. I was aware of the fact that this place was unaffordable for just the two of us. What I had not been aware of was that Jeff came from a wealthy and a well-known family. Technically he didn’t need a roommate but he lied just to talk to me.

Yes, he was romantic.

Once we signed the lease we posted a sign needing two other roommates and that was when we found, Liz and Suzy.  The house had four bedrooms, two and a half baths, kitchen, dining room and living room.  Interior was all dark hardwood floors, white walls and all the essentials for a decent place to live.  Each room was big enough for a double or single bed, desk and dresser. The house was renovated to have four separate rooms, with full bathrooms and walk in closets. The rest of the house was shared. It was refreshing to discover how well we all got along making it a stress-free transition; for me.  The house was a block from the campus. What more could anyone of us as for. Within the first month Jeff and I hooked up.  I was a little reluctant at first, but after a month together, the constant hints and gifts left outside my bedroom door, I said yes.  It was clear he was devoted.  We dated for about a year.  Jeff turned out to be the perfect boyfriend. Until, it all came to an abrupt end, when he cheated.  Speaking of said person, I was afraid she would put a bounty on my head if Jeff was late visiting this weekend.  I had to decline his hundredth offer to drive me to the island, where my parents live, because I know his mother would lose her mind if he was late because of me. His mother lived upstate and I lived on a remote island off the coast of Connecticut. 

     “Go before the Queen offers a bounty on my head,” I said, backing away. We walked out the front door together where he stopped and gave me another long hug. 

     “Oh stop,” he chuckled. His fingers slid through my hair.  His touched tickled the nape of my neck. “See you soon.” I felt his lips on mine and I trembled.  Even after four years he still affects me. As I turned to go, trying my best not to look back, thoughts of being intimate with him flashed through my mind.  I closed my eyes and kept walking until I reached the bus terminal.

The bus terminal was busy at this time of day.

According to the sign, the bus arrived in twenty minutes.  The little café turned on its sign indicating it was now open.  The smell of freshly brewed coffee filled the air.  I followed the crowd in and grabbed a large latté then walked out and stood against the brick wall waiting for the bus.  I tried to ignore the ache in my gut, as I thought about staying in the house alone for a week with no neighbour for miles.  If something were to happen, no one would ever know.  I’m not over reacting either.  My routine for the time spent there is to stay in my room, keep the door shut during the late hours and use my laptop or listen to my mp3 player loudly. During the daylight hours, I had a new novel to read, Romance of course, and some movies. If it was summer I would have stayed outback.   If that is not enough to occupy the mind, then I don’t know what would be. I might even go looking for the cat.

The wind had picked up and started to sting a little on my exposed skin. Occasionally, I glanced up to see if the bus was coming.  That was when I noticed a man staring in my direction, and he was not hiding the fact that he was watching me. I had never seen him before.  He was young, good looking. When our eyes locked, I felt my cheeks burn.  The sidewalk was filling up as the minutes passed and I had to straighten up just to see him again.  Then I saw him again, it was as if the crowd parted on command and he is standing there not moving, staring at me.  Nobody else paid any attention to him and it was not as if he blended in with the crowd, he stood out clear as a drop of blood on a white shirt.  He had dark brown curly hair, perfectly styled, light coloured eyes I was not close enough to see the actual colour.  He wore all black except for the gray three quarter length tweed jacket belted at the waist.  It was strange, standing there watching him, feeling drawn to him even though I couldn’t move from where I stood.  Something strange was happening, and forcing myself to turn away immediately to avoid his stare was hard.  Then someone bumped into me, spilling my coffee all over my arm.  When I looked up again the man was gone.  I turned and glared at the man who bumped into me. Cursing and shaking the coffee from my hand, walking towards the café to wash my hands.  When I walked outside the man in the tweed coat was now standing a few feet from the door.  Leaning against the same wall I stood against, moments ago.  Our eyes met and then a sweet, warm and inviting smile formed across his beautiful face.  The colours of his eyes clear to me now and sparkled like two gems.  His eyes were a beautiful light greyish-blue but with a hint of green and a tiny speck of brown in his left eye.  I had never seen a man so gorgeous before. Well other than Jeff.  This guy was model material.  Nobody looked this good in real life, unless air brushed.  Then again there he was, standing a mere two feet in front of me and he was—perfect. What I did not understand was why he was smiling at me.

     “Hey there,” he said in a distinguishable English accent.  Words escaped me at that moment, and I felt my heart pound hard against my chest.  He continued to talk even though all I did was stare, “I couldn’t help but notice you. Sorry about the staring. I thought you were someone I knew.”  All I did was shrug my shoulders and smile. “Sorry again.” His head slowly nodded as he walked away.

     “Don’t be sorry.” I blurted. “I thought maybe I knew you as well.  Obviously we don’t know each other. I would have remembered you.” Instantly heat filled my cheeks. He snickered and turned away bashfully but not without adding his own fuel to the fire, “Is that so.” He bit his bottom lip making my insides squirm.

     “Yes.” Then without thinking I blurted, “I’m sure women swoon over that accent of yours all the time.” With those words his cheeks flushed, and the corner of his lip curled up. Never in my life, have I been this blunt.  My embarrassment must have been extremely visible.

      “It was nice chatting with you.” His smile was unbearable. I needed to get away before anything else left my lips.  His eyes were on mine again, and the butterflies fluttered around my stomach.  “Have a lovely day.” His stare lingered for a moment.

     "Sarah.” I found myself muttering as he walked away, realizing then that he never asked. 

I don’t know why I told him my name, he never even offered his.  When I glanced back in the direction he had gone, he wasn’t there.  I searched with eyes like a hawk, scanning the crowd for him.  He was nowhere to be found.

     “Are you coming miss?” The driver asked breaking me out of my trance. With a nod, I hopped up the stairs. The entire ride to the island my mind raced. I couldn’t stop thinking about him; the gorgeous man in the tweed coat.  His face haunted my thoughts. I wanted desperately to see him again.  It was such a strange feeling. As the bus started down the bridge towards the island, where my parents live, my heart started to race for a whole other reason and in seconds the man at the bus station was a distant memory. My parents’ house was the first on its route.  The bus stopped a few yards from my house. I pulled the string and stood. When the bus came to a complete stop the doors opened and I got out.  The stop after mine was in the town square.  People from the city mainly come to the island for fresh items from the farmers market. As I walked towards the house I clicked my tongue and called out to Whiskers, in hopes that he was not too far away. Much to my dismay, I saw no movement anywhere on the yard. 

I continued up the snow covered gravel driveway towards the house unlocked the front door and walked in.  Upon entry the house was dark, tiny flecks of sun poured through the blinds scattering tiny specks of dust around in the light. I called out to Whiskers again, dropping my bag on the floor and walked through the house searching each room as I passed it.  In the kitchen I found his food and water dish full.  Giving the search up, for now. I went back to the front door grabbed my bag and went to my room.My bedroom looked exactly as it did the day I left.  Then a warm feeling took hold as I glanced around the room.  My pictures of horses and butterflies still hung y on the wall, terribly plain and boring for a teenager’s room, now that I think about it.  I laughed then started to unpack. My mother kept it clean for the most part. A tiny bit of dust gathered atop everything, probably a few days’ worth, considering. About an hour later the doorbell rang, surprisingly, since nobody knew I was at my parents, except for my roommates.  The knock was loud and persistent. By the time I got downstairs and opened the door, nobody was there.  I took a step out onto the porch and looked around, bracing myself from the cold.  It was bright outside, giving me a perfect clear view of everything.

     I called out.  “Hello?” All that could be heard was the echo of my voice. I shrugged and went back inside.

 Just as I shut the door, I swear on my life, this large, black drapery looking thing flew past me.  I jumped back against the door screaming.  “I hate this house!”  I groaned. When I was able to move again I ran up to my room, locking the door behind me.

     Later on, after I made my way to the living room.  I watched television for a bit and planned to read my new romance novel that I picked up at the book store, when my eyes grew heavy.  I tried hard to keep them open but sleep was calling me.

     Eventually, despite all my best efforts, I fell asleep.

     ‘A strange ghostly figure floated through the house, never speaking, never looking back. I followed close behind trying to get a head of it but never able to.  The wind outside grabbed my attention with its loud shrieking sounds frightening me. It was almost as if it were a scene from the Wizard of Oz.  A loud banging began.  It felt as though the walls were going to come down.  Then the door shook and the banging on the walls became louder. Then the door burst open and a gust of wind rushed in knocking me down.’

     I woke with a jolt a screamed barely forcing its way out. My eyes wide, filled with tears and beads of sweat dripping down my face.  The thudding in my chest pounded rapidly and it felt as though I had run a marathon. For a moment, I couldn’t catch my breath.  Eyes blurred and out of focus causing a panic within me.  Slowly the sound of the television filled the room and the familiar feel of the leather sofa reminded me of where I was.  Calmness came over me as I remembered where I was.