《Until I Met You》chapter seven
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I have never had a problem with crowds or being claustrophobic, but airports manage to get to me every time. Although I will admit, this is only the third time in my life I have ever ridden an aeroplane.
It's not just the impending terror of the ride ahead, but also the airport itself. There are too many people, both customers and workers, the noise never stops, and the whole process of acquiring your boarding passes, going through security, and then finding the gate you're meant to be at is maddening.
Those are several concepts I try not think about as I stand helplessly beside Warren, watching as he makes the older lady working at the check-in desk laugh with his disgustingly attractive charm.
A sliver of me had been hoping that an extraordinary, dramatic scenario, such as a summer snowstorm or an arresting virus, would have prevented me from joining in on this trip and flying to New Brunswick with Warren. They're all perfectly good reasons as to why he wouldn't be able to use me as his fake girlfriend. Today, however, is a different story; it's the clearest day I have ever seen in Vancouver, and my body feels excellent after today's early morning spin class.
The fact that no direct flights to Halifax were available this weekend makes me think the world is trying to test me, see how long I can handle Warren Ashford and his immature shenanigans before I crack. I have to give him props, though, because he did try to convince Hazel that missing the annual Canada Day barbeque wouldn't be a big deal. But Hazel was adamant about us joining, so she scheduled us a flight to New Brunswick and was quick to make sure a rental car was available for us upon arrival. After Warren caved and agreed, there was no going back.
So here we are, standing at the check-in desk of Vancouver International Airport and getting ready to head to the gate where our aeroplane to Saint John, New Brunswick is located on the opposite end of the terminal.
We'll also have to go through security, but the airport doesn't seem all that busy today, so it shouldn't be a problem. Even so, it would be the last thing on my mind. The real problem is the fact that I have to spend seven hours and twenty minutes sitting beside Warren on a stuffy aeroplane. God knows what we're going to talk about while we sit there, defying gravity and careening through the air.
"Where are you off to?" the lady asks.
"Halifax," Warren replies, handing me the passports. I stuff them in my bag. "My hometown."
The lady is now working on the keyboard of her computer with a lazy intensity, tapping the keys one-by-one and chewing on her bottom lip. "Oh, I love Halifax," she says, retrieving the printed boarding passes. "The seafood there is to die for."
"That," Warren says, taking the boarding passes. "Is what I miss most about my hometown. Other than my family, of course." He wraps an arm around my waist and pulls me close, my hip bumping against his, and plants a kiss on my cheek. I do my best not to flinch away in antipathy, but it's a reflexive move and I can't stop myself. "My girlfriend and I are heading back to attend my sister's wedding. It's going to be fantastic. What better way to introduce my baby girl to the family?"
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I blink slowly and mentally picture the delicate, black inscription on the thick cream-coloured wedding invitation. I picture the elegant beauty of it in order to distract myself from his repulsively sweet voice. Watching him lie and act with ease makes me sick, so I need the distraction.
It was his idea to test the waters with our fake relationship and see if we could pull it off with random strangers, and I know for a fact that I am failing. No matter how hard I try, I can't seem to fake a smile with him. In the beginning, I thought I'd get used to him over time, but all he's done is prove me wrong. I can't stand his arrogance, cockiness, and the philosophy he lives by.
If Hazel hadn't called on Monday, I would have backed out. But her call made everything nonnegotiable because she specifically asked for me. I don't think I've ever heard someone sound so excited about meeting their little brother's girlfriend. Her call was a despondent twist of fate that made me feel like crying after I hung up because I knew my options were nullified. Ruining her happiness and excitement was something I couldn't do.
That's why I am truly stuck with Warren for the summer.
Eventually, we're waved through to place our suitcase on the conveyor belt behind the check-in desk. Warren hands me the backpack he's using as a carry-on and then lifts the large suitcase we're sharing onto the moving connexion of rubber. The whole scene is saturated with nothing but silence, and going through security isn't much different, save for the questions the security staff asks us.
Warren breaks the silence when we arrive at gate nineteen. "Boarding starts at eleven forty-five," he says, handing me my boarding pass, which is slightly crinkled from him stuffing it in the pocket of his jean shorts. He checks his silver Rolex watch. "You've got twenty minutes to do whatever you want." He makes a lazy gesture to the abundant amount of souvenir stores and food shops. I see a Starbucks and impulsively begin to reach for my wallet. A latté would be nice – I'm going to need something to get me through this flight. Though I do have to admit, I would much rather find pills that are laced with a copious amount of codeine.
I edge my way toward Starbucks, surveying the view of the tarmac and different-sized planes that reside upon it; the workers; the different machinery. It's still sunny outside, but I can see fog surrounding the mountains. I mentally sigh. Maybe it's a good thing we're leaving Vancouver – I have missed the sunshine.
I've just taken my place in the long line when I feel a hand clamp down on my shoulder. I jerk in reaction, my heart quickening as I spin around and come face-to-chest with Warren. I frown, hating that I am the only one in my family that was gifted with short genes. Looking up, I lock eyes with Warren and raise my eyebrows.
"What?" I ask, exercising the clipped tone I've developed specially for him.
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He shoots me his signature smug grin. "I told you I would pay for everything," he replies. I watch him pull his wallet out. As he does this, I can hear the girls behind us whispering about him. I catch different words that involve his name, the university's volleyball team, and something about the club he has a taste for.
Something flares up inside me, a quick rise of anger, I suppose. Despite the fact that Warren and I are nothing but two people that have mutual hatred toward each other, I don't like them checking him out. I don't like it because I fear girls giving him attention will only feed his egotistical persona.
I shoot a glare over my shoulder and shuffle a little closer to him. Close enough that my shoulder is touching his bicep.
"Fine," I mutter. "Get me a venti latté."
"Sure thing, Scotia."
We don't speak again until after we've gotten our drinks and are sitting at the edge of the seating area in front of our gate. I pull out my phone to check my text messages. There are several from Julia, wondering how things are going. I scoff and begin to wonder how I'm going to respond to her. It's complicated. I ignore her text messages for now, deciding I'll reply to her once we land in Montréal. It will give me something to do during layover time.
The next couple of messages are from family members: my mom and Jordan. Jordan is my brother, the next youngest Elliot kid after me. I tap his name and read the text, smiling to myself. He's the only person, other than Julia, that knows what's going on behind the scenes. Call me a hypocrite for judging Warren on lying to his parents, but my situation is different. If my parents knew I was going on summer vacation with the campus's man-whore, they would lose their minds. That's why I've only told Jordan. He's the jokester of the family and the easiest to talk to; he's a good listener and always supports my decisions. I reply to him, explaining how everything has gone so far.
"Who are you texting?" Warren asks, leaning in so he can get a better look at my phone.
I lean away, catching a whiff of his cologne – sandalwood with a hint of smoke. "None of your business," I retort.
"Y'know," he says, leaning back and resting his arms behind his head. He crosses his legs at the ankles. "If you don't start acting like my girlfriend, this whole plan is going to dive-bomb the instant we step through the door."
"This whole plan," I say, "was not my idea, Warren."
"Accurate. But you did agree to it. So start contributing."
We glare at each other, pure hatred radiating between us. Clearly, we were both insane to have even thought we'd get through this – it's only been a few hours and we're already butting heads. But, sadly, Warren has a point. I haven't put in nearly as much effort as he has.
"You're right," I sigh, hating the words. I hate how much power they give him. "I'm sorry."
He grins and shrugs. "You've got that bitchy, anti-boyfriend act down just fine, Scotia. If you can hold that persona up just like I can hold my reputation up, we're going to be fine. We're both good at acting."
His words hit me hard. I don't understand why he thinks my attitude toward men is a façade. I push them away for a valid reason. After Carter...I don't want to risk losing another person in my life. The very thought of falling in love again, only to have it abruptly taken from me, makes panic bud in my chest. But it also makes me crave the feel of someone gathering me in their arms and holding me close. The situation I'm in contradicts itself in many ways. Sometimes I feel as though I'm drowning.
I'm mad at Warren for saying that, but I can't blame him because he doesn't know anything about my past. All he knows is that I am from High River and I moved to Vancouver because there were no colleges or universities in Alberta that attracted my attention. I kept any emotional experience locked away because someone like him would never have the ability to comprehend what I went through.
Sighing, I focus on my iPhone and don't look at Warren just in case he sees the sadness I know has materialized in my eyes and begins to ask questions. I will never tell him what happened to me. I don't want to deal with the aftermath of it all.
When I say aftermath, I mean the way people react to my story. Some are understanding and stick by my side, but there are people who have been too stunned and left me behind. I don't know how Warren would react, but no matter what, I can't tell someone like him.
It would be like falling in love with another man: impossible to do.
Subconsciously, I touch the zipper of the oversized leather jacket. Falling in love would mean letting go of Carter, forgetting about him. Which is something I could never do.
They say that in due time you will forget everything – everything that you went through, everything that caused the pain, the strain, the fight, everything that is worth forgetting.
They say it gets easier with time; that you'll forget about it.
But what they don't know is that you don't forget it. The pain. You get used to it. It doesn't heal – you simply find a way to deal with it. Forgetting is an illusion.
The truth is, it's too hard to forget about someone that gave you so much to remember.
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Petrichor: Act One
Cody is adrift. Emily is alone. Sara is spiraling into darkness. Andrew is out of control. Chris is losing his mind. Grace makes the mistake of being friends with all of them. The friendship these six share will forever shape who they are. In the town of Darkwood, Washington they are forced into the harsh reality of the world catching up to them. When their involvement in their friend's suicide catches up to them, how will they juggle their guilt, issues, and crumbling friendships that fall before them? This is a redux of Petrichor. I was unsatisfied with how the story went. I rushed things and left things to happen off-screen a lot. So I'm rewriting it, this time dividing the acts into their separate books to allow the characters to properly develop. The story will mostly stay the same but I'll fix all the plot holes I found and change some character motivations here or there.
8 164Something About Alice Murphy: BOOK 2
"Revenge is best served cold."____________{The second book in the SAAM Series}After having survived another close encounter with death, something about Alice Murphy has changed. Although not much of her exterior is different to the naked eye, inside something much darker has taken over... or has it just decided to finally reveal itself? Now further than ever into the secret life of the social elite, there is no turning back. As her relationship with the town's secret psychopath develops, so will her own demons.Will Alice be able to walk out of this scratch free? Maybe. But either way, she will have a lot of blood on her hands. Find out what happens... in Something about Alice Murphy; Book 2.
8 199It All Started With A Lie
You've got one boy.One girl.One pretty little lie.A perfect relationship.The perfect boyfriend.The perfect girlfriend.The perfect dates.The perfect gifts.And the perfect surprises.That gives you our golden couple of Sunset Westwood High.But what happens when it's all a lie?One boy.One girl who needs desperate help.One pretty little lie.That sounds more like it.When Olivia's ex is bothering her and rubbing it in her face at a party that he moved on after dumping her, she sees her nemesis, Ethan walking by and she uses him as her ploy, but the move isn't so smart when you think about it. I mean, how easy can it be acting lovey-dovey with your enemy?.....ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
8 149Villainess! Your Father Wants to Marry Me!
"If Heaven will give me a chance, I will take your hands and run away with you"Those were the last words that came out from the villainess's mouth before they execute her.She thought that she died but when she opens her eyes a woman with waist-length midnight black hair appeared before her eyes. The woman is smiling brightly while extending her hands at her."If you're so tired, then why don't you run away with me?" The woman asks.Tears fell from the eyes of the villainess. Her death wish came true! She went back to the time where a woman offered her hands to run away with her. She came back 2 years before her execution.This time the villainess accepted the hands of the woman and live in the countryside with her. There she experienced joy and she's very satisfied with her life. She was about to marry the man that she loves...But what is this?! Why did her father come here to find her?! And why does her father wanted to marry her savior?!••••Gabriella was reincarnated to the body of a cannon-fodder of the novel 'You Shall Pay!'She grew up with her brother and live in the countryside to prevent her tragic future. One day she meets the villainess in her weakest state. She couldn't handle the scene of the pitiful villainess, So she took her hands out and offered it to the villainess."If you're so tired, then why don't you run away with me?" She said.The villainess strangely accepted her hands and came with her to the countryside. There, the villainess meets her brother and they fell in love with each other. They were about to live happily ever after...But what's with this? What are you doing here, Villainess's father?!You wanted to take your daughter?!No way! My brother and my sister-in-law would be miserable!"Will you marry me, Gabriella?"Villainess! Your Father Wants to Marry me!•••Cover not mine ©tto Started in: 05-13-21Ended in: ...Reminder:English is not my first language
8 166Mr Grumpy - DISCONTINUED AND BEING RE-WRITTEN
*** THIS IS THE OG 'MR GRUMPY' HOWEVER I AM IN THE PROCESS OF RE-WRITING IT AS A NEW BOOK, THIS CAN BE FOUND ON MY PROFILE, CHECK IT OUT XOX ***Somehow I managed to get myself lost in 3 minutes. I mean I know I don't have good concentration but its pretty impossible to get lost that quick you know? Well not for me.But on the bright side, I met a hot, angry, slightly scary guy. So it's probably not that bad. Maybe it is, maybe it isn't but you know what? Who cares? ◆◆◆◆Meet Anastasia Wilkson, she's very optimistic, gullible, clumsy and naive. She thinks the world is made out of Rainbows and Unicorns. She is always smiling at the littlest things.Now meet Adrian Miles, he is always angry, he hardly smiles but gives out an occasional smirk once in a while. He is also a total hottie that is always looking for a fight. He has a dark past that he hopes stays buried. What happens when these two meet? What happens when Adrian's dark past catches up?Read and Find out★BTW this Book is Cliche as Fudge. PLEASE DO NOT TRY AND COPY MY WORK!! THIS IS MY OWN FUDGEN WORK. SO PLEASE DON'T BE A DOUCHE FACE AND COPY MINE WHEN YOU CAN CREATE SOMETHING BETTER. Cover made by the lovely @Me_For_President_ Highest Rank- #17 Teen Fiction OH MY GOOOODNESS
8 210Fight for Her
~~~ Ryder's face turned angry as he pushed me back up against a wall. His face hovered inches from mine. I could feel his hot breath on my lips that smelled like cinnamon. With his chest pressed up against mine, my heart was beating rapidly while he smirked and leaned closer, if that was even possible. "Don't mess with me Ruby. You won't like the consequences." "And what would those be?" I asked breathlessly. His lips brushed against my ear and I drew in a breath. I could feel him smiling. "You'll see." ~~~ Ryder Daniels is arrogant, cocky, and your typical bad boy. He fights, rides a motorcycle, and attracts as many girls as a local Starbucks would. With his Greek God body, every girl falls for him, but he only breaks their hearts by playing them. Ruby Buchanan is the new girl, but not the nerdy one that would get picked on, but a fighter. After her parent's divorce, she had to move from sunny California to cold Pennsylvania. The only way she can get the stress and frustration out from her is to fight. With an unexpected run in with the school's hot 'bad boy', she needs to stay away from this annoying prick with his perfect looks and smirk. She also unfortunately finds out that he's her neighbor. But after spending time with Ryder, will she be able to keep her feelings at bay? Or will she realize that there are deeper feelings toward Ryder than she thought? And when Ryder finds out the twisted past about Ruby, will he run to the hills, or fight for her?ACTUAL COMPLETION DATE: 1/27/2015This book is now published on Barnes and Noble NOOK, Amazon Kindle, Apple iBookstore, Lulu, and Kobo bookstores FOR FREE!
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