I shook my head and got up. I was late. I had to be at my best friends’ house in five minutes and I wasn’t even ready.481Please respect copyright.PENANAp1G6RRO3CM
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Max, Cleo and I were all seniors in high school. I knew them all my life as our parents were close friends. Their older brother, Damien, had finally come back after six years in Italy for a degree and a master to work in their fathers company as an architect.481Please respect copyright.PENANAIwgkXwGjMB
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I heard a music tone blend out from the music that I was listening so far. My phone, as I realized, was ringing from somewhere in the room.481Please respect copyright.PENANAfkAOdEGTQb
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“Hey,” I breathed as soon as I located it near the window.481Please respect copyright.PENANA6uOiANRu9l
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“Dude! Where are you?” Max was screaming in my ear.481Please respect copyright.PENANAv5pGBkCgRs
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“I'm a lady! I need my time!” I said with a fake smirk, trying to put on my skinny jeans.481Please respect copyright.PENANAirAIXEKtKS
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“Yeah, now you remembered,” he mocked. I missed the next thing he said as I put on a purple top and my black long vest. “DUUUUUDEE” I heard him scream through the speaker.481Please respect copyright.PENANAe6aKf3sJan
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“Jeez, I’m trying to get dressed!”481Please respect copyright.PENANA9PFLCeudTh
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“Need help?” I could almost hear him grinning. He lately picked up the habit of trying to flirt with me due to his lack of girlfriends. Too much unspent energy I suppose.481Please respect copyright.PENANAe983YzeChV
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“Ew Max. Shut up,” I said and hang up the phone.481Please respect copyright.PENANA46oYscDu2u
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I examined myself in the mirror; my long dark brown hair were natural wavy and easy to handle so I didn’t bother to do anything with them. I was feeling anxious. I wore my chucks but took my black high heels with me.481Please respect copyright.PENANATbOtsmM4jo
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I took a last glance at myself at the mirror and decided that I was looking pretty good. It’s been two years after all. I was sixteen when he last saw me and now I’m a full grown woman; a curvy one to be exact. I am 5 ft 7 and my weight was normal.481Please respect copyright.PENANAuhG4NwOjYi
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Whatever; it’s not like am trying to impress anybody.481Please respect copyright.PENANAzkOevvi67K
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Yeah right.481Please respect copyright.PENANASmmfBqk1aU
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My birthday wasn’t till late July but my parents already got me my present; a purple old WV beetle, which I loved.481Please respect copyright.PENANAB9Fskh2zUa
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I parked my car beside Damien’s car in the garage and walked my way into the house through the garage interior door. I breathed, trying to stay calm.481Please respect copyright.PENANABCy7YhpUdY
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“Dude, it took you a week to get here!!” Max attacked me before I even manage to get into the kitchen.481Please respect copyright.PENANAhDlZc7u0S5
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“If you didn’t harass me on the phone, I would have been ready earlier. What do you want anyway?” I asked narrowing my eyes.481Please respect copyright.PENANAm4PtLdl4T0
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“I was just asking if you needed any help!” he said innocently “Cleo needs help with the cakes,” he moved out of my way to let me into the kitchen and continued “And guess who’s going to help,” he grinned.481Please respect copyright.PENANA0RavSrY1Pd
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“Whatever,” I replied and hit him on his back with my bag.481Please respect copyright.PENANABmD3os2bAz
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That same moment, Damien walked through the door. I haven’t seen him in two years; at his job leaves he didn’t return home because he was traveling all over the world. I envied him for that.481Please respect copyright.PENANA1Jg7jiM3Pt
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I looked at him and my stomach dropped. I knew the feeling. I knew it too well. I ignored it.My memory never did him justice though. He was almost 6 ft 5, his dark brown hair was cut short but his amazing grey eyes were the same; making me dizzy since I could remember myself.481Please respect copyright.PENANAdHNZqDsHLX
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He was wearing black pants and a navy blue untidy shirt. I smiled. I put my heels on the ground and walked towards him.481Please respect copyright.PENANAjPRMLmjuXn
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“Welcome back!” I said and stood on my tiptoes. I put my hand lightly on his shoulder and kissed him on both cheeks.481Please respect copyright.PENANAOu0ApFuITf
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“Thank you ladybug,” he smiled putting an arm over my waist as I kissed him.481Please respect copyright.PENANA7gumjcoRy6
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“Haha, very funny,” I scoffed.481Please respect copyright.PENANAOEZaEsmWn0
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“So, how it feels to be back for good?”481Please respect copyright.PENANAalHaKGZNII
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“Okay I guess. You’re only in college once though,” he sighed.481Please respect copyright.PENANAWoAGyUW7dU
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“Yeah, I’m counting down the days for graduation.”481Please respect copyright.PENANAFexOcRUh9F
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“Please, I’m begging you!” I heard Cleo pleading from the doorway “Tell me you brought your high heels!”481Please respect copyright.PENANAYc5VWpFSfT
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“Yeah,” I said halfheartedly. She was always telling me to dress more girly if I wanted to find a serious boyfriend any time soon instead of the teenage boys that always flirt with me.481Please respect copyright.PENANALznmklPsgG
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She believes that I end up with immature boys because of my style. And I always say that I don’t care, because I’m not labeling anybody.481Please respect copyright.PENANABBK3pgatyo
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“Just because you don’t put labels on people, doesn’t mean that they don’t already have one on them,” I could hear her voice in my head!481Please respect copyright.PENANAHoylSqw2Fw
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I don’t care if he wears a suit on a Friday night dinner and goes to college or if he wears skinny jeans and chucks. I just want someone to care. Someone that would fight for me. Is that too much to ask?481Please respect copyright.PENANABxPMmmYLvT
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The living room was crowded. James, my older brother, was somewhere with his girlfriend. I was standing with Max next to the garden door holding our drinks while Cleo was with her boyfriend, Mike. I saw Max spotting a girl he liked and she was flirting back.481Please respect copyright.PENANA9aE9dv9FT3
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“Go over there,” I told him “She’s hot.”481Please respect copyright.PENANAsUTDKjD9f6
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“Sure? I don’t want you to be alone,” he said worrying.481Please respect copyright.PENANAgUhei6h8BS
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“I’ll survive Max. Off you go,” I told him “Be safe,” I grinned and headed out the door, to the garden.481Please respect copyright.PENANAfnsKjCm76L
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I walked to the swimming pool and just stood there for a moment. Usually we would be dancing but Cleo promised Damien that we wouldn’t drink too much tonight. And as he popped into my head, I noticed him with the corner of my eye, talking to some friends.481Please respect copyright.PENANAYypk946x8M
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I couldn’t bear the thought that there was a chance I would fall for him once again. I didn’t even know if he had a girlfriend. I wish he had, that way I would forbid myself to ever think of him. I needed a strong motive to stop this from happening again; and him having a girlfriend, would be the perfect one.481Please respect copyright.PENANA6CdiybkCyI
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“A stranger would think you’re in love,” a deep and appealing voice told me. I haven’t notice anyone approaching, thus I was startled.481Please respect copyright.PENANAjbLWxdjNzg
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I turned around to face the stranger. His looks were even more impressing. He had short blond hair and brown eyes. For a moment he looked distant and his eyes held a mysterious look but then his thin lips curved up to a smile and his expression lighten up.481Please respect copyright.PENANAkn3ppmeUP1
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“No. Not in love,” I said turning my eyes forward again “Just lonely.” I couldn’t believe I just admitted the truth; and to someone I didn’t even know.481Please respect copyright.PENANA3nQpbfVRku
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“If someone knows what it’s like being lonely, believe me, it’s me,” he said. I looked at him and realize that I didn’t even know his name. Yet he seemed oddly familiar.481Please respect copyright.PENANA91DVQZ0mI9
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“Do I know you?” I narrowed my eyes trying to recall the face in my head.481Please respect copyright.PENANARQJX5MzTEt
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“I’m very rude,” he shook his head “I didn’t introduce myself,” he smiled “I'm Alexander White,” he reached out his hand.481Please respect copyright.PENANAkebzfJWnAU
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“Erica Starling,” I smiled back and shook his hand lightly. He had a strong but warm handshake. He must have been a very interesting person.481Please respect copyright.PENANAosz5DJtG9D
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Finally the name came to my mind. His family’s company was one of the most powerful in the country, now expending all over the world. He was the only son of John White, and came to town to run the company. I’ve heard about it on the news about a week ago.481Please respect copyright.PENANA3ExrHtU7K5
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“Where did you meet Damien?” I asked.481Please respect copyright.PENANAmxuyianoZP
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“I was in Italy three years ago and met him at a seminar,” he replied.481Please respect copyright.PENANAvzatoCCpXB
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“Why does everyone goes there besides me?” I made a face. He laughed quietly.481Please respect copyright.PENANAff5lOwrC3w
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“You should really go,” he suggested.481Please respect copyright.PENANAFl7fC2xKdd
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“Yeah, it’s first on my list.”481Please respect copyright.PENANATw14PhLOrc
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“There’s a list?” he asked interested.481Please respect copyright.PENANA63puqd7MbH
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“Of course! Italy, New York, Prague and Dubai.”481Please respect copyright.PENANAke7Kx5WMC5
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“That’s interesting.”481Please respect copyright.PENANAOh4nC7QgJf
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“Ever been there?”481Please respect copyright.PENANAsBSKPzJr0T
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“I’ve never visited Dubai,” he said like it was the most natural thing. I made a face. Of course it was very common to visit Italy, New York and Prague. He laughed.481Please respect copyright.PENANAAIcBjypJqg
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“I see you’ve been introduced,” I heard Damien talking from my other side.481Please respect copyright.PENANA3s7uZl1qoH
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“Yes,” I smiled looking at him in the eye. Something I couldn’t do easily in the past.481Please respect copyright.PENANADuNIz9BrDd
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“You never mention you had such an interesting friend,” Alexander said.481Please respect copyright.PENANAKIdoSDFUxP
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“Back off White, she’s young,” he warned him, always smiling. I was annoyed but before I could say anything, Alexander turned to me.481Please respect copyright.PENANAxMhA4nV4lJ
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“Really? How old are you?”481Please respect copyright.PENANAvSlWwiyjlU
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“Eighteen,” I smiled.481Please respect copyright.PENANAVU55GfKD68
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“Not for another two months,” Damien corrected me. I glared at him.481Please respect copyright.PENANAz88Wuwuc8H
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“Young, indeed,” Alexander smirked “Even for you,” looking at Damien now, who was twenty four at the moment. I wanted to ask Alexander how old he was, but Damien’s presence stopped me.481Please respect copyright.PENANAIRwFTHLA3Q
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“I should get going. I have a report to fill due Monday,” Alexander said. I felt disappointed. He was leaving too early; we hardly talked.481Please respect copyright.PENANAqYkezlGQfd
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“Okay, man. Thanks for coming,” Damien said taking a step aside. I followed.481Please respect copyright.PENANAJXSx6iBI7u
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“I’ll walk you to the door,” I said as he turned to say goodbye to me. I had no idea where did that came from. I usually am very very shy.481Please respect copyright.PENANAO0DAHX5PkU
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“Talk to you on Monday,” Damien called at Alexander but his eyes rested on me for a bit. What did I do?481Please respect copyright.PENANA6W38QlVV7m
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“Charmed,” Alexander whispered, once at the door, as he leaned to kiss my cheek.481Please respect copyright.PENANAjzNGA2eisv
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“Likewise,” I smirked. I have no idea where I have found all this boldness.481Please respect copyright.PENANAbiHnJI3nTO
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“Loneliness is a privilege, love,” he simply said and I felt a bit annoyed by the “love” name but I hid my discomfort. I was good at hiding my feelings.481Please respect copyright.PENANAjWHK3JqrjU
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“It's a privilege even when you feel lonely among people; worst, among your friends?” I didn’t look at him; I was looking ahead, my smile fading.481Please respect copyright.PENANAXxUGxiVj7I
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“Sometimes it is, you’ll find out someday,” he smiled and winced at me before he turned around and walked away. I stood there, staring at the door.481Please respect copyright.PENANAuze5GuXBXR
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“Nice!” I heard Cleo’s voice behind me. I turned to her; a smile on my lips.481Please respect copyright.PENANA3W6rlYBMEN
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“Yes. Where’s Mike?”481Please respect copyright.PENANAMy9pWXDUx0
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“He left,” she sighed “Want a beer?”481Please respect copyright.PENANAMG2qcTVPia
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“Of course!” I smiled and followed her.481Please respect copyright.PENANAGa6vkp02Rj