Amour
Chapter 2
I go back to my books and empty my bag onto my table. I grab a notepad from the corner of my desk and begin to write down all the homework tasks I have. I have a report to do on today’s lesson and to browse through the module on the human heart handed to us and write an essay on my thoughts and findings.
I strip down and have a hot shower before diving into bed. I idly think about what happened today as I drift off.
What exactly happened today? Louis had disappeared when Ella ran up to me, what if he was a figure of my imagination and I was laughing and talking to no one in the middle of my campus? Oh no.
What if he is real? Maybe he's a new student at Oxford, I would mind showing him around and by the treatment he was receiving from the Blonde Squad, every girl on campus wouldn't mind either.
He's probably a new kid who will get swooped up into some obnoxious clique anytime now. I drift off thinking about how blue and distant Louis Tomlinson's eyes were.
A knock on my door wakes me up. My Blackberry tells me its 18:47. I fumble out of bed and open the door.
"Sammy, dinner's ready" Nana informs me.
I smile at her in my sleeping mode.
"Be right there" I tell her and she walks off.
I close the door and head into my bathroom. I splash water on my face and put my pyjama jacket on. I check on Cheeky and find him still asleep.
I trudge down the steps and join Nana in the kitchen.
"What do you want for supper?" She asks
I walk around the kitchen opening the pot lid and smelling the sweet aroma of meatballs.
She hands me a plate and dishes out the spaghetti first for both of us then the sauce and meatballs.
After dinner we sit in front of the TV while I channel surf and Nana reads out my horoscope from today's newspaper.
"How is it that you never go out on dates and parties and stuff?" She asks me out of the blue.
"Um, I never get invited" I lie. I actually get invited a lot like today but I turn them down, I hate parties.
"Don't lie, why don't you go?"
"Because I hate parties, it’s too loud and bright. Too many sweaty people with too little clothing on and just thinking about it makes my head reel"
"And what about dates? You can't tell me no one asks you"
Well, I was asked out twice and I said no to both.
"I don't have time between studies and the dance crew. I don't see the importance of dating while you should be focused on making a life"
"Just like your mom"
I pause and think about it. She isn't lying; I am exactly like my mother.
"What can a girl do?" I say rhetorically
"A girl can go out once in a while. Go out with girlfriends and stuff"
"You're my girlfriend" I flutter my eyelashes at her
"Oh shoosh! You know what I mean"
"I do go out with Elle sometimes but studies are our number one priorities right now, Nana"
I see a flash of light outside and rain begins to fall heavily. Romeo and Juliet are whimpering on the patio. I get up and slide the glass door open, they race in but don't go onto the carpet.
"Stay" I say to them and head to the hall closet to get a towel. I come back and rub each dog down thoroughly with the towel. Then they run to the fireplace below the TV and settle down close together.
"I'm heading to bed" I say to Nana and bend down to kiss her cheek.
"Goodnight, baby girl."
I take our plates into the kitchen and place them into the dishwasher after rinsing them out. I grab a chunk of roll and head up to my room. I flip the switch to light up the room and head over to Cheeky's home.
"Here you go, Cheeky" I place the chunk on his balcony and he comes out to begin nibbling.
******************************************************************************
The next morning at 08:00 it was still raining but it was light. Nana kept Romeo and Juliet inside though. After a quick shower, I threw on a pair of black jeans and a black t-shirt with my cream rain coat.
Cheeky was placed back into the shoe box and taken with me down to breakfast.
"Where are you off to?" Nana asks me when she sees me
"Vet. Do you want anything from the store?"
"Do you have to go today? Its raining"
"Yup"
"Well, what do you want for supper?"
"Whatever you want"
"That narrows it down. Get vegetables for stir fry. I have the chicken. And get bread for sandwiches at lunch which you better be back for" she raises her eyebrow at me
"Of course" I walk around the counter and hug her.
I grab a piece of plain toast and head out into the cold air. It stopped raining but everywhere was extremely damp. Romeo follows me out.
"You want to come too?" I ask him.
He barks at me and I laugh.
"Well, okay then. Come on" I close the door after telling Nana I was taking Romeo with me.
I hop down the few steps to the front lawn and open the tiny gate. Romeo didn't need a leash; he would never leave my side because he was very protective of us when we went out with him. I let him out and I latch it behind me.
The vet was a short stroll from home so I walked leisurely past several closed front doors. Town was quiet but there was the occasional person who would walk across the street or get into their car.
"Hey, Sam!" I hear someone call my name. I freeze and look around me and spot a person in a hoodie walking up to me from behind.
"Hello?" It sounds more like a question because I can't see their face.
They pull down the hood and I see that it’s Louis. Romeo growls softly and walks around my legs to stand in front.
"Oh hey" I smile at Louis
"Hey, where you off to?" He comes to stand next to me and Romeo is very uncomfortable.
"The vet" I answer and continue walking. Louis keeps up with ease.
"For him?" He looks at Romeo with an annoyed expression. It pisses me off but I don't say anything.
"No, for Cheeky"
"Oh yes, how is he?"
"Fine, just checking him up. So what are you doing here?"
My question confuses him a little but he recovers quickly.
"Shopping but I've got till lunch so do you want to do something?"
"Like what?"
"Can I accompany you to the vet?"
I laugh a little, "Why?"
"Because I'm bored"
"If you want to" I shrug as we arrive at the entrance for the vet.
Louis holds the door open for me and Romeo and he closes it behind him. I walk up to the receptionist who doesn't take her eyes of Louis standing next to me. I want to smack her so badly because she isn't even listening to me.
After fifteen minutes of war, I got to see the doctor. He told me that Cheeky had an injured wing and he wouldn't be able to fly ever. The news broke my heart as I looked down into the innocent eyes of a baby cockatiel. The doctor said that a cockatiel being brown is very rare and that people would pay big money to have him.
I thanked the doctor, paid the busty receptionist and left. Louis was silent the entire time but whenever I looked at him, I would find him watching me intently as if he were studying me. He waited with Romeo in the waiting room and when I came out they had bonded quite well, they looked like old friends.
"Romeo likes you" I comment as we walk to the supermarket.
"Yeah, he's really sweet. Where did you get him?"
"A shelter. We adopted him when I first moved here a year ago" I smile at him
"Is he all alone at home or is Juliet an actual dog?"
"She's real" I laugh at him
The supermarket is warm and because the owner, Phil, was awesome, Romeo is allowed in. Louis gets two shopping carts, one for each of us and we start our spree. We walk together in each isle even if neither of us needed anything from there.
"So are you new on campus?" I ask him
"Oh no, I work nearby"
"Oh, where?"
"The gym. What are you studying at Oxford?"
"Medicine"
"What field?"
"I want to be an ER Surgeon" I smile proudly
"Oh, tough work. Where are you going to move after studying?"
"Anywhere that accepts me"
He looks disappointed as me stares at the various types of cheeses. Romeo is waiting very patiently beside us.
"What if you get a job here?" He looks back at me, eyes full of hope.
"Then I will stay here" I say warily.
We pay for our groceries separately and Louis offers to carry my bags since he only has one. I say no but he still takes it from me.
"So are you going for the party tonight?" He asks me on our way to my home
"No. I hate those"
"People?"
"No, the parties. I avoid the people at all costs" I punch his shoulder lightly but it felt like punching rock. Whether it was muscle or not, it was hard. Cheeky had been given another break chunk on our walk back.
"So you'd rather study that party?"
"Always"
"You are one strange girl, Sam"
"Strange good or strange bad?"
"Strange good" he smiles at me
"Thanks for the walk, we're here" I take the bags from him and noticing that his hand was extremely cold. I would have invited him in but I honestly didn't know him that well and I still had a couple houses to walk past.
"See ya later" he smiles and waves at me as he backs away.
I wait for him to be a safe distance away before I run towards my house. Romeo thinks its a game and runs ahead of me. He gets to the gate first but I'm the one with the opposable thumbs so I open it and let him in. I open the shoe box lid and place Chucky on the steps before rubbing Romeo down and letting him in.
"Where have you been?" Nana asks as I take off my coat
"In town" I answer
"Its nearly lunch already" she scolds me
"Sorry, Nana" I kiss her cheek and hand her the shopping bags. I run up to my room to put Cheeky back into his house. He remained on the perch on his balcony. I hear Nana talking to someone and then closing the door. I don't know what she said so I assume its just the paperboy or someone.
Lunch was simple leftover meatball sandwiches. I managed to finish my report on the lecture about the human spine and only got halfway through my essay on the heart. The assessments were only due on Wednesday but I knew better than to procrastinate.
On Sunday the skies were brighter and Romeo and Juliet could be let back out into the yard. I had to meet the crew at lunch to do rehearsals and to cover up for the cancelled lesson on Friday, the professor rescheduled the lesson for three.
I grab the flask containing warm Twinings Earl Grey Tea from Nana and a paper bag that had my meatball and salami sub.
I decide to use the Volvo today so I dump everything into the back seat. Since yesterday Romeo got to come with me, today was Juliet's turn. She jumped into the front passenger side seat and I closed the door. She stuck her head out the window very little during our trip to the studio and after training she kept her head inside during the drive to campus. She didn't want to stay in the car so she sat obediently at the entrance of the main building while I was in the lecture.
Thankfully, we weren't given any further assessments and I got to leave at six in the afternoon. I had texted Nana and told her that the lecture would be long and that since it’s a Sunday - one of the two days we don't have dinner together because she has to drive across town the next day for meetings and she wouldn't be back until Tuesday morning - she didn't have to wait up and could go to bed.
I stopped at the local book shop to buy a random novel on my way home. The book store was air conditioned and as I browsed through a few books in the far end of the store I heard a loud crash. I ran towards the sound and found someone who had fallen with a whole load of books scattered around them. I walk over and start picking up the books. The person has their hood on so I can't see their face. Once they're on their feet they just turn around and walk away leaving me to pick up the rest of the books.
I lock the door behind me after I enter the house. I take all my things up with me to me bedroom and throw all the dirty clothes into the hamper. I have a shower and go to bed. That night I dream of the bluest eyes I know, but it gets darker and darker until it turns black then blood red. Then Louis and I are in a room, a dark room with no windows or doors. Fear washes over me because I am unfamiliar with my surroundings. Louis takes my hand but his eyes are black and he starts burning, no in a fire but as if he's made of molten lava and tiny veins of liquid fire are all over his body. He pulls me closer and I go to him without any fear this time, without being afraid of getting burned. His smile disappears and I am paralyzed in his arms but I feel the heat travelling from where his skin meets mine. My skin is getting hotter and hotter but I can't let go until Louis leans down and presses his lips to my neck. It’s just a kiss except his teeth begin to extend and reshape. His canines pierce the skin of my neck and droplets of my blood begin to fall down my neck. More and more blood began to flow but I couldn't stop it. My arms pushed and shoved but he was stronger than me, keeping me his captive.
I awake with a shock gasping for air. My hand flies automatically to my neck expecting to find some sort of wound but its clean, uncut flesh. I sigh in relief and get out of bed. Its 21:30 and I'm wide awake. Cheeky is fast asleep on his perch so I open the glass door and step out onto the balcony. A wave of cold air hits me full on and my bare feet are freezing. I stand looking at the silent street for a little while before I go back in leaving the door unlocked. Maybe my subconscious is going crazy, or PMS or something.
On Monday morning I wake up at 10:33 and have a quick shower before making my own lunch and making sure the pets have enough food for the entire day. I rush out the door, my first lecture is at 11:00 and I make it there at 10:50. I balance all my books as I shove open the classroom doors and take my seat right at the back next to Ella.
"Where have you been?" She whispers as the professor takes his place in front of the chalkboard.
"Slept in late"
I strip down and have a hot shower before diving into bed. I idly think about what happened today as I drift off.
What exactly happened today? Louis had disappeared when Ella ran up to me, what if he was a figure of my imagination and I was laughing and talking to no one in the middle of my campus? Oh no.
What if he is real? Maybe he's a new student at Oxford, I would mind showing him around and by the treatment he was receiving from the Blonde Squad, every girl on campus wouldn't mind either.
He's probably a new kid who will get swooped up into some obnoxious clique anytime now. I drift off thinking about how blue and distant Louis Tomlinson's eyes were.
A knock on my door wakes me up. My Blackberry tells me its 18:47. I fumble out of bed and open the door.
"Sammy, dinner's ready" Nana informs me.
I smile at her in my sleeping mode.
"Be right there" I tell her and she walks off.
I close the door and head into my bathroom. I splash water on my face and put my pyjama jacket on. I check on Cheeky and find him still asleep.
I trudge down the steps and join Nana in the kitchen.
"What do you want for supper?" She asks
I walk around the kitchen opening the pot lid and smelling the sweet aroma of meatballs.
She hands me a plate and dishes out the spaghetti first for both of us then the sauce and meatballs.
After dinner we sit in front of the TV while I channel surf and Nana reads out my horoscope from today's newspaper.
"How is it that you never go out on dates and parties and stuff?" She asks me out of the blue.
"Um, I never get invited" I lie. I actually get invited a lot like today but I turn them down, I hate parties.
"Don't lie, why don't you go?"
"Because I hate parties, it’s too loud and bright. Too many sweaty people with too little clothing on and just thinking about it makes my head reel"
"And what about dates? You can't tell me no one asks you"
Well, I was asked out twice and I said no to both.
"I don't have time between studies and the dance crew. I don't see the importance of dating while you should be focused on making a life"
"Just like your mom"
I pause and think about it. She isn't lying; I am exactly like my mother.
"What can a girl do?" I say rhetorically
"A girl can go out once in a while. Go out with girlfriends and stuff"
"You're my girlfriend" I flutter my eyelashes at her
"Oh shoosh! You know what I mean"
"I do go out with Elle sometimes but studies are our number one priorities right now, Nana"
I see a flash of light outside and rain begins to fall heavily. Romeo and Juliet are whimpering on the patio. I get up and slide the glass door open, they race in but don't go onto the carpet.
"Stay" I say to them and head to the hall closet to get a towel. I come back and rub each dog down thoroughly with the towel. Then they run to the fireplace below the TV and settle down close together.
"I'm heading to bed" I say to Nana and bend down to kiss her cheek.
"Goodnight, baby girl."
I take our plates into the kitchen and place them into the dishwasher after rinsing them out. I grab a chunk of roll and head up to my room. I flip the switch to light up the room and head over to Cheeky's home.
"Here you go, Cheeky" I place the chunk on his balcony and he comes out to begin nibbling.
******************************************************************************
The next morning at 08:00 it was still raining but it was light. Nana kept Romeo and Juliet inside though. After a quick shower, I threw on a pair of black jeans and a black t-shirt with my cream rain coat.
Cheeky was placed back into the shoe box and taken with me down to breakfast.
"Where are you off to?" Nana asks me when she sees me
"Vet. Do you want anything from the store?"
"Do you have to go today? Its raining"
"Yup"
"Well, what do you want for supper?"
"Whatever you want"
"That narrows it down. Get vegetables for stir fry. I have the chicken. And get bread for sandwiches at lunch which you better be back for" she raises her eyebrow at me
"Of course" I walk around the counter and hug her.
I grab a piece of plain toast and head out into the cold air. It stopped raining but everywhere was extremely damp. Romeo follows me out.
"You want to come too?" I ask him.
He barks at me and I laugh.
"Well, okay then. Come on" I close the door after telling Nana I was taking Romeo with me.
I hop down the few steps to the front lawn and open the tiny gate. Romeo didn't need a leash; he would never leave my side because he was very protective of us when we went out with him. I let him out and I latch it behind me.
The vet was a short stroll from home so I walked leisurely past several closed front doors. Town was quiet but there was the occasional person who would walk across the street or get into their car.
"Hey, Sam!" I hear someone call my name. I freeze and look around me and spot a person in a hoodie walking up to me from behind.
"Hello?" It sounds more like a question because I can't see their face.
They pull down the hood and I see that it’s Louis. Romeo growls softly and walks around my legs to stand in front.
"Oh hey" I smile at Louis
"Hey, where you off to?" He comes to stand next to me and Romeo is very uncomfortable.
"The vet" I answer and continue walking. Louis keeps up with ease.
"For him?" He looks at Romeo with an annoyed expression. It pisses me off but I don't say anything.
"No, for Cheeky"
"Oh yes, how is he?"
"Fine, just checking him up. So what are you doing here?"
My question confuses him a little but he recovers quickly.
"Shopping but I've got till lunch so do you want to do something?"
"Like what?"
"Can I accompany you to the vet?"
I laugh a little, "Why?"
"Because I'm bored"
"If you want to" I shrug as we arrive at the entrance for the vet.
Louis holds the door open for me and Romeo and he closes it behind him. I walk up to the receptionist who doesn't take her eyes of Louis standing next to me. I want to smack her so badly because she isn't even listening to me.
After fifteen minutes of war, I got to see the doctor. He told me that Cheeky had an injured wing and he wouldn't be able to fly ever. The news broke my heart as I looked down into the innocent eyes of a baby cockatiel. The doctor said that a cockatiel being brown is very rare and that people would pay big money to have him.
I thanked the doctor, paid the busty receptionist and left. Louis was silent the entire time but whenever I looked at him, I would find him watching me intently as if he were studying me. He waited with Romeo in the waiting room and when I came out they had bonded quite well, they looked like old friends.
"Romeo likes you" I comment as we walk to the supermarket.
"Yeah, he's really sweet. Where did you get him?"
"A shelter. We adopted him when I first moved here a year ago" I smile at him
"Is he all alone at home or is Juliet an actual dog?"
"She's real" I laugh at him
The supermarket is warm and because the owner, Phil, was awesome, Romeo is allowed in. Louis gets two shopping carts, one for each of us and we start our spree. We walk together in each isle even if neither of us needed anything from there.
"So are you new on campus?" I ask him
"Oh no, I work nearby"
"Oh, where?"
"The gym. What are you studying at Oxford?"
"Medicine"
"What field?"
"I want to be an ER Surgeon" I smile proudly
"Oh, tough work. Where are you going to move after studying?"
"Anywhere that accepts me"
He looks disappointed as me stares at the various types of cheeses. Romeo is waiting very patiently beside us.
"What if you get a job here?" He looks back at me, eyes full of hope.
"Then I will stay here" I say warily.
We pay for our groceries separately and Louis offers to carry my bags since he only has one. I say no but he still takes it from me.
"So are you going for the party tonight?" He asks me on our way to my home
"No. I hate those"
"People?"
"No, the parties. I avoid the people at all costs" I punch his shoulder lightly but it felt like punching rock. Whether it was muscle or not, it was hard. Cheeky had been given another break chunk on our walk back.
"So you'd rather study that party?"
"Always"
"You are one strange girl, Sam"
"Strange good or strange bad?"
"Strange good" he smiles at me
"Thanks for the walk, we're here" I take the bags from him and noticing that his hand was extremely cold. I would have invited him in but I honestly didn't know him that well and I still had a couple houses to walk past.
"See ya later" he smiles and waves at me as he backs away.
I wait for him to be a safe distance away before I run towards my house. Romeo thinks its a game and runs ahead of me. He gets to the gate first but I'm the one with the opposable thumbs so I open it and let him in. I open the shoe box lid and place Chucky on the steps before rubbing Romeo down and letting him in.
"Where have you been?" Nana asks as I take off my coat
"In town" I answer
"Its nearly lunch already" she scolds me
"Sorry, Nana" I kiss her cheek and hand her the shopping bags. I run up to my room to put Cheeky back into his house. He remained on the perch on his balcony. I hear Nana talking to someone and then closing the door. I don't know what she said so I assume its just the paperboy or someone.
Lunch was simple leftover meatball sandwiches. I managed to finish my report on the lecture about the human spine and only got halfway through my essay on the heart. The assessments were only due on Wednesday but I knew better than to procrastinate.
On Sunday the skies were brighter and Romeo and Juliet could be let back out into the yard. I had to meet the crew at lunch to do rehearsals and to cover up for the cancelled lesson on Friday, the professor rescheduled the lesson for three.
I grab the flask containing warm Twinings Earl Grey Tea from Nana and a paper bag that had my meatball and salami sub.
I decide to use the Volvo today so I dump everything into the back seat. Since yesterday Romeo got to come with me, today was Juliet's turn. She jumped into the front passenger side seat and I closed the door. She stuck her head out the window very little during our trip to the studio and after training she kept her head inside during the drive to campus. She didn't want to stay in the car so she sat obediently at the entrance of the main building while I was in the lecture.
Thankfully, we weren't given any further assessments and I got to leave at six in the afternoon. I had texted Nana and told her that the lecture would be long and that since it’s a Sunday - one of the two days we don't have dinner together because she has to drive across town the next day for meetings and she wouldn't be back until Tuesday morning - she didn't have to wait up and could go to bed.
I stopped at the local book shop to buy a random novel on my way home. The book store was air conditioned and as I browsed through a few books in the far end of the store I heard a loud crash. I ran towards the sound and found someone who had fallen with a whole load of books scattered around them. I walk over and start picking up the books. The person has their hood on so I can't see their face. Once they're on their feet they just turn around and walk away leaving me to pick up the rest of the books.
I lock the door behind me after I enter the house. I take all my things up with me to me bedroom and throw all the dirty clothes into the hamper. I have a shower and go to bed. That night I dream of the bluest eyes I know, but it gets darker and darker until it turns black then blood red. Then Louis and I are in a room, a dark room with no windows or doors. Fear washes over me because I am unfamiliar with my surroundings. Louis takes my hand but his eyes are black and he starts burning, no in a fire but as if he's made of molten lava and tiny veins of liquid fire are all over his body. He pulls me closer and I go to him without any fear this time, without being afraid of getting burned. His smile disappears and I am paralyzed in his arms but I feel the heat travelling from where his skin meets mine. My skin is getting hotter and hotter but I can't let go until Louis leans down and presses his lips to my neck. It’s just a kiss except his teeth begin to extend and reshape. His canines pierce the skin of my neck and droplets of my blood begin to fall down my neck. More and more blood began to flow but I couldn't stop it. My arms pushed and shoved but he was stronger than me, keeping me his captive.
I awake with a shock gasping for air. My hand flies automatically to my neck expecting to find some sort of wound but its clean, uncut flesh. I sigh in relief and get out of bed. Its 21:30 and I'm wide awake. Cheeky is fast asleep on his perch so I open the glass door and step out onto the balcony. A wave of cold air hits me full on and my bare feet are freezing. I stand looking at the silent street for a little while before I go back in leaving the door unlocked. Maybe my subconscious is going crazy, or PMS or something.
On Monday morning I wake up at 10:33 and have a quick shower before making my own lunch and making sure the pets have enough food for the entire day. I rush out the door, my first lecture is at 11:00 and I make it there at 10:50. I balance all my books as I shove open the classroom doors and take my seat right at the back next to Ella.
"Where have you been?" She whispers as the professor takes his place in front of the chalkboard.
"Slept in late"
Heck yeah! I'm dying to know what happens next!
1/21/14