Chapter 9 9.

Maria

Have you ever done something that everybody said would be a risk? I surely did. I was told each time that leaving home and coming to New York would be a big mistake. Was it? Surely not.

I felt independent, and coming to New York was the best and most challenging decision I had to make.

I did miss my mother, but we were always in contact. I owe everything I am to my parents. Although my father is no more, I know that he did everything he could to keep us happy.

It had been a week since the fight in the cafeteria, and my lip hurt a lot less. When I told my mother about it, she had a major panic attack, and if Jack did not calm her down, it was going to be very tough. You know how protective mothers can be.

My thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door. Can't a girl have some alone time? It was half past 11. I wonder who came so late. Melinda had gone on a date, and I knew she would not be back till morning. Maybe it was a thief or worse a rapist.

Calm down, Maria. That's all I said to console myself. I took a hockey bat and moved to the door, trying to remember God as much as possible.

Oh dear God, if I die today, please send me to heaven and please tell my family I loved them, and Melinda that earlier tonight a guy came by asking for her, and tell Charles that he is hot.

What? Seriously? I simply shut up and moved towards the door.

I opened the door to see a nicely shaped back. I could see his toned biceps because his sleeves were rolled up. Every girl would agree that rolled-up sleeves are such a major turn-on. At this moment, I could give up my chocolates to see who it was.

"Hey Maria? May I come in? I haven't come to hurt you again. You can put the hockey bat down." Charles said in a rather confused tone and started giggling. It was Charles. It had to be him. Nobody in college would look that tempting even from the back.

"Umm, ye.." I was cut off when his hand reached my lip. This touch brought tingling to my body. This never happens, I mean it does, but only in books. I thought it was the most stupid thing that was written, but it is true. One person's touch can make shivers run across your body.

"Maria? Are you still hurt? Does it hurt too much?" He asked, and that's when I realized that he was still there, and I started focusing on him.

"Um.... no, come in," I said. I was a little hesitant to call him inside. He made me nervous, and the idea of us alone in the same room made me more nervous.

He came inside and started looking around. He had worn a blue T-shirt and denims. I wonder how he looked so good in everything he wore.

"Are you done checking me out? " He asked, grinning at me.

"No, actually I was..." I was cut by him.

"It's alright, Charlotte, I know I am too hot." He smirked.

Yes, you are too hot, my brain immediately said.

"Whatever makes you sleep at night," I replied instead. We both laughed at this statement.

"Maria, listen?" He said and turned me around, facing him. Suddenly, his fun tone changed to a little serious one, but more of a concerned one.

"Yes?" I was confused by the look on his face. He looked so innocent and worried that it made me worried.

Strange, right?

"I am sorry. I swear to God I didn't do it intentionally. I just couldn't take it. I was furious at him, and you shouldn't have come in the middle. Trust me, I didn't know. I would never hurt you seriously, I do not know why I got so boiled up. I am sorry, I did not mean to do it. I was thinking about it the entire week, and trust me, I feel horrible. Please forgive me?"

He sat down with a sigh of relief. It was like he had learnt this speech and worked very hard on it. It made my heart flutter that he actually took the effort to come here and apologise to me.

I put my hands on his cheek and pulled his face towards mine. I looked into his eyes, and slowly, my hands went around his waist. I hugged him tightly. I felt comforted, I felt protected when I did that.

It seemed as if it was the right thing to do. At first, he seemed a little hesitant, but then he circled his arms around mine and hugged me.

"Charles, it's alright. I know you would not do it on purpose. I know you would never hurt me, I know it." I said, still in his arms. I did not want to leave his arms. Not today, not tomorrow, never. This was a completely new feeling, and it was weird because it had been just a week since I met him.

"Charles?"

"Hmm?" It seemed as if he was least interested in the question. All he wanted to do was stay there. I wanted the same thing, too.

"I know we just met a month ago, but I find a different connection with you. It's different. I like being with you. I like being like this. I like our connection. I do." I said. I was scared of his reaction. I thought he would pull back and say I was weird.

"Charlotte? You know something? I like it too. Even though I do not like eating with you. There is nothing left for me." He laughed. I was furious at him. I might have sometimes taken a few fries from his plate, but that does not mean that I don't let him eat.

"Don't move." He groaned as I tried to pull away from his arms.

"Do you mean to say that I am fat? That its not a very good thing to say to a girl." I said that and moved away from him.

"Hey Charlotte, you know I was kidding. Let me make it up to you. Do you have a movie? Let's watch it together. I could make the popcorn, and I don't mind watching some girly film too." He said sweetly. I can't believe he fell for that. I was laughing inside.

"Hey, I am not that girly type, pick any movie you want, action would be better," I said. I like romantic movies too, but not always. Action movies have more thrills.

"Really? That's cool, let me get you the popcorn, Charlotte. Anything else?" He asked, bowing down.

"Yes, please. Don't come back soon." I said and laughed. It's funny how you can find comfort in someone in such a short time.

"Stop lying, Charlotte, you know you love me." He winked. How could he be so cute?

I don't know how he managed to bring all those butterflies in my stomach. After some time, I settled on the bed and was ready with a scary movie. I indeed was scared of them, but they were fun.

"I am back." He came back with a bucket of popcorn and ice cream in his hand. He was trying to balance them both.

"What are we watching?" He said, placing the popcorn near the couch, and adjusted the pillows for a comfortable spot. He was a very organised person. He needs everything in place all the time.

"The Conjuring 2. Now come here fast." I said as I jumped onto the couch, grabbing the bowl of popcorn. He joined in, too, and then the movie started.

There came a point where the girl was heading to the room in the middle of the night. Are they dumb? They know the house is haunted, yet they roam around the house all alone. Please don't open the door, please don't open the door.

"She opened the door," I yelled, and clutched Charles's T-shirt really tight.

"This is going to leave some serious nail marks." He said as he wrapped his hand around my waist to comfort me. I scooted further, and at one point, I clung to him.

"Did you choose this movie to take advantage of me?" As soon as he said that, my hand left his shirt, and I regained my normal position. This was very awkward. For a moment, both of us looked at each other, realising what had just happened.