Over The Ocean

Chapter Four

The buzzing sound coming from the machine told me that my friend let Derek in the building.

”Josie-” I say as I pull my bag and suitcase towards the door out the apartment.

”Phone- kitchen counter.” Josie says as she open the door, only to hear a faint shutting sound from the front door two stairs down.

“Please don’t embarrass me.” I say pleadingly and as I snatch my phone.

”Thought you didn’t care.” she say very lowly as we hear the steps louder this time.

Then there he sands. Derek in my childhood friends apartment staring straight at me. His eyes not leaving mine and if I were Josie I would've immediately kicked off the shoes, pulled on the high heels followed by the ridicoulus jumpsuit lying on the couch.

”Hi-” Josie say as she stretch her hand towards Derek ”I’m Josie.”

Derek doesn't look away from me but is polite enough to shake her hand back ”Derek.”

I look away first, glancing at Josie who is looking from one to the other and crossing her arms. Then her gaze automatically moves back to Derek who is still looking at me.

”Maybe we should go.” I say, uncomfortable under his watching gaze.

”I’m okay with that.” is Dereks only reply.

I go to Josie to hug her.

”Hej, var inte sur. Han gillar nog dig, lite.” I whisper in her ear. [Hey, don't be mad. He probably likes you, a little]

She pushed me away to give me a look that says a lot.

”Jag älskar dig.” I snicker and give her another hug [I love you]

”I love you too beautiful.” she smiles back at me.

I take my suitcase and my cardigan, I packed my jacket into the bag. Just as we are about to walk out the door, Josie is reminded of something and turns around to grab something, it's my bag.

”Don’t forget this one.” she says playfully. she leans in closer and whisper ”I want it back later!”

I got a feeling that I knew what she was refering to and I still wasn't sure I wanted to use it.

”Bye.”

As we get down to the parkinglot I see the car and in the back I see a light figur hop up and down.

”I’m guessing she was glad you were back to save her?” I smile.

He scratched his neck and shrugged, then he laughed ”We’ll see when we get home..”

He unlock the car and I get the impression that he is more comfortable now. He seem to be a different person now, more carefree.

As soon as he open the door, the light colored giant ball of hair jump out like a bat from hell, her tail wag and she bounce back and forth.

”Sit.” Derek sternly says and sit immediately she sits down. Once she calms down Derek says ”Can you say hello?”

Nikki raises her left paw and barks twice.

”Hi there.” I say as she sits beside Derek. ”She’s really pretty.”

”Jump back in, Nikki.” Derek intructs and Nikki jumps back in.

”And obedient, is she always like this?”

“Yes and no.” he smile. ”Okay, let’s get going.”

We jumped into the car and Derek started the engine. Before rolling away, he open the glove compartment in front of me and take out a small package. He give it to me and I melt as I read what it is.

”You went and bought me chocolate?”

”Well, I do believe in sharing, so I bought it for us.” he says with a smile. Relieved over my reaction.

Nikki stuck her head out and look around. I hold out my hand to let her sniff me and a moment later she pulls back and lays down on the back seat.

”Don’t you have a cage or seatbelt for her?” I ask.

“Well, yeah, but she doesn’t like the cage so I’m only using that when we’re going far and the seatbelt thing she chewed to bits.” I look at him, hearing but not understanding. Chewed through a seatbelt, designed for dogs?

”You’re kidding right?”

He shakes his head and smile.

I drop the subject and slip into a dream state, getting a major deja vú. It is so harmonious with just Derek and Nikki in the car, I could stay there forever. I would miss everyone back home if I stayed. My mum, father, my brothers, my grandparents and Casper. Especially Casper.

Then the car stop, I glance at the clock and we'd been driving for about fifteen minutes, and when I look up I see that we are standing in front of a tall white fence. Derek pull out a remote control and the gate opens, the car continue to roll forward and I glance in the rearview mirror and to see the gate close. When he stop and shut the engine off, I open the door at the same time as Derek and go to retrieve my suitcase, we walk together towards the house. The house in it self is a shade of blue that is quite unusual and Nikki rushes around the house and into the garden.

”It reminds me of the ocean.” I say and raise my eyebrow.

”Yeah, well- I love it” he says with a shrug.

”You’re a shrugger.” I say as he pulls out his key and unlocks the door. He laughs and hold the door open for me.

It isn't really a remarkable place, by any means, modern but cozy. It feels special, you enter directly into a small hall that is hall, kitchen and living room all in one.

You can see most of the apartment from what I can assess. The kitchen nook, which consisted of a sink, four hotplates with an oven underneath, a bench surface, fridge and freezer, was in a dark pattern and there was a small table with three chairs. The walls were a dark, almost black color and the floor was walnut colored.

There is a divider between the kitchen and the living room, in the living room there is a black corner sofa, a huge TV with Xbox and giant speakers.

I take off my shoes and leave the suitcase, I hear Derek close the door and then he walk past me, take the guitar out of the case and put it in the holder next to the couch.

"Would you like something to drink?" he ask, looking at me with uncertainty.

”I’m actually hungry.” I say and feel my cheeks redden.

He looks relieved. ”Good, me too!”

He goes around the couch and devider ”Mimi left some chicken for me but I’m sure we can split it on two.”

Now, who the hell is Mimi? I search my memory if he'd mention it before but no, no bell ring.

”Mimi cleans and sees to it that my fridge is full and takes care of my garden.” he say even though I did not ask.

“You have a housekeeper?”

”Well, she lives in the poorer district of LA and she needed a job. So I let her clean and fix around here and she gets money for it. Win-win.”

I choke up a little at the kindness he shows for others, if I ever fell in love again he is damn fine base material, the only question is does he match the other points as well?

”Chicken is good.” I turn and continue on my journey of discovery. There is a toilet with sink and washing machine directly to the right from the front door, but no bath or shower? I discover a bedroom with a large bed as well as a dog bed and built-in wardrobes.

I walk out of the bedroom again and look out the huge windows, the amazing view and the ocean greets me. The sun is just setting on the horizon and the sunset is incredible.

I open the door and walk out on the huge wooden deck and it stretched around the house going around the corner. 'Outside' the kitchen there is a tall brown fence all around and I sneak in between, it goes in a labyrinth but after two turns I come to a jacuzzi which is turned off. I sit down on the steps and let it all sink in. This is truly like entering a fairy tale. How can this guy with this incredible nice place bring himself to invite me home, what is the downside?

My subconscious argue back with Why does there have to be a downside?

I decide that it doesn't have to and get up to go back. Whatever it is, I'd probably find out sooner or later. But Josie had said he is fine.

I go back to the door and there is another tall wooden plank, to the right of the door, so I follow my curiosity and conclude that this is where he shower. I'm right! There is a shower there. I wonder what it's like to shower outside in the winter, although here in LA it probably never gets as cold as back home in Sweden.

That's when I hear light paws, as I turn around Nikki come up to me.

”Hi, girl.” I say and hunch down on my knees ”You okay?”

She sat down and stared at me, I scratch behind her ear while I sit in my own thoughts. About two minutes goes by and then Nikki lifts her head.

”Rosie? Nikki?”

Nikki barks once then runs towards Dereks voice. As I emerge from 'the shower' Derek and Nikki plays.

”Taking a shower?” he muse and grin.

“Ha-ha.” I say with sarcasm.

”Well, there’s food on the table.” He indicates with his hand for me to go inside, I lead the way and he pulls out the chair for me.

”Do you drink?”

”Not like an alcoholic if that’s what you mean.” I answer.

“Would you like a beer?” he asks.

“No, I would love one!” Luckily he pulls out two light beers. The dark kind never did appeal to me.

The chicken was amazing, we ate it in tortilla breads with cobs and a hot sauce. Once our plates were empty, Derek pulls out a bag with donuts!

”Oooooooooh!” I clap my hands in delight.

He smile, happy about my happiness.

Although I only did eat one it was amazing, still a little warm in the middle.

”Save these for later?” I nod towards the four remaining donuts.

”Sure.” he nods and starts picking up our plates.

”Want any help?” I ask as i stand up to help him.

”I wash and you’ll dry-“ sa han och log pillemariskt.

Nikki came and lay down under the table when we get up, she calmly watches us as we moved in a strangely synchronized. We easily fall into a comfortable rhythm. I sigh contentedly.

"What?" Derek ask and looks at me.

I find myself blushing and shaking my head.

“Hey. Tell me or I'll splash you with water.”

“You wouldn't!” I say, stunned, calling his bull?

"Oh yeah, I would love to give you a real Los Angeles water fight!" he grins.

"Oh boy, you're not joking?"

He shake his head no. He is a funny mix between adult and teenager. Teenager, something I haven't been in a long time.

"We just fell in to-" I say, looking down at the plate I'm holding. "such a comfortable rhythm. I wouldn’t mind staying there for a while and forget a lot.”

He put the bowl he was holding back in the water and when I look back up at his face, his eyes meet mine.

”There’s something with you that’s different.” he hold my gaze for a few more seconds and the looks back at the bowl in the water. ”You’re not like anyone I’ve ever met.”

”You met a lot of women from Sweden?”

“Women in general, they always try to get in my pants, since mid-teens. I'm really thankful for the fact that my friends are kind of good looking so that they don’t feel threaten by me.”

“You’re different now.” Yeah, thanks for nothing stupid non-functioning filter... Luckily the dishes were done, si I put the bowl back in a cabinet and hang the towel back. I take my beer and walk over to the couch where I sit down. Nikki jump up beside me in the couch. Derek went to the loo and then collected his beer and sat down beside Nikki.

”Different from on the plane?” he say and raise his eyebrow.

”Yeah.”

”I’m more comfortable at home, I guess, but you make me nervous somehow.” He say, looking away from me.

“Music?” I decide to give him a break and change the topic.

”I could play some of mine but I don’t think you’re drunk enough for that.”

I just laugh and laugh, how on earth does he manage that sentence without sounding condescending? After that we talk about music for a while before I need to visit the loo. At that, Derek pick up two new beers. We go out and stand looking out over the now darker sea and then I have a thought. "How can you afford living here with the beach so close?"

“Grandpa bought this land quite a few years ago and he sold out every piece of land except this one and he gave it to me as a graduation present. He’s got two other pieces of land saved up for Tasha and Nessa elsewhere, but I’m the oldest so I got to choose first.”

“No pressure, right.” I say, smiling at my re-use of meaning.

He smile along. "We could go to the Jacuzzi, Rosie."

“I would love to do that!” I say smiling a hearty smile which he return. My subconscious look at me sternly over her book and glasses.

You should tell him. It's really not fair, he tells a lot about himself and opens up. You should too. I took a deep breath.

”Rosie-” he interrupts, his eyes searching mine. ”It’s just a hot tub.”

”It’s not the tub.” I say, breathing in through my nose and out through my mouth. But I give up on what I'm going to say, it can wait as long as he doesn't want to go to far until here, it was pointless for now.

Are you sure about that?

No, I wasn't. I'm not at all sure this is pointless. It means a lot to me even if I don't want to admit it out loud or debate the pros and cons.

Who are you trying to convince? She insist.

I go to retrieve my black and white bathing suit from the suitcase. I brought two bathing suits and a bikini. But I'm not ready for the bikini yet. It showes quite a bit, too much in other words.

I change in the toilet and then I take my towel and go out to the jacuzzi. I let go of the towel and let my braid out but instead of letting it fall down my back I swing it up in a knot on my head so it won't get wet.

I didn't even notice Derek was standing behind me until I turn a little and glance back.

”You know, you could say something or at least cough.” I say and turn completely.

”You look magnificent.” he breaths out.

I turned again and took the two steps up and sank into the wonderful water. I settle in, the bubbles and the warm water soften my muscles.

After a couple of seconds, Derek sink down across from me. He hands me another beer and one for himself.

"Where's Nikki?" I ask to break the silence.

"She was on the couch the last time I saw her."

Then we sit in silence for a while and I feel slightly strange, kind of like excited. It must be the hot water and the beer, I decide to myself. But certainly the man sitting across from me adds to the excitement.

Derek put his beer down and grab my left foot, he hold it in his hands for a little while and then start massaging it.

"I haven't been pampered like this for a very long time." I close my eyes and push away the snidely side of me that is nagging about what he wants in return. Go away.

After a while he switch to my other foot.

“Rosie.” he say and stop massaging. When I open my eyes, he is sitting next to me searching my eyes. "Can I kiss you?"

The pleasant state I'm in is immediately washed away. The beer did its job and I became cloudy in the head. It is never good to kiss someone when you are drinking, experience told me.

So I sit up and look away from him. He takes it the wrong way of course.

"I'm sorry." he starts and now I feel stupid for him apologizing.

“No.” I say slowly, thinking about how to phrase myself. "I'm sorry for not being... ready, I guess." I say shrugging as I turn and look back into his eyes. "We did meet today you know."

"Maybe we should get up." he exhales, almost imperceptibly.

“Sounds like a plan.” I say and start to get up but my footing isn't the best and I plunge face first into the water. Splashing water everywhere. When I come back up to the surface I want to sink back down, Derek sit there trying not to laugh.

“Try harder.” I sigh sligthly irritated.

I get up again and this time manage to get a good footing. I take my towel and turn to look at Derek, now he isn't laughing anymore so I smile.

"Like a newborn gazelle." the smile turning into a grin.

“Right.” he snicker, he grabs his beer before standing up and stepping out without falling. I look at him and he look at me, I raise an eyebrow and he shrugs. "Old habits die hard?"

"That's a good movie! Do you have it?” I ask enthusiastically.

“Sure.” He say and we go into the house to get dressed. I have my suitcase in the bedroom where he have his clothes and we bump a bit when we are going to pass each other, I collect myself and continue to the toilet where I dry my hair and get dressed.

We spent the rest of the evening watching the Die Hard movies.