Coma

memories and reality

Baldwin, thanksgiving.

In the square of the town sat a huge tree with many ornaments from different houses, warm houses, Uncle Gregory and aunt Sierra, still together at their nineties. They were decorating together the tree, forgetting the fact that aunt Sierra can’t stand up a lot because of her bones fragility, and uncle Gregory because of his immunity deficiency , but hope and love and memories. I looked around me, couples were everywhere , I stood there alone. I felt a rush of cold that held me, so I put my arms around my shoulders, as I watched Timmy lighting the lightbulbs. The countdown for Christmas vibes has begun. Suddenly, I felt warmth hug me from the back. It was someone’s overcoat.

“you might feel cold." I looked at the sound, it was Elliot. I gave him a warm smile.

"Hi, you.

-Hey, so I have been told you were responsible for this decoration.

-yes, one of the organizers. I love this season of the year, it reminds me of family."

Suddenly, the lights went on. The view was pretty magical.

A WOW reigned, sparkles, beautiful town square decoration, people worked together to do something special.

"Great job, affirmed me Elliot.

-Thank you! I replied.

-What do you have after the dinner?

-Nothing yet.

-Would you like to come with me to the lake?

-Why would I trust you, “stranger”.

-In love concepts, you need to trust the one you love, and actually, I couldn’t get you out of my mind since the day we met, here”.

I Didn’t reply, I just stared at him, he was really handsome, he is Dilan’s cousin, he seems a gentleman.

"Okay, after the dinner, we both go to the lake”.

-Elliot! Hey buddy, hey Kate, the boys are gathered and we’re waiting for you.

-In a minute Pascal. At 9?

-Fine!

At the dinner, Elliot sat next to me. Pascal and Marie, Dilan and Matteo, Samantha was alone. Theo was surrounded by ladies, he had Rea at his right and Sophia at his left, those twins were bitches, yet extremely attractive. I kept looking at them from moment to another, Theo seemed comfortable, is he into threesomes? What the f**k am I thinking now?

“You look gorgeous tonight, this wine dress suits you well, way more different than the first time I met you here. Elliot flirted.

-We were on a girls mission that day, don’t mock the costume, I said.

-Who said I am mocking you, you’re so cute…I want to know you more.”

I gave him a shy smile, this is the first time, I felt someone cared to know my personality, trust me, last time I was in a relationship, I didn’t even feel connection with him, thank god he moved out of town and thank god our relation didn’t get into the s****l part, because for sure, I would be regretting giving my virginity to Yorgo, the selfish exchange student from Romania.

8:30 pm, we cooperated together to clean the mess we created at dinner, and we started preparing to put desserts and prepare to join the “soirée” next to the fire pit.

While I was putting some pudding on the table, Elliot took my hand and we sneaked out of Timmy’s little café, and we walked to the lake.

Elliot was taller than me, I could measure myself next to him, my head reaches his shoulder. I stood on my tiptoes to see if I can reach him.

“You cute, short girl, are you trying to reach my head?

-Yep.

-Hold on” he bent his knees forward and reached my height.

“Now I can see those eyes better.”

Elliot was just cute and caring, he is careful and a gentleman.

I Just blushed. We continued walking until we reached the lake that wasn’t that far of Timmy’s café,

Trees surrounding the lake, it was cold, the moon light enlightened this piece of Art created by God. It was magical and romantic enough, that the charms did their job, and I started crushing at this boy who came suddenly in my life and tried to know me better.

“So what are studying now? I asked Elliot,

-I am a civil engineer, I just came back to Baldwin to spent the last 3 months with my grandparents, you know since I have been abroad for too long, I missed them, and then I came back to my friends, you know Theo and I were inseparable, we did everything together.

-But you are nothing like him, he is rude, weird, you’re the total opposite.

-He is a strong guy, you don’t know what he suffered, yet this isn’t my story to tell, you can ask him. All I can tell you, he had a rough childhood.

-mmm, that explains why Marie was uncomfortable every time we talk about family in front of her. Someday, I may know. Now tell me more about yourself.

-I like tennis, this is my favorite sport.

-I’m more into soccer.

-Interesting, do you watch it often?

-Yes, with Matteo and the boys, they are so enthusiastic. I replied.

- what about other hobbies, do you have any talent?

-I play piano, when I am sad.

-I wish you could get the world and be happy, your smile is what makes me crazy, said Elliot while looking at my lips. I felt a rush in my heart as he leaned in and kissed me. His lips tasted like the wine he was drinking at the dinner.

I deepened the kiss, this is something else, I needed it. His perfume was addicting. I remembered my kiss with Theo, I felt his hands around me, when I called him a psycho because he kissed me back. What am I doing now?

“Let’s take this slow, please. I pulled back.

-Fine by me as long as you’re here, with me. Said Elliot, then he held my hand and we continued walking together.

I just released the tension I felt for this guy the moment he gave me his jacket and showed some interest in me, the was an amazing kiss, an amazing little walk that would obviously get ruined.

Ring. My phone rang. It was Matteo.

“Hey, where are you? Your friends didn’t see you and I was worried sick.

-I am sorry, I sneaked out without telling anyone, is there anything wrong?

-No, but our Nana came back to home, hurry she is asking for you!”

Nana, or our grandma Amelie, she was the one who stayed with us while we were younger, after our parents went abroad.

“Is there anything wrong? Asked me Elliot.

-No, just my granny came back to town and she is asking for me, can we get back?

-Sure, but hey before you go, would you like to go out soon?

-let me think about it, give me some time, I teased him.

- what about now, he stepped forward, and cupped my cheek with his hand. God, I melted. Why is he this addicting? I just gave him a smile.

“That’s an ok for me, tomorrow, I am taking you for a movie, get ready at 7.”

NYC.

Theo’s POV.

“f**k this, you drive me nuts Theo, said Naomi, as I was tracing kisses down her neck, to her bra where I just touched her breasts through the thin fabric. Her moans were my sign of her appreciation. I continued numbing behind her ears as my hands were satisfying her inner femininity. I bet she was seeing heaven. This girl, tiny slim girl who would surrender herself to me blindly, who loves me purely, more than anything; when I met her at the bar that night, it may be the best thing that happened to me in the past 3 years. As she came into my life, everything became better. I remembered what does it mean to be surrounded by someone who loves you. Do I love her? I can’t lie but I was just fooling around, with her, and she knows this, hoping I would love her one day, but I guess it is never gonna happen. Why? It is all because of that girl, the one who was wearing unicorn pajamas at the subway station that night. God, I missed her bad. If I could meet her one more time now, just to make things clear. But probably, she might be with Elliot, plus I won’t involve her in danger, aka, my involvements.

Naomi has the most beautiful blue eyes I have ever seen, she has this silky bronze skin that I love to touch. Her long dark brown hair that I pull whenever we’re having s*x is one of her favorites acts. She would completely, give herself in to me. The moment I saw her at the club that night, I knew she would stick around, but that I never knew, she’ll be my friend in my loneliest nights. My thoughts were cut when she tightened her hands around my bare back.

“Please, get in me, I need you.”

With one thrust, her moan reached the neighbors in the next apartment. Few moments later, I left her side and went to grab a cigarette, now that everything is getting chaos in my head, I needed to relax a bit. I put on my sweatpants and went to the balcony. New York’s lights never failed to give me power.

I felt a cold glass touching my back, it was Naomi with scotch.

“Here, you might need it.

-Thanks.

-“In una notte d’amore”, she murmured while tracing her fingers on the tattoo, on my chest under my collarbone. “On a night of love, you always were mystery to me, but this tattoo tells me more about you.” She looked me now in the eyes. I looked away. Then she continued touching my abdomen until she reached a scar underneath my left diaphragm. A scar, that till today, I can feel its pain, I flinched.

“what did you face? What made you leave your town and come here?

-I wanted to find myself.

-I love how you’re independent and you could do whatever you want, I can’t. she said sadly.

-You know you are goodhearted. I love this about you. You have the look of a Baddie, but you’re softhearted. If you just do what you want, believe me you will satisfy yourself, ok? I’ll be here for you anytime you want, you know this.

-I love you. She said and then she hugged me tight. “ And I am not intending to hear it back from you now, I just want you to know that. Maybe, one day, you’ll return my love back.

-I don’t know what to say…

-Shush, just let me stay here, in your arms, I feel safe, like someone has my back. Everyone else in my life wants something from me, even my parents, all they want is money. But, with you, its pure.

-Naomi, you don’t have to… Suddenly the phone rang, it was Aaron, the mobster guy who landed my father money to play poker, yet I was the one who was asked to look after everything.

“Where are you? Leave whatever you’re doing and be at the new club’s location.

-coming”. I hung up.

“Naomi, I am going now, feel comfortable and be my guest please.

-No, I am going home, you drop me there and you can join me when you finish”.

I wore a leather jacket, underneath it a turtle neck sweater, paired with black jeans and black boots. As for Naomi, she took off my shirt she was going around the house after our little act, into her black mini dress she came in earlier. As we walked down the building, there were paparazzi taking pictures. We rushed to my Yamaha YZF-R, where I gave Naomi her helmet and then we took off.

The paparazzi were chasing her personal life. She doesn’t mind them to take photos of us. I don’t. But we were on a hurry. I don’t want an angry Aaron to sabotage my night more than this.

After I stopped at Naomi’s, I went to the new club location. As I entered, I noticed Aaron, that tall huge blond guy, who is surrounded by many of his bodyguards. Now that I have to work for him, it was the time that I invest with his work to fulfill our agreement of paying my father’s debt. My father now is at prison, I bet he is gambling with the prisoners or fighting over a cheap whiskey bottle like he did in the last time I saw him.

As for my mother, she left me when I was a 4 years old kid, and my sister Marie when she was 1. Marie…

Tears filled my eyes when Aaron approached me.

“What do you think of the decoration?

-Great actually, if only you could do more neon lighting for the bar and move the sitting and the tables to the corner over there next to the bartender. It would be large enough to have fun on the dance floor.

-Great point of view. I knew you would succeed the moment I saw you clever boy. Now come over with me and lets check the suits upstairs. It is made for special guests and VIP members.”

The club was a modern styled with neon lights at the ceilings and at the walls of the bar, they were incredible. There was a corner for pole dancers. This club was in general a fancy one with high design budget.

As we walked upstairs, it was calmer than below.

Most of the rooms, were huge, had comfy beds, huge view at the skyscrapers, and was decorated with beautiful romantic curtains, romantic low lights, it was a vibe.

On the walls, were paintings that I drew, ones that reminded me of my past in Baldwin, with Kate and Marie. I sold some of them to many rich people, and I painted others for this club. They were beautiful, I loved them here. The colored walls were contrasted with the black and white other walls contrasted with the paintings. The carpets were mostly red, one that have this affectionate vibes. There were plenty of decorative plants. In general, the place was cozy and romantic, yet fancy.

“I love these rooms. I said. I looked at Aaron who paced out for a while, I continued, “Are you okay, R?

-Actually, I want to tell you something. Since the day you took responsibility for your dad’s acts, and you started working for me, I knew you were someone I can trust. I may not be the best boss ever, but you were really working hard those three years and you are a loyal guy. So, I want you to take care of this club and invest in it, it may help you fulfill your debt sooner.”

What? Is what I am hearing true?