Anywhere But Home

{3} Trouble with the room 263

Emily Roberts

''So... Emily.'' Tori called breaking the silence between us. We had been staring awkwardly to each other for about two minutes. ''Where are you from?'' She inquired taking a sit on the chair beside her bed. I hate this part. Introductions are always weird.

''Canada.'' I replied taking a sit on my bed. I figure that it's better to stick with the life I 'created' on the cab ride towards here. ''And you?'' I asked trying to dodge the conversation away from myself.

''New York.'' She answered with a huge smile on her face. Oh, how I miss New York... ''Have you ever been there?'' She asked, probably noticing the small smile that appeared on my lips.

''I have.'' I shortly replied. What are you doing Em? No one should know that you've been there. Are you crazy?! My consciousness strikes. Oh calm down, will you? It's not like I was the only person who has been there. ''On holidays.'' I added.

''I love living there.'' She confessed. ''A lot of people say that it is too crowded, but living in Manhattan is perfect. I'm going to miss it so badly.'' She sighed and I could tell that coming here was probably not her first option. Wait... Did she live in Manhattan? Oh my god! Me too! Oh man... Of all the people on campus why did, I had to be stuck with a person that reminds me of my old life? Is this is some twisted payback for what I said earlier God? Because if it is, I'm sorry. ''What's your major?'' She continued.

''What?'' I asked coming back from my thoughts.

''What are you majoring in?'' She repeated.

''Oh!'' I gasped letting out an embarrassing smile. ''Medicine.'' I replied. ''And you?''

''Environmental engineering.'' She answered.

''That's a really interesting major.'' I complimented her choice. It's admirable seeing our generation looking after our environment.

''Thank you!'' She thanked me smiling. ''Well, you know... Some people take care of humans...'' She pointed at me and chuckled. ''Others have to take care of the rest of the species.'' She added shrugging.

''Yeah. You do have a point.'' I said smiling at her. She is really nice to talk to. I admit I was scared. I hadn't talked with a human being for more than five minutes over two years.

''I thought I was really far from home, but you definitely beat me up on that.'' She chuckled smiling. She is really stunning. I wish I was like her. Blonde with blue eyes...

''What can I say? Kids will always be rebels.'' I added grinning. ''When did you arrived?''

''Yesterday.'' She said getting up for her chair and walking to the bed in front of mine, which I presume to be hers, taking a sit. ''My parents came with me, but they had to leave...'' She added showing a sad smile. ''They got called for work... Lawyers and their jobs always in the way of their family.'' She concluded this time sarcastically with her hands in front of her lab, fingers intertwined with her thumbs tapping against each other. I'm sensing that her parents aren't a thing she wants to talk about, so I better change the topic, ASAP.

I cleared my throat. ''It's almost eight pm.'' I stated looking at the clock. ''Did you eat yet?''

She smiled and muttered me a 'thank you' maybe because I changed topic. ''No actually I haven't!'' She said jumping off the bed and grabbing my hand to get up also. ''And I'm not in the mood to cook, because let's be honest here, I honestly don't know how to cook anyway.'' She said smiling. ''So we...'' She grabbed both of my arms and lifted up my dying body from the bed. ''Are going out.'' I turned around immediately and narrowed my eyes at her sending my pleading eyes hoping that she is kidding. I've been flying all day. I just want to stay here and sleep. ''Don't look at me like that. You don't know me yet, but let me just tell you this. I'm too stubborn.'' She said proudly.

''Okay.'' I sighed in defeat. I'm too starving to argue about it. ''Is the college bar still open?'' I asked and she started laughing at me. Did I say something funny? I'm clueless here.

''The bar?'' She said still laughing. ''Oh honey... We're going to a restaurant.'' The stated lifting a finger. ''My uncle's. Vero Italian Restaurant.'' She informed taking her phone off the charger and putting it into her purse.

''That sounds expensive.'' I muttered to myself, hoping that she didn't hear me.

''It is.'' She heard me. Oh lord. ''But don't worry. He makes special prices for me.'' She said sending me a reassuring smile. ''Besides, it will give us the opportunity to get to know each other. Now please hurry, because I want to get there before the restaurant closes.'' I signed but obeyed.

''Emily, can you please call a cab?'' Tori asked me yelling from the bathroom.

''I don't have the number of any cabs.'' I yelled back. Gosh! Now I wish I had kept a card from the man who brought me here.

''Me neither.'' She shouted again. ''Please go to the reception. They have numbers of cabs there.'' She informed closing the door. ''I'm just going to use the toilet and I'll see you down there in five minutes.''

I grabbed my purse and some money and exited the room. I really need to buy a phone. I thought to myself.

***

''Am I not making myself clear here? We need the room for today.'' A guy, with medium height and brown hair, yelled slamming his fist on the reception's desk.

''I know that.'' The receptionist said trying to calm the tempers. ''But there was a mix-up and the room 263 is already occupied.'' Oh, it's our room.

''Does it look like we care?'' Another guy that was beside the first one said looking even more upset. ''Kick them out of there.'' The guy said stepping forward. ''Don't you know who my father is?''

''Yes, I know.'' The poor guy said looking down. ''Jared Smith, the owner of Smith & O'Conner enterprise.'' The guy completed. Smith & O'Conner enterprise? Crap... They the best software company on the market. Their patrimony is estimated at around 200 million dollars. I'm actually surprised why a guy like him would be staying here and not in a penthouse with all the luxuries.

''Then find us a room.'' The upset guy continued. ''Or this will be the last place you'll ever find a job at.''

I had enough. I just can't stand the way that they talking to the poor guy. He is just doing his job.

''If you're so rich, go to a hotel and leave the poor guy alone.'' I stated crossing my arms. They both turned around to face me.

''Who the hell do you think you are?'' The upset guy asked me narrowing his eyes at me.

''I'm the person that has your room.'' I stated confidently. I honestly didn't know where that courage all came from.

Then he looked back at the guy behind the counter. ''So you gave our room to this thing?'' He asked with disdain.

''Thing?'' Who the hell does he think he is? ''Listen, I'm in a hurry, so if you're done yelling like a crazy person over a room, move over, because I have better things to do than staying here listening to your problems.'' I snapped passing in front of both of them. I gave a sorry face to the receptionist. ''Can I have the list of cab numbers please?'' I asked politely. I looked over my shoulder and saw the two with their arms crossed over their chest looking possessed at me.

''Thank you.'' I thanked Jack. I saw his name embroidery on his t-shirt.

I quickly made the call.

''You better be careful with those two.'' Jack muttered looking at me. ''Especially with Christopher Smith.'' He added but when he saw that I didn't know which one of them he was talking about he completed. The two guys may be brothers, I don't know. ''The taller one.'' I looked over my shoulder again to see who it was. Oh, it's the upset guy.

''Emily.'' I heard Tori calling me. ''Sorry if I took a little bit more.'' She apologized walking closer to me. She stopped and looked at both of the guys that were standing behind me but quickly looked back at me.

''It's okay.'' I smiled at her. ''Let's go?'' Now, I'm the one dying to get the hell out of here.

''Sure!'' She replied taking a little jump of excitement.

She walked out of the building, while Christopher grabbed my arm and pulled me back inside.

''You will pay for that.'' He said squeezing my arm really tightly. ''No one makes a fool out of me.'' And then he loosen up his grip.

''I want to see you try.'' I replied before turning on my heels and walking away.

The ride until the restaurant was actually really funny and I learned a lot of things about Tori. She is an Aquarius. Her favourite movie is Harry Potter. Potter is life! She can't swim but she said that she wants to learn it still. She hates cats but loves dogs. Her favourite food is pizza. And she was a little sister called Charlotte that she said and I quote 'Annoys the living soul out of her, but don't imagine living in a world without her sorry ass'. Oh... the love of siblings is so amazing sometimes...

When we were in the car Tori called her uncle to book a table for two. He said she did very well by calling because today they are almost full with reservations.

''Hello Victoria!'' The manager greeted Tori walking towards her. ''Long time no see!'' Both of them hugged each other.

''Hey Regina.'' Tori replied smiling. ''This is my friend Emily.'' She said pointing at me.

''Hello there.'' Regina greeted me. ''So table for two?'' She continued when she saw that there were customers arriving behind us.

''Yes.'' Tori confirmed. She walked us over to our table and that's when all the hunger I was feeling disappeared faster than a bullet being shot out of a gun.

Oh. f**k. No.

What the hell are they doing in here?