Pay Off

Don’t make a deal with the devil

The smile on Cole’s face dropped ever so slightly as he noticed I wasn’t smiling, nor was I reaching to shake his hand back.

“I didn’t…” I started but was quickly distracted by the dark shadow approaching in the door way.

“Amelia, Dear” Travis boomed as he neared and wrapped an arm around my shoulders. “I was just telling Cole here about your unfortunate situation”

“Oh?” I replied. My intrigue clearly written across my face. I wanted to say so much more but with the shock I was feeling from the situation, I was glad I at least managed to get ‘oh’ out.

“It was highly unfortunate for your accommodation plans to fall through so last minute. Luckily Cole here hadn’t yet found himself a roommate for this place. He knew I wouldn’t let such a good family friend go without a home, so he’s only happy to have you here, aren’t you son?”

To my surprise, Cole smiled again “Sure thing. I’m so sorry about your plans but hopefully you’ll find everything you need here. That room looks almost like it was decorated with you in mind” as he pointed to the room I’d recently left my belongings in.

So Travis hadn’t told his Son who I really was. “Yeah, I love it thank you so much”. Thanking a Talbot for anything left a bitter taste in my mouth, but my Mom raised me to always have manners. No matter the situation and the words had come out on instinct.

Suddenly Travis let go of my shoulders and walked towards his son. “Cole, be a gentleman. We saw Amelias car still full of her belongings downstairs when we walked past, go grab what you can and bring it up. You really should make our guest feel at home” No hint of a question was in his tone, he was clearly telling Cole he was to do this. But Cole didn’t seem to be to put out by the request.

“Oh no I don’t want to be any trouble I can do that myself” I cried. I didn’t need any more ‘help’ from this family.

Cole shrugged, “It’s fine Lia, I skipped the gym today so it will be good for me to get some cardio in”. He offered me a genuine wide smile as he walked out the door. Oh how I had missed that smile. It was like sunshine. Bright, blinding and oh so beautiful.

Travis quickly turned to me his tone suddenly turning serious, “My son has no idea your reasons for being here or how you are connected to my family. If you wish to remain here, he will never know the reasons. You will not socialise with him. You will not be his friend. You shall only occupy the room opposite his, beyond that he is to be nothing to you.”

I had grown up a lot since my first deal with Travis and I would not be walked over by this man so easily this time. “Forgive me, Mr Talbot. The terms of our deal was that you would provide accommodation in exchange for me not telling the authorities of your families involvement in destroying my family. I never told the authorities. Our deal does not extend to you dictating who will or will not be my friend”. I offered what would be a menacing smile.

Without a beat, Mr Talbot replied “My, how you have grown young lady. But let me remind you, Amelia, it was MY money that got you into this school and into this apartment. Just as easily, my word can take all this away from you. Do you honestly believe if you was to point your finger at my son now, after all these years, that any self-respecting person would ever truly believe you? Now, I have told you once, do not make me tell you twice. You will not fraternise with my son”.

With that, Travis turned and left the apartment. Well this isn’t going to quite be as easy as I originally thought. The thing with Cole, was that he was so effortlessly popular. He had a magnetic pull no soul could ever resist. He was going to attract a lot of attention at NBU. And I was going to be his roommate. But couldn’t speak to him. May as well put a loser hat on now and be done with it as that’s how I will be known soon enough.

As I was processing this, Cole came barrelling through the door. “Hey Lia, there wasn’t so much, should only take a few more trips - excuse me asking, but have we met before you look so familiar?”

Boy, this was so going to be hard. “It’s Amelia, not Lia and no we haven’t. I’ll be in my room” I snapped. I’d never had a nickname before and I kind of liked that he gave me one so soon. But I’d had to shut that door before it could even be opened. I marched to my room trying to process the events of the past fifteen minutes. If Cole didn’t know why I was here, did he know what his brother did at all? If he doesn’t know what his family did to mine, could I still hate him? And if I don’t hate him, then how could I live under the same roof as him for a day never mind a year without wanting to be near him?

Oh my - what had I let myself in for.