The girl with a broken heart

Chapter 2

Corsica

Three months ago

It was Nate’s and Niki’s birthday this month, and given the extravagant lifestyle they both had now, they decided to throw a destination party with all their close friends to celebrate their 21st Birthdays.

I was invited too to attend my best friend’s and boyfriend’s birthday and after a lot of discussion, the destination they chose was a small beautiful island in the heart of Mediterranean stretch of European subcontinent, called Corsica!

I was excited to go and spend some quality time with them, specially Nate. Ever since he moved out to the city, our relationship wasn’t the same. We hardly spend time or talk to each other, and we have become distant. This has been going on for quite some time and even after my repeated initiatives of spending time with him, I felt ignored.

I was determined to clear all the doubts and insecurities, once and for all and have my old loving Nate back. I even thought to gift myself to him as I think we have been together for three years now and it was only fair on him to finally take our relationship to the next level. I won’t deny I was extremely nervous and unsure, but it gave me butterflies imagining him that close to me. I was 21 already and still a virgin, the first time is always so special, and I wanted to be sure that Nate was the one I want to spend my life with.

Getting my parent’s to agree to let me go on this holiday was not difficult as well because one - Niki got her dad convince mine on how all the logistics were well planned and we are going to stay in one of the best and most secure resorts, and two- right after I got back from there, within a month I had to join work and my father believed that I deserved a vacation for all the hard work I have put.

It was the day we finally reached Corsica and I was exhausted from the long flight. We were a group of seven friends, including Nate, Niki, myself, two of Nate’s hostel roommates Jared and Austin, Niki’s upstate neighbor friend Jessica and her younger sister Sansa.

I was acquainted with all the others, but I was only close to Nate and Niki.

Throughout the flight Nate decided to sit with his guy friends and I snuggled up with Niki sleeping majority of the journey.

We reached our resort and were provided our room keys. I was sharing my room with Niki, while Jessica and Sansa shared one, Austin and Jared shared the other and Nate was staying alone.

It was early morning when we reached our resorts and given, we were all tired, we all decided to take some rest and regroup at noon to begin our week-long holiday.

After a good nap, Niki and I took turns in taking shower and getting ready for the day. We decided to go to the beach, so I was wearing a green tank top paired with blue denim shorts while Niki wore a beautiful low-cut yellow dress that covered her upper thigh and a messy bun completing her look. I tied my hair in a neat ponytail and sliding in my flip flops we made our way to meet the rest of the gang at the reception.

We were all there except Nate and Jessica as Sansa said Jessica got stuck up with some urgent personal work, which was a little weird as we did not know anybody in this island. On the other hand nobody had a clue where Nate was as his phone was on voicemail too.

After waiting for them for an hour, they both arrived at the same time, apologizing for the delay and hurrying us up so that we can reach the beach soon.

I looked at Nate, but he avoided eye contact, and I felt a knot in my stomach. Something didn’t seem right, I just was not able to put my finger on it.

When we reached there, I tried to walk up to Nate and ask him to spend some time alone. But he was busy playing volleyball with the guys or was away at the bar getting us all drinks and snacks, either ways I could not find him alone to sit and talk.

After trying twice, and only to sort of get avoided both the times, I decided to let it go and not push him any further. Soon the girls joined the boys in the game too, and Niki being a pro was the first one to join. She asked me to join as well, but I felt too lazy to play. I hate flights and my system was not very settled yet, so I gave it a pass.

I walked down the beach alone and after walking for some time I went closer to the blue waters and sat down on the golden sand keeping my knees closer to my chest while admiring the beauty of the surroundings. I could see the gang laughing and playing volleyball from a far distance, but right now I preferred to be alone to clear my head.

Suddenly I felt a jerk and I snapped out of my thoughts to a pain below my left shoulder. I was hit hard with a volleyball and I just turned around to see where it came from, and then I saw an incredibly sexy bare torso running towards me. A guy close to our age or may be a couple of years older drenched in water with only a pair of white shorts on came running towards me. As if the six pack abs outlined by strong muscles was not enough, because the moment my eyes trailed through his beautiful body up towards his face, I was speechless. A man with perfectly slicked dark brown hair probably wet from playing in the waters and a pair of beautiful blue eyes, perfect jawline and the most gorgeous lips I have ever seen walked towards me with apologetic eyes.

“I am so so sorry, I did not see before hitting the ball so hard in your direction. Are you hurt?”

I was bewildered and awestruck, I have seen a lot of good-looking guys before, I mean even Nate is extremely handsome, but this guy in front of me was something else. I don’t know why but I felt an instant attraction towards him, which is certainly not my kind of thing. I always have had eyes for only one guy the entire time, but I failed to know why I felt different in this moment, my head  was full of these thoughts appreciating this gorgeous man in front of me, that I didn’t realize I was supposed to say something.

“Please let me see it didn’t hurt you. Are you ok?” He said again, breaking the awkward silence between us.

After the long pause which felt like forever, I finally replied “I am fine, thanks! Just be a little careful next time, you even have few kids running around here. I am sure you don’t want to hurt them”

“Trust me I don’t! I will be careful I promise! My name is Jake by the way and I am here with my friends Rob and Brady there” He extended his hands towards me for a friendly shake, and while I responded, the moment I touched his hands I felt something unexplainable. I am sure he felt it too as his eyes were stuck on me and he didn’t move an inch.

“My name is Emma and I am here with my best friend Niki and boyfriend Nate” pointing in their direction.

His expressions suddenly changed, and he became awkward.

“Oh good to know! Will see you around!” he said and walked away back to his friends.

I saw him leave and my gaze was stuck at him for I don’t know how long. Suddenly, I heard Niki screaming my name and waving at me, and I left Jake and my thoughts near the shore to go back to join my friends.

The rest of the day was eventful and happy as we all warmed up towards each other over fun games and interesting chats. It was late in the evening when we all reached back to the resort. I was extremely tired and yet a little shaken by the odd encounter I had with a total stranger today and my mind could not help but keep going back to his icy blue eyes.

Shrugging off the thought away for the millionth time, I decided to take a quick shower and change into my night wear and just hit the bed.

After I stepped out from the shower, I saw Niki has changed too and she was lying on the bed on her back facing the ceiling with her eyes staring at a point.

“What is it? What are you thinking?” I slipped into the bed right next to her curious to know what made my always carefree and cheerful friend so serious all of a sudden.

“Nothing just wondering!”

After a pause, she continued “What do you think about Nate’s behavior these days?” she asked me with a genuine concern on her face.

I did not want to drag her in between our mess as we already made a deal that my relationship should and would never come between our friendship. So I replied casually “Nothing, he seems absolutely fine to me. Why do you ask?”

“Come on Emma, don’t take me for a fool! I am not blind alright! Clearly you two have issues, you don’t even look close to the much in love couple I knew you were. Let alone doing things together, lately I see you both are so distant, and you barely talk to him. What’s going on Emma? and don’t you dare hide anything from me, because if my brother decides to hurt you in any manner, I will cut him into pieces and throw him into the ocean myself!” She said jerking herself up from her laying position and now she was sitting with crossed legs right in front of me with anger gloating in her eyes.

I could see she meant what she said, not literally of course but yes if ever things go south between me and Nate, Niki will not take it well, she will choose my friendship over and above everything as I know I am her closest friend and she loves me a lot.

Trying to lighten the atmosphere, I replied “Snap out of it Niki, you really are a drama queen! You are over thinking; Nate and I are absolutely fine! We don’t need to stick to each other all the time to prove we are in love. Apart from me, he has other people in his life too and I don’t think there is any problem if we both chose to spend time with our other friends specially on a holiday. He is just being a nice host and as always busy charming everyone with his cheerful ways! He has always been that way, but that doesn’t mean we have issues”

“It was a good try convincing me, but something doesn’t seem straight Emma. As much as I know you, I know my brother too! I feel a different vibe from him these days, and it seems like a mystery to me because I am not able to wrap my head around it right now, But I will get to the bottom of this sooner than later. I have played detective with him all my life catching him do all the stupid things when we were kids and then ratting him out to our parents, and I guess this won’t be any different. Don’t worry princess! Even if there is something wrong, your savior is here at your service”. She said with a dramatic grin.

“Well good luck with that Ms. Detective! You will find nothing! I trust Nate!”.

I flipped over to my side and closed my eyes “Well do I? do I really trust him?” I asked myself.

This was the last thought in my head, and I dozed off to my dreamland.