Chapter Four: Hooked
1185 Words
Belle’s POV
It was a sunny afternoon. I was seated in the library, legs shaking, nail bitten, and eyes on my textbook, trying very hard to concentrate. It was almost time for me to go to James’s apartment. I was frantic. No, I was horrified. I probably didn’t need to be. I told myself countless times that I was overthinking, a habit of mine. But still, I felt this way.
I had rushed down to the library in town so early in the morning to stall. I couldn’t get any work done, but at least I was in my happy place.
“Out to do a little shopping. I’ll be back by 2 pm. Let’s go then, okay?” a text from Dad beeped in.
“Okay,” I responded, feeling a little better. I had four hours.
I relaxed a bit. I let my shoulders rest and I took in a deep breath or two, calming my nerves. I wasn't just stalling, I was also hiding. Danny insisted on seeing me before I went over to James’s. He says it is “urgent”. I rolled my eyes and leaned into the table to continue studying.
Who cares?
I read a full page before realizing that I didn't understand a word. I sighed in defeat, packed up my books, and headed home.
Today wasn’t just the day I was to move into James’s, it was also the same day last year my mom had her third surgery. We had all hoped it would be her last. And it was. Not because she was fully healed, but because she refused to do another surgery after the tumor recurred. She was tired, and I'd say she had given up. I didn't blame her. She had been struggling with it for 7 years.
I think at some point, she accepted her fate. It was a brave thing to do, but it…hurt. I got home and curled up in bed. Thinking about my mom made me very heavy, so I decided to lie down for a bit, but ended up falling asleep for hours.
“Sweetie,”
I opened my eyes, thinking that I had just fallen asleep. “You okay?” Dad said with a small smile.
I nodded. “Alright, let's go then.”
Darn. My heart fell into my stomach.
The car ride was very quiet, but my mind was going crazy. I was going to be living with James. The James Carter. The air in the car started to feel thin, but I looked calm. I tried calming my nerves, but flashes of James on top of me, under sheets, kept coming up. Maybe I just need to get laid. Maybe I should call Dan–
“We are here,” Dad said, smiling.
I looked up to the sight of a modern duplex tucked behind a modest black gate with no signboard, no high fences, and no flashy colors. The House stands with a fusion of glass, stee,l and concrete. The exterior walls are painted a soft beige. Floor-to-ceiling glass panels dominate the front, reflecting the sky. The roof is a flat, box-like top, not the traditional roof, and a wood panel accent wall added warmth to the ambience of the house.
“Wow,” I said mostly to myself as Dad moved the car to the front of the very wide garage.
Dr Carter came out then with a charming smile spread across his lips. Our eyes met immediately, and I stepped out of the car while he walked down the floating stairs, making my heart flutter.
He winked and said, “Hi, Belle.” Oh, just kill me already.
“Hi, Dr Carter,” I said in response, and he laughed softly.
“Cute of you to call me that when we are not at school, dear,” he said right before exchanging greetings with Dad.
My eyes still roamed the house in admiration. Dad used to tease me that Dr Carter came from a very rich background, but I hardly believed it. It didn't make sense to me that he would be a professor at a college rather than the CEO of some prestigious company.
“Some people chase their passion more than they chase money,” Dad said to me then.
James took my bag from the trunk and asked me to hand over the one I was holding on to. He was too charming, ughhh!
We walked to the door after waving Dad goodbye. He had a flight to Spain to catch by 7 pm. As Dad drove through the automated gate, I had this overwhelming realization that I was alone with James.
“You have a lovely home,” I said as we stepped into the living room, breaking the silence.
“Thank you,” he said gently. “You know, your dad designed this house.”
My eyes beamed. “Really?”
He nodded, clearly proud of his friend’s achievements. “You guys go way back,” I said, trying to keep the conversation going.
“Yeah. As you know, your dad and I went to the same college. We were also roommates and study buddies,” he said, climbing up the stairs.
I immediately thought about Danny. Friends since junior high, study buddies. We checked the boxes. I wonder if Dad and James would ever drift apart like Danny and I. That would be sad. Or what if Danny and I still end up being best friends till we're forty?
I highly doubt that.
“So,” he began as he opened the door of the last room in the hallway with his elbow. “This is your room.”
It was beautiful. I walked in, feeling all sorts of ways. He stood at the door after putting the bags on the floor beside the bed. I looked around the room then back to him. As gorgeous as the room looked, it was nothing compared to James leaning on the door, arms crossed with a small smile tugging at his lips.
“It’s beautiful.”
“I’m glad you like it, Belle,” he responded as he placed his hands on the doorknob. “I’ll leave you to settle in. Dinner will be ready later, but I’m ordering pizza. You must be starving.”
“Thank you, Dr. Cart—” he looked at me intently with a sparkle in his eyes.
“Call me, James, darling,” he said in a cool voice. “We are not strangers. You know, you used to run around in your swimsuit when you were little at family gatherings.”
I laughed, and so did he. “You’d run up to me and beg me to give you a piggyback ride around the house, which I did happily, of course. You didn't give me much of a choice with such cuteness.”
We shared a beautiful silence before he tightened his grip on the knob. “It's great to have you here, Belle,” he said and shut the door.
“It’s great to be here.”
- Writer
