There was a time I never would have thought I’d be where I am right now. I never thought I would have made it through high school let alone graduated and graduated within in the top 10 highest graded students at my school. That was a big accomplishment for me especially being the only one in my family to have even made it through to final year.

Yet somehow my family didn’t care, they weren’t there through most of my high school experience, they weren’t there when I got my heart broken for the first time, they weren’t there when I was trying to decide what I wanted to do after school and then when I did decide to go to university they weren’t there through me choosing what I wanted to study or the application process. They weren’t even there at my graduation, when I got my letter of acceptance to NYU just after graduation they didn’t care, there was no congratulations Rose, no nothing.

Luckily I had been working so I had saved pretty much everything I earnt to go towards supplies, and I was even lucky enough to get a scholarship as well as a little bit of financial aid because well my parents didn’t work so they pretty much had no income. But that’s not what I should be thinking about right now, right now as I move into my shared apartment with a girl whose name was Lissa, she also happened to be my best friend, I should be thinking more about where everything needs to go, when to start unpacking and what else I needed to do as well as get before classes started for me in a couple days.

Lissa was lucky, she was still on holiday with her boyfriend Christian in Rome since her classes didn’t start until next week. However, before Lissa had left she had packed everything of her own up in boxes and left them in her room at the house she shared with Christian and his Aunt Tasha so all I had to do was go around and see Tasha and get them loaded on the truck.

We’re the only family Lissa has left so when her parents and brother died Tasha was nice enough to let her live with them. It made things easy too since I was more than welcome to stay anytime I needed to get away from my house, only they know what my life was like and I thank them for being there for me when none of my family were.  

And it also made it easier for me to grab Christian’s things since he was also attending NYU, it made sense for me to grab all of our stuff, Christian’s house mate, a guy named Eddie knew I was coming to drop Christian’s things off while they were still on holiday, which I had done this morning. Now all that was left was to unload mine and Lissa’s stuff off so the removal guys could go home.

Then it was up to me to start unpacking everything apart from Lissa’s room. We made the decision to go out and buy household items we would need for the Kitchen, Laundry, Dining room and Lounge room together, we even pack it all into boxes together. We made sure to mark all the boxes of what room they needed to go into to make it easier however moving is a bitch and I was glad I wouldn’t have to do it again anytime soon.

As the truck pulled up at our apartment, I smiled when I saw Eddie pull up beside it. “Hey Rose, I figured you would need some extra pairs of hands after what I saw this morning so I brought some friends.” He nodded his head behind him and when I glanced over two guys jumped out the car. One with red hair and the other was a tall guy with messy styled hair.

“Adrian and Mason, this is Rose. Rose’s best friend is dating my new housemate. Which reminds me, do you know when Christian and Lissa are due back?”

“Nice to meet you both” I smile at them but can’t help but notice Adrian who clearly styled his hair messy kept staring at me, I had to admit he was definitely good looking. “Lissa has classes at the start of next week so I’m assuming sometime over the weekend, they didn’t actually give me an actual day but I can call Christian’s aunt and ask her, I’m pretty sure she would know because I think she’s picking them up from the airport.” Eddie nodded his head as a way of saying okay before the boys helped the movers unload the truck.

I put a map of the apartment on the front door and made sure each room was labelled as a way to help the guys out. “All the boxes should be labelled and there’s a map on the front door to make it easier to work out which room is which. If there’s any boxes not labelled just put them in the lounge room and I’ll sort them out later.” I tell them as I walk to my car to unload what little I have in there, mostly it’s all just my stuff I was using and was packed last night and some extra stuff of Lissa’s I found after the truck was closed up that Tasha and I packed quickly.

My car was unpacked quickly and when I turned to start helping the guys, Adrian put his arm out to stop me. “Leave it to us, I wouldn’t want you to hurt yourself.” As he spoke he reached his hand out to brush some hair out my face, when I looked back up at him he quickly pulled his hand away and stepped back looking embarrassed. I smiled at him “I’m sure there are some light boxes in there somewhere I can carry.” This made him laugh a little.  

By the time the truck was unpacked it was almost time for dinner and boy was I hungry as. Once the truck and movers were gone, I asked the boys if they wanted to stay and have some take out. Eddie knew the best place nearby that did delivery so while he ordered Adrian, Mason and I opened the kitchen boxes trying to find some plates, cutlery and cups.

I opened one of the boxes that was brought in last and found some plastic ones that would be just fine for tonight. We settled down on the floor around the coffee table and started talking, getting to know each other. Once the take out was delivered we put all the food in the middle of the coffee table so we could easily just take what we wanted and Adrian poured our drinks.

The food was amazing, once it got late the boys decided to head home. I thanked Eddie and Mason as they walked out the door, when I turned around Adrian was standing behind me. I smiled at him and gave him a hug before saying “Thank you for helping Adrian”, as I pulled back there was a smile on his face.

He started to walk out the door before turning back around, “Rose, I know this is a bit too soon to be asking but will you go out on a date with me?” Although I was surprised because we had only just met I couldn’t help but smile

“Yes Adrian I’d love to.” We exchanged numbers and he left saying he’d be in touch soon.

I jumped in the shower to clean up and when I was about to get into bed my phone lit up. There on the screen was a message from my mother. Rose I haven’t heard from you since you left, I know you think we don’t care and the truth is we really don’t but I would still like to hear from my daughter while she’s at University.  

I wanted to throw my phone across the apartment, I didn’t think they didn’t care I knew they didn’t. I hadn’t contacted them because I didn’t want to talk to them, preferably ever again. I turned the light off and went to bed knowing that tomorrow would be a big day of starting to unpack, setting my room up but more importantly working out what else I needed to do and get before my classes started on Thursday.

I woke to my alarm blaring in my ear, in all honesty after

reading that message last night I had completely forgot I had set an alarm to

get up early to maximise my time today. I slowly got up I mean it was 6am after

all and changed into some old clothes before walking out to the kitchen to grab

some breakfast, luckily there was a box of cereal in the box I opened last

night and I was smart enough to grab some milk after leaving Eddie’s yesterday

morning.

As I ate I started writing a list of things to do and in

what order. I’d decided yesterday I would start on my room before moving to

start organising and setting up the lounge room and then the kitchen before

going out to run my errands. After that everything could pretty much wait and

slowly be done.

I dumped my rubbish in the bin, thank god for plastic bowls,

plates and cutlery right now, I grabbed the drill and started putting my bed

together. Damn putting a bed together by myself was so much harder then I

thought I would be.

Within an hour my bedroom furniture was all built and set up

where I wanted it, I spent the next 2 hours unpacking most of my boxes as well

as writing a list of supplies I needed for classes before moving the lounge

into position in front of the tv unit and tv. By lunch time the lounge room was

mostly set up apart from a couple boxes and almost all boxes from the kitchen

were unpacked.

I made sure I wrote a list of things we’d need for the

kitchen as I unpacked as well as a list of shopping, I was glad Lissa had left

her spare card hidden in my overnight bag because we needed a lot.

I grabbed the lists, my wallet, Lissa’s card, my phone and

keys and headed out the door, as I reached my car Adrian was walking towards

me. “Hey Adrian, didn’t think I’d see you today.”

“I thought maybe you might want a hand unpacking, but I take

it you’re going shopping.” “Thanks but pretty everything that needs to be done

right now is unpacked, did you want to come with me? I mean I have to go to the

campus bookstore to grab my books but after that I’ll be going to the

supermarket.” “Shopping’s not my thing but for you Rose, I’ll come with you.

Plus you’ll need me to carry it all for you.”

I laughed at him, before unlocking the car and getting in.

The drive to the bookstore was actually quite quick, I didn’t realise how close

campus actually was to our apartment. I was in and out within 10 minutes since

it was pretty quiet in there today, and we were off to the supermarket.

It was like 2 hours later Adrian and I had finally finished

grabbing what was on the list, it was actually one of the best shopping trips I

ever been on because he made it fun. We were putting the shopping in the back

of my car when Adrian grabbed my arm to stop me picking up another bag, “Rose,

can I take you out tonight?” I looked up at him, he looked a little nervous

which I had to say was actually pretty cute. “I’d love to go out tonight.”

He broke out in a huge grin, “I just can’t wait any longer

to take you out, you’re so beautiful. I’ll help you take the bags up to your

apartment and then I’ll go so I can organise our date, I want it to be as

prefect as possible, oh and wear something really nice.”

I couldn’t help but smile, the drive back to my apartment

was short and within 5 minutes the car was unloaded and Adrian left. About 10

minutes later I realised I had left my textbooks in the car so I raced down to

grab them only when I was coming back inside the building I wasn’t looking

where I was going and ran smack bang into something hard and fell on my ass.

I looked up to see the back of a really tall man, “I’m so

sorry I wasn’t watching where I was going”, as he turned around my jaw almost

hit the ground, this guy was tall, had shoulder length hair tied at the back of

his neck, his eyes were like a chocolate brown, he was full of muscles and boy

was this guy hot. I mean like smoking hot.

“It’s okay I shouldn’t have standing in the walkway”, he

reached his hand down to grab mine and help me up before picking up my bag of

textbooks. His hands were soft but I could feel he was hardworking, his smell

was so intoxicating and I wasn’t even standing that close to him but what stood

out the most was the shot of electricity I’d felt when his hand had touched

mine. If he felt it he gave nothing away.

“I’m Rose, I just moved here.” I noticed then that he was

holding paperwork that looked the same as the forms Lissa and I had been given.

“I’m Dimitri, funny you say that so did I.” He was about to say something else

when the real estate lady came walking back out. “I’ll leave you to it I’ve got

shopping to put away, see you around Dimitri.”

I shakily walked back up to my apartment, it took me an hour

just to put away the shopping before I could even start organising my class

supplies and textbooks. I looked up at the clock to see it was nearly 5:30pm

and I knew Adrian would be picking me up soon since we were going to dinner, so

I quickly jumped in the shower, blow dried my hair, put a little bit of make up

on before walking back to my room in my underwear and looked for a dress.

I decided to wear a black almost skin tight dress Lissa had

brought me for Christmas and 5 inch black heels to complete the look. I thought

I was looking hot I mean I always did. There was a knock at the door and when I

looked through the peep hole it was Adrian, I grabbed my things and opened the

door to see he was holding a rose, I mentally cringed I hated roses because of

my name but I still smiled and took it.

As we were walking out the front of the building I noticed

Dimitri unloading a car, but when he heard us coming out he looked up and I

could have sworn he was checking me out but with a blank expression on his face

it was hard to work out what he was thinking.

The drive to the restrauant was short and although it was beautiful

there were quite a few stares, more so towards Adrian. He’d clearly been here

before. Dinner was amazing and we chatted while we ate but I couldn’t really

enjoy the conversation with him, I began to realise we were only going to be

friends because any sort of relationship would never work between us. But I was

still willing to give him a chance anyway.

Once back at my building he walked me to the front door

before leaning in to kiss me, I’d been kissed before but nothing like this, it

was sweet and I instantly reacted to it however I was really into it.

“Goodnight Rose” Adrian smiled. “Goodnight Adrian, tonight was nice.” I watched

as he walked back to his car before walking inside, Dimitri was standing near

some boxes with another guy having a conversation but his eyes were on me. My

eyes locked his and it looked as though he was a little jealous but I couldn’t

be sure because he was hard to read.

I made my way to the stairs, dreading having to walk up them

to the third floor given how much I had drank through dinner. I was pretty sure

I was drunk. As I tried walking up them, I nearly fell but felt a warm hand

reach out and steady me. I looked sideways to see Dimitri, the other guy was

loading the boxes on top of each other on a trolley to be moved so he was too

busy to notice me.

“How much did you drink tonight Rose?” “I didn’t think it

was that much I only drank during dinner but clearly it was since I can’t even

walk up the stairs” I slurred. “Where abouts is your apartment? I’ll walk you

to the door” “I’m on the third floor, ugh can the world stop spinning?” I heard

him chuckle and next thing I know I’m up in his arms being carried up the

stairs. Mmm he was so warm, I suddenly got the urge to rip his shirt off, the

things this man was doing to my body and I’d only just met him was crazy.

We reached the third floor and I pointed to my door, I

hadn’t realised I was sort of dozing off until he unlocked the door and walked

to the kitchen, he sat me on the counter top before finding a glass and filling

it with water and handing it to me.

I started drinking it but it made me feel sick, he put the

glass in the sink, I was almost dozing off again when he walked to stand in

front of me and carefully started shaking me awake. He was standing so close

before I could register what I was doing I leaned forward and kissed him. I’d

caught both of us by surprise but especially him. He went stiff for a couple

moments before responding to the kiss, his lips were so soft.

The kiss intensified quickly and before I knew it I had my

legs wrapped around his waist and was being carried to my room, he laid me on

the bed and climbed on top of me but when I started undoing his shirt he

groaned, untangled himself and got up.

“I’m sorry Rose I can’t do this, especially while

you’re drunk i’m not taking advantage of you. And I can’t do this when you were

out on a date with another man.” I felt like I was going to cry, no guy had

ever rejected me when I was drunk. “Please Dimitri, after everything I’ve been

through the last few months I need this.” “Get some sleep Rose.” And with that

he walked out.

There was a beautiful face that couldn't leave my mind. I met her the day I

was collecting my keys and was about to move into my new apartment.

That beautiful face just wouldn't leave my mind no matter how hard I tried

but I never really knew why.

I had been moving my stuff all day and it was taking so long because I was

stupid enough to ask my best friend Ivan to help me unload.

We were currently standing in on the bottom floor of the apartment building

near the post boxes, I was listening to Ivan blubber on about the girl he took

home last night while I was trying to sort out boxes to load on the trolley to

pull upstairs.

I heard voices coming from outside and when I looked up I saw her. I saw

Rose. She was all dressed up and honestly it was a wonder I never got an

erection right then and there. I thought she was beautiful when I met her but

tonight she looked so much more than beautiful I couldn't even describe it.

And that was when the guy she was with kissed her, it was obvious she wasn't

into it but she wasn't pulling away either.

Ivan chose that moment to actually notice me staring at her, "Dimka why

are you staring at that smoking hot girl?"

All I could do was look at him. Truth was I had no answer. He smirked. And

that was when Rose walked through the door. Or should I say stumbled in the

door.

She was clearly drunk, she walked towards the stairs and started making her

way up them. Then all of a sudden there was a thud and an "Ow" coming

from the stairs.

I glanced quickly at Ivan who didn't really care as he started grabbing

boxes before I quickly went after her.

I helped her up and proceeded to (pick her up) and help her to her

apartment. "I'm on the third floor" she smiled.

Just my luck that I was moving into an apartment on the third floor as well.

I couldn't help but think about how we'd run into each other a lot of the time.

Once we reached the floor she pointed to a door before giving me her keys to

unlock it.

I brought her to the kitchen and sat her on the bench while I looked for a

glass so she could have some water.

I brought it to her and watched as she drank it before she handed it back, I

put the glass back in the sink. And when I walked back to stand in front of her

she was slowly dozing off so I carefully shook her awake so that I could help

her to her bedroom before I left.

Only when she opened her eyes and before I could register what was happening

she leaned forward and kissed me. It caught be by the surprise that much I

actually stiffened.

Until I started to relax and respond to her. The kids intensified and I felt

Rose wrap her legs around my waist.

I can't believe this happening, holy shit. I really want to fuck her

right now.

Ivan. Oh shit Ivan's probably wondering where I am. But. No fuck him, he

can wait.

My thoughts just wouldn't shut up and let me enjoy this moment.

Before I knew it we had made it to her room, well I'd assumed it was her

room. Too bad if it wasn't.

I laid her carefully on the bed and climbed on top of her. I felt her start

unbuttoning my shirt realty set in. I groaned before untangling myself from

her.

"I'm sorry Rose I can't do this, especially while you're drunk I'm not

taking advantage of you. And I can't do this when you were out on a date with

another man."

When I looked at her it looked as if she was about to cry. But I like to

think of myself as a good man, trying to always do the right thing which is

what I was trying to do right now.

"Please Dimitri, after everything I've been through the last few months

I need this." She all but begged me, in this moment I wanted nothing more

than to comply but I just couldn't.

"Get some sleep Rose." And with that I walked out of her

apartment.

I found Ivan in my new apartment after he'd brought the rest of the nieces

from downstairs up. All he did was smirk at me as I walked in the front door.

"I swear to god Ivan if you start you can find somewhere else to crash

tonight."

"Bro I wasn't going to start anything except ask what took you so

long?" I didn't want to tell him but just the look on his face I knew he

knew something was up.

So I relaid everything back to him. "Dude you just walked out after

that little speech? Seriously?"

"Ivan you know what type of guy I am, I can't do that. Not when she was

on a date and kissed another guy before she got home and when she's drunk and

I'm sober. I can't take advantage of a girl like that."

Ivan just nodded before grabbing a pillow and blanket and settling on the

couch.

I was still so turned on I had to have a cold shower and try to calm down

from that situation so I could get some sleep.

However my mind had other things planned and I spent hours just replaying

what happened. By 3am I'm sure I was finally asleep.