Chapter 10. New beginnings

The first year of college meant new colleagues and parties every weekend. Brad and Sandra were at the same college and of course Sandra and I shared an off-campus apartment. Brad was already living with other colleagues of his. He had assumed responsibility as our protector in the wild life of the huge campus. The difference between us was made by different classes, following different academic studies. Brad was at Law. Sandra, Social Work and I was at Psychology.

Although Brad was my brother, he had become over protective with Sandra, and at first I wasn't sure why. Well, the truth came out pretty soon.

I had finished my classes earlier and I returned to the apartment and to my surprise after I entered I was greeted by my brother and my best friend who seemed panicked with red faces, messy hair and clothes . Both standing in front of the sofa in the living room.

I tossed my keys in the hallway counter and stepped forward, looking at them curiously, though it was obvious what was going on there.

"Shoot."

I said amused. If they had a relationship, it didn't bother me at all as long as they both had serious intentions.

"I'm sorry."

Sandra started.

" Are you?"

Brad asked irritated.

"Yes, I think that's not how she should have found out about ."

I was leaning against the small wall between the living room and the kitchen, my arms crossed over my chest and I was looking at them without intervening. I suspected there was something between them some time ago but I didn't know when this started. Their embarrassment was obvious and funny at the same time. I had no intention of easing their situation and that was the punishment that none of them had the courage and confidence in me to tell me the truth.

"I told you we shouldn't keep it a secret from her."

Sandra continued.

Well I thought, it's getting more and more interesting.

"And I told you I'd find the right time to talk to her."

With "Her" they mean with me I guess.

Ok I wasn't going to let them fight, not because of me especially since their relationship really didn't bother me. I mean, it really could be better than my brother who was my favorite person in the whole world being in a relationship with my best friend?

"Does anyone want coffee?"

I said moving away from the wall.

They both turned abruptly to me.

"Aren't you angry with us?"

Sandra asked me in surprise.

"Nope! Why would I be?"

I went into the small kitchen to make myself a coffee. While I was making my coffee, they didn't even move, looking at me in shock. I sat quietly on the couch with a cup of coffee in my hand and after sipping once the hot, bitter liquid, I looked up at them.

“Have you two turned into statues, somehow? Sit down and start talking. ”

I ordered.

"Isn't that obvious? What else do you want to talk about? ”

Brad said embarrassed.

"Since when is this?"

I asked, gesturing with my hand between them.

They both answered at the same time.

"Since your birthday."

Brad said.

"Ever since we moved here."

Sandra said.

I raised an eyebrow, looking at each other.

"After your birthday we started talking but after you move here we started dating"

Brad clarified calmly.

"Do you sleep together?"

"SAM!"

They both shouted at the same time.

I started to laugh.

"Okay! No need to answer that."

"Do you find this funny?"

"Not the discussion, but your faces since I walked in here, yes, that`s funny."

"Anyway, I've been guessing for a while, you're not discreet enough."

I continued.

Sandra sat down next to me and hugged me, Brad sat down and breathed a sigh of relief.

"You should give me more credit, though."

I said .

"How could we rematch to you?"

Brad asked, sliding his arm over my shoulders.

I smiled, moving repeatedly my eyebrows.

"Ice cream."

"Ice cream?"

Brad repeated.

"Yep! We have to celebrate and you pay. ”

I said and the three of us started laughing.

I was happy for them.

I was much better after we moved from the city of my nightmares, even though my nights were still haunted and I was convinced that they would never stop. But I was trying to learn to live by accepting my demons.

Although I received invitations quite often from the hot guys and although I had gone out on dating a few times, everything ended when they tried to touch me or worse to kiss me. And that continued until I met William Adams.

He was different from the other boys. His tactics were based more on gaining confidence as a starting point when he conquered a girl. He was charming and polite. The perfect guy for a girl with issues like mine.

I met William at a party. I went out with him a few times and I liked it. He was presentable, after the car he was driving he was quite wealthy. I soon realized that I was immune to his touch, I do not feel pleasure nor pain or discomfort so I started dating him.

At first my brother didn't like him but William was a conqueror and Brad and Sandra were not immune to his charm.

I was not enchanted, but the comfort of his presence was more than I could have hoped for.