The Heaven I Found In Hell

by Ashley Andrews

  "Smart," I returned winking.

  He began, and in sync, I started my laughter. I covered my stomach with my arms and bid it to stop hurting from laughing. He was trying to be gangster which was absolutely not fit for him. He started bouncing, his skills on the dance floor showing, but even that wasn't enough to hide the fact that his voice was deafening. When he ended, he turned to me and asked me how he had done.

  "I'm so thankful you brought me here," I said in all honesty, appreciating very much the fact that he took me out to karaoke even though he knew it was not his thing. "It means a lot."

  "And you not insulting me means as much," he said, sitting back down beside me.

  It was once again my turn and before I knew it, the song started to play and I began swaying my hips again, this time in a seductive manner. He started grinning and before I was even belting out the lyrics, he was laughing with the way I body-waved.

  "All you people look at me like I'm a little girl. Well did you ever think it'd be okay for me to step into this world!" I belted out, singing Britney's 'I'm A Slave 4 U.'

  I didn't care if Nathan probably thought I was weird or something, I wanted to have fun and make him laugh, and he was. I felt assured though when he gave me a 'thumbs up' when I finished. Once again, he had the floor and what played next brought a smile to my face. He wasn't trying to be funny. He wanted to get something across me, and it was working.

  I looked at him and the feelings came rushing back like a crazy river with a wild current at the moment. He may have been out of tune, but the work was there, and I could only appreciate it. Throughout the song, he had his eyes on me. He wasn't grinning or smirking or holding that air of arrogance I always enjoyed putting down. He looked even scared, afraid of what my reaction would be when he ended and had to face my comments.

  "One... you're like a dream come true...

  Two... just wanna be with you...

  Three... girl it's plain to see... that you're the only one for me...

  Four... repeat steps one through three...

  Five... make you fall in love with me...

  If ever I believe my work is done... then I start back at one"

  I finally knew what I had to do after weeks of acting clueless and unsure of Nathan's feelings for me. Of all the songs he could sing, he chose 'Back At One'. It wasn't a personal favorite of mine, but there was a message behind it, one which was very adaptable to Nathan's life and mine. To reassure me even more, when he sat back down beside me, he opened his mouth to say, "Now, you know what step two is."

  I nodded and could only smile sheepishly at him. After a few minutes though, I moved myself towards him until I was close enough to wrap my arms around his neck. In return, he encircled my waist with his arms and set me onto his lap. With this position, it was so much easier to face him and so much better to see the expression on his face and in his eyes. Silence surrounded us and to bring everything to a stop, he leaned his head down closer to mine. Our lips were about to meet when my finger got in the way.

  "How cheesy can you get?" I said, grinning.

  "What?"

  "Singing that song and putting me on your lap?"

  "You put your arms around me," he said, having a point, and my lips could only form a thin line. "You were leading me."

  "And I succeeded," I said laughing.

  "I don't want to hurt your ego, so yes, you did," he replied smiling, but I knew behind the warm and placid exterior, he just wanted to get it done, for the both of us to clear things up.

  Silence took up a moment of our time and we could only stare back at each other. I kind of knew already what he felt since he told me, even though in such indirect ways, and so, I didn't really feel so nervous anymore. Once again, we moved our heads closer to each other.

  "So where were we?" I asked, a smirk forming on my face.

  "About to do this," he said, leaning down once again to be able to crash his lips on mine, but once more, the annoying side of me interfered.

  "I just want to tell you something," I said grinning and definitely enjoying the moment.

  I heard him let out a sigh, hopefully not an exasperated one, before he said, "Thank God I love you so much to hit you."

  "You're going to hit me?" I asked, pouting and in a teasing way.

  "No, I am not," he said. "Alex, please,"

  "What?" I asked, my hands going down until they landed on his chest.

  "Quit it."

  "Fine, I will."

  "Goo-"

  And before he saw it coming, I placed my lips over his and pulled him down closer to me. I remained on his lap as my hands ran through his hair messing it up all the more. I felt the tension that was becoming thicker with every second passing by the way our chests were pressed up hard against each other. After a few moments, his mouth left mine, as he trailed kisses down from my jaw to my neck. His lips went up once more, whispering into my ear, "Two steps down."

  "And three more to go," I continued.

  * * *

  Chapter 25: Epilogue

  * * *

  Riley looked through the window of her apartment, as she realized what day it was, Valentine's Day. It was a Saturday, and the weather seemed to be getting warmer with the winter snow of New Jersey slowly fading away. After a while of contemplating whether anything exciting was going to happen today, considering what the occasion was, she left her bedroom and was greeted by her roommate.

  "Hey Riley, Happy Valentine's," the redhead greeted with a chuckle.

  "Right back at ya, Tasha."

  Natasha or Tasha, whichever suited one's preference, was a freshman at Princeton like Riley, but she majored in Astrophysics while Riley did Psychology. The two got along the moment they saw each other and one could tell the other anything so immediately, Tasha got straight to the point.

  "So how's Anthony? Is he doing anything?" she asked.

  "Honestly, I don't know. What about you?"

  "See, I told you High School relationships never work. We have hot guys here as well, why stay with someone who's all the way in California?" she answered, her eyebrows furrowed together. "And to answer your question, I'm going out with Jake, who is just a walk away from here."

  Natasha smirked as she forked the bacon on her plate, while Riley simply smiled at her before her lips formed a thin line in thoughtfulness. The last time they had seen each other was a month ago, and she was dying to see him once again. Although they talked on the phone like every time, she knew that wasn't enough. She wanted to see him; touch him; and kiss him. She shook her head, as her train of thought continued. He should at least call her today.

  "Are your plans for lunch or for dinner?" Riley asked the girl who sat on the bar stool in front of her.

  "My plans actually make up my whole day," she answered with a wink. "Sorry Hun, but you won't see me wallowing in self-pity."

  She laughed silently at Natasha's bluntness and suddenly remembered Alex, who she had just talked to the night before. Riley had stayed up until three in the morning listening to Alex rant about everything under the sun, and they ended up talking about her brother for a whole thirty minutes. The good thing though about Alex's and Nathan's relationship with each other was that they both studied in N.Y.U. and had the benefit of being together, while Riley had to depend on a phone call or a SMS.

  "Ri," Natasha said, waking the brunette up.

  "Yeah?"

  "You're phone's ringing," she said. "And I think it's An-"

  Before Natasha could even finish, Riley had sped off and left her apartment with her mobile pressed up against her ear. She immediately answered the phone call and was greeted by the soothing voice she had wanted to hear, Anthony's voice. Anthony was currently a freshman at U.S.C., and was the rising star player of the school's soccer team. He got into the school without any difficulty whatsoever with the full scholarship he had received, and it made everyone, most especially his girlfriend and his parents, so proud of him.

  "Hey, Hun, Happy Valenti
ne's," he said, the moment Riley spoke on the line.

  "Hey, Happy Valentine's too," she answered, her cheeks rapidly getting hot.

  "So, what's up?"

  "Nothing, just hanging out. What about you?"

  "Mmmh?" Anthony grumbled, unable to hear what Riley had said.

  "What are your plans?"

  "I'm not so sure, maybe I'll just play soccer the whole day," he said with a small laugh. "I'm sorry we won't be able to see each other. I really want to, but I just can't."

  Riley's heart quickly fell as if she had been stabbed. Not to be conceited or anything, but she was kind of expecting something like a surprise at least, the kind found in movies where the guy just shows up with flowers and chocolate in hand before he hands it to the girl and kisses her to death. She was just too madly in love to see the difference between film and reality, what she wished to happen and what could actually happen. She tried to retain her calm and enthusiastic voice, and gladly, she did.

  "It's okay, at least you called," she said putting on a smile Anthony couldn't see.

  "At least. I'm sorry," he spoke on the phone. "Again."

  "No worries, I love you."

  "Love you too, Ri."

  * * *

  Supermodel decides to take a break from the limelight and continue her studies!

  Victoria's Secret model Alexandra Levi is not renewing her contract with the company for the next four years, according to a close source of the supermodel. Rumors are circulating that the reason she is not planning to model for a year or more is because of her steady relationship with current flame, Nathan Adam's, heir to a multi-billion fortune. The two met at Ridgeway, where they graduated High School at, and have been going out steadily for more than a year now. However, when our reporters were able to talk to Ms. Levi and ask her a few questions, she said she had come to this decision due to the fact that she wants to go to college for her family and for herself and put her studies before her career. Her agency though is still behind her one-hundred percent and has a number of projects lined up for her anytime she wishes to go back to what she does best, strut a pose and walk the catwalk. Happy Valentine's Day Alexandra Levi and Nathan Adams!

  * * *

  "So where are you taking me tonight?" Alex asked as she made her way to her boyfriend and sat in between his legs.

  Nathan leaned his head on his girlfriend's shoulder as he wrapped her waist tightly against his stomach. He blew a few strands of her hair away just for the fun of it and what he got in return was a nudge in his ribcage.

  "Stop it," the woman said jokingly. "You haven't answered my question."

  "It's a surprise."

  Alex let out a sigh as she untangled herself from Nathan to be able to look at him in the eye. Staring at each other, the both of them, feeling the need to be sarcastic at the moment, smirked as Alex pointed a finger at Nathan's chest while he pinched her sides.

  "Just tell me," she said with a pout. "Please."

  "Fine. Do you really want to know?" Nathan asked, grumbling as his shoulders fell lazily.

  Alex simply nodded and smiled at him before she closed his legs to be able to sit on his lap. Once again, Nathan steadied his head on her shoulder while Alex played with her boyfriend's fingers.

  "I'm taking you to the Bronx," he said, keeping the element of surprise going.

  Knowing all too well that he had just been joking, Alex's face fell as she gave Nathan a small pout and a frown. However, after a few moments, her face lit up once more, and she smirked at him.

  "What? You're taking me there so you can impress me?"

  "Exactly. I plan on starting a fight with a few gang bangers," he answered her, as he kissed her forehead lightly. "So that I can prove to you that I'm your knight in shining armor."

  Trying to suppress a laugh, Alex simply smiled at him as she started to picture in her head Nathan living in the Bronx. Her mind suddenly drifted off to the night when they got back together wherein Nathan 'rapped,' if it could be considered that. He couldn't even rap like a true gangster, what’s more, act like one?

  "So you want to be all hardcore now, huh?" she asked with a chuckle.

  "All for you, baby," he said winking.

  "But seriously, where are you taking me?"

  "You won't stop won't you?" Nathan asked, and he didn't need an answer to that question.

  With Alex's bony ass on Nathan's lap, he decided to set her on his side. His legs were starting to hurt, but he wouldn't tell her that. No way. Never. They cuddled closer to each other as they stared at the blank TV screen in Nathan's apartment. Even though they studied at the same place, they came to a decision that they shouldn't be living together yet. Both of them, when they were about to start N.Y.U, wanted to meet other people and not stick with each other all the time and so, they found themselves their own roommates. The idea was as great as they both had thought it to be, and they wouldn't have it any other way.

  "But seriously, how would I know what to wear?" Alex asked, remembering once more the time when they kissed and made up.

  "You can wear whatever you like."

  "Seriously?"

  "Yes, seriously," Nathan answered with a roll of his eyes.

  "Maybe I should shop for a new attire," Alex said to herself as she checked her watch. "Maybe I should start now."

  "That's a great idea," Nathan answered with a twinkle in his eyes.

  Alex stood up from the couch in which she had been sitting on to be able to look down at Nathan and have some sort of 'power' over him for being the taller one at the moment. Nathan, unfazed by the intimidating aura Alex put on, remained seated on the sofa as he looked at his girlfriend with eyes full of secrets and mischief.

  "Have fun shopping for an 'appropriate' garment," he said winking at her. "You'll need it, Hun."

  Alex, worried on the inside, but was smirking on the outside, and looked at Nathan with the same expression he had. She seriously didn't know how she was supposed to dress up and Nathan wasn't even giving her a clue or helping her for that matter when he needed to. She didn't want to look stupid and embarrass herself, and she could truly say that at the moment, Nathan wasn't being a knight to her.

  "Try me, babe," she replied, her voice having some sort of edge to it when she said the last word.

  * * *

  Riley was busily kicking her soccer ball as she thought about a gazillion things going on in her head that she didn't notice a tall figure approach her from a distance and that person had to whisper into her ear to be able to get her attention. Familiar with the voice of the whisperer, she turned around quickly to be able to greet her visitor, who, just like in the movies, handed her a bouquet of pink and white roses and a pack of Ferero Rocher chocolates before he bent his head down and put his lips over hers. The kiss was sweet and lasted for more than a couple of minutes. The two only pulled away from each other when a drop of water from the newly-bought flowers had wet the side of Riley's chin. Anthony, cupping his girlfriend's face, wiped away the stain and once again, they kissed.

  "Happy Valentine's again," Anthony said against Riley's lips.

  Riley licked her lower lip and then smiled when the idea of her boyfriend flying a hundred miles away from California to New Jersey had sunk in. For her, this was the sweetest thing someone could have ever done for a loved one and she was going to treasure it until her death. Out of all the Valentine's Days she had had, this one stood out, probably because of the memory of being together with a guy, in her life, at this part, who had started in High School and was lasting even in College. What was special was that these things never usually lasted. She was glad hers still hadn't ended.

  "You fooled me," she answered and then kissed his lips. "Really."

  "What?" Anthony started, raising one of his eyebrows up. "You really thought I wasn't going to do anything?"

  "At first I thought you were going to, but after the call…" she said, smiling sheepishly.”I kind of lost hope."

  Anthony kissed her forehead an
d then her nose. "You're crazy to be able to think that I wouldn't do anything. I love you too, much."

  "As much as you love playing for USC and as important as studying is for you," she answered.

  "Ri," he kissed her again. "I can give up a weekend of assignments for you,"

  The girl could only smile in return.

  "How many weekends are there in a year?"

  Riley was actually starting to count the weekends and only stopped when she realized the obvious answer and the next question.