Love 101: Box Set (Love 101 #1-4)

by J. Nichole

  My phone vibrates as I type, and it's a text message from Chris.

  Chris: Can you call me when you're free?

  I wasn't ready to hear his bullshit, but before I left Tallahassee, Nicole made me promise I wouldn't count him out. She reminded me how in love I was with him, and how in spite of the situation she believes he still loves me. Although she sounded like a paid spokesperson, her faith in Chris was strangely convincing.

  Laila: Can't talk now. Call you later.

  After I finish my article I pack up the few things I brought in to personalize my cubicle. My L.U. banner and framed quotes fit neatly in my purse.

  Promptly at seven, there is a knock on my door and as I climb over my luggage I am thankful that my time in the dorm is almost over. "Hey, Isaiah."

  He hands me a bouquet of flowers and then leans in to give me a kiss on the cheek. "Ready to go?" He glances around the room and his eyes stop on my luggage. "Wow, you didn't waste any time did you?"

  I hunch my shoulders. "Not ready to get back to school but ready to be back in my bed." I lay the flowers on the counter and walk out of the door.

  Isaiah walks beside me and says, "I can understand that." His hand brushes mine and I grab it, intertwining our fingers.

  "Next summer I don't plan to stay in these dorms." I continue walking and Isaiah tugs on my hand.

  He wraps me in his arms and lifts me off the ground. "Congrats, Laila! That is great." He puts me back on the ground and says, "Did you accept?"

  I shake my head, "Not yet. I'm going to weigh my options first then I'll decide."

  "Options." He laughs. "Must be nice." I smile and nod my head.

  "This internship was enlightening, but I wouldn't mind trying out a different city. Maybe outside of Florida."

  Isaiah winces at me. "Try another city, another state, another country even. I'm sure you'll return home." I shrug my shoulders and nod my head. It's always a possibility.

  "Which of Jacksonville's finest restaurants will we be dining at tonight?" Isaiah opens the door of his car and I climb into the passenger seat.

  He pulls the car into drive and says, "Unfortunately, we can't toast your offer." He winks at me then continues, "But there is this nice wine bar I've wanted to check out."

  When we pull up to the restaurant Isaiah steps out of the car and opens my door. He grabs my hand and we walk hand and hand to the entrance. "When do you turn twenty-one?"

  I laugh at him. "Worried you could catch a charge?"

  He throws his hands in the air. "Whoa. Wait now. You have to be careful how you throw those words around." He looks at the people around us. "Someone could take that the wrong way." He asks the hostess for a table for two.

  "My birthday is in October." I nudge him in the side. "And I'll be twenty-one." I gaze around to anyone who was ear pimping.

  After we are seated, Isaiah asks me, "Do you mind if I order for us?"

  I look at him sideways and say, "And you've never been here before?" I glance over the menu then close it. "Alright, go for it."

  He orders some tapas and a glass of wine for himself. The waitress looks at me after he finishes. I smile and then ask for a sweet tea. "No wine for you, dear?" I shake my head and she says, "Our wine is the best in town." After I shake my head again she walks away.

  "If I were a journalist instead of a technologist I think I would be a food blogger." Isaiah says as he admires the food at the table beside us.

  "You'd probably get free meals, exclusive invites to new restaurants, interviews with chefs. I think a career change is worth it." I smile at Isaiah as he nods his head as if he were considering the possibility.

  "It would almost be worth it. As much as I love food I think I love technology more."

  "Choices. You'll have to find a way to blend the two. And then you'd probably have the perfect job."

  He leans into me and says, "Who says I don't love my job?" He laughs. "What's Happening Jacksonville is a cool place to work."

  I look around the restaurant then back to Isaiah. "I don't think anyone here will report back if you tell me the truth." I look around the restaurant again. "Do you love What's Happening Jacksonville?"

  Isaiah chuckles. "Did you like What's Happening Jacksonville?" He looks around the restaurant then back to me. "You can tell me the truth."

  "It's not bad." I shrug my shoulders. "I worked at a local newspaper back home last summer. Much smaller than the magazine, but I liked the culture there."

  He squints his eyes. "And not the culture here?"

  I move my head from side to side. "The newspaper was more laid back. Not competitive. Everyone had their focus area, and helped others in their area." Isaiah looks concerned. "But then again the competitive nature could be from the interns."

  Isaiah smiles and nods his head. "Guess in the IT department we aren't worried about who helps the most people, or who resolves the most technical issues." We both laugh. The waitress returns with a few plates of food.

  After we each try a few bites Isaiah looks at me and says, "Haven't seen much about you on the blogs."

  "On the blogs? What would you expect to see about me on the blogs?" Then I realize he's referring to my situation with Dante. "Oh."

  "I'm just joking. I haven't been cyber stalking you." He sips his wine and I wish I could have a glass myself.

  "You wouldn't find anything even if you were stalking me." Isaiah sits back in his chair and the expression on his face eases.

  "You still sticking to the single life?" He adjusts in his seat. "Or are you ready to be attached again?"

  "Not exactly ready to be attached again. I'm still enjoying the single life." I tap my fingers on the table. "What about you?" I wiggle my eyebrows at him. "Are you ready to be attached?"

  His shoulders hunch and he says, "Not necessarily. Maybe when I meet that girl who is ready to be attached."

  The waitress returns and offers Isaiah another glass of wine. He shakes his head no, but he asks for the dessert menu and hands it to me. I point to myself and say, "I can choose?" He nods his head yes and I decide on the Zeppolis with raspberry sauce and the grin on Isaiah's face tells me he agrees with my selection.

  "Thank you, again, for dinner." Isaiah smiles but I can see him hesitate before speaking. "You okay?"

  "I wish I would have met you before your ex did." He looks away. "I hope you can fully recover from that relationship sooner rather than later," he says.

  "Timing makes a world of a difference." Isaiah pays our bill and hands me the bag of leftover Zeppolis. "When you were at L.U. you probably were nowhere near wanting to be attached, right?"

  He leans in and kisses my cheek. "Maybe. Maybe not."

  Isaiah recovers on our way back to the dorm. "If you do end up back in Jacksonville next summer I hope we can hang out." I agree to hang out and to keep him posted on my decision.

  When we park, he gets out of the car and walks me to the door. "You're such a gentleman." After I open the door I reach up to give him a hug. "Thanks again." He squeezes me tighter.

  "Sorry I let Dante get the best of me. We could have enjoyed a few more days together."

  He hunches his shoulders and says, "Don't live in regret." Isaiah kisses my cheek, and then my neck, and then my lips. As he pulls away he glances behind me then hangs his head. "See you later."

  We turn away from each other and I close the door behind me. My head falls backward as I inhale the scent of Isaiah on my dress. Feeling the moisture on my cheek left behind by his soft lips I contemplate calling him back, but instead, I make my way to the bed.

  Chapter Eleven

  "We're back!" Monica yells from the front door. "Junior year, watch out!" I walk out of my room, and while wiping my eyes, I watch as Monica dances through the living room with her hips swaying from side to side in her polo shirt and crisp khakis. "Time to wake up and get to work."

  "Wait, why are you up so early? We still have another day before classes start." I drag my feet towards the kitchen and
rummage through the cabinets for a box of cereal. Monica sits at the table and looks on as I pour a bowl of cereal.

  "I have to be on campus today, welcoming the freshman. Don't you want to come?" She bats her eyelashes at me and then continues, "What else would you be doing all day?"

  I take a deep breath. I don't have plans for the day, although I do need to unpack. "I was hoping to lie around lazily all day." She looks at me, lips pouting. "How about I meet you up there? There's no way I'm leaving this early." I glance at the clock that reads seven... in the morning. "No way."

  "I'll take it. Just call me when you get on campus. I plan to be in Harris Hall." She smiles widely at me. "Should bring back a few memories for us." Harris Hall was where Monica and I met, where we shared a room, and where she helped me battle with Chris' ex, Courtney.

  "Memories indeed." She walks through the house, attempting to wake Jennifer and Nicole with no luck.

  "If you see them before you leave can you invite them too?" I nod at her but we both know Jennifer and Nicole won't be as easy to convince. She grabs her bag and I realize her color scheme matches our school colors. Maroon polo shirt with a gold tote. "I had to reimagine my entire wardrobe." She laughs and walks out of the door.

  Nicole peeps around her bedroom door and whispers, "Is she gone yet?"

  My mouth drops. "Are you avoiding her?" She looks at me with an eyebrow raised.

  "This can't be life. The campaign was intense. But I knew there was an end in sight. I think I'll have to tell her I didn't sign up to be a permanent volunteer."

  I shake my head at her although she has a point. It won't hurt to be involved on campus. "I don't mind staying active on campus. As long as I control the activities and times I'm involved, I can help her out. Could be worse."

  "How?" I scrunch my eyes at Nicole. "I've been up since she was yelling in the living room. Like eyes wide open. How could anything be worse?"

  We laugh together and I say, "She wanted me to invite you to campus to mingle with the incoming freshman." She rolls her eyes at me. "If you come with me I'll have an excuse to leave when I want and you can keep me company."

  "You are not convincing me." She picks a cornflake from my bowl. "But maybe." I smile then warn her to keep her hands out of my cereal bowl.

  "Did you ever talk to Chris?" She sits back in her chair, crossing her arms over her chest.

  "He's reached out a few more times but I haven't talked to him yet." She slants her eyes at me. "I'll try to talk to him today. You've been team Chris since he broke up with me. What's up with that?"

  She shrugs her shoulders and looks away. "I mean you had a summer of flings...there was the IT nerd, the football star, the high school crush." She looks at me with one eyebrow raised. "Anyone else?"

  I shake my head. "That was enough."

  "That's another lesson for a different day." She waves her hand in the air. "Back to Chris. Were any of those guys capable of erasing your adoration for him?" She readjusts in her chair and waits.

  I breathe and think about each guy. My dates with Isaiah replayed in my head and I smile, but in the end he walked away when things got complicated. Dante was spontaneous and had a huge heart, but he was as heartbroken as me. Josh, wow. Our night together was amazing. Especially after our first kiss was nowhere near toe curling. He's willing to stick around while I figure out what I want. I share all my thoughts with Nicole and she listens not interrupting until I speak about Josh.

  "And when is the last time you spoke with Josh?"

  "We've been texting back and forth." Jennifer walks out of her room and leans against the kitchen counter.

  "What are you two talking about?" She squints towards the clock. "It's too early. Why are you up so early?" Nicole and I exchange a look. "Our dictator roommate yelling this morning, right?" She shakes her head. "I rolled over after I heard her finally leave. Went right back to sleep."

  Nicole leans against the table. "Sit down. Laila was just telling me why she's avoiding Chris."

  Jennifer sits beside Nicole. "Chris? Out of all the guys this summer, why are we talking about Chris?"

  I throw my arms in the air. "Exactly."

  Nicole rolls her eyes at me and says, "After you talk to Chris, if you don't ever want to speak to him again I'll never say his name. But not until you at least talk to him. I would have thought Josh had a chance, but obviously you aren't that into him."

  Jennifer nods her head in agreement. "If you were that into Josh we probably wouldn’t be having this conversation." She cringes. "I think the only guy you are really into is Chris, and the others are just passing your time."

  I rise to put my bowl in the sink. I walk into my room and grab my phone. Before I close my door Nicole yells at me, "You'll thank me one day. Just remember to name your first born after me."

  Lying across the bed I dial Chris' phone number, expecting it to go to voicemail at this time of the morning. After a few rings, I hear Chris' voice. "Hello." His voice is muffled.

  "Hey, Chris." I hear him shifting around. I don't have much to say to him and I wait for him to wake up completely.

  "Didn't think you'd ever call me back." I huff at his audacity. I don't owe him anything, and I'm close to hanging up. "Thank you." Those two words chip at my anger and I let him continue. "How are you?"

  "I'm doing well." I don't offer any more and refuse to ask him how he's doing, purposely. I couldn't handle him saying he's doing well. Or if he's not. Although it's been a while since I deeply cared for him, I secretly hope he's been as miserable as I have been since we've been apart.

  "That's good to hear. I've had better days, weeks, months even." His words trail off and I desperately want to ask him why he called a few weeks ago in the first place. "I was prepared to talk to you over the phone." He chuckles to himself. "Had the entire conversation planned but now that I hear your voice I can't remember any of it."

  We both sit in silence and I can hear him breathing. The silence is unbearable. When we were together we could talk non-stop for hours.

  "I'm sorry." He blurts out and mumbles to himself something else inaudible.

  I'm not sure if he's apologizing for the torture of this silence or our break up. Either way I just whisper, "Okay."

  "I think this would be easier in person." I hold my breath in anticipation for his next words. "Would you mind if I made a visit?"

  "To Tallahassee?" I look in the mirror and pat my face then comb my fingers through my hair.

  "Yes. I think I can get away from work and come down. For a weekend, maybe." Chris was supposed to go back to his family business but I know how much he wanted to branch out and do his own thing. I'm curious if he followed his heart. Asking would show too much interest in his life and I don't want to feed his ego.

  "Let me know when you decide to come." I hope it's not too far from now. Thinking about what he wants to say but can't say will probably give me anxiety. I'll be a nervous wreck.

  "Laila?" He clears his throat. "Take care." His voice cracks. Chris is usually confident and the quiver in his voice makes me crack. My heart feels like it's shattering. Just like it did when he broke up with me.

  I manage to say, "You too," before hanging up. I look into the mirror again and watch as the tears start streaming down my face. Nicole is right. I'm not over Chris and acting as if I am would be foolish. My lip begins to curl up and my chest heaves as I realize I'm still in love with Chris no matter how much he's hurt me, no matter how badly I want to ex him out of my life.

  "Whoa. Celie, is that you?" Nicole peeks around my bathroom door and stares at my reflection in the mirror. I sniffle as she says, "That's one of the ugliest cries I've seen in a while. What's wrong?"

  I make eye contact with her and she instinctively knows and closes her eyes. "That bad? What'd he say?"

  "Nothing. He had nothing to say." Her eyes bulge and I take a seat atop the toilet. Chris has been trying to talk to me for the past couple of weeks and when he finally does his words are lost
and his thoughts numb. "Supposedly he'll be coming to Tallahassee and when he does he thinks a face to face meeting will be better."

  "Alright. He's lame for that. But try not to stress over it." She smirks. "At least don't run home this time." When Chris broke up with me I skipped out on our Spring Break trip to Miami. Went back home to Fort Walton Beach. She dampens a face towel and hands it to me. "Let's go flirt with the freshmen." She shrugs, "It'll take your mind off of Chris."

  We stroll the halls, greeting girls as we see them in passing until we find our rooms. Harris Hall has been renovated and the rooms look better than when we lived in them just a couple of years ago. The door to my old room is wide open and the two girls inside are laughing and talking. Different from my first few days in this same room since I was solo my first semester. Standing in the doorway I say, "Hey ladies."

  They both look up and invite me into the room. I introduce myself and they both light up with enthusiasm. As they give me their backgrounds I look around the room that looks like an Ikea mini display. They ask me about freshman week and what to expect with living in Harris Hall. "Make sure you get out as much as possible this next week. You'll meet a gang of new friends and they'll likely remain your friends while you're here."

  As if on cue, Monica walks in behind me and says, "Yup, you won't be able to shake them even if you try." She introduces herself and offers coupons for snacks from the student union. After answering all of their questions about campus we leave out looking for Jennifer and Nicole and find them on the front steps of Harris Hall.

  Guys are fawning over Nicole like she's a local celebrity, and the freshman girls are sitting back watching with envy. Nicole looks around the crowd of guys and signals me over. "Laila, come over and meet our new friends." Jennifer rolls her eyes and shakes her head.