| Isabella |

I pulled the packing tape roll across the last box in my room, sealing it shut for the trip to Manhattan. I was currently sitting crisscross on the floor of my bare bedroom, in our now old apartment.

It was some sort of miracle that Racheal and I had found an apartment in the city this quickly, only it was bitter sweet because being in Manhattan, meant being closer to Nathan, and after our last encounter, I preferred never to see him again.

The way he had kissed me suggested he felt something for me, but who knows, I don't truly know him and so I don't know if that was just lust or if it was actually meaningful. Maybe its why I was drawn to him and at the same time, didn't want to see him, because he was so hard to read. Hard to understand. I could normally figure people out right away, but I couldn't figure out Nathan.

I was desperately trying to convince myself he was not worth it and I should forget him, but I couldn't forget our kisses.

No, I definitely could not.

"Izzy?" asks Racheal coming into my room. I look up from my last box.

"Yeah?" I respond and she smiles.

"You good?" she asks and I nod.

"Yep, just finished up this box." I say, putting down the packing tape and then grab the sharpie I had out to label, from the ground. I scribble room décor across the side and then stand.

"You seem like something has been bothering you lately." she says and I shake my head.

"I'm fine, I've just been preoccupied with finals and stuff." I mutter, running a hand through my hair. She nods. "But now that that's over, I'm good." I say with a small smile. She gives me a funny look, but instead of prying she leaves it. Maybe she didn't want to ask me, or she believed it was the stress of graduation getting to me and not the deep kisses and blue eyes of Nathan Price.

"Okay, well the movers will be here soon and then we're going to New York City!" she exclaims and I laugh at her.

___

The car ride into the city was long, but jamming to hardcore rap music and munching on a variety of candy with Rachael, made it pass in no time.

When we finally pulled up outside our quaint apartment building, a rush of excitement hit me and I had a sudden burst of energy. The exciting possibilities of new chances and a fresh start causing me to feel overjoyed. Rachael was excited too, and we both raced up the front steps and through the double doors into the lobby of the apartment building. It was small, most likely only about 15-feet wide, but it was very long. Along one wall, there two sets of elevator doors and along the opposite there was fine artwork with fancy couches beneath. At the end of the room, there was a desk, with a kind-looking woman sitting behind it.

"Hello!" she calls happily and we approach the desk. "How may I help you today?" she asks.

"We're here for our new apartment, I'm Rachael Marino and this is Isabella Smith." says Rachael, motioning to me, I offer a small smile and the woman nods.

"Oh that's right, you're moving into apartment 35C correct?" she asks and we both nod. "Well you two can go on up."

We both thank her and hurry to the elevator. I was thankful the leases had been signed, the payments completed and paperwork finished before we got here, because I couldn't wait to see the place again. I had seen it briefly when we were apartment hunting, but hadn't had time to look everywhere. The elevator dinged and we got out on the third floor, we found our new apartment door and Rachael unlocks it.

"Here we go." she says, her voice squeaky with excitement. She opens the door and we both step in.

I let out a breath.

When you stepped into the apartment, you immediately saw the open concept of the place. Directly in front and a little to the left, there was a sizable kitchen, complete with beautiful cabinets and granite counters. Then to the right, there was a hall, followed by a long red-brick wall. Large, tall windows let light shine everywhere in the living room, causing the wood floors to gleam happily. On the opposite wall facing the brick one, there was a another hallway, which Rachael had disappeared down, and was were her living spaces were. I go to the other hallway, finding the first door and opening it.

Inside there was a closet and inside the next door there was my bedroom. It was long, large, tall windows sent sunbeams everywhere. The walls were white, the ceiling was high and one wall was red brick, which must be the same wall as the living room. I go to the closet, sliding open the doors and then I go into the little bathroom off my bedroom.

It had a claw-foot tub, with shower head, and had a gold curtain rod surrounding it. I smiled, turning to the large mirror and long sink in the room. I already was in love with the space.

The movers helped us take in the multiple boxes and all the furniture we had, along with the brand new appliances Racheal had insisted on buying. And then in no time at all, we were all alone in the apartment, walking around and squealing about how exciting this was.

Then the sun was setting in the sky soon and we decided to get some dinner.

___

One of my new, absolute favorite places to shop in down town Manhattan was a little beauty store called Cecelia's Boutique. I loved that it always smelled like a combination of flowery perfumes and delicious body soaps. They had everything I could ever want or need when it came to makeup and relaxing-time products.

I had nothing better to do right now except for shop, Racheal was always with Hunter these past couple weeks, and my new job at a publishing company wasn't going to start for another several days. Graduation had been a blast, and Racheal's parents had been so excited for the both of us. Neither my mother or father made an appearance, but I had not expected them too. I haven't spoken to my mom in many years and after I refused to come to my fathers wedding, I knew he would not come.

I was bored out of my mind.

Nathan hadn't contacted me in any way, and I hadn't contacted him either. I wasn't unhappy about it, but in an odd way, I misses him.

I browsed through the different lines of makeup, hair, skin and nail products, picking up anything that looked interesting and then eventually setting it down again. I settled on a cream, white nail polish color, different shades of a lip pencil I liked and some face creams and soaps that looked beneficial.

I stood in line, waiting casually. I grabbed an issue of one of my favorite home-design magazines and placed it on the check out. The lady in front of my finished, and I stepped up to the register. The girl behind it took my things and rang them up.

I glanced back at the magazine rack and saw the glossy, newest issue of Glimmer, a business magazine. I was suddenly pissed me off for two reason, one there was only one issue left in the rack and two, the most likely reason for why the rack was almost empty, Nathan Price's undeniably handsome face was staring right at me. As if daring me to come and find him. His large ice blue eyes looked straight into me through the cover of the magazine, his blond hair was combed upward and he looked striking in a dark suit.

He wasn't smiling, just staring darkly, in his intense gaze.

He never smiles so I wasn't surprised. At least not that I've seen.

Occasionally? Yes. But was it a habit of his? No

I frowned, opening my black purse and pulling out my wallet to pay.

"Guy troubles?" asks the girl behind the cashier suddenly and I looked up, furrowing my eye brows, startled from my silence.

"What?" I ask, confused.

"Oh, well it seems like your doing a 'girls night in' and that only happens when you don't want to be around guys or when you don't go out at all..." she trailed off, motioning to my products as she bagged them in the pretty, little bags they used at the store. "I'm sorry, I just assumed, never mind."

"No, no its okay." I tell her gently, an awkward silence falling over us as she rings up the total. "Actually your right."

"Well, I've had my fair share of guy troubles." she tells me, clicking things in on the Ipad screen they used for payment.

"Yeah, well this guy's cold and really hard to read." I say honestly. "I like him though, he's kind-of cute when he's all stoic and silent, but there's something else. Something draws me to him and I really cannot explain it, let me tell you."

"Want my advice?" she asks as I swipe my card and sign my name on the pad.

"Sure." I say.

"Most of the time, silent people are just waiting for the person who is going to go to them, even though they insisted you should stay away." she says. "Also, if you really feel that way for him, what the hell else are you waiting for you know?"

"I guess." I murmur, letting her words sink in.

She was right. What other go signs was I waiting for? I liked him, I was nearly positive he liked me and I felt different around him, a good different.

"Well thanks." I say gratefully, she nods smiling.

"Yeah, my name's Chloe if you ever wanted to come back to chat." she says. I nod.

"I'm Isabella." I say, gathering my bag and then waving goodbye as I walked out the shop. I had planned to stay in tonight, but for now I needed to visit someone and set things straight.

___

Hola!

I know, it was a pretty short chapter but there will be more to come very soon!

xoxo

-Keara Rose