01- The Haunted Past
I woke up with a jerk and a strong hangover, it was followed by the hazy images of the previous night. I am not a party animal usually. Actually I hated clubs, people always say it's a cool place to hangout but once we enter that hell hole, it's just pitch black out there. I can't imagine who enjoys colorful bright lights blinding people's sight. And how can I forget about the worst part, random strangers grinding against girls. It's been five years since I moved to New York City, I still haven't got any decent friends nor an decent apartment and did I mention? I hated my job. I thought moving to New York will be a good for my career in journalism but even after struggling for five whole years here, I was in the same place. I worked for The New Reads magazine, it was pretty good magazine but I din't get any recognition there. I was given a small column at first, it was called 'Fun Facts' I know right? Even though I took my job pretty seriously I felt like there was no real scope of any improvement for my column.
Time passed by but my column reminded the same. The interns who came after me got promoted as much as it was painful for me to watch , I couldn't really do anything about that. At first, I wasn't able to understand the real problem but then I found out that my horrible past followed me everywhere. Apparently my boss thought I din't deserve to be promoted because I was hired cause of some recommendation. She thought I was working for her cause I had no other choice which was only half true in real.
Anyways that's my story far now. As much I was heart broken to move to New York fives years ago, Now I really did have a life here. Even though it was really a crappier one, I had a life in New York working for a shitty magazine which didn't really give me any actually credit for my work. Amidst all that negative thoughts, I still kept holding on because at least I was still earning some money from that job,I had a roof over my head even though I din't really like my roommate who was high most of the time.
I have to confess I had a really messed up life and moving to New York was a mistake!
Okay let's face it, I would move back home in a heartbeat if I can. I honestly felt like moving to New York was the worst thing that had happened to me. But I couldn't just move back home just like that, I mean all these years my parents had supported me and now it was my turn to chase after the dream that they had supported me with. No, I refused to return home as a loser. I loved writing and I wanted to change lives of people with my writing. I wanted to touch the souls with my writing. I tell you, it's really deep.
It has always been my dream.
Back to the present day, It was a warm Sunday morning, Oh wait! Scratch that it was a warm Sunday afternoon, yeah..sue me! I slept till noon. I do that all lot and hell, I don't regret it. As I laid on my bed contemplating the last five years, I heard a growl on my stomach. I was really hungry but I din't wanna go into my kitchen since that would mean I would have to have an encounter with my stoned roomie also the kitchen was a mess. I wasn't exactly in a mood to have chat with roommate today so I decided to take a pass, I took a quick shower and picked out the clothes I could reach first. I made myself presentable and decided to get some lunch.
I went to my favorite Indian place which was actually three blocks away from my apartment. I ordered the usual and waited for my food impatiently since I was literally starving and my stomach was growling with hunger. I was sitting in my booth alone minding my own business, Well.. not exactly I was fishing for any updates from my friends in Instagram. Yeah..I do that, to avoid looking lonely and pathetic when I am alone. I took out my phone and pretended to look busy. It's indeed a great way to repel away unwanted conversations from strangers. I have grown really cold after moving here, I guess that what happens when people have no friends. I found Becky's profile and seeing her updates made me really emotional. Tears welled up in my eyes, when I realized how much I missed her.
Becky is and was my best friend through out high school and college actually she is more like my sister. I know I face time her all the time but still, it's not like hanging out in real. I was gulping water and scrolling my way down her profile. But then someone tapped on my shoulder, initially I was annoyed by the interruption but then I decided to look who it was.
As I looked up, my eyes met a beautiful pair of hazel eyes. I was confused because I recognized them from before. I was looking at him for a few seconds without shifting my gaze. Then realization hit me, when I recognized it was my high school friend Theo. Well he wasn't a friend exactly, I mean we used to hang out during our school days but then as college came along we lost touch. I was delighted to see him after such a long time.
"Theo?" I asked looking surprised.
"You look like you could use some company?" He flashed a toothy grin.
"Yeah.. Of course!" I replied instantly with a huge smile on my face. He sat beside me and made his order.
"So long time no see? how are you?" He asked looking amazed by our surprise encounter.
"I am great and you look really different from the last time I met you!" I said shyly biting my lower lip. He looked really gorgeously handsome but I can't tell him that.
"Well you too!" He said looking at me with equal excitement.
"What are you doing here?" He shot me a question suddenly.
"Oh..I am here just for lunch!" I replied with an awkward smile.
"Are you waiting for your Date?" He asked with a small chuckle.
"Date? Oh no-no-no! I am here alone!" I said trying hard to sound normal as possible.
I am pretty sure he thought that I was acting weird.
"That's cool!" He said smiling sweetly.
"Um..so how's life?" I asked him, I know I came out a little bit curious.. God I need to take a chill pill.
"Pretty good actually, I woke for a publication!" He said sipping water.
"Oh my god.. That's really awesome!" I exclaimed.
"What about you?" He asked looking surprised by my response.
"I am a columnist for The New Reads!" I replied with a sly smile.
"I guess we have a lot in common!" He said with a sly smile.
His phone started beeping and his smile turned into a frown. Should I ask What's wrong? Or Should I not? I thought. He noticed my expression and decided to speak.
"Um..it's about my apartment!" He said looking down.
"What about it?" I asked swiftly but I tried my best not took look like I am prying.
"My roommate just moved out, I am searching for a decent roommate but this city is filled with hippies.. You know?" He said looking slightly annoyed.
"Yeah.. Tell me about it!" I said looking away.
"What happened to you!?" He asked noticing my reaction.
"It's nothing, I live with one so I know how you feel!" I said trying to smile.
He gave me an intense look for a few seconds.
"Earth to Theo? Hello?" I waved before him.
"Uh..ya I am here, sorry I spaced out!" He shuttered.
"That's alright!" I smiled and continued eating.
"Hey may be you should move in!" He said in a rush.
Wait.. What??
"Um..what?" I asked looking confused.
"Yeah.. We can be roommates! I mean I am having a hard time to get a good roommate and by the looks of it you are having a hard time living in your apartment, so what the hell?" He said looking excited.
He did sound logical but I wasn't sure about this. I mean common I just met him! I know he is my friend but it's been a really long time.
"I don't know!" I replied doubtfully.
"Well, think about it.. If you change your mind, you know where to find me!" He said and gave his card.
Will I think about it???
"Thanks!" I smiled.
"Alright, I gotta go now but I will see you soon!" He said flashing a teethe smile.
"Sure!" I nodded as I watched him walk away.
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I thought a lot about it and moving into a great apartment this the best thing that can happen to me after a long time, I can finally move out to a decent apartment. I was happy after a long time. Just when I thought of telling this great news to Becky. I got call from her.
"Hey there!" I exclaimed.
"Oh my god!! June!" She screamed suddenly.
I recognized that kinda freak out, it was for a good news.
"What's going on?" I asked and the held the phone tight.
"I am engaged!" She yelled in excitement.
"What?!?" I exclaimed.
"Are you messing around?" I asked her again.
"No dummy, I am engaged for real!" She exclaimed again.
"Oh my god, Does this mean what I think it means?" I gasped.
I found out Liam and Becky were dating before two years and I couldn't be more happier for them.
"Yeah.. He popped the question over the weekend!" She said I bet she was looking flushed.
"I know You and Liam were the endgame from the beginning!" I said smiling, honestly my lips was starting to hurt cause of all the smiling.
"Awe..I love you my maid of honor!" She was trying hand to speak between her happy tears.
I was literally jumping up and down with joy.
"I wanna hug you! I wish you are here!" I said trying to sound normal.
"Well, your wish will be true in a few seconds! I am in New York right now! I am at your front door actually, could you be a doll and open up?" She asked I suppose she was smirking right now behind my door.
"What?!?!" I gasped again.
"Open up!!!!" She screamed as she was banging my front door.
I ran up to the door and opened up swiftly. I was rendered speechless when I saw her. I pulled her into a tight bear hug.
"I missed you like crazy!" I mumbled.
"I hate you for moving away!" She chuckled softly.
"Come on in soon-to-be-bride!" I smiled brightly.
"Why din't you tell me you were coming here!?" I asked her punching her playfully.
"Well..if I told you, it won't be a surprise!" She said laughing.
"Okay now spill.. I want all the details about the proposal!" I exclaimed.
She started the tale of her love story. She seemed very happy and I was really glad to see her like that. We spent the day talking about her wedding and reminiscing about our college days together. She said she was staying in New York for a couple of days. We spent the evening cooking dinner.
"So are you going to move out and stay with Theo?" She smirked.
"I guess.. But it's not like that!" I said with a straight face.
I can't shake the feeling to ask her about Andrew. Maybe I shouldn't but I din't want to move on even after we drifted apart. I haven't been great in dating anyway but with Andrew in the picture I always thought he would magically appear on my door step someday and take me in his arms. I thought this was the universe way of telling me not to give up on him,I mean there are billions people in the world and out of them my best friend ended up with his best friend. I mean what are the odds? If I said the same to someone they might say I was just crazy but Becky was my best friend. She won't judge me, So I should just ask her.I thought to myself.
"So when is the wedding?" I started off coolly.
"It's an June Wedding at the Plaza!" She exclaimed.
"It's in New York?" I asked looking surprised.
"That's great!" I smiled brightly.
"Yeah.. We are planning to move here!" She said looking excited.
"This is the best news ever!" I exclaimed again.
This is the best day ever. Everything was so perfect. Should I really ask her?
"So is Andrew coming?" I asked swiftly.
There! I did it! Can't take it back now.
"Um..Uh.." She shuttered.
She was looking at me speechless for sometime.
"Becky it's okay.. I am fine! You can tell me, if he is with someone else!" I said trying to keep my calm.
"He is not with anyone!" She said eyeing me closely.
I left out a breath in relief.
"Oh..Thank God! I imagined the worst.. I mean he just stopped talking me.. You know.. I always knew long distance relationships never work, I agree we drifted apart but when he stopped responding to my calls and messages, it was like he disappeared from my life.When he was gone, it was like he left a hole in my heart!" I said trying to sound normal as tears welled up my eyes.
"June.. I thought we were past that? You said you have moved on!" She said looking shocked.
"Well..I lied about it!" I snapped suddenly.
"You can't cling on to the past!" She said holding my hands.
"I just want to see him once and know the reason why he left me?!?" I broke into tears now.
"It's not your fault!" She comforted me.
"How do you know that?!" I cried.
"You need to let it go!" She whispered.
"I can't.. You invited him to the wedding right?" I asked wiping the tears off my cheeks.
"No, I couldn't!" She said looking hesitant.
"What?!? Why not?" I asked looking confused.
"June.. I..can't because.." She shuttered .
"Because of what?!?" I blinked.
"Andrew, he is.. He is dead June!" She said looking at me as tears rolled down her cheeks.
That was the last I heard. My heard started spinning hard and I think I passed out. When I woke, I was on my bed and Becky was sitting near me looking teary. I tried to sit upright.
"What happened?!" I asked touching my forehead.
"You passed out for a couple of hours!" She said looking at me seriously.
"Why?" I asked again.
"The doctor said you had lot ta mental pressure to handle!" She said looking guilty.
I was staring at the distance looking expressionless.
"Are you okay?" She muttered.
"Yeah..I am fine!" I replied swiftly.
"Why din't you..why?" I asked slowly turning towards her.
"I couldn't.. I promised your parents!" She said sobbing.
"My parents knew about this?" I asked looking shocked.
She nodded.
"They knew this would ruin you!" She exclaimed.
"And not knowing what happened to him din't?!? Look at me Becky.. I am going crazy.. Making plans to see him at your wedding.. How pathetic is that?!" I screamed suddenly.
Suddenly all my frustration turned into tears and I was crying ferociously.
"I know.. I am sorry.. Shh!" She tried to comfort me.
She hugged me tightly and she let me cry my heart out.
"What happened Becky?" I asked between my sobs.
"Andrew was on cruise ship.. His parents had a party and.. There was a huge storm, the ship got wrecked and.." She stopped as tears started pouring down her cheeks.
"What?!" I asked slowly.
"They never found him or his family.. I am so sorry June!" She said and hugged me again.
"This hurts so much!" I cried .
"Everything is gonna be alright.. You are going to be fine!" She said looking at me as her eyes were teary .
"Will I?" I asked crying harder.
"You will get through this!" She nodded.
I will never, I knew that for sure. My heat isn't merely broken, it is a shadow of what it was and fading a little more every day.
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A week later..
Um... it's just that, I used to be happy. Um, yeah, past tense. Sucks, I know. But, they did tell me that I wouldn't be soon or I'd forget the feeling or whatever. But I knew I had to put a brave face for the people I love and those who are alive and with me right now, God I can't believe I just said that! Sometimes I wish I could scream into a pillow and cry all day but what good will it do to be expect to leave me with puffy eyes right?? So I decided to pretend that everything was fine.
"I appreciate you being here for me.. But that doesn't mean you have to smother me.. You know?" I asked raising an eye brow.
"You are rude.. You know that?" Becky asked sarcastically.
"And you are engaged, Liam is gonna hate me for keeping you all to myself!" I chuckled.
"This was his idea actually!" She flashed one of her teethe smiles.
"Well..I guess You guys are made for each other then!" I smiled.
"So are you going to meet Theo?" She smirked again.
"No..I am still apartment hunting!" I said as I was checking my phone for notifications.
"Why not? He is funny, sweet and attractive!" She kept on talking.
"Becky.. That's not the qualities I want in an apartment! Besides I can't date anyone right now !" I replied firmly.
"Is that the only issue?" She asked eyeing me suspiciously.
" You are not even giving the guy a fair chance!" She complained.
"I got an apartment in Brooklyn!" I said looking at her seriously.
"What??!?" She looked really puzzled.
"When did this happen?" She asked as she was blocking my way.
"When you started pestering me to go out with Theo!" I said walking away.
"I am sorry June.. I just want you to be happy that's all!" She said slowly
"I know.. And I love you for that! But I am happy.. Right now I need to concentrate on my career right now!" I replied with a smile.
"Are you sure.. You are alright?" She asked eyeing me closely.
"Of course..!" I flashed a bright smile.
"How did you get the apartment? And Do you like your roommate?" She asked curiously.
"Yeah, the apartment is great.. But I have no roommate !" I replied casually .
"You got your own place!?!" Becky gasped again.
"Yeah, I am moving tomorrow..and why are you surprised?" I asked looking confused.
"How could you afford that?" She was looking concerned now.
"Hey.. It's okay.. I got a loan! It's no big deal!" I replied casually.
But I guess that wasn't convincing enough for her,she still looked at me as if I told her I was a serial killer.
"Becky.. Seriously you don't have to worry about me! I have a job, I will manage!" I said trying to cheer her up.
"Alright.. But if you need anything.." She started.
"I will ask you!" I completed her sentence.
"We are going shopping at 5.. We got lot ta work to do!" She said looking excited.
"Alright.. I will join you after work!" I said grabbing my coat.
"Okay.. Have a nice day!" She screamed through my door
"I will thank you!" I exclaimed.
I went to my office, it was pretty much the normal stuff except it wasn't because they called all the employees for an announcement. That doesn't usually happen here. What was going on?
"Hey there! " Lisa greeted me with a charming smile on her face.
Lisa was one of my Co - workers.
"Hey..What's going on!?" I asked her casually .
"You din't hear the news still?!" She asked looking surprised.
"What news?" I asked as I was arranging the stack of paper that was on my desk.
"The company is shutting down.. They are giving a two week notice to all the employees!" She said looking sad.
There it was.. Just when I thought my life couldn't get any worser,It got really worse. With the new apartment? How will I manage without a job? I started freaking out.
"June..Did you start applying for other jobs?" She asked noticing my panic ridden face.
"Umm..no!" I replied looking pale.
"Here are some of the companies I chose.. Do you want to check it out?" She asked with a smile.
"Sure..!" I said and got the binder.
"Well..here is The Notebook publishers, I heard they pay well! This is Rose and Jasmine publishing, This is Ellet magazine, and what do you think about The Successful Savings?" She asked as she was listing out all the companies.
"Uh..it's the money magazine, right?" I asked swiftly.
She nodded nonchalantly.
"Well, I am not big on money right now.. Hey what's that?" I asked pointing at a big R and H Logo.
"Oh.. Sweetie that's the Rick and Hunt publishing.. You wouldn't want to go there!" She said looking weirdly scared.
"Why?" I asked casually.
"Okay.. You haven't heard this from me but roamer has that.. Their boss breaths fire instead of air!" She said looking dead serious.
"You mean like a Dragon!?" I asked with air quotes.
"It's not funny.. It's true, he fires people with the snap of his fingers!" She said looking dead serious .
"Alright.. I am shaking, you have made your point!" I said with sarcasm dripping from my words.
"You are doomed if you enter his den!" She exclaimed with a crazy expression .
"Den?" I asked with a straight face.
"I meant his office!" She said looking annoyed.
"Will anyone in their right mind walk into the lion's den for food?" She asked eyeing me seriously.
"You just said he was a dragon!" I replied sarcastically.
"June.. That's not the point here.. Just okay?" She muttered with annoyance .
I nodded trying to control my laughter.
"Do you want your life to be tarnished but Derrick Hunt?" She asked with wide eyes .
Now who would want that?
I know Lisa was being dramatic but for some reason her stories made me feel like working there would be exciting but I wouldn't want to risk it since I needed job security. With the loan and the apartment, maybe it's probably not a good idea.
"No, I don't!" I exclaimed.
"Good.. Then apply everywhere except for that!" She pointed and went away.
I made a list of the companies and applied for all the job openings I found. I was trying prepare myself for the interview that I was going tomorrow.
"You are gonna be fine!" I mumbled to myself.
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A/N How was the first chapter? There is still a long way to go, please stay with me readers. I am really thankful to all those people who read my book. Please show your support with your votes and comments ❤
