Last Heartbeat Read online

  I laugh and tell her that we have to get together soon for studying. I also make a joke about the assigned seats and being stuck with me the rest of the year. She smiles at me, but it’s not a full-on smile. Is that the reason she didn’t pay attention in class? Is it really that bad for her to sit next to me? It has to be something else. Maybe I should ask.

  Before I can do that, she hands me her phone number and says not to bring her grades down. Wow! She must think I’m a loser who doesn’t study. I will show her that I am not. I wonder if this is her cell phone number. I’ll text her soon to make sure.

  I tell her that I will text her soon and that I can’t wait to start the assignment. I decide to tell her that I’m not a cheater and let her know that I was just joking. I even do something as stupid as telling her that she is pretty, but then I take it back. She interrupts me to say, “I told you I wasn’t.” That makes me angry because she is beyond pretty.

  I smile at her, “You’re not pretty but you’re the most beautiful girl I have every seen. You shouldn’t interrupt me when I’m not finished talking. Well, I have to go, but don’t forget I’ll be texting soon. Never think you’re not beautiful.” I leave before I say something else to embarrass myself.

  I can’t believe she doesn’t know how beautiful she is. I know she thinks she looks like everyone else, but she doesn’t. To me, she is something special.

  I really should text her to make sure she gave me her right number. I start texting her number, but then I hear Megan before I get to finish, so I put my phone away. I turn around and go the other direction to avoid her. The more I see her, the more I dislike her. Megan is this spoiled girl who thinks she should be able to get whatever or whomever she wants. I know one guy who isn’t into her and that is me. I guess my friends would probably think I’m crazy because she is really nice to look at and would let me do whatever I would want to do to her, but that isn’t who I want to be. The best thing can do is just ignore her.

  I walk out the opposite side of the building, which makes my walk longer, but I’m good with it. Who doesn’t need extra exercise? I head back to my car so I can go to the condo. I think, I need to hit the beach for a while, before my next class. I have three hours before that time, and I need to clear my head. Nothing a little sun, sand and waves can’t take care of. Who wouldn’t love living in a condo on the beach? I smile, turning my music up and rolling down the windows.

  Knowing what waits for me when I get home makes me happy. Pulling into the driveway to the condo, I already feel more relaxed.

  Chapter Seven

  Alexia

  The rest of my day was uneventful. My next class went by surprisingly well and I even paid attention in it. There were no assigned seats in that class either. I tried not to stress over my biology class the rest of the day and just went with it. No need to stress over something I can’t help. Maybe Phillip won’t call or text me to study today. I think I’m going to stay in the room and rest. It has been an exciting first day for me. I ate before I came back to the dorm so that I could just chill a bit and read. I don’t have much homework. A nap might be what this girl needs. Kristen isn’t here because she has late classes and now would be a good time for a nap.

  I lie down on my small bed and shut my eyes; yes, this is what I have been waiting on all day. I am almost asleep when I hear the door open. Kristen comes in being really hyped up and loud. She must be on a caffeine high. I guess my nap is over for now. Maybe I should head out for a drive and find a nice place at the beach to relax. I need to go find a chair that I can keep in my car so I can always have a seat at the beach.

  Kristen walks in with a grin on her face. She must have had a good day. “You look happy. How was your first day of classes?”

  “It was amazing. And I found out that the guy I hooked up with was in my class. I didn’t even know his name, but I found out what it was today. His name is Chris, and he has amazing body and blue eyes that can drown you. He asked me out again and I can’t wait to go.” Still smiling, she sits down on her bed.

  How nice it must be to be able to do what you want and when you want. I am afraid to let myself go around boys because it is best if they don’t get attached to me. I might die to soon, and that wouldn’t be fair to him. I know I should live everyday to the fullest, but I still feel guilty getting close to people. I don’t want them to feel bad when I die and leave them.

  I have had this fear, ever since I first got sick. Watching how sad my parents were when I could barely breathe did something to me. It would break my heart to leave all of the people I get attached to. My parents say that life must go on and that I should not fear this. They say that I’m easy to love and get attached to. I don’t believe them though because I really don’t have too many people in my life. I did that on propose.

  Kristen looks over and says, “Why so sad? It is good he asked me out. Most of the time guys will hook up me and move on, but this time, maybe it can grow into something good.”

  “I am glad for you and hope for the best with Chris. I will have to meet him if it will last awhile. When is the big date going to happen?” I smile at her so I can get myself out of my depressing thoughts.

  “He is taking me out tonight. Can you believe that? It surprised me too. I need to get ready now. He will pick me up outside the building in an hour. What should I wear?

  “Depends on where you’re going. Do you know where?

  “He said to eat and play putt-putt golf.”

  “Maybe you should go with some cute shorts and top to match. Sandals too.”

  “You are right. That sounds perfect. I know the best outfit for my date.” She goes to her little closet and pulls out these really cute red shorts and a black and red top to match. She looks up for my approval and I give her two thumbs up. She laughs and says that she has to run to take a shower.

  I wonder if maybe I should take that nap now, but I decide to go over my lessons from today. Right when I am almost done, Kristen runs back in to get dressed and fix her hair.

  She gets done and asks, “How do I look?”

  “You look beautiful and that outfit looks good on you.” I smile. “I hope you have fun tonight. It still is warm and sunny out, so kick his butt at putt-putt.”

  “I plan on it, but so you know, if I don’t come back early, everything went well and don’t wait up. Oh, I have to go. Hope you do something fun tonight.” Wow! She is so full of energy; I wish I could be like her.

  As I put my books away, I get a text. It’s just my parents checking on my first day and me. I let them know that I had a great day and I am fine too. We get done and I put my phone down beside my bed. I lie back on the bed, but now I am not tired at all. Maybe I need to go out for a drive and take a walk by the beach. That would relax me a bit.

  I just wish I weren’t so scared to let someone in. It would be nice to go out like most people. Sometimes I get lonely. I don’t have siblings, just my parents. I don’t have many friends because I don’t let people around me to get to know who I am. The little bit of interaction with Kristen was the most fun I have had in a while. I really should get a life, not worry so much and not be negative about myself.

  I get up and put on some shorts, a t-shirt and flip-flops. I decide to go get a chair, sit and relax at the beach. As I am on my mission, I stop at the beach store for my chair and I get another text. Wondering who could be texting me, I look at it and can’t believe who it is from. It is Phillip and he wants to get started with studying, but I have plans. I buy my chair, head out to my car, and reply before I start driving.

  Me: Sorry I am just headed to the beach. We will have to plan another time.

  Phillip: We can study at the beach if you want to. I live in a condo at the beach. You can come over then we can go down to the beach to study and maybe get pizza.

  I really like this plan more than going to the beach by myself. Should I go? I have never been to a guy’s home by myself before. I have to do this project with Phillip even if I don�
��t want to. As I am deciding, he texts me back.

  Phillip: Are you coming? I will order pizza and it should be here by the time you do. What kind of pizza do you like?

  His actually asking me what kind of pizza I like makes me want to go. No guy has ever asked before. Well, I haven’t been around many guys either, but I am curious about what his condo on the beach looks like.

  Me: Sure I’ll come over. Text the address to me. I like about anything on pizza, so surprise me.

  He texts back the address and I put it in my GPS. It is really close and I should be there in twenty minutes, so I let him know. I am lucky, that I had my backpack full of books with me. I don’t have to go back to the dorm first. I roll down my window and turn up my music for the drive over. I love the salty air and breeze in my hair.

  Smiling as I drive toward the beach, I start to relax. The beach always has this effect on me. Maybe it won’t be bad to studying at Phillip’s place. We will be at the beach and that should help us finish faster.

  Chapter Eight

  Phillip

  I’m so glad I decided to go to the beach for a while before my next class. After I ate lunch, I came down to the beach for a jog and then swam in the ocean. I even sat under the cabana, which is exclusive to my parents’ condo building. Every resident who owns a condo gets a private cabana. That really makes it nice to relax, and sometimes I need to get out of the sun so I don’t get sunburned. Yeah, I believe I might have it made.

  Now if I can clear my head of Alexia, I might find a cute girl around here to talk to. I watched a lot of girls on the beach through my sunglasses. That way they don’t see me looking, but none of them can compare to her. We should hurry and get started on our project so we can finish quickly.

  I see some girls coming my way and think that maybe my luck is getting better. Then, as they get closer, I see, that I’m not going to be lucky, because one of them is Megan. She comes up and stands over me blocking the sun.

  “I saw you today at school and yelled at you too, but you went the other way. If I thought you were that mean, I would believe you did it on purpose, like you were trying to avoid me,” she says with a pout.

  Oh no, she knows what I did. “No, I just didn’t hear you or see you.” I smile up at her and hope that she buys it.

  She smiles back. “What are you doing out here today? Are you done with school for the day? We are, so we plan on hanging out at the beach for a while and working on our tans.”

  “I’m not done with classes today. Just taking a break for a while. Who are your friends?”

  She looks a little worried about introducing us, but she does anyway. “Oh this Beth and Jessica. They came in for a few days before their school starts and I’m just showing them around.”

  I look at each girl and notice they are as pretty as Megan, but none of them can compare to Alexia. We need to get the project done so I can move on already.

  I say, “Hi Beth and Jessica. I hope you have a good time while staying here. Be careful and don’t get sunburns today.”

  They both giggle at me and smile. They tell me that they’re glad to meet me after what Megan has told them about me. They both hope to spend more time with me too.

  Then Megan says, “Oh, Phillip, I am having another party tonight so Beth and Jessica can meet everyone. You should bring your friends too.”

  “I don’t know if I can tonight. I already have a biology project. I have to start when I get back from my next class.”

  “Well tell Jacob and Tyler. Maybe they will come. I know they won’t miss a party to do homework,” Megan’s says sort of angrily.

  “Okay I will let them know about your party. Is it at your parents beach house?”

  “Yes it is. You know there isn’t a better place than the beach house to party at.”

  “Nope there isn’t”

  “So please come then. You can even walk over if you wanted to. My house isn’t too far from here.”

  “I know, but I have to get this biology project done fast.”

  “I could help you if you want me too. I did get a B in that class.”

  “No I don’t need your help. I have a project partner to help me and we have to start tonight.” Megan’s helping would be bad and I would never be able to avoid her then.

  Megan pouts and says, “Well, you know where I am if you get done in time. And bring your partner. He may like the party too.”

  “My partner isn’t a guy. You met her last night at your party. Her name is Alexia.”

  “I remember her. She didn’t stay too long. She was the girl sitting on the beach with you and your friends. She didn’t look like your usual girl you go out with,” she says kind of hatefully to me. “So why do you have to do a project with her?”

  She looks at me with her hands on her hips and expects me to answer. I start saying, “I don’t have a usual girl, but if I did it very well could be Alexia. She has nothing wrong with how she looks and I think she is beautiful. We have the same class and we got picked to do it together. I will tell the guys about the party. I have to go now for my next class.” I get up and leave Megan and her friends.

  So now my relaxing turned out to be a bust. Megan just got me angry from talking about Alexia like that. How could she? I was trying to get Alexia off my mind and now I can’t. I feel like I should go back to Megan and tell her off for Alexia’s sake. See what this girl is doing to me? She is turning my world upside down and I don’t want her to.

  I look down at my watch and notice that it’s getting late. I better hurry to my class so I can text Alexia and get this project done quickly. I have to get over her and fast. I head to my room, grab my books, and head out. Once I get to campus, I start walking to class. I turn toward my building and see Alexia going out and across the lake to the dorms. That was close. I want to try my best to avoid her every minute until this project is over, but then I think about how, I don’t like avoiding her. I should have just asked her to meet me after class. Now she is already out of my sight. I will text her after class.

  I get to class and it goes okay. My mind is still a little upset over how Megan thought Alexia wasn’t much to look at. How could anyone think such a horrible thing? Looking at Alexia makes me think of the ocean, because of her beautiful blue eyes. Yeah, this infatuation is really getting bad.

  I pay a little bit of attention to my class and now its over. I get my books together and put them in my backpack to leave. As I walk across the school grounds to my car I see Tyler and Jacob coming over to me.

  “Hey guys. How did your classes go? Did you have a bad hangover this morning? I asked them.

  Jacob looks like he still has a hangover, but says, “It was bad this morning, but I’m good now. Classes? What classes? Because I think I fell asleep in mine.”

  “That isn’t the best way to start off the school year.” I let him know.

  “I know and I really have to do well in my classes or I won’t graduate in the spring. Maybe I should stay away from the parties this year.” He smiles, knowing that he won’t.

  Tyler laughs at him. “Sure that is going to happen. Better find someone quick to cheat off so you can pass. My class was pretty boring. I hope is gets better.”

  I check the time and find it is getting late. It’s time I should head out. “Hey, Megan is going to have a party again tonight at the beach house and told me to let you guys know.”

  Jacob grins real big. “Megan huh? I thought you didn’t like her much. I don’t know why. She is pretty hot.”

  “I don’t like her because she is stuck up and thinks she is better than everyone else. I’m not going anyways. I already have a biology project I have to start on. You guys should go. She had some really cute friends with her that I met today.” Maybe they aren’t too much like Megan.”

  Tyler says, “What? You’re not going to go to a party? You are missing out on Megan. She is really into you and you probably can get whatever you want out of her, if you know what I mean.” He winks.
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  Jacob winks too. “Yeah, Man. You are missing out. I think I am ready for another party. What about you Tyler?

  “Yeah let’s go and maybe we will get lucky while Phillip misses out.” Tyler laughs.

  “I’m not missing out, and Megan gives me the creeps guys, so go for it. Well, I have to get going so I can start this project. Have fun tonight and don’t drive drunk. If you drink call me and I’ll pick you up,” I say and walk to my car. I decide to text Alexia when I get back to the condo.

  The traffic isn’t bad as I hit the road, so I get home really quickly. As I ride up the elevator to my room, I realize I’m hungry. I think I will get pizza delivered. Then I wonder if Alexia has eaten yet. I text her asking her to come over to work on our project and if she wants pizza, maybe I shouldn’t have asked about the pizza. I like a lot of different things on mine. She texts back saying that she is busy going to the beach. Well that is perfect, I think to myself, because I am at the beach already. I tell her that and she agrees to come over and will be here soon. I am smiling as I get off the elevator and almost run into my neighbor, Jack.

  He asks, “What is with that big grin on your face, boy? Must be a girl. It is always a girl with you boys.”

  “Well, actually it is, but not what you’re thinking. I have to do a school project and she is coming over in a few minutes,” I tell him.

  “With a smile that big on your face, it must be a really good project you have to work on.” He smiles wide and gets on the elevator.

  I laugh and turn to my room. I order my favorite pizza, and I bet she won’t like it, even though she said to surprise her. I go jump in shower really fast before she and the pizza get here.