CHAPTER: 1

LUCAS
“Luke!” Frank slammed the front door open, startling me.
“What did you do now.” I turned to look at him and narrowed my eyes, “please do not tell
me you and Annie had a fight.”
He frowned and said “No fights happened. I’m here to ask a favor.” And he tripped over one
of the carboard boxes that I’d put too much time and effort in packing. I let out a frustrated
sigh when he toppled over few boxes and completely ruining some of them.
“Damn, these boxes!” trying to get rid of an orange with neon green patterned shirt that
somehow manage got tangled around his legs but end up knocking more boxes to ground. I
rushed to help him out before this place becomes a disaster zone.
“God Frank! When did you become so clumsy?” finally manage to untangle the shirt only to
see a foot size hole in it. “You ruined the shirt.”
“Oh no, Luke, I’m so sorry!” he blinked innocently, “I really do regret ruining an ugly-I mean
a vibrant shirt.” Widing his grey-blue eyes sell the innocent act. He is fooling no one though.
“No, you don’t. Now get off the damn floor and help me clean up the mess you made!” and
both of us started to collect the cloths and boxes.
Finally, after few hours, arguments and more ruined boxes, Frank and I were tapping our
last box shut. Seriously moving out is a tedious task, especially when Frank is the one
helping you and hopefully, we won’t be doing this anytime soon. We stacked up near our
door, so it doesn’t stay clustered around right at entrance.
“What time is it?” I said stretching my arms, trying to get rid of the kinks there and my
stomach rumbled in compline. “God, I’m starving.” I entered kitchen in search of some
snack and found some leftover lasagna and decide to reheat it in microwave. Almost
everything is packed aside from some utensils since we need them for next two days, to
prepare food while we stay here.
Our lease was almost over, we needed to find new place and Annie offered her place as she
needed more roommates. she has four rooms and more space and facilities than our
apartment has. It’s been almost a year, Frank and Annie are together, they were planning to
move together in one place. I was fully prepared to find a new place for myself, but my plan
was shootdown quickly by both. My only relief is Annie’s roommate, Neith. It’s a relief to
know I won’t be alone third wheeling in that house…
“Oh shit!” Frank’s panicked shout slammed me out of my thoughts. “Luke! Where are you.
We need to leave like, right now!” he grabbed my hand trying to drag me out as I fumbled
to turn off the microwave.
“What happened?” I asked as we got into the car. “Where are we going?”
“Annie is going to kill me. Fuck!” after few more cuss words, he said, “we were supposed to
meet them at the Neon lights.” He swallowed roughly, “at 9:30 sharp.” I let out an
exasperated sigh.
“Frank” I said calmly, “that was two hours ago. What do you mean them? Who else is going
to be there?”
“I know. Annie wanted us to meet her roommate, Neith. You know, we are going to live
together and all and I know okay, I fucked majorly. Pissing off our new roommate before
even moving in.” he let out a defeated sigh. “I was really looking forward to finally see the
mysterious roommate, you know.” I gave him a confused look. He chuckled softly, “Man, I
have been at Annie’s so many times, I have yet to see Neith. If it weren’t for the spare
henna tubes, Annie constantly mooning over her” he rolled his eyes fondly. “And her name
in the lease paper, I won’t even know such a person exist.” I wonder what kind of person
Neith is.
We rushed inside the Neon lights, hoping beyond a miracle that Neith and Annie are not
mad. The Neon lights is a bar slash dinner and it’s packed with couples on dates, friends to
party and wannabe couples. I was so focused on searching Annie, I slammed into a poor girl,
but I managed to catch her before she falls. Her rosemary scent, for whatever reason made
my heart beat little faster. I pulled back to apologize only to get sucked into her wide soulful
eyes. Not trying to be dramatic, for me world seemed to slow down as I looked at her. Her
dark lush lips moved; it took me a minute to realize that she is saying something. It broke
me out of the Terence I seem to be stuck in.
She again said something, but God, all could do is stare at her lips like a complete creep and
loud music doesn’t really help the situation. Right then some drunk dude decides its good
time to spill beer on me and leached himself in my arms like we are old friends. I manage to
prey his hands off me and turned around only to see her slipping right into the crowd and
disappear. If it weren’t for the lingering scent of rosemary, I’d think imagined the woman. A
beautiful woman though.
CHAPTER: 2
NEITH
Ten years ago…
12:45PM

Dear diary,
He came back home. I…I can hear things crashing and Mommy crying. This always
happens when he comes back home. He always hits Mommy and take Mommy’s all money. I
know this because we won’t have any food at home. He is so bad. Dad is so bad. I…I don’t
want him. I’m so scared. I wish he never comes back…

LUCAS
I sipped the hot strong coffee to start off my day and after last two days, I fucking need it.
I ran my hand through my already mused hair. I think about the woman…because she is not
a girl. I chuckled at the thought of her being innocent little girl, that woman can handle
anything and something tells me she’d have me on my knees if that’s where she wants me.
Then there is Neith. I took another assuring sip of my coffee before setting the mug down on
countertop next to me. I really need to make up for last night. Poor girl had waited the
whole time, just left few minutes before we arrived because of a family emergency. If Frank
had told us earlier…then I won’t have met her. That stunning woman in the crowd. Then I’m
back feeling like shit.
I rubbed back of my neck; I need to stop going back and forth here. What happened can’t be
changed so I took another long sip and finished off my coffee, jumped off the counter to
start a long day.
After a long hot shower, feeling refreshed I entered the kitchen hoping Frank had made
some breakfast and saw a sulking Frank flipping pancakes and frying bacon. I winced
internally. He got worst of Annie’s anger last two days; she had chewed us both out for
making them wait for hours. I walked further into kitchen and sat down on the chair and
placed both my arms on our circular for people dining table, we both don’t see a point of
having a bigger one.
I cleared my throat loudly, “stop sulking. I’m sure Annie will forgive you… maybe you should
take her out… oh! We should invite them to barbeque night out. I’m sure they would forgive
us!”
Finally, his eyes lit up in excitement, “oh we could definitely do that.” Then he deflates. “We
can’t do that. We packed everything and it’s going to be transported in…” he looks down at
his watch, “ten minutes.” He placed a plate loaded with chocolate chip pancakes and other
with eggs and bacons. I got up, grabbed Hershey’s bottle and filled my plate with pancakes
and bacon. Frank squeezed the Hersey’s to his heart content on his pancakes then cuts his
pancake perfectly and eats gracefully like the rich brat he was.
Just as we finished our breakfast, we got busy transporting our things to Annie’s- our new
place. Few of our furniture and other items are at a storage bank as we won’t be needing
them cause Annie’s place is fully furnished.
After a whole day, we are officially at our new home. Now all there is need to do is unpack
all our things into our respected rooms. I was busy putting away my cloths into my closet, I
heard a loud bang. Worried I quickly ran out of my room, only to see Frank and Annie
making out on tabletop, causing ruckus in their wake. “Really guys.” I expressed my
disbelief, but my displeasure was ignored. I shook my head and got back to cleaning my
room.
About two hours later, I finished unpacking my things, changing sheets, setting up a desk
and arranging my books in the shelf, my let out a groan. I looked at the digital clock on my
table and realized it’s 8:30pm already. I hollered my friends what they want to eat, only
received silence in return. Okay, better than other noises, I guess.
I wonder if Neith is home… I quickly knocked on the door opposite to mine and waited full 3
minutes. “Neith?” I called when I didn’t hear any sound and received no answer. She must
not be home yet. I thought to myself and made my way to the kitchen.

“Hmm… let’s see what we have…” I mumbled to myself and searched around the kitchen to
see what I can make. After a few minutes searching I found all ingredients to make Mac and
cheese and chicken salad. I quickly got into cutting, dicing and stirring a pot full of cheese.
I’m not really a good cook and there are only few things I can cook decently; Mac and
cheese are one of them.
“Smells nice.” I heard Annie after a while. She took three plates to the coffee table in front
of TV.
“Thanks. Here you forgot the fourth one.” I hand her a plate.
“Oh. She called me she won’t be coming home today.” I placed the plate back in its rack and
bit my lips guiltily. Maybe she isn’t coming home because of us… “don’t worry. She isn’t type
of person to avoid confrontations. Maybe it’s just a family problem.” She gave me an
assuring smile and nudged me out of kitchen with a bowl of salad while she carried the
whole pot of mac and cheese.
“Oh yes! Mac and cheese, I’m going to dine very fine!” we both laughed loudly at Frank’s
dramatic statement.
CHAPTER: 3
NEITH
Ten years ago…

11:25pm

Dear diary,