In the Air (The City Book 1) - By Crystal Serowka Page 0,51

talk about this in person? I'll come to you, wherever you are," Natalia pleaded.

"Just give me some time, Natalia. I'm calling you because I didn't want you to overanalyze my feelings anymore. I gotta go." I started to hang up, but heard her start to speak.

"I'm sorry, Samson. I really am."

"I'll be in class tomorrow." I hung up the phone and tossed it across the room. Five minutes later, I heard it vibrating again. Rolling out of bed, I picked it up from the ground and saw that Aubrey was calling. My anger grew the longer I looked at her face on the screen. I didn't want to talk to Aubrey. What else did we have to say to each other? My anger burst and I threw the phone even harder this time, hearing pieces of it break against the wall. I didn't care if it stopped working.

The blissful feeling I got from knowing I wouldn't be bothered by calls or texts only lasted for a few minutes. My mother tended to check in every few days. In the morning, I planned to pick up a new phone. If I had it my way, I would never own a cell phone again. It was nice to not be reached anytime someone wanted to talk to you. It felt liberating.

Myers had stopped in the room once in the past few days to change his clothes. He greeted me as if it was the hardest thing he'd ever had to do. I had no clue where he went every night, but the possibilities creeped me out. I once read an article about a teenager who had just moved into the dorms. His roommate seemed completely normal, offering to help the guy hang up his posters. Come to find out, the roommate was a total psychopath and ended up gutting him the very first night. I showed my mother the story, trying to convince her to let me move into my own place, but she wouldn't budge.

I could only order so much pizza and Chinese food before I felt like puking, so I decided to venture out in public. I chose to eat at Salumeria Rosi, thinking that it would be the safest place to go and not run into Natalia.

I was wrong.

"Samson, back so soon?" Cesar strolled over to me and shook my hand. "Your pretty girlfriend is already here. You should never make such a beautiful girl wait for you, my boy." He began to walk away, indicating for me to follow.

"Cesar!" I grabbed his arm. "Are you referring to the girl I was with the other day?"

Cesar's forehead creased, displaying deep wrinkles. "Your girlfriend, no?"

"No, she's not my girlfriend." I contemplated my next move and deciding it would be best to leave, I stepped backward, heading to the door. "I forgot something back at school, I need to go." Right before I ran out, I heard my name.

"Samson?"

I turned to see Natalia standing next to Cesar. They both wore the same puzzled expression.

"Hey, Natalia." I took a deep breath, trying to come up with an excuse as to why I was running out of there. I was just about to tell her the same story, until she started speaking.

"You're avoiding me. I came here thinking I might find you."

"I'm not avoiding you." I totally was. "I just ... I forgot something back at the dorm." Seriously, Samson? You couldn't come up with something better?

Cesar looked at Natalia and then me. Finally comprehending what was going on, he walked to the back of the restaurant, leaving us alone.

"Just admit it. I promise you won't croak from being honest." Her tone was cold, revealing just how upset she was. She was wearing thick-framed glasses, a tight Beatles shirt, and blue jeans that had holes in the knees. Her hair was pulled up into a ponytail, and she was wearing the combat boots I saw her in often. I never imagined actually finding a girl who made combat boots attractive. I also never thought I would fall for someone new so quickly.

"I've been avoiding you, but not because I didn't want to see you. I've wanted to see your face every second of the day, but how you reacted to what I told you was pretty messed up."

Natalia's head bowed down, looking at the hardwood floors. She stayed that way for a few seconds, before lifting her face to look at mine. "I don't know what got into me. I know I shouldn't