Last Heartbeat (6 page)

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.

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.

Chapter Nine

Alexia

The drive over to Phillip’s is quite nice. It is a private area, which I believe is close to Megan’s beach house. I turn down the next street and see her house right there. What a coincidence. I pay no attention to that because he told me that his parents rented out the condo during the summer and it has to be in a nice area where people would like it.

A few more turns and my GPS say’s that I am here. I look up at the condo building and see that it is even nicer than I thought.
Wow
! It must be nice to live here rather than at the dorm. I can’t wait to see more of this area. It has to be private too, because there isn’t much traffic around this area.

I find a parking place and then text Phillip to let him know I am here. He said that he would have to come down and let me in. I get out, sit on the bench near the doors, and wait. He texts backs and says that he will be right down. As I wait for him, I can feel the nice breeze coming from the ocean. I close my eyes and relax for a minute, knowing that it shouldn’t take long. I could really get us to this.

I hear the door open and look up. I see Phillip grinning at me. Seeing him takes my breath away, and that shocks me a little bit. Wow! I really am in trouble.

He comes over and sits down besides me. “It is almost time for the pizza delivery guy to get here, so we can sit here for a minute if you want.”

“That is fine with me. I like the feel of the breeze, this evening. It really is nice here.”

“Yeah, it does feel good. Oh, here comes the pizza. I am starved. Are you hungry too?”

“I can always eat pizza, and I like about anything on it too. I can’t wait to see what kind of surprise pizza you got for me.”

Oh my
. He just keeps grinning at me, like he is happy to see me. I like that. He makes me my tummy do flip-flops.

After he gets up and pays for the pizza, he turns around and says, “Well, let’s go see what kind of surprise I have for you then.”

We walk into the building and he stops at the security desk to tell the guy sitting there, to put my name down and let me in whenever I come over. He turns and heads to the elevator, and I follow him in. This elevator ride seems to be taking forever, and being so close to him, I get a good smell of him. He smells delicious. It’s definitely not the pizza kind of smells either.
Hurry up, elevator
, I say to myself. He smells way too good.

Finally, the door opens. We go to his condo and he opens the door. As you can imagine, I am blown away with the awesome view. I head over to the open balcony doors and look out. I love it here.

I turn to him and smile. “This is a amazing view. You are lucky to live here and not at the dorms. I think I would even sleep on this balcony.”

He laughs. “I do sometimes. I love it here too. Do you want to eat the pizza out here?”

“Can we please?” I ask looking up at him with a smile.

“Yes I’ll go get some plates and something to drink. I mostly eat out here instead of the inside. I’d rather be out here every chance I get.”

“Can I help with anything?”

“Nah, I got it. You go sit right over there and enjoy the view. What would you like to drink? I have coke, maybe tea and beer.”

“I would love to have tea, but if you don’t, I will take a coke. I don’t drink beer.”

“I will see about the tea. I don’t drink beer either, but I keep it here for when I have friends over. You met Tyler and Jacob last night. They can put it away fast.” He heads back inside to get the food and drinks.

I am amazed that he doesn’t drink, but then I begin to think about what he told me on the plane and that makes since. He can’t drink and be on transplant medicine. This makes me sad for him. I know how it is to have to watch what you drink and eat, because of a transplant. The medicine might stop working or you could have a reaction. No time to think about that. I have to try to get through this project and hurry. The more I am around Phillip, the more I like him.

“Here we go. Pizza and Coke what more do we need? Sorry I was out of tea. Hope you like this pizza. It is one of my favorites.” He sits down beside me and opens up the box. I can’t believe my eyes! He got my favorite pizza from my favorite pizza place. I look up and see him smiling at me.

“How did you know my favorite pizza is The Moon Doggie? I have loved this pizza for a long time. This is from my favorite pizza place when I am here. I like all of their pizzas, but this one is the best.” I beamed at him.

“You have to be kidding me. This is the best pizza ever! My brother and I ate so many of these pizzas when I was growing up. We couldn’t get enough. Finding out that someone else loves it too is amazing for sure. Well, let’s eat so we can tackle this project and be finished with it. Have you looked at what we have to do?” He places pizza on my plate and hands it to me.

“Yeah, I looked at it a little bit today. I had another class. I really didn’t get into it much. Can’t believe we have to do the project on properties of DNA. I wasn’t into biology in high school. I hope you are you are good with this biology stuff.” I take a bite of pizza and make a groaning sound because it is the best pizza.

He laughs at me for making that sound. “Glad I picked the right pizza so you could make that sound. I like it. I will have to surprise you more often to get you to make that sound again.” So he takes a bit and groans too. After he gets done chewing, he says, “I believe this project might take a while longer than we planned, because I was hoping you knew more about biology than me. I guess we will have to work on it every day. How about you come over after classes everyday this week, and maybe we can finish it fast?”

“Sure I can come over as long as we can work on it on this balcony or at the beach. I could get use to being here. It is so nice here. Maybe tomorrow I will buy the pizza so you’re not out too much money. I feel like I at least should help pay for pizza or some food if we will are going to be working so hard.”

“That’s okay. My parents set me up with a really good food allowance. They know I like to eat more than most people. I think we should get started so I won’t keep you to late.”

“That sounds like a plan. I will put these dishes in the dishwasher, grab my books, and go to the restroom. Then I will be ready. Where is the restroom by the way?” I get up and grab the plates to take with me.

“It is right down that hall to the left. I will get my books and computer. I will be sitting out here when you get done.” We both go our separate ways to do our things so we can get to studying.

I put the dishes in the dishwasher and find the bathroom. I take a few extra minutes to compose myself. Being around him is already getting to me. While we were eating and talking on the balcony, I felt at home here with him. I felt like I was supposed to be here, and this confuses me. I’m not supposed to get attached to anyone. I told myself I wouldn’t before I came to school. I won’t leave someone behind to be hurting over me when my time is up.

“Quit being sorry for yourself,” I say to myself. “Enjoy the now. You deserve to be happy even for a little while.” But I don’t want people to get attached to me. I am making this harder than it should be.
Ugh
! My thinking is driving me crazy, and I am taking too long in here. He probably thinks I have fallen in or something. I wash my hands and decide to just get this project over with. Go with it for now and not worry about everything else.

Here goes
. I open the door, retrieve my books, and head to the balcony. When I get to the balcony, I see Phillip leaning against the rails. Oh my goodness, he looks like a model standing there. He hair is blowing in the wind and his muscles are flexing the way you would see in a magazine.
I am so in trouble
, I think to myself, but I step outside anyway.

Chapter Ten

Phillip

I get the text from Alexia saying that she is here and waiting on me downstairs. She is a little bit early. The pizza should be here soon. I grab my wallet to take it with me. Hopefully, the pizza will arrive when I get downstairs too. I head for the elevator and ride down. I like taking the stairs sometimes, but I don’t want to be sweaty by the time I see Alexia.

As I get to the outside door, I look out and see her sitting on the bench. Her eyes are closed, the wind is blowing her amazingly long hair, and she looks like she is enjoying the breeze, so I watch her for a moment. She looks so peaceful. I hate to interrupt her. She is so beautiful that it hurts to look at her, and now sitting here at my condo makes my stomach feel funny. Maybe I am really hungry. I hope that is what this really is that I am feeling in my stomach.

While I stare at her for a moment longer, Jack comes up to me and touches my arm so I don’t get startled. He grins at me and turns his head toward Alexia. “That must be the girl who has that smile so big on your face. If I had a chance with her, you would have to work hard to keep her away from me. So are you going to invite her in or are you just going to look at her all day?” He turns and heads off laughing. I just realized that I really have it bad. I need to figure out what to do with it. Should I go with it or ignore it? Maybe I need to let nature take its course and see what happens.

I open the door to head out, and Alexia opens her eyes. I smile at her. That is all I can do because seeing her eyes again takes my breath away. Yeah, I can see I have it bad. I walk over to her and sit down beside her. I get a good smell of her because the breeze blows her scent my way. She has the most amazing scent. I could smell her all day. I wonder if I hugged her close and put my nose close to her skin if she would freak out. I am freaking myself out just thinking about it. She would run off screaming.

I quickly let her know that pizza is almost here so we should wait on it. I really just want to sit here and let the breeze fill me with her sweet scent. Then I think the pizza guy should hurry before I reach over and grab her to hold her close. I even want to kiss her so badly.

Thank goodness the pizza guy saves me. This project keeps getting harder and harder and we haven’t even started on it. I get up and pay him giving him an extra tip, because
hey,
he just saved me.

We go inside with the pizza and I head over to Jake, who is the security officer. I tell him who Alexia is and let him know that she is my study partner. I tell him when she comes over he should let her in, so that she can come on up whenever she likes. He smiles really big at me likes he knows something I don’t but puts her name on the list. I don’t have many people down on the list. I like keeping it that way. Just a few of my friends can come and go.