Reaction by Jessica Roberts Read Free Book Online

worth remembering. The past wasn’t what mattered; it was the future that counted. A girl who was determined to have a happy life in college and beyond, who wanted to be defined not by the past, but by who she was and who she wanted to become.
    Evidently, Professor had seen that. He knew a lot about me. Aside from Creed, he probably knew the most. And he knew what Creed didn’t about the last six months before the coma.
    Even with Liz and Professor, school was punishing. Everywhere I turned begat a memory of Nick, and then an unpleasant struggle to keep him out of my thoughts. I coped by playing a game with myself. Every time I could get him out of my head within a minutes’ time, I would reward myself with a candy bar. Needless to say, the Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups sitting on my counter at home had yet to be opened.
    Without difficulty, I settled into my basement studio apartment, which was dim and dinky, but cozy. In the kitchen were two chairs and a small round folding table that also served as a TV stand; then a mattress and box spring were situated on the back wall; and finally a red vinyl couch perked up the petite room nicely. And of course, my refurbished antique lamp decorated the corner.
    Friday evening I sat with my legs crossed on the couch for hours, switching through TV shows till I’d run the roll of stations at least twenty times. Creed would be at school till late. Liz had gone home to visit her parents for the weekend. And Nick was…probably with….
    At the thought of them together, a chill settled around my heart. Imagining him with anybody but me was impossible to assemble in my mind. How could I, after dreaming of him for so long? His love was permanently woven in the fabric of my life, my love for him still burning like a flame in my soul. My world had once revolved around his. It was an impossible conflict. How could I hope, as Professor admonished, if he was with her?
    As I tried to exercise that measure of hope, I began daydreaming of us together—unfortunately causing me to again forfeit another Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup. It felt much too indulgent on my part, but it was also inevitable, particularly because there was a mechanic shop being advertized on the current TV commercial. The memory came:
     
    “Hey genius, you forgot to tighten the filter,” Nick said while quickly grabbing a towel and laying it under the car where a big black puddle grew on the cement.
    “No, come on, let me do it!” she cried, snatching the paper towels and then reaching for the filter under the hood of her car. “You said I could change the oil myself this time. You promised you wouldn’t interfere.”
    “Not true. I said I would supervise. Which means interfering when the fluid that goes in your car is leaking onto the street.” And then his thumb smudged some black grease on the tip of her nose.
    “You’re asking for it,” she threatened, poking him with a displeased look while fighting off the love behind it.
    “Alright, alright,” he said, a short laugh escaping him. “Hands off.” And he lifted his hands in surrender fashion. Trusting his words, she turned back around toward the engine. But not a second later, his body was against her back and his fingers were subtly covering hers, assisting in securing the oilcan in place.
    She reluctantly complied, acknowledging his superiority on the proper tension needed to tighten the can without stripping it. Besides, his body was wrapped around hers, and all she could think of was how pleasant it felt to be in his embrace, and how essential he was to her happiness. And how superb and complete the rest of her life would be with him in it.
    Realizing she wanted to add to his life the way he added to hers, she rested her head against his chest. She felt grateful, undeserving, happy, and motivated. She thought for a moment, allowing her mind to consider all the ways she could better herself for him. “Do you think stubbornness is an inherited