Misguided Ghosts

I don't know why I do this. I swear I should be a dude sometimes. I usually end up with a guy I slept with calling me non-stop. It's gotten to the point where I had to change my number a few times.

I've never had a boyfriend, and I legitimately mean never! I never have seen myself settled down in a relationship, even in high school where a majority of my friends were couples or they had their relationship. I just didn't like it. My dad raised me on his own, aside from the many women he brought home, who tried to play mommy with me. I never had it with them. I saw it at a young age though. I never knew my mom and since I can remember, my dad never really settled down for too long. I just couldn't see myself settling with any guy I've met, so I screw them and send them on their way out.

It usually doesn't ache me like this, but for some reason sending these two guys who showed plenty interest in me away was haunting me.

I was laying on my back in my bed, with my thoughts to myself when I felt my phone vibrate from under me. I looked at the screen and saw Tom's name with a wink emoji. I completely forgot about the numbers we exchanged. Well damn... I rolled my eyes as I unlocked my screen to view the message. "Wondering if you'd like to go out tomorrow night?"

I'm not going to lie, I thought about it. Remembering I have work every night, of course aside from this night, I had to decline his invitation.

Surprised to see he replied back, I opened up his message. "How about lunch? My treat." I couldn't help but smile. I mean he was probably the hottest German rock star, that thousands of American girls wanted, no doubt. I accepted. "Sounds good, Tom. What time?" I tried not to get too deep into thought, but I couldn't help but feel good. I tried to brush the feeling off when he replied again. "Say 1:00?" I nodded my head to myself, as if he could see and wrote back. "Perfect."

It was 10:45 and I was in no mood to go back up to the party. I just locked my door and laid back down. I was going to get some rest and try to have a wonderful day tomorrow.



I woke up to the sun shining through my curtains. A little too bright, might I add. My head was pounding. I looked around and saw the damage from last night. There was twelve shot glasses scattered across my table, two of which were still full and red cups randomly scattered across my room. I stood up slowly and gathered everything that was out of place, trying to clean up a little.

After I cleaned I made my way to the shower and turned it on, letting the water warm up. I grabbed a clean towel and stripped down, stepping under the water, letting the warmth of it pour down and relax my tense muscles.

When I got out, I wrapped the towel around me and searched for my phone. I finally found it under a mess of blankets that reeked of sex and booze. I threw the blankets to the corner of my room next to my laundry basket and connected my nearly dead phone to the charger. As my phone lit up I saw missed messages from 'Tom(wink)'. I smiled a little as I opened them. "Where should I pick you up?" "Are you still up for this afternoon?" "Get back to me." My smile grew as I read through them and I told him I was definitely up for this afternoon and where I was staying.

It was 11:30 and I should probably start getting ready. I let my hair air dry as I put my usual makeup on: a little concealer, liquid-powder foundation, eyebrow powder, winged-eyeliner and some mascara. I covered my lips with a matte burgundy color lipstick. I took a flat iron to my shoulder length blonde hair. I've been thinking of going back to my natural color, dark brown or even black, but I do enjoy my blonde hair.

I walked over to the drawers I kept my clothes in and started making my way through all of them. I settled on some light blue, very tight skinny jeans and a navy blue blouse that hung off one shoulder. I slipped on my black flats that had a ribbon as the ankle strap, I adored them. I looked at myself and smiled at my reflection. I'm glad I could make an effort since yesterday I was sad for no reason.

My phone rang from across the room, I knew who it was.

"Hello?" I chippered.

"Ramona. I know I'm early but.."

I cut him off. "It's okay. I'm actually ready. Meet you outside?" I smiled again.

"I'm right out of the gates." I hung up at that. I took a glance at myself as I passed the mirror and grabbed my purse and sunglasses on my way out the door. I looked forward to this lunch date, I don't know why.

Just as I was reaching my hand out at the knob to the gate entrance I heard my name being called from a familiar voice, Jeremy's. I let out a sigh before I turned around to quickly say hello to my neighbor.

"Hi Jeremy."

"You're heading out too? Where ya' going?" he smiled as he opened the gat for me.

"Lunch date... With an old friend." I gestured over to Tom who I saw sitting in his grey Audi. Jeremy looked taken aback. "I'll see you later, ok?" I assured him before making my way to Tom's car. He got out of the driver seat and it startled me because I had no clue what he was about to do. But he made his way around the car to the passenger door that he held open for me.

I greeted him with a smile and he returned a bigger one to me before he kissed my lips. My stomach did a black flip, but I kept my cool and slid into the passenger seat. I looked over and saw Jeremy in shock, but as soon as he saw me looking he turned back around and went into the complex. Tom got in the car and we buckled our seatbelts before he reversed into the city streets.

"Who was that kid?" Tom asked as soon as we pulled away from the complex.

"Just a neighbor. He's new and we met last night at the party here." I lied a little.

"Party? Thanks for inviting me." He joked. I chuckled.

"So where are we going?" I watched Tom's driving. He looked like he was naturally good at it.

"This corner bakery place. They've got great soups, salads and sandwiches." he replied, reaching for my hand on my lap. He ran his thumb across the top of it. I felt happy. All the depression I felt yesterday was completely forgotten. Until I remembered that this was only temporary, yet it still wasn't enough to take away my happiness I felt.

Tom had this aura, a bright one. He had a natural way of making my happiness skyrocket... But I didn't want him to know this. I just looked out the window at the passing city until the car stopped and the engine shut off.

Tom smiled over at me and as I reached for the door he caught my hand. "Wait." He got out of the car and made his way over to the side where I sat, opening the door and offering me his hand to help me out of the car. He kept hold of it, even through the doors at to an open table.

We sat in a moment of silence as we waited for a waiter to bring us menus. He just looked at me, occasionally smiling when I fidgeted or covered half of my face with a closed fist. I had no idea what to say, luckily a waiter came and brought us menus, and took down our drink order.

I carefully looked over the menu, finally deciding on a Chicken Pesto on Ciabatta Ficelle (sandwich) before the waiter came with out drinks. I closed and placed my menu down in front of me to find Tom had already made up his mind and was looking at me.

"Why do you keep looking at me with nothing to say?" I didn't mean for it to come out sounding as rude as it did.

"You're so beautiful, you know?" I stayed silent feeling my cheeks turn pink. "I'm going back to Germany in two weeks. I would like to spend as much time as I can with you, if you'd like?" he suggested sweetly and reached for my hand.

It was then that I realized I was already getting in too deep with this guy. I'm letting him take me out to lunch, now he wants to spend the next couple of weeks with me. It was only supposed to be one night. I looked down at my lap, my hands were still in his.

"Here's your Coke," he placed the soda in front of Tom. "and your raspberry iced tea." He placed my drink in front of me. I took a sip. Raspberry iced tea was my favorite. "Are you two ready to order?" the waiter looked at the both of us.

"Yes." Tom stated as he looked at me, suggesting I go first.

"I'd like the Chicken Pesto on Ciabatta Ficelle, please." I politely asked, handing my menu to the waiter.

"And for you sir?" he looked at Tom, taking his menu from him.

"I'll have the same." he looked at me with those adoring eyes and took my hand and gave it a light squeeze.

This guy is some catch...