Dear alanna,
I can’t begin to describe the way you make me feel I have tried to send you gifts and to show how much I care but nothing I do seems to give me the satisfaction that I so desperately crave. From the first moment I laid eyes on you I knew you were the one that I was waiting for. You must be thinking all this is a bit strange and that I am possibly playing a game with you. What you have to come to understand is that I have no idea how to act around a female. I never had a good relationship with the one person you are supposed to your mother. Therefor you must forgive me if I get it wrong. I want to treat you right and the only way I know how is by sending you luxury gifts. I hope you will stick with me a little longer I couldn’t bear the thought of not having you in my life. The only problem I have is that it is three thousand miles to you!
I walk up the stairs to my room and I read over the letter for a third time and still I don’t seem to take in the words if have just read. Who could this be? I try to rack my brain to for a name but nothing comes to mind. My life right now seems like haze a mass of thick fog that never seems to clear. I just don’t fell like myself! I carefully store the letter away in the shoe box under my bed. I would love nothing more than to discuss this with my friend Sophie but fearing her reaction I have no one to turn to. I hear one of the phones that are lying on my bed go off so I walk over lift my iPhone but only to see there is no messages. I quickly lift the white phone and there it was my first message from the man that has got me rattled.
Alanna are you ok? I talked to my delivery man and he said you were a little on edge if there is anything I can do to ease your worry please feel free to ask.
I reply I don’t know who you are? How can I be sure that you are not dangerous?
I would never harm you in any way I know it must be difficult for you don’t know who I am but believe me there is a reason I don’t want you to know!
What’s the reason? You must know you are not doing yourself any justice by keeping it from me!
I feel there is no other way!
What if I was to say that I am no longer going to accept the gifts you send?
Then I would just send more until you had no other choice but to keep them!
What if I went to the police?
What could they do you don’t know who I am!
I don’t really like your tone I think maybe you should stop all this!
Do you really want me to stop?
Maybe if you would just tell me who you are then I could get to know you properly!
I would love nothing more than for you to get to know me. However If you knew who I was then maybe you wouldn’t be so eager.
I would be I want to get to know you.
Before I could tell you I would need you to do something for me first.
Ok anything!
Tell me about your child hood.
What about it?
Was it nice?
Yes!
Did you ever have the feel of abandonment?
No.
Could you ever love someone that was bad?
I don’t believe that any one is all bad there is good in everyone on this earth It just takes one other person to see it.
But could you love them?
Yes.
Then my name is Adrian black.
I almost fall to the ground when there finally I see the name of the person responsible for all this. I take my mind back to the night I first saw him remembering the way he looked the way I felt under in his presence. The urge of anticipation. The way I was drawn to him. Like somehow it was him I needed for my life to be complete I write back to him taking a deep breathe.
Hello Adrian that wasn’t so hard now was it?
You have no idea Are you surprised?
Yes I am how did you know where I lived?
I have contacts and that type of thing is not that hard to find out.
I never expected it to be you but I was kind of hoping it was! Why on earth would you want it to be me?
I don’t know there is just something about you I can’t explain it!
I am bad alanna if you had any sense you would not even be talking back to me!
You keep saying that but unless you give me a reason then no I won’t stop!
I can’t I care about you too much and for my own selfishness I don’t want you to know!
Then let’s forget about it and if in your own time you want me know then you will.
I wouldn’t be so sure alanna.
Ok then tell me about your day?
My day?
Yes I want to know what you do.
I have my own company and my days are mostly spent at the office.
Ok, what else?
There is really nothing more to tell.
What’s your family like?
When I was twelve I went into foster care.
I didn’t know I am sorry.
Don’t be.
Did you get adopted by anyone?
Yes I was adopted when I was fourteen by a man called Mr. Jenkins.
Mr. Jenkins? Where have I heard that name before? I think I saw you talking to him at the gala that night in London. Really that was your adoptive dad?
Yes his wife and he were so good to me He showed me the business and by the age of twenty one I had my own company I really owe everything to them! Alanna I have never told anyone this before so please can you keep it to yourself?
Off course I will what happened to your biological parents? My father left when I was two and my mother although she was around more she never wanted me.
That’s awful I could never imagine such a thing.
Alanna I don’t want your pity that’s not what this is about I have had to grow a thick skin and accept the fact the some children don’t have what most do a loving family I don’t wish to discuss this further ok?
Ok can I ask what your life is like now?
Yes ask me I would love for you to know me more!
Do have any passions?
I do.
What are they?
Besides you?
Yes I want to know about you.
I spend a lot of time in France.
I love Paris I have always wanted to go!
Paris is nice but I spend most of my time in the South. Tell me more.
I own a property in St. Tropez I stay Monday to Wednesday in London and the rest of week there.
Do you not like London?
I do however I wouldn’t stay there all the time.
That’s how I feel about New York.
Yes you have the little house in the Hamptons am I right?
Yes it’s not a luxury house but it does for when I need away from the bubble of the city! I am supposed to be asking the questions!
Go on then.
What types of things do you while you are in St. Tropez?
I am on my yacht most of the time I love being out on the water some days I stay on the boat and don’t return to the house No one knows who I am when I am there I don’t have to answer to anyone and I can put the business out of my mind I crave that feeling every time I go back to London and when I do I just take off once again.
Its sounds wonderful being able to leave like that whenever you want.
It is a different life for me over there I don’t have the pressures of the company instead I have the calmness and the freedom to do whatever I want and now that you are here I am even more thrilled about it because now I have someone to share it with if you would let me?
I would, but what about Mr. Jenkins and his family don’t you share it with them?
I do but it’s not the same as with you.
Why?
They are people who came into my life when it was bad and made it good they have shaped me into the person I am and I will always be grateful for that however no other makes me feel the way you do.
I don’t know how to respond I never really expected all this from you we only had a brief meeting in London so I don’t know what to
think.
I understand that it must seem strange but that first meeting I knew how I felt about you and it was that I wanted you and Thinking of you with another is like a dagger to my heart I freeze and the pain stays every time that thought enters my head.
I feel that I was drawn to you it can’t explain it!
Don’t try to! Now is it my turn to ask the questions? Go ahead
What is your life like?
You already know I got to college at Columbia I stay in the
dorms when I am not at my house in the Hamptons My parents are jack and belle hart I have a little sister called Penelope and my best friend is Sophie Anything else?
Yes do you have many friends?
Yes I have many friends.
Are any of them male?
Yes
Would you say you are close to them?
I don’t know yes I guess so.
Did you ever date any of them?
No I haven’t dated anyone before especially not one of my friends!
Ok is there any guys that are after you?
What do you mean?
Well do any other men like you?
I think there could be one.
Who is he?
His name is Marco.
Tell me more please.
He goes to the same college as me.
How old is he?
He is twenty two why do you want to know all this?
I am just curios it is a little hard to believe that someone like you has never had a boyfriend and it’s even harder to believe that no guys are after you.
The only guy that shows interest in me is Marco
What kind of things does he do?
It’s hard because he never showed his feelings until before my trip to London.
What did he say?
He came over to me at a party and started talking to me about why I hate him so much then out now where he asks me to go to Venice with him and his entire family.
Do you hate him?
No I don’t hate him.
Do you have feelings for him then?
No it’s not like that.
Do you have feelings for anyone?
Maybe just you!
Do you like me?
Yes
I there anything you wish to ask me?
How do you feel about me?
I feel like I can’t live without you.
Are you just saying all this or are you being truthful? This is my honest truth I feel like I love you!
I sigh as I read his words again how do I reply back to something like that? What do I say I don’t want to offend him in anyway but I still want him to know that yes I could feel the same way? Biting my lip I reply,
Adrian one day I will love you too!
Chapter 13
Adrian and I now talk on a regular basis every day in fact and mostly at least five or six times each day. The new semester at Columbia has now started and Sophie and I have moved back into the college dorms. I find it so easy to slip back into college life. Sophie is still unaware that I have a mystery man and she defiantly doesn’t know I am talking to Adrian black. Chace and Chelsea are still going strong and Sophie now has a boyfriend so a lot of her time is now taken up by him. As for me I love my life right now. I have this amazing guy that I talk to you and not have to worry about all the pressures of everyone knowing about him. As for Marco after countless emails with Adrian over the subject of whether or whether not Marco Is into me I have decided to stay well away from him. He still makes a fuss whenever we are in class together but I just try to ignore him. I really don’t need him in my life. Now where do I start on Adrian black! He is without a doubt the most interesting person I have ever come into contact with. He has really lived. He told me all about his trips around the world helping underprivileged kids. And I can’t help but think of how wrong I was when I first met him. He told me he has stopped going out and looking for girls as he says he has found the one he wants. Although we are not officially together I feel a sort of beholden to him. The gifts I still receive but it has shrunk to only one or two per week and not a daily occurrence like before although he says that there will be one arriving shortly that is not like the rest. he still talks of this dark secret he has and no matter how hard I try to get it out of him there is no way he is ever going to let me know what it is. I try the best I can to put it out of my mind and not think about it because if I did long enough would that be enough for me to stop caring about him? Cause care is what I can’t help but feel for him. I also can’t help but wonder if this texts and emails are all I am going to get from him. Although he always says that one day soon he will come to New York and make me his wife. It’s so hard to be so far away from him I can’t help but feel a little obsessed with what he is getting up to. Even though I have only ever seen him twice I feel like I know him and trust him. He opens up to me like he does with no other. I can’t explain him I am just so consumed by him. night falls on new work city and a I lay on my bed waiting for the little beeping sound that gets me so excited every time hear it a new message from Adrian. I think of how I wish to tell Sophie and everyone around me of the amazing thing that is going on in my life. I so desperately want to share this with someone and tonight I may just do so. I will wait till Sophie comes home. She is out tonight with Dan so I expect it to be late and then I will tell her. I really hope she doesn’t get mad I really want her to understand all this and hopefully she can be happy for me that I have found someone that makes me feel like I am the most special thing that has ever walked the planet. That’s what Adrian does he has a way of compelling me treating me like I am the air that he breathes? And without it he would die.
Sophie comes home and she looks like she really could not be happier. “Good night tonight?” I say as I give her a little smile. “Oh alanna it was amazing!” “I think I am in love” I give out a little giggle “you know I owe it all to you, you were the one that got me out of bed every day you were the one that showed me that there was more to life than chace I really could not have done any of this without you” “what are friends for” Sophie rushes over and gives me a hug. I pull back a little from her and she suspects something is wrong. “Are you ok alanna?” ”yes I am fine but I do have something I need to tell you” “ok” “do you remember when I went to London?” “Off course” “do you remember the flowers and other things I was getting?” “Yes alanna what’s wrong?” “Nothing, do you remember that we were so set on that Marco was the one that sent them?” “Yes alanna you are scarring me please get to the point” “It wasn’t him” “who was it then?” “When I got back to New York I didn’t tell you this but I was still getting the gifts” “what?” “And I found out who it was that was sending them” “then who is it?” do you remember that guy I saw in London?” “Oh no not the unbelievably gorgeous one?” “Yes Sophie it was him it was Adrian black” “how did you find out it was him?” “He sent me a blackberry and we began texting and he told me it was him” “this is too much alanna what are you going to do?” “What can I do?” “Are you still in contact with him?” “Yes everyday” “and what is he like is he weird?” “No Sophie he is kind and generous and caring” “are you with him?” “Not exactly but I don’t want to be with anyone else” “alanna if you feel that way about him and you feel the urge to text or whatever you do with him and he makes you happy then I am happy for you But please be careful” “I am I always am” I can’t describe this feeling it’s like a wait has been lifted off my shoulders Now that Sophie knows I don’t have to hide any more I can be free to carryon my little thing with Adrian black!
How did your friend take the news about us? Adrian says when I Instant messages him later on that night.
Alanna: She understood but she did warn me to be careful of you.
Adrian: I am glad she did what kind of friend would she be if she never?
Alanna: she is the best friend anyone could hope for I didn’t feel right keeping this a secret from her.<
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Adrian: how was your day my love?
Alanna: it was great but even better now I am talking to you. Adrian: did you see Marco at all today?
Alanna: yes he was in a few of my classes today.
Adrian: did he talk to you again?
Alanna: no it’s the same as the other day I walk into a room he walks out and I know he is talking about me behind my back but I never thought he would carry this on for so long.
Adrian: I don’t trust what you are telling me about him alanna please stay away from him.
Alanna: Adrian I don’t go near him it’s just class I can’t avoid him there.
Adrian: why don’t you ask to move classes?
Alanna: Adrian I can’t.
Adrian: ok then what are you doing tomorrow?
Alanna: just studying why?
Adrian: I have something for you tomorrow please when you see it don’t get freaked out ok?
Alanna: what is it?
Adrian: it’s not an it There is a person coming to visit you tomorrow.
Alanna: what who? Is it you?
Adrian: I wish it was but no it’s not me.
Alanna: then who is it Adrian?
Adrian: my step brother Michael.
Three Thousand Miles To You Page 7