In the Beginning (Volkov Bratva) Page 2

  “Mine, always. Besides, I’ve been talking to Amber for weeks now and she seems pretty cool.”

  Susan still didn’t look convinced, if anything, her brown eyes seemed more terrified, but there was no arguing with Lauren when she had her mind made up. Susan always made a point to remind her that that was one of the traits she inherited from her father besides his eyes. Everything else, Lauren got from her.

  They were quite similar in appearance, both with light brown hair and high cheekbones, but Lauren always thought that’s where the similarities ended. Susan had a certain uniqueness to her features, the bow of her lips, the slant of her eyes, while Lauren just seemed…plain. She was not under the impression that she was ugly—she wasn’t one of those girls—but she didn’t think there was anything striking about her. She was just…normal.

  As they rode on, Lauren took out her phone, snapping a few photos here and there, feeling like the tourist that she was. They were so different, New York and Michigan. She had never left her small town in Michigan in her twenty years. With her mom working full time, Lauren hadn’t had the time to travel anywhere, though after graduating high school, she’d taken a year off. She took that time to figure out what she wanted to do with her life, though even now, she still wasn’t quite sure.

  The following year, she had enrolled at Michigan State, but even there, the past still clung to her and she wanted to escape it. So on a whim, she applied to NYU, always wanting to get out of her small town and start over in a bigger city.

  Breaking the news to her mom after being accepted hadn’t been as easy as Lauren thought it would be. She had sobbed about her, ‘baby growing up,’ and panicked a bit about Lauren being out on her own, but eventually she had caved and they began to go over the details of the move.

  Together, they scoured the internet for potential housing for her—after Lauren made it adamant that she didn’t want to stay in a dorm. She had eventually found a listing, advertising a brownstone apartment that wasn’t far from campus.

  Lauren had liked what she could see of the place, and after talking with Amber on the phone about potential costs, she had decided that it was the place for her. She’d done a Skype tour, Amber patiently going around the entire apartment with her laptop so she could see what the place looked like.

  “What if she’s very neat?” Susan brought Lauren out of her thoughts. “You know how you can be sometimes with all your junk.”

  “Untrue.” Very true.

  That was an understatement. Lauren’s room back home was cluttered with posters and knickknacks, clothes thrown all over the room, books stacked everywhere. If Amber was a neat freak, she would definitely hate having Lauren for a roommate. But then again, Lauren normally regulated her junk to just her room.

  “Mom, you’re freaking out more than I am,” she said on a laugh. “Everything’s going to be okay.”

  Susan gave her a watery smile as her eyes filled with tears. “Your father would be so proud.”

  Lauren smiled in return, feeling the familiar pang in her chest that bloomed whenever her father was brought up. She wished she could know if that were true. She looked back out the window, escaping into the bustling city life.

  New York City was just as beautiful in pictures as it was in real life. The city life did have a certain allure. Buildings seemed limitless in size as they stretched as far as the eye could see, flashing billboards called to tourists, so many depicting the best restaurants and the best hotels to stay at, models wearing the latest designs…

  But dear God the traffic.

  Nothing could truly prepare a person for the vehicles fighting for purchase along the busy streets, horns constantly honking, a few angry drivers yelling out their windows as they all waited bumper to bumper.

  After doing her research—mainly between the distance from her new apartment to school—Lauren knew that she didn’t really need a car, and now that she saw the traffic, she didn’t want one, knowing that she would be stuck in traffic for an eternity if she drove into the city.

  Another hour passed in silence—the time lengthened as they maneuvered through the throng of other cars, but blessedly they finally reached a row of brownstones, a small patch of manicured lawn with a tree planted in the middle lined in front of each residence.

  The street wasn’t too busy though they did have to park a few blocks up for lack of a better parking spot. Ross shouldered Lauren’s duffel bags, snorting when she offered to help.

  Climbing the steps, Lauren scanned the names along the buzzers, pressing the white button next to Amber’s name, waiting as it made a soft buzzing sound.

  “Hello?” A rather cheerful voice answered.

  “Hi, this is Lauren. I’m looking for Amber Lacey.”

  “Oh, come right on up. I’m on the third floor, first door on your left.”

  A loud whirring sound started at the door, then an audible click as the lock disengaged. Ross held the door open for them, making sure it was closed behind them before following. As they took the stairs, Lauren smiled at her mom.

  “See? You can’t get in the building without someone buzzing you in.”

  Susan gave her a droll stare. “And if a man just happens to look innocent and you’re coming through the door? He’ll act polite, maybe give you a coy little grin, and you’ll think nothing of it as he walks in behind you. Then…Bam!” She slammed her fist into her hand. “He murders you in the hallway with a golf club.”

  “How many episodes of CSI have you watched?”

  Susan sighed in defeat as they reached their floor. “Thomas, tell her what I’m saying is plausible.”

  “She’s right, Lauren. You have to stay vigilant when you’re alone. There are crazy people out here that won’t hesitate to hurt an innocent girl.” The seriousness of his words had Lauren nodding, but then he smiled and said, “But I do think I saw that once on CSI.”

  “Ha!”

  The door for apartment 33B was open, soft rock music carrying out into the hall. Lauren peered in, knocking as she caught sight of the girl sitting by the window.

  Amber was twenty-two and a junior at NYU, studying Art. She had warm brown skin, and a mass of curly hair that was dyed brown with blonde highlights.

  She smiled back at them, placing her paintbrushes in a tin of water as she brushed her hands off on paint stained jeans, stepping away from the easel. Tall and willowy, Amber had the look of an artist, dressed in a pair of boyfriend jeans and a white tank top, an artist’s smock tied around her waist.

  With a click of the remote, she turned the music off and approached them.

  “Nice to finally meet you, Lauren.” She had a light voice that had a slow drawl to it, not like the ones you heard in the South, but like the ones you heard on a beach in California. Her eyes were hazel, but a darker ring of brown encircled them. She gave a warm smile to Susan and Ross. “I’m Amber Lacey.”

  They each shook her hand, introducing themselves as they stepped further into the apartment, looking around.

  “This is it.” She said with a soft laugh, thrusting her arms out in a wide arc. “It’s not huge, but it’s bigger than most places in the city.”

  The walls were stark white, but the different eclectic pieces of art hanging around broke up the uniformity. How many of those, Lauren wondered, had Amber painted herself?

  There were books and art supplies scattered everywhere, some sitting in piles near the fireplace, others on bookcases, and even in random piles on the floor.

  Lauren liked it already.

  There was an L-shaped couch, large enough to fit six or more people comfortably set to face a giant flat screen that was mounted above the hearth.

  Dark hardwood floors were throughout the entirety of the place. In the kitchen were stainless steel appliances and granite countertops. Ross, used to being a fix-it man, checked the water pressure and made sure everything was working in proper order, even going to work after Amber stated that a light switch in the kitchen wasn’t working proper
ly.

  “I’ll show you your room.”

  Lauren and Susan followed Amber down a short hallway, where she briefly pointed out the bathroom that was just across the hall from her room.

  This room was also white, but the East wall was made entirely of exposed brick that Lauren absolutely loved. It was about the same size as her room back home, which was a detail that she hadn’t been expecting, but was ultimately pleased with.

  Back in the living room, the decision had been made. They hammered out the rest of the details, Susan handing over a check for the first four months rent, much to Amber’s surprise.

  “We’ll let you two talk and get settled,” Susan said as she and Ross were going out the door. “We’ll come by tomorrow when the truck arrives with your stuff to help you get settled in.”

  “Thanks, mom.”

  Susan smiled, drawing her into a hug that brought tears to Lauren’s eyes. “I guess it’s time for me to let you go.”

  Lauren touched the hand that Susan had on her face, seeing the fear and acceptance in her eyes. “You’re always just a phone call away. Ross too.”

  Ross smiled with a nod, taking his turn with a giant bear hug.

  “Go on,” Susan said. “Hang out and enjoy yourself. We’ll see you tomorrow.”

  Once they were gone, Lauren had a momentary surge of panic, knowing that everything was about to change, leaving the nest some would say, but as she breathed in theWell, air of her new home, she was ready and excited.

  “I was thinking,” Amber started when they were alone. “I was going to get your key made. How about we go sight seeing? I can show you around, that way you’ll at least know how to get to school before Monday.”

  “Sounds good.”

  ***

  New York was huge. This was a known fact, but to Lauren who lived in a city that was just fifty miles in either direction, she felt like she was in another world entirely.

  They had taken a cab to the inner city, Amber pointing out different shops and cafes as they went. They weren’t far from campus as Lauren had suspected, but she didn’t realize that they were as close as they were.

  Outside the cab, Lauren felt like a real tourist as she gawked at the sheer size of everything. Businesses were practically on top of each other, beautifully made signs trying to entice people inside. They followed the crowds, and Lauren breathed in the cool, crisp air.

  …Okay, maybe not crisp.

  Lauren could practically taste the exhaust in the air, along with the different smells that carried from the many restaurants that lined the sidewalk.

  Across the street, as she watched, a man flagged down a taxi, the cab coming to a rolling stop next to him, but another man rudely pushed him aside while yelling into his bluetooth.

  Welcome to New York, Lauren thought dryly.

  They found a place to get Lauren’s key done, which took no time at all, and since she hadn’t eaten since early that morning, they decided to stop at a pub Amber raved about.

  As they found a table, a clearly drunken man whistled at them. “Well, hellooo there, beautiful ladies.”

  He was slurring his words and it couldn’t be no later than—Lauren glanced down at her phone to check the time—ten minutes after five.

  “Chocolate and vanilla, just how I like it.”

  Lauren frowned, looking back at Amber who was rolling her eyes.

  “Don’t worry about it,” Amber said reading her thoughts, “happens all the time, especially when they’re drunk.”

  “And you just ignore it?” Lauren found that hard to believe.

  “I’ve lived here for five years. I’m used to it. Plus, it’s always amusing watching them make an ass out of themselves.”

  Lauren laughed as the waiter came over to take their orders. She found that Amber was easy company, enjoying the fact that they were becoming fast friends.

  As the day wound down, and they were back home at the apartment, Lauren was excited for what the year would bring.

  ***

  With help from Ross and the movers, Lauren was able to get all her belongings inside in less than a half hour, but getting everything organized was another matter altogether. Ross laughed, pulling out his toolkit to put together Lauren’s bedroom.

  “You have to be the laziest girl I know,” he said shaking his head.

  Lauren would have happily agreed, but Amber laughed, jerking her thumb back at her own room. “My mattresses are still on the floor because the frame is still in the box.”

  Ross looked to Susan. “Christ, there’s two of them.”

  “What happened to your last roommate?” Susan asked as Amber passed her a glass of lemonade.

  “She’s studying abroad in Italy for the year and after, I think she’s going back to stay with her parents after.”

  Susan shook her head, looking at Amber like she had been abandoned. “How long have you been alone?”

  With a shrug, Amber sat on the barstool across from them. “A little less than six months.”

  “That’s too long. A young girl like you shouldn’t be living alone. It’s not safe.”

  Lauren leaned in to stage-whisper, “She has a thing for Crime TV.”

  Susan reached for her, but Lauren darted out of the way with a laugh. “I’m serious. Promise me that you two will be careful. Lock the door at night, and the windows. No going on dates—Lauren I mean you—unless you give Ross his name for a background check.”

  “Mom!” But her shout of indignation was drowned out by Amber’s laughter.

  “If I give you names, can I have them checked out too?”

  “Absolutely.”

  “With that attitude, I’ll never be able to date anyone,” Lauren said with a huff.

  “No dating until you’re thirty anyway, young lady,” Ross said exiting her bedroom.

  “That’s like ten years of celibacy!” Lauren shouted, nearly laughing at the look of horror on Ross’ and Susan’s face. Amber seemed to find the whole matter hilarious as she collapsed back on the sofa.

  “Do we need to have the talk?” Susan demanded, not realizing that Lauren was joking. “She can’t be active, can she Thomas? I mean, there hasn’t been an opportunity, right?”

  Ross scratched his brow like he had been thrown for a loop. “I can’t answer that one. I would have known since I had a talk with a few of the boys—”

  “That was you!” Lauren cried glaring at Ross. “I wondered why Adam stopped talking to me.”

  “I never did like how that boy looked at you. Didn’t he have a reputation at school? I heard he was making his way ‘round.”

  “God, I hate small towns.” She scowled at the two of them. “Could you two be anymore embarrassing? I was just joking.”

  “Joking or not, you can tell me anything,” Susan declared climbing to her feet. “If you ever need someone to talk to.”

  Lauren looked to Ross, waiting for him to chime in as well, but he held his hands up, shaking his head.

  “No, thank you. Save that for your mother.”

  Hours later, Lauren walked them down, standing at the car as Susan immediately began sobbing, pulling Lauren into a hug.

  “I’m going to miss you. Promise to see me on all major holidays.”

  “I promise,” Lauren swore, her humor fading.

  This was it. It was her time to move on in the world and she was happy, but it was still painful to know that her mom wouldn’t be upstairs or waiting for her when she got home from school.

  “Take care of my mom, Ross,” she whispered as she was engulfed in his arms next.

  He pressed a light kiss to the top of her head. “You know I will and take care of yourself. Call me once in a while to let me know how you’re doing, okay?”

  “You got it.”

  With a final wave, they were driving off and Lauren was left standing there, smiling sadly, before returning to her apartment.

  Amber was waiting with a knowing look. “Do you want help unpacking? It’ll go a lot f
aster, then we can watch movies and eat ice cream.”

  Thankful that she had a pretty cool roommate, Lauren nodded. She definitely was going to love New York.

  Chapter two:

  Cafe

  Lauren’s alarm went off at 6:30. Reaching out blindly, she fumbled around until her hand landed on the switch to cut off the annoying racket. As the shrill ringing tapered off abruptly, she sighed and rolled back over, falling asleep within seconds.

  It went off again at 6:45, then at 7:00, and once more at 7:15, but she still didn’t make any move to get up. Her bed was too comfortable to leave, the warmth of her duvet wrapping around her like a cocoon.

  It wasn’t until a soft knock on her door made Lauren groan sadly, knowing that she should be getting up or her mom would come in there and force her up. She could vaguely hear someone speaking to her through the door, but the words were muffled through the wood and were gibberish to her sleep fogged brain.

  The door creaked open, soft footsteps bringing Amber to Lauren’s side. She reached out, tapping Lauren’s shoulder. Lauren asked for five more minutes, but the words came out in a series of monosyllables as she rolled over, squeezing her eyes tighter to keep out any more light.

  “Lauren!”

  She shot up, her heart racing as she stared wide eyed at Amber standing to her left. “What happened? Are you okay?”

  Looking amused, Amber shook her head. “I’m fine, but don’t you have class?”

  Lauren cursed, glancing at the clock on her nightstand, the one she had continuously pressed snooze on for the last hour. 7:25.

  Scrambling out of bed, she shot Amber a quick thanks—who was laughing in earnest at Lauren’s expense—and ran off to the bathroom, turning on the shower. As the water heated, she stood at the sink brushing her teeth. Normally, the minty foam helped push the remaining bits of sleep out of her head, but even that wasn’t helping this morning.

  There would definitely be no more watching sappy romance movies with Amber the days before my 8:15 class.

  Lauren showered quickly, deciding she just didn’t have the time to do anything spectacular with her hair, foregoing washing it in favor of rummaging through her closet for something to wear. Luckily, she had already packed her bookbag the night before, so as she returned to her room to dress, she was done and out the door fifteen minutes to eight.