"Everything went okay, no worries."
Is the first thing I say when I get to James's place and he starts questioning me.
Ollie just skips to his room with his bag of doughnut holes.
What a little brat.
I'm just kidding, I love the kid.
He could have at least stayed to get questioned with me though.
He reminds me so much of James when we were growing up.
God, I love younger siblings.
"I made you a plate of food, its in the microwave."
Liv says kindly, fondly rubbing her huge stomach.
Apparently being 3 months pregnant can change your view on the world around you.
Its weird, she's always smiling. Shouldn't she be yelling at everyone and complaining about how in pain she is?
These things interest me.
I want to be a mother one day and I secretly take notes from her.
James would faint if I ever told him that.
He's very overprotective of me, which I don't mind.
Hey, when you're as lonely and awkward as me, all you can do is suck it up and take all the love you can get.
"Im sorry we couldn't be there, I know it must have confused you being at the biggest hospital in the state for the first time."
She continues, ignoring her dramatic husband who looks like he's about to explode.
"I wasn't done, get your ass back here and tell me what doctor Reece said."
He complains, following after us.
"No medicine for the night."
I grumble, getting a little annoyed.
Geez.
I get that he's giving me a hard time because he's still upset that it took 3 years of his begging for me to finally move up here to Ohio so that we could be closer.
He's all that I have left, our parents died in a plane crash 6 years ago.
I'm still a little sad about it but just recently, I've said goodbye to them.
Another reason I moved here is because I can now visit their graves whenever I'm feeling really sad and bring them flowers.
James doesn't speak of them.
I know he's still really hurt and coping with their sudden deaths but I also understand that some people just don't like being comforted.
I know that I hated how people kept telling me that they were sorry for my loss.
It irritated me.
I can't even imagine what it did to him, he was always closer to them than me.
If that's even possible.
I was very fond of them.
"Tia, I'm so sorry you had to go though one of his attacks. They are still scary, even after all this time."
Suddenly James is not anxious.
He's just defeated.
It's a little upsetting but this is the James I'm used to.
For as long as I can remember, he's been this uptight and nervous guy.
He's 4 years old younger than me but he acts like a dad.
Always has too, even when dad was still alive.
They were best friends.
"It's fine, Jay."
I say, watching as Liv hobbles up and rubs his shoulders.
I can't help but smile.
I'm so glad he met her when he did. She came around right when he needed someone the most.
I'm so happy for them.
Their love is so strong. Whenever they are together, it literally comes off of them in waves.
I like seeing them love each other, it gives me hope.
If Liv could change him from a nervous and twitchy nerd into such an amazing husband and father then there's hope that a guy could swoop in and sweep me off of my feet just like in the romance movies and books I force myself to read and watch.
"Listen, tomorrow is mandatory meeting for the...."
I lose interest in what James starts droning on and on about immediately.
The second the plane landed, I knew that this place is nothing like I'm used to.
There are rules and guidelines for the residents of this town.
Board meetings put together by parents regarding school policy and taxes and blah blah blah.
The only thing I'm used to is the jury meetings.
When I met the mayor, I was a little star struck only because he was so hot but other than that, everything else has been boring.
Well nevermind, James tells me that there is fun stuff coming up.
Like the carnival with cake walks and prizes and fun.
This town lacks fun.
It's all about law and order here, for some odd reason.
When I get to my little apartment later that night, I get a call from my new manager regarding my work hours for the upcoming week.
He is very nice and understanding.
When I first got hired he told me that he calls all of his employees on Sunday to discuss work hours for the upcoming week only because he's doesn't like it when people suddenly call in when they have plans.
I am excited to say that I am a secretary at the town bank.
It's one of the only 3 banks in town so it's only only open on Mondays and Tuesday. The second location is only open on Wednesday and Thursday and so on.
Its a little weird to outsiders but I kind of like the organization within the community.
Everybody crowds up into the church on Sundays, all the pet owners take their dogs to the dog parks on Saturday afternoons, the festivals and carnivals are planned months in advance so they are big and creative.
We're like a big family in this little town.
The welcome to Oakland, Ohio sign says that the population is 1000 but is seems as though there's not as many people milling around.
My brother told me that ever since the hospital was built, more people have been coming in from other places.
I have no idea why it's such a big deal, it's just a hospital.
Then again, it was a very fancy one. There were glass doors and tablets in the waiting room.
Hm.
I hum to myself as I move around the kitchen, getting out the ingredients to make my infamous cinnamon sugar rolls for my new colleagues.
I've been working at the bank for only a few days but I've already met a couple of friends and even a cute guy.
His name is Hardy and he's very kind.
My friend Ruby insists that he flirts with me but I think that he's just a talkative person.
Apparently there's not very many people who come and stay in this little town so the ones that do are pretty popular for a little while.
Feeling a little lonely in this big apartment, I decide to call Ruby.
She's very friendly and understanding of my social problems.
Apparently, she's been homeschooled pretty much all her life.
It shocked me when she told me that she didn't experience high school problems or anything.
"Hey, how are you?"
She answers on the 3rd ring.
I grin, doing a little spin around the kitchen island.
"Good, are you busy?"
I ask eagerly.
"Nah, I'm just getting ready to go have sex with Brandon. You know how it is."
She says casually.
I roll my eyes.
She loves sex.
Brandon is a sweet guy though, he is very smitten by her.
She claims that the relationship is strictly sexual but he told me that he's in love with her almost as soon as I met him.
He's so sweet and protective over her.
Apparently their little fling has been going on for years.
It's slowly becoming something more, I can tell by the way that she looks at him.
He told me that he's noticed too.
"Oh, that's nice."
I say politely, grabbing the sugar.
"What are you doing? I got a few minutes if you want to talk."
She says.
"Oh, I'm just making cinnamon sugar rolls. I'm too energetic to go to sleep."
I inform her, opening the oven.
"Unbelievable. You're awake at 3 in the morning and you decide to bake sweets?"
She scoffs.
"What is that supposed to mean?"
I huff, rolling my eyes.
"Nothing."
She says immediately.
I suck in my breath.
She hates how lonely I am.
She thinks I should give Hardy a chance but I dont see him as anything but a friend. And barely even that, he's always talking to other girls.
"All I'm saying is that its a little weird that you're so young but not interested in a relationship."
She says hesitantly.
I fold my arms and glare even though she can't see me.
"You're one to talk. What about Brandon? He's a nice guy, he brings you flowers and he treats you so great yet you don't claim him."
I accuse, picking at my nail.
"What ate you talking about? If I didn't claim him then I'd be going over to somebody else's house at 3 in the morning. What we got going on is complicated but at least it's something."
I don't even feel like baking anymore.
She's right and she knows it.
I want a relationship but its too hard for me to talk to guys. I get all weird and awkward around them.
She claims that it's cute but I dont want guys to think I'm cute, I want them to think I'm sexy and sophisticated!
"Babe, you know I love you. I just want what's best for you and I know it hurts you when you hear about me and Brandon doing fun stuff together-"
"Sex stuff is fun."
I say automatic.
"It is. God, it's the best."
She groans.
I can't help but blush as I hear the pure joy in her voice.
God, it's been a long minute since I even had sex.
I kind of forgot the feelings that it ensures.
Hm.
"Hardy's pretty muscular. I know you have a thing for fit guys."
She says for the millionth time since we met.
I roll my eyes.
Hardy is too...too full of himself.
"I want a humble guy. A nice one. Like your Brandon."
I say quietly.
There is silence for a long moment.
"My Brandon, aye?"
I bite my lip helplessly.
She always gets so emotional when I say anything related to him being hers.
She lost a lot of close people to her in various ways over the years.
She told me a while ago she felt like she was just surrounded by death. First was her grandma.
Then her little brother and mom.
And just last year her dad died of a heart attack.
Brandon told me that it is one of the reasons why he really wants her.
He's been proving all these years that he isn't going anywhere.
I think she's just scared of losing him.
I sigh, turning on the oven light.
"Don't worry about me, Ruby. I will be fine as long as I have you. You're a good friend."
She really is.