Page 1 of Love is Strange
LOVE
Becoming Mrs. Ryan
MICHELLE BROWN
Chapter One
I knew him first.I loved him first. We met in high school, the typical football player and cheerleader story. It was the best time of my life before he left for college. He didn’t have time for a girlfriend, plus I was still in high school. He lied; not even three months later and she was in the picture. Thatbitchtook what was mine. I’m at the same college now. I planned out just how this would work. I’m not the girl he left behind anymore, we were too young for all that life had thrown at us back then. I will get him back.
Checking my schedule, I see all the classes I have signed up for and it makes me giddy. Not because I want to study for a degree in Nursing but because my plan is working so far. Walking up the stairs, I take them two at a time until I reach my floor. I’m here for one reason and it has nothing to do with school, and everything to do with the bitch I share a dorm with. I opted to stay in the dorms since I knew she does that in order to save her parents' money. Too bad for her, I muse.
Knocking on the door, I push it open to find my roommate unpacking her bags. Standing awkwardly, I take in her clothes until she notices me. My roommate is one of those women that can pull off a messy bun with no effort. I can see how she was able to grab his attention like the siren she is. It makes me hate her even more. I don’t even know her yet, and I have no desire to.
“Finally! Hi, I’m Isabel. You must be Natalia,” she all but yells excitedly.
Giving a small finger wave, I look around the room as if I’m bored. “I am. So that’s my bed?” I motion to the one on the other side of the small room.
Isabel’s face falls in defeat at my lack of pep, “Unless you want this one…”
Smiling, I shake my head and begin to unpack. This will be a long year if this is how she acts. I used to be fun and social. After everything that happened with Luke, I lost the will to be an extrovert. He shattered more than my teenage heart. Putting the last of my dresses in the closet, I study her. She doesn’t look like Megan Fox, but she is pretty with her dark brown hair and librarian style glasses. Fingering my light brown locks, I make a mental note to stop by the local store for hair dye. I need something different if I want to pull this whole thing off.
I’m lost in memories of him and me when I feel her eyes boring holes into me. Sitting on my bed, I lean back and contemplate where it all went wrong for us. Sighing I meet her eyes and wait for her to speak.
“What are you studying? Oh, I have a boyfriend so we should make rules about when I need the room alone and when you do. I’m sorry, I didn’t even ask if you had one. Do you?”
Nodding, I sit up against the wall and think of how to answer her. “I’m studying Nursing. I do have a boyfriend. He doesn’t go here. We can set up a schedule or something though if that helps you and your guy.” The last thing I want to do is walk in on the two of them fucking.
Grinning, Isabel looks down at her phone and scrolls to find what she wants to see. Holding out her phone, I am met with an image of her kissing his cheek. His warm brown eyes pulling me in. Her boyfriend and her together. Forcing a smile, I look at the dainty watch on my wrist, the one I got two years ago because I was never on time for anything.
“He’s cute. What’s his name?”
Isabel sighs as if his name is her religion, “Lukas.”
Who does she think she is? His mother? She doesn’t know him the way I do. I know all his secrets even the fact that he prefers Luke. Grabbing my purse, I shoulder it already slipping on my silver flats. “Well, I’m going to the store. I misplaced my phone charger and I need a new one. Do you need anything?”
Shaking her head, she goes back to her phone. Her fingers flying across the screen as she sends out a message. I need more than a charger. I need the patience of a saint so I don’t murder her while she sleeps.
Chapter Two
Lookingat the different colors of hair dye, I pick up the one I need and make my way out of the store. This town isn’t big at all. My reason for being here at this school has nothing to do with the town size, no I have entirely different reasons for being here. I have no doubt this is the kind of place where you run into people you don’t want to see all the time. Today isn’t my day apparently, I will be seeing him far sooner than I wish.
Luke’s voice was always sex in word form. A voice I would know anywhere. His raspy baritone voice hits my ears before I can hide. Slipping my bug-eye sunglasses over my eyes, I turn when she calls my name.
“Hey, Natalia! Come meet Lukas. This is my roommate Natalia, baby,” Isabel rambles while I try to hold back from hugging him.
Truth is I hate the name, Natalia. It isn’t mine but there was only one way to make this work. That meant the real Natalia had to go, so I could take her place. My name is really Ashley.
Grinning, I take his warm hand in my own. “Natalia, Isabel’s roommate. You must be the boyfriend. It’s so nice to meet you.”
I can tell he is trying to place my voice but is falling short. That’s alright baby, I muse, soon you won’t forget me. Playing with my phone, I give myself an excuse to walk away and leave them. I can see them walking down the sidewalk from the front seat of my car, and I contemplate running Isabel down when they hold hands and kiss.
Speeding away, I drive up to the small cabin on the edge of town. I made the fifteen-minute drive in less than eight minutes. My mind was preoccupied with thoughts of Luke and Isabel being a sickening sweet couple and planning a future that should have been mine. Natalia needs to give me more information on her life otherwise she is of no use to me. There is no other reason to keep up this ruse and I will go down for murder if this doesn’t end quickly. Parking near the cabin, I check to be sure I wasn’t followed, I can’t afford to get sloppy. I’m committed to this and to Luke. Even if he isn’t as committed to me, for now.
Chapter Three
Natalia was the perfect target.She only has one surviving parent, a mother that suffers from Prosopagnosia and barely remembers she has a daughter on a good day. Walking inside of the cabin, I take in the state she is in. Natalia is chained to the bed frame with only enough chain links to get to the small bathroom, and the tiny kitchen. I’m not cruel, I don’t want her to waste away out here but I’m not stupid. She can’t make it outside or to the window across from the bed.
“Hey there. I figured you needed some more food and water.”
