Chapter 2: Chapter 2

Chapter 1

I laugh as Michael yet again manage to yet again make a fool of himself. Whoever said 'The Office' was lame needed to take a raincheck. How could they look in the handsome face of Jim Halpert and not be blown away or the fact that he creates the greatest pranks of all time?

Before I could laugh again, my doorbell rang. I sigh, knowing exactly who it was waiting behind the mahogany door.

Victor Hernandez, a single father of two beautiful girls and who happens to be, my annoying next door neighbor. Victor just couldn't get the gist that I wasn't into him, at all. Every day around the same time he would come to press my doorbell and wait patiently for me to open my door to him. Sometimes he came with smiles and other times with sugar-coated doughnuts.

I thought after telling him off yesterday he would leave alone today, but I guess not.

I look across at my door and sigh. Maybe if I ignore the bell then he'll leave me alone. I couldn't pretend not to be at home because my lights were on and the tv volume was high. I paused the show and start to stand slowly and reluctantly.

The bell was pressed again a few more times while I made my way to the door. "I'm coming."

I pulled the door open saying, "What do you..." I didn't get to finish my statement, the words died on my tongue as I looked at the masculine figure in front of me.

I wasn't looking at my Cuban neighbor. No, the man in front of me is 100% Italian.

"Hi, JJ.," he said looking at me showing his perfect teeth.

I was only eight when he was first introduced to me. He had given me the same kilowatt smile. It was that very moment I knew I'd love him forever.

"Andrea." I manage out.

He laughed saying, "Don't look so shocked to see me, give me a hug." Before I could utter another word he pulled me in his muscular arms. I sighed and inhale his wonderful scent. He pulled out of the hug and then pat me on the head, "Aren't you going to let me in?"

I nod quickly and pushed the door open wider for him to enter. He started walking towards the living room so I quickly shut the door and followed after him.

He laughed taking a seat on the couch, "Still love watching those shows."

"The Office is an amazing show," I said defending my favorite tv show as I walked over to the sofa beside the one he was sitting on.

He lifted his hands in the air laughing, "Calm down, wild cat. I didn't say it wasn't." Andrea had a thing for calling names of animals. I absolutely hated it when I was a teen but I eventually got used to it.

He was casually dressed, wearing a plain white shirt under his jeans jacket and black pants. His wavy black was messy from the wind that was blowing heavy outside. His crescent-of-moon eyebrows were thick and narrow and his angular cheekbones carved down towards his flinty jaw. He also had the most beautiful yet piercing chocolate brown eyes, I'd ever seen. This man was carved to perfection.

I cleared my throat, I was starring for too long. But who wouldn't? The man had a way of making woman speechless just by looking at them.

"Still shocked to see me, JJ ?"

I nod, "You're the last person I expect to see at my door."

"I know, I know. It's been what eight, nine months?" his eyebrows were knit as he spoke.

"A year." A year that went by fast but seeing him now made it seem like it was forever.

He nodded in an agreement, "Yea, sorry."

My heart jumped at his apology. Why was he even apologizing? I knew a man like him would never have time for me.

"What begins you to Jersey?"

He grinned in response, "Well, I had a business in New York and then you crossed my mind. I cannot come to the East side of the country and not visit my favorite girl in the entire world."

Boy, does he know how to tug on a girl's heart?

I smiled a little, "Really, what's her name? I really need to meet her."

He smiled and rolled his eyes, "Her name is Jaimee Joris. She's the most adorable high school teacher in the world." He was always quick to fire off a humorous retort and that made him even more attractive.

I laughed shaking my head. Andrea Moretti is something else. "How have you been Andrea?" I asked when I stopped laughing.

"I'm good as I can be, I guess. How are you, pumpkin?" How can I forget the fruit name calling? That's what he started with in the beginning then moved on to animals when I touched puberty.

"None of my students hasn't killed me yet so I guess I'm okay." After four years of teaching, I've gotten the hang of it. I knew how to handle my students. I believe that there is a time and a place for everything and I made sure my students knew that as well.

He chuckled, "I never understand why you choose to teach."

You

Andrea was the reason I went to college and did Languages and Linguistics. I wanted to learn Italian to impress him. I thought maybe he would finally notice me if I spoke his mother tongue, he still doesn't know I speak Italian because I still haven't build up the courage to speak to him in it.

When I finished college and was looking for a job, a teaching position was opened and I applied and got through, I've been working at the school since. I loved teaching even though the majority of my students have no interest in learning French, Spanish or Italian.

I sigh, "Teaching is fun. I get to change lives."

"It's also changing you."

I frown at him, "What do you mean?"

"Your hair, your clothes, and your attitude," he answered lightly.

"What's wrong with my hair?" I touched my head feeling my hair. "What's wrong with my clothes?" I said looking down at my clothes. I was still in my work clothes. Today, I wore a straight rose pink skirt that rested on my knee with a white top. "What's wrong with my attitude?"

"Don't become too wild on me, kitty. One question at a time."

"What's wrong with my hair?"

"I don't like it. I make you look old." he stood from his seat and came to stand over me. His hand touched my hair then he started to pull on my well-made bun, releasing it. He then used his finger to comb it out. When he was finished he pats my head and smile. "Beautiful. Much better."

Instead of returning to his sofa he sat right beside me, our shoulders touching. My heart was beating faster than usual, not only was he sitting beside me, he called me beautiful, something that I never expected a man like him would call a woman like me. Now I definitely need to know what's wrong with my clothes.

"What's wrong with my clothes?"

"You dress too old for your age."

"I'm twenty-five."

"I know."

"I'm a teacher, I have to dress appropriately."

He looks down at my skirt and my shirt. "Dressing appropriately doesn't mean to dress like an old woman. I don't the skirt you're wearing. The color is pretty but It doesn't look well on you. It doesn't bring out your curves."

I raised my brows at him. I never knew he was checking to see If I had curves or not. "I'm a man, I noticed those things, even if I shouldn't. Your brother would probably kill me if he heard me."

Andrea was twelve when he moved to America and he has been friends with my brother ever since, best friends at that.

"What's wrong with my attitude?"

"You act old."

I laughed at his words. It wasn't the first time someone told me that. I guess acting older was something that came naturally with the profession.

"You think I'm funny. When was the last time you went out and had fun?"

I rubbed my hands against my chin and thought about his question, "It's been a while." I answered truthfully. "But that's because I have quizzes and test papers to mark."

He gave me a dull look, "No, carrot cake, It's because you have become boring." he lifted his hands and pointed to my paused tv screen. "Look at what you're watching. Don't get me wrong, The Office is great but it's also out-dated and old. There are so many new tv series waiting to be watched and yet you're here watching The Office again." he was right. Somehow I always find myself rewatching The Office, Arrested Development and Parks and Recreation. Maybe my life was indeed boring.

"When I come home I'm so exhausted, I don't even care to search through and look for something new."

"You've also become lazy." he shook his head, "Where is the girl who played pranks on her big brother and his best friend, the girl who threw a joystick at me because I called her a chicken, the one who threw ice in my clothes because I called her a fox?"

I laughed at the memories. The only reason why I did those things to him was for him to see me as cool. I guess it worked.

"You used to be fun."

"I'm still fun."

He shook his head, "Nah, you aren't. Come to California. You'll be closer to Jules and me." My heart rate increase; was this his way of telling me he wanted me to move closer to him?

I . look in his chocolate eyes, not saying anything. What could I say? I've lived in New Jersey for four years, I love it here. There were many Spanish persons around for me to practice my Spanish with. The stores weren't too expensive. My neighbors were fairly nice except when they were trying to get me on dates.

I like it here.

This was the first time anyone has ever asked me to move states to be closer to them and this wasn't just anybody.

This is Andrea Moretti, the man I've loved for seventeen years.

I cleared my throat and broke the eye contact, "What a terrible hostess I am! Do you want something to drink? I have tea and coffee?" I stood from the couch and started to walk towards the kitchen.

He laughed and shook his head, "I told. You're acting too old for your age. Do you have anything alcoholic?"

I smiled and nodded, "Yes, I do. I might be a teacher but I do have a few glasses of wine a week. What do you want? Wine, Champagne, something stronger?"

"What do you have that's stronger?" he asked.

"I have Jamaican white rum, Red Label Wine, Appleton, Jamaica rum cream vanilla, and chocolate, Whisky, Vodka, and Bacardi."

He gave me an amused look, "I'm impressed. For an old high school teacher, you sure have a lot of alcohol beverages in your home."

"I can hold a glass."

"Sure, you can," he whispered unconvinced, "By the way, what are you doing with so many Jamaican rums?"

I shrug, "One of the teachers at the school that I'm working at is Jamaican and he introduced me to Jamaica liquor. They're really good, you should try."

"Oh, I know about Jamaican rums and wines. I have a collection at my apartment. But tonight I'll take the whiskey."

"One Whisky coming up."