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This all started one day with a panic attack in high school We were on a field trip to the New York Public Library, and a few classun to hyperventilate and thought I was going to die Fifteen minutes later, the elevator moved, but the post-trauone out of hts, enclosed spaces or anything else thatto work in a hospital soonna tell your dying patients to press five and fend for themselves while you take the stairs?"
"Ry, I’ll have it under control by then, okay? I appreciate your concern, but I have to do things inMonday"
"Okay, I’ll lay off your case…for now"
I rolled my eyes and sestured with open arms "So, how do you like the place?"
The truth was, I was feeling a little anxious about living away from home for the first time, but I put on a brave face "I like it My roo that can’t be fixed"
He started walking down the hall and waved for me to follow him "Come on, let me show you around"
"As you know, this first roo to my room
I nodded and followed him as he entered the next room on the left at the end of the hall, which was just past mine
"This is my room," he said
Ryan’s room was immaculate with neutral colors and no clutter On his chest of drawers, there was a picture of hi on the Hudson River It made me smile to see that he had it displayed I picked up the picture and looked around the room "Wow, ever the neat freak, as always, Ry"
"Indeed, Troll"
"I ondering how long it would take before that old nickna up, because of my resemblance to the Olsen twins fro triplet The name started out as "‘Trolsen," which stood for "Triplet" and "Olsen," then evolved over tih it was eddirty blond hair and very large blue eyes, I did look somewhat like those celebrity twins
Ryan stepped out of his room, and I followed hilasses for this one," he said as he opened the door across the hall
"This…is Jake’s roo, it would be Welcole by Guns N’ Roses It was a complete contrast to Ryan’s bedroom It was smoky, lasses The walls were a neon orange Everything else in the roo and a blackshade to keep out the light, since this room actually had a
It was like every coe and black, bright ith a dark shade On top of that, there was a large collection of gargoyle figurines atop the dresser, but right next to theirls who looked identical Whoever this guy was, he was an enigma
"What’s Jake’s deal?" I asked
Ryan ran his hand over his short blonde hair and laughed "Jake…how could I possibly suhed "What do you s You’ll have toabout He’s frooes back there every weekend I don’t knohat he does there or if he has so He’s kind of secretive I know his family lives there He’s close to his nieces apparently," he said gesturing to the photo
"What does he do for a living?"
"Actually, it’s sick how sineer for a co that breaks in the house But when you see hiineer?’"
"What do you "
"Okay Whatever you say"
I didn’t otten a preview ofJake’s interests I could never ad in while Jake "entertained" his guest
Ryan led ht across from mine
"This…is Tarah’s room"
This was the best bedroom in the house Like Jake’s, it had a , but was painted a delicate lavender There was a built-in white bookshelf, neatly organized with books and pictures and the rooe out of a Pottery Barn catalog The sun was strea this was my room
"So, what’s Tarah like?"
Ryan blushed "She’s really cool"
"She is not with Jake, by any chance, is she?" I asked, thinking about the rendezvous I overheard earlier
"Hell no! Why would you ask that?" he snapped
"I was just wondering"
"Truston between Tarah and Jake"
"And that’s because…?"
Ryan’s face turned red again, and he gave me a look that answered my question
"Tarah…and you?" I asked
He smiled "Yup"
"Really…"
"Yeah, it’s new…six weeks now Wait ‘til you meet her She’s awesome"
"Nice, Ryan I am so happy for you But what if it doesn’t work out? I ether Wouldn’t that be weird?"
"Probably But I can’t worry about that right now"
"Well, I can’t wait toreally well She’s a hair colorist for a salon in the city She’s working until close tonight, but she should be horowled "I a, but I haven’t had a chance to food shop"
"No need Let’s go downstairs to Eleni’s My treat Phenomenal Greek food"
"I know I smelled it on the way in here"