Amara – Reunion

Author's note: this is from Seraphina's point of view

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I stood in front of the big building that was full of bad memories which faded under the Duke's bright smile, but now a variety of images were assaulting my mind and making me uneasy.

The past mixed with the present and potential endings to this day, and my stomach rolled into knots.

I let out a long exhale. 

I can do this. I am not weak Sanya Bogdan anymore. I am Seraphina Mezzanotte, and I can do this.

I climbed up the stairs and faced a middle-aged man who greeted me with a smile.

"Are you here for the reunion, Miss?"

"Yes." I showed him my invitation.

After throwing a quick glance at the paper in my hands, he gestured toward the stairs. "Second floor, fifth door on your left."

That was my classroom in the fourth year of high school.

"Thank you."

Other than the man at the door, the building seemed deserted. Am I late? No, there are still a few minutes until 11 o'clock.

If the man at the door was not present, I would be sure that I got the wrong time.

As I climbed to the second floor, a faint noise reached my ears and my nerves tensed again.

Every step down that hallway brought me closer to the people who looked down on me, who bullied me, and one man who was different. He was my friend, he was my love, from the first day of high school until the last one when he disappeared.

Relax, Seraphina!

I don't know if Duke is there and if he is, he is my high school crush, not an abusive ex-husband.

And anyway, even if he was the abusive husband, I can kick his ass. I smiled at that thought. Sometimes my mind treats me with visually intriguing sights, and this one was of me spanking Duke with a ruler, just how a teacher would punish us.

This lifted my mood a bit and it made me feel better.

I went through this in my mind a million times, but I couldn't decide if the worst outcome would be if Duke looks down on me or if he ignores me completely. Well, no matter what it is, assuming that Duke is behind this wall, I will find out in a matter of seconds. 

Chill, Serina!

Duke or not, I look like a million bucks.

Maria styled my hair into a sleek ponytail that waves across my back. She helped me with makeup so that my clear eyes and plumps lips are standing out and demanding attention.

The black two-piece dress covers all the important parts and fits me like a glove, and my jacket ends one inch above the skirt, at half my thighs. My high heels are making my perfectly toned legs longer… I know I look good. 

I took a deep breath. It's showtime!

I stepped on the threshold and removed my sunglasses in slow motion.

The clamor quieted down in one quick wave that swept through the classroom as people stared at me and spoke in whispers.

Those were my classmates, the ones that degraded me due to my poor background, but now things are different.

I noticed that most of them are wearing excessive jewelry and revealing clothes. Are they compensating for something?

I wondered how long it will take them to realize who I am and to start gossiping.

There was a time when I feared them, but now I know that they are insecure souls who make themselves feel better by portraying shallow images of worth and looking down on others. It was always like that. I feel sorry for them.

I met their eyes with confidence, one after another, and there I saw him… Duke. He was behind the last desk on the right. The same desk, made for two, we shared during our high school days.

Duke was looking at his phone and ignoring two women who talked to him. Cynthia and Bethany. Those two always tried to get his attention. I guess things didn't change much.

I took a moment to soak in Duke's appearance. The time replaced his boyish features with mature ones, and he became the handsome man who must be the cause of many wet dreams. Mine included.

Duke is more attractive in person when compared to the photos Mona sent me.

The lack of noise got Duke's attention and I observed him as his blue eyes moved, wondering what caused everyone to fall into silence.

It took him a second to spot me, and the world faded at the moment our eyes met.

His lips curved into a bewitching smile, and I forgot how to breathe. 

The magic between us was the same as I remember, but stronger. Probably because we are not kids anymore. Now we are grownups and trying to label this feeling that engulfed me as anything other than attraction laced with lust, would be denying the obvious.

Damn! I thought that by coming to this reunion I will be able to get over my infatuation that stems from my dreams.

I was confident that I will realize he was never mine, to begin with. It was just a teenage crush that should have died with my mortal self. But as his endlessly blue eyes bore into mine across the classroom, I was unable to resist the aching need to get closer.

Every raging heartbeat was a testament to how wrong I was. I believed that by coming here I will confirm that my feelings are not real; it's all in my head; it's all my imagination. But if this is not real, then nothing is. My reality is filled with Duke, regardless if it's coming from memories or dreams, or anywhere else.

I swear that the air cracked between us with every step I made toward him in my Louboutin pumps.

He stood up slowly, without breaking eye contact.

"I was saving you a seat...", he said with longing which told me that he missed me. His voice was deeper than I remember, and it shook my insides.

"Thanks", I breathed.

He pulled a chair for me to sit, and his scent of pine trees mixed with the ocean made me lightheaded or maybe that was due to his proximity, and I realized that the flame inside my heart turned into a raging inferno that prickled my skin.

Oh, boy... I am in trouble. Aren't I?

I sat in my chair, just like many years ago, and stared at him.

I could never understand how a man can smile with his eyes, but there he was, right in front of me, with his deep blue eyes that spoke volumes of how special I am.

"Hey…", he called. "It's good to see you in person."

My brain was on a delay, and I neglected to pay attention to his strange choice of words, while I struggled to respond. "Same here."

I could gaze at Duke's perfect face the whole day and not get bored of it.

I was taking in his every curve while trying to engrave it into my memory, trying to make it mine. And he did the same.

God, it's wonderful to see him again.

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