18 comments/ 24404 views/ 44 favorites Reverie Ch. 01 By: partial2passion Hey guys, I know I owe you a Duplicity update and that's coming up soon. This story just kinda spilled out of me so be sure to let me know what you think. The other stories I'm working on like the Nicole and John story and the Suzy and (unnamed) are coming. So hopefully once Duplicity is finished I'll give those my full attention. :) Special thanks to TJ for helping with editing on this chapter. _____________ He didn't look like he belonged there. Everything about him was wrong. As the rumbling subway train barreled down the tracks, Rya sat in her seat and discreetly stared at the mysterious man. Ear buds fit snugly in her ears but no music played. She always thought the train provided the best symphony. Tons of metal in a constant rhythm beat with a deep hollow bass. The sound of acceleration and the intermittent screech of the brakes. The high pitched squeal that rivaled Steven Tyler's scream. The thunderous quake of the windows' vibrations accompanied by the quiet chatter of the train's passengers... Yes the train ride was always the best music. It was the one thing Rya always found solace in. It was also the best background music for looking at people. She never let her voyeuristic tendencies show. Her head was always tucked in a book with her buds in place. It was to conceal the stark truth. She loved to people watch. It had become one of her favorite pastimes. Oftentimes she'd imagine what they did for a living, who their families were, their deepest fears. Most were familiar faces who took the same route at the same time as her. Others were visitors who ventured out of their orbits for the day. Blessed and cursed with an overactive imagination, Rya passed the time giving these strangers personalities and lives. Bombarded with bodies shuffling in and out everyday of the weekday commute, she had a lot of material to work with. At her 22 years of age you would think she would be over this phase. She quickly figured out it wasn't one. While her parents often complained about her zoning out and going to la-la land, they didn't know she was the self-proclaimed queen of the place. Now as this mysterious man stared into space, Rya was stumped. He could be a graduate student, just like her. Instead of going into the hospital administration field like her, he could be working towards his PHD. Maybe he was a scientist trying to discover some new kind of molecular theory. His name could be... Carlos. From... Costa Rica. Yeah he could be a Carlos. He was single, of course. He had no kids, but had a dog. A chocolate Labrador. He had a big family he liked to visit on the weekends. He liked to read and write poetry. And he preferred to make love to spicy Latin music. Rya muffled a laugh; he was so not a Carlos. He was too serious for that, he was almost broody. He looked to be in his late twenties, but wore a neutral expression as though he didn't want to be bothered. Oh well she'd think of something. This was the fourth time she'd seen him on the same northbound E train around nine at night. He got off a couple stops before her while she stayed intrigued. He was the only person who couldn't fit in a story. Maybe it was because he still looked like he didn't belong. And yet as the subway's symphony drawled on in the background, she wondered if that was the point. He was like the concerto's centerpiece. A presence that, at first glance, looked like it didn't belong, but his allure captured even the most cynical. Emerging from the shadows and presenting himself... purely for our entertainment. At least Rya's entertainment. He never looked anyone in the eye, though, like it was for their own protection. His gaze would be too much to bear. His face never held warmth. He never spoke to anyone. Not even on his phone. Never texted either. As custom, he always took the same seat on the train. Back straight, shoulders rigid. Always on guard. The following day was uneventful for Rya, except for the weather, nothing really changed. Navigating a New York City winter was tricky. Heads and bodies covered in layers of warmth were everywhere. Intermittent sniffles and watery eyes from the unforgiving wind was common. The cold was felt in their bones. As Rya sat on the subway platform bench bundled in her layers of thick coat she waited for the train. She spotted the mystery man. An oversized beanie concealed her thick dark tresses. Reading glasses lay precariously on the bridge of her nose as she pretended to go over some material for class. She slowly burrowed herself in her coat like a turtle seeking shelter. With only her eyes exposed, she slyly took advantage of the unlimited viewing access to the man standing across from her. What was the deal with him? And why was she so interested? She had to admit he was, well... nice to look at. There was something in his faraway gaze that made her unable to look away. It was as though his irises held a magnetic pull that held her in a trance. Perhaps it was there that the story could be found. His heavy frame leaned on a column of the subway platform. All the other commuters walked about, trying to find the exact spot they knew the train would eventually stop; in order to rush in and claim a seat. They were all oblivious to the mysterious man and Rya the spectator. Clothed in a skully hat, bubble jacket, jeans and boots; all normal attire for the average male living in the north and yet Rya could sense this was no average man. Blessed with being over six feet tall, he wore his muscular build well . He had a perfect sun-kissed tan like he spent hours on a tanning bed to get it just right. A set of long lashed doe eyes were so dark, they looked to be almost black; like pools of tar. Only to be surrounded by tumultuous waves of dark brown hair. Rya wondered what it was like to run her fingers through it. And then there was his beard. For some reason, his well-trimmed short beard made Rya's heart pulsate. She sometimes imagined what it would be like to have that soft beard run down her back. The tingling feeling resonated in her nether regions. There was something about him that made him look so powerful. So masculine. He never paid any attention to her though and she was ok with that. Observing him from afar was much better. Suddenly she noticed his gaze shift to a man dressed in an expensive suit. He narrowed his eyes at him. After a moment, he straightened up and pushed himself off the wall. He slowly walked towards the dapper gentleman. The business man had a faraway look. He clutched his suitcase and his hands trembled slightly. Light sweat graced his forehead and temples. Rya watched rooted in place as fear clutched her chest. Her eyes widened as the man slowly walked closer and closer to the platform's edge. The fresh polish radiating off of his Italian leather shoes seemed to glare at her. The mystery man cautiously stepped closer to him undetected. His gait was like a tiger stalking its prey. The platform's tremor of the oncoming train made the commuters sigh in relief as their ride arrived. The tell-tale horn signaling the train approached seemed to startle Rya out of her panic-induced daze. She got up and took steps towards the man as well. Finally he was within reach. He didn't even notice someone was behind him as his eyes were glued to the oncoming train. He stood precariously on the yellow edge. The ominous dark tunnel gradually illuminated by the train's intense light. He clutched his briefcase to his chest as his body trembled. He mumbled words to himself. No one seemed to take note of what was happening. Rya let out an inaudible cry for help. When she realized her voice was lost for some reason; she waved her hands and pointed towards them as she tried to get anyone to listen. Just as the gush of wind blew over them as the heavy train flew by... the man in the suit tried to jump, yet the train bellowed on without consequence. The man in the suit looked down in confusion as he realized his arm was secure in another man's grasp. He let out a cry of frustration or maybe it was relief. Tears fell down his face as he was hastily pulled to a secure place on the platform. The man whispered something in his ear. The man in the suit's eyes widened as he spoke. His chest rose erratically and nodded quickly several times. The mystery man whispered something again. The man in the suit clutched his suitcase and stumbled out of the station in a hurry. Rya's mouth dropped. By the time she reached them, the man in the suit was already gone. She looked at the mystery man now more intrigued than ever. "W-w-what did you s-s-say to him??!" "Hmm?" The man looked at her as though he didn't know what she was talking about. He walked away leaving her with her question unanswered. At that moment, the northbound train came and they both boarded. Rya rushed to be in the same train car as him. She wasn't done with him yet. Normally an introverted girl, she seldom spoke up. But this was different. She felt a burst of courage. "I saw what you did back there. You saved that guy. He was about to jump in front of the train and you stopped him. You're a hero." She said in a clear loud voice. The mystery man's eyes turned cold as though she insulted him in the worst way. By now every ear in the train car perked up. They had their full attention as onlookers waited to see what the man would say. "No I'm not. Just leave me alone." With that he walked away and found an empty seat. Rya quickly shuffled next to him. There were two people sitting on either side of him. The desperation in her eyes and the slight wave of her hands made them move to accommodate her. The mystery man let out a loud sigh and rolled his eyes. "Tell me. Please. What did you say?" Her voice was soft as her meek nature resurfaced. "Do I know you?" He roughly asked. Rya was taken aback by the question. She'd seen him several times before but hadn't officially met him. She slowly shook her head no. "Right. So tell me why I owe you any explanation?" A distracted Rya looked down towards his lips. Other than a delicious deep voice she detected an English accent dipped with another accent she couldn't place. She suddenly realized what he said and huffed. "You don't owe me an explanation. But goddamn it, you just saved someone's life! I mean what the hell man?! Why don't you want to talk about it?" "Mind your own fucking business." Her head turned towards him as her eyes pierced his. She might be timid, but there was no way he would talk to her like that. "What the fuck did you just say to me?" She had a deadly voice for a small woman. The man sighed but didn't respond. "Nothing. Sorry." He muttered. After a long stretch of silence, everyone went back to ignoring them. The show was over. Busying themselves with whatever they did to pass the time. Rya still clearly annoyed by his attitude, clenched her teeth as she thought of ways of inflicting pain on the tall muscular stranger. She abruptly blurted, "You don't have to be so fucking rude! God! I was just trying to..." She took a deep breath, but finally said, "Most people wouldn't have gotten involved." The man ignored her and as his stop was coming up; he got up to leave. Rya was beyond offended but curiosity nagged her the most. She did what she thought any normal person would do and followed him. Who the hell did this guy think he was? The train doors opened, he walked through and she followed right before the doors closed. The train continued on its way while groups of people paraded out of the underground station. When they were at street level, the man turned towards her. He pursed his lips and furrowed his brows clearly exasperated with her intrusion. "What do you want?" His accent sounded thicker than before. Rya took a deep breath and counted to three. Let's start this again. "I just want to know your name." "Why?" The question came out harsher than he'd intended. Rya nibbled her inner cheek as she pondered. "So the next time I see someone trying to jump I know who to call." It was small, but a tiny smile started to form on his lips. She let out a chuckle and then a full blown laugh at the crazy events that had taken place that day. It was unbelievable. Then the most unexpected thing happened; the man let out a genuine smile. One that revealed two deep-seated dimples. Oh for Christ's sake. Dimples! Rya cleared her throat as she stared at him. She was in trouble. His face transformed and he was gorgeous. But just as soon as the dimples were revealed... they were gone. When he caught her staring at him, a neutral mask covered his previous expression. "Haseem," he reluctantly said. "Rya," she offered even though he hadn't asked. He tipped his head and looked around. "This isn't your stop." "I know." Without saying a word he walked back down the subway steps and as expected she followed closely behind. He swiped his card twice and waited for her to walk through. She turned at him in surprise as she saw him pay her fare. She didn't expect him to be that considerate. "Thank you, but I have an unlimited MetroCard." "Alright. Well give me back my $1.50." He grumbled. "It's actually $2.50." "Even more so." The train had just arrived and they both stepped in. This one was full of people and there were no available seats. Tired faces of hard-working individuals stared at them in curiosity. Rya didn't want to pay too much attention to the fact that he seemed to be escorting her back home. Haseem and Rya stood side by side suddenly aware of their proximity to each other. She had to look up him because of their difference in height. She was a little over 5'5" and even in her heeled boots she was still much shorter than him. His presence was intoxicating. She found herself breathing heavily just being close to him. She wondered what he tasted like. The train lunged forward as it continued its journey and their bodies smashed together. The magnetic force in which they were joined was hard to separate. Hot and bothered, Rya tried to play off the way her body responded to being so close to his. Nervously she tried to make conversation. "You can't take a gift back once you give it. It's rude." Haseem looked deep into her eyes. "We've already established I'm so fucking rude." Rya cleared her throat and averted her gaze. "Oh... right. For a minute there I forgot." "Don't ever forget it." She was confused by his sudden change, but that just made her more curious about the guy. Her stop was coming up and she got herself ready to leave. He followed her out of the door and she looked at him in curiosity. He shrugged nonchalantly. "I might as well make sure you get home safe." Rya observed him for a moment. There was no way he was walking her all the way home. She didn't know who he was; he could be a psycho killer. A psycho killer who could chop her to pieces. And yet, there were no warning bells that went off in her mind. No strange feeling she got from him, other than the fact he was way too serious. A deep sense of security surrounded him and she felt safe. She decided to take a chance. Although she wouldn't let him walk all the way home, there were several small cafes on the way and she didn't want to let him go. She let out a smile and slowly nodded. They walked in silence side by side on the busy street. Without hurry as if they had nowhere to be. The night was chilly but soothing. The sounds and horns from the passing cars were calming. They passed a coffee shop and Rya cocked her head towards it in silent question. Haseem uttered a noncommittal sound, but walked towards it. "I guess I should pay up and buy you a cup of coffee." Haseem bit his bottom lip as if to conceal mischief. When he did that his dimples were even more pronounced. It caught Rya off guard. In return she unconsciously licked her lips. Haseem's eyes followed the movement but he didn't say anything. They ordered their beverages. Rya ordered an Americano with extra foam and a pump of vanilla syrup while Haseem ordered a chai tea with milk. As Rya was distracted going through her messenger bag for her wallet, Haseem paid the bill. Rya let out a triumphant sound when she finally handed the cashier cash, but realized she was alone when they were already ringing up the next order. Haseem was down by the other counter end as he waited for their drinks. Rya came up behind him and poked him in the back. "Excuse me." When he didn't respond she poked a little harder and cleared her throat. "Excuse me!" Haseem's eyebrows rose as he turned waiting for her to speak. "Yes..." "I thought I was supposed to treat you." He shrugged his shoulders. "You were too slow." Rya frowned and opened her mouth to respond but didn't know what to say to that. Their drinks arrived and after taking them, they walked towards an empty table by the window. Rya took a sip of her steaming coffee and tried to figure out what to say. Haseem looked around the shop and observed the patrons as they chatted amongst themselves or concentrated on their devices. "So where are you from?" "Do you always ask all these questions?" She rolled her eyes. "Maybe if you answered one of said questions, I wouldn't have to follow up with several other ones." Haseem ran a hand down his face. He looked as if he was being tortured. He knew this day would come and he didn't want to have to deal with this right now. He was just getting settled into living in the states and starting a new life. He really didn't want to have to lie and try to be someone he wasn't. He heard how that bullshit worked out with his friend Sean. What irritated him more was that this woman just so happened to be beautiful. More than cute, she was downright gorgeous. It made him a little bitter at all he'd lost. The purple-framed square glasses couldn't hide her pretty almond brown eyes or how they sparkled when she eagerly asked a question. Her brown skin was smooth and her lips were full and pouty. She had bright white teeth and had an easy smile. The soft wool beanie on her head couldn't secure the jet black tendrils that carelessly fell by her cheek. It didn't look like she wore any makeup but it could just be lightly applied. He wasn't ashamed to say he'd already thoroughly checked out her derriere as she walked. The layers of clothing couldn't hide her tantalizing curves. So yes he admitted it; he'd noticed her a long time ago on the train. He acted as if he hadn't seen her discreetly staring in his direction all those times, but he did. As she patiently waited for him to respond, he took a minute to slowly sip his tea. She kept prodding him in the most uncomfortable way and he didn't like it. He didn't appreciate the fact that she brought focus on him and what he did with the man in the suit. He didn't think it was a big deal. Surely anyone would've done the same thing. He wasn't a hero. He was the opposite and she should be made aware of it. Haseem let out a dark grin. He knew just what to say to drive her away. He'd tell her the truth. Unquestionably once she knew, she'd run away from him like a bat out of hell. He cleared his throat. "I was born in Pakistan, but my family lineage is Indian. I moved to the U.S. four months ago after being granted political asylum. I was part of the Rollins terrorist ploy and betrayed everyone I ever knew. People I grew up with, family members... Everyone. "Had I not done this I would be what you people consider a terrorist. Well, yeah, I was a terrorist. I participated in some of the most heinous crimes you could imagine. I hurt a lot of people. But because I helped take down the U.S.'s biggest current threat; I was given a pat on the back and brought here under U.S. protection." Reverie Ch. 01 "After months of interrogation and the U.S. clearing me of my past offenses; they allowed me to enter the states and start a new life. The government is giving me a stipend until I get established and I've been offered a job as a consultant... like a fucking celebrity. They consider me an asset." He said with air quotes. "They're so happy, they think they were able to flip someone from the inside, but fuck them. I chose this. Not them. I chose to turn my back on my people. I chose to give up names and locations. I chose to never be able to go back to my homeland..." He let out a bitter laugh. "Because the minute I step off the plane I'll be executed... But at least I chose this, no one else but me." If Rya's mouth could hang any wider it would. Her eyes were as wide as saucers. "What?" She quietly muttered. She nervously took a sip from her now tepid coffee as she sat there in shock. There was no way she would've ever guessed that. Not in her wildest dreams could she have imagined what he just confessed. Haseem exhaled a breath he didn't realize he was holding and downed the rest of his tea. He felt oddly... liberated. Lighter. From the heavy burden that had become his life. "I trust you can find your way home from here." He stood and walked away without a backward glance. Reverie Ch. 02 "Ok so what are the five principles of implementing a hospital budget?" ... "Anyone?" The silver head looked around the class in expectation. "Ah, Miss Vines. Tell me what the first one is." "Miss Vines?" Rya's blank expression let the professor know her answer. She opened her mouth to speak, but hesitated. As she shook her head apologetically, Professor Miller let out a deep sigh and glanced at his watch. They were out of time. "Well... by the looks of Miss Vines; you all seemed to have contracted a case of amnesia. For homework read chapters 9, 10 and 11 from the text, plus the online study material and the additional commentary." A chorus of groans echoed throughout. Those chapters were really long reads. Rya could feel the accusatory glares all around her. While she was usually the one who knew all the answers, she had completely spaced out in that moment. This was the only class she actually participated in, all the others she made sure she was invisible. "And I expect an engaging discussion next class... maybe even a quiz." His narrowed eyes lingered on some discontent faces. "You are dismissed." Sounds of shuffling papers and chairs scraping the floor resonated in the room. Rya quickly gathered her belongings and tried to make a quick escape. "Miss Vines, please stay behind." Rya fought the urge to scream. When everyone cleared out of the room the professor's attention was completely on her. "Ok, out with it, what's wrong?" Rya nervously shrugged. "Nothing... Well, I don't know." The stagnant silence was uncomfortable. "You don't have to be so hard on everyone." She mumbled, and then nibbled her inner cheek. A trademark sign of uncertainty. The professor couldn't help but smile. It was a habit she'd picked up as a child. Richard Miller could never forget when he first laid eyes on eleven-year-old Rya Vines. Long plaited pigtails swayed anxiously as she waited by her mother's bedside. A hospital was no place for a child. And yet Rya wore eyes of a 70 year-old woman with ease. Resigned to accept whatever came their way. Working as the Director of Health services at the time, Richard didn't really interact with patients. His job was behind the scenes, ensuring the hospital and staff ran smoothly. Much like the Wizard of Oz he was incognito but powerful; he encountered few problems without a solution. However at hearing of a young mother's rare condition with only a child at her side, he'd been moved, but mostly curious. When he saw the girl, his heartstrings pulled him right into their room and struck up a conversation with her. Her mother was heavily sedated and so he asked the girl how the facilities and staff were treating her. Maturity oozed from her very bones as she tactfully told Richard that although the facilities and staff were fine, her mother wasn't. In the end that's all that mattered. Her small hand clutched her mother's weak one as she claimed her position as sole caregiver. There was no one else but her. Her father came around, but wasn't really present in their lives. Richard melted and felt a sort of kinship with her. He made a point to come by and bring her a lunch or a snack and ask how she was doing. It wasn't enough. Determined to help her further, he called in a few favors and pulled some strings. Rya's mother was chosen to be treated with an experimental drug which she responded favorably to. When she was finally released from the hospital, Rya found herself continuing to visit Mr. Miller whom she remembered as kind and helpful in her time of need. A friendship was formed. Richard soon discovered that although Rya was extremely mature and serious when it came to her mother's care, in all other things she was almost whimsical. Her active imagination transported her to different worlds she created. Perhaps she did it as an escape from her reality. Whatever the case, he enjoyed their talks and the time they spent together. His family did too. His wife, Elaine often joked that having Rya was the easiest birth she'd ever had. Zach their oldest and most stubborn, took 36 hours to finally grace them with his presence. Two years later came the girls. When it become obvious that the twins Madison and Caroline, could not be coaxed out of the womb, they were finally born via emergency C-section. But with Rya... within first couple of minutes of meeting her, they fell in love with and made her part of the family. Even though she didn't actually live with them, Christmas cards and family dinners were never complete without Rya. Among friends and family she was known as their bonus child. In turn Rya always felt right at home. Her mother, Sondra didn't mind; in fact she appreciated how the Millers had taken Rya under their wing. God knows kind-hearted, generous people were hard to come by. Anything to ensure her daughter of a brighter future. One of the best days of her life was when Sondra saw her baby start college. With her deteriorated condition, she didn't think she would live long enough to see it, but it brought her great joy and peace of mind to know the Millers would there for her long after she was gone. Richard and Elaine, who was also a schoolteacher, helped Rya with her scholarship applications and essays and were delighted when she received a full ride to some great schools. Although Richard wasn't sure it was the right fit, Rya insisted on pursuing a career in the medical field. He ended up taking a teaching position at a renowned New York college and as luck would have it, she was in his class this semester. It was odd at first, but they adjusted. Rya wasn't used to this side of him. He was always kind and patient like a surrogate father, not this militant instructor. Her peers had no idea she knew him personally and didn't hesitate to express how much they hated his class. Even though they'd later admit they learned more from him in a month than years with other professors. Professor Miller sighed. "I wasn't being hard on them. It's imperative you learn the material. But let's go back to my previous question, what's going on with you? You seem off." Rya held her tongue. Was it that obvious? Ever since meeting Haseem she's been all out of sorts. She tried to keep a straight face. "I'm fine." His eyes narrowed. She wasn't fine, but he'd let it go for now. He couldn't help but feel overprotective when it came to her. "Alright then, I'll talk to you later." Grabbing her stuff she hurried out, she didn't want to stay another minute. He had a way of reading her she found unnerving. She didn't know how he'd react to learning about Haseem and who he was. She didn't need him worrying unnecessarily. Rya waved goodbye and made her way to the library. She needed to invest a couple of hours in coursework before her work shift started. As expected the large library was quiet, with only the chatter of books to fill the void. Rya found her favorite area uninhabited, as always. It was secluded but close enough to see people walk in and out of the building. A couple of hours later and Rya was content with the progress she'd made. With a book in hand, she slowly walked past the rows of library stacks, looking for its home. Just before she approached an open area with tables, she stopped dead in her tracks. It was Haseem - the man who'd been firmly embedded in her thoughts and dreams. He sat at a table as he concentrated reading through paperwork. Quickly, hiding behind a stack undetected, she peered through the tops of the books. She was far enough not to be heard but close enough to see him perfectly. What was he doing here? How was this even possible? Of all the locations she could see him again this was the last one she thought he'd be. Oh God, was he there for her? She knew it, he told her too much. It had been weeks since that day. She figured he had chosen a different route to avoid her, but now she knew he was just biding time to find her. To send a message that it didn't matter where she went... he'd find her. And now as Rya's eyes widened and her heartbeat quickened, she wondered if it was fate. She was going to die at the hands of the first person she ever talked to on the train. She observed him for a moment. He seemed oblivious to her presence. If he was going to kill her, he wasn't trying very hard to find her. That was odd. As she stared at him, it should've been fear gripping her insides, but it wasn't. A current of anticipation swept through her. She almost wanted him to catch her staring. She shook her head. What the hell was wrong with her? She squint her eyes but couldn't make out what he was reading. It was probably some top secret plot to capture U.S. homegrown terrorists. Perhaps it was a list of names he'd been ordered to take out personally by the president. He was a hit man, who lived alone and had to change his identity every six months to avoid capture. He was in New York for a couple more months but then moved on to... Chicago. He was at her college because some of those names were currently enrolled students. Rya rolled her eyes; that was ridiculous. Although, she did know a couple of engineering students who were a bit suspicious. Her mouth twitched a smile. Perhaps it was a plan to get back into his country and save his family members before it was too late. The documents he held were coded letters sent by his only living niece who still lived in Pakistan. In it she begs for his help, as conditions have worsened for her. She has no money and is being threatened by extended family members to marry. She taught herself to read and write in secret and just wishes to one day come to America and see him again. Being the man he is, Haseem would risk it all and save her. Even though if it means his immediate death. No no no, Rya grumbled to herself. That didn't fit either. Haseem cleared his throat and his Adam's apple bobbed. She didn't understand why, but she was struck by the motion. She had the sudden urge to run her tongue up his neck, circle around it and gently suck the ridges. She observed how his tapered fingers held the paper ever so lightly while he intermittently scribbled with the other hand. Focused pupils moved in a straight line as he read along. God, he was beautiful. His lips softly moved as he read to himself as though it were an incantation. And it was working. The spell he'd woven around Rya was so tangible, she could almost feel herself being tugged towards him; completely forgetting about his confession or the fear she felt in her bones. She remained still as her body heat rose. She closed her eyes and recalled last night's vivid dream. Late one night, she rode the train home and was the only one in the car. Suddenly he opened the connecting doors and stepped through. Momentarily frightened she almost screamed, but froze under his piercing glare instead. He slowly stalked towards her and she felt her breath hitch as panic turned into arousal. She asked him what he was going to do to her. He replied that she knew damned well what he was going to do. Then he roughly grabbed her and crushed his mouth on hers. Rya tried to push him away, but Haseem tightened his hold around her waist. He swallowed her cries which quickly turned into moans as his mouth took possession of hers. His hands roamed down her back and soon his wandering fingers lifted her shirt and caressed her taut stomach. She muffled a sound of approval as he murmured words of encouragement. The top button of her jeans popped open, the zipper lowered and she felt his touch smooth over her panties. It was slow but insistent. She was so wet. Her core wept for him as she anxiously waited. Her feminine walls clenched as his finger finally found her entrance. His tongue thrust into her mouth mimicking what his finger did down below. He added a second finger and continued to stroke in and out of her. His thumb circled around her clit and created a delicious rhythm. In and out as he rubbed the small bundle of nerves. She was so close, just a breath away from heaven. When he pinched her clit and added a third finger; she exploded. Rya opened her eyes and let out a ragged breath. She licked her lips and her heart raced, it felt so real. She turned around and with her back to the stacks as her chest rose and fell erratically. Nimble hands brushed her breasts and lingered around her nipples. Her skin was on fire. All reason flew out of the window and she couldn't even recognize herself. She closed her eyes and she could almost feel the soft hairs of his beard whisk her cheek as his masculine smell lulled her senses. Rya opened her eyes and stared at the rows of books as she calmed her racing heart. Chancing another look at him, she turned around and peeked again. Her heart stopped. He was looking straight at her. Molten lava pools burned into her. After a minute his features softened. He stretched his arms, crossed them and settled them above his head. Flexed biceps and triceps distracted Rya even more. He smirked. "You can come out now." Shit shit shit. She quickly crouched to the floor as though it would help the ground from opening up and swallowing her whole. Terrified from embarrassment she tried to see if she could escape undetected. "Just come out, I can see you. Unless... you want me to go get you." Rya nervously bit her lip, she wasn't sure if that was a threat or a promise. Whatever it was... it sounded sexy as hell coming from him. She braced herself, slowly untangled her limbs and walked out of her hiding place. She couldn't bear to look at him. A flush of heat overwhelmed her and she was completely embarrassed. "Sit." He commanded as he extended his hand to the seat across from him. She complied, but her shoulders hunched with tension and her bottom barely touched the seat. It was his turn to stare. Her eyes ping-ponged around the room as she looked everywhere but him. He didn't like seeing her like this. Nervous and afraid of him. After thinking about it, he realized he messed up. Initially he told her the truth in hopes of scaring her away. Now he feared he succeeded. And he didn't like it one bit. "I guess I should apologize for being an asshole before. I... don't really know what to say when people ask about me or my past. It's annoying as fuck. So when you were so insistent, I decided to just tell you the truth and see your reaction. But you should never be afraid of me." She let out a breath and felt herself calm. She guessed that made sense. When she continued to keep quiet he felt himself get annoyed. He wanted to hear her voice and see if it was as sweet as he remembered. He let out a wicked smile. "So you like to watch me?" It was more of a statement than a question. Slowly he gestured for her to tilt her chin up and when her eyes finally met his, she felt that same magnetic pull from before. Those damn dimples made an appearance as he let out a smile. "I don't mind you staring; in fact I rather like it." Rya remained quiet and nervously swallowed. Her mouth dropped open a little and she took deep pulls of air. It seemed her body couldn't decide between being completely mortified and being turned on. She was already hot and bothered from before and as she as sat across from him, she was engulfed in heat. She couldn't understand it. God he probably thought she was a complete weirdo. Haseem's eyes softened. "You don't have to hide, not from me." She bit her bottom lip and smiled demurely. So it looked like he wasn't going to kill her after all. Stay calm and act normal. She cleared her throat and asked, "What are you doing here?" He slid the paperwork in front of him to her. She read the words and was surprised to say the least. "You're applying to go to school here? Here? You're applying to this college?" "Don't sound so surprised." He dryly replied. Going back to school was always part of the plan, but it didn't necessarily have to happen right away and not exactly in this particular college. He admitted it; he may or may not have seen her student ID when she pulled out her MetroCard. And he may or may not have been going to this library, for the past couple of weeks, on the off chance he'd run into her again. He wanted to have a real conversation with her and didn't want it to be on the train. Rather he wanted it to be in a non-threatening environment. She didn't know what to say. Haseem attending her college didn't fit with any of her scenarios. "So what are you going to study?" "Well I've already accrued some pre-med courses, so I think I'll pursue that." Rya stared at him blankly. Haseem chuckled; he seemed to enjoy shattering all of her preconceived notions of him. "Let's just say I have real world experience when it comes to... tending to wounds. That and the fact that I've always been interested in the human body." She tried not to let his words get to her. "So when did you take pre-med classes?" "I spent my early twenties in London as a... recruiter of sorts. I took advantage and completed all of my foundation courses." So he was a terrorist with a ten year plan. This was getting weirder by the minute. She scoffed, "So you were recruiting people for your... cause, while you were a college student? That's just. That's just wrong." "At the time, I didn't think it was wrong. I was just doing was I had to do. While in college I realized I could be more. Have a real future. That's when I started trying to get out." "You must have been busy in your... career as a. As a..." "Let's just get this out of the way. I told you my past. I told you who I was, who I used to be. You don't have to dance around it, just say it. I was a terrorist." She bit the inside of her cheek and furrowed her eyebrows. He continued, "I mean yes if there are people around, I guess it would be common sense to not say the word. People already have prejudices when they look at me, they don't need to know their hateful thoughts towards me were once completely right. Not that I blame them." She observed him for a minute. She could feel the regret and self-loathing dripping from him. She couldn't imagine being in his situation. Perhaps that was why he wanted to become a doctor, to be in a position to save lives rather than destroy them. Her mother raised her not to judge people and their past, but rather to embrace who they were now. Perhaps he just needed a friend. Finally she said, "Can I be honest with you?" Haseem nodded and braced himself. She was the first person he'd been completely honest with since he moved here. He hated to admit it but he was intrigued by her. Her opinion mattered to him. "I know you moved here because you wanted to start a new life, so do that. You're going to meet people and they're going to ask where you're from and what you used to do. So what are you going to tell people when they ask? What have you been telling people you've met so far?" He shrugged, "I usually ignore them or tell them to fuck off." She gave him a deadpan stare and then mumbled, "I guess I was the lucky one then." "Anyway, I don't know how things were in London, but you can't tell people what you told me. And you shouldn't just tell people to fuck off either. That'll make you suspicious as well. I'm not saying you should lie, but believe me Americans don't take too lightly to suspected terrorists. Let alone real life ex-terrorists. You can barely say the word b-o-m-b anymore." He knew she was right. It was the same thing from where he was from, you couldn't utter the word American unless you attached some words of disgust to it. "So what should I say then?" "Well we can make up a story." "You make it sound so easy." Reverie Ch. 02 Rya beamed. "I happen to be very good at making stuff up." "Great a professional bullshitter." He grumbled. She cleared her throat, "I'm gonna to ignore that." Excitement flooded into her. Finally she could match a story to him. With his help, he would even act it out. How cool was that? Also she would be helping him with his unique situation. No one would ever question it. I mean, why would they? Haseem observed her and noticed how her eyes gleamed in anticipation. It seemed like her mind was running wild. In that moment he knew he was in trouble. He would agree to whatever she said to just see her that glimmer in her eyes again. "Ok what's your last name?" "Kamram." "Kuhmrruhm." She repeated, pronouncing it correctly. She said it like she was savoring the name. His eyes were glued to her mouth as she spoke. The way she rolled the "r" sounded like a kitten he wanted to pet very badly. "Alright so you're from Pakistan, but at sixteen you were sent to live with your uncle and aunt in London-" "And what are their names?" He blurted. Despite the fact that his composure was laxed and it looked like he didn't really care, he was actually very interested in the story. It was his after all. "Your uncle and aunt? I don't know, what are some common Pakistani names?" After thinking about it he replied, "Call her Sabeem and him Farid." "Ok so Sabeem and Farid owned a... bakery. It was called Kamram bakery. It was one of the best Pakistani bakeries in north London-" "It has to be more like east London." He interrupted again. She let out a deep sigh and continued, "Alright, east London and you worked there until you were eighteen and then went to college-" "University." "Huh?" "We call it University not college." Rya clenched her teeth. Was he trying to get on her nerves? She'd never had an outsider influence her stories before. "Okay, it was a fucking university!" She closed her eyes and counted to three. Haseem bit his lip to conceal his laugh. He knew it. He knew she had a little bit of a temper and he couldn't wait to see what happened when all of her buttons were pushed. Her shy exterior would be a thing of the past. At least with him. "You completed your pre-med courses and still worked supporting your uncle and aunt's bakery. But suddenly your uncle became ill and had a heart attack. Unfortunately he died and your heartbroken aunt decided to move back to Pakistan to be close to her family. Leaving you alone in London. Shortly after, you decided to come to the states for a fresh start." He looked at her as she spoke. The story was actually not that bad. It was almost believable. Not to mention her melodic voice stirred something in him. Of what, he didn't know. "What happened to the bakery?" "Hmm, oh the bakery? Your uncle left it to you. They never had any children, but he considered you to be his son so he left the bakery to you. But a couple years passed and you fell on hard times and you were forced to sell it with your aunt's blessing. You sent her the money from the sale, but you could only get half what it was worth. That's why one of your goals is to become a wealthy surgeon and buy back your uncle's bakery. You keep in contact with your aunt and every so often she sends you care packages of chai tea and spices." "Care packages?" He asked confused. "Yeah, you know when you send packages of goodies to people you care about." Haseem chuckled. "What do you think of your story?" "Not bad. Not bad at all. Who needs to know the truth when you have such great fiction? I think you should write it down just in case I forget." She pursed her lips. "I don't usually write stuff down, but I guess I can, if it'll be easier for you to remember." "How do you come up with this shit?" She shrugged, "Just something I do for fun." "That's why you like to watch people?" She nodded slightly as she felt her cheeks heat. God she must sound like a total idiot. He observed her and wondered what she was thinking. Suddenly he turned serious, "Why aren't you afraid of me?" "I'm still trying to figure that out myself." He slowly nodded as though he completely understood. He was still trying to figure out why he felt so comfortable around her. "So what's your major? Creative writing or something?" "Actually it's Hospital Administration." He gave her a funny look. "What? It's a really good career. It's dependable with great pay." "If you say so. And you're how old?" "Twenty-two. You?" "Twenty-eight." "Ahh old man," she ribbed. He smiled and those fucking dimples made her want to scream. "Little girl." Rya tried to conceal the fact that a million butterflies were flapping away in her belly. She wasn't exactly an expert, but was he flirting with her? She suddenly felt the urge to flee. "Well I should get going." He didn't protest as she gathered herself up from the chair, he just continued to stare at her as though trying to figure her out. Nervously she cleared her throat, "You sure you'll be ok with your application?" Hungry eyes locked into hers. "I think I can handle it." He grabbed a pen and held out his hand. "May I?" At first she wasn't sure what he wanted but conceded and offered her hand. "When you finish writing my story, give me a call." He said as he softly wrote his number on her palm. She held her breath and kept telling herself to stay cool.