"Ha ha ha, who parks like that anyway?" – Lin was almost dying of laughter after our research trips around the city. I refused to listen to his recommendations and said that I was strong and independent. As a result, I parked very crookedly, but it was quite safe for other cars, all because initially I wanted to stand next to the entrance and try out parallel parking without an instructor.

– Yes, leave me alone, damn it – I pouted, and offended, went inside the apartment. We still hadn't sorted out our things and everything was neatly folded in our suitcases.

– We can have dinner first, and then we'll unpack the clothes.

Lin had already slowly pulled his hands towards the bags, but when he saw my pleading look, he pushed this idea aside and after a couple of moments he was already laying out the contents of the bags from the store we stopped at on the way home. To be honest, I can't cook. In this regard, he was very unlucky to live with me. My culinary limit is macaroni and cheese and a sausage sandwich. I can make scrambled eggs, but I can't guarantee that they won't burn. However, I can't say anything bad about Lin, his mother always cooked all sorts of masterpieces, plus she often asked him to help, so the guy learned everything that Mrs. Yasmina could.

– Yes, it's a good option. I smiled radiantly and stupidly stared at my best friend, as if waiting for his suggestions for dinner.

– What are you looking at?

– What will you feed me today, sir?

We laughed together, and he turned away, choosing the products he needed from the refrigerator. Potatoes, minced meat, onions...

– Maybe you want to help? – Blue eyes looked at me reproachfully and I just had time to grimace when the phone rang.

An unknown number was displayed on the screen and I put my finger to my mouth, as if giving the command "quiet", went into another room.

– Who is this? – the fear that my parents found out my new number gripped me from head to toe. My heart was ready to burst out of my chest and for a moment I even stopped breathing.

– Hi – the voice on the phone sounded like someone's family. – I took your number on the bus today.

A sudden wave of relief that these are not relatives and a new one - excitement in front of the guy that I liked so much.

– Y... yes, hi, – I tried to bring a drop of ease into my voice, as if I hadn't expected this call at all. It didn't work out.

– Let's get acquainted, I'm Aaron. I know your name is Vanessa and I am very pleased to meet you.

That velvety voice fascinated me, just like his self-confidence.

– I'm sorry, but how do you know my name? I don't remember introducing myself to you...

– We met once before, a couple of years ago. – Frantically going through all my memories, I tried to find at least one with him. Unsuccessfully. – Let's meet?

– With..today? "why the hell am I stuttering?" This has never happened before. He's just a boy, nothing more, what's going on? From nerves, I began to pull my nails without noticing it.

– If it's convenient for you, then why not. Are you driving?

– Yes, tell me where to drive up, I'll be free in an hour.

We agreed to meet in the park near his house. Getting ready in a hurry, I didn't think about styling at all and put on the first jeans and sweater that came to hand. We still haven't sorted out the things, but this is what was on top. Lin was really a little upset that we wouldn't be having dinner together, but I wanted to see this mysterious Aaron so much that my appetite was completely gone. When I saw the shock of red hair approaching me in the light of the night lanterns, my heart automatically accelerated its pace. The guy was very tall and thin, it was noticeable that he was slightly stooping. It seemed that the closer he got to me, the stronger the pounding of his heart sounded in my ears.

– Hello again. He smiled radiantly and held out his hand to me, inviting me to take a walk. - Is this your car?

– Y... yes, mine.

– So cool, probably also infernally expensive.

– Maybe it was given to me today, so I can't know, I'm sorry. – I bowed my head in shame for not even knowing such an elementary thing as the cost of my own car.

– Come on, let's go. It's especially beautiful here at night. You probably haven't been here yet, am I right?

– Right, and where could we see each other? I couldn't remember that moment.

– Oh, yes, it was like a little less than a year ago. I remember coming up to you, I wanted to help you. I forgot to introduce myself to you, and then you got a call and a loud and distinct "Ness" sounded on the phone.

A couple of years ago... Is he talking about the day I ran out of the house after the last conflict with my parents?

"Six months ago"

– Damn, why are they all doing this to me?

With my head bowed to my knees, I sat on the curb and cried near my grandfather's house, from which I escaped.

– Girl, can I help you? The voice of the red–haired guy standing over me rang out.

I just sobbed in response to him and he stood over his soul for a short time and sat down next to me. I don't know what I was guided by at that moment, but this gesture of banal politeness and humanity became a lifeline for me. I didn't say anything, just cried, and he put his arm around my shoulders a little silently. We weren't friends, what can I say, we didn't even know each other's names, but at that moment I felt like we'd known each other forever and it saved me from an all-consuming tantrum.

– It's about my family, they believe that everything I have achieved is worthless and that I need to give up my dream for the sake of the future that they chose for me themselves. But I don't want, I don't want everything to be equal to zero, I don't want to live the way they want it.

I read understanding in the guy's eyes and that was quite enough for me. We didn't stay that long because he called worried about 10 missed Lines and called me a taxi. Then I even remember thinking that I had missed my destiny.

– Ah, I remembered you! – my temples were pounding, I didn't know how to behave now.

– I'm very glad to hear that, can you tell me something about yourself now? I'd love to hear what you're into and how you got here. Aaron scratched his head awkwardly, as if asking for information about himself was something supernatural.

We walked through the night park and talked, getting to know each other better. He tried to find out more about me and avoided clarifying questions about himself as much as possible. It didn't bother me then, on the contrary, it only intrigued me more. So we spent several hours with Aaron and I returned home tired when it was a little after midnight. There was a note on the table in the apartment with instructions for dinner. How, where and where.

I warmed up Lin's culinary masterpiece and was even surprised at how delicious it was. I knew that Aunt Yasmina cooked delicious food and I knew that she taught her son. But I've never eaten his food before. To be honest, I even felt ashamed that I left my best friend to have dinner alone in the apartment on the first night. I wanted to wash the plate after myself quietly, but in an instant it slipped out of my hands and broke. The crash woke the guy up, and he ran into the kitchen in full readiness to defend the house from thieves. His disheveled hair, sleepy eyes and sleep-rumpled pajamas gave him a homeliness I had never seen before.

– Please forgive me. I just wanted to wash myself quietly after... By the way, everything was delicious, Lin.

He just exhaled, hugged me and went to get a broom, helping me clean up the pieces.

We went to bed in different rooms, and I chose to sleep on the couch myself, and sent him to the room. None of us said a word. I was very angry with myself, but I didn't know what to say to him. Not only had I left my best friend alone all evening after moving in, but I had also woken him up in the middle of the night, with my crooked arms that couldn't even hold a plate.

"Maybe tomorrow will be better," I thought, and fell asleep.