CHAPTER TWO

       CHAPTER TWO 

             GUNS AND ROSES

              MARIA PAUL'S POV

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"Ladies and gentleman, flight 562 will be arriving in South carolina shortly.Please put on your seat belts and prepare for landing." My eyes shot open at the sound of the pilot's voice and it took a while for me to register my surroundings and regain proper consciousness.

It was not long after a few glances i knew i was on a plane escaping from an hell hole.

 Somehow, I had managed to drift in and out of sleep the entire flight and my half- empty glass of champagne sat in front of me. I downed the rest of it before putting on my seat belt.Leaning back as the plan started its descent. It didn't take long before we touched ground and my heart began beating quickly. I had done it, I was in south carolina, miles and miles away from him. 

As soon I was able to I grabbed my things and rushed out the plane, which was task deemed almost impossible due to the fact that the people in front of me refused to move out of the way.

"Thank you for flying with Seatelle Airways, we hope to see you soon." The flight attendant from earlier said as I walked by her, I waved her goodbye before stepping out the plane.

She gave me a knowing look and winked at me as i walked past her,i gave her a thumbs up for her fantastic customer service and her approach.

 A breeze of fresh air hitting me as my feet touched the soft ground. I walked to a duty free store and used the last of my money to buy myself a new phone using it to calling my grandparents, telling them I had arrived. I might be broke now but at least I was broke and free. 

I then made my way to the arrivals gate where my luggage was waiting for me. 

With every step, a weight was lifted from shoulder and my heart leaped with joy at the thought of the future ahead of me. 

"We're almost there Miss  maria." The driver announced, glancing at me through the front mirror. 

I  gave him a small smile. Adam , my driver,had come to pick me up from  the airport, sent by my parents  themselves. I sighed, resting my  head against my seat as a wave of fatigue rushed over me. A proper  night's rest that was all I wanted.

"We're driving in to  your parent's home now."I sat up, my eyes widening in surprise  as I stared at the large house that slowly began to come into view.

 It  wasn't as large or as glamorous as Peter's mansion but it was  exquisite in its own right. It looked like those homes that came from  those classic Korean movies,boys over flowers. 

My lovely parents  stood on their porch, hands clasped together as they waited anxiously  for me. Despite their age they were so much in love.

Adam parked the car, quickly getting out to open my door for  me. My feet shakily hit the gravel floor as I slowly made my way to  them.

"Oh, my young angel." My  father exclaimed as he sighted me from afar.my mom came over  rushing towards me, she moved to hug me but I jerked away suddenly, her stretched arms scaring me. 

"Maria?" She questioned  confused,her eyes shown hurt.

"I'm sorry, it's been  long flight." She smiled gently, taking me into her arms and embraced me  lovingly.

 My father who was reluctant at first, joined us and for the  first time, in a long time I felt safe.

"I'm so incredibly happy to see you!" I cried, finally releasing some pent up emotions. 

I hadn't seen them since the death of my parents three years ago and I had  forgotten what it felt like to have family, a real family. My mother smiled, as she caressed my face lovingly and chuckled before turning to the house.

" Bianca!" She called, "Please tell Adam to bring Maria's luggage to her room."

"No,"I protested, "I can do that myself."

"Nonsense, Sweetheart,  he'll do it. You go on into the house. Explore a little, go find your  room. We have so much catching up to do later, so get some rest." She  insisted swatting my hands away and pushing me towards their house. 

The  house was big but cozy at the same time, decorations and family pictures  adorned the wall giving the large house a homely feeling.

I found myself mesmerized by a picture of my father when he was younger, he had a  football in his hands and was smiling cheekily to the camera.

I removed my attention from the photograph before it could release the flood  gates.

After briefly exploring  the kitchen, garden, living and dining room.

I made my way upstairs, it didn't take long before I saw a door with my name on it. Bodly written 'MARIA'

 "I wonder whose room that  is." I mumbled sarcastically to myself, opening the door and stepping in  to the room.

 It was simple yet elegant and next to my bed there was a  large window that stared out into the neighbouring house which was  identical to this one, though a bit larger.

Ok, much larger. A similar  window faced mine and I wondered who resided there, however the curtains  were closed, leaving that question a mystery.

 I turned back around  admiring the beauty of my room, but, truth be told, it didn't matter how  the room looked, as long as it wasn't my room from home I was happy.

My  previous room held too many painful memories so it was like a breath of fresh air  stepping into this one.

I sat on the bed, my hands running over the  softness of the duvet. I was no longer in the dangerous  atmosphere  instead I had travelled across the ocean to be with my parents here  in this little village. 

It wasn't something I had planned but it was  something I needed to do, I needed to escape the toxic and dangerous  atmosphere I was in.

The sun shone through the window, its rays resting  on my face, warming it up and the tweeting of birds replaced the loud  noises of traffic that I was used to,I closed my eyes and enjoyed the  moment.

 I hadn't had a moment of such peace and tranquility in a long  time, I found myself at ease. But this relaxation had allowed my mind to  wander,allowed my mind to bring up memories I was trying to forget. Before long i slept off back to la la land.

"Sleepy sleepy" my mother gave a shrill sound 

"What do you think honey??" My attention was stolen by my mother, who stood in the doorway, anticipating my response.

I rubbed at my eyes and gave a tiring yawn she was all smiles,but i knew she saw some questionable things.

"I love it." I said and she laughed sitting next to me.

"I'm so sorry, Maria,  I'm so sorry that we left you alone for all those years. We thought you  were being taken care of by your fiancee, I should have known  better." She sighed sadly.

"I'm sorry, you felt love in your life for the first time and you were so inlove with him. I failed you and wont be able to forgive myself " She apologized again.

"It's ok, we'll be ok." I smiled grabbing her hand and kissing it, she smiled back at me, kissing my forehead.

"I know this small town is nothing compared to the City but I promise you, you can find happiness here." She wiped the tears out of her eyes before standing up.

"Dinner will be done in  an hour or so." She smiled once again before leaving the room. 

I got up  from the bed, walking over to the window again, I stumbled back in shock  to see that a tall, young man stood outside.

He had his back pressed against a black porshe and his hands on his hair,seemed he was talking on the phone. 

He had raven black hair and wore black slacks with a black buttoned down shirt,  his sleeves were rolled up so you could see the well built biceps that  adorned his cute body. 

He stood there, hands in his pockets,i could see him clenching his hands tightly as though he wanna hit someone.

 Fear gripped every part of my body, and I quickly closed  the curtain, shielding my view of him. 

Him? Who was he?