The Outsiders - Chapter 5

Authors note:

I know I said there would be no major changes in the storyline when I decided to revive this blog and start posting a re-written version of "The Outsiders". Well, I'm more than a decade older than I was when first wrote the story - and maybe a little wiser? As I'm getting back into writing I realize there are things I want to change to make it feel more realistic, many things in the original feels too easygoing and happy-go-lucky. So, from this chapter on there will be more major changes than I've done to the previous chapters. I hope you enjoy - and agree the story is improving.

Jonas

My mind is racing. Travel hasn’t been on my agenda lately; I haven’t been on a plane for years. Not since before the accident. A long-haul trip all the way to South Africa is daunting, to say the least. One thing is the flights to get there and back. That’s the least of my worries. 

“Sigrid, I really appreciate the invitation. And I would love to come with you, but it’s not a matter of just jumping on a plane for me these days. I’ll have to do some research before deciding.”

“Right…” she replies. Clearly disappointed I didn’t accept immediately. 

I check the time. It’s just before five in the afternoon. “Have you had dinner yet?

“No, why?” she asks, clearly confused about the change of subject.

“Want to come over here? I’ll order some food, and we can talk about this in person. If you want to spend the night you can catch a ride to school with me tomorrow, if I remember correctly we both have lectures at 9:30 in the morning.”

“Okay, sounds good to me. Let me get my stuff together and I’ll be there in about an hour, ok?”

“Excellent. Any preferences food-wise?” I ask.

“It’s up to you, really. Maybe pizza or some Chinese food? Whatever you feel like.”

“Pizza it is,” I reply. I’ve been tempted to order one all day. “Is Peppe’s ok?” 

Sigrid agrees and we end the call.

The Outsiders - Chapter 4

 Sigrid

“So, are you and Jonas Østgaard dating?” My classmate, Elise, asks the question as we’re waiting for the rest of our study group to show up a Friday afternoon in mid-October.  Jonas and I have been dating for about a month, we’ve agreed to take things slow, and I think it’s working out very well for us. I’ve never been in a serious relationship before, and Jonas hasn’t been in one since his accident. 

“Yeah, I we are,” I say happily.

“You do realize who he is? A few years ago pretty much every girl in Oslo would’ve given an arm to be in your position?” 

“Really?” I ask, unable to conceal my surprise.

“His dad is loaded, one of the richest people in Norway actually. He owns a chain of hotels and a lot of real estate. His two younger brothers are ‘it’ in the world of dating here in Oslo these days.”

It takes me a minute or five to process the information. I guess explains why Jonas can afford an apartment in one of the most expensive areas of the city and a new car. I must look as surprised as I feel.

“You had no idea, did you?” Elise asks me when she notices the look on my face.

I shake my head. “No. He never mentioned it to me.”

“I don’t think he has the greatest relationship with his father; he’s the oldest and he was expected to follow in his father’s footsteps and eventually take over the business. Instead, he opted for becoming a carpenter. Rumor was that there was a huge fallout between him and his father and they haven’t spoken for years.”

“Wow, I had no idea,” I say. “He hasn’t told me much about his family, just mentioned that he’s the oldest of three boys a while back, but what you just told me explains that.”

“So, how is he?” Elise asks. I hesitate a little before I answer; I don’t want to compromise Jonas’ privacy.

“He’s a great guy,” I reply. Fortunately, the remaining two members of our study group arrive and soon we’re immersed in our latest assignment. I’m relieved that I don’t have to discuss my relationship with Jonas further with my nosy classmates.

The Outsiders - Chapter 3

Should I tell Jonas I’m a devotee? And how will he react if I tell him? Those two questions keep coming up in my mind whenever I think of him. I’ve been dreaming about dating someone like him for years, but I’ve never really thought about what to tell the guy. Part of me thinks being honest and telling him right away is the best policy, but I’m afraid it will freak him out. I’m hesitant to make any decisions.

I’ve only seen Jonas briefly a couple of times over the six days since our date; we’re both busy with lectures and assignments and our schedules don’t match. Today is Thursday and we’re meeting for lunch. I can’t wait to spend some time with him again.

I’m already sitting at a table in the cafeteria when Jonas arrives. I admire him as he approaches; he’s on his crutches and he’s dressed in a pair of dark jeans and light grey jumper. I love how most of his tops show off his toned upper body.

He smiles as he sees me and I impulsively stand up and greet him with a kiss. He stiffens a bit, and I wonder if it’s too much, too soon. After all; we’ve only been on one date. When I feel the corners of his mouth lifting as I press my lips to his I relax.

The Outsiders - Chapter 2

Sigrid

Jonas tells me he broke his back and sustained a spinal cord injury in a workplace accident, but he doesn’t go into detail about what happened. I don’t push the subject further; it’s clearly not something he’s ready to elaborate about at this point. Maybe he’ll tell me more sometime in the future, when we get to know each other better.

Our conversation moves on to safer ground, and we find out that we have several mutual interests.  

“Do you have any plans Friday evening?” he asks me as we’re getting ready to leave. We both have lectures in about 15 minutes and it’s time to get moving.

“Not really. Why do you ask?”

“A friend of mine manages jazz club and there’s a new band playing Friday night. He says they’re very good. I know jazz isn’t for everyone, so I’m going out on a limb here; wanna join me?”

“That sounds great,” I reply with a smile. Don’t sound over-eager Sigrid.

“Really?” Jonas replies, he sounds surprised about my enthusiasm. “You like jazz? I know it’s a bit niche.” 

“Yeah, I grew up it with it. Dad’s a jazz aficionado. Anytime we moved to a new city finding the best jazz joints in the area was a top priority for him.”

To my pleasure he seems genuinely happy that I accept his invitation. He leans back in his chair and digs his iPhone out of his jeans pocket. “What’s your number?”

“I don’t remember my Norwegian number,” I admit, blushing slightly. “Just got it few weeks ago. What’s yours? I’ll call you.”

“That works,” he agrees and gives me his number. I punch it in as he says it and then I hit the call button. A couple of minutes later we’ve both saved the other’s number and we say goodbye. He wheels off in the opposite direction of me, and I can’t help admiring his strong arms and shoulders as he pushes the rims of his wheelchair.

The Outsiders - Chapter 1

 Sigrid

As I tie the laces on my trusty red Converse shoes it feels like I have a million butterflies fluttering around my stomach. I’m nervous and excited at the same time. I turned 20 three weeks ago and I’m about to enroll to the Norwegian Business School. I haven’t lived in Norway since I was three years old and now, I’m back in Oslo and today is the first day of school. 

My father is a freelance journalist and writer. Mom is a freelance photographer. I was only three years old when Dad got his first assignment abroad; in London and we moved there. In the following years my parents’ assignments took us to the US and Australia, and for the past eight years my family has called Pretoria, South Africa home. 

I’ve never felt a strong connection to Norway. I was only a toddler when we left, and we have only been back for visits once or twice a year. My passport says I’m Norwegian, but I honestly feel more South African. I’ve lived there since I was twelve and we’ve really settled in there. I think I shocked everyone; family and friends, when I announced that I wanted to go to college in Norway. I even surprised myself a little when I made the decision.

…

An hour later I’ve made it through a long line to get my information packet, and I’m headed to the auditorium where the enrollment ceremony will be held. From what I’ve read about it on the student union website it’s pretty much an orientation meeting.  

By the time I arrive in the auditorium it’s starting to fill up, but luckily there are several available seats on the back row. I’ve always preferred to sit in the back of the classroom or auditorium.  I slide into the third seat from the aisle, put the envelope I with my information packet down on the desk in front of me and dig out my notebook and a pen from my well-worn leather messenger bag. Before I place the bag on the floor under my seat, I double-check that I’ve turned off the sound on my iPhone. 

A soft clicking sound catch my attention a few minutes later and I look up to see a man making his way toward the available aisle seat next to me. He is on forearm crutches, and I assume he wears braces on his legs. I can’t stop myself from watching him as he plants the crutches in front of him and swing his legs forward, so they land even with the crutch tips. He makes it look easy and his fluid almost graceful movements mesmerize me. 

I'm back!

First of all; big apologies to all the readers for the decade+ long hiatus. Life happened and I just didn't have the time, energy or inspiration to keep up with the blog and I stopped writing devotee fiction. 

I'm not making any promises about the future of the stories that are already published here.

I'm not in touch with the guest authors anymore, I did reach out to them both when I decided to rejuvenate the blog, but I haven't heard back from them. I probably won't.

As for my own stories; at the moment I'm not really inspired to continue writing any of them. But that may change, who knows? Or maybe I'll do re-writes? 

For now I'm working on a re-write of the last story I published on the Paradevo's Devotee Stories Blog; "The Outsiders". I had so much fun writing that story. Writing in 1st person and present tense was fun, I love the characters (especially Jonas, he's yummmmyyy) and I've finally found the inspiration to keep writing it. So that's what I'll be posting going forward. I'll start with re-written versions of the first 13 chapters (not making major changes to the storyline, but plan on switching POV's throughout the story to get more of Jonas' thought too) and when that's done I'll start adding new chapters. 

I'm not making any promises about posting frequency, but I hope to publish at least once a week. Empasis on hope.

Anyway, I hope there are still some readers left, so please leave a comment if you're still here. 

First chapter of the re-written version of "The Outsiders" will be up in the near future. For now; here's an AI illustration of Sigrid and Jonas out for a stroll at the waterfront in Oslo.

Image credit: ChatGPT

See you soon for chapter 1 of this story!😊

"It's a wrap!" - chapter 10

WEEK TWENTYTWO

I’m at the airport in Toronto. We’ve wrapped the first episode of season five and I’m on my way to LA. I can’t wait to see Meg and the kids again. I miss them a lot and I’m impatient to get home. To be honest I’m a way less enthusiastic about our new scheduling now than I was when I agreed to it.  Two weeks is a long time to be separated from my family, but at least I’ve got a whole week at home with them to look forward to.