Until Embry Met Eli

chapter seven

It has been a couple of days since I last saw Eli and the feelings of nerves still took over me. Since both of us having a crazy past couple of days with work and classes, we've only seen each other in creative writing and our brief walks in between classes. But that only made me think about Eli more - I replayed our kiss over in my head, already waiting for the next one.

Sure, Eli has given me a few kisses on the cheek here and there. But he hasn't really kissed me since we last hung out. I hoped more than anything that there would be a next time, no matter how pathetic I sounded in my head. I was still in shock that I was already beginning to feel this way about a boy this soon into college.

Louise freaked the second I told her we had kissed, swearing that she was the matchmaker of the century by making me download the app. I didn't have the heart to tell her that it wasn't really because of her, but I wasn't going to burst her bubble. We stayed up almost till three a.m. talking about Eli and I, with Danny managing to enter our conversation despite me wanting to have nothing to do with him or our last encounter.

According to Louise, Danny had been pestering her all weekend about me. Using Louise's words, he was "driving her nuts to the point of combusting." Not really sure what that meant in terms of 'combusting,' but I could tell that Louise was close to a breakdown. I don't know what it is with Danny and this obsessive quality about him. That, or he seriously wanted to move past this and he couldn't without speaking to me. It didn't look like he was going to move on any time soon, even though I thought he already had months ago.

I decided last night to unblock his phone number, although I have yet to text him. I thought it better be best to text him before he shows up again unannounced, God forbid when Eli is over. That was the last thing I needed in my life. Mixing my past into my present with Eli - if you say we even have a future together - was going to be disastrous. I wasn't someone who was good with discussing my past relationships, even though there was only the one.

Luckily for me, I had work today, which always seemed to get my mind off the things I wanted it too. Except, I still wanted to think of Eli, hoping I would be able to see him soon. Danny would be a thought later where I will eventually decided whether or not to text him. Once I do, the can of worms of our relationship will spill everywhere, and I'm not ready to clean up that mess just yet. Even if it means procrastinating for just a few more days despite the ticking time bomb.

I took a look outside my window before getting ready for work; rain and cloudy skies ahead. Perfectly describing my mind when thinking of Danny and our inevitable conversation. My phone buzzed in my pocket, causing me to smile as I read the name "Eli."

Eli: Hope you are having a great morning and an even better time at work later.

I smiled at my screen like an idiot, which wasn't uncommon whenever he texted me. I responded back and wished him the same, heading over to my dresser to pick out clothes for the day.

Work was painfully slow, it was only 11 a.m and this day felt a hundred hours long. My more than over-analyzing hovering co-worker, who I did in fact like, was testing my limits for the day. Because it was a Wednesday during the middle of the day, there was hardly anyone at the library, making it feel more of a deserted island than it already was to begin with. Thankfully, I managed to grab my coffee on my way over.

I eventually began working on the computer at the front desk, entering our newest customers into the database. I kept my phone near me for any texts from Eli, hoping that he would make work the slightest bit more exciting. I watched the clock frequently out of the corner of my eye, counting down the minutes till my break and until the next time I could see Eli.