Beautiful Differences

Chapter 2 (The encounter)

Three hours. I have been stuck here for three hours and I have only managed to study for one subject. I hate common ed. Why do I have to take history in college? I don't need it for anything. I have already learned this over and over. I just want to focus on what I love doing. Is that so hard to ask? I instantly try to focus on happy thoughts like how next week this stress will be over. At least for a couple of weeks. I can do this. I just need to remind myself and I need to concentrate. I hate having ADD, it's so easy to get lost in my own thoughts. I look at the time on my phone. 8:58. It's already dark outside. I shiver. I had not realized it was so late. I look around. There are some people, but most seem to be gone. I go to the municipal library instead of my school's library because the one from my university is always packed with people talking to each other. Mostly because they are friends or colleagues. I look at how much longer I have to learn according to my planner. Two more pages... I decide to keep studying. The library doesn't close until 10pm so I should have time to study them before I have to go. I go back to studying and get lost in Ancient Greece and all of its wonders.

I finally finish studying and I check the time. 9:30pm. I am actually surprised I got it done so fast. Considering I kept getting distracted. I pick up my things to leave when I remember we had to choose one book to review and do a scripted version of it. I have no clue which one to pick, so I do what I always end up doing and go to a random section to choose the one that looks the most interesting. I turn into one of the sections that has a pile of huge bookshelves as I read what it says: Suspense. I am not too sure if this genre will be the best to do a script on so I'm about to continue to another section when I notice something. There is a guy sitting on the floor and reading a book with his back laid on the shelf. His legs are extended across the floor and he seems lost in the book. He looks enigmatic and I look at him confused. There are so many empty seats in the library. Why would he hide in the middle of the aisle like that? I am about to turn around when he looks up. He sees me as I turn towards the shelf to pretend to look for a book. I can see him in the corner of my eye as he quietly stands up and tries to fastly leave through the opposite side from where I'm standing. I look at him leave and then I notice he drops something. I don't know what to do but I react fast and go to pick it up off the floor. He is about to turn around when I whisper trying not to be too loud.

-Hey, you!- There is no response and he seems to either ignore what I'm saying or keep walking.- Wait don't leave...- I say a little louder. He stops and slowly turns around. He looks panicked. I can see the surprise and confusion in his face. He is very intriguing. He has very curly dark brown hair that he is trying to hide his expression with. He is also wearing black pants and a maroon sweatshirt. I can see that he is paralyzed and doesn't seem to move towards me so I slowly walk towards him until we are at a distance where I can talk to him without being loud. I look at the note I picked off the floor. It says "Agoraphobic". It looks like a kind of poem or rhyme, but I don't have the time to see what is written on it because when I look up I can see his eyes have widened probably as he noticed what I am holding. I swallow slowly. He has beautiful brown eyes. The color is pretty but there is much more to them. They are full of history. Of deeper meanings that I can't begin to unravel. I feel like his eyes are swallowing me in and I can't help but notice how my legs start feeling weak under my weight. He looks like a mystery full of layers. A mystery I want to discover. I want to ask him why he looks so sad. Like he is in so much pain. But I can only articulate.

-I... uh... You dropped this...- I extend my arms so he can grab the paper. He hesitates before taking it and I can take a last look at the words. It is written in pretty handwriting. Is it his? I want to ask about it but can't seem to find the words.

-Thanks...-He says. OH. MY. GOD. That has to be by far the deepest voice I have ever heard in my entire life. I'm talking deeper than Morgan Freeman. To be honest, it is also kind of sexy. Is the voice really real? I didn't think I could ever hear such a deep voice. I try not to react, but I am sure I have shown on my face the surprise. The voice really took me aback. I see him quickly turn to leave. But I can't help but say.

-Wait!- He turns around in what looks like a forced movement with a questioning look.-I'm Stella- I try to say with the widest smile I can find. Why am I doing this? The words just came out naturally. I want to know more about him.- What's your name?

I see the slightest smile on his face for a second. But it looks kind of forced. I am looking up to his face but he is avoiding eye contact. He is way taller than me. I am only 5'0" but he looks like he is around 5'10"-5'11". I try to catch a hint of his face. But he is again trying to hide it with his hair.

-Uh... You can call me Corpse- I hear and just as fast as this encounter happened, he turns back and leaves quickly.

-Corpse huh...- I say to myself. There is something puzzling about him, and I can't help but crave to learn more.