LOVING THE DARK

Chapter 2

"Just one ice chocolate please.  But make it less ice.  Thank you."  I ordered to the barista.

"Of course.  A moment."  He nodded.

I looked around me and found a girl in the corner sitting with her laptop.  The other one was outside, probably having an important phone call.  I really have to use my sight to embrace everything before I lose it.  When it's all dark, even though Mom said she'll get me all I need, but I can't hold onto her forever.  My Mom's still young enough to have her own life too.  I can't be selfish.

"Why did you leave?" 

Somebody cleared his throat so I turned around.  "Oh shoot.  You shocked me.  Hi."

"I said, why did you leave?"  Connor deepened his voice.

"My...  Mom, she has to work today so I decided to go home.  But Starbucks first would be great, right?"  I looked away.

"Why didn't you tell me to get you home?"  He sit with me on this one table in the corner.

"Because first, I can't do that.  You have your own business and it's not my capacity to ask so.  Second, that might be sound rude.  We just met each other."  I explained.

"How did you get here?"  He sipped his coffee.

"Oh, by bus."  I smiled.  "Why so curious?"

"Because I find it weird.  I have a solid car at the carpark, I met a girl, really willing to get her home, but I lost her out of my sight when I was speaking to a nurse."  He spoke real clear and loud.

"You mean...this is the moment where I should say sorry?"  I chuckled.  "How rude."

"How sassy."  He replied.

"Oh cmon let's just leave it right there."  I left a moment of silence.  "Who was ill?  Why did you in the hospital?"

"It's my sorethroat being all suck.  Haha.  And also a fever medicine for my brother.  We just got home from tour, so yeah, jetlag and all flu."

"A tour?  Wait.  Who are you?"  I squinted my eyes.

"Connor freaking Patrick McDonough, madam."  He laughed louder.

"And that tour...meaning?" 

"You didn't know who we are?  Ouch that hurts.  I'm a member of this band named Before You Exit, alongside with my two younger brothers and best friends.  We just got home from Europe tour.  Thank you very much for the interview."  He said sassily.

"Europe..."  I nodded.  "I heard about your band but never actually thought I'm having a Starbucks with one of them."

"So we aren't that famous, huh."

"No.  Sorry."  We burst out laughed.  "How was the tour?"

"It's awesome.  We went to almost every country in there.  But it caused a high level of jetlag.  I was in high fever last night."  He spoke like a little kid.

"Oh poor you."  I smirked.  "But you're okay now, right?"

"Here."  Connor suddenly took my hand and placed it on his forehead.  "Am I still having fever?"

I was stuttered for a while.  Didn't expect we would make this kind of physical contact this early.  He's still a stranger a minute ago.  But why should I be nervous.

"No.  Not really.  You're fine.  Take your medicine."  I shook my head.

"Good!  Haha.  Hey where do you live?" 

"There, like a block from here."  I pointed to the way of street.  "Right there."

"I usually take the road from there.  I love the houses in your neighborhood.  My brothers say I have weird obsession in walking round one neighborhood and start judging houses by its look."

"They are absolutely right."  I raised my eyebrows.

"Hahaha."  He laughed sassily.

"But my house is an exception though, it's not good."  I shook my head.  "When you move out here and there, house is no longer important.  Every place is just like another hotel to me."

"So is my life.  Tour life isn't cool.  I sometimes miss being at home and normal."

"Normal is boring, I guess?"  I smiled.  "You have cooler life than people's."

"Thank you for that."  He held my hand.  "I'm glad to know you.  Really."

"Me too.  Thanks for asking where the nurse was."  I chuckled.  "Oh I gotta go."

"My turn."  He took his car key.  "I got you."

"You really okay with this?"  I said unsure.

"I'm begging."  He insisted.  "Let's go."

The rest od ride, we were stuck in our thoughts.  I didn't know what to tell him more, since he's the one who always started a conversation.  Maybe he has found it awkward or wasting his time.  I'm not interesting in any ways.  And I should've not talked to somebody who can fasten up my heartbeats, considering I have this endless battle with thyroid and probably it would win over me at any seconds now.