I looked at her, she looked at me, time seemed to slow down as I breathed out. I didn't realise I was holding my breath until I moved my hand over my mouth to cough.
"Miss Jackson." The voice down the hall called out, inviting the very woman I was looking at to leave.
'Is she single? Nah. No way such a beautiful girl like her could be, she's probably here for some pregnancy shit.' I frowned at the thought, trying to replace it, 'As soon as I'm done I can have a smoke.'
As I heard my name being called, I saw the girl walking briskly down the corridor. Her gaze flickered to me for just a second, but it made my heart flutter. 'This is just some stupid little crush. Chances are I'll never see her again.' I was out of it the whole time my doctor was talking, just thinking how her green eyes sparkled in the shitty lighting.
"Timothy! Are you listening?" My head snapped up,
"Huh? Oh... No." The doctor sighed and smiled slightly, not a friendly smile, but a I'm-at-my-wits-end-dealing-with-your-shit.
"I said that you should really start taking your pills. Look," He leaned forward to me over the desk, wrinkled face full of worry and sympathy, "I am aware of the... Events... That have happened recently-" My face dropped. "This is the hardest part, it can only get easier from here. Just help me out, okay? It is for your wellbeing after all." My expression darkened.
"I don't give a shit about my wellbeing, don't fucking bring up my misfortune." And with that, I stood up, hand on the doorknob, Dr Richards sighed behind me,
"Timothy?" I turned my head, to see him holding the orange bottle. My hand shook as I grabbed it, shoving it into my pocket with a rattle. "I'll see you next week, Timothy."
The decent down the hall seemed to drag on, the weight of the world on my shoulders. The thought fresh in my mind... Jay... I had just reached the automatic glass doors, the cold breeze around my ankles when
"U-Um... Hello?" My eyes swiveled to the source of the heavenly voice... That girl. What was she still doing here? Why was she talking to me? It took me a few seconds to actually respond, and when I did my voice cracked.
"Hi?" She smiled shyly, there was a mischievous glint in her eyes.
"So... This'll sound wierd but uh... I saw you looking at me before, and I was wondering if you would uh... Like to get better aquainted?" I had to be dreaming.
"Oh, uh, sure?" There was an unidentified question about it, and I began to slowly walk over to the empty smoking shelter, she followed close behind. "So uh..." I cleared my throat as I lit my cigarette, "What's your name?" She looked around before starting me dead in the face,
"Can I have one? I'm dying for a fag." (Before you flip out, most of us English, as well as the Irish, call cigarettes fags. We do not mean it offencively.) My eyes widened, I thought everyone nowadays was all anti-smoking campaigns and shit. "My doctor's got me using these patches but they don't fucking work and it's been weeks." I nodded, handing her one.
"Sure." She laughed nervously, a small smile crossing her lips.
"Gotta light? I left mine." My thumb brushed the wheel as I lit her cigarette, taking a drag of mine.
"You uh, didn't answer my question. I'm Tim, by the way." Having proper conversation with someone felt foreign, I didn't really have anyone anymore. I was living in a hotel, which I barely had the money for with how many smokes I go through in a day. It's gotten worse since...
"I'm Ellie. Hey, it's cold out. Wanna grab a coffee?" I nodded, despite the fact I really didn't have the money, and she pulled me down the road, into the town and into a small shop. "Hey, Finn." She greeted the man with a mop of dirty blond hair behind the counter. "What'dya want? I can get it free, I work here." She turned to me,
"Uh. Just a coffee if you don't mind."
We sat on a small sofa in the corner of the shop, talking about anything that came to mind. We had a lot in common, and she wasn't like other girls. That fluttering feeling blossomed in to butterflies that flapped violently around in my stomach, to the point where I had to go to the bathroom just to wash my face and get rid of the blush.
"What about you?" I held the mug in my hands, letting it warm my palms,
"Just finished college." I lied. "20." Her eyes widened,
"I've always wanted to go to college! What'dya do?" I bit my lip, thinking of my options. If I told the truth she could laugh at me, if I lied she could find out and confront me. "Drama and acting..." She let out a giggle,
"Hey, if I see you in the movies you're so halfing your salary with me!" I smiled, that went better than planned.
And that's how I met the love of my life.
