Foolosophy

Chapter 06

Arya woke up with a start, anxiety gripping her senses. She sat in bed, tangled up in her comforter, gazing outside her dorm window to welcome the heat. Letting the sun calm and compose her morning was a daily routine that she had adopted long before she could remember.

In a swift flash, events of the previous night played before her eyes. So much had happened in a matter of twenty four hours- the club, Blake's recognition, the terrifying stranger, and finally, the hug. Arya couldn't begin to comprehend how trusting she had been, but she was glad she had let fate guide her.

Fate! How ironic, she thought.

It took Arya less than an hour to reach university- fresh and excited for the commencement of her first term. She decided to take it on casual, dressing as ordinarily as she would on a normal day. There was no one she had to impress, or perhaps there was. Blake Wilcox.

Her thoughts drifted back to the previous night as she walked aimlessly on campus, but soon dismissed it. She didn't want to think beyond measure- it was what it was.

Arya's first class was almost exactly as she had imagined it- enthralling but relatively difficult. She had managed to concentrate for most of the session, however, found herself being unnecessarily intimidated by how thoroughly well-versed every student seemed to be in the subject of the course.

Soon after the clock marked the end of her learning for the day, she left the building with a sigh of relief, thankful for the cool breeze that ruffled her hair and washed away her worries. Arya, nonetheless, was hungry beyond measure, and mentally scolded herself for skipping breakfast. With every step she took, her starved stomach began to rumble louder and louder.

In a matter of minutes, she found herself patiently waiting at the end of a queue to a local bagel stand. Her arms were crossed across her chest and her foot gently tapped to the harmony playing within her mind. Arya was lost in her own silence, embracing it wholly.

"Good afternoon, Miss Ramsay." A voice whispered from behind, sending tingles down her spine. She could feel his hot breath at the back of her ears, resulting in goose-bumps spreading across the expanse of her body.

Turning swiftly to face the man it belonged to, Arya found herself awfully close to his face.

"Blake," she let out in exasperation.

They stood quietly, encircled in their personalized surrounding. All Arya saw was his invitingly plump lips, beckoning her to take a step forward. She took in a deep breath, overwhelmed by his rousing cologne.

"Next!" a distant voice boomed in her ears, bringing her back to ground level. Reality overlapped her senses as she reluctantly faced the man selling bagels.

Hyper aware of Blake's presence behind her, she began placing her order with a smile, "One bagel with cream cheese, please."

"Make that two, Tom." Blake added from behind her.

"Sure thing, Mr. Wilcox." The seller replied, rushing on to prepare and serve the requirements.

"This one's on me, Arya." He said, stepping to stand adjacent to her. The closeness of his entirety excited her, but at the same time, made her feel nervous and unsure.

"Blake, no. Let me pay, at least for myself."

"Arya." He said, giving her a stern look that shut her up. Blake's facial expression was enough to stop her from further retorting. He paid the man with an appropriate sum, along with a tip, earning a thankful smile from Tom in return. 

"I don't like people paying for me." She complained as he held out her bagel.

"Well, get used to it."