Broken Smile - CallMeKevin fan-fiction

3: The meeting

As he approached her, she couldn't help but notice how strikingly handsome he was.

When their eyes met, she felt her heart skip a beat. Surprised by her own reaction, she dismissed it as mere nervousness and her anxiety spiking around strangers.
"H-hello there." -he greeted her with a gentle smile, stopping just in front of her.
"Hi..!" -she replied, her voice tinged with nervousness.
"I only now realize I didn't introduce myself properly. I'm Kevin O'Reilly. Just... call me Kevin.." -he explained, extending his hand for a handshake.
"Nice to meet you! I'm Stella Collins." -she responded with a sincere smile on her face as they shook hands.
"Nice to meet ya." -he replied. "I'll take you to the police station, it's not far." -he offered.
"Sure, show me the way." -she agreed.

As they walked, she mentioned that she worked at the company they had just left. Kevin then shared that he was currently looking for a job.
"What kind of job, if I may ask?" -she inquired, curiosity sparkling in her eyes.
"Well..." -he scratched the back of his head, "...it's a long story, to be honest. I'd rather not talk about it for now."
"Oh, okay. I completely understand." -she replied reassuringly.
A moment later, they arrived at the police station. He opened the door for her, like the gentleman he is, she hesitated a little before stepping in.
"A true gentleman you are." -she remarked with a smile on her face. "Thank you."
Kevin in response tipped his invisible hat with a gentle smile.

As they were walking up to the counter he sensed that something was off, so he just had to ask something from her.
"Is everything alright?" -he looked at her with concern in his tone.
"Y-yeah. It's just that I'm feeling a little uneasy. I've never been to a police station before." -she admitted with a nervous laugh.
"Oh, right. I get it." -he responded.

They approached the reception and explained the situation. After a few minutes of waiting, she got her wallet back, with her driver's license luckily still in it.
"I can't thank you enough, Kevin." -she said gratefully, turning to him.
"I came in clutch to save the day." -he replied with a smile.
"Quite literally, yeah!" -she agreed before they left the police station and headed back to her workplace.
Once they reached the parking lot, they stood in front of her car.
"So, I guess this is goodbye." -he said, a slight sadness in his voice.

'He sounds so sad...'
She thought to herself.

"I... guess it is." -she replied, looking at him.
"It was nice meeting you, Stella." -he said, waiting for her to respond.
"It indeed was nice, Kevin. But who knows, we might still see each other in the future!" -she added, trying to lighten the mood.

'Why did I say that last part out loud?'
She chastised herself internally.

"You're right." -he said. "But it's still just a might..." -he whispered under his breath, thinking she couldn't hear him. "Oh well. I'll get going then." -he said with a sad smile.
"I'll be on my way as well. See you." -she replied before they parted ways.

As she walked away, she couldn't help but stare, admiring him from behind. After a few moments, she snapped out of it, got into her car, and turned the key in the ignition and headed home.