Labyrinth

Chapter 1

Chloe's POV

Finally. I'm here. The letters on the sign read, 'HYDE UNIVERSITY' . It almost doesn't feel real.

I take my bags and walk up to the dorm building, taking out my card and swiping it so I can get in. I wander around a bit before finding my room. It's not bad actually. I decide to unpack of my things before doing anything else because, knowing me, if I don't do it now, it won't be done for a while and will just irritate me. I also write my class schedule on the whiteboard side of my cork board (it's one of those half cork-board, half whiteboard things) and pin a few pieces of paper to the cork board so it doesn't look as bare. I place all my books in the book shelf next to my desk and make sure all of my pre-study work is on my desk. I take one last look through everything and decide to head out and find a cafe near here.

I have never been to this town before, which probably isn't the best but at least I can spend some of my time looking around for a while. This town is stunning. Honestly, it looks like it was built quite some time ago but with the beautiful beige countryside brick that's easy on the eyes and compliments the scenery around. It looks like this town was created by an artist, it's just so elegant.

After about 15 minutes of exploring the town, I come across a small cafe that looks comforting. I feel the warm breeze wash over me as I open the door and step in. I take a second to look around before heading to the counter and ordering a hot tea. I allow myself to study the cafe as I wait for my drink, I spot some stairs tucked away at the side of the shop and decide that I'll take my drink upstairs where can take some time to think the about town. I thank the barista as I my drink and head up the small stairs. Oh My God. As if this couldn't get any better, I find this treasure: the upstairs has books. It's like a book shop café. This is my dream; I didn't think shops like these actually existed. I'm so glad I'm wrong. I guess this shop has found a new regular.

As I wander, through the aisles of bookshelves and tables, I spot one person up here. I decide to take the table next to him seeing as there's a window next to it. His loss, I guess. I put my bag at the leg of my chair and take out the book I'm currently reading, The picture of Dorian Gray. No, I haven't seen the film, I want to finish the book before finally watching it.

As I'm reading, I take a glance up and think about how the guy on the next table over reminds me of Dorian Gray. Not the whole, 'He'd sell his soul for youth' but the beauty. I always pictured Dorian like him. I know he probably isn't the exact description of Dorian but the exquisite beauty just sums this stranger up. The fact that he's got an anthology of poetry laid out next to him whilst he type away at his laptop with papers scattered around him doesn't help. He's definitely someone I could get along with. If I was more confident, I would already be up and at his table. But I'm not. So I just look back at my book and continue to read.

Soon, I look away from my book and at my watch. It's already 9 PM? Wow. I didn't realise I had been here for this long. Guess that's what happens when you have a good book. I decide to pack my book away and place my cup on a counter with other used cups. I'm about to leave when I walk past the man's table and see that countless papers had fallen to the floor. Did he realise this? I bend down to pick them up and I feel eyes on me. When I get back up he's looking at me puzzled and, quite frankly, he looks slightly irritated.

"I'm Sorry, I-I just saw some of your papers on the floor." I apologise. Crap. I just realised how weird this looked. I should've just let him know first.

His eyes go to the papers in my hands and suddenly a look of realisation dawns on him, "Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't realise." He chuckled? If you can call it that. It was a slight laugh that was barely noticeable.

His voice is deep, not that scary deep but, comforting deep. If that makes sense? Well, it does to me. I give him a smile, "No, it's fine. I should have said something before randomly crawling under your table." I laugh nervously.