Stop Running Away

Chapter 8

"How is Oliver here? It scared the shit of me." Caitlyn leans her torso on the vending machine like she is paralyzed.

"Scoot over." Ryan pats Caitlyn's waist, he moves to the front of the vending machine. "Wanna something? On me."

"Of course! I want a pack of sea salt chips, please." Caitlyn answers quickly.

"What about you, Vic?"

"I am good. Thanks though." I was distracted because I was thinking of the exact same thing as Caitlyn.

"You all know Oliver Parker? And is that why both of you were panicked on the stage?" Ryan passes me a bottle of water.

"You know him too?" Caitlyn raises her voice, eager for an answer.

"Of course I know him. He is a hotshot in the gaming industry." Ryan sees the expressions of me and Caitlyn with curiosity. "Oh No! How do you guys know him?"

Caitlyn and I exchange looks, and then we all tacit understanding of the choice of silence.

"Say something!" Ryan is like a cat on hot bricks, dying to hear the answer.

"At a nightclub," I can't bear to see him this desperate for answers, so I decide to speak.

"No way!" He laughs like this is some big joke. "That can be so embarrassing. Tell me none of you has nothing to do with him."

Caitlyn and I are silent again.

"What the fuck..." Ryan looks at us, realizes this is no joke. Immediately startle replaces the laugh on his face.

"It is not what you think, totally no unspeakable affairs. It is just like we have met a few times, nothing else." I interrupt him. I do not want him to overthink the relationship between me and Oliver, because even in reality, nothing really happened. I would more likely describe our relationship as a couple of strangers who kissed twice, that is all. Oh, and I rejected Oliver's invitation to his home right after I said yes a few minutes ago. This statement should probably describe our relationship more accurately.

"... So I can still talk to him later, right?" Ryan squeezes the package bag of Caitlyn's potato chips. He is somehow a bit awkward, "I am actually a big fan of Oliver Parker's work, so I thought today might be a great opportunity to talk to him. But, I mean, if you are uncomfortable about me talking to him, I do not have to..." There is a worrying look on his face. I know Ryan is trying to look after my feelings. It is unnecessary, and I feel absurd and sorry to even let Ryan feel this way because I could be such a weirdo in Oliver's mind anyway. He probably even regretted wasting time with a girl like me.

"Don't be stupid, Ryan. You could do whatever you feel like doing." I give Ryan a reassuring smile, trying to convince him to believe me. I think Oliver would not let what happened between us affect his professional judgments. But again, all of these are from my poor illusions towards a guy.

I walk to the sofa opposite the vending machine and sit down right next to Caitlyn. She feeds me a chip and says, "I texted Matt to come to the party. "

There will be a party hosted by our professor after the final presentation, and that is why we are still here. We are waiting for all groups done their presentations, so we can go to the party and speak with those successful alumni in who we are interested. My plan was to do everything I can to talk to Lauren Campbell. And now, with Oliver, and Matt, somehow it only makes me want to run away, as usual.

"Who is Matt?" Ryan raises his right eyebrow, even his voice becomes a little sharpen.

"My boyfriend, relax, he is a close friend of Oliver Parker. I am thinking if he is here, things will be not that awkward, don't you guys think?"

I do not know how to answer Caitlyn's question. I guess she is just making the worst assumption, which is Oliver and I are resenting each other. But my mind has not changed, I still like Oliver. I like him being a cultured, funny, and handsome guy, although I did do strange things to him. I mean, if he dislikes me for what I have done, I can totally accept and I will not even try to explain myself.

Ryan's expression is twisted. I know he just cannot handle so much information in such a short time. There are students walking around all this time. Some of them are excited about their finals; some of them are upset; some of them are nervous. Except none of them are like us, being preoccupied.

It is near 6 p.m., the party is about to start. We are on our way to the party at the Multi-functional Hall. And I keep telling myself to perk my shoulders up, hold my head high, and stop being panicked. All I have to do is to rush to that party, find Lauren Campbell, tell her how I am interested in working for her and give her the speech that I had practiced thousand times. Then I will leave. Oliver will not even notice my existence.

Ok, Jiaqi, you got this. I make a deep breath, and then open the door of the Multi-functional Hall.

There are way too many people here. My suspense eased a little. Some classmates come to us to congrats us on our presentation. However, I do not want to waste my time chatting with them. I just want to find Lauren Campbell and go. I glance around the hall trying to identify Lauren Campbell's position. My eyes are like a radar, one designed for searching Lauren Campbell.

But I see Oliver Parker. He is hard not to be seen. He is in a dark navy O'Connor suit, surrounded by students. He is listening to their questions grimly. The neat shoulder line and fitting trim of the suits make him look unusually tall and straight.

I watch his parted lips, and I can already imagine how his voice would be. I recollect our kiss and can't help biting on my lower lip. I guess these students would never know how tasty and soft those lips can be. Then our eyes collide. I have no idea how he saw me among all these people, but I am already drowned in his green eyes, and for a moment, I cannot see anyone else.

Oliver looks at me without even caring to hide his eyesight and some students start to follow his gaze. I quickly lower my head, and blend into the crowd. I walk into a corner next to be buffet table, and I cannot help looking at Oliver. He has resumed the conversation with others. I feel relieved, and I am back to my original plan, trying to find Lauren Campbell.

I searched the hall with my eyes twice, and I did not find a sign of Lauren Campbell. I am not gonna lie, I am a little disappointed that she is not here. I assume she just skips this party since she has better things to do since she is Lauren Campbell.

Ryan is nowhere to be found, completely normal. Caitlyn and Matt are talking to our Leadership class professor. They seem to have a good time together, so I better not interrupt them. I guess I will just grab some food on this buffet and then head back home directly.

I am exhausted.