One Way Ticket | a love story

Chapter Eight

The characters were watching each other from afar, but the girl noticed him first. She had a big crush on him for a while and now she has gathered the courage to go up to him and talk to him. He liked her but wasn't sure if he could trust her just yet. When they locked eyes, sparks flew between them and she thought she would pass out then and there but she didn't. Instead, he got up and went over to her to talk with her.

After I finished a chapter, I started getting hungry so I went to the cafeteria to grab lunch and continue writing. So that's what I did and soon a group of girls entered the cafeteria and I saw my mysterious girl. She was the shortest among her friends, wearing a black skirt, white shirt, jacket and boots. They went to the bigger table and started putting down their stuff and food. Her eyes looked towards me, they were green and bright. I only glanced at her, hoping she wasn't already looking at me and she was. It was making my cheeks get redder in seconds. I looked down at my laptop, my heart pounding hard in my chest. She looked at me, like directly at me, not behind me, not beside me, at me.

Mona arrived soon and I managed to calm down while she was away. She put a bag of chips on my side of the table and I quietly thanked her as a response. She noticed I had my laptop open again and tilted her head, looking over at my screen.

-Do you have a lot left? - Mona asked and took my attention away from my laptop. - We can leave together if you want to. 

- Yeah sure, I'll be done in a few minutes and we can go. - I said and she nodded, then we both got back to work.

In a few minutes, I finished up with today's work and realized it was 4 pm already. - I have class at 5 pm, so I might not be able to leave campus with you but I can take you to the gate. - I said a few moments after looking at the clock.

- Oh that's fine, I'll go alone then. I was wondering if we could meet again sometime... You seem like a good person and having your company helped me so much... - Her voice shook a little and she was looking down at her fingers, picking at the skin.

I gently took her hand into mine and smiled as she looked up at me. - Of course, we can see each other again. Give me your number. - Then I handed her my phone and smiled, her cheeks red.

She typed her number in and passed me my phone back before getting up and leaving the library. A small smile found its way to my face as I looked at the laptop again, then up at the girl whose name was still a mystery.

I surely haven't seen her on campus before, so she must be new to the college. My friends couldn't have heard anything since they don't go to college with me. It would be so much easier if at least one of them was here with me. He could ask her for her name at least and try to find out who she is, where she's from and what she does.

Later I looked at the clock and it was 4:45 pm so I decided to take my things and go to the last class of today before work. The seat in the back was occupied so my other option was to sit in the middle of the classroom where everyone usually sat. Today there weren't many students around so it was quiet and nobody disturbed me. The professor soon arrived and started her lecture about some math equations I wasn't typically interested in. But the school gave some students extra points for attending classes so that's why I was here. Besides, I had nothing smarter to do than try and understand this and try to like math even though I knew I could never fall in love with numbers the way I did with words and the way I could describe almost everything I've ever seen and put it into a paragraph.

My parents never understood why I liked writing, and they never managed to understand no matter how hard I tried to explain it to them. They've probably never experienced that sort of emotion since it's not really their thing. They live in numbers, sales or calculations and words were never their thing. But my parents were my biggest support since I've moved and now I'm realizing I haven't called them in a while.

You'd say that rich parents don't really care about their kids and the way they do since with money the kid could get into any college. My parents were and are different. They've financially supported me only partially when I needed to buy something or pay for rent and college. The rest of it was my money, and I felt like I was independent even though they always keep an eye on me and help me out without a second thought.

Class ended pretty quickly and I was on my way home to get ready for work. Today was so tiring that it was draining my mental health. First Layla apologizing, then meeting Mona in the most unusual way possible, seeing my girl in the library and catching her looking at me smiling at Mona... it was making my imagination run wild. Both in good and bad directions. I reached my apartment soon and sighed as my bag hit the couch. My body longed for my comfy bed and sheets, but I had work to do.

To end my suffering faster, I got dressed in a shirt, pants and shoes, all black of course, and walked to the restaurant. The busy evening made me excited since the less boredom I have, the time passes faster and I'll be in my bed quicker. Orders were coming in quickly, but my work was quicker and most of the customers were happy. Some were fighting and were taken away by security, most of them under the control of the consumed alcohol. Most of them were seated at the bar. People at the tables were eating their dinner in peace.

Soon, 10 pm was on the clock and a long sigh went through my lips as I stood leaning against the counter. Less and fewer people came in, so it wasn't that crowded. My eyes moved up as I saw Layla entering the restaurant with John. He brought her here with him and didn't tell me he was coming? That is beyond weird. But their order soon came in - a cappuccino and a lemonade.

He would usually have a beer but looks like he was being nice today, having cappuccino and lasagna to it, which I saw through the monitor. But as I put the order on the bar for the waiter to take it, the boss came in and called me to come in the back. My replacement and colleague took my place as I went into the back after the boss and into his office.

-So Noah, I'd like to get to it immediately. I've talked with a friend who works as a manager in a hotel nearby and he wants you to work there. He saw you working the other day and asked me if I'd give you up so he could sign you up there. I wanted to leave it for you to decide and told him you'd call. It's almost the same job, but you get a free room and a much higher payment. - He said, leaning back in his black armchair and staring at me.

I paid close attention to his words, looking for a hint of testing, lying and whatnot but there was nothing. He wanted to give me up without a doubt. - Are you sure you want me to quit this job?

-Well, I'm doing it for you so you could earn a bigger salary and a free place to live. - He said and I nodded. I loved the idea.

-Give me the number, I'll go there and talk to him about it, then tell you my decision. - I sat straight in the chair, fiddling with the edge of my apron.

-Okay then, here you go. - he pulled out a piece of paper and wrote down the number from his phone, then handed it to me.

The name of the guy was Eric Clint, and he was on the same street as my apartment. This couldn't have been better. I thanked my boss and got up to go back to work, but he stopped me. - Go back home, and think about it. - he said and I nodded, thanking him again before leaving the restaurant in my regular clothes.

And finally, after this chaotic day, I was in bed, cuddling with my pillow and just relaxing my body after the longest warm shower ever. I deserved this more than ever. The best part was definitely my job offer and seeing my lovely library girl that makes my cheeks go red and sends shivers all over my body. Busy thinking, I wasn't able to fall asleep so I started focusing on her eyes, her soft red lips, her hands on my shoulders and my own around her waist, holding her closer than ever. The scenario made me smile and tinted my cheeks red.

With the thoughts in my head, I forced myself to fall asleep while imagining our meeting. Maybe even a date. But I would love to be a good friend to her before taking any action that could make her uncomfortable and uneasy around me. She grew in my heart and wrapped her roots around it, which meant there was no going back now.