It was always you

Chapter 1

"Listen, I know the meeting for the fundraiser is today, but the guy you wanted me to work with isn't here," I groused out done with the irresponsible woman on the other end. I realised senior year was tough but if she couldn't balance out her schedule, she shouldn't have taken up the mantle for heading the university's bi-monthly news blog.

Instead of being here and heading the first meeting of the semester, she had left the task up to a junior and a freshman.

A freshman!

Granted my CV in the field of college/school journalism wasn't a week one-I had the accolades from high school and my own blog to prove my worth enough. Still this news blog was a whole different ball game. And I needed a little guidance before being picked up from the pond I had, admittedly, ruled and being thrown to the sharks.

Sharks that would be out for blood for one single misstep. Because this news-blog, or its newsletter that was released every two weeks, was something the college body looked forward to.

A lot.

I couldn't be the one responsible to let its standards fall. Or the crowd with pitchforks would be upon me.

But well, Jenipher wasn't one who lived to help (or please) others so maybe I should not be shocked at her leaving the first back to school newsletter in the hands of two younger students.

I could only hope the junior she was being paired up with was...well enough at handling the tasks running their way.

"Natty," she hated that nickname, and even more so in the faux saccharine notes of Jen's voice, "Jace just called, love. And he said he is outside the student's food court in the Emerson block."

"Yes, I am here in front of it and there is no guy here. In fact the place is completely empty." 

Which given the hour wasn't odd, there were few stragglers here on a Monday morning when everyone was either in lectures or in meetings with supervisors or what not. Gilraen was a college with a long legacy and was filled to the brim with ambitious students all with big dreams and a harsh work ethic.

A work ethic that meant social places like the food court closer to the student residential blocks was more often than not...not very social. Especially on a Monday morning.

"Wait, I will add him to the call, and that way I can even introduce you two," Jen trilled back with too much enthusiasm.

And before I could get in a word edgewise, I heard it, the connection, the new voice joining us tentatively.

"Hello, Jen?"

"Hi, Jasper. I have Natty on the other line, she is in the Emerson block looking for you."

"Oh, hi Natty," the voice replied, friendly, open, "I am making my way out the food court right now, are you close by?"

"Close by? I am almost at the doors." My voice a touch less than friendly, annoyed and rushed as I was.

"Cool, cool. Black leather jacket?"

I glanced down, confirming if I was wearing what I had put on that morning-yes, my brain was still foggy from a severe lack of coffee.

Shocked that I was still in my jacket, I looked up and squinted, "Yes, but I still don't see you."

He laughed, and even in my sleep muddled state I felt it-the easy carefree joy of it in the face of my irritation, it soothed some of the worst of my edges.

"I can see you through the glass doors. And," with a flourish the doors I was walking towards opened, halting me progress, "Here I am."

I smiled back at him, even as I quickly bid Jen a goodbye, taking in the new comer as he walked towards me.