My phone buzzing pulled me out of slumber.
I woke leisurely, enjoying the sleep in that come with the summer holidays. Clicking my tongue, I squeezed my brows together as I tried to make sense of the dream that was so rudely interrupted.
I wasn't too sure of the context, but I'm ninety-nine percent sure that the green ninja was there.
My nose scrunched as I pulled my eyelids open and stared at the blurry ceiling.
Now, why would I be having dreams about the green ninja? And, more importantly, what were they about? Because I for one can't remember anything about them.
I was still groggy and out of it, rubbing my eyes and yawning, when I unlocked my phone and read the text that woke me.
It took me rereading the message four times before it actually clicked in my head and - holy shit Lloyd and I are meeting in less than forty minutes.
I fell out of bed before scrambling to my feet and stumbling my way to my closet, grabbing some denim shorts and the closest top. I scampered down the hall and into the bathroom, sliding the door shut behind me with a foot.
Frantically, I grabbed the hem of my pyjama shirt and pulled it upwards but the neckline got stuck on my low ponytail, causing me to curse and stumble around like a madman.
Finally, it popped off and I heaved a sigh of relief before getting dressed. I shoved a hairbrush through my hair and washed my face. Then with a couple of sprays of deodorant, I was ready... ish.
I stormed my way back to my bedroom, yanking my phone off of the charger and grabbing Lloyd's hoody (that I had rewashed the night before). I shoved the device in my back pocket and flung the hoody over my shoulder.
"Himumloveyoubye!" I rushed as I crashed into the kitchen and made my mother spill her coffee in fright.
She sent me a glare, but I was already grabbing an apple and out the door while shoving on my slip-ons.
In retrospect, although slip-on shoes are extremely easy and fast to put on, they're also ridiculously difficult to run in. So as I raced my way to the cafe where Lloyd wanted to meet, I was also trying my damned hardest to not trip and injure myself before I got there.
That would just be embarrassing.
For the majority of my sprint I spent scuffing my shoes every other step. I was just glad that summer decided to actually be summer and that it wasn't pouring down with rain, because that would've been an absolute travesty.
I also totally would not be surprised, given my luck.
I stumbled to a stop just a block away from the cafe where Lloyd and I had decided to meet, wiping my forehead from beads of sweat and fluffing up my hair. I spent at least two minutes leaning against the side of a building to try and regain my breath before pulling out my phone when it alerted me of a text.
🛹
I'm in the booth by the window.
Sent 10.34am
My heart stuttered as I glanced up and spotted a head of blond by the window. It was too far to actually see his face, but I was sure that it was Lloyd.
I tried to steady my breathing, which only did work a little. Time was ticking on. I fanned my face to get red of the hot flush and closed my eyes, more so for mentally preparing myself than anything.My brain hadn't gotten the time to properly wake up.
Oh my god what if I forget how to speak?
Don't be silly. If you do, just smile and nod.
With a final deep inhale, I tried to look at least a little sane before grabbing the hoody from my shoulders and holding it in my arms.
I was stalling. Definitely stalling. Absolutely stalling. Without a doubt stalling-
I slapped myself across the cheek, before sheepishly glancing around the street at the various passerbys that looked at me weirdly.
The longer you stall, the more horrible it's going to get.
With that... reassuring thought, I swallowed back my irrational fear and started off down the street towards the small, aesthetic book cafe that looked worthy enough to be on instagram.
I stared at the sidewalk when I neared, as to not catch Lloyd's gaze. I was sure I'd stop functioning if I did this early in the morning.
