Fate's Playbook

Chapter 7 - Jasmine's

"The past is always with us, for it feeds the present." - Lawrence Durrell

Over the next week, Nora found herself consumed with her assignments and tasks. She barely had enough time to hang out with her friend William, who she had met at Grey College. Despite this, she made sure to watch a movie and cook with her other friend, Lily, every night. Nora was a dedicated student, and she always made sure to sit in the front row of all of her lectures, paying close attention to the lecturer's every word.

Nora was so engrossed in her studies that she failed to notice someone else's gaze on her. She was completely unaware of the person who was observing her every move.

On Thursday, Nora finished her last assignment and handed it in. Feeling a sense of accomplishment, she messaged William to see if he wanted to grab coffee with her and Lily. She was trying to set the two of them up, as she thought they would make a great couple.

William replied that he had football practice but he postponed it until Sunday. However, he invited Nora and Lily to come and watch his game. Nora agreed, feeling excited at the prospect of watching William play.

After leaving William's message, Nora walked home and decided to stop by Jasmine's, a local cafe that she often frequented. Lily had an extra class that day, so Nora was on her own. As she walked in, she was greeted with a big smile from the waitress, Elle.

"Hi, I'm Elle, and I'll be your waiter today. What can I get for you?" she asked Nora cheerfully.

"Hi Elle, I'm Nora, and I just want a chicken and mayonnaise sandwich served with fries, please," Nora replied, smiling.

"Coming right up," Elle said, walking away to place Nora's order.

As Nora waited for her food, she couldn't help but notice that Elle was wearing a Grey College hoodie. Nora herself was a recent student at Grey College and was excited to make new connections. She called Elle over and asked, "Do you go to Grey College?"

Elle looked at Nora and nodded. "Yes, I'm a sophomore. Do you go there?" she asked.

Nora smiled and replied, "I do, I just started recently."

"What do you think so far?" Elle asked curiously.

"I love it," Nora replied with enthusiasm.

Their conversation continued for a few more minutes until Elle had to attend to other customers. She couldn't wait to see what other new connections she would make at Grey College.

Elle said that she will return shortly after her shift is done and then they could talk some more.

Nora finished her sandwich and watched as Elle made her way back over to her table. She smiled warmly as the waitress took a seat opposite her.

"Thanks for sitting down with me," Nora said, feeling grateful for the company.

"No problem, Nora," Elle replied, her bright smile still in place. "I'm glad to chat with you. So, tell me, what do you think of Grey College so far?"

Nora's eyes lit up at the mention of her new school. "I love it, honestly. It's been a bit overwhelming with all the work and assignments, but I feel like I'm learning so much. And the campus is beautiful."

Elle nodded, looking thoughtful. "Yeah, it really is. I'm a sophomore here, so I've had a little more time to explore. There are some really great spots on campus, like the lake and the botanical gardens."

"I haven't had a chance to check those out yet," Nora admitted. "But I definitely will now."

They fell into an easy conversation, chatting about their classes, their interests, and their families. Nora learned that Elle was studying psychology, which intrigued her.

"That's really cool," she said. "I've always found psychology fascinating. Do you enjoy it?"

Elle's eyes lit up. "Oh, definitely. I love learning about how the brain works and why we behave the way we do. It's endlessly interesting to me."

Nora could tell that Elle was passionate about her studies, and it made her feel a little envious. She had always struggled to find her own calling, and it was refreshing to see someone who was so clearly on the right path.

"What about you?" Elle asked, taking a sip of her coffee. "What are your hobbies and interests?"

Nora paused, considering the question. "Well, I love to read. And Lily, my bestfriend, and I cook dinner together every night. We've been making our way through a cookbook lately."

"That sounds like fun," Elle said, smiling. "What kind of things do you like to cook?"

"Oh, all kinds of things," Nora said, feeling herself relax a little. She was enjoying this conversation more than she had expected to. "We've made everything from chicken alfredo to sushi. It's been a fun challenge."

As they chatted, Nora learned more about Elle's life. She was 21 years old, and she didn't have any siblings. But she was close with her grandparents, her mom, and her cousin. And her grandma owned Jasmine's, the diner they were sitting in.

"That's really cool," Nora said, impressed. "It must be nice to have family so involved in your life."

Elle smiled. "Yeah, it is. They are amazing, I'm so thankful to have them in my life. "

"That is really incredible," she said softly.

Elle shrugged, but there was a small smile on her lips. "Thanks, Nora. What about your family?"

Nora smiled, a little wistfully. "My mom lives in a town 5 hours away from here, she is my biggest supporter. My dad passed away when I was younger. He was an amazing guy from what I can remember. My parents actually met during college. I have an older brother, Colin, he plays football."

Elle looked at me sympathetically and replied, "I'm sorry to hear about your loss. It must have been tough. Your family really sounds nice."

They talked a bit more, about their favorite movies and TV shows, and about the places they wanted to travel someday. Nora found herself feeling more and more at ease as the conversation went on