The Book Club

Chapter 4

It was about half past four in the morning when I woke up the next day. It wasn't a pleasant start to the day by any means. Someone had returned to their dorm drunk and pulled the fire alarm because they thought it would be funny. It was not. If I hated anything, it was loud noises. I was stood outside during the evacuation and it was less than pleasant. I was in the clothes I slept in; an oversize shirt and a pair of leggings. It was ice cold before the sun rose, and I was shivering. I saw Pedro coming out of the building, looking as perfect as ever. He saw me and turned to approach me.

"Morning Y/N," He said, his voice gravelly.

"Are you okay?" I asked, my eyebrow raised.

"I was just trying to get to sleep when the alarm went off."

"At..." I check my watch. "4:30 in the morning?"

"Yeah I have insomnia, I just made myself a tea to try to get back to sleep," He gestured to the insulated drink container in his hands.

"Convenient that you didn't make it in a mug right,"

"Yeah I don't trust myself with open drink containers over my carpet."

"Same, I'm so clumsy I always spill or drop my drinks over carpet," I sat on the concrete walkway and wrapped my arms around my legs. "Cold."

He took off his hoodie and offered it to me. "Aren't you cold?" I asked, looking up at him confused.

He shook his head. "I'm not cold, you clearly need it more than I do," He said, jokingly, putting the large hoodie over my small frame. That's so sweet of him. He put his tea in my hands. "Even if you're not a tea person, the heat from the container will warm up your hands."

"No no, I am a tea person," I looked at the drink before looking back at him. "Is there sugar in it?"

"Yeah, one sugar and milk," He looked at me as if confused. "Do you not have sugar?"

"I don't usually. I really appreciate the thought either way," I said, taking a sip. The hot tea was comforting.

"Do you usually have it with milk and no sugar?"

"Yeah, I don't have a big sweet tooth."

"I see," He nodded in understanding. "I'll remember that for if I ever make you one."

"Thank you, I really do appreciate it."

"No problem, Y/N"

We fell into a comfortable silence, but of course that couldn't last long. The fire department had to come to inspect, just to give us the all clear on re-entering the building.

The fucking sirens. Not the fucking sirens. I HATE loud noise.

I covered my ears with my hands and scrunched my eyes shut, willing away the inevitable tears that would come with the sound of the fire alarm and the sirens. One of them would've been bad enough.

I didn't notice that Pedro had moved to crouch in front of me until I felt a large hand on my shoulder. I jumped. Why can't I react to things normally. His hand quickly withdrew, him clearly not intending to startle or upset me.

"Sorry I- I can't-" I stumbled over my words before landing on "Sorry."

"Why are you apologising?" He asked, raising an eyebrow. God he's so attractive. "You haven't done anything wrong."

"I don't know, I feel bad."

"Is it the noise?"I nodded. I thought I would've been able to handle it here. Why did I have to move? I miss my friends. I miss my mother. I was snapped out of my trance by Pedro gently trying to get my attention. My vision was blurred by the tears that were now seeping from my eyes.

"Y/N, they've given the all clear to return to the building. They should be turning off the alarm now," He offered his hand to help me up and I took it, noticing how comforting his hand felt in mine. "Do you have any classes tomorrow?" I shook my head. Thank god I don't have classes on a Friday, I'd be exhausted all day.

"Do you?" I asked him, still holding his hand. By now, everyone had filed back into the building.

"I have one class at 3:30 this afternoon." I nodded and we fell into a comfortable silence

"I don't think I'll get any more sleep tonight," I said, breaking the silence and wiping my tears from my cheeks. I looked back at him and saw his beautiful eyes staring into mine.

"I probably won't either, do you want to go get coffee to wake us up a bit?"

"Won't hurt will it."It was almost six in the morning by the time we left for the coffee shop. It was a small place called Point Black. It was on the top floor of a nearby building and overlooked the skyline. It was really beautiful and only a two minute walk from campus. Point Black had a very comfortable and cozy atmosphere, with couches and armchairs with walls covered in beautiful art. It had the same energy as a living room. I looked over to the counter, behind which Nevaeh was standing and taking somebody's order.

"I forgot Nevaeh works here!" I said, excitedly.

"She's a friend of yours?" Pedro asked, looking down at me sweetly.

"Yeah, she's become pretty good friends with my roommate Mariane since semester started."

"I thought they were dating," He says with a chuckle.

"What?? No they're just friends."

"Do you want to go get a coffee from your friend's friend then?" He asked with a raised eyebrow.

"She's my friend too, she's just closer to Mariane," I said, rolling my eyes.

"She's closer to Mariane because they're girlfriends," He said, jokingly.

"They aren't!! Can we please go get coffee now?"

"Of course we can."

...

We got our coffees about five minutes later, give or take. I wasn't looking at the time. The only thing that I was looking at was the person who I was slowly realising was the most attractive man I had ever laid my eyes upon. His eyes had a sparkle, his smile had a sweetness and his voice had a charm that had me hooked. I couldn't stop gazing at him as he spoke. I was barely paying attention to what he was saying, I was just listening to his beautifully smooth voice. He's so fucking beautiful.

I was snapped out of the trance when Nevaeh came over to our table, looking exhausted.

"Can I sit with you guys? I'm on break. I'm absolutely shattered."

"Yeah of course," Pedro said with a smile, gesturing to one of the empty armchairs. Pedro and Nevaeh began having a conversation about something, I wasn't paying much attention. I was tired and completely enamoured by this man that I just closed my eyes and listened to them speak. It doesn't get much better than this.