Love Beyond Farewell

chapter 2- idk

When I make it back out to the party, Dina is nowhere to be found. 

Of course.

I try to look at my phone for a text from Dina but my hands are empty. Which could only mean I left my phone in the bathroom. Exasperated, I quickly run up the stairs, careful not to bump into those coming down. Luckily the bathroom door is still wide open and I am able to retrieve my phone from the sink. 

I unlock my phone to a text from Dina from 5 minutes ago. 

'Hey. Don't be mad. We went on a walk so we could talk without all the noise. We'll be back quick I promise. Maybe you can even find yourself a man (;'

Ridiculous. I don't date. Never have never will. Especially when I know every relationship has the potential to end up exactly like my parents'.

Loveless and Convinient.

I make my way outside to hopefully get a break from all the crowds and sit decide to sit on the fountain. There were people out here too, just far less. It was peaceful. The fountain was made of marble which I think is odd considering every fountain I've seen has been made from bricks. I look up at the sky and there's so many stars it almost blocks out the noise. 

I find myself briefly feeling sorry for my lack of ability to make friends but then I remember I'm the one that chooses to keep people as far away as possible. Anxiety is so isolating. I laugh to myself. 

I see close movement from the corner of my eye and when I look left and then I see someone sitting at the other side of the fountain. A guy, slightly older but not by much. Maybe a year or two at most. As if he somehow senses me looking he looks back at me to and I quickly turn back around. Avoiding awkward conversation. 

Sadly I fail because then I see him sit next to me out of the corner of my eye. 

"Hey. You're Reina right."

"Who's asking?" I say only half joking. I look at him now and I can see him face to face. His eyes are dark, so dark they look like a deep endless void. I look away afraid they'd swallow me whole. 

"Well I'm in your math class for one. I wasn't sure if I recognized you at first. I'm Cory," he says. "And I'd be deeply offended if I found that you didn't already know that."

I scoff and try not to laugh at the ridiculousness of his statement. "Well the semester just started. It takes me a while to learn names and faces." 

The classes in our school are small. It's like high school all over again and I feel like I haven't changed a bit. 

"Fair enough, I guess." He takes out a cigarette and offers me one. 

I stare at the cigarette half considering it. Instead I lean back and reach my right hand back to touch the water, avoiding it completely. "No thanks. I'm not too fond of lung cancer but you go ahead." 

He doesn't say anything else as he sticks the cigarette into his mouth and lights it. 

"Why are you out here and not in there with everyone else?"

He blows out a big cloud of smoke and I can't help but grimace. That is a strong scent right there. I scoot farther away from him but he doesn't seem to notice. "You go first." 

"I asked first."

"I asked second. Your point?"

"You could just say you don't want to tell me."

He takes another hit of his cigarette but blows out the smoke almost immediately. I scoot a little farther away and he drops the cigarette to the ground then puts it out with his foot, smearing the ashes. "I'm watching my sister. It is, as according to my parents, my duty to watch over her as the older brother. I came out here for a smoke."