Crestfallen [COMPLETED]

ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ - 4

Then

With a hiss of brakes and a soft sigh, the train gradually slows its pace. Coming to a screeching halt.
The door slides open, as he watches her leave.

Panic surges through him.

The thought of not meeting her again on this train. Of their not so random encounters stopping.

You can never trust the games, fate plays.

She exits through the door. As he rushes over towards her.

He quickens his pace, determined to catch up to her.

"Your book."

He can feel his heart pounding in her chest, his breath coming in quick, shallow gasps.
But a smile tugs on his face, as she turns.

"I had to return this unharmed."
He extends the book and she reaches for it, slowly as she tucks it beneath her underarm.

Their eyes meet across the junction, and in that instant, time seems to stand still.

"Anything else?," she whispers as if she almost wishes there is.

He gives her a tight lipped smile. One that she fails to decipher.

"Until next time."

"Sure," she nods.

She looks at the guy, wanting for him to say more.

Something that echoes close to her thoughts about him.

He's been on her mind for weeks, now.

But he doesn't.

She watches him leave, as if this would be the last time.

She doesn't know. It could be.

Until one of them decide to end this dance sketching between them.

She feels a little down at the thought of never seeing him again.

She untucks the book beneath her arm, opening the first page only to find a note sticking out.

My number. Just in case I did harm anything unknowingly, and well, also if you want to hang out, like ever.

She laughs at that. A full mouthed one. Her lips wide, revealing a radiant smile that seems to light up her entire face.

His note. Is just like him, she realizes.

part nervous, part affable.

Yet something warm tugs at her chest.

She dials his number the next day in the keypad.
Her chest rising and falling rapidly.

"Hello," the voice comes from the other side.

She clears her throat.

"Hey, Hi. Book guy, it's me, the book girl."

She clears her throat. Seemingly curious as to why is she so nervous.

"Which book girl, come again?," he asks.

"How many of them do you know?"

"Many. But only one who nearly misses her station when she's engrossed enough in a book."

A lingering smile plays on her lips. As she places one hand on her neck.

"I don't."

"Yes you do. You nearly made me worry. I almost had a panic attack, worrying over if I should approach you or not."

She looks down, biting back the laughter.

"Looks like you got my note," he says his voice, a low whisper.

"Yes."

"No grammatical errors detected right?"

She smiles to herself.

"Hmm, none so far."

"What is your name?," she asks him.

"Hmm?"

"Your name? You didn't tell me."

"You didn't either," he points out.

She hears a low humming laughter on his side.

"Okay we both didn't."

"Alex, " he says, his voice warm.

"Joanna."

"Joanna, " she hears him repeat her name as if tasting it on his mouth.

It sends a pit of butterflies to her stomach.

"Okay so, Alex, there's this book club thing coming soon. Would you like to come with me?," she asks expectantly, hoping that he agrees.

"I have never been a part of any book club before."

"Do you want to?"

"I have always wondered though. I will see you then. Joanna."