Split Love

CHAPTER 17

TUESDAY, February 26, 2019

- Bye, grandma. - Jamie kissed the cheek of her grandma who was in the kitchen, and ran to the entryway.

- Wait, aren't you going to have breakfast?

- No, I'm late. - She shouted.

Jamie dressed in her white Parka with fur Hooded and put on a white beanie to protect her from the strong freezing winds that morning. A minute later, she opened the front door and walked out toward the Willow Creek Public Library.

She considered stopping by the River Fall Diner for a hot chocolate but changed her mind when she saw the time on her wristwatch.

Jamie only noticed that a person was standing in front of the Library door when she approached. She squinted her eyes trying to recognize who it could be, but her nearsightedness made her see only that it was a tall person with dark clothing, but their face was a blur.

She grabbed the keys from her purse and crossed the street, but stopped in her tracks when she saw who was there.

- You look surprised.

- I thought you wouldn't come back. - Jasmine hurried to unlock the door. She didn't want to look at him and give him her attention.

Fluctuations in her stomach made her fumble with the keys and it took her longer than usual to unlock the two old locks.

From the corner of her eye, Jamie saw him lean his shoulder against the library wall. There were 2 coffee cups in his hands.

- Can we talk?

With the door open, Jamie entered and held the door open for him. It was her way of saying that yes, they could talk. She couldn't help it, she wanted to know why the last time he'd said it all wasn't a good thing.

Jamie put away her purse and her parka, and as she turned around he handed her one of the coffee cups.

Hot chocolate with cinnamon and whipped cream. My favorite.

Jamie studied Micah over the rim of the cup. His hair was perfectly gelled back and cut on the sides, his beard clean, his gray eyes watching her carefully.

- I need to apologize to you.

- About what?

- Everyting. - He looked to the side as if he was having trouble speaking. - Our dinner, the last time we saw each other, but mostly about all the time I was gone.

- You don't need to apologize, Micah. We don't know each other. - Jasmine was a little irritated by the apology, she didn't wanna give him her attention and then he walked away saying that this was all wrong, so she decided to go about her routine in the library and started opening the curtains.

- I need it.

- I don't even know your last name.

- Romanov. Michael Romanov is how people know me.

-Michael? - She asked and turned to him.

What?

- Yes. Michael was easier than Mikhail.

- I thought you were a ghost. Do you know how many Mikhails in NY there are?

- Not really, I never looked it up.

- I researched, and there are many.

- Did you google me? - Micah asked and started walking slowly towards Jasmine, who was on the other side of the room.

- Of course, I needed to know who you are.

- Well, you don't need to research me, you can ask me.

- Hmm... - She wanted to ask how since he wasn't there, but she decided to shut up.

- I know I left and I didn't even give you the chance to ask anything but, Jamie, I want you to get to know me and I want to get to know you better too.

Jamie hesitated for a moment.

- Last time you told me that this was all wrong, that it was a bad thing. What has changed?

- I tried. - He moved closer until he was an arm's length away from her. - I tried to get away from you, but all this time all I wanted was to know more about you. I want to know your last name, your birthday and I don't know, your favorite color.

For nearly a minute, they remained silent. Jamie, who before had her eyes fixed on him, at that moment looked at her boot without knowing what to say. When Jamie met Micah, all she wanted most was to get to know him better, and decipher that hard appearance that looked like armor. But after the last few months, with all the drama with her family, she was afraid of adding unnecessary drama to her life.

- We can start with dinner. - She said still not looking at him.

- I think it's perfect.

Jamie continued her routine, putting away some books while Micah sat on one of the sofas and watched her in silence. Strangely, having him there analyzing her steps didn't make Jasmine nervous. She was calm as if it was something that had happened several times before.

That feeling of familiarity made Jamie peaceful and a little happy. Micah was a stranger to her. An unknown man. But she enjoyed his company, and maybe getting to know each other was a good thing for her. Having someone to talk to, to share her doubts, her fears.

Nearly an hour had passed when Micah said he'd see her that night. At 7 pm he would pick her up.

He got up from the couch and before he reached the door, Jasmine stopped him. She grabbed a small piece of paper from the front desk, wrote down her cell number, and handed it to him.

- If you wanna get to know me, you should have my number. Don't you think?

~~~***~~~

The afternoon period passed like a blink of an eye for Jasmine, with her mentally going through her wardrobe thinking about what to wear. She thought of some new dresses she'd bought a few months ago, but it was so cold it was impossible.

Once again standing in front of her wardrobe, Jasmine had a deja vu feeling as she looked at her bedside clock. Her blonde hair was parted on the side, with the top pinned back, and with its natural slightly wavy. Jamie had put on light makeup with eyeliner and nude lipstick.

Jamie decided to wear mom jeans with a black turtleneck top and a long black coat. Non-heeled boots on her feet and a small black and gold purse.

This time, Jamie wasn't nervous like the other time they went to dinner. She didn't even think twice about whether she should go or not. For better or for worse, she was determined to go and talk to Micah.

- Hey, grandma. - Jamie said entering the living room. Her grandmother was on the couch watching TV. - I'm going out for dinner.

- You are very pretty. - Debra praised her granddaughter with a questioning tone.

- Thanks. - Jamie ignored the question in the air and kissed her on the cheek before leaving.

Jasmine had already decided that she wouldn't say anything about Micah to her grandmother. At least not for now. She knew she would have to hear disapproving comments, and she was tired of it.

- Be careful! - Debra shouted before Jamie closed the front door.

Micah's black SUV was already parked on the curb in front of her house. He unlocked the door as she approached, and Jamie quickly entered.

- Is it cold outside?

- Very much.

Jamie rubbed her hands together before putting on the seat belt. The living room curtain was pulled slightly to the side, and Jamie saw Debra watching them.

13 years old. Here I come.