Frozen in Time

Chapter 1

You know when your in that moment, and it's like the world is standing still, you want to be frozen in that moment forever. That one moment that makes everything else worth while. Well, that moment happened right before the start of junior year.

"Can I get a cheeseburger please?"

There I was in a bar waiting for my life to start over again. I couldn't help but zone out everywhere I went. The posters didn't help. They coated the brick walls of this small town.

It's been a year since I've seen one of my best friends Alison Dilaurentis. She disappeared last summer without a trace. It wouldn't be surprising for Alison to be able to just leave the world for a little while though. I always imagine walking in some random building and finding her standing there harassing someone. I'm just holding on to that improbable hope. It's the only thing that keeps me going.

The radio in the back of the bar finally focuses me into reality.

As a patty of hamburger meat on a bun is placed In front of me I finally notice I'm being spoken too.

"You alright over there?" the guy two seats over asks.

I look him up and down before I answer "I'm a bit jet lagged. I just got back from Europe."

"Where at in Europe?"

"Iceland," I said with a smile. It was pleasing that he was so interested.

"I spent some time in Amsterdam. It's a great city" he bit his lip at the end as if he was nervous.

"So do you go to Hollis?"

"Just graduated actually. I'm gonna start my first teaching job,"

"Yeah, I...I think I'd like to teach,"

The song switches and the melody catches my attention.

"God I love this song"

"B26"

My smile spread from cheek to cheek and I began to be the nervous one.

"What's your major?" He asked changing the subject.

Oh, so he thinks I'm in collage. I knew it was too good to be true.

"Uh I think I'd like to major in English,"

"That's what I'm teaching"

You could almost feel the air in the room. Our eyes locked and I didn't want to be anywhere else. Even though I was in a smoky pub, with a stranger, and a waiter that has more ink on him than inside a pen.

"I write too, but so far it's mostly personal. Just for me,"

"I'm impressed"

"Why?"

He got up and scooted his drink down to the seat right by me. As he sat down all I could imagine was me scooting into his seat. Sitting on his lap.

"Well I tried writing, I didn't get very far. Your lucky, if your writing for yourself it's true passion. Maybe you would let me read some of your writing sometime,"

"Yeah, you'd really want to?"

"Your smart, you've traveled, I'd like to know more about you,"

"Yeah I'd like to know more about you too,"

Here comes that feeling again.

This time it was right.