Drawing the Line

Chapter 7

With her books and binders in her arms, Emilia was trying to find the Kingston West Hall. She had never had a class here before, but she couldn't seem to find anything because the campus was so big! All the buildings had long hallways that connected to each other, and the classrooms all looked the same until she got closer to the little plaque on the door telling her the room number.

As she was trying to read the map on her phone, she didn't notice an unlevelled floor up ahead. The front of her foot hit it and once again, she fell with her things sprawled everywhere.

"Oh my god, how can this happen again?! What is wrong with you Emilia?" She mumbled under her breath. She bent down and started collecting her things. She reached for a pink spiral notebook, but someone beat her to it. She raised her head and found herself looking into James' eyes.

"Are you okay Emilia?" She reached out to grab her book and nodded sheepishly.

"Thanks, sorry you had to see that."

"You don't have to apologize. You look kind of lost, do you need help?"

Emilia's eyes widened and she gave him a huge smile.

"YES!" She immediately put her hand over her mouth.

"I mean...if you don't mind."

After he pointed out the direction they needed to go, they walked in silence without exchanging words and ended up outside again.

'Common James, just say something, anything!' He walked beside her with his eyes cast down to the floor. His hands both held onto the strap of his leather messenger bag.

'What's wrong with you today, Emilia? You always have something to say. Think of something! Okay, how about...' She was racking her brain on how to start small talk. She turned towards him and opened her mouth but was met with James' look of horror. Next thing she knew, he had tugged on her arm and was pulling her towards him!

Realizing what he had done, he had to make a quick split-second decision. Was he going to let her continue falling into his arms? But what if that made her uncomfortable and she thought he was a creep? So, does he push her away? But what if she gets more hurt?

The amount of time it took him to process all this was not enough time. She was a few inches away from his chest, but his brain didn't send the signal to his feet in time. He stumbled and fell backwards, taking Emilia with him. She hovered over him on her hands and knees. Because of her quick reaction time, she wasn't totally lying on top of him.

"Sorry!" A guy on a bike whizzed by as he apologized for rushing to his destination.

The two of them were so stunned, neither of them moved for a long time. In reality, it was only ten seconds or so, but it felt like a lifetime.

James was the first to break eye contact.

"Sorry I just wanted to pull you out of the way but then I didn't want you to think I was being a perv.."

Emilia pushed herself up and dusted off her hands.

"Too late for that, you're the one that drew my portrait while I was minding my own business remember?"

"That! I...I didn't..."

Emilia shoved her phone in front of him.

"I'll call it even if you give me your number."

James blushed while giving her a smirk. "You're smooth, smoother that me."

She raised her eyebrows at him. They both stared at each other and burst out laughing.