Our Great Love

Chapter 8: Joe

Well I guess I should head to my last class of the day which is math. As I head over to the math department I see a text from Lilly letting me know she got to the library and is working. I tell her that I have one more class before I can head over. After that I slide my phone in my pocket and head over to an empty seat next to some guy but it's whatever, he's not important until he turns to face me and speaks.

"Hey you're in my English Class right? You got to sit next to the pretty girl. I'm kinda jealous of that but I was wondering if maybe you get her name or number. I'd like to try to ask her out."

"Yeah her name is Lilly. But I already found out she has a boyfriend so you'll have to let her go like I did dude" I shrug to him as I lie about the boyfriend part because I want to ask her out.

"Man, that sucks but she is a nice thing to look at so I can see why she's taken." he sighs and turns his focus to the teacher.

I have to look away from him because that comment made me really mad, like she isn't just an object to be looked at. She is a smart, incredible, and sweet person.

Class goes by so fast and I end up with a whole page of notes and lots of questions but I don't have time to ask them because I need to head over to the library. I rush to pack up and run over to the library and I don't see her at the front desk which has a long line so I start walking down the aisle to find her. I walk all the way to the last one on the first floor and see her. I lean against the shelf and take her in. She's wearing gray sweats and a crop top that says NAU on it, she paired her clothes with low top black converse, she also has her hair up in a lose ponytail, and is wearing black glasses, looking so beautiful and busy with work. She has headphones in and sways her ass to the music as she takes books from the cart and places them on the shelves. She hasn't even noticed me which is good because I want to watch her for a bit longer. As I watch her I wonder what kind of music she likes or who her favorite artist is. I wonder where she learned moves like that. And I wonder what she sounds like when she sings instead of mouthing the words silently. I stand there for a few more minutes before I walk up and take out a headphone piece. 

"Hey Lilly."

"Oh shit, you scared me, Hi Joe" She jumps and spins to face me looking red and flustered. She then takes out her headphones and puts it in the pocket of her sweats.

"Sorry didn't mean to scare you. So what or who were you listening to?"

"It's okay I was just kinda lost in my own world, I always listen to music when I do stuff like this so I don't fall asleep. But umm I was just listening to my Liked Songs on Spotify so it's a big mix of music. The song I was just listening to before you scared me was "Mine Fields By John legend."

"That's cool, I listen to Taylor Swift a lot. I love her music."

"Wow really? Most guys don't listen to her but I love her." She smiles brightly at that as if she is thinking of the songs she loves and is replaying them in her mind.

"Yeah really my top 3 are "Mine, Our Song, and Enchanted."

"Nice, those are great songs and the Speak now album is amazing. I really like her new album, Midnights."

"Yeah me too, it's a good album. So, are you ready to work on the English assignment?"

"Well I still have an hour left of my shift but after that I'll be free. There's a check out desk on the second floor which is where I'm going next if you want to get started on the assignment near there. I just have to take the cart back and let the Librarian know where I'm going."

"Alright cool. I'll head up there and wait for you." I wave bye and walk towards the stairs and head up to the second floor. I find a desk close to the check out one and set up my stuff. A few minutes pass before I see her walking up to me with her backpack. 

"Hey Lil." I say as I met her eyes

"Seriously, Lil. Are you making fun of my height?' She asks with a smile and a raised eyebrow.

"No, I'm just shortening your name." I say as I laugh

"I know, I'm just teasing you, chill." She pulls up a chair and gets her notes and laptop out of her bag. She doesn't look my way again as she speaks.

"I talk to the librarian and she said I was cool to work on this until someone needs help at the desk so I just have to watch it until the hour is up and then I'm off work. 

"Ok sounds good" I say smiling at her

"So have you ever read the book?, because I already read it so we don't really need to if you can remember the story's plot."

"I did once but don't remember it."

"Ok no worries I can just start writing about the plot and we can go over it to refresh you mind ."

"Yeah ok sounds good." I scoot in closer to her. She starts writing notes down and focuses on the homework but I can't stop staring at her. I'm so close that I can see she has freckles all over her nose and under her eyes, they are a light brown color and unless you were close you wouldn't notice them. I love that I get to notice them. I eyes move from her freckles to her soft pink lips that she is currently biting and it makes me internally groan. I think I stare at her angelic face for so long I don't notice she stops working until her lips face mine, causing our lips to be inches apart.

"Are you going to keep staring or are we going to get work done?" She asks smiling.

I'm speechless and I can't wait anymore. I start slowly leaning in to kiss her but I stop and pull back, what the fuck is happening, I've never wanted to kiss someone so bad until her and it's making me loss my mind.

"Um I'm sorry. I don't know what that was." I say as I look up and collide with her ocean eyes that are full of emotional waves, and I'm drowning in them.

"What do you mean you don't know, you were staring. Do I have something on me or on my face?" she asks me running her hands over her mouth and face. I grab her wrist and hold them in her lap.

"No, you are absolutely beautiful and I was about to kiss you which isn't something I do normally but my mind is all messed up around you which is why I want to ask you this. Will you go out on a date with me, Lilly?" She looks shocked and speechless but clears her throat and answers me.

"Umm Joe we just met today and earlier you said you liked someone else so it seems wrong how fast your moving on"

"I was talking about you."

"Oh" she looks down and blushes hard.

"I think you're a really nice guy but as I told you earlier I'm not easy and I come with a lot of baggage and I don't wanna burden you. Plus I don't have a lot of time on my hands to be someone you need. And on top of that I don't know what love is so how can I love you?"

"I don't care about that and we can at least try, come on just one date. If you don't wanna continue after that then ok but one date that is all I am asking for." I plead while still holding her wrist, the skin to skin touch is like electricity flowing through me.

"You're not going to give up until I say yes huh?" she asks, looking me in the face with a smile.

"Yup" I smile

"Ok then, yes. One date, nothing fancy and I'm not dressing up. No flowers or anything like that, it's just between friends. Deal?" she says in a stern voice but is turning bright red with blush.

"Deal, how about Chick-Fil-a?" I ask 

"Yeah that sounds good, we can go after I finish my shift in 20 mins if you want"

"Yeah, it sounds great." I'm so happy right now and can't stop smiling like crazy.