The Lonely Hour

Chapter 21: Hasty

Her eyes twinkled, and the cup of hot chocolate mirrored in her eyes. She truly was beautiful, Patrick couldn't even find a flaw if he tried.

It was crazy how full of life she was without even knowing it.

The both of them ended up in a small coffee shop huddled close for warmth that was resonating off one another's bodies.

There the two shared stories of their first time ever playing hockey, their first goal and their first celly.

Patrick wanted to sit there in that coffee house for hours on end and listen to her speak and watch her eyes glow as they did. But the two of them finished their hot chocolate and were on their way. Together they both walked the streets of Chicago, admiring everything on display in store windows and the tall buildings.

As the two walk, Ella begins to shiver. Patrick had been so lost in the sound of her voice he didn't realize that she wasn't wearing a jacket. Slowly he slips his off as she admires a pair of boots in a store display window.

He comes up behind her and rests it on her shoulders. A small smile appears on her face. "Thank you" She whispers as her eyes get lost in the beauty of the boots.

"You like those?" Patrick questions

"Yea, I don't really own boots.. or any girly clothes" She giggles.

"All hockey undergear" Patrick laughs

"You have no idea" Ella rolls her eyes

Finally Ella leaves the window and snuggles into Pat's jacket as they come upon the big coffee bean. It had been four years since Ell lived in the city and she had never visited it.

"I never understood it" Patrick jokes "It's just a big bean"

"You're such a boy" Ella rolls her eyes as she admires it. Soon enough the two stroll along down a few streets where Ella picks out a new bracelet for herself and Patrick gets a new scarf for the winter.

--

I hated to admit it but I really did have a nice time with Patrick. I saw more of the city in a few hours than I did in the past four years.

Patrick dropped me off in front of my building and with a quick hug I made my inside, waving before going in.

I walk into the building, passed the common room and to my dorm. When I unlocked the door I was taken back by the familiar face that sat on my bed.

My brother older brother Kyle.

"You should see your face right now" He chuckles hard, resonating his voice off the concrete walls. He jumps down from the bed and pulls me into a hug.

"What are you doing here?" I begin to cry into his chest. Kyle was in the army and I hadn't seen him since his last leave in December.

"I'm on an emergency leave, someone in my platoon just passed"

"Oh Kyle I'm so sorry" I hug him

"No it's okay. I know I should've called but I wanted to surprise you for thanksgiving"

"That's in like a week" I laugh while tears stream down my face, wetting his white tank top.

"I can't drop in on my sister?"

"Okay why are you really here Kyle?" I pull away and look at him with curiosity. It wasn't like my brother to just pop in on me without us knowing he was home. The only time I saw him was back home in Springfield for holidays, I knew something was up.

"What do you think of Lela?" He questions as he sits down on my couch.

"Lela? I love her" I smile. Lela was his girlfriend for 4 years now. I absolutely adored the girl, she was beautiful and smart. Her eyes were this intense shade of green that often turned to a subtle hazel color. She had blonde wavy hair chopped just as her shoulder blades. And while my brother was a tall 6'2 she was a short 5'3 & it was the cutest to see them two together. She cared so much about our family and honestly she like my older sister.

The two had met their junior year of college and instantly there was a connection.

"How would you like it if she became a permanent part of the family?" This time he asks the question in a hushed tone with his eyes staring down, not daring to me meet mine.

"Kyle what do you mean?" I question.

"I'm going to purpose to Lela" His face lights up and I can't remember the last time I had seen my older brother this happy. His eyes were sparkling and it was like his face was glowing. He was so madly in love with Lela and you could just tell by the way he talked about her.

"Oh my god Kyle!" I squeal before jumping up to hug him.

"So you approve?" He chuckles hard as he lets me down.

"Of course! Lela is going to be my sister in law! I can steal so many outfits out of her closest. Kyle I'm so happy for you"

"I have everything planned out, I'm so excited"

"Tell me tell me!" I plead

"No, it's going to be a total surprise to everyone! Mom & Dad don't even know I'm going to propose"

"Will it happen before Christmas?"

He flashes a wink to confirm that Lela and him will be engaged at the annul Brooks family Christmas dinner.

"Kyle I'm beyond happy for you" I hug him one last time. As he pulls away he takes a moment to look at me. "Where were you? You don't have class this late" He gets suspicious "And your cheeks were practically glowing when you walked in"

"I, I had a date" I mumble, grabbing a piece of my hair I begging to twirl it in between two fingers out of nervousness.

"With? How did it go?" He was now more intrigued than ever. I guess Kyle had a right to be, I haven't really gone out with anyone all college. My last 'real' boyfriend was back in my senior of high school.

"A boy and very well" I roll my eyes

"You can't just say 'a boy'" he rolls his eyes.

"It was one date. There are no details to tell"

"Well he does anything, he'll get to meet my fists" Kyle says with a serious voice.

"Calm down Mr.Matcho" I joke "He's just a friend"

A friend who I wasn't intrigued about until tonight.