sonder » c.h.

four

Calum moved through the crowd easily. His long legs carried him quickly, maneuvering through the tourists and natives alike. It was times like these that he was glad barely anyone took notice to him. He brought his cigarette to his lips, taking a deep drag of nicotine as he stepped off the curb.

The smoke filled his longs, sating the deep want they ached for. He blew out the smoke, the tendrils curling off his lips as his eyes scanned the scene in front of him. Taxis were bumper to bumper per usual, tourists darting in between the small gaps.

One woman was trying to wrangle about six large shopping bags by herself. Calum chuckled to himself as he watched her, shaking his head as he sucked down another lungful of smoke. He held it in for a second, tasting the nicotine sweet on his tongue before letting it out.

It was through the swirling gray tendrils that he saw her. She was amongst the crowd walking across the street from him, but he could see her from a mile away. Ever since his date with her, he couldn't stop thinking about her. He thought about texting her, but he didn't want to seem to eager.

Ashton had told him and Luke how she was so intrigued by him, but still thought he was a mystery. That was what had sparked Calum's interest in the first place. He had gone throughout high school invisible, but she was finally the person that had taken notice to him.

He watched as she moved along with the throng of tourists, her eyes surveying everyone around her. Ashton had also explained how she was a people-watcher, how she had always been for as long as he knew her. Calum could see it now, watching her silently from the curb.

He wondered what she was thinking, what she was wondering about each person she laid eyes on. He wondered what she thought about him when she first saw him. He thought back to that night, recalling how he went to the corner store to buy more cigarettes before heading to the café to watch his best friend and roommate perform.

He was glad that he finally got to see him perform again; the last time had been weeks ago. Calum just had been busy and had always gotten to the café by the time the mic night was over and everyone was filing out of the coffee shop.

Calum took one last drag from his cigarette as he watched her get caught up on the corner. He could just make out her face between two businessmen standing in front of her. He savored the nicotine before tossing the butt away, stomping out the dying embers with the heel of his boot.

He dipped his hand into his back pocket, grabbing his phone and unlocking it. They had exchanged numbers shortly before their date ended, just to keep in touch. Though, Calum had yet to dial her number, and he had yet to receive anything from her end.

But that was about to end.

He typed out a quick text, hitting send and flicking his eyes back up to her. A few seconds passed before she looked down, her hands finding her own cellphone. Calum watched as she smiled at the message he had sent her, her eyes brightening as she tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear.

Moments later, Calum received his own reply back, telling him that she would meet him at the café in a half hour. He smiled to himself before looking back up, but she was already gone.

-

Calum exited the small bookstore, adjusting the grip on the book he had purchased. He loved the store since tourists always overlooked it. He had discovered it a few years ago while wondering the streets, but he had been in love ever since then. He loved that it smelled like old books and that they had a cat living on the chair in front of the counter.