The Older Guy

Chapter IV

The rain had died down to a gentle drizzle. Karrah quickly picked up her bag and ran out of the café. Gavin and Shawn called after her but she chose to ignore them. Once she was a fare distance away from the café, Karrah slowed her pace to a hurried walk. She pulled up the hood of the jacket that had slipped off when she took off running. She hadn't the slightest clue where she was headed but she was sure of one thing; Aria definitely had something up her ass. The thought that she was most likely overreacting crossed Karrah's mind but she couldn't help what she was feeling.

The bus was surprisingly, sparsely packed. Only a handful of people, including the driver and Karrah, were on-board. Karrah picked a window seat upfront. The bus jerked forward with a pressurised squeak and sped off down the road. The rain began to pick up again sending some unprepared pedestrians scampering for shelter. Karrah stared absent minded out the window, instinctively hugging herself to keep warm. Unwillingly, Karrah's mind drifted and filled itself with thoughts of Michael. She found herself clutching on to his jacket, deeply inhaling the scent of his cologne. She tried telling herself that it was for comfort but Karrah had the unnerving feeling that it was something more.

As the bus began to pull up a familiar street, Karrah prepared herself to run into the building. The automated door slowly opened sending a wave of cold, wet wind racing in. Tightly gripping the straps of her backpack, Karrah took off in a sprint towards the pub. The overhead bell jingled as Karrah pushed the door open. Like the bus, there was barely anyone in but that was to be expected. Not a lot of people, unless they were serious alcoholics, came by until the sun was completely out of sight. Karrah's nose was upturned at the man asleep by the counter. A pool of saliva had formed around his mouth, small ripples being generated by his snoring.

"Karrah...? What are you doing here? Isn't it your day off?"

Karrah sat herself on one of the barstools, hands folded atop the counter. She gave Samuel a small smile, her eyes looking at nothing in particular. "I know but I had nowhere better to go. This was the first place I thought to go."

"And it didn't occur to you that you could go home?"

"I didn't want to go home. I need a drink anyway."

Samuel chuckled lightly "You know you're not old enough to drink."

Karrah's expression turned serious as she looked at her co-worker "You aren't old enough either but I know you sneak glasses of Jameson when the boss isn't looking." Karrah pulled out her phone, looked through the photo gallery and showed Samuel the screen "And unless you give me that bottle of Jack, I'll make sure the boss sees this."

Samuel stared wide eyed at the digital evidence of his underage drinking. He glared at the dark haired girl who gave him a seemingly innocent smile. He took the bottle of Jack Daniels, poured it in a glass and slid it over to Karrah.

"You're evil, you know that right?" Samuel poured himself a glass

"What you call evil, I call resourceful. Cheers."

The clink of glass filled the silent air as both employees indulged themselves. Karrah tried her best to push the thoughts of Michael out of her mind but it was evident to Samuel that something was bothering her. He refilled both their glasses, taking a large gulp of his own.

"So what's on your mind?" Karrah opened her mouth to respond but Samuel cut her short "And don't you tell me it's nothing because I know it's not."

Karrah exhaled dramatically taking another swig and emptying her glass. Where was she going to start? How was she going to explain that she may have possibly caught feelings for a grown man she had met only a few days ago? How was she going to tell him the scent of Michael's cologne made her heart race? How was she going to explain that wearing his jacket made her insides twist and turn? That the very thought of him made her feel all sorts of nervous? She didn't know how but she knew she had to tell someone. Usually Karrah would have turned to Aria for help but seeing as all she wanted to do was throw Aria off a building, telling her was out of the question.

"Alright... Do you remember Michael?"

"Hmm..." Samuel thought for a moment "Is it that dark and mysterious guy with the red hair that came in a few nights back?" Karrah nodded "Yah, what about him? Did he touch you?"

Karrah shook her head and waved her hands in protest "No he didn't touch me. He, he came in again the other night and we talked. As in we had an actual, civil conversation. He gave me a ride to campus this morning and-and I can't stop thinking about him Samuel!" She paused, almost surprised by how easily those words came out. "I know I must seem stupid to you but I just can't get him out of my head."

Samuel nodded giving her the go-ahead to continue. Karrah was now pacing to and fro. "When he says he has to leave, I feel sad. When I think of him chuckling, my stomach fills with butterflies. This jacket that I'm wearing, it's his. He lent it to me this morning and the smell of his cologne is driving me mad!

I can't explain what I'm feeling but I know that I shouldn't be feeling this way. He's a grown man, Samuel! Isn't it wrong for me to feel like this? I mean I barely know the guy and somehow he's gotten himself stuck in my head!"

Samuel was silent which made Karrah nervous. What if he was judging her; thinking horrible things about her? I shouldn't've told him, Karrah thought, I made a mistake.

"I should go...just forget everything I told you."

Karrah was half way to the door when Samuel called her back. She slowly turned to face him only to find him walking towards her. Samuel held on to her shoulders and looked her dead in the eye.

"Karrah, if you think I'm judging you, you're sorely mistaken. It's alright to feel the way you're feeling. Michael, if memory serves, is a good looking guy and no one would blame you if you were attracted to him. You're basically still a teen and still have no control over your hormones." He held her hands "You may just have a little crush on him, or, for all you know, you may have found your true love. I know that probably sounded very cliché-"

Karrah nodded "It did."

"But what I'm getting at is if you like him, don't feel ashamed. People find love in the most unexpected places and those usually make for the best love stories. So there's no point in denying what you're feeling. Take a leap of faith. You never know, he might just be the one for you."

Karrah took in all that Samuel said. He was right. It may just be a crush and it will soon fade, or, it may be something more than that. She would have to take the risk if she did want to find out exactly what it was. Karrah was willing to take that risk.

"You've been watching too many chick-flicks for your own good." Karrah let out a small laugh.

"Blame my girlfriend."

Karrah pulled Samuel into an embrace. She couldn't explain just how thankful she was for those few words. Karrah promised that she would find a way to thank him, but for now, a hug was enough.