Aubade

Part 4: The Golden Robin, Part 1

Clarissa tugged at the front of her
dress, clearly nervous. She wasn't used to wearing anything other than jeans and tights. Wearing a dress that clung to her every curve seemed risqué. A kind of risk she usually didn't take. Her friends had encouraged her for nearly an hour to wear something "normal." She glanced at the two friends she had persuaded to come along with her, Gemma and Taylor. They were both tall, and rather similar in appearance despite not being related. Clarissa knew they were the classic kind of beautiful, wide eyed, with long blonde hair. They were both more outgoing than Clarissa was and had quickly agreed to going out, as Clarissa rarely extended the offer.

Clarissa cleared her throat, switching from foot to foot. The heels she wore were her only pair. Classic black pumps to match her dress. The line wrapped around the block and they'd just barely snagged a spot near the end. Clarissa wanted to crane her neck to look for William but she didn't want to appear too eager. Clarissa furrowed her brow. She couldn't recall the last time she'd truly been interested in someone. Even slightly. She'd just been so busy with school and work that she rarely had time to hang out with her friends, let alone pursue dates.

"Soooo....do you think he'll bring cute friends?" Gemma asked, tearing Clarissa out of her thoughts.

Clarissa grinned and bounced her shoulders lightly in a shrug.
As charismatic as William appeared, he seemed just as reclusive and private as she was.

"Honestly, I'm glad Clarissa's left the house at all," Taylor chimed in, applying a second layer of lipstick using her compact mirror.

"College has swallowed my soul whole," Clarissa replied solemnly.

The three looked at one another and burst into laughter. College gives you a dark sense of humor.

Clarissa scanned the area as subtlety as possible. There were quite a few cars in the adjoining parking lot. However, the lot was dimly lit and Clarissa could barely make out who moved toward the line.

She checked the time on her phone, wondering if she'd been a fool. This wasn't a novel. Mysterious boys didn't waltz into people's lives. Not without wanting something in return. Clarissa shook her head. Oh well, either way I'll be having some fun tonight. Taylor did have a point. College was something Clarissa was intensely devoted to but she needed some downtime, for her own sanity.

Clarissa turned around once more. The line had moved half an inch. She sighed. At least the weather was nice, for a Midwestern winter. The winter was coming in, you could feel it in the occasional cold breeze. But it wasn't here yet, and it hasn't even snowed. A little surprising for the area.

The flow of various conversations became like a light hum of noise. Clarissa paused when she picked up on a conversation that was slightly louder, a little more frantic. If that's him, she thought, exasperated.

She turned around to the parking lot once more. Sure enough. William was walking toward the line, two friends in tow. Clarissa scanned the group quickly. One of the two men with William was saying something loudly, clearly agitated. "That's not how it works," he repeated several times. Clarissa was by nature also very nosy. She observed people and the body language of his friend seemed tense. William, however, was unconcerned. He simply nodded his head, listening absentmindedly. The other man was silent. His eyes ran over the crowd, and his hands were stuffed in his pockets. What a motley crue, Clarissa thought to herself.

Nonetheless, she waved William over. He broke out into a smile and light jog. His friend suddenly grew quiet.

"Well, hi! You must be Clarissa's friend," Taylor said, breaking the ice.