Somebody Else

IV | Sure

The milk swirls around in the coffee in my emerald green mug. I opted for that instead of cream today. Not much of a difference because I'll find myself staring at that as well.

I'm surprised that I'm even awake.

Last night was incredibly insane for oddly all the right the reasons. Sarah and Nicola had taken a page out of Nadine's book, and crammed all night. I was so delighted that I literally did not close my eyes until they closed their books.

At least that's what I tell myself. But the reason I didn't go to sleep at a reasonable hour is because Sarah and Nic kept alternating their phones to play playlists that were heavy with bass. That was their study music.

But even in my sleepy state, I had to come to work to be a counselor.

As unique as it sounds, my college with the knowledge of the struggling employment in our society, offered me a counseling job. And it's everything that I ever wanted. Helping others steer themselves in the right direction, make them see the positives that stand out in a negative light, I live for it.

And even today, the second day of midterm week, I would probably meet with more afraid students. The ones who put it into their heads that these two days could ruin their lives and that's usually not the case. There's always an option.

"Good morning Cheryl," I sip my coffee when I look at the receptionist, Kevin, as his face hides behind a bouquet of red roses in a clear, glass vase.

"Morning Kev."

I lean over his desk, pushing the roses out of the way before I see him making a necklace out of paper clips. His slender fingers are careful to connect each multicolored clip and he looks up at me.

"Why?" I ask before he holds it up for me.

"It matches your eyes," Kevin says before he scratches the brunette fuzz on his chin. Kevin is such a lovely person but half of the time he doesn't have a clue of what's going on in the world.

I nod slightly as his electric blue eyes squint at the flowers that I moved aside. His fingers then run through his gelled auburn hair that's combed back before I can see him begin to struggle with something to say.

"What's wrong?" I ask him as he reaches into the flowers and pulls out a card.

"Here."

I take the little card out of his hand, beginning to read the little note on it.

I hope you like them. I know they're like your fave - Eli

"Kevin, I thought we agreed on not letting him stop by," I say to him as his broad shoulders shrug under his light blue Oxford shirt.

"He's hard to say no to."

"Why is that?"

"I think it's his eyes," Kevin begins to chuckle as I groan then he puts the necklace over my head and shoves the flowers into my arms. "Enjoy your day."

I begin the longest walk to my office, saying hello to everyone who made it here before me. I kick the door open since my hands aren't free. I take one more sip of my coffee before I put that down and my flowers.

"I'm glad you like them."

I turn around to see Eli laying on the navy blue couch with a magazine on his face.

"What are you doing here?" I go to close the door behind me before I pick up the sheet of paper off of my cherry red wood desk with my appointments on it today.

"I wanted to see if you like the bouquet."

"I haven't seen you in five days. And you come back with flowers. And take that damn magazine off of your face."