Stranger's Spell

Chapter 6

As we leave the massive museum a pang of sadness hits me. Not because I'm leaving all of the beautiful pieces of artwork behind, but because I didn't even get the stranger's name. The air has got chillier since this morning. I hug my arms around the front of me trying to stay warm. Down in the subway it's a little warmer. Everyone is quite, exhausted from walking all day long. Brains fried from learning so much history about the art. I close my eyes and lean my head against the window. His face keeps reappearing. It's like I'm trying to grasp every detail so I don't forget what he looks like.

What am I doing? I should be focusing on the tests I have tomorrow. I don't even know the guy. I shake my head and stand up getting ready to walk off the subway. Ida, Mia, and I rode it back to our dorms. Once it stops, us and a few other people walk off too. Inside I part from Mia and Ida.

"See you guys tomorrow," I wave to them and then take the stairs. The elevator is too slow for me and I'm ready to get my study on. Out of breath I start rummaging through my purse to find my keys. I dig to the very bottom and come up with nothing. This can't be right I remember locking my door this morning. I didn't even get in my purse besides to get my phone out when it- Shit. Shit Shit. I dump out all of the stuff in my purse until it is completely empty. My keys are nowhere to be found along with all my credit cards and driver's license. I slide my back down my door and sit there with my face in my hands.

At the beginning of the semester they told all the students that they cannot lose their keys. If that person were to lose their keys they would have to replace it which could take up to four days. I do not have four days to wait. I could go get the key replaced and stay with Ida for four days. I'm not in the mood to sleep on the floor though. I try to remember all of the credit cards that were with my keys. I'm going to need to call all of them and let them know to cancel my accounts because I'm stupid enough to lose them. I'm interrupted from my breakdown when my phone starts to ring. I look down and it's an unknown number.

"Hello?" I sniffle and wipe the tears off of my face.

"Is this Valerie Gallo?" a guy asks on the other side of the line. He sounds young.

"Who is this?" my patients is not very long. I just want to crawl into a ball. Exhaustion has now took over my body and I'm just ready to fall asleep.

"Um.. My name is Landon. I believe you are the one who fell into me today.." Landon says it with a lighthearted laugh. I can feel my cheeks start to blush. Even though he can't see me I'm pretty sure he knows what's going on. Wait. How did he get my number?

"How do you know who I am and how did you get my number?"

"You dropped your keys.. I tried to get your attention but you kept walking."

"It took you this long to call me?" I'm starting to get frustrated now.

"Well after you ran off I started roaming the museum looking for you," he says, his voice starting to sound accusing, "and after I couldn't find you I went home."

I hold my breath, waiting for him to continue.

"... so then I decided that maybe I can find some contact information in your wallet. So I opened it and saw that piece of paper that all wallets have. You know the one with Name, Address, Phone Number... anyway I called that number that was on there and was hoping that you haven't change your number anytime soon." He finishes his little story and I let out a long breath realizing I was holding it in.

"Oh.. well thank you," I say. There is an awkward silence on the line.

"So uhh... Where should I meet you to give this back?" he questions me. I pull the phone away from my ear and check the time. It's already past seven so most places are closed.