Late Have I Loved You

Meteorites

Derek

I can't tell you how she got under my skin so quickly, or how it felt less like I was getting to know her and more like I was remembering who she was after meeting her in a pre existing timeline. She was a walking memory, sending me to some parallel universe where heaven might be a real thing every time her eyes planted themselves on any part of me.

The crazy thing? It's only been 10 minutes since I built up the nerve to approach her for a conversation. She was severely out of place in this bar setting, leaning up against the windowsill with a book in one hand and a glistening bottle of beer in the other. Then again, I really didn't belong here either, but some cosmic pull dragged me all the way out here to some city I've never been to and right in front of her.

"You have a black eye," I blurted out. Smooth one Derek.

"I do," she looked up with a smirk. "Can I help you?"

"Huh?" I blinked.

"Well you're just standing there, and you pointed out that I have a black eye which is obvious to pretty much everyone here. So... can I help you?" she giggled. 

I could feel the embarrassment making itself painfully known on my face. I had to think of something quick.

"I could tell you that I thought you looked really pretty, but it didn't sound as charming," I joked nervously. "Pointing out your black eye sounded a little more romantic to me."

I really had her laughing then. Relief soon washed over me and she offered me a seat on the windowsill.  

"My name is Derek," I smiled.

"Jessa is mine," she nodded, flipping her book shut.

"Oh no, you can keep reading. I'm more than okay with just hanging out here next to you," I urged her.

"Luckily for you, I'm not that rude," she assured me. "You're not from around here."

"You guessed correctly," I nodded. 

From that point on we found ourselves falling into the same wavelength. We carried our conversation into the early hours of the morning and then it was time for her to go. 

"I hate to leave you, but I have work in a few hours and some sleep would do me some good," she chuckled lightly. 

I watched her tuck a lock of her chocolate colored hair behind her ear and she gave me a small smile. 

"How about I give you my number? If you want to talk again, regardless of the subject, I'm always down to talk," I suggested. 

"That's awfully confident of you to trust that I'll text or call you," she raised a brow.

"You could say I'm awfully hopeful," I countered. 

She handed me her phone so I could input my number and tiptoed to give me a proper hug. She smelled like a late afternoon nap, if a late afternoon nap could smell like anything. 

"What that's that scent in your perfume?" I asked. 

"It's called Colette," she smiled. 

"Whatever it is, it's amazing," I told her, not quite letting go of her.

"Let me see your jacket." She took a step back and held out her hands. 

I slipped it off quickly without question and she rummaged around in her purse for a moment. Before I could protest what she was about to do she went ahead and sprayed the collar. 

"Sorry, but this is just the sacrifice you're gonna have to be willing to make to remember the girl of your dreams," she joked. "There. Now you'll have a little bit of me to walk around with you until the next time I see you. You know, if I see you," she giggled.