Poisoned Promises

2: The Cute Meet Up

•Alessia•

"Well I think you're all set for today Alessia dear, why don't you run along and see if you can meet any new people before dinner?" My aunt Jasmine tells me, standing up from her recliner.

I had been trying to turn her pet gerbil into a glass bowl for the past thirty minutes and it's worked twice so far.

I stretch from my spot on the floor and yawn. "Aunt Jasmine can't I just go take a nap or read? Why do I have to go talk to people?" I whine.

She gives me a stern look with her hazel eyes. "Now Alessia, if you want to go to school you will have to get over your anxiety of meeting others. How will you perform on a stage if you can't even ask your classmate for a spare quill? Hmm?"

"Fair point," I sigh and I hand over my wand and head upstairs to the guest bedroom I'm staying in.

I change out of my sweats and pull on a pair of black ripped skinny jeans and my maroon hoodie. I braid my hair quickly and after one last look in the mirror for reassurance, I head downstairs and walk out the door.

"Hmmm where to meet people where to meet them," I wonder to myself.

Since I was younger, I was always shy around new people or just people in general I wasn't comfortable around.

My parents brushed this off as me being shy but it only worsened as the years went by.

Here I was, 13 years old and couldn't even order food at a restaurant without having an anxiety attack.

Confused and worried for me, my mom had called her sister to ask if she still visited her old therapist, Dr. Vincent, to see if I could start making an appearance there too.

But Aunt Jasmine wouldn't hear of it.

Instead, on weekends, I would go to my Aunts house and she's slowly get me to not be so scared and worried when it came to speaking to new people.

And now, it's very rare for me to have an anxiety attack at all. Talking to people has become a simpler task.

"OOMF!"

I slam into something and crash onto the cement sidewalk, and I hear something else fall too.

"I am so so sorry, I didn't see where I was going, I'm heading for the library you see, for my shift and-" a male voice keep blubbering on and I open my eyes to see a tall, dark boy in front of me.

"Oh it's quite alright, I was lost in my own thoughts, no harm done," I smile as I attempt to get up but he extends a hand.

"Here, let me help you up," he offers and I give him a grateful smile.

"And you're sure you're alright?" The boy asks again, worry still evident in his chocolate eyes.

I laugh. "I'm sure, I guess you can say you swept me off my feet,"

He laughs too and gestures in front of him. "Would you mind walking with me the the William Greene Library? I wouldn't mind the company," he offers.

I shrug. "Sure, I've got nothing planned," and we set off walking, conversation starting up.

By the time we reach the building, I now have learned his name is Jeremy, he's 16, and he works shifts at the library so he can save that money for his theatre camp costs.

"You're into theatre? I've always wanted to be in a theatre program!" I smile at Jeremy, and he grins back at me. "Well that's amazing! At my school, WGH, they have the best theatre program hands down!" He exclaims.

"Sounds like a dream," I sigh, and I reach for the door handle but he stops me, putting his hand on mine.

"I really enjoyed talking to you today Alessia, will I ever get to see you again?" And I furrow my brow.

"Well I'm about to leave for boarding school, but I'll be back to visit for holidays and such and then of course, summer time," I reply.

He nods. "Is there any way I can keep in touch? Phone number, email?"

Maybe by owl? I think in my head which makes me want to giggle. I can just picture what Jeremy will think of me when I say, "No I don't own any electronic devices but I do have an owl,"

"I'm sorry but I don't have a phone or anything," I say sadly and he nods.

He probably thinks I'm gonna forget all about him like this encounter never happened. I can't lose a possible friend. Not if I'm gonna stay at my aunts house throughout my Hogwarts years because of Hermione.

So do I tell him about letters by owl?

No, but I think of the next best thing.

"You can write to me while I'm away, you can give me your address," I volunteer and his face lights up.

"Great! Old fashioned communication is suddenly in!" And I laugh.

He writes his address down on my arm with a black sharpie he found in his book bag.

"There we go!" Jeremy says and I stare at the ink on my arm.

4703 Clydesdale Lane 77416

"I'll write to you as often as I can," I tell him and he blushes a bit.

"Well, nice meeting you Alessia, see you in your letters," Jeremy tells me and I blush a bit now.

We linger for a bit on the marble steps, until I decide to just throw my anxiety into the wind.

I step forward and wrap my arms around Jeremy, hugging him.

"Bye," I whisper in his ear.

"Goodbye," he whispers back.

I break apart from him and wave, and turn around, begging my legs to stop turning to jelly and to resist skipping all the way home.

•••