A Silent Love

Chapter 5 : I really need help.

Mason's POV

After Olivia ran away from me, I stood there dumbly, not knowing what to do.

Well, I knew what I wanted to do. 

I wanted to sprint after her and talk to her and make sure everything was okay... and maybe run my hand through her soft, golden locks...

Okay, Mason. Off topic. 

But seeing how scared she was for the teacher to even talk to her, it would take some time for her to open up to anyone, let alone me. 

So, fighting off the instinct to chase after her, I turned around and headed to the subway. Luckily, it was about to be rush hour and the subway would be jam packed with business people. 

And business people tip generously when my music is the only thing preventing them from ripping someone's head off. 

So, like every day for the past two years, I set my case on the ground in front of me, placing some bills I collected yesterday inside and tuned my guitar. 

About fifteen minutes later, a small crowd had formed around me, slowly blocking up the passageways. 

As I finished my version of Riptide by Vance Joy, someone knocked into me, successfully knocking me and my backpack over. 

I looked up to curse at the person, but my breath caught in my throat when my eyes connected to the beautiful green ones I had been admiring an hour ago. 

Olivia. 

Her eyes flashed with recognition and her cheeks became rosy with embarrassment while mine matched hers, but for a completely different reason. I looked down at her parted lips for a second but quickly switched my focus to my dropped papers. 

Maybe this is a sign that I need to talk to her. Maybe she's in trouble and doesn't know how to reach out and this is a sign from the universe to be her hero.

Or maybe I read one too many romance novels to my mother. 

She kneeled down and helped me collect my belongings while my shaking hands somehow managed to crumple up some of my cash. 

Olivia finally handed me the papers that she had stacked in a neat pile and smiled shyly at me. 

"Thanks, Olivia. By the way, I am really sorry about earlier... I didn't mean to scare you. I was just concerned because you seemed frightened during class and I wanted to make sure you were okay. Although it's none of my business, I mean I just, I don't know, I wanted to check." I started to ramble, but I noticed the same expression of terror that was there an hour ago. 

I wanted to kick myself in the face. 

Wow, way to go Mason. You're going to scare off the pretty girl with your nonsensical rambling. 

"Sorry about that. I ramble when I'm nervous and obviously, I'm nervous now... haha I mean, I'm not nervous to talk to you. I'm sure you are very nice, I'm just usually not in the presence of beautiful girls...Uh, w-wait I didn't mean to say that..." 

Someone walking by snickered at me, obviously overhearing my embarrassing rant, but I ignored them. 

You're definitely making this better dude. 

She looked even more terrified than before and I started to really worry. 

"Are you okay?" I asked, my eyebrows raising alarmed as she sighed a bit as she nodded slowly before replying, "Sorry." She pointed to the subway that had just arrived before dashing away from me. 

I stayed rooted to my spot. 

That was the first time I had ever heard her speak. 

Her voice sounded a bit froggy, but maybe she had a cold or something. That might explain why she was having trouble focusing in class and why she wasn't talking much. 

Well honestly, I had never seen her pay attention in class...

I'm too busy paying attention to her not paying attention that I don't pay attention anymore either. 

That sounded confusing even to me. 

I'm knocked out of my Olivia-induced daydream when someone shoves me hard on the shoulder and I almost fall into a passing subway. I steady myself quickly before I fall to my death and silently curse the pushy New York locals. 

Shakily, I pack up my things and head home, too tired and distracted to continue playing.  

By the time I arrive back at my quaint apartment, I hear the ragged breaths from my mother's room and decide not to wake her by letting her know I am home early. Instead, I order Chinese - sweet and sour chicken is her favorite - and head to my room to start on my homework. 

Or at least try to think about math when all I can think about is Olivia's twinkling green eyes and scratchy, but beautiful, voice. 

The square root of 9,604 is the number of freckles scattering her face. 

256 divided by 8 is how many times I want to run my hands through her soft hair. 

Oh god. 

If someone could hear my thoughts right now, I would be thrown right in the loony bin. 

I've only talked to the girl like two times! 

Well more like I rambled like an idiot and she stared at me like I was Freddy Krueger.

But still!

The sound of the someone knocking hard on the front door makes me curse under my breath as I rush out to answer it before my mom wakes up. I was too busy drooling over Olivia that I forgot about ordering food. 

I really need help. 

Quietly opening the door, I slip the man a twenty and collect the food and the change while giving him a polite smile. He says something about having a nice night and I hear my mom's bed creak slightly, but all I can think about is the enigma that is Olivia.