wilted

01 || Tall, Dark, and Handsome

tall, dark, and handsome

|| X ||

I got a 54% on my European History final.

Fifty-four percent.

I stare at my phone screen in mute shock. No way. I studied for hours on this test, between classes during the day and under my blankets during the night.

The doors behind me open, letting in a storm of college students, pumped up with holiday cheer. From the other side of the cart, a man with a miniature speaker plays Jingle Bell Rock steps outside. The train seems quieter when he leaves. 

Blair steps onto the train, coffee cup in one hand and spots me. 

"Don't look now, but Mister Tall, Dark and Handsome behind you just asked me for your name and number," She says, walking over."I think he's really into you."

The train starts with a jerk. Blair grabs the pole I'm currently holding onto. 

"You okay?" 

"Yeah, just some school stuff," I tuck a few gingers curls under my hat. 

"School's not an issue anymore, girl," Blair bats my shoulder lightly. "Forget about it."

I nod, focusing on her face to bring me back to earth, smooth and dark as midnight. Her coiled hair is in two buns, placed on top of her head, like a mouse's ears. Blair, who passed all her classes shining top marks, hums along a Christmas tune. 

I take a deep breath. "What took you so long?" 

"Oh yeah, so I was just about to tell you," Blair grins. "While I was grabbing my coffee, this one man tapped me on the shoulder. And this guy was no ordinary man, okay? He was attractive, fashionable -"

Blair continues her story, repeating the entire conversation she had with the man, about how he had this strange accent and how his friends were courteous and graceful. As much as I attempt to listen, my brain rewinds to my grade, playing it in a loop. 

54%

54%

54%

How could I let this happen? 

An automated voice from above informs everyone that the next stop is arriving soon. The train tilts to the left as it goes around a curve. Loose pieces of gum wrappers and torn plastic bags skid across the floor.

" - and then, he said is that your friend over there, with the red hair -"

"My hair is orange," I say, unsure why I chose to fixate on this detail. "Not red." 

" - so obviously, I was like yeah, why? and then he asked me for your name and I said it was Vivre and then he said -"

"You gave him my name?"

"Yeah, sorry, but it just slipped out. It's like a reflex. But, here's where it gets really weird. As soon as I said your name, he and his friends just laughed. When I asked them what so funny, they said it was ironic."

"Ironic?" I frown. "Did he say why?"

"No, he asked me for your phone number instead."

"You gave him my number?"

"Yes, okay, but don't look so mad. It was for a good reason. After you and Wilson broke up, you haven't even looked at another male in the eye."

I rub my thumb over the ridges of the pole. "I'm not interested in dating anymore."