The next few days pass agonizingly slow. I become a bit zombie-like; I'm still a functioning person but my mind can only focus on one thing: Athena. Ever since our encounter, I've replayed the scenario in my head over a thousand times and how it could have been a lot less awkward, or how I could've said something different, or how none of this would have happened if I just stayed on the other side of the street. But some unknown force was dragging me to that coffee shop, and I now know that force was Athena. I had always been drawn to her from the first moment I saw her.
It had been raining all week. Not just a slight drizzle, but an actual downpour where you can't see five feet in front of you and all I wanted to do was go outside. To feel the warm sunshine on my face, not be drenched within seconds of stepping outside. So on Sunday, when the rain clouds finally parted and the sun began to shine, I grabbed my jacket and ran outside, not wanting to waste this opportunity.
The ground was still wet. Puddles were everywhere, and the grass was still muddy. My shoes and the bottom of jeans were soaked instantly, but it was worth it just to be outside, breathing in the fresh air. The streets are filled with dozens of people taking a leisurely stroll, enjoying the temporary weather change.
I stop in front of a flower stand, amazed by the overwhelming smell and color of dozens of fresh flowers. I look to my left to see a girl with long brown hair sniffing a handful of bright red roses.
"Roses are my favorite." I don't normally make small talk with strangers, but there's something about today that's changed my mood. I feel ten times happier than I have been for the last seven days. It must be the weather.
"Mine too." She looks at me with a sweet, friendly smile. "Especially the pink ones." She points to a bunch of pink roses. I look to where she's pointing and then back to the bundle of flowers that she's holding in her hands.
"Then why are you holding red roses?"
"I don't know. They just caught my eye as I was walking by."
"That would make a great song."
"Oh really?" She gives me a judging look. "Are you a musician?"
"Yes I am, in fact," I say, tilting my nose up toward the sky and I catch a glimpse of the smile she's trying to hide.
I never believed in love at first sight. Love is something that takes time to blossom - like the roses that she's holding - and it's not an emotion you can develop within five minutes of meeting someone. However, I do believe that you can have an instant connection with someone, and I know that's what's happening between us right now. I've never been so intrigued by someone so quickly before, but there's just something about her that I can't quite explain yet. She seems like one of those people that you could know your whole life and learn something new about them everyday.
"I'm Harry, by the way."
"Athena." Her eyes flicker up at me and I can see that they are a pretty shade of brown, and I've never felt so breathless before in my life.
"Would you like to grab a coffee with me sometime?" I blurt out, and suddenly my hands feel sweaty and my chest tightens because she's probably going to say no, but it was worth a shot, right?
"Sure. Sounds like fun, Harry," she says and she hands me the roses she was holding before turning and walking away.
I step out of the shower and wrap a towel loosely around my hips before wandering back into the bedroom and towards the closet. I look through the few racks of clothes before deciding on a pair of black skinny jeans and a blue plaid button-down, nothing too formal for an interview.
