Old Roads

12. Alex, is that you?

I summoned up all the power inside me to decide whether to attend the next lecture, it was Computer Networks (Jon Carles' lecture). No mater how much I tried, I cannot convince myself to attend his lecture so I bunked. I slipped into the washroom, splashed my face with cold water. It helped me get out of the trance I was inside since the happenings of the morning. I skidded towards the parking lot.

The sun was still behind the trees and the soft breeze caressed my hair. I sat beneath a tree spreading my legs and welcomed the cool wind to play with my mood. This was all so relieving. I tried to reconstruct all that happened that night at the graveyard. Everyone was so scared for Lisa and me. Matt called like dozen times a day to check on me. Strange, I didn't see him today. I guessed even he had skipped college today, I groaned inwardly.

I was so busy in my thoughts that I almost missed the honks. Almost! Someone honked again and my eyes flew to the car making the noise, my blood froze. It was the same car in which my grandparents and Alex had their last journey. Same model, same make, same colour. But we can have many same cars, can't we? Still I stood up and went close to it. Someone was sitting inside at the driver's seat. Someone with black hoodie and white pants, someone with converse shoes, someone whose presence is haunting me from past days, someone who saved me today. That someone leaned towards the passenger's seat and opened it, signalling for me to enter.

My first thought was to run away but isn't it what I was doing in our every encounter. I wanted answers but I was scared too. I stood there debating my next step when he smiled broadly at me again. I cannot say that all my doubts flew away and I jumped into the car like a foolish rabbit but yes, I did slip into the car, though I did not close the door.

Silence!

More silence!!

Awkward silence!!!

I looked towards him with the corner of my eyes. He was still there, sitting with his hands on the wheel. I coughed.

"I wanted to thank you for morning."

No reply

"You came just in nick of time"

No reply

"By the way, I am Emma Scott."

No reply. This guy has some nerves, ignoring me like ignoring the sun on a damned sunny day.

"Thanks for your help in the morning and this deep-hearted conversation. Goodbye" with this I jumped out of the car and banged the door with all my might. I stood there a moment or two rubbing my temple. This person really got on my nerve. I still had like 4-5 minutes before recess. Before strolling away, I turned to look in the car, to test whether my last few minutes were even real? And my blood froze again. My veins will definitely burst one of these days with all these blood freezing! HE WASN'T THERE.

I turned again to leave this place when I bumped into something. The force of collision took me off guard and I was about to fall when that something held my waist to prevent my fall. That oh-so-deaf guy. It was natural for me to cling on him and I reached for his arms. My first thought was to snatch off his hoodie and look at his face, but he would not like that. We were really very close, when I noticed something strange, something weird. His face was so close to mine but I couldn't feel his breath, why? Was he not breathing to make me feel comfortable with all that closeness?

All the exposed part of his face resembled Alex, that I couldn't help but remember him from the last time. Those high cheekbones, small chin, lips ornamenting his beautiful face, a funny nose, broad forehead and those oh-so sky blue, soul piercing eyes. Something triggered within me and I felt so miserable at that moment. I latched onto him and hugged him tightly. To my surprise, his hands slowly left my waist and embraced me, and he placed his head over mine. Solace!

I was in a tight embrace with a total stranger, it did not take me too long to realize that it was wrong. No matter how relieved I felt, it was still wrong. I shuffled and he let me go.

"Who are you?" I questioned with every bit of energy that I had. It sounded so heart wreathing but he did not move, neither he tried to answer my question.

"Alex, is that you?" I asked him again. This time I raised my hand to push back his hoodie, but he caught my wrist in mid air and pushed me back against the car. He lowered his head so that his lips were in alignment with my left ear.

He strolled away from me with string strides but not before saying "Meet me at the graveyard after college." In my ear.

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Author's Note:  I know, I know, I am way behind the schedule but life caught up with me and my inspiration flew away. I have so many things on my platter right now. With last year of my college commencing soon, I really am busy with a lot of placement stuff right now. But I just can't leave ALEMA  like that. 

Anyways, question: Which Ice cream flavour, you love the most?

Mine: Vanilla with choco-chips.

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Love

Spriha.