everything I didn't say

twenty three

The next day consists of picking up Julie from that frat, finishing some work for school, and receiving Niall's voicemails too many times when I call him.

I'm more than grateful when Julie knocks on my door and brings in dinner for me.

She places the chinese take out boxes on my desk where I sit working. I thank her, and she just tells me that she owed me. I devour the food in at least ten minutes. Record time.

It isn't until my work is finished and my stomach is full of food that my phone rings. I pull it out of my pocket and I sling back in my bed.

"Hello?" I answer without giving my caller I.D a single glance.

"I'm really sorry I haven't answered, don't hate me." Niall says frantically.

"Oh, hey. I don't hate you." I laugh.

"Thank goodness. What are you doing?" I sense that he is smiling, which makes me smile.

"I just got done eating and now I'm laying on my bed." I tell him. "What'd you eat? I'm driving home."

"Chinese."

"You better have saved me some."

"Sorry, all gone." I laugh and he does too.

"So when can I see you next?" He asks out of the blue. I think of my schedule for the next few days. "Depends, are you gonna run out on me again?"

"No, I promise that won't happen again. Do you work tomorrow?"

"I do. Tuesday after my classes?" I suggest.

"Uhh," he seems to think for a bit. "Yeah, I think Tuesday is okay. Can you come down here?"

"Sure." I agree. "Okay, see you then." He hangs up. I set my phone down and wonder what I've gotten myself into with this boy.

--

After my classes end, I rush straight for my car. I've been jittery and anxious all day to see him again. I was going to wear something cute today, but I just slipped on a sweatshirt with my school's logo on it and decided Niall probably wouldn't care.

I take a shortcut that Niall taught me about, that cuts ten minutes off the route to get to his campus. Once I'm finally off the expressway, my low tank of gas becomes evident to me. The flashing signal is going off and I can't make it to Niall's on what I have, so I pull off at the closest gas station. At least I'm only about five minutes away.

Once I fill up my tank, I go inside to pay for it. I get in line behind a tall girl who is talking to the cashier. She has a very loud voice compared to the nearly silent store, so it is very easy to hear their conversation.

"It's very pretty here, unlike what I had expected." The tall girl says to the plump woman working the cash register. "I thought it'd be cold and dirty, if I'm being honest."

She must be from out of town. It isn't really a good vacationing month, but maybe she gets some sort of fall break from her school. Maybe she's not even in school yet.

"My boyfriend goes to school just down the road here," she points out the window. "is that a nice school?" She asks the woman.

"My son used to go there, he really enjoyed it." The lady looks over the girls shoulder and sees me in line, giving me a look that tells me I might be here for awhile. I roll my eyes.

"UCLA's a pretty nice school, right?" I look up and realize the lady is now talking to me, pointing at my sweatshirt. "Oh," I say in realization. "Yeah, I love it." I smile.