“Hey Dad, its Valentina. Um… Just calling again. So, I bought my plane ticket. I’ll be flying out tomorrow. That’s the twentieth. It’ll just be me, Leibe’s already flown home for Chanukah. So… I guess just call me when you get this message. Love you.” Valentina hung up her phone. She was getting worried. It wasn’t like her father to miss her calls. She’d call ten times before finally leaving the voicemail.
The house was quiet, Valentina was alone. Leibe had already gone home to New York to celebrate the holidays with her family. Billy had returned to California, probably to cheat on her with some blonde on the beach. Of course, Valentina expected it. Billy told her straight forwardly what he would do. She would think that he was joking but Eli’s suspicion was contagious. She was sure that was something going on between Billy and Leibe. That is why Valentina broke up with Billy. Billy didn’t take it seriously, and simply left.
Eli hadn’t texted her recently either. Valentina was surprised to realize how much that bothered her. She would go to visit him, but he hadn’t been in the lecture hall the past few times she’d stopped in, and she didn’t know where his dorm room was. Not to even mention how rude it would be to just drop in on him uninvited.
Valentina shook her hand free of her aubergine sweater and picked up her phone again. Never before had she thought so hard on what to say. She was so afraid she’d done something to offend Eli, this message had to make him forgive her for slight she’d made. Valentina had typed out so many messages; many of those messages were long, rambling and unflattering. Finally, she settled on, “Hey Eli. How’s the search going? I’m flying home tomorrow, want to get some coffee?”
Then she waited. Valentina paced, and waited. Her eyes fell on the small wrapped box on the couch, her gift to Eli. She looked at her phone. She felt a growing worry building up in her heart. Even though she was waiting for his reply, Valentina was still surprised when it came through.
“That sounds nice. I’ll meet you in an hour. The bakery near your house?” He wrote, bringing a smile to her face.
“That’s great! In an hour! See you there!” Valentina jumped up from the couch and ran to her room. She checked her make-up and hair. She pulled on a pair of black riding books over her grey leggings, and got back to her feet. An hour seemed like such a long time to wait. That time preyed on her mind. Valentina debated with herself whether or not she should bring Eli’s gift with her. He would probably walk her home – he always did, unless Billy was around, and she could just give it to him then. But what if he didn’t walk her home? Or what if he brought her a gift and Valentina had nothing to give him in exchange? Ultimately, she chose to bring it along. It wasn’t large, and didn’t take up much space as she slid it into her black leather bag. By the time she’d come to her decision, it was time to meet Eli. Valentina pulled on her coat, and threw her bag onto to her shoulder before stepping out of her home. She had extra spring in her step as Valentina walked through the courtyard.
Eli was already at the bakery when she got there. Valentina paused outside, watching Eli through the window. With his elbows on the table, Eli held his chin in hand. He looked handsome in a forest green button down shirt, a pair of black suspenders over his shoulders and his black bowtie tied neatly at his collar. In a room full of young people in t shirts, sports jerseys and sweats, he looked like a vision of the past. He stopped stirring his coffee to check his watch. Valentina realized she was late. She rushed inside, her cheeks flushed from the cold and her own embarrassment. Valentina slid into the seat across from Eli, setting her bag on the floor beside her.
“Have you been waiting long? I’m sorry I was late.” She gave him a smile. Eli smelled of cologne – and strangely, of chlorine.
He looked up, meeting her eyes before answering. “No, I only just got here. I didn’t expect you to still be in the city.” He offered her a polite smile with his lie. Valentina again wondered if she’d done something to offend him.
YOU ARE READING
Looking For A Legend (Book 1)
Gizem / GerilimA young telepath is unexpectedly left with leading his class when his teacher takes leave. One of Elijah's new students Valentina leads him down a path where mysteries only get more mysterious and nothing is as simple as it looks.
