Of Spilled Lattes and Reunited Hearts ✓

01

This story is written as my submission for the #FiveYearsSinceCollabContest following the prompt- TeenFiction: More Than Coincidence by @TeenFiction @WattpadContests   

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Gripping the handle of my compact, navy blue suitcase tightly, I trudged through the crowdy space of Toronto Pearson Airport, feeling my shoulders tighten as I shivered from the cold. My mother's advice on wearing a coat — that I stubbornly denied — came back to bite me, after all.

This was the first time I've ever flown alone and I was done pretending that I wasn't scared. Moving countries for college hadn't been my idea, I'd never have been daring enough to have decided that by myself. But with my parents and older brothers trying to persuade me every day for almost a year that it was the best for me, it was virtually impossible to refuse. I've made myself believe that it was the great opportunity that everyone kept telling me it was, but I couldn't help feeling like a lonely girl, lost in a big city. 

Dodging the consistent flow of hurried strangers, I stopped by a Starbucks and picked an Iced Hazelnut Latte in hopes of calming down my nerves. 

Taking out my phone, I switched the airplane mode off and texted my parents that I'd landed safely. My mother replied instantly, wishing me luck and asking me to take care. I slipped my phone into the pocket of my denim skirt, wishing it all were as simple as she made it sound.

Before stepping out of the airport to meet the chilly wind, I closed my eyes and took in a deep breath reminding myself that it was going to be alright. Maybe I was overreacting. Maybe moving countries on my own wasn't that much of a big deal.

Just after finishing my mental pep talk and as I was about to turn and head outside, someone tall bumped into me, making me spill my Latte on his previously perfectly white button-up shirt.

The young man hissed in an annoyed breath, as he took in the accident that'd just taken place. 

"Oh my gosh! I'm so sorry," I fumbled for words, standing wide-eyed and helpless before him, having no clue about what I could possibly do to amend the situation created.

At least the coffee wasn't hot, I thought to myself, not daring to say it out loud to worsen the already disgruntled state that man was in.

"Never min — " he stopped as abruptly as he started to speak. "Jennifer?" 

I froze at the mention of my name.

Slowly and diffidently, I peeled my eyes off his ruined shirt and lifted them up to meet his. I gasped, unable to comprehend the reality of what was happening and how on earth it was possible.

"D- Dylan?" I stuttered out his name, still remembering all those times I'd said it out loud admiringly when no one else was around.

A swift wave of deja vu surged through me. All of a sudden I was thirteen again, sitting on the park bench next to my house and stealing glances of those same cerulean blue eyes that reflected the hue of the summer sky. 

The eyes of my neighbour, my best friend, my partner of adventures...

Back then I didn't notice that I was slowly falling into them, falling for them. When I did realise, it was already too late because Dylan, my —recently found— out secret crush, was moving out of our hometown and I was to never see him again. Or so I thought until now.