the fall | abel tesfaye

chapter eight - on a mission

I trudge across the campus grounds, my hair falling loosely around me. Where could he be at this time of the day? I didn't have this phone number or know any of his friends, so that was going to make things interesting. 

After half an hour of roaming, I finally give up. I'm starving at this point; forgetting to eat breakfast didn't help, and it was almost one in the afternoon now. 

I spot the campus cafè ahead and my stomach grumbles. I guess I had time for a quick bite. 

Inside felt warm and welcoming, and I spot Ben's kind face behind the counter.

"Arabella!" He calls, gesturing for me to come over. "How was your first night on campus?"

I shrug and roll my eyes once I reach the counter, hoping to forget about most of the night. But not all of it...

"It was alright. I ended up at this crazy party that my friend dragged me to, but apart from that, nothing special," I tell him calmly. Nothing special, except the fact that I'm in desperate need to see him again.

Ben nods his head and awakens the tablet in front of him. "You look like you could use some caffeine," He chuckles. "What can I get for you?"

This time I opt for a large iced coffee with extra ice-cream. I could use the energy. Ben hands me a small table number and motions for me to sit in the booth at the back of the cafè. The booth. Fuck.

I take my seat and pull out my phone. Nothing new, only a few emails from my teachers reminding everyone that classes start next week with the syllabus attached. I groan at the thought of losing all my free time to classes and assignments. I was enjoying doing nothing for a while. 

It takes Ben only a few minutes to make my iced coffee. He brings it over to my table enthusiastically, a small muffin in his other hand. "It's on the house," He tells me excitedly before sliding next to me. I smile back at him. He seems very sweet.

"So, eager to start classes?" He asks as I take a bite of the muffin. The vanilla flavour is overpowering and delicious. I take another bite. "Don't tell me you're one of those who study the syllabus beforehand?"

I chuckle at his assumption. "No, actually. I'm a bit of a 'leave things to the last minute' kind of girl," I tell him. He cocks his head to the side in surprise. "A rebel, if you like." Ben laughs softly next to me and I smile. 

"About that internship," He says, and my heart skips a beat. "I spoke to the manager and he said he'd be happy to have you for the semester." 

My mouth drops open and I beam at him. "Really? Ben, thank you so much! You have no idea how much this means to me."

He shrugs and returns my smile. "It's nothing, really. Besides, I'm more than happy to have a familiar face around. The work can get pretty boring when you're the only one stacking records at the storefront."

We both laugh together and I glow with happiness next to him. I didn't even notice the faint chime of the bell on the cafè door ... Until I heard his voice.

He glides through the room and rests his elbow on the counter to place his order. The shy brunette in front of him blushes as he smirks at her, his order indecipherable. My heart flutters at the sight of him, although it shouldn't. I don't know how to stop myself from feeling like this towards him. After all, he was so rude to me. But then again, he wasn't...

"Well if it isn't Miss Arabella," He teases, suddenly hovering over the booth that Ben and I are sitting in.

"H-hi," I utter, not meeting his gaze. Where is all this shyness coming from? Merely minutes ago I was on a mission to find the man standing before me, and now here he is and I can barely get a word out. 

Ben stiffens beside me, no doubt battling whether or not to leave me alone with Abel after what happened yesterday in this very spot. 

"Can we help you," He asks bravely, mustering a stern face. Abel chuckled, completely unfazed by Ben.

"I'd like this booth, if that's okay with you," Abel says rudely, moving to sit next to me.

"Not so fast," Ben declares, rising from his seat. "This booth is taken."

"I can see that," Abel rolls his eyes. "I'd like to speak to Arabella." When Ben doesn't move, Abel inches closer, more menacing this time. "Alone."

Ben huffs and looks over at me as I try to keep my breathing even. How did he find me? Why does he want to talk to me? What has he got to say that he hasn't already told me? 

I nod silently at Ben. "It's fine," I whisper. "You can go."

Ben doesn't like the sound of that, but he huffs and rises away from the booth anyway. "I'll be keeping a close eye on you," He warns Abel before storming off again in the direction of the kitchen.

Abel snickers after him and slides closer to me, casually putting his arm behind me.

"I've missed you," He tells me nonchalantly. His voice is like honey, oozing with sweetness. 

Oozing with sweetness?! Arabella, are you losing your mind?

"Why's that?" I retort, slipping from his grip. He frowns but keeps his hands to himself this time. 

"Well, I didn't want to wake you this morning, so I went to make breakfast alone. By the time I came back, you were gone." He confesses. He was looking for me? Why?

"Why do you even care?" I ask him. "You told me yesterday that you only wanted to see if I would give you-" I stop short. I don't want to finish that sentence. He cocks his eyebrow at me, waiting with a smirk. "You know what I'm talking about."

He shakes the expression from his face. "I tried to keep away from you," He barely whispers. "But, you make it very, very hard." His hand begins to draw circles on my thigh, and my stomach flutters. 

"How so?" I dare to ask. He brings his hand closer to the top of my jeans, barely grazing the fabric. What is he doing to me?

"I'm not good for you," He warns. "Even though I want you so fucking bad." My head is spinning in confusion. He has known me for 24 hours, and suddenly, he wants me this badly? Something's amiss.

"Abel, quit playing. What are you saying? You hated me yesterday. You fucked with me, got what you wanted, then played sweet rescuer. I appreciate your help and all but I don't want anything more from you," I tell him. I can't decide whether I am speaking the truth, or what I wish was the truth. Did I want more from him? He's right, I shouldn't.

"Baby- "

"Don't call me that."

"Arabella," He starts again. "Please, just give me a chance. I'm sorry I was so shit with you yesterday. I was just in a shit mood. Let me show you that I'm better than that. Please?"

His dark eyes are boring into mine at this point, and I don't know how I can possibly resist him. His cologne burned my nostrils and I wanted so badly to close the space between us and kiss him. Instead, I pull my face away and regain my composure. I need to be smarter than this. He is playing me, for sure. 

"I'm not going to go along with your games Abel," I tell him. "In fact, it was me who wanted to speak to you this morning. I have so many questions." He eyes me warily but motions for me to continue.

I take a deep breath before beginning. This isn't going to end well.