The Surprise of a Lifetime

Chapter 3-Xander

She's beautiful. I see her wince slightly at the hotness of the tea but then she visibly relaxes. I didn't even realize how tense she had been until right now. I take a sip of my coffee and as I do, I sneak a glance over the rim of the cup. Jane is looking back at me. Her curly brown hair is tied in a loose pony tail and her forest green eyes are full of questions. 

"What's going on inside your head?" I ask her. 

She takes another sip of her tea, stalling, I'm guessing. "I was just wondering about that night." She finally replies, her cheeks flushing. 

"What about that night?" 

"Well, I know for a fact you aren't from Ligonier." She takes another sip of her tea. God, I can watch her lips for days. Soft, pink, and plump. 

"What makes you so sure?" I challenge. 

"Because, I practically know everyone from that town." She gives an amused smile. "Which means, you were there just to check out that club. So that leaves the question, where are you from?"

"You have everything figured out, don't you." I tease. "I'm actually from California. San Diego, to be exact."

"Wow, San Diego. I've never been, I've heard it's really nice, though. My sister lives in Los Angeles." I can't help but let my eyes roam over her whole face. She no longer looks nervous, but instead, her expression is full of curiosity. 

"Really? Do you have any other siblings?" I feel my own curiosity bubbling out of me. Part of me knows I shouldn't get involved with this girl. She's only 18, I don't even know if she was still a minor when we had sex in that bathroom stall. But the other part of me--the more dominant side--is telling me that this girl is one in a million. Cheesy, I know, but she's different somehow. 

"...but I'm pretty close to her." Shit. I zoned out and didn't catch the first part of what she was saying. "Do you have any siblings?"

"Oh that's great." I pretend as if I heard everything. "I'm an only child. But I do have plenty of cousins that are like siblings to me." 

Jane nods to acknowledge what I am saying. She looks as if she wants to ask me something else and I wait for the question to come but it never does. 

We sit talking for a good hour before Jane begins to stand. "This was really fun, I wish we could keep talking but I have class in like 30 minutes and I have to walk to the other side of campus to get there. Maybe we can do this again sometime?" She asks shyly, I can tell that her offer to hang out again is genuine. 

"Yes, of course. I really enjoyed getting to know you better." I say, hoping she can't tell how desperate I am for her company. 

We say our goodbyes and I watch as she makes her way to her next class. 

***

I am so fucked.

This class is honestly the hardest class I've taken, and I can't even concentrate because thoughts of Jane occupy my mind. How could such a tiny girl take up so much room in my brain. I can't help but want to know everything about her. What she was like as a kid. I want to know even more about her family. I want to know all of her secrets, not that I think she really has any. Jane doesn't seem like the type to hide anything. But nonetheless, I want her to trust me and to be able to share with me anything and everything. 

When class is finally over I make my way to the courtyard to wait for my friend, Fin. I spot an empty bench and take a seat. After a few minutes, I spot his tall and lanky figure heading my way. He isn't alone. There is a girl standing next to him. She looks so tiny compared to Fin. Her bright pink hair is blowing around her pale face and she doesn't bother to push it back.