Guess That Is How I Know You

Chapter XXVII

February 21, 2017

Mediation Center has been awkward to say the very least. How is one supposed to act around the one who used to call them love and now are calling them by name? Because I sure as hell did not have the answer to that.

The past two Tuesdays I would just wait until the last minute before getting inside her mediation room so there was no time left for the uncomfortable small talks. But this Tuesday was different.

For some strange reason it had completely slipped my mind that we were not in good terms anymore. My brain has a sick way of playing tricks on me, and that was definitely the best of all.

I walked inside with my headset on and without realizing it I went past Cecilia, but not without first lightly squeezing her shoulder, something I had done one too many times the year before.

Had it been the year before, the gesture would have gone completely unnoticed by both of us.

But this was no longer 2016, she was no longer the woman I had slept beside so many nights before. In a fraction of a second, I was reminded we were no longer together.

I would have expected her to retract from my touch, yet I was taken by surprise when instead I felt her instinctively relax against my hand, leaning her head closer to my hand.

Maybe her mind was also playing tricks on her, maybe she too had forgotten we were over. And as maybe after maybe went over my head the moment had passed.

"You're early, shocker." She acted as if we had not just gotten lost in each other's presence just a moment before.

I had half a mind to answer in the same tone, but Miranda's voice invaded my thoughts remind me the plan was to get the professor to realize she was not a stupid crush for me, and the only way to do that was to take the high road.

"Sorry, I didn't realize it. I can wait outside if you prefer." I offered trying my best to keep my eyes from trailing down to her lips.

It had been so long since I had gotten an actual chance to look at her. Her face was like a drug I had gone too long without.

"No. It's okay, I think it's going to be a no show today. Let's just wait until their time, and if they don't show up in ten, we can leave early." I wondered if the annoyance in her voice was provoked by my presence or by the eventual no show.

A no show meant we could leave early, but it also meant, I could have a whole hour alone with the professor if only we decided to stay.

And one hour alone with her seemed like good enough a timespan to talk things through, especially in a mediation room-how convenient, right?

I waited until I was sure it would be a no show before I walked to the door to lock it. My actions did not go unnoticed, and before I could seat beside her, she took a defensive position.

"What do you think you're doing?" She had her arms crossed as if she needed some sort of physical barrier between the two of us. It was hard enough having the guts to start that conversation and seeing her so defensive and uncertain of herself did not help my nerves.

"We need to talk. And before you even think of it, we aren't leaving here before we do." I said showing her the key safely rested on the palm of my hand.

I was not surprised when she tried to take it off my hand, I would have probably done the same had the roles been reversed.

"There is nothing left for us to talk." Cecilia said once she realized she would not be able to get the key out of my grip. "Please, don't make me go through this." She was begging, something so very uncharacteristic of her.