out of the blue / n.h

Chapter 7

MELANIE RICHARDS

As we arrive at the mall, we reach to Auntie Anne's as soon as we finished our lunch. I wait and sit at one of the benches down the sidewalk. I plug my ears with my earbuds and try to live up my world by listening to Hole - Awful. I take a look at Jamie who's talking to the head manager-I think. Then I look at random people walking by me.

I stop at someone so familiar that I can't even take my eyes off. The Irish guy getting on the line to Auntie Anne's. He looks around. I try to hide my face but it fails miserably. He doesn't catch my eyes but as soon as he sees Jamie, he scans all around the room until he locks his eyes into mine.

He smiles widely,that his eyes are squinting and waves at me. I wave him back, still listening to my song. I try to ignore him by looking through Instagram. But then, he's gone. He disappears in sudden.

I pout, I realize that I kind of wanted him to reach me and then talk to each other nonchalantly, but at the same time, I feel a sense of relief that he's gone, because I keep on reminding myself to get over boys. I turn off the song and my phone and head down to Jamie that is clicking on the cashier keyboard.

He's taking too long and I need to get home to finish my homeworks. As soon as I get to him, he's wearing the uniform printed Auntie Anne's on it.

"You said it won't be long." I roll my eyes.

"Sorry, so sorry. I really need this." He whispers, and crooked smiles.

"It's okay. I will take a taxi to get home." I say and wave him goodbye. I walk to the lobby and wait for a taxi. The line isn't long and I sigh in relief, knowing that it won't take that much of time.

"Hey!" Someone calls me out and taps my shoulder. The Irish kid all over again. I feel my lips pull up, showing a huge grin, without my awareness of course. God, stop it, Mel.

"Hey." I release my lips into a thin line. "Are you getting on the line?"

"No, I drive." He says. "How are you, Smiths kid?" He giggles.

"I'm smithely great?" I joke. It doesn't sound that funny. I think he forces a laugh. What-so-ever. "How are you?"

"Smithely great." He teases. I roll my eyes. "Was that your friend working? Auntie Anne?" He asks.

"Yeah." I smile. I nod slowly and flicker my eyes to him. "Aren't you going to get your car?"

"I was. Then I saw you here. It's rude not to say hi." He shrugs.

"Well, you did." I tilt my head to the side and shove my hands into my jacket's pocket, to avoid them from sweating. My right foot won't stop itself from nodding relentlessly.

He chuckles. "Yeah. Well," He looks around and hisses. "what's your name? It's really weird. Whenever I see you somewhere, I call you out by"the Smiths girl."" He chuckles, again and keeps on squinting his eyes like I'm some sort of sun.

I laugh. "I'm Melanie."

"Niall." He smiles the best smile. Ouch.

"Cool." I look away and shove out my hands from my pocket to give them some cool air because they keep on sweating even worse. I just hope he doesn't see them.

"Hey, were you looking for the Smiths old records tape?"

"Still am." I nod.

"Last night, I went into an antique store. . ."

"And . . .?" I ask, quickly shifting my head and eyes to his.

"I found the 80's collection. I found the Eagles which I kept it at the store. Also Sex Pistols, Joy Division and all! Then, I saw the Smiths. I bought all of the Smiths old records! I have all of them." He informs.

"No!"

He laughs. "Well? Do you want them? I can buy another one." He offers.

"Well-Duh! Yeah, ofcourse I do!" I can't control my excitement.

"Then, it's in my place. Just a couple blocks from here, do you want to. . . maybe get them? Then you can get a taxi from there, or maybe I can get you home." He squints his eyes, again.

"Okay, are you sure?" I ask him.

"Yeah. Come on, this way." He leads me to the parking lot and gets me through the parked cars. He punches his car keys and a white SUV car by the end of the row pops out by the lights.

His car smells the most sweet scent I've ever smelled. He starts the engine and drives the wheel down the driveway. It's not strange for me to get on a car with him. With a stranger. A charming stranger-who happened to adore the Smiths and the rest of the 80's-, with a sweet smell and all in sudden, turns me on massively.

"Where did you get the old records?" I break the silence.

"I said, at the old antique store."

"Oh, well, why are you giving it to me?"

"Why can't I?"

"Because, the Smiths had come to an extinction and, you barely know me. And, you love the Smiths." I flicker my eyes to him, driving.

"Well, first, I can buy it again sometime. Second, I love the Eagles more than the Smiths. Third, you kind of reminded me of them. So, I thought I should hear them." He says still focusing on the road.

"If you like the Eagles more than Smiths, why did you buy Smiths?"

"Because," He exhales. "I would hear more from them. And I did, I listened to their whole album. They're amazing." He smiles directly at me.

"They are." I smirk, nodding. I wipe the sweat on my palms against my skinny jean, but to my realization, there are no more sweats and I sigh in relief.

"Here we are." He spins the wheel and parks right between two Priuses.