BECAUSE IT WAS YOU

Chapter 6

This is one of those times when you'd say "Dear brain, please shut up."

3 am in the morning, and I'm still unable to fall asleep. One second I'd wonder why Jayden had such an impact on me, the next I'd rewind to our previous encounter, while also constantly preaching myself to get it together.

"Em are you alright?" Chris mutters, half asleep. "You keep making noises."

Yup, that's me turning over every five seconds on my bed.

"Yea, yea I'm good. Just not sleepy I guess." I reply. Not true...
Well kinda true.

"mmm" she goes back to sleep.
Except she never actually woke up.

If the first day was this complicating, how would the rest of my college life be?
A rhetorical question, that would remain.

A few hours later, I wake up. Turns out I did fall asleep after all.
I reach for my phone on the nightstand and check the time.

It's only 4 am!!! Apparently I've only been asleep for one hour.
I get out of bed groaning silently, making sure not to wake Chris up while doing so.
I make up my bed, plug my phone to the charger and head out for a shower.
It appears that at this time of the day, all of the showers remain unoccupied.
Which is sort of obvious I suppose.
Not even the kids who slept wayyy too early would be up at this time,let alone the kids who were out having fun till late night.

I get dressed in a dark blue romper, and put on my ankle boots.
Checking myself in the mirror one last time, I pick up my phone and my headset and drop them in my pocket.
I make sure to leave a sticky note on Chris's desk, informing her that I'm heading out for a walk.
After which, I leave.

I put on my headset, and go on a walk.
It's amazing how beautiful the view is.
Not a single soul outside.
Making me feel like it's a lonely, but beautiful planet with just me on it.
I keep walking down different roads, taking different turns, until I get lost.

I stop as I spot a small cabin. Like a little "Cabin in the woods".
It's covered by so many trees, that from a distant, you won't be able to spot it.

I take off my headset. Dropping it inside my pocket along with my phone, I walk closer to the little cabin, I could ask for help with directions if someone shows up, or I could just check out the place.
It does look too good to be real.
A place that could be my hideout.

"What are you doing here?"
I gasp and turn around instantly. The shock was no simple shock.

"Why is it you again?" I ask him. Of course it's Jayden again.

"I could ask the same." he responds tilting his head.

Since he never answers any of my questions, I decide to do the same.
"Are you a ghost?"

"What?" he looks confused, as lifts his left eyebrow in question.

"I mean, how do you suddenly appear out of nowhere?" a serious question.

"I walk?" he shakes his head, in a "Duh!" sorta way. "No wonder you believe in ghosts. I wouldn't be surprised!"

"And why is that exactly?"

"Cause you believe in love." he sighs.

"Right!" I fake a smile. "How could I forget?"

The second I say this, I'm instantly taken back to last night.

As if he had read my mind, he smirks, sighs and shakes his head, all at once.
Mockingly!

He heads toward the door of the cabin.

"What is this place?" I ask him, snapping out of the flashbacks in my head.

"What do you think it is?" he holds the door knob and looks at me.

"Well in case you didn't notice, I really haven't had the time to assume anything yet."

"Do you wanna see it?" he asks me.

"Really? No sarcasm or any rude comments?" I'm honestly surprised.

"Forget it if you don't want to." he opens the door.

"I want to." What am I doing??? "I wanna see it."

He moves to the side, holding the door open, allowing me to head inside first.

And I am most certainly glad I came in.
It's a little space, with wooden floors and wooden walls. One armchair, a small round table, and books.
Lots and lots of books.
Bookshelves and desks covered with books, neatly.
Everything, neat and tidy.
There is an old radio, record player, vinyl records and so many more little things I could observe all day long, and probably even longer.

Jayden walks inside and closes the door behind him. The place gets a little darker.
He walks over and opens the blinds, revealing the windows.

"This is the best thing I've ever seen." I can't help but admire.

It's awfully chilly at this time, and also in here. And I was stupid enough not to bring along a jacket with me.
I wrap my arms around me, hugging myself to keep me warm.

I walk over to one of the desks covered in books.

"May I?" Jayden asks from behind me.

I turn around to watch him hold his jacket in his hands.

"Wouldn't you be cold then?" I ask him, concerned.

"I'm alright." Who is he?!!

As he comes closer and puts his jacket on me, my heart starts racing.

But why???

"Thank you!" I whisper.

This is when I notice his tattoos. Now that his jacket is taken off and he is in his black T-shirt, I can clearly notice them.

I notice something that looks like a mini galaxy on his right arm. With planets and all that.

"What?" he asks me, obviously having noticed me stare at him.

"No-nothing." I stammer. "I didn't know you had any tattoos let alone this many!"

"What is it now? Do you also dislike tattoos?" It's amazing how he could sound nice one split second, and rude the next.

"No. I love them!" I answer. "And I love that." I point at his right arm.

"You're into astronomy?" he asks, meeting me in the eyes.

"You could call me an astrophile."

He just nods.

"You?" I ask him.

"Me?"

"Are you into astronomy?"

"You could call me an astrophile." he replies.

He's got a sense of humour!

I giggle and he smiles.

Which makes things a little awkward.
I wonder if it's because this is the only actual conversation we've had, or if it's because he actually smiled and I'd actually giggled. The most sincere emotions we've shown each other so far.

Either way, that little moment?
It was nice for sure.