Until Embry Met Eli

chapter five

A week had gone by since tragedy struck at the bar last Thursday night. I have yet to see Eli since the affair, other than seeing him in Creative Writing - which is where we were now.

I blew him off the day after, coming up with all sorts of excuses to avoid working on our project and seeing him one on one. I was still completely embarrassed about the whole thing, even though I knew what happened was out of my control. It was a lingering feeling of helplessness that weighed over my shoulders and wouldn't leave. I was embarrassed that Eli had to save me while my pathetic self just watched.

Seeming to be unattainable, any sort of good experience with a guy at this school. Granted, I haven't even been here a month. I couldn't tell if my luck was going to change or keep nearing for the worst. The past few days I have been tackling back and forth with the idea of deleting the app for good or trying it one last time for fate's sake. I kept replaying both Eli's and Louise's words of advice throughout my head.

Not everyone on the app could be that bad.

As for the situation at the bar, Louise felt awful about the entire thing. She apologized for three straight days after it happened, swearing that if she were there that idiot wouldn't have spoken to me longer than our exchange of hellos. Though she may have been right, it was my ultimate decision in letting myself go alone anyways. I couldn't blame Louise, although I wanted her there.

For the past week I have been staring at Eli in class. Not like a stalker, but simply pondering the thought of how much I was starting to like him - as a friend. I just couldn't shake the pathetic feeling that continued to loom over me.

Although, creative writing has been the perfect distraction as of recent. Professor Sutton has given us a few, short assignments in and out of class which has helped tune my attention into my writing as opposed to my dating life.

"A reminder," the professor spoke to the class. "Your group assignments are due next week. Make sure to plan accordingly and get your 3,000 words down." Only a few seconds later my phone was buzzing with a text message from Eli.

Eli: Talk after class?

I turned my head to the right, looking back at Eli in the opposite corner of the room. He gave me his usual grin and went back to writing down notes. The rest of the class was mundane as we individually worked on an in-class assessment. With only thirty minutes left, I tried to put as much focus as I could into my writing over anything else.

Eli stood waiting for me outside the classroom, wearing a typical outfit; a flannel and khaki pants.

"Why hello Embry," he said while tucking a pen behind his ear.

"Why hello Eli," I said. "Sorry I've been kinda MIA recently."

"Don't sweat it. How are things going? Any other guys I should be taking a swing at?"

I laughed, moving my hair out of my face. "No, not yet, thankfully."

"Good," he smiled. "You wanna work on our project soon? Maybe tomorrow or sometime later this week?"

"Yes, of course. Sorry I blew off our last plans, something came up." I lied, obviously. Nothing came up other than my usual self staying in my dorm room avoiding all social gatherings.

"I get it. Seriously, not a worry. And besides, we still have plenty of time to get something written."

"Thanks, and I think so too. Just text me whenever you want to meet and I'll see if I don't have work."

"Where are you working these days?"

"The Rockford Library, not too far from here."

"Oh, I love that library. It reminds me a lot of the one I go to back home. Cute and small."