I realised I looked like an idiot, not moving and just staring at that cup, so I decided, for no apperant reason, to tuck my hair behind my ear. My hand slowly moved towards my ear, and just as I was about to do it, I felt the urge to take a look if he was still there. As I couldn't fight it I turned around, thinking he's probably on the other side of the room already.
But he wasn't. He was at the same spot, luckily looking at the completely different corner of the room. I was just about to look away, but I couldn't help but notice.
He looked beautiful. His curls seemed freshly washed and were pulled away from his forhead, up his scalp. The room was filled with light and his green eyes were sparkling. It reminded me of a lake that I used to play by as a kid. His lips were full and red. In such a nice natural tone. His nicely framed arms were thrown over his upper body which was clothed in a black Hype T-shirt, his hads tucked in the pockets of his black skinny jeans.
I was absolutely numb.
As I was admiring him, the thought crossed my mind. I can't be attracted to him. He doesn't like me.
His eyes moved across the room, when they met mine. I was completely unaware of what to do, how to act or what to say. As if I haven't looked stupid enough staring at him like a psycho. We were looking at each other for a couple of seconds across the pub. I decided to act normal, so I framed a small ''Hi'' on my mouth. He looked a bit confused, his eyes moving from me over to Michael.
He slowly looked away. What manners, I thought. So I did the same.
Michael was staring at the table, his fingers slowly moving up and down the crack in the wooden table. I thought of saying something, but just as I was about to, I heard a known laugh about 3 tables away from us. It took me some time to process it, and I've come to a point of realising it was Vicky. Lovely. Now she's gonna ruin another part of my day. I couldn't help but turn around.
My eyes went wide, and I felt my face turning a bit pale. Why was I so suprised again? I'd already known about this. But seeing it in real life was even more anxious. Vicky was sitting on Harry's lap, licking his ear. In the middle of the pub. I felt sick. Literally sick. Harry's eyes stopped at mine, and this time I didn't hesitate. I turned back to Michael and completely ignore what was going on behind me.
''Are you okay, Jenny?'' Michael said with a calming voice.
''Yeah, erm… I'll just.. run to the ladies' room if you don't mind.''
-''Yeah, of course I don't. But are you sure you're okay?''
I replied: ''Yeah, I'm all good, don't worry.'' I pulled a fake smile and it almost hurt my cheeks.
I entered the toilet, and thank god no one was in there. I was standing in front of the mirror, just standing there, looking at myself. I felt tired. Tired of overthinking. Why does he have that effect on me? Why do I feel the way I do when he's near me? And why did I feel that way when he was with Vicky? Almost jealous? But no, that just can't be what it is..
I've known him for a day and he's driving me insane.
I sat on the cold floor, and ran my fingers through my hair tied up in a pony tail. ''Ughhhh.'' was all I could say. I was sitting there for 5 minutes, just letting the thoughts slip out of my head. I was almost feeling like I wasn't thinking about anything at all for those 5 minutes. I decided to walk out there and act normal, Michael might be worried. But if there was anything that I knew for sure, was the fact that I'll get my ass out of that pub IMMEDIATELY.
I walked out of the toilets and kinda ran over to Michael.
''Hey uhm, would you mind if I'd ask you to just..'' I started stattering.
-''Do you wanna go back to the dorms?'' He said softly.
-''Well, yeah kind of. I'm really sorry for ruining this breakfast. It was so nice of you to take me here, I had a good time.'' I said with a light smile on my face.
-''We've both finished eating, it's fine, Jenny. Don't be so damn apologetic. And no worries about that. I'm glad you're full now.'' He winked at me with a smile on his face.
I felt so relieved. He was so understanding. As we were leaving the pub, I again felt the urge to look back at Harry, but I just knew I was gonna regret it. So I didn't and I confidently walked out. Not giving a damn. Well that's just the way I wanted to look like.
Michael and I were walking down the street having a couple of quiet moments again. I liked it.
We were at the dorms again. He walked me up the stairs all the way to my dorm. We were standing at the door.
''Do you.. wanna come in?'' I asked him.
-''I'd love to, but I have classes. Maybe some other time?''
-''Sure. Thank you so much for today. It was really nice.'' I said with a gentle smile on my face.
-''That's okay.'' – He said gently.
He slowly bent down to my left side, and moved closer. He planted a small kiss on my cheek.
I smiled at the ground lightly, and I felt my cheeks blushing.
''Bye, Jenny.'' Michael said with a smile on his face.
-''Bye, Mikey.'' I said playfully and smiled at him.
When I walked into my dorm, I felt comforted and maybe a little bit, just a little bit happy with what just happened. I found myself smiling at nothing. I laid down on my bed and just closed my eyes for a little. It was like a little getaway.
I started drifting to sleep, when I heard a knock on the door. I immediately panicked. It was Harry, and I forgot that I locked the door when Michael left. I rushed off of the bed, quickly fixed my hair and slowly unlocked the door. I opened it up and saw Harry standing in the hallway.
''Oh.. Hi.'' I said quickly, left the door open for him and slowly started walking back into the dorm.
''Yo.'' He said in a chilled tone.
I sat on the bed, grabbed a random book and pretended to be reading it. He wasn't gonna talk to me anyway.
I was watching him with the corner of my eye. He walked over to his drawer and took out a plain black T-shirt, and black boxers. He entered the bathroom, and closed the door. No comuncating again. As I thought.
I could hear him run a shower, and I smelled a freshly scented shower gel out of the bathroom. The steam was escaping through the door frame. It made me feel super cosy for some reason. I decided to pop out to the shop and get some orange juice. For some reason I really felt like drinking it.
I threw on my jumper and stumbled out of the door.
I was walking down the street, feeling a bit more relaxed this time. The wind was blowing through my hair, and the sun was so warm and pleasant. It was a beautiful afternoon.
I didn't know where the nearest shop was, but I was determined I'd find it myself and I might actually explore everything here a bit. I was walking around for an hour and still didn't discover the shop. I felt a bit stupid just wondering around. So I decided to be social and ask someone where the nearest grocery store was. I walked into a street, filled with a bunch of pubs, people just sitting there and chatting. But I took a better look.
Most of them were smoking pot. I didn't care how stupid and nerdy I looked, I turned around and started walking back to the main street. Everyone that I looked at was stoned. It was by far one of the most disgusting things I've ever seen. Students barely moving, with bloodshot eyes. I noticed a couple of girls, throwing themselves over those drunk idiots, with their shirts small enough to cover my thigh. I was disgusted and mainly… scared. All I knew was that I needed to get the hell out of there.
I was walking faster and faster. I was just at the end of the street, an inch away from stepping into the main street. And shoot. My foot got stuck in the pavement crack, so I fell. Great. I started rushing. My ankle was really sore.
''I'd bang you on the rooftop!'' Someone yelled from a side-pub. I looked over to the guy. He looked wasted, his head was completely shaved. I felt sick.
I heard someone else yelling from the other side of the street: ''Behave yourself, Matt god damnit!''
I looked over to the person who just yelled at that guy.
I saw a boy, his hair was a bit punk. His tattoos were covering his arms and I could see a tattoo on his collarbones, peeking out of his Pink Floyd tank top. He had dark blue jeans, tucked up from his white toms. He started walking over to me. I was a bit scared of what was about to happen.
''Don't worry about those idiots. I just wouldn't recommend coming here again. Here, let me help you up.'' He said with a really nice, calming voice.
He grabbed my arm just above my elbow and slowly pulled me off the ground.
''Thank you.'' I said and brushed off the dust off of my knees.
''That's okay. Erm, I'm Louis.'' He shook my hand.
-''Nice meeting you. I'm Jenny.'' I said, with a small smile on my face.
-''That's a nice name. Don't mistaken me as one of them, I just work in a pub here. I couldn't get a job anywhere else in the town.''
-''Oh, I wouldn't. You're too nice. Thanks for helping me again.'' I said, a bit more calm.
-''That's okay. Are you studying here?'' He asked.
-''Yeah, I'm a bit new here.'' I replied.
He smiled at me and said: ''Me too! But I've kinda gotten used to things now. I guess I'll see you around then.''
-''Sure. Thanks for being so nice to me.'' I replied.
-''No worries. Take care, Jenny.'' He said gently.
I replied: ''You too, Louis.'' I repeated his name just so he'd know I memorized it.
I immediately started walking over to the dorms. I'll survive without the orange juice for a day I guess. I was really happy I met Louis. He was so nice and helpful and seemed just really nice in general. I guess not everyone is bad here.
I was in front of the door of my dorm and I was trying to find the keys in my purse. Overall I just felt really happy to be back at the dorms, since it was windy and dark outside.
Before I stepped inside, I took a really deep breath. I've got Harry to deal with before I go to bed. I might just start talking to him. There's nothing to lose, right? At least that's what I thought.
I came into my dorm, my eyes stopping on Harry laying on his bed in his Calvin Klein boxers. Oh, let me correct myself. ONLY in his Calvin Klein boxers. Plain and black. Enough said, he had me swooned. But I gotta stop staring. So I ignored that before he looked at me.
He didn't say a word. As expected. But I was determined to start talking to him. I'm a very chatty person so I can't spend a lifetime not talking to anyone.
''Hey.'' I said, my voice was a bit shaky.
''Hi.'' He said in a really low tone and I could barely hear him. At least he answered. I was getting a bit optimistic.
I sat down on my bed and looked at him. His eyes were still focused on a book he was reading. I grabbed my book as well. I pretended to be reading, but I was really just flicking through the pages, my fingertips started to feel a bit sweaty. I took my eyes off of that book and looked at him again. I was staring at him for the next 7 seconds, expecting his respond. But he didn't turn my way, even though I'm a hundred percent sure he knew I was watching him. So I spoke really quickly and nervously:
''What are you reading?''
He slowly pulled his eyes up to me and replied with a harsh tone:
-''Does it matter?''
I felt really uncomfortable and said: ''Well, I mean I was just aski…'' He interuppted me:
''I'm sure you don't even know who Shakespeare is anyway so why should I tell you.''
-''Well I actually read Romeo and Juliet about a thousand times.'' – I replied proudly.
He looked at me and raised one eyebrow.: ''Well then you probably know that the Capulet's daughter and Montague's son can't love each other?'' Metaphors, metaphors…
-''They find a way.'' I said, completely determined and proud of myself.
