18. Wren
Imight not distrust Dimitri—wow, that feels weird to say even just to myself—but I can’t leave his room fast enough.
I’m down the hall and nearly flying down the stairs as I try to remember which way I need to go.
I take the first right I see, then another one, and come out in a hallway I’m not sure I’ve ever seen before. How does this happen?
Crap, I might be lost.
That’s fine, it’s early, and I have plenty of time with it being the weekend. I’ll walk around all day if I have to.
Or I could just text Julez and ask him for help… Something tells me that he would happily come running, but I’m not sure I can handle him right now.
Not with so many emotions so close to the surface.
I double back and retrace my steps ?to the stairs.
“Lost?”
The sound that leaves my mouth is not only embarrassing but also way too loud in the quiet halls.
I stumble back a step, pressing my hand to my chest to try to keep my heart in before I turn and find the hot guy from the library.
He doesn’t smile exactly, but I swear I see it in his eyes.
I take a second to get myself under control before I even attempt to speak, though I’m not sure it matters at this point.
“Yes,” I admit after I can breathe again, and he walks toward me.
Oh. My. God.
He’s huge, ?so much bigger than when he was sitting across from me. I watch him approach, craning my neck back until I feel silly.
He’s got to be close to 6’5’’, which is obscene; nobody needs to be that tall.
I take a step back, and he stops, cocking a brow at me in question.
“It’s hard to look at you way up there,” I tell him, giving up. “Why the heck are you so damn tall?” I rub at my neck, worried I’ve thrown something out, when it pops and I sigh in relief.
“Where are you trying to go?” he asks, and I glance up at him but keep my neck at a normal level; lesson learned.
I debate for a moment but decide there’s no harm in telling him, and if he can show me the way, well, that’s even better.
“The wisteria tree.”
For a second, he just stands there, watching me, before I swear I see the edge of his lip twitch. Before I can look any closer, he turns away and starts heading down the hall.
“This way,” he calls back, beckoning me with a wave of his hand.
I scramble after him, nearly jogging to catch him because his legs cover ground much faster than mine do.
I fall into step beside him, gripping the straps of my backpack, unsure what to do or say. I’ve never been good at small talk, and I don’t even know his name.
We turn the corner and head out a set of doors onto a path I’m not familiar with before it turns, and suddenly everything is familiar.
“Why is this place a maze?” I say more to myself than him, but I still hear his snicker.
“I thought you were smart,” he says when I peek at him. I find him watching me closely enough that I’m almost uncomfortable.
“Book smart, but my brother used to tell me that I wouldn’t be able to find my way out of a cardboard box.”
The memory pulls a smile to my lips, but it only lasts a moment before it melts away, the horrors of reality snatching any happiness I might find.
I don’t dare look at him, not now that I’ve gone all Debbie Downer. Instead, I just continue to follow the long path toward the tree.
The closer we get, the more I feel it, that itch that only taking pictures can scratch. That need to let go and simply do something just because I want to, not because I have to.
It’s just as breathtaking this time, and I don’t even realize I’ve stopped walking until soft pressure on my lower back pushes me forward again.
“It’s just a tree,” he says, his voice deep and husky… and right in my ear!
I whip around and nearly come nose to nose with him. All the air leaves my lungs, and the world narrows to his honey-golden eyes that sparkle in the sunlight.
Again, they feel familiar, but I can’t place why, and honestly, my brain isn’t really doing anything useful right now.
“Enjoy the tree.”
His lips curl up in a barely there smile, but it has a devastating effect as my stomach erupts into butterflies and my heart beats double-time.
It only lasts a moment before it’s gone, but I just know it’s going to live rent-free in my head; he’s going to live rent-free in my head because I can’t prove it, but something about that smile felt like it was just for me.
He straightens back to his full height and moves around me to continue down the path, leaving me speechless as I watch him go.
Like a moth to a flame, I can’t make myself look away, my eyes eating up everything I can.
Unlike last time, it’s Saturday now, which means we don’t have to wear uniforms. I certainly am not, and I’m glad for that, as the morning air is still crisp.
My jeans and sweater are a much better defense, that’s for sure.
His outfit isn’t far off, except it’s all black. His sweater, jeans, shoes, and…
Again with the gloves
I wonder why he wears them...
I’m pulled from my creepy gawking when a girl coming out of the building not too far ahead of him looks up and lets out a shriek upon seeing him. It wasn’t much different from my reaction to him, yet it feels different.
I’d screamed because I didn’t know he was there. This girl screamed after she saw him, and to make matters even worse, she turned and ran right back into the building…
Strange.
But then again, I’m sure some people look at me and think the same thing.
Unable to wait another second, I move to one of the picnic tables just off to the side of the path in the grass and haphazardly dump my bag.
The camera box sits there, in all of its brand-new glory, and for a moment, all I can do is look at it. I’d been half afraid I imagined it, but when I reach out and grab it, I feel the smile that pulls at my lips, and my cheeks ache.
One second I’m holding the box, and the next I have the camera, turning to look at the tree through the lens. The shutter hits me like a drug, and I’m lost to it.
I start with the tree before moving on to the flowers, the path, and even parts of the building where ivy grows wild. I almost walk off before I remember I have a bag full of stuff scattered around, things I very much need.
I shove it all back in my bag and throw the bag on my shoulder before I put the camera strap around my neck, just as more students begin to file out from a few different buildings.
Crap, how long have I been out here?
I glance at my phone and have to do a double-take.
Three hours!
Panic begins to rise, threatening to choke me as I think of all the time I just wasted, and for what?
The weight of the camera around my neck settles me, though, and when I look down at it, I think of Julez.
He’s the only one I’d ever told about my camera or love of photography while here. Heck, he’s the only one I’ve ever talked to about myself, with the exception of Jordan.
I’ll have to thank him because he didn’t have to do this; he didn’t have to do half of what he has been, and I honestly won’t ever be able to repay him for it.
I think it might be safe to say he isn’t just trying to hurt me, and if he is, well, he’s going to destroy me. And at this point, I might just let him.
Even with the thought of that, I can’t keep the smile off my face. I move down the hall on autopilot to yet another place I can’t wait to photograph, the library.
I stop midstep when I’m reminded of who else was with me last time, the way his voice sounded in my ear, the feel of his hand on my back. A guy nearly plows into me, cursing at me as he moves around me, and I don’t even realize until after he’s already much too far for me to apologize.
I still don’t even know his name, yet as I force myself to start moving again, I can’t help but feel a giddy pep in my step at the thought of seeing him. My phone vibrates in my pocket, and I pull it out to see yet another message from D.
I hadn’t responded to his first one, but I read it; I haven’t dared click on our conversation since.
It hurt.
I know it might not be fair, that I wasn’t his problem or responsibility, but I’d needed him.
Now I don’t need anyone, and I’m not sure I can go back and not fall right back into what we had, or what I thought we had, I guess.
No, I don’t have time for this, for any of them. I have my work cut out for me with just graduating and trying to get away; I can’t afford to let boys cloud my mind, even if I really, really want to.
I push open the library doors, and just like that, all thoughts of boys and the past vanish, and it’s just me and my camera again. Time stands still as I move around the aisles and tables, not another soul in sight today, minus the librarian who gives me a warm smile.
My stomach grumbles, and I huff in annoyance at the reminder that I need to eat.
I’d been so distracted by D’s text that I forgot I’d pulled out my phone for a reason.
I quickly Google the closest store and groan in annoyance, perhaps a little too loudly for a library, but thankfully, I’m alone still.
The closest store is almost an hour away on foot, and I can’t drive.
Wonderful.
I guess the cafeteria will have to do for now. Plus, I still have a few protein bars and my water bottle in my bag. Some habits you never grow out of, and this one has never done me wrong.
I head back to the table I’ve dubbed mine and can't fight the disappointment I feel when I find it’s empty.
I knew it was too good to be true, and I’d just gotten done telling myself that I didn’t need those kinds of distractions, but even knowing that, my heart feels heavier.
It’s silly considering he’s a stranger, but emotions are one of those things I’ll never understand.
Shoving my hurt feelings down with the rest of my not-so-fun feelings—totally healthy, I know—I get to my studies.
I only last about thirty minutes when my stomach is all but screaming at me, even having eaten my protein bar.
I guess all this nice food has spoiled me and made my body used to eating more than just crumbs.
With a groan of annoyance, I begin to pack up but only make it so far as to shove my laptop in my bag before a dark figure catches my attention from the corner of my eye.
Gloves.
I look up and find he’s still dressed in his all-black, gloves included, but in his gloved hands is a cup carrier with two to-go cups and a little bag that screams food.
“Leaving so soon?” he asks, cocking a brow at me as he looks down at my bag that my laptop sticks half out of.
Before I can answer, my stomach does the honors, grumbling loudly. I close my eyes and shake my head, exasperated, really.
When I peel them back open, he’s moving toward the table, a smirk on his face that makes me want to either hit him or kiss him; I can’t really decide.
“I guess I got here just in time then.”
He sets down the carrier and pulls one cup free, holding it out for me.
I stand, frozen in place, my mouth opening and closing like I’m a fish out of water.
“I promise I didn’t poison it.” He extends his arm fully, and while it sounds like a joke, something rings in his words. As if he really thinks I would expect that of him.
That’s silly, considering he’s only ever been nice to me, but I can also see how someone might worry about that given his appearance.
For just a moment, there’s sadness in his eyes, and that’s all it takes to get me moving. I lean across the table and take the cup from his hand, frowning at him.
“I didn’t think you would. Don’t be ridiculous.”
His face doesn’t change, his lips still set in a firm line as he watches me, but something shifts. He lights up, and I know I said the right thing.
“Why, though?” I ask as I drop back into my chair, sniffing my drink to try and figure out what it is.
He drops into the chair opposite me, the same one he sat in last time, reaching into the bag, and I try not to seem overly curious.
“It’s a mocha Dubai latte. I wasn’t sure what you would like, but I figured chocolate and caffeine are a good guess,” he says with a shrug as he pulls out two cylinders wrapped in foil.
Ugh, I know Dubai chocolate is such an over-hyped thing, but I’d never gotten to try it before, not with the way Auntie monitored my diet to keep me ‘thin and appealing.’
In my haste, I take a swig and promptly burn the hell out of my tongue, nearly spitting the little bit I did manage to get all over the place.
“Shit,” I choke out as I cough and wipe my mouth.
“Excited?” He pushes one of the foil things my way, and I look down at it in question before I glance back up at him to find him unwrapping his.
From the looks of it, it’s some kind of sub, and man, does it look delicious.
“I thought you could probably use some caffeine, and who doesn’t love a good sub?” With a shrug, he takes a bite of his, and damn, how can he make that look attractive?
He’s left the bottom wrapped, his gloves holding the foil, but I opt for unwrapping the whole thing, and yeah, this is a lot more than a snack.
With the first bite, I nearly melt into a puddle. I’m not sure I’ve ever had anything so good.
“Thanks,” I say around a mouthful of food in the most unladylike way that I panic.
That kind of behavior isn’t tolerated, but before I can swallow down the enormous bite I just took to apologize, he looks up and stops me dead. Sauce drips from the corner of his mouth, and I can’t look away as his tongue darts out to lick it up.
“Anytime, Eternity,” he says with a smile that hits me so hard it knocks the air from my lungs.
Maybe I don’t need to stay away from all of them…