~ C H A P T E R 2 ~
"Make sure all of you go through the course work and keep yourself up to mark with the submission dates, be it you have to keep a memo on your phone or you have to write it on your arm with permanent marker.
But I will not accept tardiness and last-minute work.
On your way out collect the textbooks, I'm old school, nothing will be digital in this class except for the algorithms and coding aspects.
" Mr. Alberts said while packing his material up.
He is Eva's Data management professor for this semester, and from what she heard from the chatter in the class he is extremely strict.
Mr. Alberts is a dark skinned, very well build and tall man.
But his seriousness in his speech was above anything.
And that is how Eva's day went, most of her professors were talking about the course work, their work loads, submission dates and most importantly how the subjects were not a cake walk.
Packing her things into her tote bag Eva looked around the class and saw that just like her many students had a look of dread, and it was just the first day.
"Excuse me, I think you dropped this." A male voice said behind her while she was walking down the stairs of the classroom.
Turning around and craning her neck upward – which was how she had to look at everyone due to her short height, she saw a tall, wheat colored skin tone guy holding her stylus which has a donut at the end of it. Talk about Embarrassing.
"Oh crap, yeah that's mine. Thank you." She uttered mortified that someone had to see that and how she almost dropped it.
Chuckling the guy replies "Don't worry about it, though I got to say donuts aren't the best sweet treats out there it has to be chocolate chip cookies." Handing her the stylus. "I'm Anand" he says while extending his arm to give hers a shake.
"I'm Evangeline, but you can call me Eva that's what all my friends and family call me. And I have to disagree with you, donuts are the best. How can you not like them!" she replies with a slight blush and a look of shock. How can someone not like the doughy goodness that are donuts!
"So, we're friends huh? Quite straight-forward and a bit offended that I'm put in the friend zone, but hey I'll take what I get. Chocolate chip cookies are god-sent excuse you!" He quips, a hint of amusement in his eyes.
"Oh gosh I mean, well that's just how I introduce myself. I'm sorr-" she gets cut off by this laughing.
"Don't worry about squirrel, I was just kidding.
You look liked I wanted to eat you up. I'd love to be friends.
" They start walking out of class and move towards the doors to the exit.
It was now nearing 5 o'clock and Eva had to rush to get to the library.
The rain had not stopped, if anything it picked up making Eva pout slightly.
"Squirrel?" Eva asks quite puzzled, while fumbling to open her transparent over-sized umbrella. She made a gesture to him asking if he wants to share, he happily took it and held it for both of them.
"Yeah! You totally look like one, the dark hair, big brown eyes and the adorable expressions. You and my sister would so get along. She'd be obsessed with you. Plus, she loves donuts!" Anand says while taking smaller strides so that Eva doesn't have to struggle. For which she was grateful.
Eva was slightly offended but also out of waters here, was he flirting?
Or is this how conversations go? "I'll have you know; I don't know how to reply to that.
But yes, I'd love to meet your sister. IF she's nothing like you and she isn't from what I can see you are a donut hater.
" Eva replied quite cheekily. Anand burst out laughing throwing his head back, and that eased Eva into a comfortable feeling.
She was at ease, it was a rare feeling among the people she mingled with in Highschool.
He had this happy-go vibe and Eva liked that.
"You my dear squirrel are absolutely adorable, and I think I am going to keep you around for as long as I live.
Oh, trust me, you'll come running back to me once you meet the 5'4ft she devil – that is my sister.
" He says with a fake shudder. Eva giggled at his expressions.
They got into a comfortable conversation quite quickly and Eva was enjoying herself.
She learnt that Anand and his sister Alia are from India but have been in America for all their life.
She was able to make the connection now seeing his black hair and black eyes with an Indian handsomeness he had.
Anand had all the same subjects as Eva only their minors was separate, he took ethical hacking.
He was not much of a sports guy so he says, though she could see the defined muscles underneath his flannel.
He plays various instruments like the Drums, Guitar and the Violin.
Many girls they passed looked at Anand with those heart eyes, there was no doubt he looked good with his black hair, cute smile and over-all comforting personality.
Eva loved music; her dad was quite good at various instruments so she grew up with it.
Even her brother learnt and was part of a rock band phase in his late teens.
That spiked an interest in her. "You have to play for me some time, as payback for calling me such a horrible nickname.
" Eva said with a small pout as they entered the café that was below the library complex, this is where Anand said his siter was waiting.
"Why not, and no I am not feeling bad for giving you such a name!
If anything, I am proud." Anand said while opening the café door.
The interior of the café was definitely modern yet rustic-chic vibes.
Many college students were buying cappuccinos and various types of beverages.
A short, but tall as per Eva's feeling raven hair girl was waving towards Anand.
"There's the she devil, come on before she murders me.
" Anand says chuckling. Eva suddenly became nervous and her hands started to get sweaty.
She was comfortable with Anand because he made her feel that way, but would his sister be the same?
Well, only one way to find out. She hid behind Anand a little, only peaking her head from his back.
"Kitna dher kardia tumne bhai, aur upar se bharish bhi. Oh hi!" [You took quite some time brother, and it's raining]. Alia said in their native language of Hindi but then she noticed a small adorable girl behind her brother. She was pleasantly surprised, the girl looked terrified!
"Yeah yeah. Because I can make my classes go any faster or control the weather.
You are fucking impatient." He said while rolling his eyes at his sister's antics.
Slightly bringing Eva forward to introduce, "And this is Evangeline or Eva – so her friends call her.
She's in all my classes, and Eva this is my annoying little sister Alia. " He said gesturing towards the girls.
Alia's smile was so bright that her nose crinkled slightly.
"Oh my god you are such a cute little dumpling!
I am obsessed with your hair and ooo I am so going to steal your sweatshirt in your sleep.
Just you wait!" Alia was literally bouncing in her seat look at Eva.
What is with people and their names for Eva, just because she is a little short, okay very short.
But hey! Eva was wearing light blue high waited jeans that had small rips near her knees and a sweatshirt with a corgi on it along with some Nike Airforce 1s.
The sweatshirt wasn't particularly tight due to her heavy cheat but her jeans fit her well showing off her 'child bearing hips' as Sandra likes to call them and praise her.
Eva let out a breath of relief after seeing the way Alia reacted and became so friendly. "Hehe, it's so nice to you meet you Alia, and yeah like your idiot brother said call me Eva! Omg you have a helix piercing, did that hurt?" Eva winced slightly thinking about the pain.
"Oh, we are so besties, you understand my pain with him.
" She says while jabbing Anand in the ribs.
"And you should know I am just 2 minutes younger than you.
We are twins, which he very conveniently forgets to say!
" Alia exclaims towards her brother. He raises his hands in defeat seeing there is no point in arguing with his sister.
"It was a little painful, but you should go for it if you want, it'll look sexy on you! " Alia winks and smiles towards Eva.
The three of them start conversing about things from their classes, to their childhood.
Now that Eva sees, it's noticeable that they are twins.
They have similarities in the way they talk and hand gestures.
Eva felt like she could be herself without judgement around these two.
She learnt that Alia was studying History with English as a minor, and that she sings!
Alia wasn't as skinny as Sandra or Parker but she wasn't as curvy as Eva.
She has shoulder length straight black hair that was braided, with numerous ear piercings that suit her so well.
She had this rocker yet girly vibe about her.
Alia's sense of style was not like Eva's but she could see herself going shopping with her.
She was wearing a purple frilly dress with a leather biker jacket and leather chunky boots.
"I have always wanted to be friends with twins! It was like a weird thing on my bucket list." Eva says while slightly blushing and giggling.
"You have a weird-ass bucket list squirrel. But as your donut stylus saver I am more then pleased." Anand winks towards her.
Alia seems a little lost and amused by Eva's expression which shows cringing and a glare if that's what you want to call it. "Squirrel? Donut stylus?" I am super lost. I thought you were my bestie, Eva not his!" Alia whines. Anand just snickers.
"Aww I am your bestie! Your hippopotamus of a brother thinks I look like a squirrel and hence the name.
Though I am not happy with it. And donut stylus well" Eva says while glaring at Anand, who drinks his Chai Latte avoiding eye contact.
Eva takes out the stylus from her bag to show to Alia.
Alia breaks out in laughter making people near them to give them odd looks, Eva ducks her head at the attention.
"First of all, Hippopotamus, oh my god you are such a cutie, I adore you! Second, you do look like a squirrel, harmless. And third omg you have a donut on your stylus! Where have you been all my life!" Alia squeals while pinching Eva's cheeks.
Swatting Alia's hands she looks at her rose gold watch, "Oh shit, I gotta go. My shift at the library starts soon! How about we exchange numbers and we should catch up!"
Alia and Anand exchange numbers and make plans to meet up again. Maybe even a shopping trip with Sandra and Parker. Eva leaves the café with a huge smile that the rain can't dampen, she makes her way towards the elevators to get into the library.