Tie-Dye Beauty

Chocolate Chip

CHAPTER THREE:

I walked into the cafeteria with the message I'd received on my mind. I couldn't believe that only one person had reached out to me. Was I too ugly to be desired? Perhaps it was time I moved on from my Harvard dream? I shook my head irritated. I felt depressed and I needed junk food to help me cope with it. I got in the line and reached for a chocolate chip cookie and cheese fries. Once I'd paid for my food I headed to the tables.

"Hartley... Hartley." Paisley shouted trying to get my attention. She looked excited and I smiled at her even though all I wanted to do was eat lunch alone.

"Hey." I placed my food tray on the table and sat down next to her.

"Come on spill the beans." She giggled excitedly.

"What?" I asked confused.

"You know what!" She looked at me with her big green eyes and I was ready to walk away.

I raised my eyebrow and looked at her like she was crazy. "What?"

"Did you answer the message?" She was finally making sense.

"No. I don't think I'm going to. What if he's a serial killer, who preys on girls through the Internet?"

"Or maybe he just wants to remain private," Paisley said, and I thought about it. "What if he doesn't want anyone he knows knowing he is looking through a website like that." She added. "That could be embarrassing for some people."

I thought about it, maybe Paisley was right. I shouldn't have assumed things until I knew more. With that, I decided I wanted to know more about him. I grabbed my cell phone and looked at the message again. I began to write a message back but deleted it ten times before I came up with something I liked.

Tie-Dye Beauty: I'm glad you enjoy my humor and the lovely smell of coffee in the morning. Why don't you have any pictures?

I sent it. What's the harm, right? If he acted weird I could block him and never speak of this website ever again. On the other hand, I really hoped he was not a creeper. Biting my lip, I hoped for the best outcome.

°°°

I gazed at the brown and white house before me with outrage. I wish I didn't have to ever come back to it. My grandfather would be devastated if he knew where the hard-earned money he had saved for me ended. I closed my hands into a fist and I fought the urge to punch something.

I felt more irritated when I saw my parents' cars in the driveway and I knew that meant they were home. I hadn't talked to them since the big quarrel we had about the money they spend. I could still recall the words they said. How they didn't think I would want to go to University and that they didn't think I would really get in. My own parents had little confidence in me.

I don't have the foggiest idea about which one was most exceedingly awful, that they thought I wouldn't get in, or that I wouldn't have any desire to do anything with my life. I shook the irritation and went to the back door─ Sneaking in, I went to my room thankful that I didn't have to address them. Tossing my bag along the floor, I tumbled down on my bed and grabbed my cell phone from my pocket. I rapidly looked through it. I wonder if Ace had answered my message already?

I smiled when I saw he had and I quickly opened it.

Ace: I like my privacy. In my field of work that is very important.

I wonder where he worked? He must be important if something like joining a website for dating was a big deal.

Tie-Dye Beauty: Is that also why you don't have an about me? Are you afraid someone you know will recognize you?

I finally asked him the question I had been wondering about. I genuinely wanted to know what he looked like.

Ace: Isn't I being Mysterious exciting?... You're a very curious woman.

I smiled. I did like the mystery behind him. I questioned what he was really like? I draw my hair up into a ponytail and thought of something else to ask him. If he couldn't show me a picture, then I would need details to imagine him.

Tie-Dye: How about you answer a few questions?

As I sent that a knock at the door suddenly startled me. I put my phone down, "Go away."

"Hartley, we need to talk." My mother shouted at me. "You can't continue to hide in here."

"Yes, I can," I yelled back at her.

"Fine. Stay in there! You will come out when you are hungry." She said and stormed off.

"No... I... Won't." I grabbed my pillow and screamed into it. If only I had the money I would move out and never talk to them again. Wanting to get my mind off my problems I reached for my phone and read my new message from Ace.

Ace: How about one question for right now?

I decided to grab my laptop. I knew it would be easier than trying to type on my crappy phone. Quickly turning it on, I opened the website and began to think about what I wanted to ask him. I wrote and rewrote my question until I was happy with what I had.

Tie-Dye Beauty: What color are your eyes?

I bit my lip and sat waiting impatiently for the answer to my question. I knew we'd just started talking and I didn't know anything about him, but I feel excited every time he answered me, and I craved to know more about him as the minutes passed by. I smiled excitedly when his message showed up.

Ace: My eyes are a light shade of green.

I began to write him back only to stop when I received another message from him.

Ace: I'm about to head into a meeting. Can we talk later Tie-dye beauty? (Maybe you can tell me your real name?)

Until later. Ace.

A meeting? did that mean he was a businessman? I closed my laptop and smiled like a crazy woman. I wondered what his real name was? I also wanted to know if he was good looking? I closed my eyes and pictured a man with light green eyes. Was he too good to be true? Would this man be able to help me achieve my biggest dream of attending Harvard or was I getting myself into a situation I shouldn't have? I grabbed the package from beside my lap-top, I looked at the acceptance letter and the due date and knew I didn't have another choice. Yet, I prayed that I wouldn't go to hell for what I was about to do to this man.

A/N: Hello, please comment if you can :)