Black Roses

Chapter 6

Bridget cricked her neck as she flipped through the seven hundred and sixty-five page book by some famous psychologist. She needed to prove her theories of the study of the brain right and this book was the only one in the vast library that supported her theory. She cupped her chin with one hand as she copied off some lines from the book to use as evidence.

She heard a chair scrape and she looked up to find herself staring at familiar weird eyes. Is it me or does everyone around here have weird eyes? They keep popping up whenever I'm in an awkward situation. First the laptop, then that…drinking incident and now…while I'm copying off some guy I don't even know just to prove that my theory is and always will be right? she thought to herself.

Then it dawned on her why the guy was so familiar. 'I know you, don't I?' she asked.

The guy shrugged. 'I guess you could say that. I mean…I was the one who got you in the nurse's office and you stumbled into my room the other night…'

'You're the weird eyed kid.' Bridget ventured aloud. The guy smiled, seemingly unfazed by what she said.

'You said something to that effect when you woke up at the hospital.' He said.

Bridget chuckled. 'I tend to run my mouth sometimes.'

'It's not a problem, really. I do that sometimes myself.'

Bridget was struck by his laid back manner. Bridget decided that he could be evaluated as a guy who was cool, calm and collected. Then she remembered that he was one of the teacher's assistant and he had once given a lecture about Pavlov dogs and their behaviour.

'You're Chris Rivers.' She blurted out. That smile again. It made her heart swell up like a balloon. She just hoped that it wouldn't pop.

'You're Bridget Cohen.'

'I know I'm Bridget Cohen.' Bridget wanted to smack her head. 'I mean…yeah. I'm Bridget Cohen.' She shrugged, feigning nonchalance.

Chris chuckled, the sound a bit deep and somehow…smack. Bridget…stop thinking.

'So…what brings you here to the library?' this time, she really did smack her head. 'Well…of course, obvious answer to a stupid question which I already know the answer to. Oh come on Bridget, what else would a guy do in a library other than to read? You dumb—'

'I came here to talk to you actually.'

'Dumb—what?' her head comically snapped to look at Chris. Her hair flew over her face and a huge lock of it went into her mouth. She spat it out.

Chris leaned forward and pushed the strands away from her face and smiled. Bridget shivered at that slight contact. 'I'm not interesting to talk to…why would you want to talk to me for?' she asked.

Chris chuckled and her heart skipped a beat. Oh boy…thought Bridget.

'I would be lying if I agreed with you about you not being interesting to talk to.'

A raised eyebrow on the petite brunette's face signalled doubt which washed over her face. 'Okay…you've got my attention so far.' Bridget crossed her arms over her chest and leaned back in the chair she occupied.

Chris leaned forward on the table and looked into her eyes, which unnerved her. 'Actually…I just wanted to apologize for knocking you down that day.' A soft red hue rose in his cheeks, making him look younger than he probably is. Twenty-six? Twenty-seven? How old is he?

'Oh…' Bridget uncrossed her arms, feeling a bit foolish for coming off a bit like a jerk earlier. 'I have to apologize too. But I have to apologize for both accidents.'

'The second one wasn't really your fault though.' Chris shook his head. 'You were drugged, so I don't blame you. You don't have to apologize for that.'

'Yeah? Okay…then I apologize for the first. I wasn't really looking where I was going.'

Chris shook his head again. 'It was solely my fault, really. You were just stepping out of class.'

Bridget sighed. 'I guess so. But I should still feel guilty for being in your way.'

Chris chuckled again. If he kept this up, Bridget would have a heart attack, surely. 'You weren't in my way.'

Bridget kept quiet and just nodded slightly.

'I want to make it up to you. Let me take you out for dinner tonight.' Chris said after a moment's silence.

Bridget shook her head. 'You really don't have to—'

'It's the least I could do.'

'No, Chris. Seriously. You really don't have to and besides…I can't.'

'Or you won't?' Chris pressed.

She sighed. 'All my brothers are here in Massachusetts. If they find out that I've gone out with a guy, they'd flip.'

'All? You mean you have more than one?'

'I have five older brothers who wouldn't think twice about breaking someone's arm if they get into a five mile radius of their only baby sister.'

Chris' eyes widened. 'Really? You're lucky to have brothers who care.'

'And that concludes our conversation.' Bridget smiled uncomfortably.

Chris nodded, and got up. Bridget thought she saw something glimmer in his eyes but it disappeared the moment she tried to look any deeper into it.

'So I'll see you around campus.'

Bridget shrugged and went back to flipping into her thick book. She didn't want him to see how guilty she felt and probably looked.

The worst part was…she knew she was just starting to like the guy.