Looking for you

Chapter 5

Alex

Christmas had passed and at school Kaisha wouldn't hush about how fun were her vacations. I do love her, she's like my sister but sometimes she just talks too much.

Pretty much everyone had been out of town during vacations, everyone but me. I don't always stay in town but when I do, I realy enjoy it. Whenever itscoldat least. I love coldness and that "calm" sensation that comes with it. Even though I don't love Christmas, don't ask me why, I'm not very sure myself but I only enjoy the time because of the weather and because after December comes January. What do I have with January? My birthday comes with it. One of the things I like about it is that almost no one notices it.

I've not known of anyone who really enjoys the weather like I do. Even if it’s freezing outside, I’m the crazy one who only wears a thin sweater. Still not everything has been as normal for me as always.

Those holidays I couldn't stop thinking of Evelyn, wondering what she'd be doing. I could have called, she gave me her number when I didn't undestood a project some weeks ago, but I didn’t want to distract her of any activity by calling.

Eventually I had to come to terms with the fact that I didn't just like her, I was in love with her… knowing that anything was impossible due to our condition of professor student, and that I had no reason to believe she was lesbian, my assimilation led me to hope it would have to fade off someday. Still I looked for her company…

Yes I love her, but doesn't have to know. No one needs to know.

At school I managed to focus in every class even when I don't have science, but everyone knows I love the class and, apparently no one in my class can get higher grades than me and whenever I make a mistake, everyone thinks it might be the end of the world. You could say I'm a nerd, and I'm proud of it.

By the time sports class ended the day at school was over and all I wanted was to take a long walk home in the cold or get lost wondering in nearby streets. I grabbed my bag behind my shoulder and crossed the main door taking the next street to the left by the corner when my phone buzzed in my pocket.

I smiled as soon as I read the contact name at the screen, it was a message from Professor Wright.

Saw you walking out of school. It’s friday and I thought I could steal of your reading time…

I smiled, she knew me well.

...I was wondering if you’d like to go for a coffee later(?)>>

Immediately I answered saying I'd love to. Couple of block ahead she texted the adress of the establishment and told me she'd meet me thee i a couple of hours. I ran home to get a bath and change my clothes.

Two hours later I was waiting for her at the coffee.

Evelyn

As soon as I arrived at the place I got nervous. I'm lying, I got nervous since I texted her the question and the adress. I coudn't believe I asked her out, but besides that I coudn't believe she said yes!

I saw when she was leaving school and the idea popped in my mind. She seems lonely sometimes and she's a great person to talk to. If everyone would know that they would see how amazing she is.

Looking over different tables I try to find her until I spot her at a ptablelaceat the back.

She wears a black long sleeve button shirt with blue jeans. Her hair is down, small hair locks fells over her face. She barely sees me and smiles. I'm no nervous anymore.

"Hi " she greets me.

"Hey. You came" I took a sit at the chair in front of her.

"Aye" she gave a small nodd smiling shyly.

I smile, listening to her voice.

"You really can't help that accent of yours, can't you?" I watched her eye and notice she blushed.

"Ahm... I've tried several times but I never seem to succeed... In my defense I blame BBC for that" we laughed again. Being honest with I like the accent.

I left my sweater over the next chair, her sight never leaves me. I stare at her and neither of us evade the sight o fthe other. I rise a brow looking at her.

“Forgive me I...I was thinking, my eyes seem to have will of their own sometimes.” she said.

"I bet they do" she relaxed while I smiled.

“What would you like? A cappuccino? Or maybe the special coffeeof the house..." I asked.

"I'll love an 'espresso' but, it's hot so..."

I frowned. That means she doesn't like hot coffee?

"...I think it'll be an iced Irish coffee" This time both of my brows rised, all I ever had was either black coffee or a macciato, and I was freezing looking for something hot to drink.

"Iced huh, with this weather, sure? " she played with her fingers before answering.

"Yeah... cold it's fine for me. And I'm not a big fan of hot beverages yet. Well unless it's tea”

Tea, of course. I nodded realizing she there was no jacket behind her chair. I was curious for her answer.

"So you could have cold tea as well?"

"No, uhm... I pretty much hate cold tea, it tastes horrible. I have nothing against hot coffee it's just that I don't love it" I teased her.

“I'm glad you don't love it, it can be addictive”

Our drinks arrived and I watched a glimpse of her hands. There was no way I coudn't know she liked rings, she wore them every day at school, but it was just now I could admire their pattern. They were not ‘delicate’. The index finger, on her left hand, there's an unusual ring, it's a 'tiger eye' stone that might measure 1.5cm, surrounded by silver, which becomes the round part that 'holds' to her finger, but the silver that secures the stone ends with the head of a serpent.

It called my attention, not only because of the stone, which has a capturing effect for the eye, but for the snake, it's not my favourite animal, I wonder why she wears it, it's uncommon in someone her age, in a girl.

She catches me staring at it. He sight looks serious, kind of worried.

"Sorry I couldn't help my curiosity"

"It's fine. As long as it doesn't leave my finger I see no trouble"

"Can I ask you something?"

"Sure. Well, if I know the answer, I will" Another shy smile.

"Why a serpent?"

She stared at the ring and brought her hand closer to her, reaches for it with the other hand and caresses the stone, she seems deep in thought.

"Because the serpent it's beautiful in its own way. Some may fear it or despise it, but the snake by itself is not good or evil, it only follows its nature trying to do things in a way it's convenient for it, to survive"

I never expected an answer like that, she made me see the point in it. It made sense, and I wondered why I didn´t think it before, after all I studied biology and, some animals like reptiles seemed fascinating to me.

"That's not common, is it?" She asked.

"It’s not. But I see your point."

She smiled and we both took a sip of coffee.

"So, how's football going?" After knowing she practiced at a school and wants to become professional in time, I wanted to know how she was doing and I even got interested in the sports section in the newspaper.

"It’s great, actually. I'm currently at the 'Older league' but my coach told me that he received an offer to get me in a better league, they call it 'Basic forces' it’s part of the program at a professionals team. Once there I won't need to pay for training and if everything goes well, I'll go to a place they call 'Quarry’, every player there makes it to the professional team"

“That's great! Alex, it's really awesome…in future I could see you on T.V. at Women's World Cup" she laughed and I wished for her to actually succeed at sports, though she’s an excellent student, I believe she can achieve anything she wants.

"I'm still far from there, but I’ve always dreamt of it. Still I'd find a way to study, I love many things from studying..."

"I'm sure you will" she took another sip of coffee and stared at me thinking. I thought she wanted to see trough me.

“What are you thinking?” I asked.

“I remembered you studied Biology. Why did you chose it?"

Why did I chose it?...

"Well, when I was a little girl and learned what photosynthesis was, it astonished me. I fell in love with every plant I found on my way home and just like that I chose it"

We kept on talking about random stuff, I really had a great time and enjoyed it. By the time we realized how long we've been talking it was already 8:30, we both had to go home.

“I'm glad you agreed to this.” she had her hands in her pockets and was waiting for my cab to pass by for me, when she pressed her arms against her torso I knew she was nervous, like the time We were at the professor's room.

“Would it be all right if we do this again, some other time?” Her face was calm but her eyes looked worried, and expression I couldn’t recognize crossed her face.

“I'd love to, Alex”

A half shy smile appeared on her lips at my answer and my cab stopped by.

“Thank you, for everything. Have a good night miss Wright”

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Trues about this chapter:

The cold thing-> it's true, I don't get cold easily, even with low temperatures.

The serpent ring-> also true, I wear that ring everyday no exceptions. It has a special meaning for me not only what I wrote up here.

The restaurant 'Cluny'-> it exist, it's actually my favourite restaurant in all Mexico. And as you could read it's a restaurant not a cafeteria, but it also has a bar. There's where I celebrate my every birthday. The FALSE thing is that it wasn't the place where we first went out it was indeed a small cafeteria not all the way south the city.

Drinking espresso: False, I've only drank it once in my entire life and for now I can leave it like that. While it's TRUE that I only drink cold iced coffee. Ergo: I only have hot tea, NEVER cold.

The football offer-> true, when I used to play at that school I received the offer to go 'further’. That football school is actually part of a professional Mexican football team called 'Pumas', if the student gets an offer, they could get you to the pro team.

Yours Truly: 'Lectorumcompulsive'