Simple as Hello

Part Two

I drive over to my favorite place, the only place where you can be completely silent, drink coffee, and just read or write: the bookstore. The one near the dorm rooms is convenient, but totally overrun with 'hipsters' who are only there for the cappuccinos and other specialty drinks. I prefer driving a few extra miles to Hal's where there are about three more shelves with books that are only slightly more tattered, but there tends to be much less people. It's not that I hate people, I just hate annoying people. All they talk about is how they don't study and how Jen is dating Rob and so on. Honestly, I like getting a coffee with some sugar and creamer, sitting down with my favorite journal, maybe a new book, and some peace and quiet. Today is especially peaceful and I'm able to begin to write down my thoughts.

Closed eyes, open heart.

Lucid dreams, a new start.

The love is falling and falling,

Deep into an ocean that's calling,

Calling for attention and love at last,

Not the fatal love of years past.

The darkening of the skies

Hinted at the storm beginning to rise.

Rapidly the seas twisted and turned,

And her feelings beckoned and yearned,

Searching for the love,

Which flew away as softly as a dove.

Leaving a tarnished, dried up island.

And no longer could she stand.

Because what human can live when their heart

Has been ripped out and torn apart.

The more I write, the better I feel. It may not even be my own feelings, but just something that inspires my imagination. My thoughts are ablaze and I barely realize that my eyes are practically squeezed shut. Before I can let myself write down another line, I feel my shoulder being brushed by. I look back to see a group of girls passing by, laughing. Wow! How did they even find this place? It's not really their cup of tea. Literally. I just shake it off, but the longer I sit there, the more I begin to wonder what people think of me. Why do I have to be so awkward and never get involved in parties or talk to people my age? The only person I've really had a connection with so far is... Calvin. Just the mention of his name in my mind puts a smile on my face. I can't help but think of his dark brown locks which lye just slightly over his eyebrows. And those green eyes, they literally searched into the depth of my heart. I am still blushing over the fact that I passed out and he had to sit in a room with me for that long before I even thought to call a cab. The more I think about him, the more I begin to wonder about his social tactics once again. How was he acting around me? He seemed slightly awkward, a little quiet, but caring. Very gentle and he listened very well. Oh wait, I think my assumption was right. He only copies the attributes of those around him. So... he was trying to figure me out. He wasn't actually interested in me, he only wanted to learn about me to get the best from me, which isn't much, and then leave. No wonder he was so bored. I should have known he wasn't actually interested. He was just expressing common courtesy by sitting in there with me while I recovered from hitting my head. Speaking of, that bump still sort of hurts. I feel like I should have gotten that checked out, but I honestly just don't care enough, and I know mom can't afford hospital bills at this time.

At the dorm, I begin to study for the upcoming math exam we have. Math is something I struggle with, a lot. I honestly don't know if I'm going to survive this semester, but I've just got to push through. As I'm deep in thought, I hear a knock at the door.

"Hey Mae! Sorry I forgot my key, again! Can you believe it?" Yes, I honestly can. "But anyways, I'm going to another party tomorrow night, come with? I saw you were talking to that guy before you passed out, he seemed pretty cool."

"Eh, I'm not really sure. We have that math exam and-"

"Mae, you literally always ace everything. Come on, you've gotta come. I'm sure he'll be looking for you!"

So I once again find myself in a party packed with people I don't know. Each and every blast of music makes my head pound even more. I have a killer headache, probably still from falling. As I continue to study the notes that I took a picture of on my phone, I feel a tap on my shoulder. Looking to the left and then the right, I realize there's no one there. Someone's picking on me again. Cool. I look back down and then feel a breath on my neck.
"Well geez Mae, if I would've know you were studying I would have left you alone." I whip around and stand up at the same time and my face bumps straight into Calvin's chest. "Wow, I, I'm sorry," I say awkwardly.
"It's all good, so what test do you have tomorrow?"
"Um math. Stats specifically."
"Ah, that's gross. But hey how's your head?" Okay he does remember that night.
"It's um okay. I'm doing good. Sorry for wasting your time by the way."
"Seriously, you've gotta stop with the sorry thing. You don't owe everyone everything." My face almost contorts, that was kinda mean, but I guess he means well.
"Okay, but I still feel bad. Anyways, I better get back to studying and-"
"How are you with dancing?"
"Uh well terrible."
"Join me?" He says sticking out his hand near mine with one eyebrow raised.
"I don't know, it's not really my thing and-" Before I can finish this sentence, Calvin pulls me into the middle of the floor amongst all of the partiers around us and grabs both of my hands spinning me around him.