Blameless

TWO

The Learning Center loomed before Mia, its sleek glass facade reflecting the ordered chaos of her thoughts. The encounter with the boy still reverberated within her, 'how did he know my name? Why was he so disheveled?' She thought to herself, approaching the entrance of the building. A momentary hesitation lingered as she approached the entrance before she finally entered through the automatic doors.

Within the sterile confines of the Learning Center, a hub of information dissemination, Mia sought her usual seat in the meticulously arranged rows. The air hummed with the familiar buzz of activity, her fellow students speaking about their planned out days to each other, awaiting for their instructor to enter their room.

As Mia settled into her seat, she noticed Samuel Walters, her childhood best friend and newly boyfriend, who was well known for his exceptional data analysis skills, was approaching her. His neatly combed hair and precise movements mirrored perfection as he made his way over to Mia, leaning slightly on her desk.

"Well hello beautiful." Sam smiled, lifting Mia's hand to his lips, leaving a soft kiss on her knuckles. Still holding her hand, he rubbed his thumb where he left his kiss. "I couldn't help but notice your smile, do you think you could do it for me again?" Sam teased, making Mia laugh. Sam made it his goal since they started dating to come up with a new pick up line everyday for her, and although Mia told herself it had become annoying, she would be lying if she said she didn't enjoy it.

"Hey Sam. You know I don't smile for just anyone." Mia let the sides of her lips curl into a smile, her dimples peaking through. "Shouldn't you be in the data building this morning?" Mia asked, curious to why he would be in the Learning Center on such a normal day.

"We were told to meet over here. My guess it's some announcement." Sam shrugged, his hand reaching over to Mia's face brushing a piece of hair away from her eyes. "Only good thing about this is I get to see you."

Mia blushed, taking Sam's hand's into hers, cupping them close to her chest. "How did I get so lucky." She beamed, turning her head to the sound of the automated door being forced opened abruptly.

The whole room went silent as everyone turned their heads towards the figure at the door. It was that boy she met walking this morning. His uniform even more wrinkled and now covered in spots of mud. His hair, which looked as though he had walked through a wind storm, was covering his eyes, and using his lips, he blew away the strands from his face.

With the same scowl on his face as before, he shuffled himself over to his seat and sat down. Looking up and around at everyone who's eye's were on him. "Take a picture why don't you, it'll last longer!"

"The door is automatic, you didn't need to-" a girl seated directly behind him began to say.

"Would you just shut up? I don't tell you how to open doors, do I blondey?" Ty rolled his eyes and leaned back into his chair, everyone's eyes leaving his and going back to their respective conversations.

"How could anyone be so rude?" Sam shook his head, letting go of Mia's hands to cross his arms. "From the looks of him he's someone who doesn't even attend his scheduled classes, let alone actually show up on time." Sam huffed, his eyes still on Ty.

Mia looked over to the boy, still curious to how he knew her name or why she hadn't seen him before. Maybe Sam was right, maybe he just never attended classes and had no care to stick to his schedule. Her eyes couldn't leave him as the possible answers ran through her head until Ty locked eyes with hers, his permanent scowl disappearing as their gaze met. Mia widened her eyes and turned her focus back to Sam.

"He probably hasn't even decided what he wants to do with his life." Sam was still complaining, finally looking back down at Mia. "Anyway, we still on to meet after classes today?"