back again

*Beep* *Beep*

"Ugh, f-ing alarm." Sean said as he slammed his hand down on the off button. It was 7am, nearly time for him to head to work. He pulled on a clean work shirt and a pair of jeans. Quickly fixed his hair and brushed his teeth. Then he stood for a moment, gazing into his bathroom mirror staring at his own green eyes. Why could he not shake this feeling? This girl, he knew nothing about her yet felt like he needed to... needed to what? Some girl stops coming to a cafe and suddenly she is in grave danger, but then why was that woman looking for her? He let out a heavy sigh. Then walked out the door.

As he walked to work, he tried to get Ella off his mind. But all through work that day, he kept staring at the cafe clock waiting for his shift to be over. 11am, 12pm, 1pm. Finally at 1:29pm he took off his work apron and punched out on the time clock.

Zmayah only lived 7 minutes from the cafe by car. He walked home, changed and made it to her place by 2pm. Zmayah walked out of her flat after Sean gave his horn a tap. She walked out in a army green spaghetti strap dress with leather army boots that came almost to her knees. Her hair was pinned up in a messy bun. She looked rather pretty and older than she usually did.

"What?" she said as she got into the car.

Sean realized he was staring at her and looked away.

"Oh, nothing, you look nice, that's all."

"Oh, thanks." she said smiling and blushing.

"Ready to go?"

"Yeah."

Sean mapped where the university was on his phone. After about a half hour of driving, they arrived at the entrance to the University

"Okay, so maybe I should do the talking once we get in there."

"Yeah, that's what I was thinking as well. Less creeper like if a girl asks about another girl. Okay, well, let's go."

They walked into the front entrance of the school. To the right was a welcome desk with an old lady sitting at a computer.

"Excuse me, I'm looking for a friend who I think is a student here."

"You think? What did this person flunk out or something? Nevermind, I don't care. Name?" said the lady behind the welcome desk, who clearly didn't like her job.

"Um, I'm sorry, you want my name?"

"No, Dot. The name of the person you are looking for." Then under her breath. "Really, they come as stupid as they look now days."

"Ella." Zmayah said with a frown.

The lady gave an exasperated sigh.

"Last name?" she said.

"Uh, I'm not sure, can't you just look her up under Ella? I mean, how many Ella's could there be?"

The lady glared at her over her horn rim glasses.

"None, apparently."

"I'm sorry, what?"

"I said, none, as in there is no one here under that name."

"Oh." said Zmayah confused.

"Try Eliana, that is her full name." whispered Sean into Zmayah's ear.

"Oh, um, maybe try Eliana? That is her full name." Zmayah said.

"You don't think you should have started with her full name? I mean, really, what do they teach you kids now days?" The lady said as she typed away on her computer.

Zmayah bit back a retort as Sean gently squeezed her arm and whispered in her ear

"Don't, it's not worth getting kicked out of here."

"Yes, there is a Eliana enrolled here. Eliana Shultz. Dorm room D25."

"Thank you." said Zmayah as they turned to leave.

"But you won't find her there, she has a class scheduled for this time. Criminal profiling. class room 10. Should be over in about 20 minutes."

"Oh, thanks."

"So what should we do for 20 minutes? Want to go sit down somewhere? There was a little bench by that fountain out front." Sean asked. "Zmayah?"

"Hum? Oh, yeah sure, whatever you want."

They walked out front and sat down on the bench. Zmayah still seemed distracted by something.

"Okay, what's up?"

"Oh, nothing I was just thinking."

"Come on Zmayah, I know you. You have that look on your face like something is bothering you. So come on and tell me, what is it?"

"I...I was just wondering... do you have a crush on this girl?" As she spoke, she stared at the fountain avoiding Sean's eyes.

"I don't know, I mean, after Sophie, I'm kinda ruined in the women department right now."

"Yeah, I can understand that. I just thought I'd ask."

"Why?"

"Oh, no reason. Anyways, we should probably get back to looking for Ella. When Corella Devil was telling us where Ella was, I noticed a map of the campus on the bulletin broad. Class room 10 is this way, we have about 5 minutes to get there." She said hurriedly as she jumped up and walked away.

"Okaayy." Sean said.

"Here we are, class room 10. So do you want to wait over there by the cafe?" Zmayah asked.

"Sure."

"Oh, look Sean, the class must be over."

People began walking out of the class room.

"Do you see her?"

"No, not yet...oh, wait. Ella!" Sean shouted.

A girl in a light pink dress with her hair done up in one long braid looked up. When she saw Sean, her eyes filled with fear.

"Hey Ella, it's me, Sean from the cafe. Do you remember me?" Sean said as he walked up to her.

"Shhh! You need to shut up right now! Come with me." She motioned for them to follow her as she began to walk away.