Meet-Cute

Five years later

December 09th 2021

Aurora

As I leave the auditorium I try and shove all my papers in my bag. It's no use because I'm practically carrying my entire bedroom in my bag as it is.

I let out a frustrated huff and look around to see if the hallway isn't busy. It's not. That's good.

I hike my leg up on the wall and try to balance my bag on my thigh, cramming all my stuff in. I take out my water bottle thinking I could hold it as I walk down to the library.

Mr Reynolds gave the class homework to study an unsolved crime and give your opinion on who you think may of done it. Instantly I loved it! My inner wannabe true crime detective self wanted to soar high.

With my water bottle under my arm I use my other hand to flatten all my papers in the bag. It's fine, It's just a bit of crumpled paper. The end of lesson bell goes off and I start to panic.

"Fuuuuuck" I whine to myself. I don't want anyone to see me struggle my ass off in the hallway. Students come flooding out left, right and centre and the hall is quickly filled with gossiping teens and bad boy football players.

I whip my head around and take this opportunity to shut my bad and take off. My bottle and a few small items are in my hands but I can deal with carrying them around with me. When I try to zip my bag back up the zip get jammed and I give it one big tug, sending the bag flying onto the floor.

"Fuck sake." I drop down and go to pick my bag up when a pair of hands shoot out at the last second.

"Let me get that for you." I look up to see a boy with blonde hair and fair skin looking down at me.

"Uhm... thank you." I get back up and pat at my knees to get rid of the grime. Yuck!

"You're very much welcome." He smiled back at me and wowza nice white teeth.

I stare up at him for a beat too long and I can feel myself heat up, "Aurora." I say wayyyy too confidently and jab my hand out to shake his.

A handshake? Really Aurora?! stu.pid

"Oakley." His hand comes out and he's smiling yet again. Our hands connect and we exchange the most awkward encounter possible.

"I'm so sorry." I withdraw my hand and lift it up to my mouth, stifling an anxious laugh.

Oakley hands me my bag back, "it's okay." He looks at me before adding, "where are you going in such a huff?"

"Uhm... the library. I'm meeting a friend."

Lie

I think he can notice my tell because his body language changes, "I better be off." Oakley turn around and walks in the opposite direction that I need to go in.

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When I swing the doors to the library open I take a moment to think about where I'm going. There is a specific book I'm looking for.

Walking down to the 'Criminology' isle I go through the books to try and find what I need.

I let out a sigh when I can't find the Criminology book I need. I turn around and my eyes lock on a student who is sat at the tables, laptop open and is in a world of her own reading "Gruesome Murder Strikes Salisbury". My eyes light up, "uhm, excuse me?" I say to her as I walk up, "are you researching the Salisbury Street murder?"

The girl looks back up at me and I see it's a girl from my class, Florence, "yeah. Are you doing it too?" She asks.

I take a seat next to her and she rotates her laptop around so I can see it too, "I am. It's all so fascinating."

Florence and I chat for a while, going through the news articles on Alison Haynesworth death.