Chapter 3

Chloe’s POV

I collided with someone, their unfamiliar scent of perfume wafted up, filling my nostrils. I stumbled backward from the impact of the stronger body.

My eyes rose to find Scott in front of me. The one popular dude in college. I mean, the most hottest guy in college, every damn girl in school want him.

“Sco…” I stuttered, holding a hand over my mouth from uttering anything stupid.

Instantly, his head shot up so fast I thought he’d have strained his neck or something. Surprisingly all he did when our eyes met, was break out into a goofy smile and then scurried off like nothing had happened a while ago.

Leaving me bewildered.

“What the hell just happened?” Monica called out from behind me as she snaked an arm around my shoulders. Grinning at me.

“Not now Monica!” I scowled. Holding tight on my purse as we headed over to class.

“I mean, did you see that? You bumped into scott! The Scott.” She persisted. I sighed slightly disheartened, sadly Monica and I are among the girls that fangirl over him.

Well, obviously not in the open, we prefer to do it privately.

I paused for a minute and then turned to face her. Crossing both arms over my chest as I parted my lips to respond.

“Can we go now?” I asked.

“Whatever, but all of that just doesn’t change the fact that you had just bumped into Scott,” She screamed at the top of her voice.

“The Scott!” Monica added.

I had my gaze fixed on the hallway ahead, ignoring Monica next to me. My mind trailed off to the kid from the mall. And I couldn’t for some reason pinpoint why.

Figuring out my locker, comprehending my schedule, and finding the lecture halls, for the day’s lessons was probably the most strenuous I’ve ever had to do since my second year in college.

“Fuck!” Monica muttered.

“We’re late!” She said, gesturing to the Man in front of the hall. Who had his face buried in a big book in front of him as he read through it. We snuck our way in afterward, settling into our usual spot in class.

The rest of the day in the class went on and on with old shaggy men spewing words I found unnecessary. I had my first placed underneath my cheek, staring absentmindedly.

“That would be all for today, students,” A voice called out. Followed by the loud cheering and laughter of the students around, as I snapped back to reality wondering what the hell had happened.

I stared at my clock, and just when I realized I was running late for my next shift at the cafe, I sprinted through the door without even a glance at Monica behind me.

“Wait up!” Her voice echoed from behind me. But then I ignored it and instead had a taxi booked immediately. To save my sanity, I’d learned to focus on the screen of my smartphone, instead of the cars rushing by inches away. Whenever I made the mistake of paying attention I found my foot pushing hard against the floor space of the car.

My body instinctively tried to hit the brakes.

The blare of a horn snapped me back to the present. The taxi driver apparently was hitting his horn repeatedly as if that would clear the way. Not a chance.

The car turned the corner and In seconds I was right at my place of work. ‘The Mette Cafeteria’ like Monica would always call it. The sticky August air rushed in to take the air conditioning away as I stepped out of the taxi and headed for the cafe.

“Late again huh?” A hoarse voice yelled afar off and I could already tell who it was. Even without being told.

I turned slowly in the direction of the voice, pulling a few strands of hair to the back of my ear knowing I was sure getting scolded for walking in this late. But then again, classes were more important.

“It won’t happen again,” I responded, unable to meet the eyes of my boss. Mr Charles. A one-eyed middle-aged man.

“Get to work!” He yelled.

I hurried off to my usual spot at the counter, with my work clothes on. Smiling as if everything were okay in my world. The place was my version of hell.

Customers from far and near flooded the cafe, with each individual having an order. Just then, my eyes caught sight of a cell phone that had been left behind

on one of the threadbare benches.

‘It must have slipped out of someone’s pocket’ I thought to myself. My fingers twitched in quiet protest as I glanced over at the bench from time to time.

Turning my head, I caught a glimpse of my reflection in one of the large windows by the counter. Noticing how unkempt and wind-tossed my hair was. Between studying, and working three shifts a week at the cafeteria I barely had the time to sleep. Let alone primp.

A sudden burst of the door startles me, pulling me out of my own hell I created in my mind and back to the realms of reality.

My jaw nearly drops as I take sight of the man entering the room.

Straight, styled, brown hair with a pair of soul-piercing dark blue eyes entered my vision. Perfectly sculpted face.

I stared at the man standing by the door, my brain malfunctioning so hard I couldn’t even think of closing my half-opened mouth.

That was him. The gentleman from the mall! He was right there, still dashing, and tall, and sexy. He didn't notice me right away, giving me more room to look away.

His short dark hair was a little messy as if he’d only taken the time to run his fingers through it this morning. The thick lines of his eyebrows creased with a frown as he walked in. His eyes roamed the whole place.

His sharp gaze quickly scanned the room and it eventually reached me. I nearly averted mine, knowing I had work in front of me. And not to have myself distracted by some hot gentleman in front of me.

But then, the minute our eyes met he raised a brow and then headed in my direction.

“It's you!” He called out, pointing a finger at me as he approached me by the counter.