Still 10 years earlier...
I search for her in the long aisles of computers that line the first floor of the school library. Every seat is taken by students frantically typing out term papers and submitting projects online to their professors. I turn back to the first row of computers again, no luck. I pull out my phone.
Are you here?
My phone vibrates. You'll have to come find me. ;)
I smile and accept her little challenge.
I take the staircase up to the third floor where, if I can remember correctly, she told me she sometimes studies because it is secluded. I look in every study area and private room until I spot her reading a book in small room with only a single desk.
I open the door quietly, "Too easy."
She turns and smiles putting the book down on the desk.
"Come in," she beckons moving her bag out of the other chair, "Did you read it?" She gestures to the book in my hand.
I think of an excuse I can say for not reading it like I agreed to for our project.
"Yeah," I breathed as believably as I could.
She grins, "Really? Because I saw you heading to class yesterday with your face buried in it almost as if you were trying to get as much information as you could out of it."
My face reddens, busted.
"Are you spying on me?" I counter.
She laughs, "You wish. I just saw you and thought it was funny so I figured I would ask you about it. You know, see if you are an honest person or not. I must say it's not looking good for you." She picks up her book and starts to read again.
"Cute," I grab for her book, "Ready to get started?"
She raises her eyebrows at me, "Unless you'd rather do something else."
I turn around wondering just how secluded we really are. No one in sight, not many people on the floor. She leans over and kisses me softly on the mouth. I inhale deeply and return the kiss as a flood of endorphins washes over me.
"One of us should probably work on this project if we intend to finish it on time," I counter responsibly.
She leans back in chair deflated, "Ugh. Fine. Let's work." She laughs and gets out the paper we have been working on. She hands it to me smiling. I take it from her and read over what we have so far. It looks as though she has added more since last time and it is sounding almost complete. I hand the paper back to her impressed.
"I thought you college kids were all the same, but you're actually pretty cool for someone so young," I praise.
"Thanks," she laughs, "I think. Besides you are college kid now too."
"College man," I correct her, "this is just to finish what I started years ago. We're not all inexperienced youth here."
"That's right," She leans into me coyly, "Some of us are depraved older men preying on innocent young girls."
I place my hand over her mouth playfully, "Alright. Lower your voice people might actually hear you."
"So just how old are you?" she asks curiously waving me off.
"Twenty seven," I reply smugly.
She seems impressed and looks me over, "You don't look it. I would have guessed younger."
"I get that a lot," I wink at her suggestively. "My friend made fun of me the other day because of our age difference," I randomly blurt out.
"You told your friend about me?" She asks suspiciously.
"Yeah, he asked if I was seeing anyone and I said you," I try to explain the logic behind telling her such a trivial thing. I change the subject, "You haven't told anyone about us?"
She laughs, "I don't have anyone to tell."
"What about your friends?" I probe wanting to know if she is attempting to hide me from the people in her life.
"Don't have any real friends here. I just moved here for school and haven't met anyone yet," she replies matter-of-factly.
I smile, "Besides me?"
She smiles sweetly, "Besides you."
I gloat, "That makes me your only friend then, huh?
She rolls her eyes, "God help me."
She gathers her things abruptly and stands. "Let's go, I want to show you something."
We exit the library to discover that daylight is quickly fading. I check my phone. 6:39.
"Did you know the music building has private rooms for practicing your music away from the prying ears of any judgment?" She asks.