Page 85 of Run to Me

While I retrieve glasses and pour the filtered water, I steal glances at the mysterious girl. Her worn sneakers have seen a lot of mileage, and the hems of her sleeves are littered with frayed threads. The chipped polish on her fingernails matches the orange-red shade of her lipstick, which sparks my interest.

“Poppin’ Poppy or Poppy Sickles?” I ask.

She blinks at me. “I’m sorry?”

“Your lipstick shade.” I point at her mouth to clarify.

“Oh, I’m not sure. I bought what was on sale and didn’t look at the name.” Her blush deepens at the admission.

“That color is hard for most people to pull off, but it suits you. Goes well with your warm undertones.”

She tucks a strand of bangs behind her ear. “Thanks.”

Sitting at the table with our drinks, it’s clear that Ainsley won’t be the one to strike up a conversation, leaving the task to me.

“So how long have you worked at Bruno’s?” I ask, establishing a safe ground for her to open up.

“A few months. I enjoy working there. Jensen’s a great boss.”

I bet he is. Jensen’s good with people, encouraging and patient when he needs to be. Leadership comes naturally to him, and I imagine he has a laid-back management style, yet he’s decisive enough to garner respect from his staff. I’d like to see him in action one of these days.

“So, you have two jobs?”

“Three, actually. I also help clean the rooms at the bed-and-breakfast on the weekends.”

“You’re a hard worker. Good for you.” A pause hangs between us for long seconds, the only noises our sips and swallows. “So…are you in college?”

She licks her lips and places her empty glass on the table. “Yeah. I’m a full-time student.”

My eyeballs bulge out of their sockets. “Three jobs and school? How do you manage it all?”

“I like to keep busy. It’s easy to fill your time when you live alone.”

Alone.

“No family in the area?” She shrinks into herself, shifting in her chair, so I backtrack and say, “You don’t have to answer. It’s none of my business. I’m not even sure why I’m asking you all these personal questions.”

She frees the bangs trapped behind her ear, letting them cover her face. “It’s fine. And no. No family around.”

Or friends, I’m guessing. I want to learn more about Ainsley, but her reluctance to be forthcoming is evident in her closed-off posture, her arms drawn close to her sides as she spins her empty glass. Just when I think our conversation has gone stale, and she’s ready to flee, she surprises me by opening up.

“I grew up in south Texas but moved to the area for college. The school offered me a small scholarship, but I have to pay the rest of the tuition myself on top of living expenses. I had three roommates, but they moved on when our lease ended. It’s for the best, really, because I never got close to them. I tend to focus on my goals and shut everything else out, and living alone takes the pressure off me to be social.” She cringes and squeezes her eyes shut. “I didn’t mean to say all that. You’re easy to talk to.”

One corner of my mouth lifts. My friends vomit every sordid detail of their lives at my feet, so I’ve heard the sentiment before. “I get that a lot.”

Sensing she isn’t entirely comfortable discussing her living situation or the circumstances which brought her to Walford, I steer the conversation toward college.

“What are you studying?”

“Creative writing. People tell me it’s a useless degree, but I enjoy reading and writing about worlds better than the one we live in. And if writing doesn’t work out, I’m getting my teaching certification as a backup.”

I nod, wholly impressed with this girl. “Sounds like you have a solid plan. Kudos to you for having your shit together at…how old are you?”

“My birthday just passed. I’m twenty-one now.”

“Really?” Her age shouldn’t surprise me, considering she’s a student, but she carries herself like someone who’s seen hardship. Someone wise beyond her years. “Happy belated birthday.”

“Thanks.” She stifles a grin and pushes the glass farther away from her. “I should go. I have a paper to finish before my shift at the bar.”