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The girl smiled and nodded, gesturing toward the chair as she said, “Sure.”
As I took a seat, I sat the plate on the table between us and handed her the extra fork. “I’m Dylan. Do you like pumpkin bread?”
“I do, actually. I’m Sarah,” she introduced herself with a British accent.
“Great music, isn’t it?” I asked as the next song began, Ladon Pigg’s Falling in Love In A Coffee Shop. I couldn’t help but steal a glance back at Zia who was sitting alone now, her hands cupping her face with her elbows resting on the table.
I hoped some guy didn’t come waltzing in to sweep her off her feet while I was over here getting to know Sarah from England.
“Surrey, actually,” Sarah told me when I asked her where she was from. “I’m studying abroad from University of Surrey. I major in international studies,” she explained.
The conversation with Sarah was undeniably interesting as she told me about the things she had experienced so far during her time here. She said she would be leaving for her home country in mid-December once the semester was over.
During the conversation, I got a text from Zia, letting me know she was leaving and that she hoped I had a good night. I was unable to hide my disappointment, which I wasn’t aware of until Sarah commented about it.
“Is everything alright? You seem a bit out of sorts since you checked your phone,” she told me.
“I’m sorry. It’s my friend I came here with. She just told me she was leaving,” I tried to explain.
“Was she angry?” Sarah inquired.
“No, no. She wasn’t angry. She just didn’t have any reason to stay, I guess.” I knew I shouldn’t feel this bad about it, and I felt even worse for bringing it up with Sarah. It was defeating the purpose for why I was even talking to her to begin with.
“So you like her, then?” Sarah guessed.
I ran one hand through my hair nervously before answering. “Yes, I suppose I do like her. But it doesn’t really matter much, because she obviously doesn’t see me in that way.”
“Have you asked her?” Sarah suggested.
“No,” I said. “I’m just not used to this. I never have to chase girls. I usually spend most of my time trying to get away from the ones chasing me.”
Sarah laughed. “Honest one, aren’t you? The answer seems pretty clear, really. You just need to be honest with her. What are you afraid of, anyway? What have you got to lose?” she challenged.
When I left the Daylee Grind that evening, those were the questions that repeated in my mind as a version of Passenger’s Let Her Go had me running for the exit.
What was I afraid of? What did I have to lose?
What I was afraid of was what I had to lose. And what I had to lose was something I never even had to begin with.
CHAPTER 6: ZIA
The next day, Sunday, I finished a paper I had been working on for class, and I had all evening to think about what the next outing would be for Dylan and me.
I had an idea, so I texted him to see if he might be available any day this coming week.
Me: Hey! Are you falling in love with scarf girl or are you up for a weekday meeting this week?
Dylan: Haha nah I’m cool. What do you have in mind?
Me: It’s a surprise for now. Which night could you meet around 6:30 pm?
Dylan: Tuesday ok?
Me: Yep, that’ll work.
Dylan: Sounds good. C u Tues.
Me: Wear sweats. And a muscle tank.
