My heart began to pulse at the idea that this may be someone who may share my greatest secret with me.

I clenched my fists to my chair struggling to speak as Ralph landed his hand on the table, revealing his tattoo of the symbol of a lion. I shivered as my thoughts going blank at the idea this may be Ralph.

Whether this is Ralph or not, I have not seen him in 10 years. Ralph was a typical nerd that would always be in the chemist lab, the type that was bullied, but actually had somewhat of the future for himself. I knew he fell off the face of the earth when he began to start hanging out with drug dealers in school. They wanted to hire him in order to make their drugs to sell to other people in high school. Then became someone who is loved in cherished by many in the school. Not only was he loved he was feared, which is the most powerful thing you can possibly be.

Today, I was supposed to meet Miles Perera, a well versed man who became a top pharmacist in the country and has wrote many books on his ventures of the corruptness in pharmaceuticals. Why would he lie about who he is? What is he hiding? Revenge is what he wanted I guarantee. That made it known this date was intentional, it was not accident, or coincidence.

He pulls away his hand and looks at me, “What do you say?”

I quickly return out of my daze, “What do you mean?”

He chuckles and regains his eye contact with me, “I wanted to know if you wanted to go back to my place.”

I take a moment to process what he just said. I try to relax as the sweat is dripping down my spine. I know who he is, but he has no idea that I know. Do I go with him? Or do I confront him now? This should be fun.

“You know what, yeah I’d love to,” I said, with a chipper in my voice.

“Oh okay perfect, let me pay for the check,” he said with a grin.

“Perfect, I’m going to use the rest room,” I said slowly getting up.

I quickly rush to the bathroom, thinking about what I just experienced. If I’m gonna do this. If he will do, what he did to me before. I look at myself in the mirror seeing the young girl who knew Ralph. Knows his ins and outs. Worst of all the terror in my eyes he left for me. He left me helpless and with no choose.

I check my purse to make sure I have my perfume to smell extra good so I could really get under his skin. It’s such a pretty glass bottle, that my mother gave me, but I take it everywhere with me. I took one last breath as I looked at myself in the mirror and said, “I got this.”

I walk out to Ralph sitting there, waiting for me patiently. He notices me and begins to proceed to stand up.

“Ready?” He said.

“Yes I am.”

…

His car, of course, had been a nice brand new Lexus that you can show around the town without a doubt. He had the kind of money that he could throw around and not make a dent in his bank account. We sat there in silence as I admired his appearance. In highschool he had long brown hair, nerd glasses, and heavier then I remember. Now his hair is short, no glasses, and this man definitely has a six pack based on his biceps.

What did he want from me? Didn’t he already do enough to me? Traumatized me and made me a whole laughing stalk in high school?

See once you give a nerd like that a chance, even the slightest in your life, he’ll somehow fuck it up.

We arrived at his place, and wow what a apartment. It almost looked like a place right out of LA entering New York. A balcony, modern flat roof and the whole house of course white.

“What a beautiful house, Ralph,” I said with a grin.

“Why thank you,” he said with a charming smile.

“Well, let’s go in.”

We proceed to walk into the home, spacious and modern full of natural light just like I’d suspected. Maybe he was hiding drugs in this place, he had to be involved in something to afford a place like this. Speaking of which, his lion tattoo was already enough to tell me it was him.

I scan the area, everything is so clean. Not a single hint of dust, it was amazimg how clean it was.

“Want a tour?” Ralph said with a quick smile.

“Absolutely,” I said with wit.

He lead me around through the kitchen, the living room, and his office. We then proceeded to his bedroom, where there was cuffs. What the hell was he going to do to me? Before I even could react, he shut the door on me and flashed me crazy eyes before I could say a word.

“What the hell are you doing?” I asked as he walked closer to me.

He stares at me with eyes that are full of pain. He then begins to try and push me towards the bed, grabbing my hips and arms. As I refuse, he takes the cuffs and holds me down so I can’t move.

I begin to scream, “What the hell is wrong with you?”

“I figured this would go easier if you weren’t moving,” Ralph said flipping the switch in his brain.

As infuriated as I was, I saw the tattoo peaking through the shirt, looking at me like it had embedded in me too.

“So, when were you going to fuck me, Ralph?” I said with a sniper reaction.

He turns around not knowing what to say. Dead, soulless eyes. Just like he looked at me in highschool.

“So you figured it out Sam,” he said snapping out of his phase, “You know what you did to me in highschool changed me.”

I take a long stare at me,”Oh yeah like you didn’t? I was dating your best friend until you ruined things and got him involved.”

He slaps me, “You dumb whore, you got knocked up by the nerd, the drug maker.”

“You mean you.”

He turned around as he paced the room he then displays his tattoo,”You know what this means?”

“I know what that means.”

“Because I decided to fuck you, I had to stay loyal to the only people who ever showed me love, unlike you.”

“Your loyalties were to make drugs for dangerous people, and you brought Eric into that mess,” I said yelling at Ralph.

“There was no other way, if my best friend knew I had gotten his girlfriend pregnant, I would’ve been killed,” Ralph began on,”Eric was never into drugs, he was a nerd just like me but he was like a brother and wanted to get out of being bullied.”

“Eric never wanted to use his ideas in chemistry for the worst until you,” I said staring at him.

You raped me,” I said viciously, “You used your drugs to rape me.”

He stood there and was silent.

With a few words he said, “You aborted my child.”

With a tear falling down my face, I knew he was enraged and wanted to kill me. That being said I needed to escape as quick as a could.

“What did you do rape other women?” I said hysterically.

He didn’t answer.

“I know you killed Eric,” I said looking at him directly, “What drug was used for that?”

He then turned around and put both of his hands on my neck, with a IVF needle that looked too familiar, “He deserved it.”

I slowly began to break free from the cuffs behind my back, as I was sweating from nervousness. I grabbed the IVF needle on the side of me he was about to use to rape me once more, and shoot it directly into his neck. he then collapsed on the floor gasping for air. He laid out of it on the floor.

I ran to his kitchen, finding my purse with the perfume my mom gave me. See the thing about this perfume is it’s toxic to drink, let alone the glass. I approach Ralph laying there hopeless.

I open the bottle of perfume, and lift his head to drink it. After he’s done he lays there helplessly. But what’s the point of having a half dead man?

I smash the bottle over his head, chars of glass flew everywhere. It went straight to his skull, I knew my work was done. I got up, and left as if nothing happened.

My name is Sam Andrew, and maybe I lied to get my way with Eric, that was Eric’s cologne after all.

« Why are you making that face darling ?~ You look like you saw something unnatural » he chuckled with a seductive yet charismatic look

What !? You’re telling me that this is the same Shion from the 10th grade ?! There is no way. The shion I knew was——-way more timid and sissy…

_I remember as if it was yesterday—-_
_He was known as the “crybaby” of our school. If you were to say a slight controversial comment about him, he would cry and keep malice for a week. _
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_There was a day when…_

“Wahh Wahh…snif…ugh…” 

_I leaned on his table with a questionable disposition as my eyes were directed towards the source of his cries._ 

_You may wonder what exactly was going on and it might have been something worth shedding tears for but—_

« What is it Shion ? Did you get hurt ?» said the teacher with a worried and gentle look

« Huff…snif…I mistakenly…g-got my handwriting wrong…snif..and I-it ruined everything..w-wahhh » _he cried the more with boogers descending from his nose_

_I will never forget that I left out a hiss and I usually never do that. Is it possible for a human being to cry for such a futile reason ?_

_Or another time when…_

«..And t-the prince..I-I…uhm..f-fell …hick..uh…a-wahhh…»

_We all had to present our piece of work to our class and it was his turn. He barely even finished his first sentence before he bursted into his usual whining. He was shaking like a leaf being blowed by the wind and he didn’t dare to look at the class that was before him. His face went from 25 degree celcius to a hundred, it was clear by how crimson and blistering he looked. _

_You’ve got to be kidding me… The “me” at that time despised him so much that I wouldn’t get anywhere near his district. His constant stare towards my direction was the exasperation of my day and the snare to my mood. Nevertheless I presume that what really hitted him was …_
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« Sienna !!! Shion has something to say to you !!»__
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_The whole class surrounded my table. Some were smilling like cretin, others were overexcited as thought they took drugs and there was “him” right in front of all of it not making any direct eye contact. His demeanor revealed it all, there was no need for words. I feigned ignorance to such expression wanting to shoo him away by my behavior. However, strangely enough that is, he managed to…_
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_«_U-umm… S..s-sienna—- I..know i-it sounds really random b-but…!!!» _he stuttered with his head still faced down. He appeared as if he was being cooked in a barbecue_
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_Before he could utter these words, a repulsive frown had already popped out on my face. If I could use telepathy at that moment to speak to him, I would say “Please shut up and don’t even think about finishing your phrase” _
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« I.. I r-really r-really like you !! Ple-ease.. I want us to be m-more than friends !! C-consider going o-out with me ! »_ he bellowed everything out. _
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_He was proper shivering and one could tell that he could faint from any moment from now._
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_How irritated was I, his confession was like an insult slapping me on the face. I’d wish that I hadn’t open my mouth and just kept silent. _
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_« _I’m totally grossed out. First do you have to scream out for the whole world to hear this ? This is embarrassing you know. Also since when are we friends ? Or is it because I helped you out just once in the past ? It would have been better if you just kept it for yourself. »
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_Yep I know, that was harsh but i didn’t stop there. _
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_« _Go and look at yourself. I’m not into guys who cry and cause drama for no valid reason_. »_
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_That was the last day I saw him. I can’t exactly recall what his physical response was when I answered him that way. The only thing I knew was that he was no longer present at school. Rumors stated that he dropped out, others said he changed school and whatnot. _
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_————_
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_But to think that he would be my date after 5 years. And this isn’t even what baffles me the most. _
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_« _The world is such a small place, don’t you think so ?_» he muttered in a deep but slow-paced voice, looking straight into my eyes. _
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_He had a well ironed inky suit, his cologne was giving Dior, his dark shoes were neat. He definitely grew more taller and his facial features had matured. It was clear that he gave himself to working out too as his shoulder were wider and his chest broader. His hair were slighty lustrous and ruffled further emphasizing his attributes. It was almost the definition of a manwha male lead straight up coming out of a game._
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_Also his way of speaking had definitely altered. Pretty eloquent and his voice was like an agreable hymn to my ears. No more stuttering and no more awkwardness in the air. _
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_I almost went speechless there. You know, that feeling, when it looks to flabbergast to be real_
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_« _I don’t think it’s a coincidence we met again. Perhaps fate wants to prove me that people can change …for the best.._» I glanced over at him, observing how he would react. _
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_He left a gentle smile with his head slighty lowered looking into the drink we ordered. _
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_« _I’m sure you still remember. I don’t feel guilty but I still want to apologize for my immature words back then._» I stated wanting to peace out the mood_
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_« No, I’m thankful for it. You were the only person who directly told me. Thanks to that, I was able to open my eyes and face reality» _
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_He leaned on the table and his eyes couldn’t detach from mine. He took a sip and he continued:_
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_« Aren’t you curious to know why I also liked you back then ?…» _
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_My intrestedness took over my seriousness and I had to know.. _
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_« Why ?» I responded with anticipation as I reciprocated the firm eye contact_
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_He paused a few seconds before saying:_
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_« Remember when you helped me to find my house keys ? »_
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_The memories started flooding as I slighty nodded _
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_« Yea, I remember. You told me that you left them on your desk and you couldn’t find them anywhere »_
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_« That’s right, when you finally found them inside my coat’s pockets and you shooked your head” he pursued his lip almost as if he was holding himself from laughing. _
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_I couldn’t help it but allow a smile to escape, from the verge of turning into a grin _
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_«Pfft, at that moment I just placed the keys on your desk and I left without even saying a word to you haha» _
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_« Your facial expression was just too adorable too. It’s like you didn’t even want to react at all but your eyebrows and your lips failed you ~» _
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_The atmosphere was filled with a small laughter between us. After a while, he got a serious and bold look. _
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_« _After that day, i couldn’t stop thinking about you. You were not the first person that helped me out but for some reason you were so enticing in my eyes. Even I, don’t know the exact reason but this is it. _» he made sure to say every single words clearly_
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_There was a thick silence and we just stared at each other. Hmm, what is the point of him telling me that ?..He is trying to make a point ?_
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_« _Don’t…tell me that you still like me ? _» I questioned him. _
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_For some reason, my heart rate was throbbing. Was it because of the suspense ? _
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_His eyes had that kind of affectionate gaze to it as he replied: _
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_«Can I be honest ?» _
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_Of course I want you to be honest, I want him to answer now. _
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_My body language gave it all off as my body was leaning towards him. _
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_«Yes»_
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_He didn’t say anything for a few seconds_
_He placed his face on his open-palmed hand and he navigated his other hand towards a strand of my hair. Once he got a hold of it, he twirled it around his finger. I never knew it was possible for twinkles to appear in someone’s eyes before. His smile was just too dazzling that I thought I lost my sight for a second. I need eyeglasses to protect my eyes !_
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_« It’s crazy but you’re the only woman who still occupies my thoughts from this day…_
_Does that answer your question ?»_
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_Any woman who hears such confession would probably blush or wouldn’t know how to react in this situation but—-_
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_Something was wrong. The coincidence of this date. and the confession itself. It was way too bizarre to be genuine. _
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_«Really ? -» I replied examining his aura with careful consideration. _
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_«Hmm-hmm How can I forget the woman who broke my heart and made me a laughing stock ? » he spoke up with a bitter tone_
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_His expression went from a sunshine to something unbelievable. He let go of my hair strands and passes his hand through his hair with a resentfull smirk. _
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_They really say “Appearances are deceptive”. My neurons were screaming at me to leave this so-called “date". However they didn’t warn me ealier which was the mistake. _
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_I perceived another presence behind me, a threatening one. Before I could turn and react. A thick tissue with a white powder envelopped my mouth. The last memory I saw was the cold glare from Shion looking down at me. How did this date take such a bad turn ?…_
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_To be continued…_
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Never thought of myself going on another date after numerous failed ones. But, something was different about this date, and specifically this one only. That scar on his chiseled cheekbone, have i seen it before? No i havent, im just imagining. Even if i did, where could I have possibly seen it. A memory flashed through my head as if it was a shooting star. I was at my old highschool, sitting down next to a classmate. Though, this wasnt just any classmate, they had their hand on mine. I felt reassured that time, I felt safe. Its them, My old loved one, the one that left without letting me know of their soon absence. But after all these years, why is he back? I froze and felt the need to throw up and cry at the same time. He then looked up at me with his icy cold eyes and gave a gentle smile. I couldnt just stay here and act as if nothing happened between me and this now stranger. I stood up and grabbed my jacket off of the chair but a hand held me in place and softly grasped my shoulder. “Sit back down” he said. By that time, if a hand held me in place and i knew i was defenseless against them, i would’ve screamed loudly but there were two parts of me at that moment. One wanted to hear what he needed to say and just fix things back as they were back then but the other wanted to just cry and rage at him. I sat down with a twist in my stomach, “this is a mistake, i have to go-“ “No you dont, you know you dont so why lie?” My throat tightened as i spoke back, “why would i be honest to a guy that leaves his loved one hurt cause he suddenly didnt want to deal with life?” he held my shivering hands, trying to relax me , “Calm down please, we can talk this over at my place if you l-“ I scoffed at his offer and stood up with my keys in my hand, “Sorry but another time.”

It’s a feeling rather than the way they look, sound or their physicality or mannerisms

A feeling of nausea within my stomach starts creeping in when he mentions the elementary school that I happen to have gone to: Havenview Elementary. My date across from me, calling himself Ben, takes a sip from his glass of champagnes melodically. His ring on his left pointer finger clinks his glass, almost as to say ‘have you caught on, Melissa’. Why would he lie about his name? I remember him as Felix, a scrawny little fifth grader who asked me if water was wet and if that was the reason for girls to get so wet before sex. We were in the same class and barely talked to each other, we only knew of each other by our mutual friend, Jazz. Rest in peace, Jazz. But, twenty years later, an online date is across the table from me and suddenly, I find myself trying to excuse myself to the restroom and make a run for it. What should be a handsome adult man sitting in front of me is now being blurred by a fifth grader I occasionally sat with at lunch in Ms. Barnes’ classroom. Maybe him changing his name to Ben can be distracting enough to separate the Felix I knew. He’s going on about something that’s happening in the world, he does know how to blab for sure, always has. I lean in to cut him off, I say, “Felix Johansson, Melissa Albright from your fifth grade classroom. Nice to meet you.” His face goes blank and that was my cue to grab my purse and leave a $20 bill on the table. I head straight to the front door with the hostess telling me to have a good night. I open the door to hopefully a new prospect that doesn’t remind me of a child.

I didn’t realize at first, but then as he swiftly moved his arm behind his head to scratch his neck it all came back. I had seen him before. Within seconds I felt myself blush by the idea that I hadn’t brought up I knew him sooner. Had he realized too? As he kept talking I couldn’t help but start slowly noticing each familiar divet and freckle on his face. He’s not the same guy I slept with on new years of 08’, right? The only thing I remember about that night is how cheap the champagne was and how egregious the smell that lingered in the air when it hit midnight. I was very altruistic that night with whomever I went home with, hopefully if it’s him that lands me in good graces.

His eyes matched the person I once knew, but his smile was someone else altogether. That once boyish grin was now a million dollar smile that could get him into any room. But behind his eyes, he was still there, the boy who saved her life 17 years ago.

— The familiarity hit her like ten ton brick when she first locked eyes with her date. It gave her the same feeling she gets when she walks into a room but can’t remember why she went there. Like the thing you’re searching for is right in front of your face but totally invisible.

But as far as she could tell, she was a total stranger to him. Was this how blind dates were supposed to feel?

“Looks like we just beat the rain.” He says.

“Huh?” Tearing her eyes away, she follows his gaze, “Oh yeah it’s really coming down now.”

One time 9 **years ago Catherine was going on her first as she was 16 **years old when she went to the date at the bar she realised she had knew the man who she was dating as he was a doctor and saved her from cancer’ but he looked very different as he was bald he was fat and he had pale white skin __ __ __ Chapter 2 She asked him [ I know you from somewhere? __ __ __ He said [ I am Jason and then said oh god __

There was something about him that left me in wonder. Was it his beautiful brown eyes, or his enticing golden skin? Could it be his hands that were as soft as cotton, his teeth that were as white as the winter snow, or the unforgiving scent of spice and wood that withered away from his body into my nostrils that kept me under his spell? I want him. I couldn’t get passed the familiarity of his voice and the words that flowed off of his lips. I realized who I was speaking to, yet he wasn’t the same asshole I once knew. This person was different. He was better. But how could this be? How did I not realize it was you the entire time. You look into the depths of my eyes but can you open them and realize who I am? You know me even though you don’t realize it; you know my name but not because I’ve told you. We are only familiar strangers, people that we both used to know. Somehow, life has a funny way of shaping us into people that we’ve never imagined of becoming. Perhaps it’s why you don’t realize we’ve done this before…..

I sat in my car. Dang it. Ten minutes early. Curse my love for being on time. I sigh and turn up the radio just a bit, to block out the noise from outside while I stare out the window and start to people watch. I see one man trip over a crack in the sidewalk, a small child trying to to run to a candy store away from his mother, and a women who is playing the violin in the grass. Her battered violin case lay open on the grass, a scattering of coins that vary, glittering in the hot sun

Before I know it I’m one minute late. I grab my purse, keys, phone, and jacket, then step out of my car and close the door shut. I step over the curbside and onto the sidewalk. The cafe I’m meeting the boy named Nathan at is thankfully only a couple feet away. As I walk up to the cafe aisle see his face and him already sitting down, he has a cup of water in front of him, and he is just looking at me. When he caught me staring he smiled and waved, I just smiled back and went to sit down across from him.

“Hi,” I say kind of quietly while I set my purse down beside me.

“Hey, how was your day,” he asked, his voice slightly deep, but kind.

“It was good, how about you,” I ask trying not to sound like I noticed how much cuter he was in person.

“It was good so far,” we both continue to talk.

A couple of minutes, maybe ten, goes by and the waiter soon takes our orders. I order a small coffee while Nathan orders a iced tea. Once the waiter brings us outpr drinks, we didn’t speak for a second or two.

I glanced back up at him, but noticed something. That hair. Those eyes. They look weirdly familiar. Wait…

“Wait, Nathan! Nathan Cran!”