Chapter 2

Elevator rides. They can be unpredictable, but most of the time; boring. It takes about two minutes for me to reach down.

With the right person, those two minutes can be normal. But with the wrong person, it can be torture.

Like today, it’s the wrong person.

It’s freaking Sam!

The guy that lives two floors down from me. He is...an angel! I can’t find the right words to describe him. He’s just simply heavenly. Heavenlike features and using the word perfect feel insufficient.

Okay, okay. You may think I’m overreacting and maybe I am.

But this guy is incredibly attractive. One of my two million crushes to be honest. I crush on almost everybody! Even girls! It’s just a habit.

My life is very routine and boring so I create these fake fantasies in my head with one of my crushes every now and then.

The elevator finally stops and we both step out. The ride was not so bad. The tension I felt was though. But that is also not a very bad way to start the morning.

“Bye, Rose,” Sam says in a baritone.

He is wearing sweatpants and a sleeveless black silky shirt. His blond hair looks golden today and little beads of sweat can be seen on his forehead.

“Good morning to you too,” I replied with a smirk. “Trying to get away from me so quick?” I asked while shoving my empty hand in his face. “Pay up!”

So Sam and I made an agreement. The last one of us who rides the elevator in the morning gets to pay the first person 20 dollars.

He obviously met me in the elevator which makes me the winner. Despite all my gushing over this poor human, I act really normal and might I say; uninterested around him.

Sam sighs with frustration while he digs in his pocket for the money. He hands me a crumpled 20-dollar bill and rolls his eyes playfully.

I open the note and say with mocking cheeriness, “Bye, Sam!”

He walks away smiling.

When I reach outside, I feel a sense of calmness. The weather is brilliant, and the colors on the buildings look so much better. The wind feels like a soft kiss. It’s just incredible. I take about 30 seconds to take it all in.

Today is going to be a great day! I can already feel the greatness!

So great that a minute before reaching my campus building, I literally spot my stalker!

I can remember that jet-black hair anywhere. Plus I pay attention to people who pay attention to me. And this guy wins, he pays too much attention to me.

I walk towards him with confidence. He is sitting on the school bench with a book in his hand.

I try to make up the title of the book and it says “Atomic Habits”.

When he notices me walking towards him, he starts to get all nervous.

He’s turning the pages in the book as if he’s suddenly looking for buried treasure in them. His right leg taps the pavement repeatedly.

What’s he wearing?

He’s wearing tight black jeans, a black and white Converse, really dark sunglasses, and a plain gray shirt that seems a bit big for him.

“Hey,” I say as he was about to leave.

He places the book on his lap and looks at me. I didn’t see his eyes because the sunglasses covered them, but I could tell he was staring directly into my mind.

He stands up and I realize that he probably goes to the gym. The results are evident. He is also taller than me. Maybe 6’0 or something, I can’t tell. I don’t even know my exact height. I just guess.

“Hello,” My stalker says while reaching his hand out for a handshake. The way he says the word “hello” sounds somehow poetic.

I of course shake his hand and he gestures for me to have a seat.

“Oh no, I really can’t. I have a class that I’m already late for.”

“Oh.” He says dryly.

“Is it the ‘Liberal Arts’ class?”

He starts walking towards the building of the school and I follow him.

How does he know which class I’m going to? Yeah, I wanted a stalker. But not actually a STALKER!

I think he notices my facial expression which must scream “horrified”, because he laughs lightly.

“I have had the same class with you for like two weeks now. Have you not noticed me?” His smile is contagious. I start to smile too.

I try to remember but I just can not.

I have not seen him in class before. Other places, yeah. But not class. I usually see him everywhere I go except in class. At first, I thought it was a coincidence but then it happened every day!

“No. You must be joking,” I say laughing softly. “I know almost everyone in my class.”

“Almost...but not everybody,” He replied with a smirk.

Well, he does have a point. There are students who sit at the back of the class that I don’t know.

“What’s our instructor's name?” I ask him in a detective-like tone.

“Ms. Flowers. She likes gum and she is always chewing some. Like, always.”

“Uh-huh. That’s about right. What’s your name then?” I ask him.

This is sort of giving me novel love vibes. Us meeting this way.

We enter the building and other students are darting here and there trying to get to their classes. I guess I’m not the only one that’s late.

“I’m your stalker, why would you want to know my name?” He touches my face with his thumb. His thumb is cold but yet ignites something entirely different from the word ‘cold’.

Why am I not pulling away? A random guy just touched my face! I don’t know him but yet he feels so familiar.

“Goodbye, Rose.” My stalker walks away.

“Wait! Aren’t we going to the same class?!” I yelled so he could hear me because he was going in the wrong direction.