ch-2 : escape operation @ Pam's

chapter 2

escape operation @ Pam's 

Mindy’s POV

Oh God, the day is finally here. Here I am at our mutual favorite, the Pam's café, waiting for her to enter through the swinging door any minute. I mean, I have been waiting for months, but I can't help but wonder if it even is a good idea. What if I mess up? What if we don’t connect personally the way we do on text? I stir my coffee, lost in my endless circles of what ifs. Just then someone nudges my hand off my chin and I loose balance.

 “Dude, you good?”

 Trisha asks with a concerned face and I am backed to reality. I was so nervous, of course I brought her along. She is my best friend, AND my back up just in case I chicken out and need an escape plan. I nod, staring blankly into my now-empty Pam's paper cup.

“You’re gonna be fine dude. She seems like a decent human being. At least she won’t complain about your mood swings like that hideous ex of yours”, she teases.

“You set me up with him you dumbass”, I reply with a smirk. She mutters a yeah, whatever and smirks,” Are you gonna ask her out today?”

 I scream almost about immediately,” What? No! She’s a nice friend I met online. I am just meeting her today. Like friends do”.

Trisha raises her left eyebrow as I keep stressing on the word friends. Yeah sure.

” I am not in love or something”,

 I look into my empty paper cup, pretending to sip my nonexistent coffee, avoiding eye contact. I catch her rolling her eyes and laughing to herself.

”Friends don’t stalk each other all day and keep talking about each other and keep saying how their eyes look and how they look beautiful with or without makeup and..”.

 “OKAY, okay CALM DOWN Cupid!”

I smile and swat her elbows. We both know that she is absolutely right. But I am just not ready yet to accept the truth. Not just to her, to myself too.

Just the next minute, I glance at the swinging door and there she is. She really was the most beautiful person I had ever seen. I gasp. She has a blue sweatshirt on with jeans. Has she put on eyeliner? Yes, and smudged it around the corner, that clumsy one. Her jet black hair is pulled up in a tight high pony and strands of it has escaped which she did not care tucking behind her ear. Her cheeks are a subtle shade of red and her spectacles fit perfectly on her slightly flushed face. Even her hands were as beautiful as she gently raises them to wave. Is she waving at me? She looks so beautiful doing that. So subtle. 

Trisha shakes me back to reality,” Goddamn it Mindy she is waving at you. GO!”

I get to my feet too fast and end up hitting the side of the table. Trisha chuckles at me and whispers a best of luck and gives me a quick wink. I narrow my eyes at her as she scoots away to another seat nearby. I stand as she starts nearing my table, tucking her loose strands behind her ear. She is carrying a bag with some books. She reaches the table and keeps her bag aside and approaches for a hug.

“Am so sorry I swear I had this tuition and am coming straight from there”, she quickly says as I watch her lips move. Perfect.

 “Oh no it’s alright I haven’t been waiting for too long anyway”, I smile.  After an awkward 5 second silence she says,

” Oh so what’s up? What about that guy you were dating who turned out to be an asshat?”

“Don’t even start about it ugh”, why is she asking, she already knows.

“Haha I know right? Boys can be such jackasses’ man! Dating guys is frustrating lol.”

“I swear! I need a break from guys already.” I say, almost hoping she catches the hint. She laughs it off and orders herself a cappuccino. She asks  if I want anything and I nod pointing at my empty cup. We talk about her school and how she ended up getting suspended. Well, SHE does most of the talking while I watch her. I watch her as her cheeks form perfect dips every time she laughs. I watch her as she tucks her hair every time it bothers her. I watch as her earrings jingle against her cheeks. Sublime.

“Oh my god your ring is so cool! Can I see it ?” she suddenly says.

I smile as I lend my hand and she subtly takes it. I feel electricity down my spine as she wraps her hands around mine, carefully examining the ring. Her hands were soft, yet something unexplainable in it made me feel lightheaded. I shoot a look at Trisha as she examines us both and smiles to herself. That bitch knows everything. My cheeks flush out of nervousness and I suddenly get up and pluck my hands off her. She looks at me, confused.

“Um it’s um been great. Um, you know, meeting you? “.  I avoid her eyes. “But I really need to go. Um my dog, ya know Tuffy right? She is… I mean he. He is sick”, I look at her nervously. Damn it.

“Oh alright, its fine. We had a nice time today. Hope to meet you soon?”, she sweetly asks. Damn was she sweet. I quickly nod, turn back and walk right past out without looking back. Trisha follows me and runs up to catch up with me as I try to run away as fast as I can.

“What on earth was that Mindy!” she questions, rightfully. I look at her and nod sideways with a frown,

“I don’t know”, I say, almost whisper. More than to her, to myself. "I really don't".

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coming up next: an old best friend turned rival crosses paths with Mindy as she discovers a rather unpleasant connection of events involving a recent mistake, Mark William. Will it affect the newly formed bonds of our protagonists? Find out soon!