"Uh..." I stuttered.
"Your essay, is it almost done?" The Guy speaks casually, like we've known each other for a long time.
Something clicked in my head.
"Almost, but I really need a break," I say blithely.
"Get your stuff then, we'll go for a quick dinner," The Guy replies, not missing a beat.
Across me, Logan shifts his eyes back and forth as he realised what was happening.
Without even looking at him, we march out of the cafe in tandem, with other customers looking on curiously.
I step onto the streets with gladness, the golden hour sunlight hitting my face.
I turn to The Guy and thank him again.
While he waves my gratitude away, I blurt out, "How did you know I was writing an essay?"
He smiles and easy smile.
"I deduced. From the papers I picked up."
Oh right. I smack my palm to my forehead, internally berating myself for asking the obvious.
"Oh. Um... right. I better get going," I say, conscious not to take up anymore of his time. I had already interrupted his reading session.
He looks confused for a moment. After a pause, however, The Guy says that he should get going too.
We look at each other briefly, and my heart skips a beat.
I feel vaguely disappointed with his response, but I chide myself for it. Did I really expect him to take me for dinner?
For a moment, I'm unsure how to leave.
But I must have, for I am suddenly walking down the pavement, cursing myself for not asking his name.
***
She turned rather abruptly, as if she had somewhere else to be.
It must have been a harrowing experience, Dylan thought, and he was glad he stepped in when he did.
He had noticed her when she entered the cafe, all harried and bothered.
Dylan was immediately attracted to her, for reasons he can't quite place his finger on.
Perhaps it was the way her shoulder-baring green dress had clung to her petite frame. Or maybe it was her doe eyes, in such contrast with her impatient manner. Or it might even be her grumpy expression, which made her look like an angry puppy.
But no matter. She had left before he could ask her for her name.
For a fleeting moment, Dylan had even considered actually asking her to dinner, but he thought that might sound incredulous.
He didn't want to give her the impression that he was hitting on her, either, especially given what had just happened.
Because he wasn't... was he?