Anna watched with rapt fascination at how aptly Marie extended the date of submission without getting a penalty. It had more to do with her charisma than anything else. It was a quality Anna didn't have and she didn't require it, either.
It was a wonder that Anna only had three classes that day. She went her separate way before the third class and stationed herself in an empty classroom. She pulled out her phone and played the recordings from last night and this morning.
As it turned out, the detective was true to his calling and hadn't changed his clothes or watch since they spoke the day before. Anna smirked as she sped up the recording and got a download on everything.
This could be summarized in a few words: the police had no clue what had happened.
Anna pulled out the headphone when she noticed someone enter the classroom. She looked up curiously and found Lewis… the one with the attorney mother, walk in with a broad smile.
"Anna, I have been searching for you for a while now!" he exclaimed as he bounded over and took a seat on the table beside her. He peeked over, trying to see what she was listening to. "What are you listening to?" he asked.
"Just a true-crime podcast," she said with a shrug.
"Ah, I saw that meme on social media. You tremble while watching fictional horror movies but don't bat an eye when someone talks about dismembered bodies and the like." He chuckled.
Anna gave him a small smile, not refuting his words. "What brings you here?" she asked, changing the topic completely.
"I saw Marie running around like a headless chicken, trying to finish her assignment. I knew you found yourself a quiet corner to ruminate," he informed.
"You knew? I don't ruminate often," Anna countered with a weird expression.
Lewis scoffed. "Of course, you do!" he said. He looked down at his hands and Anna realized that he was playing with his fingers nervously.
'He's here to ask for something. He needs a favor,' Anna thought immediately. She knew the signs of the same. She just couldn't figure out what she could give to this when he had everything he desired.
"When did you see me do that?" Anna snickered, pretending not to notice his movements.
"All the time. When you are smoking up with us at the Tank, you sometimes look at the sky with a faraway look. You look like you are in deep thought," he said. His voice was dreamy as he mentioned it and Anna quirked a brow. She was definitely not staring off into space when she was around people. She didn't have that problem.
Hence, she could figure out that Lewis was dreaming or extremely high to have cooked up those scenarios. But she didn't refute it.
"You thought too much. I was probably spacing out because I had tunnel vision," she chuckled.
"Good weed does that to you," Lewis added. "But I… I have been watching you closely, Anna."
The corner of her lips dipped down and she glanced at the young man once again. His hair was slightly oily from the lack of shampoo and he smelled of smoke and weed. While she didn't like the smell of it, she also stank the same way at times. It was part of being a college student.
But what she was bothered about was the curious eye of this man. She was not suspicious in the least and she already had one pair of dangerous eyes on her, she didn't need another one watching her every move.
"Do you not have enough gossip in your life that you are looking at me?" Anna asked. She didn't reveal that she could guess his motivations.
"Are you…" he stopped mid-sentence. "What are you doing this evening?" he asked finally.
'So, this was what other females enjoyed at college!' she thought cheerfully.
"Me? Same old," she said casually.
"And does that entail going out of your room?" Lewis joked.
Anna pretended to think for a bit. "Actually, there is a restaurant I was planning on going to. I saw it while on a walk yesterday. But I was wearing sweatpants, so they wouldn't allow me in."
He looked affronted at that. "Which restaurant is this? Let's go there today!" he said immediately. "I'll treat you to a meal to quench your dissatisfaction."
Anna shook her head as she laughed. "Oh, please. I had gotten rid of all worldly wants. Being a philosophy major and studying existentialism and post-capitalism did that to my fragile brain," she said.
"Spoken like a true intellectual," Lewis complimented.
Anna shrugged. "I was planning on going with Marie today, actually," Anna said boldly.
"I doubt she will be in a state to accompany you," Lewis prompted. "She will crash right after she submits the final draft of her assignment."
Anna nodded. "Good thing I don't care about people staring at me."
"You don't?" he asked, his eyes widening.
"Meh." It was a standard response.
"I'll accompany you. Come on. I haven't dined out in a while, too," he whined.
Anna could see that she had completely convinced the man of her having no romantic thoughts about him. But if he wanted to treat her to a meal to try his luck and she got free food and the information in exchange for that.
It seemed like a good bargain.
She nodded. "I'll pay half," she offered.
Lewis waved his hand. "What's the use of having friends if you can't get a free meal or two out of them?" he said boldly. When he heard the name of the restaurant he sighed with understanding. "That place has a strict dress code," he said.
Anna listened to him speak about class stratification like he wasn't privileged through the same system.
"Wear that cute blue dress you wore at the fresher's party!" he advised.
"It's probably collecting dust somewhere," she admitted. "I'll search for it."
"Six in the evening. I will pick you up!" he said.
She shook her head. "No need. Let's meet at the restaurant, I don't want to bother you to drive extra kilometers because of me." He opened his mouth to protest but she stopped him mid-sentence. "Friends don't let each other waste fuel. Let's save the earth," she joked.
His shoulders slumped in defeat but he nodded. His eyes were still bright at this date he had managed to score.