Once in the shelter I go with Maca inside and we both greet Alicia.

“Oh, look at you two! I knew you’d be adorable,” she beams clasping her hands together and making goggling eyes and I blush furiously. I can’t even look at Maca to know how she reacts but I can hear her giggle nervously. “How was the first date?” she asks next, this time addressing Maca directly, even leaning closer as if they were sharing a secret.

I turn to watch Maca and she looks down. This time I can really see how her cheeks are also tainted red with embarrassment. I forget all about my shame and instead I focus on what she’ll say. Alicia’s said first date, which clearly has a romantic intent and if Maca says something to take that away and just tries to make it sound casual, then I’ll know we don’t have the same intentions. However, if she lets it pass, then that means that maybe I can totally ask her for a second date without feeling like I’m pushing her or something like that.

“It wasn’t like that,” she says, almost a whisper. 

But I hear it, loud and clear and I feel a stab in my chest, a sharp pain that I have never felt before. It’s not the kind of pain when you’re hit or get one of those weird aches when you don’t breathe properly; it’s more complicated and alien and it disorientates me for a second.

Then realisation hits me. 

Yeah, sure thing, she leaned in for the kiss when I almost managed to do that, but that doesn’t exactly mean she has the same intentions that I do. She could’ve just been carried by the spur of the moment. I shouldn’t read more than what’s actually written. I can’t expect her to have the same feelings I do because even I’m aware it is not normal to feel like this for someone who’s a virtual stranger, no matter how different it feels for me. She didn’t even know my name until yesterday and that’s something essential when it comes to getting to know someone. I knew her name, I had the upper hand.

I am very aware of all that and I know it makes more sense that she doesn’t correspond my feelings, but that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t hurt to face the ugly truth.

“—but we had an amazing time. The whole day was a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” Maca finishes and I look away, trying to compose myself after what I heard.

“And why are you two together now? Are you stalking her, Reid?” Alicia asks me this time and I focus on her this time.

“I offered to drop her at uni and pick the things she left here yesterday,” I reply, avoiding mentioning the fact that Maca spent the night at my flat. I don’t want to embarrass her or give Alicia ideas that are clearly groundless.

“Always the gentleman type, Reid. Well done.” Alicia turns to look at Maca then winks. “He’s a catch and I’m not saying it 'cos I’m his friend but because it’s the truth,” she says in a whisper, even making a barrier for her mouth with one hand but I can still hear her. What she’s doing is useless. “Anyhow!” she adds, loudly this time. “I’ll go fetch your things where I left them yesterday. You have classes and I don’t wanna make you run late.”

And like that Alicia leaves us. I feel rather awkward, almost as when Maca showed up on the rooftop to finally meet me. I don’t know what to say and I’m having a hard time to smile. I keep hearing the echo of her words in my mind, the whole it wasn’t like that that stabs me over and over again. 

I realise disillusionment is quite painful and I wasn’t prepared for that.

Maca doesn’t say anything and I wonder if she also feels as uncomfortable as I’m feeling. I doubt it. She is not feeling heartbroken now because the hopes she was harbouring all night were crushed in a matter of four words. However, she might feel the awkwardness emanating from me.

I’m about to say something, just to make Maca feel at ease, when Alicia comes back with a bag that I presume has Maca’s books inside. She smiles brightly at Alicia once this hands her the books and for a moment that smile pushes the pain I’m feeling away.

“Thank you so much, Alicia,” Maca says. “Do you think I could sign up for volunteering now? I’d really like that.”

“Of course!” Alicia chirps, way too excited.

She runs behind the desk and gets the papers Maca needs to sign and fill in to formally join the volunteering team.

I wait as Alicia explains her what to volunteer at this shelter means. Like how she’ll sometimes will be called to rescue some animal that we receive a call for. Or housing an animal until we find it a secure and definite home. Or taking part in the activities to raise founds and spread the word about the cause we support. I just listen and wait until Maca is done.

“This is brilliant, Maca. We are so glad you’re part of the team now,” comments Alicia with her brightest smile. “When I tell Rosie about it she’l be thrilled.”

“I’m thrilled myself,” replies Maca and Alicia gives her a tight hug as reply.

“Now go, you have classes to attend to, young miss. I’ll see you soon.” Then Alicia turns to face me with a different kind of smile, a cheeky kind of smile. “Be good to her. I’ll see you around, too.”

I just nod and wave her goodbye before turning on the ball of my heels and leaving the shelter. I know Maca is right behind me and I know I should walk beside her, but I still haven’t fully recovered from the blow I received inside.

“H, are you all right?” Maca asks once we’re back inside my car.

I take a deep breath before turning to face her wearing my best smile. I tell myself I’m being stupid for reacting like this. I couldn’t expect anything else when we just met yesterday. Less than twenty-four hours ago she saw my face for the first time and learnt my name. I’m being a drama-queen, per usual. Even if she doesn’t reciprocate my feelings now that doesn’t mean she never will, right? I can’t lose all hope.

“I’m all right. No worries,” I reassure her but she doesn’t seem convinced. “Should we go? You’ll be late. Do you have to stop anywhere else for something?” I question, trying to change the topic.

It works. She checks all her books are inside and once she makes sure she’s retrieved all her possessions she left behind during yesterday’s scavenger hunt, she smiles brightly at me, lifting my mood immediately.

“Everything with me. We can go to uni,” she informs me and I nod.

She then tells me what her uni is, because like an idiot I haven’t asked her that before. And I’m surprised to discover that we studied at the same place. Different majors, but we were there at some point, together. Maybe we ran into each other and never realised. Maybe we shared a class and never noticed.

No. I don’t think that’s possible. I would’ve noticed her.

The ride to uni takes around fifteen minutes from the shelter and we spend that time talking about her major and the classes she’s taking now. That helps me to forget the ache in my chest and concentrate on the present. The problem is that we arrive too soon and that means our date —which is not a romantic date, as she explained to Alicia— is over. We’ve been together for like fourteen hours, talking nonstop and just spending time together but that couldn’t ever be enough. I wish I could even go with her to her classes.

Once in the parking lot I get off my car and Maca does the same, then I walk around just to get to her side. I know this is where we have to say goodbye and mark the end of the adventure of finally meeting. I’m so happy that it happened but so devastated that it ended so soon and I just wish I could freeze this moment forever.

We look at each other awkwardly and I don’t know what to say. I open my mouth a couple of times, trying to utter something but nothing comes out.

“I—” she starts and I just watch her, waiting with burning longing in my chest. “I had a great time, H. I know I’ve said this like a million times already, but it’s true. I think it was the best day of my life and I owe it all to you. Thank you.”

“I’m just happy you enjoyed it and I got to finally see your smile. Will you keep that up?” I ask her and my guts twist because this almost feels like a definite goodbye. But that’s silly. I’ll see her again somewhen, somehow. Our paths ought to cross again and if not, then she’s now also a volunteer in the shelter; we surely will see each other there. I’m just dramatising right now.

“I’ll try,” she promises and that is enough for me. After what I’ve learnt from her in the last fourteen hours, I know this is actually a huge step for her and not easy at all. “So… I guess I’ll see you around then.”

“I guess so,” I mumble and I start fidgeting with my hands, not knowing what to do. I don’t want to part ways now, but I have to. It’s already three past ten, which means she is running late for her class. I can’t detain her any longer. “Have a good day and thank you for doing all the crazy things I made you do.”

She chuckles in that adorable way of hers. “Thank you for preparing them,” she emphasises and I just smile embarrassed. “Then I guess I should leave no. I’m actually late.”

“Yeah, you should,” I mutter and I want to bang my head against a wall because I’m just dragging the situation instead of helping her.

I sigh and shake my head almost imperceptibly before taking one step towards her. She doesn’t step back so I just wrap my arms around her, embracing her tightly and pulling her against my body. I feel her own arms looping around my waist and her face nuzzling my chest, hiding from me as she hugs me a bit tighter. I close my eyes and take a deep breath, enjoying this moment and praying to the heavens that we can stay like this endlessly. I don’t want to let her go, I really don’t want to.

But I have to and I do at some point, reluctantly but definitively. 

Maca gives me one last beautiful smile before bidding me goodbye. “Bye, Harold Reid. It was such a pleasure to meet you.”

“The pleasure was all mine,” I reply which is the upmost truth, waving her goodbye until she turns around and walks away. I keep watching her getting away, chuckling when I see her picking up her pace, almost running to get to her class and only when she disappears completely from my sight I lose my smile.

My chest hurts again and I’m pretty sure it’s because she’s not with me anymore. I take a few step backwards until I can rest my back on my car and I heave a tired sigh. My hands rub my face, trying to brush away the sudden sadness that has tackled me. I even hit my cheeks softly a few times, as if I were trying to wake up after a dream.

“I should’ve asked her out,” I mumble, regretting for waiting for a chance to bring it up instead of just creating the opportunity.

I can’t help it, I groan and I need a few minutes before I can get inside the car and drive away, towards the theatre where I’ll meet my colleagues to keep rehearsing.

Oh boy, Archie will ask me how things went and I’m pretty sure he’ll smack me when I tell him I didn’t ask Maca when we would meet again. I don’t even know if we’ll ever meet again for sure.

“Goddammit!” I curse out loud when I realise something else: I didn’t even ask her for her mobile number. She has mine, but I never saved hers. How could I have been so stupid and oblivious? I know I had my head everywhere and that her smile constantly distracted me but there are limits and I crossed this one.

If Archie smacks me I’ll really deserve it. I can’t even call her to ask her when she has time to meet again. I think I deserve an award for most idiotic enamoured guy in history. 

Ugh, I don’t even want to meet my best mate because I know for certain what’s to come.

_____________________

There you have it, a new chapter and not so happy now. Sorry :( and I think that the story should end in the next chapter or the following one. Are you ready?

Dedication to the best previous comment: @KeiraHarry

Bel, xx