Ava Morris

I look at the menu on the wall. I tried to decide as fast as I could but I was confused between a beef burger and a chicken sandwich. The girl behind me in the line is impatiently tapping her foot on the ground. "Ma'am, have you decided on your order?"

"Hmm." I decide on the chicken sandwich. "One strawberry smoothie and chicken sandwich please."

"Do you like to have a normal sandwich or a grilled sandwich?"

"Grilled sandwich."

"Is that all? Anything else to add?" the girl asked.

"No."

"Okay, that would be-" I gave her the cash.

"It will take ten minutes, ma'am, we will call your order number when your order is ready." She handed me my bill with my bill number written on it.

I nodded my head before going towards the empty table. The whole place is packed with students and most of the tables are taken. I take my seat and place my bag in the empty chair beside me. Julian and Ron went to watch a football match. Auden and Lola went to the cinema. Max and Poppy are somewhere having their time.

A sigh leaves my mouth as I look around. I have been coming to this cafe since semester one. I know the owner of this cafe as I'm a regular customer. I pull out my iPad and notebook that I needed to write down. Vincent loved this cafe when we came for the campus tour. I had my first lunch over here and soon it became a part of my college life and a place I always visit to work.

I was left alone. I won't complain though, because I need my time alone. I started working with one of the editing companies named 'Dolphin pictures' when I was in my second year of college. I edit their pictures and videos for their telecasts. It is my side job which I do to earn my pocket money.

I applied for an internship during my summer holidays. They selected me after going through my social media platforms and the work I posted over there. I have done paid partnerships with companies and they have posted my work on their platforms, which helped me build my CV and apply for internships.

Vincent gifted me a camera on my birthday. He knew about my love for photography and I started taking pictures of streets, people, pets, flowers and places I went to. Then I started making outdoor vlogs, dormitory vlogs and college vlogs on YouTube. People started recognising my editing work and photography skills through the posts that I shared on social media. The income started generating, which is helping me save up for my future.

'102' I heard the computerised voice. I left the pen and stood up from my chair to get my order.

My eyes were glued to the screen as I went through the emails and documents that I had received in the mailbox. Opening a new page, I recorded the new work that has been assigned to me and the charges they are going to pay for the work.

For the next thirty minutes, I sorted my emails accordingly and wrote down the assignments that I would be working on for the next three weeks. "This is going to keep me busy," I tell myself, opening my present project. I need to edit twenty pictures and send them to the agent for finalisation. If the agent is okay with the edits, then I won't have extra work.

But if the agent wants to make any changes, then it's going to be hectic and long. Hours passed as I worked on the pictures. I ordered another cappuccino with extra coffee powder on the top. I don't have any college work, so I would go to the dormitory and sleep.

"Done." A sigh left my mouth as I looked at the email. I have shared the file with the agent. Probably by tomorrow morning, I will be getting a reply.

I packed my bag and put my iPad and charger into the bag before standing up with the trash. I went over to the trash can before throwing the trash into the bin. I placed the tray on the table, went back to my table to pick up my bag and phone.

I took my belongings and started walking towards the exit. I went outside the cafe and started walking toward the alley. I wasn't looking straight when I took a right turn as I was busy looking for my earphones in the bag.

I bumped into someone, lost my footing as I felt myself moving backwards. My eyes widened, panic set in and there was a burn in the middle of my throat. I tried to hold on to something but I couldn't. My head immediately turned and I looked at the ground.

Before I could fall, the person held my right arm, stopping me from the fall. Though I couldn't save my earphones from falling. I closed my eyes as a heavy sigh left my mouth. I could hear the noises around me.

"Thank god," I whispered, opening my eyes. I stood straight on my feet and bent down to pick up the fallen earphones.

"Thank you." I looked at the person standing before me. I panicked and kept staring at him as he stared back at me with his jaw clenched. 'Is it a coincidence or did he see me coming?'

Once I snapped out of my stupefaction, I said: "Hey Brad!" I waited for him to say something but he didn't say anything. I looked at the passersby to see that we were creating traffic by standing in the middle of the small space.

"Can we stand to the side of the road," I said, stepping near the wall. Brad did the same. I can hear my heart beating fast and there is a lump forming in my throat.

"What were you doing there?" straight to the point

I really wanted to roll my eyes but I didn't, knowing he might inform Vincent. "I was― I was hanging out with my friends."

He raised his brow. "To that place?"

"I swear I didn't know that you were going to be present. If I knew that you would be there. Then I would've never shown up with my friends."

He didn't say anything, just stared at me for a full minute before I called him. "Don't tell Vincent about this. He would skin me alive and, please, I will never come to that place again."

"You are not going to any place that isn't safe for you. If I see you..." he didn't finish his sentence, just left it unsaid. My brows frowned in distaste.

"What you gonna do? I will go anywhere I want," I said, not liking his tone. No one ever used that tone on me. My parents never raised their voices or stopped me from going somewhere. They would stop me from going to shady places. He doesn't have to know that...

He didn't answer my question. Kept staring before he looked away. The passersby gave us looks but they continued walking away. I couldn't take my eyes away from Brad's face. There is a scar underneath his left eye, his nose is slightly crooked, his ears are a bit weird and there is a cut on his right cheek. The black hoodie is hiding his muscles away from my eyes.

"I have my eyes on you Ava," he expressed, before leaving me there stunned. I watched him pull his hood on and cross the road.

What was that?

I saw how people turned around and checked, people made their way as he walked ahead like he was some sort of king. He looked like one though. I waited until his figure became invisible to my eyes. I blinked twice before shaking my head. "It was a coincidence."

I connected the earphones to my mobile before walking toward my dormitory building. A smile broke on my face remembering his words. It was the first he ever spoke to me in a complete sentence. It always used to be Axel or Celeb who used to have long conversations with me. It's surprising that he actually remembered me.

Brad looked hot from up close. He truly changed, but in a good way. He can be a model if he wants to, with a face like that and a body like that. Reaching the dorm room, I locked the door and went straight to the bathroom to take a shower. I knew Lola and Poppy wouldn't be coming and I didn't have to worry about anything.

"A nice bath it is..." I muttered, checking the drawers.

*

I closed my laptop before putting on my slippers. We have a common dormitory cafeteria where you can have your meals if you want. Or else we have kitchens attached to our dormitory mini apartments. I'm too lazy to make myself food. That's the half-truth. The other half of the truth is that I cannot cook to save myself from hunger.

I crossed my arms as I walked down the hallway towards the staircase. I can hear blusters coming from the rooms. A few girls are hanging out in the hallways. My phone vibrated and I pulled out my phone to see Poppy's message.

"Going to the cafeteria and what about you?"

"Carry on, I will have the cafeteria food tonight."

I pushed my phone into my pocket and walked into the dining hall. There were junior girls having their dinner. You won't be seeing any seniors at this time. I took a plate from the cabin and started walking toward the buffet table.

I filled my plate with sufficient food before walking toward the nearby table. I sat down and started eating my food. I quickly ate my food and washed the plate before placing it on the table isle.

I made my way to the dorm's lawn. I sat on the bench listening to music. I come here daily to spend some time. I feel good when I spend some time here on this bench. Only a few girls come here to lounge. I never had a proper boyfriend. I dated a few boys from my high school, which ended up in fifteen days. The longest time to be with a guy is nineteen days.

Most boys were scared to ask me out because of my brother. I never showed interest in boys as I had this major crush on Brad. When I decided to try, I was not too fond of dating. I didn't find that connection. I don't wanna give hope to them, so I ended things.

Then, when my brother left home, it was a difficult time for us. He was hurting and seeing him my parents were upset. It was a hell of a time for us and slowly he started becoming normal, which made my parents happy.

Thinking back about the past brought so many happy and sad memories. My thoughts changed to Brad's. What did he mean when he said 'I have my eye on you, Ava,'

Am I going to meet him? Is he going to see me regularly?

And suddenly I felt tickles in my stomach just thinking about Brad. I feel excited and happy that Brad is talking to me and he said he would be watching me.

"Oh my god! I can't wait to see him," I tell myself with a stupid smile on my face.