CHAPTER 13: Doubtful Anticipation

CHAPTER 13: Doubtful Anticipation

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The day ebbed away lazier than a sloth that hadn't decided a direction, and it slowly but surely chipped away at Ella's patience. The classes felt longer, lessons seemed monotonous and languorous than ever. She glanced at her watch more times than she cared to admit.

"Do you have a heist planned or do you just hate this class?" Her bench partner asked as she leaned in closer to Ella and she looked at her with a perplexed gaze.

Zoey had been her bench partner since the beginning of the semester, and their interactions have always been quite minimal. She was friendly, but never overly so and Ella always noticed her, mostly because of her confident vibe. She had that I-can-make-friends-easily air around her, her smile was always genuine, her blue eyes bright and her shoulder-length dark hair had deep red highlights that looked classy on her.

Ella attempted a response, "Pardon?"

"I was just asking since your eyes seem to seek out your wristwatch way too many times to be natural and if it's a heist, I'd like to join you, my boredom knows no bounds..." Zoey explained.

"Nope. No heists or illegal activities planned." Ella elaborated, slightly amused at the direction of their conversation.

"That's a shame...I was hoping we'd be partners in crime, it's the most effective bonding activity out there." Zoey shrugged.

"I shudder to think you're speaking from experience..." Ella said as a smile tugged at her lips.

Zoey winked at her playful, "Keep me in your mind for future heists and you'll find out..."

"I'd rather not..." Ella frowned and confessed, "I like my peaceful non-heist-planning life a little too much."

"And here I was hoping we would become fast friends, guess we'll have to do it the old school way..." Zoey sighed as she spoke.

Ella was positively entertained, "Do you always force your friendship upon other people?"

Zoey, flashed her a toothy smile, before looking ahead "Of course, how else will I have any friends?"

Ella smiled and shook her head a tiny bit, forcing herself to pay attention in class.

When the last lecture ended at around 4:30 in the afternoon, she almost jumped from joy.

"There's something going on for sure and I'm intrigued." Zoey voiced her thoughts.

Ella pulled her bag strap higher on her shoulder as they began walking and replied vaguely, "Maybe, maybe not... let's just say- if I don't show up to our next class, I've been kidnapped."

"Duly noted." Zoey's eyebrows raised in surprise, "I'll see you later... hopefully" she gave her a playful two-fingered salute as she turned the corridor and left while Ella took the opposite turn.

Without waiting around or thinking twice she took the same path towards the tree, looking forward to the shade of its thick canopy as the sun was still strong and bright in the blue sky.

Ella was a good few minutes early. She had nothing more important to do and so she decided to take the familiar hike. She didn't mind waiting.

She couldn't believe she was so eager, there really was nothing interesting in her life, the typical life of a college student, where all joy has been sucked out of living and is substituted by assignments and essays.

When she reached the tree, this time it was perfectly alone. She set her bag down and settled as she stayed and enjoyed the cooling breeze.

There was something beautiful about the act of waiting.

The anticipation of what was to come... It was hopeful and expectant, full of trust and joyous in its own way. Waiting lets your thoughts get away from you and end up on someone far away, it makes you wonder and question and imagine. It makes the time flow slower and the heart beats faster.

Ella imagined what he would be like. Maybe he was the smart-looking one, with glasses and a strong jaw that makes him look important rather than dorky.

Would he be tall or short or somewhere in between? How would his voice be, maybe deep husky or melodic or maybe soft-spoken and gentle?

She imagined how they would greet each other? What would they talk about? How would the conversation flow?

The conversation in her mind was witty and fun...if only he would follow the script? But maybe he's even better. Maybe he'll surprise her. She couldn't wait to find out.

Her eyes were stuck to the cobblestone path that led there, only a small curve of it was visible from where she sat as the pathway meandered and curled around the slope.

Ella looked down at her wristwatch. It was 10 minutes past 5.

He was running late, and she didn't mind if he was late, as long as he showed up. Her only hope was that he was a decent human being and not a creep.

Today she was here to decide her reality and not let her mind escape into the fantastical and whimsical explorations it often is attracted to. The sunlight slowly waned away, and the temperature dropped gradually, just like that an hour passed, painfully slowly.

Understanding reluctantly crept in. 'He wasn't gonna show up was he?' She thought. A crushing disappointment weighed her down.

Ella has been there a while now, her arms numb from cold and it seems her legs won't work quickly when it's time to pack up and leave. She reprimanded herself for not bringing her jacket.

Her phone rang in the deafening silence of the twilight and she answered distractedly.

Jay spoke from the other end, "Ell where are you? Come home quickly! Nora and Dan are cooking up a storm and they keep yelling at me for eating raw ingredients...wait is it weird that I'm inviting you to your own place?"

"Not really." she shrugged and chuckled.

"That's what I thought.......Ouch, that hurts Nora!" he suddenly yelped.

"Sounds like you're annoying them in the kitchen." Ella laughed as she picked herself up and dusted off to get back home. There was no point in waiting there anymore and it was getting scary dark.

"Whose side are you on?" She could hear him pout.

"Well, I've tried cooking with you in the kitchen before, to be honest, I kinda sympathise with them." She said and she could practically feel his frown from the other side.

"As expected. You're never my ally." he huffed, "But get here soon, I'm hungry, and apparently we are eating..." he trailed off and then Ella heard Daniel's muff voice saying something but couldn't hear it clearly.

"Apparently we are eating Dan's sweat and tears." Jay finished.

"Sounds gruesome...are you sure I should show up or you just want me there so that you're not the only sufferer?" Ella asked sceptically.

"Are you doubting Nora's cooking right now? I think this is something she should know... Nora, Ella is doubtful-"

"Shut up you snitch!" and Jay burst into laughter, "Jay you don't live with her I do and I don't want to be murdered in my sleep." Ella fussed.

"Alright, she won't find out anything if you get here in ten minutes," Jay said and then suddenly hung up. She could almost imagine him crackling like a maniac.

She looked at the time and then started running. So much for being an ally.

When Ella finally got home that evening, the air smelled like a blend of exotic spices. She was panting as she followed it to the kitchen and found her two friends wreaking havoc in there while Jay was banished to the living room, most likely for being a nuisance.

"Oh you're here, why do you look so out of breath?" Jay asked innocently.

"Hey, Ella!" A synchronised greeting from Nora and Dan distracted her.

She ignored Jay as more important things needed to be addressed, "What in the world are you guys doing?" She asked when she saw how smokey the whole place was.

"We are making spicy butter garlic noodles, It's my mom's recipe," Nora said excitedly as she stirred something in a pot.

"And does the recipe also say to burn the house down and then eat the noodles as homeless hobos?" She asked and then looked at Jay who only shrugged.

Nora rolled her eyes, "Stop being dramatic, this will clear out in a few minutes...." she switched the exhaust on and then she turned to Jay and instructed, "Jay make yourself useful and open some windows."

"Yeah, that's not gonna help" Jay gave his unwanted input.

Nora glared at the back of his head, "While you're at it, throw yourself out too."

Ella cracked a smile but Jay wasn't amused. Ella came closer and inspected the side dishes which seemed very exotic. "Is this gonna be dinner?" she asked, a little worried about the amount of spice.

A teary-eyed Daniel answered, "Yes" and when Ella looked concerned he said, "I didn't mean to cry all over your kitchen counter, but the onions are making my lacrimal glands leak." he sniffed and continued to cut the onion he was currently focusing on.

"I was kinda hoping Jay was joking about that part," she mumbled softly so he wouldn't hear her. Not wanting to offend someone who's already crying.

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