***

Emily Alabaster

I look at the stain at my blouse, I can’t help it but laugh. ‘How can coffee make such a mess’

I could hear gentle footsteps behind me, they stop at the door.

“alright, ALRIGHT I’m going in” I could hear Nate say. An unknown muffled voice says something before I hear the door open.

Nate comes in, looking rather annoyed. I held my laughter back, by clearing my throat. Then his face grew apologetic, I gazed down to see a white button up in his hand.

He walked toward me holding it in front of him. Suddenly he bows down and started to apologize again.

“What’s with everyone bowing to me?” I mutter a bit loud. This caused him to give me a confused look.

I put a hand on his shoulder, trying to reassure him it’s fine. He gets up and hands me the shirt, hesitation filled my mind.

“Is this yours?” I ask, my hand hovering over the shirt.

“....kinda?” he answered.

I gently take it into my arms, I look up to him staring at me.

He realizes that I caught him, “I-uh...um” he looks around before running to my stained blouse. “I’ll get this dry cleaned, it’ll be ready by tomorrow” he rapidly stated.

‘This kid is very interesting, in a good way, of course,’ I wonder, watching him stumble for words.

I give a tiny smile, “whatever works for you.”

He nods, and just stood there, not knowing what to do next.

“Um, I’m going to change now” I flatly say.

He starts to nod quickly taking the shirt in his hand and running for the door, almost tripping. That caused me to chuckle, kids always in a rush.

While slipping the shirt on a fant scent of cologne invaded my senses. ‘Who does this shirt belong too?’

I stare into the mirror realizing that it was over sized, even though I’m fairly tall. ’Again, whose shirt does this belong to?”

I go for a tucked in look, I shrug slightly. I could feel my phone vibrating in my pocket.

The caller ID read ‘ms.knowitall’ I groan before placing it to my ear.

“Hello…?”

“Ms.Alabaster, where are you?” My impatient therapist says.

“haha funny story, I actually got caught up in something”

I hear her sigh, it wasn’t a very good one. “Emily you know what I have to do.”

“Wait, no please I can still make it” my voice pleading.

“No this has happened way to many times, visit me next week. That means absolutely no work, and I mean it.” I could feel her aggressive tone through the phone.

“bu-” I go to protest.

“No buts, I mean it Emily. Believe me honey I’m only doing this for you own good”

I huff, “what am I supposed to do for a week?”

“Go out and hangout with friends, explore new areas” she joyfully says.

“omg! That would be great, but I don’t have friends, remember?” I sarcastically answer.

“Well then make some, maybe you’ll make a best friend!”

Not wanting to argue, I agree I’m still very angry. ’Make a friend? Pfft I’m a grown woman not a teenager, it shouldn’t be hard.’ I end the call promising once more that I won’t work.

I grab my handbag and give myself a look before I leave. To my annoyance I didn’t have my sunglasses on. This made me more angry, this day has been great.

I made my way out of the bathroom, attempting to fix my hair a bit.

“So you’re the one who needed my shirt” a voice behind says.

I turn to see a man smiling wide at me, ‘this was the man who owned the shirt?’

My eyes go to the shirt, “oh yeah, thank you for it” I grin.

Somehow his smiles goes wider, “no problem! It looks great on you”

My face instantly shoots up, catching him off guard.

“I mean you look fine, wait er not fine.” He rambles on.

“So I look bad?” I asked with an entertained look.

His eyes went wide “wait no, you don’t...you do, I just-” his nervous eyes reach mine.

“Don’t worry, I know what you mean” I laugh, ‘wasn’t I mad a couple moments ago?’

His face relaxes back into a grin, his grey eyes slightly shining. That’s when I got a good look at him. He looked about his late thirties but he was still in good shape. His hair had no gray hairs, it was a chocolate brown waves around his head. Then goes to his deep set eyes, they were grey but full of wonder. He looked to be about 6’4”, that’s probably why the shirt was so big.

Before my thoughts could go anywhere else I put my hand out for him to shake. Without second thought he grabs it, startling me a bit.

“Hi, my name is Emily, but people call me em”

“It’s nice to meet you, my name is Chandler, and people call me...yeah it’s still Chandler” he laughs, and I along with him.

“I apologize for my sons brief, he’s but clumsy but he’s a good kid”

My mouth goes into an O shape. That’s who he looked like, I was wondering why he looked familiar. He must’ve been that muffled voice, before Nate walked in! How did I not figure this out, come on Emily you're a Harvard graduate.

“It’s alright, I’m completely get it. It was the morning rush, accidents happen. I won’t take it personally”

“A simple apology won’t suffice!” He states thinking for a couple moments. “Ah! There is the annual carnival tomorrow, I can take you”

“Oh, that won’t be necessary-” I protest.

“Nonsense! It’ll be great weather tomorrow, and it’ll be a great way to make up for the mishap”

“It’s honestly alright, I can just come back tomorrow and get the shirt” I put my hands in the air.

“Hm, you can come tomorrow to pick up the shirt.” I sigh in relief “and then we can go to the fair, that’s a great plan!” He exclaims.

I go to protest but he looks so excited, my guilt hits me again. I don’t have any plans, thanks to my stupid irresponsible behavior. My therapist did say to make some friends, this could be a start.

I give in “alright I’ll go, when should I come by tomorrow?”

He grins at my response, then eyes my phone. “Give me your number”

“huh?” Maybe I didn’t hear him clearly.

“Your number” he points to my phone, saying it in a ‘duh’ tone.

“Oh, right…” I trail off handing it to him, does he really need it?

After a couple taps he puts in his number and his name into my contacts. Then he goes to grab his phone, I quickly add the puppy emoji next to his name.

“Call me”

I followed his command and called hear ring his phone ring. He does the same to his phone adding my contact. I’m still baffled that I gave a stranger my number, somehow he convinced me.

I met his smile “So I’ll text you when we’ll meet up Tomorrow”

I nod, and make my way towards the exit. Before I leave I hear a voice behind me.

“See ya tomorrow em!” Chandler shouts before he’s dragged by his son.

A smile finds my face as I wave, before turning to the exit. I guess having a friend isn’t so bad.