Entangled Webs

I was running so late. I had turned off my alarm, fully intending to get up but falling back asleep. Well, I could have been earlier, but I had to make sure my hair looked good. The ladies couldn't get enough of me. I mean sure, technically I have had only one girlfriend and a lot of failed talking stages, but if the love of my life saw me today, they needed to know I was the one. After staring in the mirror and making sure my locks looked perfect, I only had time to chuck on yesterday's outfit. Yes, I repeat outfits, but I cannot be bothered thinking of new outfit combinations every day. The said outfit consisted of a vintage tee, sporting a Volkswagen Beetle and faded baggy jeans and, as the weather was slightly chilly today, a beaten black leather jacket. I grabbed my satchel that hopefully contained all the necessary books for today, as I didn’t have the time to check, and a half-charged laptop that should last me until the end of the first lecture.

On my way to class I ducked into the corner shop. It was the most comforting place in the world. It was cluttered shop shelves bursting with chips and weird off branded drinks that were scattered around the small store, yet it lacked the neon led lights that seemed to light up every place in New York. The yellowish downlights gave it such a homey feel even at eight in the morning. The squat, always smiley owner, Al surely is getting tired of me by the extent that he sees me.

“Hiya, Syd”

“Hey, Al”

I grabbed a white monster from the bursting mini fridge against the wall that was underneath the newspaper stand. Placing it on the counter, I rummaged around in my bag for my wallet, praying I hadn't forgotten it at home.

“How are you doing Al?” I asked, hurriedly chucking three dollars on the counter.

“Pretty good, the cat got out again.”

I rolled my eyes; his cat parker was always getting out.

“I’ll let you know if I see him.”

“Thanks kid.”

“See you ‘round Al.”

I smiled and exited the shop with a jingle sounding from the bell on the door.

The walk from my apartment to my university wasn’t far, only about three blocks. Well four if you count my detour to Al’s shop. I loved walking to uni, especially in autumn when there were piles of orange leaves heaped on the side of the street. There was always the feel of cinnamon in the air and the slight chill made everything seem clearer. If your head felt foggy all you had to do was step outside and the slight breeze would carry your worries away.

I cracked open my drink and sipped it, the fruity, refreshing taste lingering on my tongue as I made my way to the first class of the day. Physiology. I hoped we wouldn't have that much information thrown at us today as the amount of sleep I had gotten the night before would not be able to hold up to the extent. I should have gotten to bed sooner, but I had stuff going on. I managed to get to class on time, not soon enough to get a good seat though. I had to squeeze past many people just to get to a seat in the middle of the hall. The lights cast a glare on my laptop and the guy next to me kept slurping on his takeaway coffee cup while typing on his laptop as if announcing to everyone that he did indeed have the intellectual ability to do two things at once without having a brain aneurism. It was a Tuesday meaning it was all lectures today. The physiology professor that I had first was a mean old thing. She always had her greying hair in a slick bun, and her shoes were so pointed that the air seemed to bend around the patent leather. She was good at her job but talked so fast that if you didn't copy down her exact sentence you would be behind in the course for the whole term. I enjoyed Physiology, it just made sense. It was the study of how the human body works. It didn’t matter whether you were sick or if you were healthy, it was always needed. When it wasn't just lectures, we got to dissect parts of the body and see just how exactly they worked. We got to work in teams, which isn't generally my strong suit, but it also made sense as we were looking at the body which was made up of many systems working together that were keeping us alive. I had always been interested in the immune system as a kid. Something about the way there was a cure in a T cell for every known virus in the universe made my head spin. I wanted to find a career in Microbiology. Meaning all of my classes were science based. It was fun but it became a bit tedious.

My teacher had finally finished droning on and on about the effects of rheumatic heart disease. I had taken down many notes. I had an hour and a half before my next class, Eco biology. As I walked across the campus, I finally had a break to check what was in my bag. I had forgotten lunch. Again. I sighed and made my way to the student run cafe that was just opening for the morning. A pretty blonde girl was just opening the door as I walked in.

“Thanks.”

“You’re welcome.” She smiled.

It was the most intoxicating thing I had witnessed. Her mouth curved upwards and there was a soft smattering of freckles across her cheeks, which were rosy from the cold. There was a smudge of lip gloss under her lips that no one else would have noticed. She had the standard uniform on, a black tee shirt and a light blue apron but it seemed to fit her perfectly.

She made her way behind the counter, and I walked up to her making sure I didn't seem too eager.

"Could I please have an iced latte and The Breakfast Special?” I had at least made it through that sentence without stuttering.

She smiled again and I almost swooned.

“So that's the avocado on toast with a poached egg, yes?”

“Yes please, and no sugar in the coffee.”

“Anything else?”

“No thank you, have a nice day.”

She nodded and turned around to start making my order. I sat down at one of the tables that overlooked the grounds. It was a very pretty school, the copper leaves on the ground contrasted with the grass. The plethora of students making their way to their next classes made the place seem more normal instead of an elite university. I pulled out my laptop and my textbook for my next class, Professor Clarke hated people using their laptops for the next class, so I began copying my online notes into my notebook. I had only written down a couple of lines before she brought over my coffee and toast.

“Thanks,” My eyes scanned her nametag. “Skyler.”

She chuckled.

“It's Sky. It's mandatory that we put our full names on here.”

“I’m Syd.”

“Isn't that a boy's name?”

I smiled, used to this response but the way she said it made it seem like she was more interested in the answer rather than mocking me. I looked up and my eyes locked with hers, they were a light green with tiny gold flecks. I had to stop staring it was so obvious that I was into her.

“It's short for Sydney.”

“Well Sydney, I will see you around.”

And before I could ask what she meant by that she had walked away to serve the other customers.

As to not run late to my next class I had to quickly finish my eggs and toast, pack up my books and drink my coffee on the way to the next lecture. I loved Microbiology as my best friend was in my class. Victoria Mathers has been my best friend since diapers. I feel two hands grab my shoulders. I turn around and there she is, the love of my life. Well, platonically anyway.

“Hey Tori.” I had to duck to avoid a slap.

“You know I hate being called that.” She rolled her wide blue eyes.

I laughed. She was wearing a pair of black jeans with a tight black tank top under a dark purple cardigan, her long black hair was snatched up in a claw clip. Her outfits were always simple, yet they all looked effortlessly stylish.

“I won't do it again.”

“Liar.” She chuckled. “So, what going on in your life?”

“Nothing.”

She shoved me.

“I can tell there is something going on.”

I still shook my head.

“Can I have some of your coffee?”

I nodded and she took the cup. She always knew if there was something going on. I pulled out my phone to see if I had any new notifications. I was just checking some of the stories on Instagram when I heard a gasp next to me.

“Syd?”

I didn't even look up from my phone.

“What's written on your cup?”

“What?” I took the cup from her. On the side of the tacky takeaway cup was a messy phone number written in purple sharpie.

“So, there was something going on with you then.”

I didn't have anything to say. After all, who expects this? I looked at Victoria and saw she was staring at me in the way where she would kill me if I didn't tell her everything that had happened. However, little it may be.

-------------------------------------------------As I got changed in the back of the coffee shop. I couldn't stop thinking about Syd. It was stupid. She probably didn’t even see my number on her cup either. As I pulled the cream coloured sweater over my head I let out a sigh. No one even knew I liked girls and here I was throwing all caution into the wind over some girl that I saw buying coffee. I wouldn't even see her again. But oh. My. God. Her everything was intoxicating; her brown hair was the perfect length to run your fingers through and it sat just above her shoulders, her cologne smelt like damp flowers that you passed when the weather was confused on whether it was winter or spring, it had a mix of that fresh laundry smell that just makes you feel right at home. I had to stop thinking about her, it made my entire body feel as if nothing could ground it. I grabbed my backpack, threw on my brown jacket and headed to my next class. History. I loved History always had. At the moment we were studying the Civil Wars in America and the similarities and differences to The Handmaids Tale. I didn't know what I wanted to do after university, but I wanted it to be something related to history or humanitarianism. Unfortunately, I didn't have any friends in my class. Actually, I didn't have any friends in New York at all. I left them all in Los Angeles when I moved. I missed Kelse, I never get to talk to her anymore. It sucked but this university had the best history courses in the country and its campus collied with their science campus. This was nice as my boyfriend studied there. He was the nicest person on the planet, but something had felt off these past few weeks. He just seemed off. It was probably that he was feeling stressed about his exams coming up. I knew I shouldn't worry about it.

***

After I finished my class, I had to make the long walk back to my apartment. As I made my way through the damp streets, I pulled out my phone. To see a text from my boyfriend.

...

Bfff <33

I’m out late

Work

See you tomorrow

...

I sighed and rolled my eyes. I sent a quick ‘love you’ and put my phone away. He was always working late at the moment. I wanted to spend more time with him. Especially as our 2-year anniversary was coming up. I was so excited; I had already brought his present and made plans at this super fancy Italian restaurant that he loved. We had previously gone there for our first year anniversary. It was magical, something straight out of a book. Now we have settled down and that belly flipping feeling of being in love for the first time had worn down over time. But I guess that happened to everyone.

I pushed open the door to our apartment and was greeted with silence. After a busy day it was relaxing and peaceful. My cat Muffin rubbed against my legs, acknowledging my presence. Her orange tail curled around my hand as I reached down to pat her. She had been with me through thick and thin. I would do anything for her. I got changed out of my clothes and into a simple tracksuit pants and a sports bra. It was still light outside, so I decided to go on a run to calm my mind. Running had always calmed my mind; I used to run track in high school, and it had just stuck with me. I wasn't a sprinter though. If you asked me to run full speed, I could not do it but ask me to run 7 kilometers and I would do it without question. I twisted my AirPods into my right ear leaving the left free to listen to my surroundings. I flicked through my Spotify and decided on a mix of Billie Eilish and Sabrina Carpenter. Closing the front door to my apartment the cold air hit me in the face, the chilly New York weather was not for the weak, but I did enjoy it.

I was half an hour into my run when my phone vibrated. I ignored it, it was probably my boyfriend with another boring update with work. He could wait. My phone buzzed again and again. I was confused as he usually wasn't persistent about anything. I stopped running, pulling out my phone.

...

05061962 (you do not know this number)

Hi

I saw your number on my cup and I think you’re really pretty.

...

Oh. My. God. She actually texted back. I didn't know what to do. As soon as I had written my number on her cup I had immediately regretted it. What was actually wrong with me? Firstly, I had a boyfriend. Secondly, actually no. That was the main problem. No one knew I liked girls, not even Kelse. I tell her everything there is no such thing as ‘tmi’ in our relationship. Yet that made it even worse. I told her everything. Except the thing that felt the most personal to me lately. I didn’t even have a label for myself yet. Do you have to have a label? I had no clue. It felt awful to have a part of yourself that you didn't even know. It was even worse when you had no one to talk to about it. I was completely alone for this. I pulled myself away from this spiral to focus on the issue at hand. The reasonable option was to block her, yet I felt that I couldn't do that. I could text her back but that was cheating. Well, I think so anyway. I unclenched my phone from my fist, where it had been strangled for the past minute.

...

Hi

Sorry that was really random

I swear I don't do that to every customer

...

I cringed, who even writes like that? The little bubble popped up on the screen and my stomach flipped. I ought to block her. Yet, it was so intriguing.

...

You mean you don’t flirt with everyone who walks through the door??

Damn I feel special

Are you hitting on me?

Maybe

Are you single?

...

What was I supposed to do now? I had walked right into that one. It was going to be bad, whatever I sent. I turned my phone off. I will deal with it later. I know it was a coward's response, but I really didn’t know what else to do. I turned my music back on and instead of turning around, I kept running. I know it was bad, but I kept running until my thighs hurt. I kept running until my breath was short and my saliva tasted sweet. I slowed down and took my AirPods out. I was in a part of town I didn't recognise. The buildings were really close together and their dingy walls were covered in graffiti and faded posters that were half ripped. I started to turn around when a man stepped in front of me. He was tall and smelt of sour beer and cigarettes. His decaying teeth were positioned in a chilling smile. Even if his exterior was more comforting, he gave me an extremely bad feeling. I stepped around him and took off. My shoes clacked against the pavement with the damp concrete deadening the sound. The balls of my feet hit the ground first with every stride I took. Turning the corner to find myself back on the main throughfare. I snuck a look behind me and the guy had gone. An uneasy shiver of fear still ran down my spine. The air around me still felt thick and odd. I shook my head. It was probably just from the lack of breathing in the last five minutes, from thinking about Syd and running from the guy. Funny, I just had a very chilling encounter with a stranger and my first thought was that my breathing was the same when I was around Syd. I pushed the thought out of my head. I made my way back to my apartment knowing my boyfriend would be back by now. He would greet me with a hug when I got home. I hated hugs but I let him give them to me because it made him happy.