* * * * * *
When Emily got back to her desk, there was a new email from Liz containing a link to the digital news feed. She clicked on it, watching as the images from the feed populated the screen. She hoped that Liz would recover quickly.
The gazette's transcriptionist was a mom with grown kids, she was nice. They didn't work together. Emily often ran into Liz in the break room. They’d bonded over cooking.
The older woman was always bringing in some new recipe that she'd made. She used the guys in the office as guinea pigs which was fine with everyone. Liz was an excellent cook. She and Emily repeatedly chatted about the best culinary sites to check out for new menu ideas.
Emily shifted slightly, settling back more comfortably in her chair.
Transcription of digital feeds was not taxing, in fact it required less concentration than virtually everything else she did. She grabbed her headset, plugged it into the computer and began listening to the long-winded wonky-speak that frequently characterized the press conferences held by the intergovernmental organization. Her fingers flew across the keyboard, typing out each word.
It didn't take long for her mind to wander back to her meeting with David, or rather, how it had ended.
He had not asked for her phone number or if she was on Facebook or Twitter -- not that she was big on social media. That bothered her. Isn't that what guys did if they were interested?
Her dating skills were essentially non-existent so his inaction made Emily question herself, which was something she usually didn't do. Hadn't he felt what she had? Emily was not frivolous by nature, nor was she the hopeless romantic type. Caught up in her own thoughts, her fingers stilled over the keyboard. At a loss to explain why she had felt so connected to this man.
She wanted to see him again. Did he feel the same? It was driving her nuts. Why was this happening? She finally met a really great guy, shared a moment, that somehow felt like something more than anything she'd ever felt before.
Now he was M-I-A.
She shook her head ruefully, rewinding the feed and picking up where she’d left off. Her fingers resuming their rhythm over the keys.
Her practical grounded brain was yelling, LET IT GO! She knew she should. Yet that bond or attachment, she didn’t know how to describe it -- it had been so real. She didn't want to give that up. Emily had never had someone of her own. The moment that she met David, it felt like she had.
There was always the possibility of running into him on campus when classes started next week, she thought. The odds seemed unlikely. There were 25,000 students at Millstone University and if that schedule was correct, he was only taking the one class and it was at night.
Then it hit her. The solution was so obvious that she glanced upward to see if there was a proverbial light bulb above her head. Nope, nothing there.
Her fingers froze over the keyboard more from excitement than an abrupt ending of the digital feed. The speaker was still droning on. She grabbed her mouse and clicked the pause button.
SHE KNEW HIS SCHEDULE.
Emily could feel her heart beating deeply in her chest. The strumming increased when she thought about what she was really contemplating. Would she have the guts to do it? Knowing that he would be there? Would he think she was stalking him? Am I a stalker? she wondered. As she saw it, two possibilities now presented themselves; find out if he felt anything or drive herself crazy waiting with false hope. Tenacity she had in spades. Self-restraint however wasn’t her strong suit.
The computers at the Marietta Gazette were linked by a local area network ensuring that all editorial personal could interact with each other. As a result, every work station was both secure and independent and more importantly-- had access to Google which made it easy to locate follow up information about any story she was working on, including checking company websites.
It also meant she could access the university's online registration portal, if she needed to check her class schedule or in this case, change it.
Logging in, her fingers diligently typed out the needed prompts. She was really doing this? A shiver ran down her spine. Seat were still available in Professor Chang's class.
“That’s not surprising,” Emily muttered sarcastically.
He was a nice enough man, his command of the English language sucked. Not that she was throwing shade. It was just the truth. Thinking about that gave her pause. She wasn’t patient with stuff like that.
Feeling guilty, she looked up from her screen, glanced around the office to see if anyone was heading to her cubical. No witnesses were in route. Did she dare do this? she asked herself. Heart rate accelerating in response to the mere idea of seeing David a second time.
Checking off all of the appropriate boxes, the only thing that she needed to do was hit enter. Her index finger hovered over the key.
The cursor was blinking like some persistent exclamation point without a dot at the bottom, chanting DO IT, DO IT, DO IT, waiting on her to make a decision. Temples pounding, too much blood was rushing into her brain. She felt a little lightheaded. Maybe she should lay down on the floor for a moment.
Her adviser had wanted her to do this, she coaxed herself. David won't know why she’s in the class, her mind reasoned. He'll think it's a coincidence.
Emily was muttering under her breath, while trying to catch it. Suddenly she felt winded. Was she having a panic attack?
“Oh, what’s wrong with me? Am I big fat coward?” The words barely audible.
Part of her almost abandoned the scheme.
Almost.
A tap on the shoulder made Emily gasp and jump at the same time, she nearly fell to the floor. She'd been caught.
If you liked this book check out Beacon, the second book in the Luminary Saga.
About the author:
P.S. Meraux calls Wren's Nest in Atlanta, Georgia home. Many animals, dozens of rose bushes and three computers share the residence. The USC grad is an accomplished writer and editor. This is Meraux's first novel in the Luminary Saga. Please feel free to submit comments and questions. Reviews are always welcome.
Follow P.S. Meraux on social media:
On twitter: @psmeraux
Blog: psmeraux.blogspot.com
Coming in 2017 in the Luminary Saga:
Flare
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