Chapter 2: Finally Found
"I don't believe in magic."
The young boy said.
The old man smiled.
"You will, when you see her."
-Atticus
Weeks went by without any sign of the shy, yet enticing, brunette that had changed my world the second she had stepped foot into my house that hectic night. I couldn't stop picturing those beautiful brown almost golden eyes, in my mind. She had drawn my attention the second she had showed up at the party in a pair regular skinny jeans and a plain white T-shirt, her hair hanging down to her waist in scraggly curls.
Every girl at that party was wearing skimpy clothing and were drinking, flirting around and having a good time. But this shy girl was sitting in his favorite spot on one of the many leather couches, looking for all the world like she didn't want anything to do with the crazy party life. I had watched her scanning the room curiously until her gorgeous brown eyes had finally met mine and I was done for. I knew I was grinning like a fool, but I couldn't help it, she was just that breathtaking.
The second I saw her blush and turn away, to talk to a clearly drunk blonde, I wanted to cross the room and go to her. Instead I just watched as she wrapped and arm around the blonde girls waist and hauled her off the couch. She had made her way to the door when her friend shoved away from her and began yelling something so slurred I couldn't quite understand her.
The brunette turned to face me and paused as her eyes met mine again. A buddy of mine had gotten my attention for a split second and then this gorgeous curvy woman was in front of me grabbing the shot glass that had just been placed in my hand. When she downed it and straddled my lap pulling me into a kiss I had almost died. Her lips had been so damn soft and her body against mine was driving me wild. I couldn't help my self when she got up and hurried out the door, her cheeks aflame with embarrassment, I followed her outside to find out her name.
Now nearly two weeks later, I still hadn't run into her on campus. She had said she was always here so why hadn't I run into her yet. I sat in the large school library with one of my good friends Sean, we were supposed to be studying for a physics exam but I couldn't help but look around the huge area, searching for that brown eyed beauty.
"Earth to Will." I jumped seeing my friends hand wave in front of my face. I looked over at him confused. "Still daydreaming about your dream girl are you?" He asked with a smirk. I sighed running my fingers through my hair and standing up.
"I can't get her out of my head Sean. It's like I can't focus on anything until I find her." I grumbled.
I wasn't used to feeling like this. I wasn't the relationship type, in fact I usually just did one night stands that led to me forgetting about the girl the morning after. Yes that makes me a player, but all of that stopped months ago when my father told me it was time to grow up and get serious about taking over the family business. Otherwise I was going to be completely disinherited.
It was a wake up call to say the least, my father had always been strict but he was never this pushy about me growing up. I have a close relationship with both my parents, so when my father told me to grow up and start being serious about my future I didn't really see a choice.
My father is the CEO of a major law firm and his dream was for me to take over in a few years so that he could retire to spend more time with my mother. I wasn't extremely found of the idea of running one of most renowned law firms in all of Massachusetts but I did like the work. Now in my final year of law school, I could have been completely finished already but I had dragged it out not wanting to step up to the responsibilities placed before me just yet. Now it was time to buckle down.
"Dude Harvard is a huge campus, besides that focusing on your finals is a bit more important than finding this mystery girl." Sean said going back to his studies.
I sighed leaning against the rail of the second balcony floor, looking over the entire room. There was no way I was going to be able to focus on my finals right now, not when all I saw every time I shut my eyes was Jessie. Fuck I didn't even know her last name to be able to look her up in the school registry. I turned back to my chair and picked up my books shoving them back into my bag.
"I'm going to go get something to eat." I said to Sean, exasperated.
"Okay I'll meet you at the house later. Oh can you pick up the packet from Professor Davis? I'm not going to have time before my next class." Sean said not looking up from his books.
I mumbled a yes and left heading for the stairs. After heading outside I made my way to Professor Davis's classroom first so that I could just go home and eat after. As I made my way through campus I kept an eye out for that little curvy brunette that plagued my dreams. When I got the classroom I hurriedly got the registration packet and headed for the door not wanting to get stuck in the next classes traffic. As I made it to the door it opened and a little brown haired girl ran straight into my chest letting out a small yelp as she nearly fell over. I reached out steadying her.
"Sorry..." she said with a quiet voice and I froze as she looked up into my eyes. It was Jessie, she had her hair pulled back over her shoulders and a pair of dark glasses on that framed her heart shaped face. She had no make up on and was wearing a soft maroon knee length dress that hugged her curves.
"I've been looking for you everywhere." I said with a smirk. Hopefully she didn't think that was a creepy thing to say. She blushed but didn't look away and a saw a small hint of the same courage that she showed a few weeks ago.
"Have you?" She asked a small smile passed her lips. She carefully walked around me and grabbed one of the packets that were sitting on the teachers desk, too. So she was a senior too, otherwise she wouldn't need the end of the year registration for finals week. "I've been here the whole time." She said before walking back towards me. She started to go around me and I followed her out the door, not willing to let her escape that easily.
"Would you like to get some lunch?" I asked praying she'd say yes.
She seemed to hesitate, blushing again. She stopped walking when we got to the court yard and turned to face me. "Where?" The simple question coming from her lips made me smile in triumph.
"You choose, I don't have anything planned for the rest of the day and I'm not about to let you just leave again." I said as I tucked a piece of stray hair behind her ear.
"You don't even know me..." I could see she was slightly nervous.
"I know that I want to know you." I said stepping closer to her. I couldn't help it I was drawn to her like a moth to a flame. I leaned down and placed a kiss on her lips gently, I slipped one hand into her hair and and used the other to pull her close just like I did two weeks ago. When she pulled back slightly, my forehead still touching hers as she tried to steady her breathing.
"I don't even know your name." She whispered but didn't try to pull away from me.
"William. My name's William." I don't know why I gave her my full name, everyone but my parents called me Will. Something about wanting to hear my real name on her lips...
"William?" She questioned with a smile. She was mocking me as I had repeated her name the same way a few weeks ago. "Well William, I suppose after letting you kiss me like that, the least I can do is let you bye me lunch." The teasing tone in her voice made me chuckle, she was definitely one of the shyest girls I'd ever known, but once in a while she showed a burst of courage that surprised me.
"Then where to?" I asked pulling back but lacing my fingers in hers.
"I don't know, I haven't ate out in nearly three years." She said sheepishly.
I thought for a second as I admire her. She was simple, didn't like to fuss with the extravagant and overpriced. She liked to feel at home in her surroundings. So I couldn't take her to a fancy restaurant or dinner, but there was a small little mom and pop coffee shop that served amazing Cheesy Tomato sandwiches. She would feel more comfortable there, it was small and intimate with none of the fuss. It is my favorite spot to go when I want to get away from the world, and the owners Sally and George where close friends of the family.
"Come on I have just the place." I said with a smile pulling her with me across the courtyard excitedly. She let out a small giggle and it was the most beautiful sound I had ever heard.
When we came to the small coffee shop I stopped outside letting her take it all in. It really was a beautiful shop. It was a small white brick building with an outdoor patio that had a net of twinkly lights that were hung up and turned on at night. A flower garden lined the patio with soft pinks and yellows. There was a few little tables strewn over the wood patio and a little space left open for a small dance floor, also reserved along with music for night time. Inside it was an old classical look with beautiful wood furniture and a few love seats here and there. Low lighting and small lanterns like the ones outside hung up on little scooped chains. On one wall there was a beautiful picture collage of friends and family from over the years and another wall was filled from floor to ceiling with books of all genres. I watched her as she looked around a look of awe on her face.
"Wow, it's so beautiful here." She whispered and I could see the excitement in her eyes.
"You should have him bring you back at night, that's when it's really magical." A familiar males voice came from the back room. I smiled as the old man came striding in with a huge grin on his face.
"Jessie, this is George Hansen, he and his wife Sally own this place." I said introducing her to my old family friend.
"It's nice to meet you." Jessie said as the pink flush that I was starting to love flooded her cheeks again. "This place is breathtaking, I love the atmosphere, it's very intimate like you're a part of the family." She said with a grin. I brushed my thumb along her hand that I still had clasped in mine.
"George who is it honey, we don't open for another hour." Sally's warm voice came from somewhere in the back the way George had come from.
"It's Will, and he's brought an absolutely breathtaking young lady with him." George said loud enough for his wife to hear.
I heard footsteps move towards us immediately and the small plump woman with white hair and soft blue eyes came out into the room. She smiled and gave me a hug before turning to Jessie with a grin.
"Hello dear, I'm Sally." She said before pulling Jessie into a quick hug as well. Jessie grinned at me obviously liking Sally and George. "You must be pretty special if he is bringing you here." Sally said happily patting Jessie's hand gently. I coughed trying to change the subject not wanting to scare my little brown eyed beauty away.
"I was just going to make us some sandwiches if that is okay with you guys." I said as Sally looked to me.
"Of course dear. Would you mind helping George fix one of the lights when you are done with your lunch." She asked beaming at me.
"Oh he doesn't need to do that, he has company Sally." George argued pulling his wife in for a side hug.
"It's not a problem, I don't mind." Jessie spoke up and I smiled at her. She seemed to be comfortable here, more relaxed.
George nodded with a smile and then pulled his wife back out of the room, and I knew it was their way of letting us be alone. I pulled her over to a counter stool having her sit down I took our book bags and placed them against the counter. Going around to the other side and washed my hands. I put on some gloves an started pulling supplies out of the fridge. Placing them out I started to make my favorite light sandwich, it consisted of tomatoes, avocado, spinach, a light layer of mayo on the inside of the bread, mozzarella cheese and a little pepper and salt.
"So how do you know George and Sally?" Jessie asked me as she watched me put together the meal.
"They are friends of the family my father and mother met here and we've kind of been part of the family every since." I said looking up into her big brown eyes.
"Are you close with your parents?" She asked suddenly. She seemed a little stiff as she asked me this making wonder if her own relationship with her parents wasn't so great.
"Yes, they are really busy but they are good parents and try to keep up with what's going on in my life. How about you?" I said watching her closely for any new emotion to grace her beautiful face.
"My father isn't really in the picture, and my mother is recently remarried. Shis one of those ,only talks to you on holidays, types." She shrugged as if it didn't matter but I could tell it bothered her.
When I finished with the sandwiches and placed them on a plate with some chips, I started getting out some chia tea packets. When I finished with the tea I handed her one and picked up mine and the plate telling her to follow me.
"We aren't eating here?" She asked confused.
"You'll see." I said with a wink, ushering her to the back hallway.
At the end of the hall was a small spiral staircase leading up to the roof. When we got to the top she gasped at the beautiful garden that was Sally's pride and joy. I led her over to a shaded area where a small table and chairs sat amongst the flowers and a small built in waterfall that lead to a small pond. She placed her mug down on the table gently as she turned around in a slow circle as if to see every corner of the rooftop garden.
"Do you like it?" I asked placing the food down and gently pulling her to me so that her back was up against my chest as I gently wrapped an arm around her waist. Though she blushed at the closeness she didn't pull away.
"I love it, it's beautiful William." She said turned slightly to look at me a dazzling grin on her face and a twinkle in her eyes. I leaned down and kissed those soft lips again but it didn't last long before I heard her stomach growl softly. I smiled at the embarrassed look she gave me and led her to one of the chairs.
"Here, you need to eat something." I said scooting the plate towards her. She smiled taking one of the slices of a sandwich and bit into it whole heartedly. I watched as her eyes closed as she savored the bite.
Good hell what was this woman doing to me. All I wanted to do was be near her, I wanted to brush my fingers across her flushed cheeks and kiss her again. I wanted to spoil her senseless in more ways than one. It was liberating to say the least because I was definitely not the romantic, sweep you off your feet, kind of guy. At least I wasn't until I laid eyes on Jessie.
We ate what was on the plate talking some more about school and family though she mostly ignored the family topic.
"So you want to be journalists?" I said finding it hard to picture her trying to interview complete strangers for a good story.
"I would like to, I love to write. I'm just shy." She said with another blush.
"That, brown eyes, is an understatement. But I wouldn't change that for the world. I like seeing the rosy cheeks." I said giving her a wink to which he blushed more.
When we finished eating we took the dishes back down stairs. I tried to tell her that she could have a look around while I washed the dishes but she just gave me a smile and took the dishes from me dipping her hands into the warm soapy water.
I placed my hands on her hips from behind and leaned in close, kissing the side of her neck while she finished up. Her eyes fluttered shut for a moment and a barely audible moan escaped her lips. Fuck that was hot. She leaned back pressing herself closer to me lingering in the moment.
When a door closed in the back room she opened her eyes pulling away slightly. I chuckled at her shyness and led her to one of the love seats next to the wall of books. She smiled running her fingers over the books until she found one she liked. I sat down and pulled her down next to me wrapping my arms around her again.
"I can't believe I let you talk me into this." She said with a laugh as she opened the little book a small smile on her lips.
"I'd like to think I'm pretty convincing." I whispered in her ear. I felt a shiver run through her and knew that being close was affecting her just as much as it was me. She relaxed into me again and I felt her hold her breath as I placed soft kisses down her neck. I had to remind myself that we were in a public place, it was still empty with the exception of George and Sally, but it was public none the less.
"What book is that?" I asked as she ran her fingers reverently across the pages as if she cherished its every word.
"Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë. It's one of my favorites. It's the first book my father gave me when I was younger. It's what made me fall in love with literature." She said with a smile.
"If you like classic books like this and it's why you are an English major than why are you going into journalism instead of becoming an author?" I asked, journalism didn't seem like it was the right fit.
"It's realistic. The probability of actually writing and selling a successful book is next to nothing. With journalism I can create a more stable career." She said as she flipped through the pages of the book.
For something she clearly loved, it was strange that she would be so nonsensical about it. Realistically yes with journalism she could probably support herself better but that doesn't mean she'd be happy doing it.
"Sorry to interrupt." George said coming into the shop carrying a small ladder. "Can I steal Will for a moment?" He asked Jessie and she smiled at the old man nodding. She stood and walked over to the books as I went to the other side of the room to help George with a light fixture that didn't seem to be working.
As I worked I glanced over at Jessie watching her as she ran her fingers across the books. She stopped every so often, pulling a book out and running her fingers over the cover tenderly like they were old friends.
"You like her." George said quietly to me and I smiled.
"I think it's more than just liking her. The crazy thing is I only saw her once before today and it was brief. But she's different then all the other girls, you know?" I said quietly turning back to the light and spinning it to tighten it. The light flickered on and I climbed down facing George.
"You don't have to know someone for forever to fall for them son, sometimes your souls just recognize one another from across a room. Just like your mother and father." He smiled at me before thanking me and carrying the ladder back outside.
As he left Jessie turned to look at me and smiled in a way the made her eyes kind of shine. I loved that smile. It felt like she and I had known each other for forever when she smiled like that.
When I walked over to her she placed the book she had back on the shelf and turned fully to me leaning up and kissing me quickly.
"What was that for?" I asked her drawing her in closer. One of her hands landed on my chest softly and the other was up higher her fingers skimming the hair at the base of my neck.
"For showing me this place, and because I like kissing you." She said in a bold moment of bravery.
I smirked and leaned forward capturing her lips in a longer kiss. Her fingers slid further into my hair and it felt amazing.
"You are welcome her anytime brown eyes, as long as I can tag along that is." I said and she laughed.
"It wouldn't be nearly as perfect without you here." She said with a blush.
"I try." I replied as grabbed one of the books she had been admiring off the shelf and pulled her back to the little loveseat again. She giggled as I pulled her in close and started to read Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin, out loud to her.
I kept reading as the little coffee shop began to fill up with customers, none of which seemed to mind me reading aloud. Jessie's fingers ran up and down my one of my arms, that were wrapped around her, as I read. The grin on her face as she snuggled back leaning her head on my chest told me that she was enjoying herself.
When it started to get more crowded in the shop as night fell I set the book down and pulled Jessie to her feet.
"Come with me." I said intertwining our fingers as I pulled her outside to the patio.
The lights sparkled above us as she let me lead her to the area reserved for dancing. Soft music was playing through the outside speakers as I pulled her to me.
"I think this is the best date I've every been on." She whispered leaning her head on my chest. I smiled placing a kiss on her forehead.
"Me too." I told her as the music filled the silence around us.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone