When I awake the next morning, I find Oliver gone and the door locked.  He must have locked it behind himself, that was thoughtful most guys would have left it unlocked.  Pulling myself from the comfort of my bed I decide to get dressed for the day.  As I pull on my light wash mom jeans, I debate changing out of Oliver's black t-shirt but decide I like how it looks with my jeans and keep it on.  However, I tuck it in cutely and finish the look with a black belt with a simple gold buckle. 

While walking out the door I grab my phone and drop it into my purse before heading to the campus café.  To my surprise the café is relatively crowded despite the hours of partying everyone seemed to have enjoyed last night.  As I wait in line I scroll through my phone, when I notice the date at the top.  My hands begin to shake so I shove the device back into my purse before stepping out of line and hurrying into the restroom. Once I am safe from prying eyes, I anxiously walk to the sink and splash my face with water before gripping the edge of the counter.  When I look up into the mirror, I see my younger self staring back, I swallow hard suddenly aware of the thorns present in my throat.

I wave my hand in front of the automatic towel dispenser, my eyes never leaving my reflection. With a sigh I push away from the girl staring back at me and dry my face before returning to the lobby of the café.  My appetite is gone but I decide to ask politely for a cup of water.  I walk up beside the counter without returning to the line.

"Um excuse me."

"Yes?"  a young man responds.  By his boyish features I assume he is close to my age.  He smiles at me wide once he turns to face me.

"I know you're trying to make orders, but can I just get a cup of water?"  My eyes rake over his body as I take in his appearance.  He's cute but I'm sure that's just a front, no guy is as innocent as he looks.

"Of course."  He quickly grabs an empty cup and shovels some ice in before filling it with water.  "Here you go."

As I take the cup from him, I spot the purity ring on his finger and mentally roll my eyes.  He most likely isn't faithful to his word to God, what guy would be?

"Thanks," I whisper before accepting it and turning in search of a quiet spot to read.  I notice a comfortable chair near the large window that is empty and quickly claim it.  Once I make myself comfy, I reach into my purse and pull out my current religious study, The Old Testament.  I become lost in its words, only stopping to scribble my thoughts in the margins.

"I love your boldness." My gut tells me the statement was directed towards me, so I look up.

"I'm sorry what?"  I furrow my brow when I realize it's the guy that got me water.  What an odd thing to say.

"I just mean reading your bible in the middle of a café, most would not read something so comfortably when surrounded by strangers.  I admire it. I'm Christian as well and I have read that thing," he points to the book, "at least six times."

"Oh," I say plainly. "Um, I'm not Christian."

"Catholic?"  He looks at me clearly confused.

"Nope.  I actually don't classify with any religion."  I see the curiosity in his eyes peak as he slides a chair out to sit with me.

"Then why read a bible?" He tries not to laugh.

"I have studied many religions, this just happens to be one of the books I had on me."  I smirk at him.  "You find that odd, don't you?"

"Odd?  No, but I am curious as to why."  He smiles at me and I can tell I have his full attention; his eyes lock onto mine as he waits for me to respond.

"I want to understand why men sin," I confess casually even though I'm screaming on the inside.  The last year I have studied so many religions in search of answers to an unexplainable phenomenon, yet I am still left scratching my head over it.

"Men?  Or mankind?"

His question throws me off guard, but it is a valid question.  "Mankind."  I lie.

"Hmm, well if you ever want an expert on this particular religion, I'd be happy to be your guy."  He smiles at me genuinely before pulling his pocket out of his pocket.  "What's your number?"

"I don't even know your name and you want me to give you my number?"  I laugh breathily while swiping his phone from his hands.

"Fair point.  I'm Cameron, Cameron Parker."

"Adelaide, Adelaide Mikaelson," I offer before handing him his phone back, my number already programmed in.  "Well Cameron I should head out, I still have some unpacking to do."

"Alright, yeah.  I'll text you later that way you have my number as well."

"Sounds good."  I smile before gathering my things to walk out of the café.  When I step out into the warm air I'm pulled to the side by a set of strong hands.  Without looking I turn around abruptly, my hand connecting firmly with the man's cheek.

"Jesus love! That hurt!" Oliver shouts as his hand shoots up to the red handprint forming across his face.  "What did you do that for?"

"Well why did you grab me like that?" I spit back.  "A simple hello would have been enough!"

"Hello," he says mockingly with a little wave.  He replaces his hand on his cheek.  "You hit hard."

"Sorry," I whisper sincerely.  Reaching forward I pull his hand back from his cheek.  "I got you good, didn't I?"

"You sure as hell did." He laughs nervously as he searches my face, but my attention is still on the red mark now painting his face.  "Ugh love?"

"Yeah?"  I furrow my brow but still I do not meet his gaze.

"May I have my hand back?"

My eyes shoot down and I realize I never let go of his hand after removing it from his cheek.  "Sorry!"  Dropping his hand quickly I take a large step back.  How did I not realize our close proximity?  I never stand that close to anyone, and I definitely don't hold someone's hand.  "I must have been distracted by that welt on your face," I tease in an attempt to pull the attention off of me.  "Anyways, what did you need?"

"Well first I want to apologies for just showing up in your dorm last night like I did.  It was inappropriate." He swallows nervously.  "I figured I could make it up to you by hanging out and letting you get to know me."

"And why would I want to do that?"  Although my tone is light, I am actually appalled he would assume that getting to know him would make up for what he did last night.

"I just thought maybe you could use a friend."

"Well I don't do friends," I scuff in disgust.

"What?"  His brows raise in shock.  "I didn't mean like have sex with me I mean like normal friends."

"What?"  It's my turn to raise my brow at him in confusion.

"What, what?"

"Ew!" I shout when it sinks in what he thought I meant.  "I know you didn't mean sex I just don't do friends."

"You mean to tell me you don't have a single friend?" His voice is full of surprise.

"Just my mom."  I shrug my shoulders.  Why is that so hard to believe?  There is plenty of people in the world without friends.

"Well isn't that just sad? Everyone needs a friend love."  He smiles at me sweetly which causes my stomach to erupt in butterflies.

"I don't and stop calling me love!"  What am I doing?  Stop it, I yell internally at the swarm of wings flapping in my gut.

"What makes you so sure you don't need a friend?"  He takes a step forward while I take a step back. 

He's looking at me with those teddy brown eyes and I can't understand what's happening to me.  My breathing is picking up in pace as my heartrate sky rockets.  What is going on?

"History. Experience," I finally confess, uncertainty thick in my voice.  I don't need friends, right?

"I don't know about any of that, but I think we could be good friends you and I."  He smiles wide causing the crow's feet at the corn of his eyes to come out of hiding.  Despite the age lines he is still so handsome, and I feel my breath hitch when he glances down to my lips.

"I think you may be off your rockers, goodbye Oliver."  I shove pass him to return to my room, I need to get away from him.

He jogs after me while pleading, "Oh come on at least show me your collection.  I didn't get the chance to steal a peek at them this morning because I didn't want to wake you."

I stop in my tracks. "Why would you want to look at them?" I ask seriously.  Is he really curious or is he grasping for an excuse to hangout?

"Because after what you said yesterday my interest is peeked to say the least.  Please?"  His lips pull down into a slight frown as he studies my face.

"Ugh fine!"  I roll my eyes.  "For the record we still aren't becoming friends!"

"We'll see," he whispers to himself before following me to my dorm room.