It was finally 12, which meant that my shift was over. I sighed out in relief as Casey walked through the doors for her shift. Usually, she would be late with some lame excuse or another and tonight I was grateful for her punctuality because my heart was still unsteady about Ethan.

As I picked up my phone to call an Uber, I felt someone standing near me and I looked up to find Ethan.

Speak of the devil.

'Are you off?', he asked.

'Yeah, I was about to call a cab and leave. I thought you had left with your friends', I lied. I had checked them out myself and had particularly noticed him staying behind but I couldn't just say that and come off as obsessed, could I?

Wait. Did I just admit I was obsessed?

'It's a group project so I volunteered to stay back and do some extra work', he said.

'Oh, you're the member who carries the whole team, eh?', I asked remembering my group-work days in college.

Oh, the sweet joy of wanting to smash some people's heads in when they came up with the lamest excuses to not work.

'Could say so', he replied with a shrug and I grinned internally.

'Is your cab here?', he asked.

'No, I was just about to call one', I said.

'I could drop you off', he said immediately and his calm yet enthusiastic reply made me look up at him.

In an instant, all my warning signals went off followed by anxiety who seemed to lead the lot and giving them instructions to create the most bizarre list of events that could happen.

The result was a perplexing combination of an awkward silence that lasted longer than the polite minute.

'I didn't mean to alarm you. I promise, I'm not a serial killer', he laughed.

Just what a mass murderer would say.

'I didn't mean to-', I started.

'No, I get it. You don't know me and we just met', he said.

It's okay, Omi.

That calm voice was enough to let me say, 'I live like 30 minutes away. Is that okay with you?', I asked.

'No problem', he said and then asked me to wait at the front so he could get his car.

As I waited I tried to remind myself of the countless number of times I had first accepted rides from my friends back home and that none of them ended up with me locked in a cell.

A few minutes later, he pulled up with a Jaguar and I couldn't help but be a little impressed.

'It's not mine', he said as I got in.

'But I didn't say anything', I said.

'Yes, but your eyes did'

A sudden up and down movement went inside of me as it reminded me of a similar conversation,

'Your eyes hold more emotions than their size. They're the only reason I know when something's not right with you'

'Not a lot of people can read them', I said looking at him.

'Well for someone who doesn't talk a lot, one has to search for other windows to see what's going on', he said.

'How poetic. Is this what you tell all the girls?', I smirked.

'Only the silent ones who work at libraries', he grinned and I shook my head in amusement.

'I just like studying human behavior. Take that girl who you got into a fight with. The whole time she kept chipping at her fingernails as if they calmed her down', he said

'She was scared?', I asked stunned.

'I don't know what she felt but she was definitely nervous. I guess everyone has their own issues and end up doing stupid things to ignore them', he said and I nodded.

'You nod a lot', he said.

'Excuse me?'

'I've noticed it a lot today. You keep bobbing your head before and after you speak', he said and I laughed softly.

'I think it's an Indian thing. We tend to use our entire body when we talk', I said.

'Sounds cool but honestly, sometimes it's confusing because I don't know if you're agreeing with me or just angry', he said and I laughed.

'So, how do you manage between your job and class?', he asked.

'I'm used to staying up late to study and besides, having a job at the library allows me to have enough time to do my homework or even study if I balance everything out', I said.

'Isn't it tiring?',

'Does the sun rise in the east?', I asked and he chuckled.

'I think you sort of just get used to it. Also, I like my job and my major so I don't find it draining', I said grateful for what I had now compared to the past.

'What about you?', I asked.

'Oh, the shop isn't really a job. It's my uncle's and I sort of help him out as a token of appreciation for letting me stay at his place', he said sheepishly.

'I don't think there's anything embarrassing about being financially secure', I said noticing how uncomfortable he felt.

'Most people say that it makes me snob'

'Only if you are a snob', I stated and he grinned.

'Besides, I think it's responsible of you to be using your free time to help your uncle when you could be spending it all out at some club', I shrugged.

'Is that what you think rich kids do?'

'Am I wrong?'

'Partially', he said.

'Then I'm right', I said smugly and he shook his head at me.

' I'm not really into partying', he said.

I made a dramatic gasp, 'He was not your average kind of rich boy', I mocked and he chuckled.

'No, I'm not a saint. I used to party, but I stopped. Now I like being by myself or do anything that doesn't involve red cups and loud music', he said.

'Sounds like quite the transition', I said

'What's human without a little change?', he asked giving me a side look as turned into my block.

Ethan clearly had his secrets but I didn't want to ask him just like he was keeping it very casual about mine. I liked this friendship and by the smile on his face, I could tell that he felt the same way.

'Let me walk you to your flat', he said as we reached the entrance door.

'British, huh?', I asked opening the door.

'Was it the use of flat instead of apartment?, he asked.

'Or the consistent accent and endangered chivalry', I said and he grinned.

'I've been taught to walk a girl up to her door', he said.

'I've been taught that boys like that mean no good', I countered and but he shrugged as he followed me upstairs.

As we waited for Neena to open the door, our phones chimed in unison with a text.

'Party', I read unimpressed.

'Literature department', he read and it was then that I noticed we were in the same group. I guess I didn't need to get his number.

'Are you going?', he asked looking at me.

'Do I look like a party girl?', I scoffed.

'Never judge a book by its cover', he said and I rolled my eyes at him silently cursing Neena for taking so long to open the door.

A minute later the door opened and there she stood freshly showered.

'I'm so sorry Omi, I was in the shower-', but she stopped when she saw Ethan. She had that look that screamed 'my friend likes you!'. It was so obvious that she might have just said it out loud and wouldn't make a difference.

'Ethan, this is my roommate, Neena. Neena, Ethan', I introduced.

'It's nice to meet you', he said.

'Hi', was all she could say and I knew exactly what was going on in her head so I gave her a warning look as soon as his back was turned against me.

'Why don't you come inside. I can get you something to drink', I offered and he agreed with a simple nod.

'Tea or coffee, Ethan?', asked Neena.

'Tea, please', he said and Neena smiled impressed.

'I like him already', she said as she joined me in the kitchen.

'This isn't a wedding arrangement', I hissed and she made a face at me.

'You know what, you get him the tea. I'm gonna go make sure he doesn't feel suffocated with all those pillows', I said and left her with her dramatic hurt expression.

'I see that you really like crystals', he said as I walked in and I stifled in a laugh as I saw him sitting uncomfortably between a flower-shaped cushion and a sequin one.

'Yeah I do', I said and moved the cushions so that he could sit properly.

'The cushions are Neena's', I said and he took one shaped like a bow tie.

'Fascinating hobbies', he said and I grinned.

'Here you go', said Neena as she brought him a cup of tea, tray and all that I raised an eyebrow at her but she ignored me.

'So, Ethan, what do you major in?', she asked sitting on the arm of the chair where I sat.

'English lit', he replied.

'Oh so you two share a class', said Neena as if she didn't know.

Sometimes I wonder why she didn't take a major in theatre.

'Yes', he replied and there was a moment of awkward silence.

'So, have you two known each other before you came here?', he asked trying to make small talk.

'Oh no. I met Omi last year when she moved in', she said.

'Oh, so this is your second year here?', he asked and I nodded.

'You're a fresher?', I asked on realization and he smiled in response.

'Yep'

That explains why I've never seen him before. Well, thank heavens that my senses aren't dead.

'Thank you for the tea. I should be leaving', he said and stood up.

Neena exited to the kitchen with his cup, allowing me to breathe properly without her second to second looks.

'I'll see you then', he said as he walked out and then turned to face me.

'Yeah and thank you', I said.

'No problem', he said and just as he was about to leave I heard a familiar song play behind me in full volume,

'Deewana hai dekho bekaraar woh oh oh oh oh oh(He's crazy, look, he's restless )
Sambhalo sambhalo na pyaar ho oh oh oh oh'(Be careful, be careful, that it's not love)

Apna banaake dekho dil na churaa le voh (See, if I make him mine, he will steal my heart )
Aisa kyoon lage hai, bolo na (Why does it seem like this, tell me)

Horrified, I turned around to find Neena behind me but out of his eye, mouth sing to the song as she held her phone above her head like a boom box. I quickly turned to find Ethan look confused and I thanked my lucky stars that he couldn't understand a word of it.

'Goodnight, Ethan!', I exclaimed and quickly closed the door. She stopped smiling when she saw my face and then aptly changed the song to the 'Run' BGM before escaping into her room.