The guy next to me fidgets and bumps me into her again. Her hand catches my arm and we lock eyes again. My mouth is completely dry, and that is the only thing. My heart is threatening to beat out of my chest and my breath is ragged and shallow. She let’s go of my arm slowly and then immediately turns her attention back to the front. I hear her breath mimic my own; maybe there is something here after all? Maybe this is her. My body has never reacted to anyone the way it is reacting to her. The wetness I feel in my thong is evidence to that. She smiles at me brightly which I return even though I’m biting at my lip to keep from saying or doing anything stupid. And then she walks away with Veronica in her wake. What the hell? I look up and notice everyone leaving. Wait, move body move! I have to catch up to her to at least learn or name. But there are too many motherfucking people! I spot Aiden waiting by the door.

Aiden: “Hey, there you are…what’s wrong?”

Ashley: “Huh, oh, I um…nothing.” Why don’t I tell him about her? “Just a long meeting.”

Aiden: “It was like five minutes.”

Ashley: “That’s it?” I felt like I was standing next to her for forever. I’m still looking around to see if I can see her, but she’s long gone.

Aiden: “Let’s head over to the bookstore, I want to get my stuff today because it’ll probably be packed tomorrow.”

Ashley: “Yeah, okay.” I have no idea what he just said. I’m having a total "out of body experience" with an intense feeling of déjà vu. We are walking which I barely notice and before I can even ask him where we’re going I look up to see the bookstore. How the hell did we get here so fast?

Aiden: “What classes do you have Tuesday?” He takes out his roster and starts looking at the bookshelves. 

Ashley: “Um, music something or other at 10:20, bio at 1:10, and stage acting at 3:10.” I shake my head desperately trying to clear it.

Aiden: “Oh, so you are taking that acting class?”

Ashley: “What the hell, it can always be a fall back if the music doesn’t pan out.” I’m just standing there watching him pick out books as I try to get my bearings.