Chapter 14 - Just One Hour

Wednesday afternoons were usually quieter on campus.

Emma had expected to spend the rest of the day revising her studio drawings, but her lecturer dismissed the class almost an hour earlier than planned after finishing everyone's consultations.

She wasn't about to complain.

With her drawing tube slung over one shoulder and her backpack hanging from the other, she walked slowly toward the station. The afternoon sun was warm, and for the first time all week, she didn't feel like she was racing against another deadline.

As she waited at a crosswalk, her phone vibrated.

Daniel: Finished class?

Emma smiled.

Emma: Earlier than expected.

A moment later, another message appeared.

Daniel: I'm nearby.

She couldn't help laughing.

Emma: You're always "nearby."

The typing indicator appeared almost immediately.

Daniel: ...Fair point.

Before she could lock her phone, another message arrived.

Daniel: Do you have an hour?

Emma looked around.

She had nowhere she needed to be until evening.

Emma: I do.

Daniel: Meet me by the fountain across from campus?

Emma: See you in ten minutes.

-

Daniel was already waiting when she arrived.

He stood beneath the shade of a large tree, one hand tucked into the pocket of his trousers.

He wore a charcoal knit sweater over a crisp white T-shirt, dark tailored trousers, and spotless white leather sneakers. There wasn't a single logo in sight, yet everything fit him perfectly, as though he'd never owned clothes that didn't.

As soon as he spotted Emma, he slipped his phone into his pocket and smiled.

"You really were nearby."

"I told you."

"I still don't believe you."

"That's fair."

She laughed as she came to a stop in front of him.

"So... what brings you here?"

"I had a meeting."

She glanced around the neighborhood.

"Near my campus?"

Daniel paused just long enough to make her suspicious.

"...Close enough."

Emma narrowed her eyes.

"I think you're stretching the definition of 'nearby.'"

"Maybe a little."

She shook her head, smiling despite herself.

Her eyes drifted over his outfit.

"You always look so... put together."

Daniel blinked.

"Do I?"

"Even when you're dressed casually."

He glanced down at his sweater as if seeing it for the first time.

"I guess it's a habit."

Emma looked down at herself. Her oversized hoodie was wrinkled from carrying her drawing tube all morning, and a faint smudge of pencil graphite streaked one sleeve.

"I wish I looked that presentable after class."

Daniel smiled.

"I think you look exactly like an architecture student."

"I'm choosing to believe that's a compliment."

"It is."

She laughed.

Without discussing where to go, they began walking side by side.

The sidewalks around campus were still busy with students heading toward the station, while others lingered beneath the trees, reluctant to head home just yet.

Neither of them seemed bothered by the silence between conversations.

Somehow, walking together was enough.

A few minutes later, Emma stopped in front of a small food cart.

"There."

Daniel followed her gaze.

A handwritten sign advertised fresh fries.

She looked at him hopefully.

"Can we get fries?"

"I thought we were getting coffee."

"We still are."

She pointed toward the food cart.

"But fries first."

Daniel laughed.

"I wasn't aware that was the rule."

"It is now."

"I guess I don't have much choice."

"You really don't."

A few minutes later, they settled onto a wooden bench beneath a large tree.

Emma placed the paper cup between them.

"They smell good."

"They'd better."

She reached for the first fry.

At the exact same moment, Daniel reached into the cup.

Their fingertips brushed.

The contact lasted no more than a heartbeat.

Emma instinctively pulled her hand back.

"Oh."

Daniel looked down before meeting her eyes again.

"I think we were aiming for the same one."

A quiet laugh escaped her.

"I guess we were."

"I'll be the bigger person."

He withdrew his hand and deliberately chose a different fry.

Emma smiled.

"How generous."

"I know."

She finally took the fry she'd been reaching for.

Neither of them mentioned the brief touch again.

Yet somehow...

The paper cup suddenly felt much smaller than before.

The next time Daniel reached for a fry, he waited until Emma had taken hers first.

She noticed.

It was such a small gesture that most people probably wouldn't have thought twice about it.

For some reason...

She did.

"So," Daniel said after a while, "how's your architecture project?"

Emma groaned dramatically.

"Please don't remind me."

"Still recovering from the presentation?"

"I survived."

"Congratulations."

"But now I have revisions."

Daniel nodded thoughtfully.

"I'm beginning to understand architecture."

Emma smiled.

"You are?"

"No matter what happens..."

He took another fry.

"There's always another deadline."

Emma laughed so hard she nearly dropped hers.

"That's surprisingly accurate."

"I've been paying attention."

She looked at him for a second.

"You really do."

He shrugged lightly.

"I try."

The conversation drifted naturally after that.

They debated childhood snacks, favorite cartoons, and whether pineapple belonged on pizza.

Emma insisted it absolutely did.

Daniel looked genuinely horrified.

"I don't think we can be friends anymore."

"You're overreacting."

"I don't think I am."

"You won't even try one bite?"

"I value my taste buds."

Emma laughed.

"I can't believe this."

"I know."

By the time the fries were gone, neither of them had realized how much time had passed.

Daniel stood.

"Coffee?"

"I was wondering when you'd remember."

A small café across the street was nearly empty.

Daniel ordered a black coffee.

Emma chose her usual vanilla latte.

When they stepped back outside, Emma glanced at his cup.

"You really never change your order."

Daniel looked at her drink.

"I was about to say the same thing."

"I like sweet coffee."

"I know."

She looked up.

"You remembered."

"I remember most things you tell me."

The words were spoken so casually that Daniel didn't seem to realize how much they meant.

Emma lowered her gaze, smiling into her cup.

She wasn't used to people remembering the little things.

They walked another block before she checked the time.

"I should head to the station."

"So should I."

For a moment, neither of them moved.

An hour had sounded like plenty of time.

Instead, it had disappeared almost immediately.

Emma adjusted the strap of her drawing tube.

"I'm glad I finished class early."

Daniel smiled.

"So am I."

She looked at him for another moment before laughing softly.

"You know..."

"Hm?"

"One of these days, I'm going to find out where 'nearby' actually is."

Daniel chuckled.

"I'll prepare an explanation."

"It had better be convincing."

"I'll do my best."

Emma smiled.

"I'll see you soon."

"You will."

She turned toward the station.

Halfway across the street, she glanced back.

Daniel was still standing where she'd left him.

When he noticed her looking, he lifted his coffee cup with a small smile.

Emma laughed and waved before disappearing into the afternoon crowd.

Only after she reached the platform did she realize something.

She couldn't remember what the fries had tasted like.

All she could remember was the brief warmth of Daniel's fingertips against hers.

And somehow...

That was the part of the afternoon she knew she would remember the longest.