The rest of the day passed me by like a dream. The picture of Sara standing inches away right in front of me never left me. I was wondering if she was staying in my hotel, too. If so woud I maybe see her again? And what could I say to her? I definitley wasn't going to say: „Sara! O my god! I love you! I love Tegan! I love your music! THANK YOU!" and loose it right there in front of her. I appreciated her and the band and their music so much but in a way felt like this was a very intimate thing of my own. Also I would definitely feel like I was invading her private space. So the option I was left with was that I was going to stare and say nothing if maybe I would see her once more.
Annie and I caught up on everything that had happened in our lifes during the last years. There was quite a lot to talk about since I wasn't out when Annie went to my university. We talked about my last girlfriend and how I actually found out that I'm into girls. It was a nice conversation giving both of us the feeling of still being part of each others life.
Eventually we got hungry and went to a small place not far from my hotel. It was around 9 PM when Annie looked at me and chuckeld: „You look really tired. Maybe we should call it a night." I noded. She went on: „I can pick you up first thing tomorrow morning and we can start a small sightseing tour." I agreed and short after a cab took me back to the hotel. I draged myself all the way through the entrance hall over to the elevators. My body was numb, it just needed to rest. My mind though was right awake because at home it was noon. Ahh jet lag.
When I came closer to the elevators I spoted a tiny figure waiting in front of them. My eyes grew wide. She was wearing the same clothes as this afternoon. It was Sara. I wanted to turn away and wait for the next elevator because I definitely wasn't in the condition to share an elevator with fucking Sara Quin looking as gorgeous as can be. But she had already noticed me so I figurd it would just seem to weird if I ran away now. OK Laura you can do this! Don't stare, give a smile and that's it.
As I positioned myself next to her the doors of the elevator opened. With a small smile I let her go in first. We were standing next to each other. I caught a slight breeze of her perfume and couldn't stop my eyes from closing for a second and taking in a deep breath. She smelled just to good to be true.
She pressed the button with the floor number I was staying on. Is this some devine joke?! I said in my head. The doors closed. I looked up to the display with the small numbers indicting our ascending movement.
„We've met this afternoon, haven't we?" I heard her voice break the silence.
I turned to face her and replied: „Yeah we did. Thanks again for the sunglasses." I blushed already. I blush easy.
„Oh, no big deal." Silence.
My head was blank. I figured it was my turn to say something. Should I tell her that I know her? No, no, no. Is there something I could ask her? I HAVE NO IDEA! This is killing me. Maybe I should tell her that I know her, better than to say nothing.
„You're not from here." she stated.
Right my accent. She must have picked it up.
„No actually not." I smiled at her, our eyes met for a second. I blushed more. I hated it when I blushed it gave away so much of me and I couldn't do anything about it. „I'm visiting friends here." I said.
„So where are you from?"
As I was about to answer the elevator came to a stop and the doors opened. We went out and I tried not to look at her beacause I knew if I would then I would start to stare. After a few seconds she went on: „I'm going this way." She pointed down the hall to our left where my room was as well. For a second I wondered if this is maybe some TV show with hidden cameras and people are watching me now as I wrestle with my inner self about being a polite person or freaking out about this impossible coincidence.
„Oh that's my direction, too." I answered.
She smiled. She smiled so lovely it made me smile so much, I almost lost my breath. WOW, she is so beautiful! I allowed myself to think for a split second.
We started to walk next to each other.
„So are you going to tell me where you're from or are you planning on being the mysterious stranger?"
I chuckeld a little about her bluntness.
„Maybe." I responded awkwardly. Not smooth Laura, not smooth at all.
„Well then I guess I'll take the challenge of solving this riddle. I like solving riddles." She said with dry words.
Did she wink? No she didn't. Sara Quin is not winking at you Laura!
„OK." I forced out still wondering what she was saying or trying to say. Or was I just confused because of the jet lag?
We reached my door.
„This is your room?" she chuckeld.
„Yeah." I responded with a worried tone. „Is there something wrong with it?"
She laughed. „No, no. It's just that my room is right there." She pointed to a door that was only two rooms away.
„Oh." I said shyly. That was it for me I decided. I just wasn't able to have a proper conversation tonight. My head was filled with confusing thoughts, speaking English all the time didn't help either and Sara Quin had her room almost next to mine. I was done.
„OK. You must be tired. Have a good night." She said just as softly as she had said „Excuse me." this afternoon. Then she gave me a kind smile, looked me in the eyes for not even a second and turned in the dirction of her room. My mouth opened a bit preparing for wishing her a good night, too. But no words came out. I tuned to my door, opened it with the key card and entered.
Inside my room I let out a big sigh and shook my head to myself. I didn't even want to start to think about how many things I've done wrong during this past 10 Minutes. In your head, when you think or dream about such situations, you always know what to say and how to react. It's all perfect. In reality you're just awkward and you don't have a chance from the beginning on.
I decided to go to bed and to stop thinking till next morning. I quickly changed into my pyjama, brushed my teeth and set the alarm to 8 AM. My body rejoiced by the soft touch of the sheets. I stretched out, took some deep breaths and curled myself into the sheets. Sleep my sweet friend come and take me away.
Well sleep wasn't my friend that night. I lay awake for the next 3 hours. By 1 AM I decided to get up. There was no sense in staring at the ceiling while I could as well go downstairs into the hotel bar, get a quick drink and hopefully get tired from the effect of the alcohol.
So I changed back in my clothes put a comfortable striped sweater on and went downstairs.
The hotel bar wasn't as full as I expected it to be. The atmosphere was slightly gloomy which fittet perfectly with my mood.
I took a quick look around. No familiar faces. Of course.
I decided on sitting right at the bar. „Like people do it in movies." I quietly said to myself.
My body felt so tired it almost hurt. I took some slow steps and carefully positioned myself on the bar stool. Last thing I needed tonight was me falling off a chair and causing some sort of a buzz. The barkeeper wasn't there. I took a look around. When I found him he was standing at the other side of the bar talking to a familiar face. „Right." I said in a sarcastic tone to myself. This lack of sleep was starting to scare me. Usually I wasn't the self-talk kind of person. Maybe I needed this to calm down my nerves.
Both of them looked over to me for a short moment. Then the barkeeper turned to the liqueur shelf behind him and started mixing some drink. After he finished it he came to me, put a glass with a beige liquid and ice cubes in front of me and said with a grin: „The lady over there sends this to you." I look over to her and she gives me a slight smile and a nod. I smile back and mouth „Thank you.". Of course I blush again and I can see her grining.
„What is that?" I ask the barkeeper.
„It's called Greyhound. It's vodka with grapfruit juice. Enjoy."
„Thank you." I say.
Well at least I don't have to figure out what to drink since Sara made the decision for me.