Mr. Jox

Chapter 3

Invading his personal bubble, I back off and recluse to my own private space. I click open my phone and it seemed so dry compared to his and I only had a minimum of maybe ten people in my contact list. The only recent ones was Mom and Brenda, that's all. Jealousy grazed my mind as he knocked endless messages out in a matter of seconds.

I guess ending our conversation, I take my earphones out and plug them into the jack of my phone. Music usually makes the process of waiting go by quicker, right? My favorite song of Ellie Goulding starts off with a slow, peaceful melody that makes my heart sing and relax with relief. Her voice fills my mind blanks as I nod my head to her beat and scan the terminal for something to keep my attention.

My earphone gets plucked from my left ear as the chorus comes around. Again, this guy just doesn't give me the space I need. "What are you listening to?" He questions, holding the ear device in his hand.

I politely pick the phone out of his long, skinny fingers and hold it. "Ellie Goulding."

He nods, not finding his previous action a little forthcoming. If I was my seventeen-year old self sitting on a bus to go to school, I would've bit him. He's just too handsome for my bite marks. I'll let it slide because it won't happen again.

"You like her?"

I nod, "Yeah, she's ok." I answer, bouncing my head like a basketball.

"Where are you heading?" He interrogates, skimming through his messages thoroughly.

I look at my ticket as if I forgot my destination. "Home," I cautiously reply, not sure if I should release that information. I don't know him enough.

"Not from California?"

I shake my head, "No, I just go to college here."

He nods, "Columbus, Ohio is far from California."

My face scrunches, "Yeah, I guess." How'd he know I was from Columbus, Ohio? Maybe I shouldn't be talking to strangers like Mom advised.

"I'm heading there," he assures, making my heart sigh of relief. So he has no idea where I'm heading. "So you're in college? What year?"

"2015, I graduate this year." I proudly announce, grinning with confidence. Even though I didn't get my test scores back, I can assume from my long hours of studying and whimpering about my decent grades, I had to pass.

He nods, "What college?"

"California State- Long Beach."

He nods, "Good school."

"Did you attend?" I turn this interview onto him, wondering where I could place him.

He shrugs, "College isn't for everyone." I nod as I discover this handsome fellow didn't attend. "I've had to work for my place and that's all that matters. It worked out for the best."

Oh, so he's one of those successful stories that exist out here? I refuse to gamble that fifty-fifty chance. "I wonder what it's like to be the first to graduate college from my family."

My eyes widen; I'd be the first one from my family to graduate. He's on point with everything relevant to me. "Well it feels accomplishing, in my opinion." He turns his phone off and puts it in his pocket. "Are you on the Flight AA119?"

I nod, "Yeah. Gate four."

"Well it was nice meeting you..." he prompts, extending a hand my way.

I check the time and I have five minutes before they open the gates. I refuse his hand, uncertain what he does with it. "You too." I give an awkward smile as he declines his hand. "I have to go..."

Welcome to American Airlines! Flight AA119 is now boarding, the feminine, robotic, voice announces five minutes before schedule.

"Speaking of my flight..." I wince politely, standing up. "It was nice meeting you, too. Goodbye." I clutch my suitcase handles and direct myself towards Gate four. Smiling at the short meeting, I look back to see the mysterious man smile, accomplished, at my backside. Not meaning to, my cheeks blush to the color of cherry bomb red and I scurry into the waiting line.

The line was developing into a long one, but luckily I got into it as the sixth person. When I turned again to see him, he vanished as if he were a figment of my imagination. A little spec of depression laced my emotions as I just got ready to board the plane. Argh, the bubble guts come back as my nerves get the best of myself.

I hand her my ticket and the service officer signs me off, granting me access to the plane. I'm coming home, Mom.