Evermore || Connor Bedard

Chapter Two: Dorothea

"Good morning!" I yell as I slam Maelyn's door open. She groggily groans before turning away from the light of the living room. "Wake up! I want to go get coffee before class," I say. "When do you not want to go get coffee?" Maelyn replies a little harsher than normal, but I know she's joking. "Come on," I say, grabbing Maelyn's arm and trying to drag her out of bed. "Ok, ok, I'll get up. Give me five minutes," Maelyn says.

I couldn't help but feel a sense of victory, but it was short-lived as Maelyn, suddenly pulled me onto the bed. Although I used to enjoy lying down with her, I couldn't handle the sensation of someone else's skin on mine. It made me feel nauseous, and I tried my best to resist the urge to throw up.

As Maelyn wrapped her arms around me, she whispered, "Did you get some sleep?" I replied quickly, trying to mask my discomfort. "Yep," I said, gritting my teeth. "I'm glad. You need to make sure you're sleeping," Maelyn said, her eyes still closed. I forced a smile, but inside, I was struggling to push down the uneasiness in my stomach.

This school year has been a bit of a struggle for Maelyn. She had to stay away from her family, and even though they lived just a few hours away, it was the first time she'd ever had to live so far from them.

Maelyn moved to the University of Chicago after completing two years at the University of Iowa. She transferred to Chicago in her third year to intern for the Chicago Blackhawks during her first semester, and now she works for them full-time as a photographer and media worker. I'm happy for her, but I can't help but notice that she seems a bit homesick.

Today, Maelyn dressed up for school while I dressed down in some sweats and a hoodie. I can tell that Maelyn is trying to put on a brave face, but I can sense that she's feeling a bit down.

I know that Maelyn loves her job and is passionate about photography and media, but I can't help but worry about her. Living away from family can be challenging, and I hope that she's taking care of herself.

As we leave the apartment, I'm reminded of the beauty of Chicago in the winter. The snow-covered streets and trees are breathtaking, but I can tell that Maelyn is lost in her thoughts. I try to make some small talk to lift her spirits, but I can tell that she's not fully present.

We finally made it to Lucid Cafe after walking a few blocks. "Good morning," I said to Hailey with a smile before turning to my roommates. Hailey was great at keeping my secret from Sage's roommates.

As we entered the café, I noticed some new faces, except for one - Connor, who was occupying my regular booth. He was reading something on his phone, and then, with a sigh, he threw it on the table and made eye contact with me. I quickly looked away, feeling my cheeks flush with embarrassment as I turned back to Maelyn.

I come to this café often, but I had never seen Connor here before except for last night. I didn't know if he came here often or if it was a coincidence. I wondered if he had moved to my booth on purpose, or if it was just a random choice after I left. I felt a wave of nervousness wash over me, and I couldn't help but wonder if he had seen me looking at him.

I hadn't informed Maelyn about my connection with Connor because both Quince and I had agreed to never discuss our past in Canada.

"It's your turn, Sage," Maelyn said to me as I walked up to Hailey to order my usual. I could feel him staring at me, but I tried my hardest to ignore it. Once my coffee was finished, I quickly grabbed it and turned around.

"Fuck," I said as hot coffee spilled all over me. "Sage! Are you okay?" Maelyn rushed over. "I'm fine."

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to," Connor said to me. "Let me buy you another coffee, please. I feel horrible."