There were other people in the room. Talking, laughing, drinking, and making noise. I wished I could reach into my brain and turn off my ears then cover my eyes with the palms of my hands. I wanted to stop everything from happening that I knew was going to happen. I wanted out. But I was trapped, a fish in a glass bowl susceptible to tapping fingers and searching eyes.

Then he was walking towards me. Actually, more like sauntering with those long legs clad in borderline tight jeans, hands shoved into pockets, relaxed shoulders, and a lazy smile drooping off his face. My fingers itched to grab those thick black rimmed glasses off his face and throw them at his feet. He didn't need them, he was just a poser. His hooded eyes were trained on me and if I didn't know him better I would have thought he was high. No, not yet, he would meet his friends outback once he was done with me. He knew I wouldn't talk to him unless his mind was still in his head.

"Hey." His smooth baritone voice melted over me, reminding me of the first time he spoke to me. I had gone weak in the knees and floundered around for the words to respond. Why he even stayed to keep talking with me, I still don't know. Now however, I was prepared to hold my ground.

"I didn't know you were going to be here." He continued, leaning against the wall behind me so I was forced to turn my body to see him. He was too close and his familiar smell was invading my senses. I had to remind myself that I had the upper hand. He knew I was going to be here. I had told my friend Liza who told Jake who told Mack who couldn't keep his mouth shut for the life of him, and the rest was history. "Yeah, I thought I would drop by for a drink." I held my Mike's Hard Lemonade up for his scrutiny before taking a sip to finish it off.

His lips lifted up in the corner and he reached out, curling a lock of my long brown hair around his finger. "I haven't seen you in a while...been avoiding me, Li?" I gently removed my already curly enough hair from his grasp before sending him a small smile of my own. "No Jay, I haven't. Been busy with university and work...people, you know how it is." And he did. His faltering smile spoke volumes about how he wished he was one of those people keeping me busy, how he missed being part of my haphazard schedule. I knew he did, because I missed him being there just as much.

His searching blue eyes tempted me to tell him my thoughts but I turned away and played with the empty bottle in my hand instead. "I should go. I'm watching Emma tomorrow and I need to be on my feet to do that." I laughed and stood, his chuckle bouncing in my bones.

"Yeah…listen, one of these days I should drop by the shop and we should go out after you're done. We could do whatever you like. Hell, I'll even help you with your calculus homework." He had reached out to hold my elbow as he spoke, his voice lowered and his eyes were challenging me. Challenging me to say no to his offer, to push him further from my life? I didn't know but I wet my lips as I thought of a response. Once again I wanted to reach into my brain and turn off my ears.

"Lord knows I need help in Calc," I joked trying to lighten the situation. "If you happen by the shop one night when I'm working I'll talk you up on the offer. But I have to go now." He frowned, knowing I was avoiding voicing how I really felt about his proposal. He hated when I put up walls around him. I was the one trapped though; I was the one who really hated it. He didn't understand. He didn't before and I don't think he does now.

"Alena…" His voice was pleading. For what, I don't think even he knew. I leaned in and kissed him on his cheek; his stubble tickling my lips. "Bye Jayden, it was good seeing you."

I walked away with my back straight and my head high. I tossed my bottle in the waste basket by the door before letting the cool night air soothe my burning skin. As soon as the dark night pulled me in, my confident stature broke and my shoulders sagged. Weariness flooded my brain and an aching for someone I just left emerged in my heart. This onslaught of emotions pulled me under and I cried and cried murmuring," I'm just a fish in a glass bowl and you won't stop looking in."