Page 32 of The Omega Archives: Part One

“The flowers make good gifts too,” he said.

“So, you give a lot of girls flowers then?”

“Woah.” Cal put up his hands with a short laugh. “Definitely not. You’re a special case.”

I couldn’t help but smile as we started to walk towards the parking lot.

"You like them though?" Cal asked.

I nodded quickly. My entire body warmed when I looked back down at my flowers again. They were a gift. For me.

Only me.

"I've never gotten flowers before. I love them,” I said. “Thank you."

“You look really nice.”

“Is it okay?" My breath kicked up a notch. "You said the dress code was jeans, but I didn’t know. Do I look okay for what you have planned?”

“You look beautiful.”

I blushed. “You know, if you keep calling me that, it will start to not have the same effect.”

“Why not? It’s the truth,” Cal said.

“Well, you look very handsome yourself.”

“Thank you.” Cal smiled. “See, now that is how you take a genuine compliment, beautiful.”

“Sorry,” I said. “My friend Rita says the same thing.”

“She sounds like she knows what she’s talking about.”

“She does.” I sighed. “She’s so smart. I’m surprised that she stayed at Prestford after getting her other degrees. She teaches and is getting her PhD in the science department.”

“Woah. That sounds intense.”

“It is. She studies biology or chemistry...” I shook my head, never able to remember. “I’m not sure exactly right now which probably makes me the worst friend on the planet. Either way, whatever she does is super complicated and she’s super good at it. She always has been.”

“You’ve known your friend for a while?”

“Since I got to the city about six years ago. I just sort of found my safe place after coming to Prestford. I didn’t want to leave- not if I didn’t have to. I always thought Rita would run away the moment she had a chance to, though, so I feel a little guilty.”

“Why?”

“I feel like she’s stayed here for me, honestly.” I shrugged at the truth. “Ever since she needed a roommate and we found each other; Rita has had my back. I’m not the most outgoing person ever and she’s my best friend. She’s proven more than a few times she’d do just about anything for me.”

“That’s nice you have that, Ella. Not everyone does."

"I guess you're right."

“From what I can tell already, anyone would be stupid not to want to spend as much time around you as they could.” I shrugged again and Cal seemed to take that as a sense to change tactics. “I’m sure that’s only part of the reason she stuck around here, though, no matter how fantastic you may be."

I chuckled.

“That’s a nice sound.”

I didn’t realize just how much I didn’t laugh until Jane brought it up the other day. The sound of my joy felt out of use when I managed it, but now, that wasn’t what I was focused on as we made it to what was apparently Cal’s car. My eyes stuck to the sleek black town car.

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