Folding her arms on the desk in front of her, she rested her head on her makeshift pillow and her eyes closed of their own volition. Five minutes wouldn’t hurt. If anything, they would energize her. Besides, this was the least comfortable position to sleep in so she wouldn’t fall into a deep sleep. 

The voice inside her head scoffed at that thought, playing back countless memories of her jerking awake from her sitting position to get back to work, but she was so tired even the voice in her head began to feel groggy and the memories faded into black. Her head filled with a beautiful static as she drifted off, the white noise around her contributing to her peaceful sleep.

Just as she was about to start dreaming, a pinging noise dragged her back to consciousness. She lifted her head, completely disoriented. She couldn’t remember where she was or what she’d been doing. In fact, if someone had asked for her name, she probably wouldn’t be able to tell them who she was. The ping rang through her ear buds again and she recognized the sound. 

She quickly switched tabs so that she could pull up the chat. She clicked on the flashing rectangle and tried to ignore the little flip in her stomach that the action had produced. The chat filled her screen and a picture of him jumped out at her. He had captioned it: Guess where I am. 

She clicked on it to enlarge it, a smile unconsciously gracing her face. He was wearing a silly grin and the camera was angled upwards so she couldn’t help but notice the sign above him. She minimized it after another ping notified her of a new message. The picture below was of an adorable puppy. She felt disappointment settle in her stomach and she convinced herself it was due to the fact that she couldn’t be there and not because he wasn’t in this picture.

Whatever its cause, the feeling didn’t last long, because the pictures kept coming, one after the other, a series of other cute animals engaged in various activities from sleeping to trying to eat the camera. She almost felt gratitude towards this boy for all the happy hormones the adorable pictures were triggering inside of her. Almost. She was a hundred per cent certain he was deliberately rubbing it in that he was at the shelter without her. 

Eventually, the train of pictures came to an end. Without thinking, she replied with a series of heart-eye emojis. She was filled with immediate regret, knowing that he’d think they were meant for him. She had to say something else and fast! Plus, she needed to think of a way to get back at him for making her want to be there now.

Replying to the first picture she typed with a mischievous grin: You take selfies like a sixty-year old man. Knowing full well that he’d only taken it at that angle so that she’d see the shelter sign above him, she pressed send. It was the perfect strike: Tasha one, CJ zero.

Naturally, her face split into a grin, as she imagined the outrage he’d feel at her insult. She couldn’t hide her excitement when she noticed he was typing. 

CJ: You’re right! My selfie game is trash.

Her brows furrowed. That was not the response she was expecting. He continued.

CJ: The truth is…

Her interest piqued, she waited with bated breath.

CJ: I look better in person than in pictures.

She pursed her lips in an annoyed expression. How had she not seen this coming? 

Tasha: Sure you do

CJ: What? You don’t believe me? 

She sent him a single smirk emoji to let him decide what that meant. He sent an offended sticker and when she didn’t respond he sent another message.

CJ: Fine! I’ll prove it to you.

This time she sent an emoji with one eyebrow raised. How was he going to manage that?

CJ: What time should I pick you up?

His answer was so far out of left field that her only response could be surprised laughter. Her head fell back in an unladylike guffaw. All she could think about was how she hadn’t seen it coming. 

As her eyes opened again she made eye contact with the girl a few tables away who was staring daggers at her. The guy in the cubicle across from her had stood up to shush her and as he sat back down and she embarrassedly looked away, the librarian locked eyes with her, a silent warning. 

Completely sobered, she quietly whispered her apologies to those around her and tucked her head back into her cubicle. She’d completely forgotten where she was. She glanced back at her screen and there was another question from him.

CJ: And should I pick you up at the school or from the dorm?

Shaking her head she typed out a reply.

Tasha: That was so smooth. I can’t even find an analogy for it and I’m a Lit major.

CJ: Impressive huh?

Tasha: Maybe a little.

CJ: Yes! 

His message was accompanied by a baby throwing up a fist in triumph.

CJ: Finally some progress.

Tasha: What makes you think you haven’t been making progress up until now? 

She was honestly curious.

CJ: Oh idk? Maybe the fact that you’ve refused to meet up in person every time I’ve suggested it.

CJ: I’m starting to get the feeling that I’m being catfished.

She took her thumbnail out from between her teeth to reply.

Tasha: Maybe you are. 

Her reply was only half joking.

He sent a gif of someone rolling their eyes. 

CJ: Tasha, I was the one who looked you up in the yearbook and found you on FaceBook.

She sighed. She didn’t know what to say to that. She was sure he wouldn’t get it if she were completely honest with him.

CJ:  Don’t get me wrong. We don’t have to meet up if you’re not comfortable. It’s just that I’m getting the vibe that that’s not quite the issue here.

CJ: Besides, you’re missing out on seeing my best side.

Tasha: Which side is your best? 

She tried the “change the topic to avoid talking about my insecurities” route, but he wasn’t buying it.

CJ: Well you’ll just have to wait to find out.

Tasha smiled beside herself. She was running out of ways to dodge his questions and distract him from her discomfort. What did she have to lose? Maybe she could be honest with this boy. They’d been best friends all through primary school and had been pretty close to that for the past three months too. She was going to go for it.

Tasha: It’s just that while you’re better looking in person, I’m worse at conversation.

CJ: I find that hard to believe.

Tasha: Oh no. I’m being completely serious. I suck at in-person conversation.

CJ: Prove it!

Tasha: Boy! You about to get me kicked out from the library. I literally laughed aloud a while ago and everyone was angry.

CJ: Wait? You’re not at home? Where are you?

Tasha: *Dorm. I’m at the library.

CJ: Oh shoot! Are you studying?

Tasha: Nah! Working on a final paper. The only downside to not having exams is I’m stuck slaving over like 5 papers til next week.

CJ: Oh shoot! Did I disturb you? Why didn’t you tell me?

Tasha: Don’t worry about it. I needed a distraction anyway.

CJ: And was I a good one?

Tasha: Quite good actually. You should quit your day job.

CJ: Hmmm...I don’t think you can accurately make those kinds of statements until you have tested my services in person.

She sent him a scowl.

CJ: Don’t worry. We’ll text while you get a good look at my good side. It’ll be a win win.

Tasha: Boy! Bye!

CJ: Lol. I’ll go for real now. I think you’ve probably had enough distracting for the night.

She pouted. She didn’t want him to go just yet, but she didn’t tell him that. 

Tasha: Yh! I should go too. Thanks for the much needed break. Was dozing off before you messaged.

CJ: Was my pleasure. Hmu anytime.

Tasha: Thanks. Might just take you up on that.

He sent a grin.

She sent an upside down smiley. She really didn’t want to go.

CJ: Message me when you get home.

Tasha: *Dorm. Sure. You too.

CJ: Right. Dorm. Sorry. I’m actually just getting into my room.

Tasha: Ugh! You’re really rubbing it in tonight.

CJ: One of my many talents.

She sent a scowl.

CJ: Get back to work!

Tasha: Yes sir!

CJ: TTYL

Tasha: Later.

Closing the tab, she slipped her glasses back onto her face before leaning back in her chair and stretching her arms in front of her. Rolling her neck and then returning her hands to the home keys, she settled back into the rhythm of typing out her elaborate run on sentences. For some strange reason she didn’t feel tired at all and any onlooker would have guessed that she really enjoyed her major from the way she kept a small smile on her face for the rest of the night.