NOVEL WEB Magical Mystery Tour
Strange and colorful uniforms grab my attention, it must be a cover band, not that I recognize them. But the Girl walks past.
A surreal picture in the park, only her black hair flows in the autumn breeze.
She wears a childish hairband with cat ears, but they're perfect. I must give chase.
Frank is still on my tail. Is he that much into my sister? Or is he worried about my sudden actions?
I don't care. He's insignificant and the large vehicle with a running engine and crane ahead too.
People avoid it, but cutting across is the fastest way to catch up with the Girl.
Roomie is faster though, and pulls me back yet again. Right as I want to yell, a piano lands.
"Leona!" Frank refuses to unhand me until I grasp the situation.
A pale crane operator watches from the other side of the huge instrument.
"What the hell, dude?"
The Girl is gone, and the rest almost won't register. I was this close to dying again.
What the hell indeed? My heart beats like crazy and I can't find her again. My silence has Frank raise an eyebrow and shake his head.
"Don't go kill yourself. I was only joking about your sister." He claims, not too convincing. "Pay more attention, please, I'll leave you alone, okay?"
"Um, sure." It's hard to make promises, but I wave him off.
He leaves anyway, and once the piano lands, the band members begin tuning it.
[Roll up! Roll up for the Mystery Tour!] One of them sings right away.
Wait, I know that song. I pull my phone out and click on the browser history. The list contains blacksmithing videos, they help calm down, so don't judge.
The Beatles blasts from my headphones as I search for my lecture hall. I'd rather look for her instead, but this strange feeling tells me we'll run into each other again. It must be fate.
[Roll up! That's an Invitation! Roll up for the Mystery Tour!]
Following a map towards the IT building, I enjoy the weather. Once the noise and chatter are gone, the crowd ceases to exist for me.
[Roll up! To make a reservation! Roll up for the Mystery Tour!]
University life is too stressful already, strangers give me anxiety. I am like an Olympic swimmer afraid of water, I want to make friends, but without going near people.
[The Magical Mystery Tour is waiting to take you away...]
"You want to sign?" A guy asks, and I rip the headphones off. "The attendance sheet."
Fuck, don't scare me like that.
"You girls are here for programmer class too, right? The professor's late because of traffic."
I sign the paper and mumble thanks before realising, he said girls. Plural.
I almost drop the pen when she brushes against my arm. She writes her name below mine, smelling cinnamon. It spells Alexandra with calligraphic letters.
It's her! And so close, I can count the freckles across her nose.
"Okay, thanks! I'll notify you when class starts." He takes the papers before I read the rest.
She wears almost no makeup, and she's not dressed to kill either. The cat ears on her headband look natural. Her smile makes me believe it alone could worsen climate change.
Fuck, she's gorgeous! She pulls away, damn it, was this the right time to approach her? But how? If I ramble about love at first sight, she'll think I'm a stalker. It's not like I have the courage.
When that semi almost ran me over it wasn't as intense as knowing we were in the same group.
Two first years at the Technical University. At least I look the part, being gray, quiet, and awkward.
She defies all expectations of the typical nerd, hell, she wins the title of the cutest girl on the campus. I inspect our group to realize how others try to devour her with their eyes.
She drops her notes, but I notice it too late, and two guys race each other to help her. It turns into a competition and the papers return to her folder before she realizes it.
I burn with envy as she exchanges friendly smiles with her helpers, and they follow her around. Everyone fights for her attention.
"Okay, sorry, they canceled class." The student comes back to report.
"If you don't have class, check out the cafeteria. It's in the central building, impossible to miss."
He's telling the truth. It overlooks the auditorium, situated in a prominent place upstairs. It reminds me that I left the apartment without breakfast and starving. Let's order food.
Alexandra isn't here and I can't believe I missed her trace again. I wolf down some food, hurry to return the tray, then continue the search. It's a bad idea.
After a stumble, the knife falls with its blade up. How does this keep happening today? I almost headbutt into the rogue utensil. For the third time, I survive the most random accident.
It can't get any crazier than this, right? I take my time to stand up, nice and slow. It was better when I listened to that song, and it should still be in the browser history.
It will calm me down on my way out, — at least that's the plan. But as I plug my headphones in, I hear a stomach grumble louder than an earthquake.
[The Magical Mystery Tour is hoping to take you away...]
It's her again! Alexandra. She blushes, and I pretend not to hear. It's easy since the song blasts almost as loud as my heartbeat. I continue towards the stairs but turn back to face her.
Our eyes meet for the first time, and her iris looks incredible. Come on, say something.
Badump, badump.
Are those real?
They are golden and hazel with a dark ring around them. A cyan hue completes them when the light bounces from the right angle.
My blood rushes to my face, and there's nothing to say here.
She's overwhelming.
It almost feels like flying.
The ground disappears below my feet. The cable of my headphones comes loose and the last part of the song blasts on full volume.
[The Magical Mystery Tour. Is dying to take you away! Dying to take you away! Take you today!]
Wait, there was a staircase behind me, right?
It's not like I'm flying, I am flying!