An Incomplete Love Story # 1

She had been studying with him in the same class for the past 8 months. They'd been good friends and nothing more. They traveled by the same train in the afternoons... but all this while she'd never felt anything for him. And she was sure he hadn't either.

He used to get off one station before her and they'd meet the next day again in class.

A cloudy evening, as usual, after class they both rushed to catch their train. They'd usually part ways in the train. He had a group of friends three coaches away from where she preferred to sit. But today, they were late.

Both of them got there just in time to jump into the train that had started slowly moving. She jumped in first and moved ahead and turned back to make sure he'd followed. Once they got in they figured, the train was so crammed with people that there was not the tiniest place to move in... they got stuck at the foot board.

He leaned against the open door and put his arm across to the other side as if to block that way so that she might not fall. She kept both their bags on the luggage stand behind her and stood leaning back facing him. It was starting to drizzle now and tiny raindrops felt nice against her face after a tiring day. She closed her eyes to enjoy and said.. " so beautiful..".. nodding he replied "hmm..." and watched her, eyes closed facing outwards.


She knew he was watching... she could feel his gaze and it tickled her in a way. She opened her eyes to look at his face and caught him turning away suddenly. This felt oddly nice... As rain started pouring down gradually she watched his arm getting soaked wet and the rain hitting and drenching him on the right side of his back not letting it reach her.


She let out a sigh..


The train jolted suddenly and to keep her balance she held his wrist for a moment and suddenly let go. He looked at her and smiled...


The train had slowed down and the rain was heavy... he suddenly leaned forward towards her.. so close that she could feel his breath against her face.. as she closed her eyes again, the coldness from the rain made her almost wish for a moment that he'd hold her warm. She could feel his arm reaching around her...


After a short awkward silence she opened her eyes to realize he'd reached behind to pick his bag from the stand, he still stood close their glances met.. for a small moment.


They both looked away at the same time.. and he moved back..
She started giggling and he burst out into a soft laughter watching her.. For a couple of minutes they both laughed as the train pulled up at the station where he was supposed to get down. As he got down and others pushed behind him, he turned back to wink at her.. and she moved back inside smiling at him...


As people moved out, she caught herself a seat and sat there, recollecting that tingling sensation that ran through her in the last few minutes. She thought back on what had just happened and smiled and slapped her forehead softly. This was so silly and so not possible she thought to herself... this would never work out...


The next day she walked into class again, but nothing had changed. She smiled at him and sat in the front most row like she always did. And he smiled back from his seat in the last row of chairs in the room... That afternoon they weren't in the same coach.. he went his way, as she took her usual seat.


-Evangeline