Sam walked the busy street under the morning sun. She didn't head to the cafe like always, and it made her a tad relieved. It had been a couple of days- four precisely since Sam had first received a text from Chris, and since then, Chris had texted her almost every time. Most of the time, she ignored them, but a few times, she just cooked up something to reply. 

She scrolled through the series of messages from Chris until she got to the last one.

'See you later.' 

It had a winking face and a heart emoji next to it that made her cringe. Chris really loved emojis. Sam sighed and placed her phone in her pocket when she arrived at her destination- the library.

It was an unsaid rule to always go there on her off day, as she preferred reading to spending time doing something else. However, she would have to spend less today since she had an appointment with Chris.

She sat down to read the first book her eyes had caught. Her picks were always fantasy novels, the only legacy her mom had left behind that only she would remember.

After a few hours of reading, she took the book home instead of leaving it behind. It was already a few minutes past 12 when she left the library with intent to take the bus to Chris's studio when she received another text.

Sam didn't need to bring out her phone to know who it was. She had been receiving texts here and there that made her wonder if Chris was using a phone for the first time or simply idle.

She stood just a few distances from the library to answer the text from Chris, but another came in. It started to get annoying, and she wanted to scream so badly. Why did she think that interaction with Christine would be a good idea? 

'Where are you?' The first message read. 'Are you still at home?' Sam deadpanned when she read the texts. What in the absolute f*ck? Chris could pass for a stalker any day.

Sam answered only the first message and ignored the second, regretting her initial decision to meet Chris. 

'The library.' 

After Sam wrote back, she kept her phone and headed to the bus stop contemplating whether to call off the whole charade and go home, besides she had already found an excellent book to occupy her time. That would be really nice. She thought to herself as she started to walk away from the library. 

Sam was already expecting another text from Chris, and just as expected, there was another message even before she started walking. 

There was a look of confusion on her face when she read the recent message that Chris had sent. 

'Ok, better.'

Better? What did she mean by that? Sam didn't know if she should reply to that. She didn't even know what to say if she wanted to. She stood for a few minutes to see if she would receive another text, but nothing came, which made her conclude that it was just one of Chris's weird habits.

Sam huffed. She felt exasperated and wanted nothing more than to go home. She placed her phone back in her pocket and headed to the bus stop as planned. The bustling of the street was less than it was in the morning, but she still avoided people when she could.

Walking along the street, she thought about how the art gig would be. She had never been a model and had never been interested in it. How long would it take to draw her? Probably not that long, based on the time the last one had taken. Who's to say, and what did she know about art anyway?

Her phone buzzed again in her pocket, but it came in longer, indicating a call. Bringing out her phone, she glanced at the screen where the caller ID showed the inevitable- Chris.

"Hey, I don't see you around," was the first thing Chris had said after Sam answered the call. Sam was already pissed off at everything and would love to go home and complete her book.

"What do you mean?" She answered despite herself. There was no immediate reply, and Sam would have loved to hang up on Chris, but she didn't know when she started to go soft on her. Sam sighed after a while of silence. "Are you still there?"

"W..well." 

"Well, what?" Sam said with a tsk. 'Why did she always do that?'. Sam wondered how Chris would come up so bubbly and start stuttering the next minute. It annoyed her to points unend.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you first, b-but I'm here to take you to my place," Chris spoke slowly from the other end.

"...."

"Uhmm, hello?" Chris called in a slight panic, hoping Sam didn't hang up, "Sam?"

Sam sighed one more time. "Really?" She said, defeated. 'Why won't she just let me be?' She thought to herself, trying her best not to show how angry she was, and gave a reply. "Where are you?"

Sam could hear the almost silent squeal as Chris took her sweet time before replying. "I'm just at the front of the library. You should hurry up though. I've been parked here for a while." Chris's excitement could be felt as she spoke.

"Whatever," Sam concluded and hung up. Luckily she was just a few blocks from the library, and who the hell gets so excited over a pick-up? Also, why would Chris pick her up? Sam thought for a while, but she still couldn't figure out a reason. However, her train of thought was cut short as she stared stunned when she saw Chris waving to her from her car.