“Hey, I’m Jack. I just wanted to say, uh, thanks again for giving me the page number in there.” He gestured towards the now empty classroom. “I just joined the class and have a lot of catching up to do. So, uh, thanks for helping me not be another day behind.” He smiled a genuine yet shy sort of smile at her.
“Um, yeah, I’m glad I could help you out, Jack. Hope you get caught up soon,” Evelynn stammered and turned to leave.
“Yeah, thanks. Hey,” he called after her before she’d been able to take two steps, “what’s your name?”
“Evelynn,” she offered, turning her head over her shoulder. “I’ve got to go, but it was nice to meet you, Jack.” She began to walk away again.
“You too. See you in class tomorrow,” he paused, “Evelynn.”
The way he said her name scared her, and she quickened her pace. He’d said it as though she was interesting to him. As though he wanted to get to know her more or something. She wasn’t so sure she liked how he’d said it, especially since it reminded her of how Rush used to say her name. It was never simply stated; there was always an underlying implication with it that she’d loved so dearly, then. Now it was different. She didn’t want some random guy referring to her the way he had. Rush was supposed to be the past, and this made it that much harder to let go when she was reminded everywhere of what he’d meant to her. Evelynn continued to ponder this as she hurried to the coffee shop where she could calm down with a cup of hot tea and a book. That would help.