Zara didn’t know why he’d gotten such a funny look then bolted to the bathroom. There were some logical possibilities and she felt bad for him no matter what. She had gotten up and purchased a cup of Earl Grey tea for him and grabbed the little honey bear bottle from the side counter and brought it back to the table.

He wasn’t really gone that long. She saw him walking back and he had a confused yet awkward smile on his face. She gave him a smile back because no matter what just happened to him, she wasn’t going to make it worse.

He took a seat and stared down at the cup of tea next to his latte and the honey. His eyes stayed on the honey for a little longer before he looked up.

“I didn’t know how much you wanted so I just brought the bottle. I use a lot in my tea, but I like it sweet.”

“That’s very thoughtful. Sorry about that, I don’t usually bolt away from the table like that. Thanks for waiting for me.”

“Waiting for you? Where would I go? Besides, how awkward would next week’s class be if I had ditched you?”

Fin laughed shortly, “Hopefully I would have gotten the hint.”

“Nah, not my style. Besides, I don’t mingle much. I find I’m enjoying this.”

“No clubs or social events?”

“No, I live at home. I come to school then I go back. Rinse and repeat every day.”

“You don’t want to live on campus?”

Zara didn’t think his questions were that odd. It was normal banter, and he was being friendly about it. He was easy to talk to. She liked that he watched her when she talked. True, it was an intense stare, but it was like he was really listening. People often talked to her and she felt like they blurred her out when she talked. The words were there and they heard her, she just wasn’t sure if they saw her.

“No, my parents wanted me to live at home. We don’t live far from here and they’re paying for my education. I guess it was convenient. Free room and board, mom’s cooking, and my clothes are always clean.”

“Oh yeah, clean clothes. I remember those. My mom made me learn how to do all my laundry before I came to school, but I’ve been known to take large bags home on the weekend. I assume she misses it, so I wouldn’t want to deny her the pleasure of it.”

“Haha, yeah, I bet she misses it.”

“No really, I’m the baby of the family. My poor mom only has my dad to clean up after now.”

“You don’t think she’s using that time as a long awaited vacation?”

Zara watched him shrug. He was smiling now, so she figured he wasn’t being a jerk.

“So, you want to be a pediatrician, huh? Let me guess, you always wanted to be a doctor?”

“My dad is a plastic surgeon, so it’s always been a part of my life. I always looked up to him for the charity work he did. It made me see how much of a difference he made and I wanted to something just as great.”

Zara hoped to become half the doctor her father was.

“Charity plastic surgery?”

Zara checked to make sure he wasn’t being sarcastic or rude, but he appeared to be genuinely interested. She was always a little defensive about her father’s work. She’d heard enough boob job and liposuction jokes in her life.

“He focuses on reconstructive surgery. Burns, facial repairs, things like that. His work is really about making sure people feel as close to their real selves as he can.”

“That’s got to be amazing work. I wish I had that drive when I was younger. I’ve kind of wasted the last few years,” he admitted.

“You did? When are you graduating?”

“I have enough credits to graduate this year. But I didn’t really have a major until now. I’ve pretty much just majored in avoiding responsibility. I had a bit of an epiphany this summer and now I’m back on track. I don’t want you to think I’m a slacker. I always got good grades and did well in school. The whole college thing just threw me for a loop. I needed a little time to catch up to everyone. But I’ll be extending my time here to get my degree in early childhood education. I’ve got summer classes lined up too.”

“That is ambitious. Why are you being so down on yourself? I think a lot of us would have benefited from taking a gap year before college. It’s a tough transition. Deciding what you want to do with your future at eighteen is never easy. I’ve always wanted to travel. I want to see things. I’ve only ever been to England and India, and I realize that is much farther than most people have traveled, but I go for family. I’d love to go somewhere I’ve never been and don’t know anyone. I want to explore and see what’s out there.”

“You’re an adventurer, I like that. I’ve never been to those places. I’d love to see them. I’ve also wanted to go somewhere warm that has nice beaches and maybe coconuts. I think those are pretty cool.”

Zara laughed at him. “Coconuts do it for you?”

“Lots of things do it for me. Speaking of, that dress is pretty amazing. What’s going on there?”

She blushed and plucked at the front of it. “I’m a bit of a sci-fi geek. And I’m not saying that in a bad way. I’m pretty proud of my nerdy side.”

“So like hobbits and stuff? Wizards?”

“No, sci-fi only. I make a slight exception for anything Joss Whedon does, but that’s because Buffy the Vampire Slayer rocks.”

“Okay, looks familiar. I don’t know much about all that. I’m more of an outdoorsy type. I can’t remember the last time I sat down and watched a TV show all the way through. Cartoons don’t count.”

“Cartoons?”

“Yeah, my niece and nephew love it. I was staying with them over the summer to help out their parents. Their dad works for the family business and their mom owns a tattoo parlor.”

“Tattoos? That’s cool. You have any?”

She watched him almost sputter when he said, “What? No, do you?”

“No, my mother would have a heart attack. The most I’d do is cut my hair and she may disown me for that anyway.”

“Your hair is really pretty. I mean, it’s shiny.”

Zara laughed, “Shiny?”

“You know… glossy.”

“Glossy?”

“Okay, now you’re making fun of me. You have very pretty hair. I like it.”

“Thank you.”

She watched him reach up and run his hands through it a few times causing it to stick up in more than a few areas giving him a just woken up look. She wondered what it would be like to see him first thing in the morning. She gave herself a mental shake and focused back on the conversation.

“Can I take you out this week? In a couple of days maybe? The Hawaiian food truck is going to be nearby on Wednesday,” he suggested.

“I’ve never had Hawaiian. I didn’t know there was a Hawaiian food truck either,” she admitted.

Fin explained, “Hawaiian food is the greatest, it’s like a fusion of about six different cultures. I can guarantee pineapples, rice, and macaroni salad at the very least.”

“That doesn’t sound bad at all. Can I get your number? I need to make sure I can get out of the house.”

“You under lock and key?”

“No, just my parents, well my mom, is very traditional. She doesn’t see any reason for me to be mingling with ‘boys’ until I get married,” she said making air quotes with her slim fingers.

He gave her a questioning look. “How are you supposed to find a husband to get married to if you don’t mingle with the ‘boys’?” Finley mimicked her air quotes and Zara smiled.

“Oh, she’ll find one for me,” she laughed. Zara didn’t want him to think she wasn’t free to make her own choices. It was just odd explaining to someone how her culture worked and how it could simultaneously coexist with western culture.

He watched her for a moment like he was assessing what she had revealed. “You know, I have a big family. They often think they can influence things like that. Always pushing people together to see if there was a spark.”

Zara understood that. A lot of the community gatherings she went to were parties for the mothers and grandmothers to start matchmaking. Location was a big factor for the nosy grandmothers. Why bother bringing someone from across the ocean if they could find a suitable match close by. Their suitability requirements were more financial and less romantic.

“Forcing a spark never works,” she agreed.

She didn’t want to end up in a loveless marriage. She’d seen them, they sometimes worked. Couples that lived together and raised children, but didn’t love each other. They were missing passion, missing the care and concern that should accompany a marriage. It always made her a little sad.

“I have to agree. But would you say that if there is a spark, you can always recognize it?”

He was getting deeper than she was ready for. She didn’t want to call what she was feeling a spark. It was an interest for sure. He was good-looking; he liked her hair, and apparently, how she smelled. These were all things that weren’t bad. They made her feel good. They made her feel attractive.

She still needed to keep focused on her goals. Graduate, medical school, pediatrician. No handsome, sexy guy that smiled at her and paid attention to her was going to derail her plans. But maybe a date wouldn’t hurt. What was a casual meal between fellow students? Completely normal. Men and women were friends all the time without there being romantic interest.

“I think if you aren’t looking for a spark, you could miss it. I think that sometimes you have to hold off on the spark to make sure it’s real.”

He was quiet for a few moments; she could see his mind working behind his eyes.

“How about I meet you in the commons for our adventure in island eating?” he suggested.

“My last class is at four. I can meet you after? Will it still be there?” She didn’t want to sound too eager, but she really was.

“Sure,” he said with a smile. He handed over his phone and she put in her information feeling his gaze never leave her.

Zara wished she had someone to tell. Her cousin was the only one that wouldn’t judge her for going out on a pseudo date. She knew what Viv would say too, maybe a little fun would brighten her year and help relieve some stress.