This Conversation has had no Face

I stared at the screen blankly, my eyes were glazed over, but my mind was focusing, as if telepathically I could make her sign on. I was told I am addicted to the contraption that kept our communications open, but I believed none of it. I wasn't addicted to it, I was addicted to her words, the simply eloquent way she wrote things, even the most simple of things.
The speakers emitted a soft 'ping', mocking me as I check to see who had come on. Just another friend that I could talk to in person, I thought bitterly. I frowned deeply, determined to sit here until I had at least said hello to her. I craned my neck around to glance at the clock when the speakers again emitted a 'ping'. My head snapped towards the screen, seeing her name bold then fade into italicized letters; Evelyn.
I clicked on her name swiftly, a ghost of a smile stretching across my lips. Before I had the chance to type a hello, she contacted me first.
Evelyn: Hello, James. ^-^ I hope you are doing well?
James: Hello to you too Miss Evelyn. I am doing much better now.
Evelyn: Oh you were sick today?
James: Of course, sick of not reading your lovely words.
Evelyn: Always the charmer I see, er read.. ^-^ Now, am I the only one you waste these words on, or are there others?
I laughed at her thinking that my words were being wasted.
James: I only waste them on the best.
Evelyn: Oh really? Give me a moment to fetch my roommate then, she is the top at our school.
James: When I said the best, I meant you Evelyn, your roommate certainly cannot compare.
Evelyn: Is that so? Interesting...

I could picture her voice, musing at the thought of being called interesting. I thought about her expression, wondering if it was a small smile or a full blown smile. I fell into a daze, simply wondering about Evelyn, completely forgetting I was actually talking to her. Has that ever happened to you? Thinking about something that is right in front of you and forgetting its really there?
Evelyn: James?
Evelyn: Oh James did you lose your train of thought yet again?
Evelyn: Haha, I take it you have, well dear James, pull yourself back to reality.
Evelyn: James, honestly? Are you really in that much of a daze? Or are you thinking about one of the best? It certainly cannot possibly be I, for I am not the best, nor the greatest.
I pulled back into reality, only to see many messages from Evelyn.
James: Sorry, I did lose my mind for a moment, but only because I was thinking about your smile.
Evelyn: Really now James.... Well, I've got grand news!
James: Do tell!
Evelyn: You just enjoy mocking me don't you? =[
James: Think of it more like what your primary school teachers told you; He teases you because he likes you.
Evelyn: Hahaha... I like that notion, I'll believe it for the time being...
James: Why only for the time being? I speak the truth, I tease you not.
Evelyn: Enough of the sweet bickering... I will be visiting your city in a short time. I was hoping we could, have coffee?
James: We could have coffee. But I'd more like to definitely have coffee with you. =]
Evelyn: Truly James, you are quite the charmer.
Evelyn: Well, I'm sorry to cut this so short, James. But I am being called for, to get all my things packed. I'll contact you when I reach the city.
James: Parting is such sweet sorrow.
Evelyn: Trying to quote Shakespeare, really James?
James: Yes, really Evelyn, I bid you a pleasant day, till we meet in person.
Evelyn: For that moment, I cannot wait, it is like a child waiting for Christmas.
James: It seems Christmas will come early for me, the best gift I shall ever get is truly hearing your voice, which I have a feeling is just as sweet, if not more than you.
Evelyn: Bye...
Evelyn appears to be off line, and will receive your messages when they sign back on.
I sighed, leaning back into my chair, allowing a sigh to slip by my lips. I was ecstatic, to finally meet Evelyn, one whom I've developed a relationship with, the one whom, I feel silly even admitting it to myself, I have grown fond of, and may just possibly have a crush on. Who is to say she will not like what she sees? I certainly hope she likes me. I twirled the ring, that encased a small portion of my thumb, nervously. The stainless steel ring felt cool under my finger tips, the coolness almost calming my nerves.

Days have past since I've heard from Evelyn. My anxiousness was getting the best of me, my face pale with lack of sleep, my legs feeling as if they constantly had to move. I was half tempted to go to the doctor to see if I had Restless Leg Syndrome. It had been a while since I caught a glance at myself in the mirror. I sort of did now, staring at the black screen, the glare of the sun hitting it to reflect my image, my hair was disheveled, a complete and utter mess, my eyes had deep bags under them, truthfully I looked as if I was a drug addict with how gaunt my face had become. I was surprised that the lack of sleep could make me look this horrible. I growled in frustration, knowing that Evelyn would surely turn and run the other way if she could see me now. I could see the dullness of my eyes, I knew my eyes weren't at all bright. Patience is a virtue which I never obtained and if I did, I think I may have thrown it away by accident.
Someone pounded on my door. "James! Shower, or else Evelyn won't even want to stand near you due to your funk!" Hollered someone, who was supposed to be my closest friend here. I muttered some indistinct profanities at him, but I knew he was right. I lifted myself off the edge of my bed, grabbing my clothes to shower.
I came back into my small, cramped and cluttered room, only to see the task bar on my screen flashing. I flew over to my chair, plowing myself into it, causing it to spin. I dug my heels into the carpeted floor stopping myself from spinning. My nerves made my fingers jump and twitch, making it hard for my hand to keep steady long enough to click the flashing instant message. After much work, my fingers and hand started being nice to me again by working with me. I clicked it and saw it was from Evelyn, my stomach muscles tightened, knowing she was in town finally!
Evelyn: james?
James: I take it you are here?!
Evelyn: no, I am not evelyn, I am her roommate. she wanted to to send you a message, telling you that she'd be late in arriving. one of her friends wound up in the hospital, so she is forced to miss her trip.
My stomach dropped, and so did my smile. My frown was deep, I knew that if I kept frowning like this, by my thirties I'd have deep facial wrinkles. My eye brows knitted together, coming down and making my eyes look hooded. I probably looked more ridiculously hideous now.
James: How is her friend holding up?
Evelyn: she hasn't said, she's been at the hospital, hoping for him to wake up.
It was a him? I felt jealousy bubble up. I felt like I had to compete with this man whom had captured my Evelyn's attention. I realize that I am overreacting, that she isn't mine, but I still couldn't help the feeling. I had to restrain myself from using exclamation marks at Evelyn's roommate.
Evelyn: james? i hope you aren't mad.

I snapped out of my stupor, bottling up my jealousy. Though, I couldn't stop my eyes from narrowing into a glare. I smashed my fingers on the keys angrily.
James: No, I'm not mad.
Evelyn: thank god, evelyn would have been worried if you were.
James: Worried? Why worried?
Evelyn: you didn't read this from me, but she likes you.
My glare melted away, my eyes scanned the screen unblinking. I couldn't believe what I was reading, it had to be some kind of joke. That's it, it is a joke, she only likes me as a friend. I debated this idea in my mind for a few minutes before realizing that I should probably respond to Evelyn's roommate.
James: I know she likes me. I highly doubt she'd talk to anyone she doesn't like.
Evelyn: no, i mean she likes you, like, likes you likes you.
It took me a few moments to read her message, one too many likes were in that sentence, that it confused me. Finally, it clicked what she had said. My mind went straight to denial, not pit stopping for the internal argument.
James: I may not know you, but please do not play games with me and lie to me about Evelyn's feelings. If she truly did like me as you claim she does, she would have told me herself. I'm sorry, but I must take my leave. Good night, Evelyn's roommate.
I didn't give her the time to message me back, I shut down the instant messenger program and laid on my bed. In the matter of moments, I drifted off to NREM, slowly slipping into a deep slumber.
I woke from my sleep, feeling terrible. It had been a week since I've read Evelyn's beautiful words, and I was in need of a fix for my addiction to her. I quickly changed, wanting to go for a walk outside. I opened the door and right across from me, I saw a red-headed girl. She was sitting on the floor, her back pressed against the wall opposite from mine, her bright flame red hair fell in a long veil over her bowed head. She has one leg brought up close to her, her hand hanging limply off it, the other hand playing with a stray string of her long skirt. I shut the door and her head snapped up. Her dark, nearly black eyes, were encased with think black rimmed square glasses, her pale pink lips spreading into a smile, her eyes gazed up at me wearily, as if she hadn't gotten any sleep.
"James?" The woman inquired, pushing herself to her feet. Her voice sounded so melodic, so sweet, like honey. I shot her a confused look, but nodded my head. Her grin grew even bigger, I didn't think that was honestly possible. "James," she giggled, " it's me, Evelyn."
"Evelyn...?" I uttered in disbelief, this awkward beauty was the eloquently intelligent, Evelyn whom I've had the pleasure of getting to know for the past two months. She nodded, her face illuminated with a grin. "You promised me coffee." She winked, turning on her feet that were covered ballet flats and walked away, her long bohemian skirt swishing as she walked. I trailed behind her, still dumbstruck. "Ho- hows your friend?" I asked, still unable to shake off the disbelief. She swiftly turned to face me. I was noticing that her movements were sharp, nothing slow, nor entirely graceful, but sharp, like the cracking of a whip. Evelyn lifted her right hand and showed off her ring finger. "Its a promise ring. Do you like it? My friend lied to me, telling me he was in an accident, but really he was planning on asking me out the entire time." She giggled, staring at the ring with admiration. My stomach dropped, and currently, my body felt like dropping too. "Are you not going to say something charming?" She asked, taking a few long strides close to me. She stood in front of me, only five inches shorter than I.
I bent my head down, she was standing so close our noses were touching. She rose to stand on her toes, bringing her lips close to my ear. "Say something charming, sweep me off my feet, get me out of this promise, I beg of you. Where is my charming James?" Her sweet, melodic voice sounded as if it were a desperately mournful symphony tickling my ear. Evelyn took two large steps away from me. "Well, my sweet, shall we get our caffeine fix for the day, while I get my other fix, listening to you speak?" I asked, holding out my arm for her to take. Delicately, she slid her arm into the crook of mine. She smiled up at me, sliding the ring off with the same hand. Evelyn rested her head on my arm, walking in perfect stride with me.
"Why did you agree to the promise if you didn't want to be in it?" I asked.
"My parents. My friend and I grew up together, but our parents were hellbent on us being together. Twas truly a tragedy we did not have those kinds of feelings for one another."
"Why is it a tragedy?"
She laughed softly, "Because, our parents won't be very please. I'm sorry to say but they would not approve of you. All my life, I've been defying them, they've hopped this is the one thing I do right, and I feel ashamed of myself for letting them down, once more."
"Do not feel ashamed, it is your life. You are an adult. You should approve of who you want. Not who they want. You only live life once Evelyn, do not let an opportune moment pass you up."

"That is why I like you James, you are not only a charmer, but have intellect, and a witty personality to back it up." Evelyn beamed.
"My, you would never imagine the pain I've endured not being able to read your lovely words, but it was all worth it, because now I can hear your melody of a voice laugh, and speak." I smirked at her.
"I'll hold onto this moment you know." Evelyn said, keeping her eyes deadlocked in front of her. I laughed at her, opening the door to the quaint cafe. We ordered and sat in a small table towards the back of the cafe. Our hands linked across the table, not uttering a word, only sipping our coffee.
"I truly needed this." Evelyn sighed breaking the silence. I raised an eyebrow at her.
"I'm serious." She laughed, "I've been wanting to meet you for so long, I wish I could have come sooner. I truly do." I shook my head at her. "I know, but at least you are here now."
We had finished our coffee and were walking silently through the streets. An awkward silence enveloping us. I felt her soft hand brush the back of my hand. I smiled at her and she smiled back. That is how our night ended, sharing small smiles, promises to call, and to keep close.
Nothing in the results for once.
There is nothing here