Overtime//Connor McDavid

I woke up like every other human did at some point in their day. The sun still hadn't rose from it's sleep but that didn't matter. I remember thinking I needed to go for a run before my day started. I remember needing to calm down my nerves. I ran my normal trail that day. I took the bus near the university for this simple reason; to run near the North Saskatchewan river. I loved the sight of it but also what it did for me. Running near it, meant my run was coming to an end. Running near it, reminded me that everything ends. Running near it, taught me that I could make through anything. I needed this run every morning to keep sane. I needed it to remind me of those things because it does get hard living my life at the time.
I bused back home, after my run and got everything done. That meant waking up the kids, making their breakfasts and lunches and making sure they caught the bus on time. And let me tell you, if you have younger siblings, you know it's not a walk in the park. The grunts, the complains and the attitude I get... But it's still worth it. Weirdly enough, I get a certain satisfaction from doing it. Around 8 am, the kids and my parents were gone. I was alone and my Data Mining class did not start until 9 that day. Reasons why to love Tuesday, I remember thinking at the time.
I went to my room and got dress in normal clothing. A white t-shirt and light blue jeans, that fit this time. And I paired up with my favorite brown boots. Brushed my hair out so it's waves could be more defined and made my way calmly to school. I was happy this morning. The air had a certain-je sais pas quoi- to it. I would have gone on a rant on how my life leading up to those days was complet outer bullshit. I would have explained more about my childhood. I would have to you all the minor details about me but that would ruin the surprise... In fact, I've made the decision of not telling you everything, my dear readers. After all, the content of ones character is by choice, dad by day, what you choose, what you think and what you do is who you become. That being said, I remember getting to school just on time for my class. I know the teacher wouldn't notice if we were there. Heck, it seemed like the whole university didn't care. And I don't blame them. They got their money, and if we fail that puts more money in their pockets. So it's a win-win for them.
I sat down in my data mining class and paid attention to everything the professor was saying. I love Big Data. Everything about it intrigued my mind and boy was I glad they had a MISA program there. I got to combine my love of business analyst and data mining in one program. For those of you who don't know what data mining is, or have heard it but never got a concrete definition, Data mining is the analysis step of the "knowledge discovery in databases". The goal is the extraction of patterns and knowledge from large amounts of data. For those of you whom that definition still seems confusing, I'll give it you simple. You have a shit load of information, stats and/or facts and you basically try to find a pattern in those information given. And this, my dear readers, I enjoy doing. I've always had an eye for analyzing things and I was good to. So naturally, I and like everyone else would decide to do a bachelor's in what they're good at. But you have cases that some people don't know what they like and just chose whatever seemed to have a good career in the long run. A few of my classmates, I remember asking them why are they in the same program as I, and some answered the way I had while others answered with random reasons. The class finished at 11 that day. Not knowing what to do with my time, I remember standing at the university center for a good 2 minutes. I would have stayed there longer if my phone hadn't rung. I read the I.D and it was Connor.
"Hello, McDavid." I greeted him. I heard him chuckle from the other side of the line.
"Layla! So you figured it out?" He said cheerfully. I couldn't help but let out a small laugh.
"Well of course I did." I told him. "It wasn't hard you know." I said in my matter-of-fact tone.
"I guess the hockey game gave it away eh?" He asked. Truthfully, yes. That was the only reason why I knew who he was but agreeing with him on everything seemed tedious.
"No, I googled, weirdly-cute 19 years old guys in the area and you wouldn't believe what came up?" I said in a sarcastic way
"What came up Layla? I'm curious to know." He said in the same way as I.
"Your name with your picture! I was completely flabbergasted." I said. He laughed. It was nice deep laugh. Satisfied with that, I decided to drop the act and laughed as well.
"So what's up?" I asked. I sat down on some steps near the University sign. I was half tempted to go and sit on the sign itself, like I use to do back when I was in high school. But I didn't want trouble.
"Nothing much. I just finished practice." He said. I nodded.
"That's nice. So why are you calling now?" I asked getting my question out. I was trying to get that answer the first time around but boys tend to answer according to what they hear. It gets annoying at times to explain everything. But I wasn't annoyed so I didn't mind.
"I was wondering when are you planning to get here." He asked.
"Why?"
"I'm near the university. So instead of you getting there I was thinking to come and pick you up..." He says trailing a bit the last part. I could have made another joke, made him feel more awkward but I decide to let it go. I had some mercy for this man. I know I said I hate being tedious but sometimes in life you need to be.
" Sure. I just finished my class anyways." I said. He let out a sigh. I remember thinking how cute he was getting nervous about me.
"Okay great. See you there in 2 minutes." He said then hung up. I shot a quick text to Simon letting him know that I wasn't going to see him today. I think that day, I realized that I overthink to much. Because the moment I pressed the sent button, I heard a honk. I looked up and saw Connor's head sticking out. I couldn't help myself but laugh. I gathered my things and made my way towards his car. He lowered the window on the passenger side. Since the car was in fact a truck, I stepped on the step and leaned myself against the window.
"You couldn't get out and escort me here?" I asked sarcastically.
"And get myself recognized by everyone around? No thank you!" He said. I smiled widely at him and shook my head in disbelief.
" Right cause you're some superstar."
"I am Layla!" He said smiling. I rolled my eyes and got of the step so I could open the door. I got inside the car and sat down. He started the ignition and drove off the campus rather fast. Unfazed by this I continued my argument with him.
"Sure then I'm Beyonce." I said mocking him.
"I swear I am." He said. "Scouts honor." He says removing both hands from the wheel and looking at me. He was driving fast this McDavid guy. I didn't like people driving reckless like that. Instincts kicked in and I held on to the wheel.
"Connor! Are you trying to get us killed?" I said sternly. He took the wheel from me and looked forward. He started chuckling, I remember. I was still rattled and he had the nerves to laugh after potentially almost killing us.
"What's so funny?" I said.
"You're funny when you're mad. You know that?" He asked. I rolled my eyes but let a small smile escape
"Whatever." I tell him. I cross my arms and look outside. I remember feeling my blood running fast. I still felt a bit shaken up from what had just happened. And that's when I felt his hand on my shoulder. Everything loosened up and I looked towards him.
"I was just joking Layl's." He said. Of course, I knew it was just a joke. I'm not stupid but for some odd reason I hate reckless people. And something tells me he's pretty reckless.
"I know but I don't like reckless people." I said telling exactly what I thought. That's how it was with me you what I thought of you in that moment.
"Well, it's a good thing I'm not reckless then." He said smiling at me. Moments before putting down the windows, blasting Renegades and singing like a mad men. I had agreed to eat lunch with a mad men. A stupid decision at the time on my behalf, I must say. But I'm in university.
After all isn't Uni all about seizing the moments?

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