Read The Saving of Benjamin Chambers (The Uni Files) for Free Online Page A

first thing that she sees.
    She looks up and I catch my breath as I meet the speckled grey eyes I have been trying to keep in my mind for so long.
    She does not recognise me. That much is clear. She obviously does not remember our previous meeting at all. No acknowledgment flickers over her expression although I desperately search for it, but unlike last time when her eyes slid right over me, this time she stops and stares, her lips puckered on the edge of a smile.
    She just stands there for the longest moment, for as long as I can bear, and I just stand there and soak it up.
    “Ben,” I say, holding out my hand.
    “Lilah,” she tells me, reaching out her hand to me. But instead of shaking my hand, she just kind of places hers in mine.
    I can work with that. I don’t let one moment pass before I wind my fingers through hers.
    There is no way she is escaping again.
    Lilah continues to watch me. I wish I knew what she was thinking. She is just staring at me, her lips ever so slightly parted.
    Normally staring is a good sign with girls, but then I don’t expect this one to act the same as all the others so I don’t want to read too much into it.
    “You’re the singer guy, right?” she says with a small nod, like she is pleased that she can place me. Yeah, I am the singer guy, but she is nine months late in placing our meeting.
    “Singer guy, I am,” I confirm. I can’t help it.  A smile creeps onto my face and into my voice. I probably look like a complete twat but I don’t care. I am standing here talking with her whilst holding her hand.
    “You’re the girl in the knock-out white dress,” I play.
    Oh, and it’s a knock out all right; slinky to the floor and hinting at all the stuff underneath that I want to get to know.
    She says nothing but her mouth pops open in surprise.
    Shit I’m going to kiss her.
    No. Stop it.
    “Would you like to go outside for some fresh air?” I ask instead of placing my lips against hers.
    She hesitates. Of course she should. That is the right thing to do.
    “I should find my friends,” she says. Despite her words, she does not seem in any rush to do so.
    This is my moment. Act now or regret it forever.
    “Come on, Lilah,” I coax. Her name sounds electric on my lips. I wonder if she can hear it?
    I pull her towards the door, my fingers not letting go of hers as I head towards the cool September air. Outside, I walk a short distance and then in a bid to stop myself from jumping her and getting arrested I pull my smokes out of my pocket. I nearly miss it but as I look up to offer her one, I catch her watching my hand slide back out of my pocket, her teeth nibbling her bottom lip.
    Holy crap.
    I am not surprised when she takes one of my cigarettes, I always knew she would be a smoker. It goes hand in hand with the filthy language and the dirty laugh.
    “I wasn’t winking at you, by the way,” she says.
    “What?” What? She was winking at me, and I missed it?
    “So are you here as a guest or a student?” I ask. Oh, and are you still with that possessive wanker who stole you from me at Christmas?
    I lean towards her to light her cigarette and she mirrors my action and moves towards me.
    “Student,” she tells me.
    I raise my eyebrow in shock. What? Is she going to be here? On campus? With me? I can’t quite bring myself to believe it.
    “Yes, I know I am old,” she snaps. Feisty.
    “Hardly.” I can’t help but stare at the eyes. I am watching them, waiting for them to make a move away from me, because this time I am ready to chase. I can feel the adrenaline coursing through me.
    “Twenty-five is pretty old compared to all the spring chickens in there.” She motions her head to the venue behind us where I can still hear the hum of voices, although strangely no music.
    “I’m twenty-five,” I tell her for the simple fact that we have something in common and therefore are most surely meant to be together.
    “Oh.” She seems a bit perplexed by this.
    I wish I