A Hobbyist’s Encounter (Short story)

I ate my food with a subtle breath, shoving the burger into my face followed by the salty fries.

Each golden chip smoothly breaking apart to reveal the potato goodness that I needed in life. There was enough salt to cause me to suddenly break out into a heart attack, but it was worth it.

But, that’s when she approached me, a small girl with a slightly older-looking face. Her black hair matched her dark jacket and jeans.

“Can I help you?” I asked as I stopped eating out of politeness.

“Are you Lucas Burton?”

“Yes…?” I lifted my head to get a good look of her face. “Have I offended you before, if so, I probably meant it as constructive criticism.”

“No, I’m Mia.” She held out her hand with a smile. I was about to grab it but remembered the salt dipping on the edge of my fingertips. I made sure to wipe it away on my jeans before shaking.

“Can I sit?” She asked as the chair was already in her hand, being pulled backwards and her ass was already on it.

“Go ahead,” It was already too late.

“I didn’t realise you lived here.” She said.

“I’m going to the uni here.”

“Oh, I see. Lucky me.”

The girl sat in front of me and spoke as if we were friends from school. I took a sip from my cold drink as the noise around us started to pick up from the incoming lunch rush.

“Universities have just started right?”

“Yes, late September. Like every year.” I replied, “Can I ask how you know me?”

“Oh, sorry. I read your web novels.”

“My web novels?” My neck jumped out of my body at hearing that I had a fan. “Thank you.”

“I loved them. Well, some of it. A little bit. Maybe one paragraph.”

“Of course, after all, they are pretty shit.” I laughed as we continued to insult some novels that I spent a lot of tiring nights working on.

“Anyway,” She said. “I’m currently trying to be an editor, and I read your stories and think that you have talent.”

“And you thought you could be the one to unlock it?” I interrupted her triumphant moment that seemed as if it was about to be followed by her standing on her chair striking some sort of superman pose.

“Exactly. I did actually write you an email, but you didn’t reply. Maybe I got the wrong email.”

“Hahaha… must have been.” I played it off as if I had no idea of her email, fully aware that I did get it and didn’t reply out of fear it was someone trying to lie to me and break my heart.

“So, what do you say?” She was practically leaning over the table with excitement. I couldn’t look at her in her hazel eyes, not that I was ever good with eye contact.

“Um… how old are you again?”

“20.” She said.

Only 2 years older than me, yet the way she dressed seemed as if she was at least early 30s as a single mum.

“I suppose…” I was reluctant to speak, but, after some quick calculations in my head, I could only see benefits for me. “Sure…”

“Awesome.” She jumped up with excitement. “My first client. Is client the right word? Either way, here’s my email, but you already have it, we should arrange meetings every week if not more. I want to see what you’ve been working on. Can I come to your place to work someday? it would be easier that way.”

I listened as she kept speaking. I looked down at the tiny piece of paper with an email address that I definitely remember. My eyes darted back up at her and couldn’t close my mouth. I was paralyzed by confusion, but I remember thinking one thing.

She’s so annoying.

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Hey there,

What you just read is a super short prequel for my latest novel, A Hobbyist’s Chance. It released last week as a digital ebook with hopefully the physical release being soon (if it’s not already out).

Personally, I have mixed feelings about it but I have mixed feelings about everything I do. If you want to read it, you can find it by clicking here.  https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08PDWMX3N

It’s pretty cheap, but I’m not going to force you to read it.

Thanks for reading.