Chloe stared at the heavy brown doors, which lead to her 9:00 lecture. Another semester, another early class. At least this lecture would be bearable. History was one of her favorite subjects and Professor Orens had the rare skill to capture ones attention in a lecture. It was with those factors in mind that Chloe quickly swung open the door, prepared for her first day of class. A musty scent overcame her as she surveyed the vacant lecture hall. It was just like Chloe to arrive the first day twenty minutes early. No matter how late she attempted to leave her home, Chloe always overestimated travel and parking time. She smiled at her annoying habit while walking to a seat in the middle of the room having learned the seating trick early in her college career. Sitting in the front granted you too much unwanted attention and seating too far in the back showed the professor you lack of enthusiasm but sitting directly in the middle, in a clearly visible place, reminded the professor that you were always present and attentive without being in their face.

Chloe rummaged through her backpack pulling out her lipstick and a small mirror. She undid the cap, carefully applying while a smile crept across her face. In every semester she had a fantasy, one that has yet to come true. It was her daydream that a beautiful guy would walk through the doors, sit next to her, and fall madly in love. Ok, she didn’t even need love, she would settle for a single, gorgeous, nice guy. Scratch that, he didn’t even have to be gorgeous, just single and nice, she was that desperate. Every semester the good looking, nice guys did walk through the doors and they did talk to her, but they all lacked one important quality, they were not single. She was like a repellant, keeping all eligible men at a distance. It was her own doing, she realized it now. Chloe had a tendency to run away scared before anyone could get close to her. It was this that had kept Chloe single for 20 years without even a real kiss. She felt like the biggest ‘prude’ on the planet.

She closed the lipstick cap and quietly put it away. A girl could dream that this semester would be different than the rest couldn’t she? Glancing at the clock she realized that class still had 15 minutes before it began. Reaching inside her wallet she snatched a dollar bill and headed toward the soda machine. If there was one thing Chloe needed it was a Diet Coke to wake her up. She inserted the bill and pressed the button only to find a red flash rather than the refreshing drink. “What machine is ever out of DIET soda?” She spoke to the vacant hallway while she pressed the change return button. Glancing at the clock once more Chloe decided she had enough time to run to the Johnson Center to grab the soda she desperately needed to wake up.

Ten minutes later Chloe walked hurriedly toward the lecture hall, fully awakened and worried she would be late but to her relief she saw Professor Orens rounding the hall. “Professor Orens!”

“Chloe!” He looked up at her pleased, “Are you taking one of my classes?”

“Yes, and I am looking forward to another wonderful semester” They reached the lecture hall, as she entered quietly not bothering to glance at the mass of students that had entered in her absence. Sitting In her seat she pulled out her notebook and turned to face the front. It was then she noticed him, a blond haired blue, eyed man with perfectly chiseled features that was apparent through his shirt. Her breath caught, as she looked him over without his knowledge. She knew better than to get her hopes up. This packed classroom would be bare next class and most likely this beautiful stranger, seated 3 lecture chairs away, would join the masses of the college campus, never to be seen again. Still, her eyes kept glancing at him throughout the class. ‘Please, let him be here on Thursday.’

Next