The Prince & the Co-Ed

Tiffany: When First We Meet

I was just a regular college girl. I worked hard, trying to get through college and get my degree in Criminal Psychology. I was nothing special. Sandy blonde hair, glasses, dull gray eyes, and no figure. So, practically invisible. Which is why I was confused when I was called to the Dean's office. There I was, placed between the Dean and the new guy as she went on and on with her usual speech about how our college is prestigious, and how everyone is nice, and how much he's going to.love it here. "This is one of our best and brightest students. I'm entrusting her to show you around," the Dean said, knocking me out of my inner thoughts. The new guy looked at me and smiled, causing my heart to pound in my chest. His eyes, he had powder blue eyes, eyes that looked like they were looking straight through me. The most beautiful eyes I have ever seen. His hair was dark brown, and swept out as if he had just gotten out of bed. He looked like he walked out of a vintage fashion ad in a magazine with his Nirvana shirt and ripped jeans. He looked scrawny, but it was kind of hard to tell behind the shirt and jeans. He was fairly attractive. What was I thinking? I barely know this guy.

I held my hand out in front of me for him to shake. Might as well be civil. "I'm Tiffany," I said, watching him for his next move.

He gently took my hand in his, so delicately you would've thought he had weak wrists, and brought it to his lips and he kissed the back of my hand. "I'm Peter," he said, an accent apparent in his words. "I hope we'll become well-acquainted." God, why did he make me feel this way?

An awkward silence filled the space between us. He was highly attractive, and the sparks were definitely there. Deciding to break the silence, I cleared my throat. "Well, let's get this tour on the road, huh?" I asked, heading for the door, opening it up. I had to get out from in front of his gaze, that beautiful wonderful gaze. 'Get a grip, Tiff. You barely know this guy,' I thought to myself. Peter was the first one out, and I sighed. At least I didn't have to deal with that awkwardness anymore. He seemed so strange, as if he'd never been to a place like this before. Even the cafeteria was amazing to him. "This is the cafeteria. It's where students get meals and sometimes just sit and chat about their classes."

He smiled and ran his fingers along the top of the table, as if it were his first time seeing them. "This is amazing. I've never had this kind of experience back home. My parents were fairly strict. They'd never let me go off to a place like this by myself," he muttered, sighing a wistful sigh. "Show me more."

I smiled and led him down the hallway to a row of classrooms. He ooh'd and ahh'd at the right times, especially when we got to the Medieval Studies room. The lesson we walked in on was a study of the Mace, and he seemed so fascinated that he didn't want to leave. I got to admit, he was weird but in a cute way. I showed him the appropriate classrooms, the proper paths to the bathrooms, and finally the dorms, where I dropped him off. "Well, this is your stop," I said, pointing at his door number. Now, the way the dorms work is that you sometimes get a roommate. It's always kind of 50/50 with them, they can be good or bad. Good luck." And with that I walked away until--

"I'll see you around?" he asked, a smug smile curving his perfectly good-looking lips.

I stopped in my tracks and turned towards him. "OF course you will, we'll see each other on campus," I said, smiling back. I walked away.

I absolutely loved my roommate, who was so much like me, you could almost say we were like sisters. We sat around our small TV , watching our favorite Orlando Bloom movies together, as we do every single Saturday night. Michelle picked up another piece of popcorn and looked at me, smiling. "So, tell me about this new guy. I heard he's handsome," she said, resting her head against the palm of her hand. I scoffed. I wasn't surprised. Michelle never missed good gossip, especially when it was within her grasp and the one person she was close to knew the deets, i.e. me. "So, what's all the fuss about this guy anyway?" she asked again, shoving a piece of popcorn in her mouth.

I sighed. "I don't think he's very interesting," I lied. "I mean, yeah, he's handsome. And he's got an accent that is just...." Michelle stared at me weirdly during this line, "....but he's okay, I guess. I mean, he just seems so secretive and acts like he's never socialized with anyone before. Definitely low-key, an antisocial personality with too much time on his hands." I popped some popcorn in my mouth and watched as Orlando blasted an ogre in the face with an arrow. I winced and looked at Michelle. "Why? You interested in asking him out?"

A part of me wanted her to say no. Wanted her to just leave this one to me, but her response did not surprise me. "I mean, I'd like to get to know him, not going to lie."

Of course she would. Michelle was never one to just sit on the sidelines and just let someone else score the touchdown. His powder blue eyes were haunting me still, the way he was able to see right through me even when he wasn't. "You can have him," I lied. "I am not interested in him, in the slightest."

Michelle squealed with delight, while I died a little inside. I was lying to myself. The truth was, I was madly, deeply, and incredibly in love with the new guy. He wasn't like any of the other men I'd seen on campus. He was unconventional, smooth talking, and generally quiet and ready to learn anything new. "Think you could arrange a meeting with him?" she asked, clapping her hands together in glee. Her joy was my pain. I couldn't back out now.

"Sure," I said, feeling the jealousy rising up out of my gut. "Meet me in the cafeteria tomorrow, and I'll make sure he's there." Michelle squealed with delight.

That was when Orlando sliced off an ogre's head. Oof. He was brutal.

I sat at a table, waiting for Peter and Michelle to show up. They were late, and as a self-proclaimed straight A student, nothing bothered me than tardiness. I sighed, checking my phone. 10 minutes late. I had a table reserved and everything. Finally, I see the familiar brown hair and smug smile that gets my heart racing. 'No. No, Tiffany. You can't think like that,' I thought to myself for what seemed like the thousandth time in under an hour. At the same time, here came Michelle, who looked like she had just gotten out of bed. They were both heading right for me. Peter sat down first, and then Michelle, taking the open seat beside me. I sighed. "Peter, this is my roommate, Michelle. Michelle, this is Peter."

Peter held out his hand for Michelle to take and he took it, just as gently as he took mine and kissed the back of his hand. "Pleased to make your acquaintance, my dear," he said, his voice cutting through so deep that it could've melted butter. I suddenly felt a pit in my stomach as they sat there, talking. Making light of the situation. Was I happy with them being together? Yes, I was. Did I want him all to myself? Yes, I suppose so. A small, miniscule part of me, wanted to just have him. I couldn't let myself just fall for a complete stranger, could I? They seemed to be taking off though. Michelle smiled for the first time since I've known her, and Peter seemed to be holding onto every word Michelle was saying. Could I really be that petty that I wanted to ruin their happiness? No. Michelle was happy and what kind of friend would I be to ruin that for her?

"So, tell me, Michelle. What are you studying?" Peter asked.

"Childcare. I want to be a social worker," she replied.

"Well, that's very admirable. I have a lot of respect for someone who wants to protect children. After all, children are our future," he responded. That was such a perfect thing to say. Why did he have to be so perfect?