picardkatelyn@g*******m

When Paths Cross

    "f**k, f**k, fuckkkkk!" running down the stairs while trying, keyword trying, to put on my damn jacket and not fall to my death should be an Olympic sport. It's already two weeks into my first semester at Lovell University and I have already been late for class twice. No one tells you that you will not be waking up at 7am to make it to class at 8:30am. I am never taking a class that early again, even if it means I have to take a class without Rizzo. 

"Hurry the hell up!" Rizzo is shouting from the front door. At 5'4 with a slight hourglass figure and dark curly auburn hair that goes slightly past her chin and the lightest and biggest brown eyes I have ever seen, she looks like a beautiful fairy and not an 18-year-old who still spills her lunch on herself regularly. 

I leap over the last two steps just as I finally get my last arm through the sleeve of my jacket. I breathe out a huge sigh of relief since you know, I didn't die this morning. 

"You really should wake up earlier so you don't have to rush and we could, ya know to get coffee before class started," Rizzo states this and hands me a large iced coffee. I let out a squeal and start sucking down the life-giver that is coffee. In my haste to get down the stairs and avoid having a broken neck, I didn't notice it. And damn, her skater skirt and tshirt match her perfected done face. 

I scowl at Rizzo and point to her face and then her skirt. "What is this nonsense? Why are you looking so nice at, what, 8am?" Rizzo returns my scowl. "Only two weeks into your first year at university and you're already behind." She then glares at me. "Today is that day Professor Adams will be assigning our partners for our group project." 

I stop sucking down my coffee, which is halfway finished. "Thats today?!" 

"Yes,  and he said we will be spending a majority of the class getting to know our partner."

I glance down at my outfit. At 5'7 I'm taller than average without being noticeable, and while Rizzo has a slight hourglass figure, I have a full hourglass. My 38 DD make most of my tshirts look more like tents and aren't really flattering. Todays look is a decent pair of blue jeans and a black relaxed fixed vneck with my favorite black chuck low tops. I have hazel colour eyes that most people end up commenting on at some point. My shoulder-length dirty blonde hair is everywhere. I begin to put it in a messy bun.

"Ugh, why couldn't we pick out our own partners this is so annoying!" I stomp down the front steps and start walking toward campus. 

"Well I am guessing this professor is a masochist and wants us all to suffer by actually talking to people we don't know." Rizzo says, jogging to catch up to me. "Who knows, maybe you'll get paired with that one guy...." Rizzo starts to laugh. I let out a moan. We are both thinking about the same thing. 

On only the second day of class, I not only was late to class but was snubbed by one of the hottest yet overwhelmingly cute men I have ever seen. 

*A week and a half ago*

I knew I shouldn't have hit the snooze button so many times, I chide myself as I run to speech class. I get there 5 minutes after class began and the only saving grace is that the professor is running even later then I am. I look for Rizzo but she is already seated and immersed into a book, which means she will definitely not only ignore me but get angry is I interrupt her. I glance around the room and my eyes linger on Jack. The only reason I even know his name is because of the roll call last class and with a face like his it would be a miracle to forget his name.

    Jack is sitting toward the front left of the classroom. His head is tilted back, eyes are closed and arms crossed he looks like the stereotypical tormented poet mixed with a rugged bad boy. He has shaggy black hair that curls around his face and makes him look even paler than he already is. He has sharp cheekbones and emerald green eyes. His lips are small, but perfectly shaped and dark pink. His face screams pretty boy, but his body screams bad boy. Jack is at least 6'4 with wide shoulders and what looks like a body so toned he could be a top tier athlete. Oh and did I mention that on his left form arm is a giant tattoo? 

    I decide to head over to here he is since the chair next to him is one of the only available seats left. Which is kind of strange with a face and body like his you would thin everyone would want to be closer, but just like last class there seems to a gap between Jack and the other students. He looks like a bad boy...maybe he is? Is that why no one ever seems to sit by him or even talk to him? Even the professor seemed to speak less to him that first day.

As I slide into the seat, I smile over to Jack and say "Good morning." 

Jack doesn't move, doesn't give any indication that he heard me. Maybe he is really zoned out? 

"Hey.." I wave my hand in front of his face "I said good morning." 

I smile as he slowly opens his eyes. It feels like his eyes have glued me in place, his eyes are bright piercing and glaring. I gulp and try to remember why did I come over here? Why am I bothering with small talk with a stranger? 

Jack finally sits up and states in a bored flat tone "I heard you the first time. I just didn't want to talk to you. Repeating yourself is kind of desperate."

Whattttttt?! Who the hell actually says that to people? Aren't people supposed to pretend to be polite and then never talk to you again? At just that moment Professor Adams walks in and starts the class. Now I can totally understand why no one sits here and no one talks to Mr. Grumpy sitting next to me. Well the joke is on him, I am still going to be polite and outgoing. When class is over I quickly stand, look down at Jack and say "Hope you have a wonderful day!" In the cheeriest voice, I can muster. Jack mumbles something as he is standing. I don't bother trying to figure it out, I just walk out.