Caught Between Two Second Chance Loves

Chapter 3 - Doppelganger

Focusing in class was no easy task with the identical Oliver looking man next to her. Nothing in class stuck with her. Luci kept glancing over at him, wondering if her mind was playing tricks on her.

Max would look over when he thought he saw her looking. But Luci tried to play it off as best as possible. He even winked at her. She had blushed a soft pink when he did, and still did when she thought about it.

While leaning over her desk, a rolled up paper ball landed between her arms, stirring her from her thoughts and concentration. She casually looked around while the instructor wasn’t looking. No one was looking at her, and Max was hunched over his notebook.

Quietly unrolling the ball, she flattened it out so she could read the note inside. ‘Want to get lunch with me?-Max’. Luci smiled softly as she looked over at Max, who was now leaning back with a coy smile on his face.

She smiled back and nodded her head, putting the note away as the instructor turned around.

The rest of the class was uneventful.

As soon as it let out, Luci packed her things and started to head to the door. “Oh hey. Luci, right?” Max jogged a bit to catch up with her. “You said yes to going to lunch together, right?”

“Yes, but I have one more class before lunch. If that’s okay.” Luci walked with him over to her next building, which was right next door.

“Can I get your number so we can meet up?” He pulled out his phone, ready for her number. “I don’t normally give out my number to random strangers, but you seem pretty cool, honestly.”

Luci smiled and nodded, inputting her number into his phone and labeling it under her name. “If you need help with homework, I can do my best.”

Max put he phone away, hiking his backpack over his shoulder. “I was thinking more along the lines of a date.”

Luci blushed a bit again. “Y-yeah, that, too. Heh.” It had been a while since anyone asked her out. She normally looked like a mess given the bags under her eyes, the late night studying and the clothes that nearly fit every burned out college student. She didn’t look or even work close enough to look like the girls who dressed to impress. She just had her simple routine, kept to herself, and hung out with her roommate. That was it.

Max’s interest in her was different compared to how most men approached her wanting something. Except Henry. Henry was straightforward because of their history together. But he never pressured her.

“Well I'll text you my number, and we can meet for lunch.” Max said as he left Luci to her classroom heading off.

“Well doesn’t he look familiar.” Henry startled Luci, who let out a soft gasp. “Sorry, didn’t mean to catch you by surprise.”

“I feel like you need a bell.” She joked, walking up the steps and stopping at the door. “Are you spying on me?” She asked, looking back at him.

“I'm offended. I was passing by when I was headed to the library. I needed to drop off some literature I promised to the school.” Henry gestured at the books in his arms. “There’s only a few now, but I’m having the rest delivered.”

Henry loved books. He loved to both read and write and, in turn, showed Luci how to do. It was one of her favorite things about Henry, a step towards her own independence.

“I was only joking.” Half truth, but she smiled as if she was. “It’s nice of you to give the school some books. They kind of need it given that the funding seems a bit low towards the knowledge and higher for the sports.”

“Humans love their sports. Well, get to class. Don’t want to get in trouble for being late.” He left towards the library, leaving Luci alone.

She felt an uneasiness in the pit of her stomach. If Max is like Oliver, then there’s a chance he could also be a werewolf. Which could turn out ugly. Again. She wasn’t sure of what was going to happen, but hopefully, this was a sign to start again. A do over.

“Miss Bernardi, are you coming to class?” Professor Byrd startled Luci, who seemed very jumpy today.

“Yes, professor. Let me get the door for you.” She said, and she held the door open, allowing them both to pass after one another. “Just been having a strange day.”

“Well I hope you’re ready for today. We’re checking our nodes and how they did in the soil.” She practically sang. Professor Byrd loved nature. She was a less crazy version of Poison Ivy, with her burning red hair, electric green eyes, and a killer body. Luci was always a little jealous of how she kept herself so trim for a professor who was always busy.

“I'm excited to see how mine worked out.” Luci lied. Her mind was still on Max and Henry as she followed her to class, opening the door for her there as well.

“Oh good, because I looked at yours, and I'm impressed.” She smiled, setting her things down on her desk. Luci headed to her table, grabbing her plants. They were very much alive and seemed to have grown quite a bit over a week. Volcanic soil seemed to do the job, with a little help of the witch sisters' secret growing plant food.

Luci’s plants normally die, but she was hoping Botany would help her fix that. She loved plants, but they didn’t love her back.

Luci headed to the student union, replying back to Max as she did. He said to meet him there for lunch, but today was a food truck Tuesday, which was better than the food in the union hall.

“Luci wait, can I talk to you for a moment?” It was Henry again. He seemed concerned.

“Oh, hey Henry, I'm in a bit of a rush-”

“It’ll only take a moment. I promise.” He interjected. Him worrying was the last thing Luci wanted. He only normally worried when his father was coming to town. Hoping that wasn’t the case, she nodded.

“I just wanted to say, please be careful with who you let in. I know you're very smart. And I admire that, but please, be careful of that guy. I have a weird feeling about him.”

Unsure of what to say, Luci stood there for a moment before finally saying. “Don’t worry about who I befriend, Henry. I made it this far without being saved, I’ll be fine.”

Unsatisfied with the answer, Henry was going to protest but decided against it. Accepting it as what she wanted. He didn’t want to cause trouble, especially not after getting on her good side. “I understand. But call me if you need anything. Even if it has nothing to do with him.” He handed her a small paper with his number on it.

Luci gave him a soft smile before putting it in her pocket. “You know, he may look like him, but that doesn’t mean they’re the same.” She took off after that and met up with Max, leaving Henry behind.

“Sorry, I had to talk to someone before getting here.” Luci said as she walked over to Max, who was talking to some of the more popular girls.

The girls eyed Luci, letting out a short laugh and tossing their hair at her. Max pushed the two blonde bimbos out of his way, grabbed Luci's hand, and headed out of the union with her. "God, I hate fake people." He said under his breath as they headed out.

Luci could hear the girls gasp as they left the building, making her feel a little better about herself. Keeping pace, Luci held into Max's hand as they headed out to the courtyard and towards the food trucks. "These are better anyway."

Max gave her a smile, letting her take him to her favorite truck. they grabbed their food and sat down at a nearby table.

"I'm so sorry I grabbed you like that. While I was waiting for you, these girls jumped on me like I was their damn boyfriend. I don't think they listen very well when I say that I'm not interested in them." He laughed a little, taking a bite of his taco.

"You know, you're handsome enough to be with girls like that. Why did you ask me out?" Luci asked with a puzzled look on her face, poking at her food.

Max seemed taken back by the comment but smiled at the compliment. "I have been with girls as fake as them before, and it never worked out. They're here because their cheerleaders and they want to sleep with the whole football team. Academics mean nothing to them. You, on the other hand." He gestured at Luci, placing his hand on hers. "I can tell you're smart. You're different. You're modest and beautiful. And you don't climb on me to dry hump me, so there's that."

Luci laughed, feeling a bit better. They both ate their food and tossed the garbage out.

"Do you have any more classes today?" Max asked, walking close to Luci.

"Uh, yeah, at about six o'clock. But I'm free until then." Max smiled at that.

"Awesome! What should we do for the next few hours then?" He asked.

Luci thought about it before a hunger pain hit her in the gut. She winced but tried to hide it from Max. "Uh, let's go to the library. I have a spot in there that's quiet we can use to hang out in. If you want."

"Okay, that sounds good." She led him towards the library, going down the stairs to the basement and past the older bookshelves in the back. The area was barely disturbed and really quiet compared to the rest of the library. A pin could drop and be the loudest thing there besides their footsteps. She led him to the back, further away from everyone else, to a spot made out just for her. "The librarian let's me sit down here with all this stuff. No one comes back here anyway."

Max gave a soft smirk as he looked around. A huge bean bag chair sat between three shelves that came together like a hidden room. Some books were placed around, but most of the space was empty.

"W-we can do our homework together. To pass the time." She said nervously. Max sat down in the chair, still big enough for another person.

"Okay, let's get started then." He said as he patted the spot next to him. Luci sat down next to him, blushing softly as she rummaged through her bag for her laptop.

Max rested his arm around her and onto her thigh, then pulled her onto his lap. "I forgot my laptop at the room. I'll just follow along with you." He said, pulling her back against him to get her to relax.

Luci laid on him, blushing even more now but feeling faint.

Another hunger pain gripped her stomach as she sat there, slowly pulling away. "I'll be right back. Can you watch my things?" Max nodded, watching her head off towards the stairs. She stumbled into the girls' bathroom, hearing ringing in her ears. She waited too long for blood, and the hunger began to take over.

"Look who it is." It was one of the blonde bimbos from earlier.