
I threw my bag over my shoulder and rushed down the stairs of my building towards the parking garage. s**t, s**t, s**t! I cursed myself for being late. I've never been the type to show up late. I hate being the center of attention, and showing up this late in the morning meant I'd have a lot of attention on me, the entire class worth of attention. f*****g s**t! I got to my car and yanked on the handle. Locked. In my tardiness-fueled frenzy I'd forgotten to unlock my car doors. "For f**k sakes!" I grumbled aloud to myself, fumbling in my bag for my keys. After thirty seconds of useless digging, I took a moment to pause, breath and shut my eyes. I needed to relax and get my s**t together. When I snapped my eyes open I saw a figure standing across from me in the parking garage, straight ahead, staring directly at me. I sucked in a deep breath, my God, she was beautiful.
***
I just wanted to get out of Preston's building as fast as possible. My hands were shaking, my heart racing and my eyes watering. I'd dealt with his s**t countless times, but this was my breaking point. Memories of his hot, beer-soaked breath inches from my face last night flashed through my head as I raced down the concrete steps leading me to my escape, towards my car. The tears were threatening to fall. I smacked my palms against the metal push bar on the exit and sucked in the cold air of the parking garage. I heard a voice curse, and I fixed my eyes on the person across from me. Our eyes met, and I began to sob.

