Page 8 of Eye of the Hurricane
The sports teams still come here for summer practice and some students have summer courses. Some are even here just to fill out paperwork or visit before applying to Doves Harbor University.
When I started college I hated it. All for about one day. That is, until I met Katherine. Knowing Kat changed everything. Most of all, my attitude toward college. All of a sudden it was a place I might run into her. Which inadvertently made it a place I was excited to be.
3 Years Ago…
Collegesucks.
Okay, maybe I’m jumping the gun here. It’s only my firstday. But, classes are hard and finding friends is harder. The class stuff I expected, but the lack of friendly faces is new to me. I’ve never had a problem socializing. I was the social butterfly in high school, but here I’m just another freshman in the crowd. Maybe not having my best friends, Audra and Ravyn, is throwing me off.
I walk into my last class of the day and the entire room is filled with other students. I look for a seat in the back row but every seat is filled. I walk down the rows of auditorium seating until I find an empty seat.
Just as the professor starts speaking, I notice the woman sitting two chairs to my left. Beautiful blonde waves cascade over her shoulders and down her back. She has a pencil pulled up and pressed to her full, red lips. Freckles are perfectly sprinkled atop both cheeks and the bridge of her upturned nose.
In this moment, I’m certain that I’ve just laid eyes on the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met. Scratch that, probably the most beautiful woman I’ll ever meet. She is sunshine personified.
The professor goes on and on with introductions but I don’t hear a single word she says. I’m lost in the fantasy life I’ve mapped out with the beautiful blonde a couple of seats away.
She’s wildly overdressed for a college lecture. She’s got on a yellow dress with thin straps and a slit up the side. Her heels even match.Holy fucking fuck.
After what feels like three years but is likely closer to forty-five minutes, class is dismissed. I make it a personal mission to catch the blonde outside of class and introduce myself. I push through the crowd of people and finally find my way outside to wait.
I notice the sound of heels clicking on the cement outside. I know it’s her when I see pale yellow heels. I waste no time putting myself in her path.
I’m now standing in front of what might be an actual angel. Except the angel is… scowling? I might care more if her perfect nose didn’t scrunch up in such an adorable way. I might be more worried about the squint in her eyes if they weren’t the most alluring shade of blue I’ve ever seen.
“My name is Ares,” I say, clearing my throat. I’m a little surprised I can even remember how to speak.
“And I care why?” she asks, looking at me expectantly for an answer. Of course, the prettiest girl on campus is the least friendly. It’s really the kind of luck I find in my endeavors. So much for angels and sunshine.
Well, I didn’t anticipate this. I clear my throat again, buying myself a second to gather something to say.
“I just wanted to introduce myself,” I say, sticking my hand out for her to shake. Her eyes flick to my hand then back up to my face, confusion twisting into her features.
“Well… you’ve introduced yourself. Can I go now?” She asks, pointing her thumb over her shoulder. I try to quickly think of a reason to keep her here, keep her talking to me, but I don’t have one.
“Yes, ma’am,” I say, scratching the back of my neck. Idefinitelyblew that one. At least it couldn’t have gone worse, I guess.
She turns on her heels and walks the other way. Just then I hear her mumble under her breath, “Well, that was odd.”
Something about that being my first and possibly only impression with this woman really doesn’t sit right with me. So like the idiot I am, I catch back up with her.
“I’m sorry, that was weird back there,” I start and she laughs.
“It’s still pretty weird…” She stops for a second, thinking. “Ares, was it?”
“Yep, Ares.” I nod my head. “And yours is?” I ask.
“Katherine,” she adds, not sounding entirely sure if she really wanted to give me that information.
“There’s a Katherine in one of my favorite shows, she’s smoking hot” I tell her, immediately realizing how stupid it is. She rolls her eyes so hard I think they might get stuck back there. She hums a sound of annoyance.
“You really aren’t great at social interactions, are you?” she asks, amusement twinkling in her eyes. Somehow I think doubling down on this horrible first impression is working in my favor.
“Usually I do better, just not so great with beautiful girls,” I admit, giving her a wink. She groans in annoyance. This is going about as bad as possible but I’m just happy she’s giving me the time of day.
“Yeah, no. I don’t have time for whateverthisis,” she says, waving her hands in the air.
“Shit,” I huff under my breath. “I promise I’m not always this awkward. I just saw you in the lecture hall and wanted to say something because you’re really pretty and I realize now that it was weird and maybe even a little creepy… okay, maybe a lot creepy.” I take a long inhale before continuing to spew word vomit. “I’ve just really not been having a great first day, I don’t really have any friends here. I’m sorry.” I blurt out.
