Two
I finally finished unpacking. It took almost an hour, but it is done at last. I glance out the window to see the gradient sky already creeping into the faint darkness. It's like gazing at a watercolor canvas with all of the dark purple and red colors. The sun has sunk into the ground completely, remaining only a hint of yellow behind. It's quite pleasant to admire.
Naturally, I walk towards my white curtains and pull them together until they are closed tightly, hiding the wonderful creation that was painted in the sky.
Suddenly, flashes of my professor arise back to life in my cluttered mind, like as if this one reminder was useful information to commemorate. I catch a glimpse of his indistinct eyes hollowed out and blackened from the deep shadows. I'm able to distinguish his square jaw that curves beneath his perfect lips. I still can't forget the way his cheek bones declined out from his deep eyes then flattened his cheeks straight down. His low voice rumbles and echoes through my distracted memory loud and clear. It's almost as if we are located in the same room again.
He is so hot! I melt from the flashback.
His indigo suit fitted him so admirably on his muscled body, squaring sharply at his broad shoulders and slimming down his torso where his vest presses onto his black belt. I've never felt so jealous of apparel before.
Damn.
How am I expected to focus in class with a man like that? Although, I really shouldn't keep daydreaming about him. I'm sure he's married with a baby on the way. Why waste my time?
I am startled when my door opens. A girl with blonde, shiny hair and blue eyes strolls in. She smiles when she spots me, like as if she just approached her own surprise party.
"Oh, hey!" She greets with her lip gloss smile while setting down her keys on her new bed. "I would've been here earlier but I got lost. You must be my roommate!" Her eyes light up. "Wow! You're so pretty! And so skinny and tiny!"
"Uh, thanks." I brush my hair behind my ear awkwardly while considering if she meant that as a compliment or not.
Not the first time I've heard that.
Several occasions, I've had women encounter me with, 'You're so skinny!' Each time always carried a different meaning. One occurence would be aimed as a compliment, the other would be directed as an insult, followed by advice for me to consume food, as if I don't.
Yes, at times it would irritate me, but the repetitive approach just became adaptable. I accustomed to it in no time and would appreciably smile while thanking them. My attack always was to kill them with kindness. It hadn't ever failed me once.
I hold my hand out and introduce myself. "I'm Rosie." My voice is unfamiliar and higher than it usually is. This tone is my first impression voice. I typically approach people with this tone until I am comfortably acquainted with them. Generally, this inflection encounters newcomers, such as customer service or ordering pizza.
"I absolutely love that name!" She then clasps my hand and welcomes, "I'm Juliet." She immediatly gasps and asks, "Did we just become best friends?" Followed from that is a small giggle that hiccups in her throat.
She is undoubtedly bubbly. It must be favorable to be that energized while flashing smiles right and left.
It's not that I oppose from her energetic personality, it's just that I'm more laid back. I have been informed repetitively that I am such a happy being, but a mild, happy being.
She smiles brightly and answers her own question. "Yes! We are going to have so much fun together!" Her voice is squeamish like a little girl, kind of like mine, but pitcher. With each word she speaks, there's a tremendous amount of hope and joy that shines through.
I chuckle, wondering how to respond to someone who's like a caffeinated child. "Whatever you say." I grin ever so slightly at her in a calming manner, my body language suggesting her to compose herself steadily.
She tosses herself back onto her bed, her tall and thin body rebounding from the springs beneath her mattress. She then sits up while crossing her legs in a criss-cross-apple-sauce form. "So," She begins. "What's your major?" Her elbows rest on her knees so her palms can support her chin. She regards me with her enticed character while patiently anticipating my response.
My eyes draw over to my giraffe-shaped clock on the wall. It reads 10:23 PM. I should really consider on gaining some rest rather than babbling all night with this chatter box.
Obeying my conscious, I fix my bed sheet as I reply over my shoulder, "Illustration." Hopefully, my one-answer responses will signal to her my desire for her silence. I'm too postrated for conversing tonight.
"How amazing! So you can like totally draw and all that?" Her voice tone becomes more enthused now; it's almost a whisper, like a child asking questions about something unfamiliar to them.
I slide my comforter down and slip under it, laying my head on my fluffed pillow. "Yeah, otherwise I chose the wrong major." I chuckle quietly. My heavy eyes begin to weigh down as a yawn captures my breath.
"That is so cool! I can only take pictures and all. I can't draw for nothing!" Her infantile laugh awakens me from my abrupt corpulent slumber that has me overdosed on inactivity and dormancy. Hibernation seems quite encouraging at this moment.
I gradually turn my head to face her. "That's still impressive." My disabled utterance admits softly while my eyes glance over at the lamp light beside me. "Goodnight, Julie."
"Oh, yes, goodnight. And it's actually Juliet, but you can call me Julie too." She utters in one breath and lays down obediently.
I switch off the lamp light, resulting in the room becoming a heavy pitch black. I allow my eyelids to fall shut while my deliberation naturally activates to drift swiftly and evenly, one thought after the other in a clean transition.
Tomorrow is going to be a big day. I'll have the opportunity to meet all of my professors. . .well, one of them I already met. I don't ever recall an incident in which I've been so excited to attend math class before.
That's beside the point. He is just some delicious eye candy, a man to develop fantasies and admire sexually about during class. However, I cannot allow my sexual desire for him to stand in the way of my studies. I do not need any distractions, especially ones that have such a sexy grin and sculpted body.
The lamp light switches back on unexpectedly.
Squinting tightly from the sudden source of light, I glance at Julie who stops in place by her bed with a folded blanket. She flashes her teeth delinquently like she was just suddenly caught stealing a treat from the cookie jar.
"Sorry, I never made my bed." She giggles while unfolding a white sheet. "Oops!" She tosses the sheet into the air while gripping onto the end of it.
I roll my eyes. "Make it fast."
The more sleep I gain, the better. Tomorrow is going to be eventful. Really eventful.
By 6:30 AM, I am already embillished elegantly and prepared for the explicit day. My first class begins at 7:00 AM. I'll leave about ten minutes early to be sure I make it there on time. Fortunately, I now acknowledge its location, so there is not as much affliction.
I snatch a granola bar from the cabinet and patiently lean up against the wall. Across from me is the mirror above the dresser. I inspect my appearance wisely, pending on my outfit choice for today considerably. After about five outfit swaps from earlier, I finally decided to wear a white bralette with a black zipper jacket. I've paired it with a coffee brown, high-waisted mini skirt and thigh-high boots. This time, I tied my hair into a ponytail, allowing a strand of hair free on each side to frame my face. I decided not to wear too much makeup. I typically don't prefer to wear a whole lot. I just applied a thin strip of eyeliner, mascara, and rose pink lip gloss.
"Oh, hi there." Julie greets hazly from her nest. She sluggishly squints her eyes at me while stretching her arms out above her. Her blonde hair accurately resembles a drunk troll doll's mane. Beneath her blue eyes are hollowed dark circles on her bleached skin. Her pale lips are dried and cracked like a tree bark. Compared to yesterday, she definitely doesn't look like herself. She doesn't resemble the same poster girl that bounced through the door yesterday, the girl who seemed upbeat and well-maintenanced with her shiny hair and acrylic nails.
"I'm sorry if I woke you." I apologize, staring at my half-eaten granola bar.
"Oh no, you didn't. I never even heard you." She yawns quietly. "You have class right now?" She tilts her head at the clock.
I nod. "It's not until seven."
"Well, have fun." She smiles and closes her eyes to return back to her abundant dormancy.
Should I be jealous of her rather than thrilled to attend my classes today? It's not an odd inquisition.
I throw out the wrapper to my granola bar and leave the room. Carrying my diminutive book bag, I rhythmically saunter down the halls. In this accessible and favorable bag, I've gathered notebook paper, a couple of sparkly folders, a few journals, and two sketchbooks. I already acknowledge that it's syllabus week, but at least I'm prepared.
Once I have expeditiously disembarked my first class, I regard the excessive quantity of students that have congested the fair classroom.
I thought I was early.
Finding my seat, I rest my bag next to me and patiently wait for class to commence.
"I love your jacket." A girl objects beside me.
I glance over and thank her. She's a tall girl with short, curly, black hair. Her gorgeous skin tone is like dark chocolate and has a small button-like nose. She wears an off the shoulder crop with black and white stripes. I love that she paired it with that cream skirt.
"I like your outfit." I grin, returning the compliment.
"Thanks." She smirks. She then holds her hand out and greets, "Alex."
"Rosie." I shake her hand. "Enjoying your first stay?"
She scrunches her nose. "More or less. My roommate is a complete jerk already. She won't even talk to me." Her narrow eyes roll as she snorts.
I laugh. "Mine won't stop talking. I guess I have it better." I shrug while picking at my jacket sleeve.
"I guess so." She huffs. She then adds, "Did you hear about the student death today?"
My eyebrows press together. "What? No. What death?"
"There was a student here who died from drugs. What a shame." She shrugs.
I slowly turn my head away. That's awful.
"Alright, Ladies and Gentle-doops." A man announces with a clap as he enters the room. "I'm professor Anderson and this is visual arts one-oh-one. If you are in the wrong class, please leave." He pauses while pushing his glasses up his nose. "Or you can stay to draw naked ladies."
The classroom fills with soft chuckles.
"Alright, let's go over the rules that you probably will not follow by the next two weeks." He strides over to his desk and fetches a stack of paper.
He appears to be in his forty's, however, his bald head would convince me otherwise. He wears a red flannel shirt that is tucked into his cakis.
He already seems like a cool professor. I can't wait to get through this week so I can start on some projects.
10:00 AM rolls around shortly. I spent all morning reviewing a syllabus in art and then attending Julie's explanation about her class syllabus for about an hour. For at least, I assume she continued to talk about it. I unintentionally dozed off halfway through.
Currently, I am heading over towards my math class. . .with Professor Hottie. Maybe I shouldn't already provide him petnames as such. Irresistible he is, but I must not allow myself to get attached at all.
Once I approach his room, the door doesn't open, even after I pulled hard on the handle. I bewilderedly shake it a few times and huff frustratingly. My hands cup the side of my head for my eyes to peek in the small window. I spot about half the class in there along with Professor Collins. He is currently sitting at his desk while on his computer.
I knock and wait for him to come. Patiently, I awkwardly check my surroundings to catch if anyone notices that I am locked out on the first day.
This is humiliating. I hope no one notices.
After an elongated moment, he still hasn't arrived.
He must have not heard me. I roll my eyes.
With a sigh, my knuckles crack against the door again, louder than the first time. Naturally, I roll my eyes and fold my arms all in one movement.
Impatiently, I wait for only a few seconds and quickly grab the handle frustratingly, pushing myself forward in hopes that I can open it.
The door swings open and I lose my balance, causing me to fly into a hard body. Large hands grab a hold of me by my shoulders, slowing my momentum.
I can hear small chuckles grow in the room.
Right in front of me are broad shoulders in a dark blue suit with a matching tie. I step back and recognize Professor Collins. He stands his ground with his arms folded across his chest. His expression is intimidating.
"Uh, the door," I remark quietly while checking behind me to see how I resulted in this situation. My face bakes warmly like an oven.
"Take your seat." He demands. His eyes watch me like a hawk. He hasn't moved since I fell in. He only strictly focuses on me, examining me thoroughly like as if he's waiting or expecing something out of me. Waiting for what?
"Ah, yes," I shake my head up at him, my cheeks red from embaressment. "Yes, Sir." My voice quietly corrects before I quickly find myself a seat, wondering how he causes me to feel so anxious. I can feel his eyes burning on me as I sit down.
I glance up from the desk to see him grinning satisfyingly at me, like as if he's silently laughing a an inside joke.
There's that look again. What is he thinking?
He strides over to his desk. "Let's quickly go over the syllabus." He grabs a stack of paper and begins passing them out one by one.
"Hey, Cluts." A relaxed voice welcomes next to me. For a second, I question if he is directing his ovation towards me.
I check my left side to assure myself and see a pale face with brown eyes. His familiar feauture only gives me a moment to recognize that I saw him in the elevator yesterday.
"Um, hi." I brush my hair behind my right ear while smiling weakly.
This isn't awkward.
I don't have the motivation to converse with the stranger who assumed that I was checking him out. Articulating with him only results in his damn excessive ego to shoot to the moon in thoughts of actually believing that I adore him. These kind of cases end terribly. Bottomline, I continue to turn him down while he repeatedly pretends that I'm secretly hiding my affection for him. This isn't my first rodeo.
I glance away, expecting him to recieve the signal of my disinterest. Maybe he doesn't recognize me. I hope.
"You're the girl from the elevator that was checking me out yesterday, right?" He smirks at me as his cheek bones rise. His white teeth flash at me.
I immediately quirk my attention towards his and objectively declare, "I was not checking you out. I was just observing your fashion taste." I pause and realize that I didn't make the situation any better.
He chuckles and jokes, "Ah, makes total sense now." His thin lips press into a line as he nods his head.
"Don't laugh at me." I snap while folding my arms.
He's criticizing me like I am completely a decade younger than him. That is the last thing I need today.
He raises both his arms up slightly, suggesting his innocence. "Hey, I'm not judging you. I just think. . .you're different." His head cocks to the side as he grins, his expression searching mine as if to reveal some kind of truth. His brown eyes distend with inquisitivity.
"Different?" I raise an eye brow at him. "I could be wrong, but I think that's the same concept as judging." My eyes narrow at him with spite.
"No," He argues, his tone calm and considerate. "I meant that in a good way. There's just something unique about you that seperates you from the others."
I stare blankly at him. Different?
"Is this man bothering you?" Professor Collins asks from in front of me, slowly setting down a piece of paper. I am startled by his silent approach. He stands tall above me, his eyes lowered down at mine.
"Um," I glance at the guy next to me. "no. He's not."
Elevator dude smirks at me and then at Professor Collins like he's just won a competition with him. He only allows his attention elsewhere, avoiding his ridiculous and content expression. He then continues to pass out papers, glancing back at me every ten seconds.
What does he want from me? Why does he keep acting like that?
"Blake." He introduces himself after Professor Collins leaves.
I moderately glance at him, still processing this mysterious man in my discombobulated mind. For a small moment, I forgot what I was even talking about or what I was going to say. "Um, Rosie." My soft words introduce shortly.
He grins at me, two lines creasing on each side of his lips. He tilts his chin up slightly while keeping his eyes on me. "Different." He replies in a low tone.
My fingers crawl through my hair as I turn my head away, deciding against responding. My mind begins to wander. Different?
How am I different?
"There will be no chewing gum in this classroom." Professor Collins begins.
Once class is over, I follow the crowd of students unloading out the door.
"Miss White," Professor Collins stops me.
I walk towards him with numb legs and a thick chest. "Yes?" I suddenly shake my head and correct myself. "Yes, Sir?"
"I noticed your ACT scores were low under mathematics." He raises his eyes at me from his seat. I find it hysterical that I'm short enough to almost be his height while he is sitting.
"Yeah, that was discussed at the meeting I had over the summer." I pause. "I don't understand, they said I shouldn't worry about it."
My heart begins to race. Am I going to get removed from his class? Am I going to get kicked out ot school?
"And they are right. There is no worry. However, I think we can improve that average here in my class." He grins to the side, creating a small crease by the corner of his mouth.
I bite my lip. "Yeah, that would be great." I reply softly.
"In other words, we'll be spending sessions after class a few days a week to help you with your homework and so forth." He states, watching me with his intimidating eyes again.
Holy crap! I'll be spending my afternoons with this guy. I can feel my chest melting now.
"No problem." I grin wide. "Thank you, sir."
"My pleasure, Miss White." He nods his head once. "I'll see you tomorrow."
I watch his his eyes darken. He dips his sculpted chin down further, watching me. My eyes drift to his lips.
Why can't I stop admiring him?
"Uh, see you tomorrow." I hesitate before leaving, squeezing my fists by my sides.
I wish I could just act normal around him.