She wondered as he disappears into the immense crowd. She walked slowly to her locker, to put her already heavy books but her thoughts flickered  to the mystery guy. Who was he? How can she not recognize him? He definitely can't be a new guy? Her thoughts raced in her mind that she did not even realize that her papers were all stacked up together, mixed up. She picked up two-three books and walked towards her class as the bell rang.

   It was Biology class, a class which she thoroughly enjoys and always topped with a perfect score which every student would get in their dreams if they wanted. But today, she was in no mood even though it was practicals. When the professor asked them to open their journals to record their minute observation, she realized that she had got her English notebook by mistake. Silently she thanked God that at least she had got her rough book.
       The other periods, her body kept walking towards her respective classes and pretended like she was paying attention but in reality her mind kept wandering towards him, questioning herself who he was supposed to be and she cursed herself so that her mind  would have some sense to pay attention to what's more important.
       But as everyone knows when curiousity gets to a woman, there is nothing else she can think of. I think by the looks of it, Cassandra would've killed herself by now but by that it was English lecture so that would quench some of her curiousity. English was one lecture which was combined for the final year.

    She takes a look around her already filled class but her mystery guy wasn't to be seen. Maybe he was in his second or first year. Probably that is why he wasn't in class. But at that moment, Cassandra was proved totally wrong cause he just enters class with his bag slung over his shoulder and a huge smile and takes his seat diagonally in front of her as the lecture begins.
        They were doing Shakespeare's famous Hamlet, one of his most difficult plays but Cassandra wasn't bothered about the difficulty. Instead she began to observe at the new guy.
        He had nerd glasses which perfectly fit and magnified his dreamy brown hazel eyes which were filled with concentration and determination of not looking back at the person who was staring at him. He had deep freckles on his distinct cheekbones which not at all looked realistic but as if it had been made by a terrible artist. A tiny mole, quite close to the end of his lips disappeared into his hollow dimple when he smiled. His hair had been flattened too much to his dislike, decided Cassandra for he pushed his hair back only to flatten it again. He was that uncomfortable.

   He had that innocent face which reminded her of her Seventh grade. Weird part is she couldn't even recognize him. She being a complete introvert, knew things about people that they themselves didn't know. She could recognize anyone from her college even though it has over 2500 students. You could say she was very observant but truthfully she has never seen this guy before. Yet there were some signs she might have a chance of having information about this guy. 

    Suddenly the bell rang and that brought her back to reality. She was going to be the last one to leave for lunch. She quickly put her books in her blue sling bag and was about to leave but the professor stopped her. "Miss Stone, would you please stay back?" A sigh escaped from her lips before "Ok, Ma'am." She said dejectedly and waited till every student stepped out of the class.
        "Cassandra, is something wrong?" "No, Ma'am" Was her quick, innocent reply. "Then why were you not paying attention in class today?" Silence. For she had no answer for that. She could not tell the professor that she was quenching her thirst of her useless curiousity. "Cassandra, I hope you know that I am your friend, philosopher and guide. If there is anything, you can always tell me." Cassandra's eyes were down, looking at the shine of the floor. She felt guilty. "I know, Ma'am. I'm sorry." "It's ok. Anyways you are wanted in your cabin." The professor smiled as she patted Cassandra on the shoulder. "Yes, Ma'am."

   She goes out of the class and up to her cabin. She loved her job even though it took place during the lunch time. The school had a program called 'Ask-Ashley' where they picked one girl to be Ashley, a girl who loved helping people manage their problems. Relationship problems, Family issues, Study doubts, Secrets. You could trust her with anything. Only points of contact: emails or phone calls. No one knew who Ashley was except  for the staff board as they are the one's who select people who they think are fit for the description.
        So today was Cassandra first day and the board had chosen her because she had a dream of being a journalist, only she can't fulfill her dream due to a particular reason. Her parents!
         She sat down in her comfortable arm chair and switched on her laptop which had already contained 55 emails and the phone began to ring. Out of the lunch hour, 45 minutes went in this and the rest was break time. That meant that each person got 5 minutes to talk out their problems to her. Since the  phone was always busy, only the lucky few would get their chance.

     Cassandra was already done with 5 phone calls and 15 mails and she was already tired. She never knew her job could get so boring as well as hectic at the same time.
         Just then the phone rang again. She sighed  before picking up. "Hello, Ashley speaking here. What happened?" She says those very same practised lines the previous Ashley taught her, her friend. Cassandra had know clue about it until the last week of the previous year.
         "Hi Ashley! I want to know what would you buy a guy on his birthday." A girly voice replied to her sarcastic toned question. A girly voice? Had to be Angeline. Cassandra straightened up. "Ok, I'll answer that but first why don't you tell me your name?"
          Another rule of the programme, you weren't allowed to tell your real name. "Angel." The voice, without hesitation. Another proof that she was none other than Miss Angeline Grace. Cassandra wanted to tell her to cut one of her blond locks and gift it to the lucky guy. I mean which guy wouldn't value it? But Cassandra resisted it. but answered instead "Gift him something he will like. Probably his favourite baseball team poster or an autographed basket ball." The answer as normal as anyone could answer.

     "Ok darling, let me re-frame my question. What would you gift a guy who turns out to be the richest, hottest and the most popular guy in college for his birthday?" Cassandra's fore head crinkled. Surely she wasn't talking about HIM. But she asked to make sure her thought went into the right direction. "Who are you exactly talking about?" Her voice appeared to be curious. "Of course, I'm talking about Ashton, dummy." And she gives her cute giggle which sounded more like a kid.

      Ashton Black? Obviously it had to be him. The description had fit him so perfectly. But the reason she was surprised was that she did not know it was his birthday. The perks of being an introvert meant it was a must knowing everything nevertheless she continued, her voice growing a little shaky. "Ok, then gift him something  he would really appreciate and is worth using... Anyways times up. It was a pleasure talking to you and thank you for confiding your trust in Ashley. Bye!" And before Angel could protest, she cut the call and placed the phone to the receiver with a sigh of relief.

    In a snap, everything came back to our Cassandra. She just solved an incomplete puzzle mystery as the last question mark piece fit itself in it's rightful position, making a complete picture, quite perfect and clear.
         She finished her job quickly and went for lunch which got over pretty fast. She can't afford to be late for English lecture. The bell rang and she stood outside her class, waiting for her mystery guy.
          He was going to enter but Cassandra stopped his way. "I know who you are." She stated the obvious fact which seemed obvious only between the two of them. "So?" His voice deep and his eyes unable to look at the lady in front. "No, answer my question first." She stood there adamant, not ready to budge. His brow raised with 'Why should I care?' look and that too did not move Cassandra out of his way. "Why are you in disguise?" She asked curiously. The tall guy pulled her by the arms and pushed her to the nearest wall, quite next to the lockers, looking down deep into her deep brown eyes.
        His hands were on the either sides of her head and his face was inches apart from hers. She was feeling awkward but she could not back away. The wall stopped her. Cassandra was scared and her breathing fastened it's pace. His hands dropped and he gave her the space she needed to calm down and breath peacefully. "Sorry." He muttered the apology though both of them knew he didn't care less and went to class, pretending things to be normal again.  A few seconds later when she calmed down, she too went to class, sitting right behind him.

     The lecture ended pretty fast. As it is, she wasn't paying any attention anyways. Every one was leaving and she shouted the first name which came into her mind. "Aaron!"  The mystery guy who no more remained a mystery turned with his brow raised, the feeling of surprise well hidden.
         "Sorry, thought you wouldn't like to blow your cover." She apologizes sheepishly as the last of her classmate leave, giving them weird looks. Thus leaving them all alone, bringing shivers through her spine. She hated being in this situation. "What do you want?" He asked, letting out an angry sigh. What would he do to stop this girl from irritating him. "I need your help in English.'  A surprised look flashed on his face. "You? And need help? Seriously? Are you kidding me?" "No, I am not kidding you and I really need your help. In fact my weakest subject is English." As she said this, her cheeks grew cherry red in embarrassment. Surely it is a sign of pure embarrassment for a nerd to confess she is weak in some thing, particularly in a subject.
         But that was not noticed by the mystery guy who stood in front of her as he appeared to be thinking or pretended to at least. "Ok, I'll help..." That lifted her joy up. Now there was nothing to stop her from getting her perfect score. "...but...."
        Ah, that was just the word she was waiting for. The word which always forced a condition to follow.  "... I need some thing." "What?" Her voice sounded confident. She was ready to give up anything. "I need a .... kiss."
         Her eyes widened as his smirk grew wider. OK, except that anything... and maybe a few other things in that category. But Cassandra's wit took over her intelligence. "Ok, I will give you what you want provided... I get to reveal your disguise." Immediately "No, it's OK. No conditions apply. I'll help. Come to my house at five." He sighed as he gave her the paper which contained the famous address before he began to walk out of the class. "Ashton!" He turned. "Thanks!" She gives him her stunning smile.