"Shit."

I immediately grab my big toe in an attempt to subdue the sharp pain that courses through me after banging it against the glass coffee table. I hop around the compact dorm room on one leg, looking like a complete idiot. Due to my childish reaction, I almost face-plant onto the dark walnut-colored hardwood flooring. I finally give up and place my leg down, deciding that I would let the pain subside on its own.

As I get through the first struggle of the day, I take the courage to pull out the fiery-pink bordered full-length mirror that resides in the deepest, darkest corner of my quaint closet. I lean it up against the sliding wood-finished closet door. Glaring into the reflecting surface, I'm first met with my draining dark auburn eyes.

I become weary of staring at the acne that litters my face and gaze at the entirety of my body, which leads me to nod apathetically. My love handles spill out of the black leggings while my silk bra held my non-existent breasts. I've become accustomed to the ordinary disdain for how I look.

My thumb and index finger pinch at my inner thighs through the thin black leggings I am wearing, trying to see what they would look like if I got the excess fat removed. The various stretch marks that line my upper thighs beneath the thin elastic leggings plague my thoughts causing my face to form a slight grimace.

I granted myself this particular morning routine every once in a while. Unfortunately for me, I had to feel shitty about myself on my first day of classes at university.

I attempt to fit a cheap plain black sweater over my abnormally large head full of loose ebony curls.

A relieved breath is exhaled once my head pops through the opening of the sweater. "Thank God."

Moving on, I grab the keys to my car along with my navy blue backpack and basically sprint out of my dorm room with my filthy black Converse padding against the carpeted hallway.

After getting halfway down the hall, I realize that my dumbass forgot to lock my door. I jog back to secure the lock with my key and check the time on my antiquated wristwatch as I turn to run back down the hallway. It shows me that it's nearing twenty minutes before class is set to start. My legs instantly speed up past one another as if realizing for themselves that I'm almost late.

My legs are up in flames by the time I settle into the beat-up Chevy I bought myself during my last year of high school. The slight pivot of the key in the ignition starts up the engine... and my radio.

"LITTLE BITCH YOU CAN'T FUCK WITH M-"

To my surprise, I've left my radio on. I grab ahold of what's left of my weak, brittle heart as I turn down the blasting music, ultimately interrupting Cardi's verse.

"Motherfucker!" I scream out in utter frustration as I bang both of my arms against the steering wheel.

This morning is already starting off rough.

________

I shift my car into park once I settle into a parking space hidden behind a large, thunder gray truck.

My eyes take in the numerous peach-tone buildings that make up my new school. The University of South Orlando. The school that holds one of the top biochemistry programs in the country.

Stepping out of the vehicle, my direct line of sight allows for me to observe who I believe to be Professor Barr, my chemistry professor, greeting everyone into his classroom. The location of the class he is standing outside of gives me the hint. The first floor of the science building.

I take a quick glance at my wristwatch and the time reads 9:10 a.m. "Shit," I hiss under my breath.

After seizing my mangled backpack from the back seat, I shut the door and automatically lock my vehicle with the scuffed car remote.

With that, I beeline towards the class rapidly. As soon as I reach arm's length away from the door, I feel my shoulder clash with a competing force and my body propels backward. I close my eyes completely in shock as my bottom seems to have connected with the gray, dull pavement.

I grunt aggressively, having no time to curse out loud as the palms of my hands slightly scrape against the pavement as I try to save my fall. That's most definitely gonna leave a fucking mark.

As if in slow motion, I raise my head to notice hundreds of papers go flying everywhere. My head spins as I try to comprehend the situation.

I look up to see a man with slicked-back chestnut brown hair. My body begins to heat up as his eyes train on me, but only because seeing his eyes makes this moment reality. I'm heating up because I would rather crawl into a hole and die than face all the people that have just witnessed me bust my ass.

To say I am embarrassed is an understatement.

"Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry. I didn't mea-" I rapidly spit out all at once as I put my head back down, staring at the mess of papers beginning to litter the concrete sidewalk around me.

Deflect, deflect, deflect.

I look back up and am faced with the man. We involuntarily participate in a quick and painfully awkward staring contest. I could sense my eyes widen a bit as my mouth dries. I'm never able to control my facial expressions, which makes me a complete dead giveaway most of the time. I blink my eyes away in order to halt further embarrassment.

The man is hot as shit, there's no denying that. But, I rather not think about that right now before I actually fall into a fit of panic. I drop my head down quickly to focus on the mess that surrounds us.

Even though I try to distract myself physically, my parade of thoughts continue relentlessly.

I haven't seen him at any of the freshman orientations and events. Even though he looks older, he possesses a prominent essence of youth. A new professor maybe? I squat down like a frog as I collect his, for what seems like, millions of papers. He doesn't make a move to aid in the collection. His eyes only stick to me like Velcro as I struggle to organize this cluttered mess.

Once all the papers are somewhat collected in a disorganized pile, I slowly gather myself onto my feet and wipe the abraded palm of my right hand against my black leggings. I don't mind the white scuff left behind since these leggings are cheap anyways. I raise my head and extend my left arm out to hand the pile of papers back to him.

"My bad," I sigh, tightening my lips in guilt as I survey his facial features to find anything that can give me an intimation as to if he is human or not.

He brings his face down, staring at me with his piercing light hazel eyes. His stoic facial expression captures even more of my attention. He should be smiling ear to ear, grateful that I picked up his shit.

Despite feeling that way internally, I can't control the insane way my breathing hitches as I examine the oddly, mysterious individual that stands before me. The sharp, symmetrical structure of his face is enough to intimidate anyone that dares to look his way. The inwardness of his lighter brown eyebrows adding to his intimidating aura.

My gaze travels down, slightly panicked at his lack of emotion. Who's man's is this? Upon my glance down, I take notice of the fitted black and white suit he has on. I wonder who he is.

"Thank you," he simply states, as he slowly extends his hand to retrieve the papers from me while trying to meet my eyes to relay his genuine appreciation.

"N-no problem," I stutter stupidly, looking down at my worn-out black Converse sneakers in order to avoid eye contact with him. Please go away. His presence is making me anxious and it could possibly be because no one as good-looking as him has ever looked my way before.

While looking down at the ground, I spot my phone that has fallen. The flowery pattern making up the back of the rubber case is what faces me. I crouch down in order to flip it over and reveal the verdict. Its screen has been shattered. Fuck.

I fall out of my temporary trance and pay more attention to the current condition of my phone. Forget about this man, I am worried about my phone. My broke ass won't be able to afford another one. I instantly draw my attention away from the man that stands before me and frown as I inspect every corner of my phone to see if there is anymore damage. The corners are slightly scraped and I can't even swipe my finger across the screen without feeling a poke from the fragments of glass.

I disappointedly pace into the classroom, shattered phone in hand, completely disregarding Professor Barr's welcome. What a great first impression, Julian. I slip into the very back of the half-filled class, ignoring the judgemental stares and plop down into an empty blue chair residing in the far right corner, out of the professor's line of sight.

With each minute that passes, chemistry becomes more excruciatingly dreadful. Don't get me wrong, I'm in love with all aspects of science but the class is two hours long. I try my best to focus intently on his overview of the syllabus but that bores me even more. I just want to get into the actual learning.

Once we reach the end of class, Professor Barr decides to assign us an unreasonable load of work on the first day of class. I know I won't be getting any sleep tonight. I just want to go home and sulk into a bowl of Pecan Butter ice cream. Maybe that's what I'll do since I still have the rest of the early afternoon to enjoy before having to come back to work at the campus supply store around four.

As I start up the engine for the second time today, I slightly jump from the unexpected vibrations coming from my phone tucked in the hem of my leggings.

I slip it out to see that it is my beloved sister, Jessica Halls. I attempt to swipe right a few times on the shattered screen, but I flinch. Finally, I get through before losing the call, placing the worn-out iPhone on the leather middle armrest. My pointer finger stretches out to press the speaker button.

"Hey, babe!" she screeches with her usual fiery spirit. There is a slight vibration in my eardrums, even though the phone is at a great distance away.

"Hey, what's up?" I ask in a calmer tone, clearly unwilling to expel the same energy as her.

"How was your first day? Big Sis needs to hear all about it. Did you meet any cute guys?" She blurts out all at once, in a shrilling tone.

"No..." I reply half-heartedly thinking about the man I bumped into earlier. He was cute, but no. I'll probably never see him ever again. There was a sudden pit in my stomach as I thought about his dominating and intimidating aura. My stomach starts twisting and turning as I dwell on the thought. Maybe it's just cause I forgot to grab breakfast this morning.

Jessica interrupts my thoughts as she sternly demands, "Julian Halls, stop holding back. Tell me every ducking thing," The veritable concern becoming apparent in her high pitched voice.

"Didn't you really just say 'ducking'?"

"Don't judge," she snipes, "I'm working on my profanity," she concludes in a British accent of some sort.

I roll my eyes, being the only person to truly understanding how cooky her sister is. I vividly remember the time Jess tried to teach herself how to backflip in the backyard and ended up dislocating her shoulder, only to pop it back in herself.

"I promise you, I'm fine Jess. The day has just started. Give me time to ease into things and I'll let you know if anything changes, then I will report directly to you, sir," I state sarcastically, deepening my voice to sound resolute.

"Shut the fuck up! You better call me back, loser!"

"Yes, sir," I salute this time before ending the call with a slight chuckle escaping my lips.

Her call puts a goofy smile on my face. The first one today.

​

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A/N: Hey guys! I'm excited to start writing this new book. I have so many ideas for this book. Vote, follow, and comment as much as possible. Please feel free to comment and let me know how you feel about the story or just leave me any constructive criticism. I'm always open to improving my writing.😊✨