Dedication: We want to thank our dear friend LonelyArmadillo, who is one of our first readers and patient enough to correct our mistakes. Your comments are pure gold. XOXO

Check out her story if you want. She is an amazing writer and we are hooked by her book.

Note:

Additional Cast:

Grey Damon as Ashton Sanders

Valorie Curry as Anna Matthews

Vanessa's POV

Here we go week two. It's already Wednesday and I've been super busy. To me, the beginning of the semester is everything. You have to organize your responsibilities, do the necessary research and study to be prepared. That being said, I have to go to the library tomorrow to check what books are available for my classes. Maybe I could tell Sophie to join me. Our first attempt to hang out turned to be better than I could've ever imagined. We made a bit of conversation and laughed with her friend Joseph and Alice, who almost got us kicked out of the cinema. Poor Alice, what a small world it is and what a luck to run into the one you never intended to see again. I can relate to that. Anyway, both cinema and library don't include much talking so I think it could work for me and Sophie. I am texting her now. I won't push her for any other social activities until she gets to really like me.

Today the newspaper's editor returns and I've been told to stop by the office so I do. I can hear the sound of the clipboards typing and I feel like I am just at the place I'm supposed to be. Anna, who I gave my application to last week, greets me from the front desk.

"You're here to see the big boss?" she asks and puts her pencil behind her ear.

"Yeah. Can you inform him that I'm here?"

"Inform him? Nope, don't stand over there girl, you can go inside. Ashton is really cool. His office is at the end of the hallway."

I thank Anna and walk over the office. There's no sign to show any formality or that it is actually the editor's office. The door is half open and I hear conversation. I stand awkwardly deciding if I should wait or knock. I go with option two.

"Come in." A brown haired boy with magnetic green eyes is laying his back on the desk talking to a guy named Vincent, who I recognize from Introduction to Journalism.

"That would be it for now Vinc, and don't forget the interview." He hits him friendly on the back and walks him out of his office.

"Hey Vanessa", Vincent tells me before stepping out. I greet him with a nod.

"Vanessa it is. I am Ashton. Nice to meet you and welcome to the gang." He shakes my hand and smiles.

"Nice to meet you, too. Is it okay to call you Ashton? I mean, you are the editor after all..." I say unsure. His smile widens.

"Do I look like that kind of snob?"

"No, I didn't mean..."

He laughs and I join him.

"You need to loosen up a little. Everybody here is equal. I just happen to do the editing thing." He tells me.

I immediately feel relaxed. He's such a nice and humble person. Anna told me that his article on immigration got him the first place last year in the most important journalism contest. Thanks to that, he got an internship to the TIMES for the summer which lasted until now. His eyes go from mine to the rest of my body. I'm sure I've turned red by now. He smiles once again, sits at his chair and tells me to sit down too.

"So Vanessa, do you have any preference on what your sector could be?"

"I would be ok with anything really. Whatever you think is appropriate. I will do my best to not disappoint you."

"I'm sure you won't." he reassures me. "Do you like movies?" he asks looking at his papers.

"Yes, I do."

"What about the cinema section then? Writing a few reviews a month will leave you enough time to enjoy college life too, since you're a freshman."

I haven't thought of that, it seems like the ideal choice. Ashton is very kind not to pressure me in my start.

"It sounds perfect. Thank you so much, Ashton!" I say and pop from the chair.

"You're really into this, aren't you? I'm glad to see fresh blood amongst us. Anna will show you around and teach you how the whole paper works. If still you do have a question, don't hesitate to come over here."

"Thank you, Ashton!"

"Stop thanking me all the time." He crosses his arms in front of his chest and looks at me playfully. I look down smiling.

"Ah! There is something I want to tell you", I raise a finger in the air.

"You have my attention."

"I've been informed there's an LGBT gathering taking place this month with lots of activists giving their opinion on several matters. I took the liberty of telling the ones who are organizing this that we will cover it. Well, the truth is I asked if the paper got it covered and if they wanted me to inform the office about the event. I don't want you to think I believe that I'm the one in charge 'cause I certainly had no authority to do that but-"

"Hey, hey, hey... I see you have an apology speech ready but it's not needed. I want everyone to be creative and free to write what inspires them. You did right, the past editor was openly against the LGBT community and we need to make them see we're not taking a page from his book. Good job, Vanessa."

I feel like I can breathe again. Ashton is so down to earth and good. Really good. Anybody else at his place would have gotten me out of the office and the paper.

"It was nothing really, I didn't even think before talking, next time I will", I promise.

"Please don't. That's one of the things I like about you." He's looking straight at me and I wish I could hide behind the sofa. Instead I manage to open my mouth and greet Ashton before leaving his office.

"Goodbye, Vanessa" he says and I can feel his eyes following me down the hallway.

As I step out of the paper's office I check my phone. I have two texts from Sophie.

Sophie: I'm already at the library. Studying.

Sophie: Maybe you can join me. Second floor.

I can see she's making a huge effort here. I didn't expect it to be that easy. I will show her I am worthy of her time. I find this personal vendetta so pointless. I never even understood why she has been so distant throughout our school years. I remember the one and only time Sophie showed up at my birthday party. I was turning 7. I always invited the entire class because I didn't want anybody to feel left out and I was actually friends with all my classmates. Well, not best friends, that was Emma's privilege, but still we would hang out and play at the neighbourhood. Anyway, so on my 7th birthday Sophie decided to come accompanied with Joseph. I remember she didn't say a single word to me except Happy birthday under the watch of her mother giving me my present. She sat alienated and didn't take part at any of the games. Not even at the sack race which was always my dad's favorite. When I opened the presents and unwrapped hers I thanked her kindly and went for a hug. She accidentally threw her cake slice on me. I don't believe it was her intention to do it, I think she's just not used to these kind of interactions. I can see she is a brilliant girl with a good heart. That's the kind of person you want your friend to be. So, I am going to befriend her. It's going to be a difficult task but I am not going to give up.

How do you befriend someone who doesn't quite want to hang out with you? Hmm, Ι could dangle a sweet in front of her and see what happens. Nobody can resist sweets! I stop by the coffee shop and take two cinnamon rolls. I think it is the safest choice. If I choose something that consists only of chocolate, it can turn out to be too much. If I go for some fruit flavor, I can risk that she won't like the certain fruit. Yes, cinnamon rolls it is. Who doesn't like cinnamon? I ask the employee to put it in some pretty impressive bags that says "sugar helps studying". I hope it helps our friendship too.

I enter the library and take the elevator to the second floor as Sophie told me. I scan every spot. If I know her just a little, she must be somewhere on her own, isolated once again. And yes, I am right. She is sitting at what seems to be an almost private desk, fully concentrated on reading a giant law book. I approach her tentatively.

"Hey, Sophie." I greet her whispering, even if there is actually nobody around us. That's the library's protocol after all.

"Umm, hi, hello, how are you?" She moves uncomfortably on her seat playing with her fingers.

"I am good and I come bearing gifts!" I give her the bag. God, please don't make her allergic to cinnamon. "How are you?"

"This is for me?" She asks shyly as she takes out the cinnamon rolls and her eyes widen. "Umm....how much do I owe you for this?" She reaches for her purse.

"What? No! I said baring gifts, remember? I hope you like it, I didn't know what your favorite is." This isn't going well.

"Ohh..um...thanks..thank you...I like cinnamon rolls." She says looking at it.

Yeaaaaah! It is my day, today! I did it! I made it! What were the odds? I try to hide my excitement and thank the cinnamon fairies in my mind.

"I like them too." I say smiling and we begin taking bites. It is the best cinnamon roll I have ever tested. I swear!

"Umm..I have antiseptic handkerchiefs if you want?" She says taking a pack from her backpack and giving it to me. Aaw, look at my new friend offering me an antiseptic handkerchief to clean my hands! That is thoughtful of her!

"Thank you, Sophie! So, what are you reading?"

"For my Friday's class ...I don't think it will interest you...it's boring law stuff. You?" She pushes her glasses higher on her nose and closes the book.

"No, on the contrary! I find it really interesting! I think everyone should have some basic knowledge on law. If that was the case, the world would be such a better place. I brought my notes for Introduction to Journalism. Introductions are pretty important classes in general in my opinion, I don't want to fall behind when it comes to that."

She looks at me surprised by my answer. "Joss makes fun of me when I talk about law stuff. I appreciate journalism as well" she shrugs and then continues, "So... Joss and Alice... did you hear?" she changes the subject. That's a good subject, I can keep up the conversation.

"I am glad you do. Yeah, I know, they got themselves back in trouble! How do they do that?" I wonder out loud.

"Yes I know! Joss was fuming back at our apartment. He wouldn't stop talking about it. It was kind of annoying." She giggles.

"So was Alice! These two are a terrible combination together, yet again they keep popping into each other! Ms. Fitzgerald was beyond mad with them! Seems to me they were really lucky to get away with just this library chore thing." Sophie giggles again and I join her. Alice and Joseph's situation is the best bonding material.

"They totally embarrassed us in the movies the other day. They would have kicked us out if they could. And to be honest, I didn't get to enjoy the movie." She pouts taking her glasses off.

"Well, we didn't watch it under the ideal circumstances but our friends were quite entertaining too! Τhere's no doubt about that." I say while turning my hair into a bun.

"That's for sure. They deserve an award for most annoying viewers." We both burst out laughing at that. After a moment of silence she speaks again. "So...you know the blonde girl we saw the other day, Robin?"

"Yes, I do! Robin is lovely! I met her last week when she gave me an informative leaflet on the upcoming gathering. You go to class together right?" Another thing we have in common is Robin. Yes, Robin is a mutual friend of ours so that makes us friends technically. "We should tell her to join us next time. You can study together for your class. She seems to be a punctual student. She is so passionate and well spoken, isn't she?"

She stiffens while I am speaking and I can tell she gets momentarily uncomfortable. "Um.... I don't think this would be a good idea..I am sure she hates me. I said something and she got angry..we kinda had a fight? I don't know... I have poor social skills anyway." She lowers her head playing with her fingers again. She is definitely feeling bad about it.

"I am sure she doesn't. Robin doesn't give me the idea of a person capable of hating another human being and especially you. It was all a misunderstanding and I have a feeling she has already forgotten about it. Don't you worry, Sophie!" I try to make her see this is not a big of a deal.

"I don't know about that.... anyway.... what's your boyfriend's college? Is it near?"

"My boyfriend's?" I say louder than I intended to. Sophie looks at me panicked, like she has just asked the forbidden question. Oh, she was just trying to be chatty and I am messing it up. "I mean, I have no boyfriend at the moment. Or for quite a long time really. My first and only boyfriend was Shane Moore. Do you remember him? He was a year older than us. We kind of dated in 9th grade. I mean I let him occasionally hold my hand. He kissed me this one time. It was pretty gross. Ew!" Sophie laughs with the portrayal of my first relationship and I finally find a thing to be thankful to Shane.

"Sounds like a dreamy relationship. I think I remember him vaguely. I don't think we ever talked to each other, but I remember his existence."

"Well, he was a good guy, my best friend Emma was going out with his best friend so we would spend our time together and this is how it happened. Actually, Emma kept telling me it was about time for me to start dating and approved of him, so I took her advice. There weren't any sparkles or fireworks really. Then, he moved and we lost touch because of studying and all. Woah, I am ranting about it, aren't I?" I guess I have already turned red. "What about you?"

She blushes furiously putting her glasses back on. "I ...um. No boyfriend. Socially awkward and stuff. I think I intimidate people. I don't know how to make small talk... so yeah.. I am alone.. as in no relationship. Yeah." She shrugs again.

"That's a little exaggerating, don't you think? I am sure you just haven't found the person who is the right fit. Don't give up on love yet." She might have built her walls well but I think there is for sure someone out there willing to bring them down. I am already smashing little tiny parts of these walls.

"I... I don't know. Maybe." she whispers the last part but I heard her very well. She might have less confidence than myself on this matter, if that could be ever possible. I choose not to push her further, I have a feeling she will see it for herself soon enough.

"So, should we go back to studying? I mean you go back to studying and I begin to study?" Why can't I say it all in one simple sentence? I hope she doesn't find me too awkward.

"Yes, I do need to study...I will most certainly space out and focus on the book so I won't be speaking to you..yeah." She puts her hand behind her neck grimacing.

"Oh, so will I! I won't bother you, I promise!" She nods giving me a little smile and we get lost in our college duty.