Chapter 1 — The Beginning
I lie here in bed, thinking of the night we have had. The dawn light is trying to pierce my eyes through the dark blinds. Oh she is trying to wake me, but I ignore her and lay in bliss. I remember the way your hands felt on my skin. I remember how your lips felt against my own and how soft they were. As I drift back into a light sleep, I dream of what happened.
You walked over to me in the hallway just outside my literature class. I was desperately trying to finish the final pages of “Crime and Punishment” when you spoke.
“Ah, that’s a great book. Did you like it?”
“I can’t seem to put it down” I commented as I glanced up to see your eyes.
They are so green they pierce through mine and grasp my attention.
“My name is Kenneth” you retort.
Noticing how much I’m staring, I stutter out “I’m Deirdre, but my friends call me every variation but..”
You laugh, and smile at me “well, every variation but, its lovely to meet you.”
Glancing away for fear of you knowing that I was staring, I smile and thank you. As I came back to reality, I forgot that I actually had to go to class. It was the first day and I couldn’t be late. Turning to you I apologize for the fact that I have to get to class, and throw in that ‘I hope to see you again’ comments as you respond with the same.
I scuttle into class about 5 minutes early and find a seat, drop my shit and begin to read again. The class begins to fill more rapidly and I put down my book because I cannot read with the distraction. My eyes scan the room for any faces that I recognize. Not a one. “Damn” I think to myself “how can I not know anyone in a class of 100?” Then as I glance back toward the door, I see you walk in. I smile on command when I see your face just grateful that I know someone in the class. But I find it odd that you go to the front of the room instead of sitting with the rest of the students. I just assumed that you were waiting to speak with the professor, but I was so mistaken.
The clock hit 11am, time for class to start. You walk to the door and shut it. Turning to the 100 various faces you speak. “Good morning class, my name is Professor Cornell and this is World Literature. If you’re in the wrong class, get up and go now, but if not you are in for a truly interesting semester full of war, adultery, religious conflict, sex and everything else you can possibly think of. There is something in this class for everyone, and I hope you enjoy yourselves.” At that I felt myself turn a bright shade of red and felt myself wet in a place that I should not be. I then smirk to myself and think about how interesting a semester it will be, looking at your face on a daily basis.
As class is dismissed, I gather my random crap and head for the door. You glance up at me as I walk by. I don’t dare look, but you stop me. “Deirdre, it’s nice to see a familiar face in my class” you say. “Yes professor I feel the same way, but why didn’t you tell me that you were a teacher here when we met earlier?”