This is a mostly true (you have to romanticize some of it, you know) story that I found too amazing not to tell. Buuut, I get a feeling this one will appeal more to you ladies out there. No worries though, there are plenty of steamy parts.
Alice:
She could hardly hold in the impatient sigh that threatened to rip through her lungs. She had less than twenty minutes to get food, pay for it, and get to her next class (which was all the way across campus) on time.
If her last class hadn't run so late, she wouldn't be in this predicament. But here she was. Tapping her shoe. Watching the very large man in front of her take his sweet precious time ordering. From a pizza place.
Frustrated, she looked at her phone again. Seventeen minutes. Damn it.
"You ok, there?"
The undeniably male voice behind her startled her, causing her to stutter, "Yeah, yeah I-I'm fine." She mumbled.
"You.. sure about that?"
She started to wave him away as the giant in front of her finally started to move, pizza in hand, "I'm fine," redirecting her attention, she spoke to the clerk, "I'll have a number one, please."
"Make it two number ones, please," the stranger behind her moved next to her, handing the clerk his credit card.
Letting that irritated sigh out, Alice turned to the stranger, fumbling with the cash in her hand trying to count out what she owed him. "I don't need your help," she huffed before his hand came down on hers.
"It's ok. You just look like you could use a good thing happening to you today. I figured I could at least get your lunch."
Finally, she looked up at the stranger, and oh God she almost wished she hadn't. Dark hair fell over the bluest eyes she'd ever seen, and the smile surrounded by stubble he flashed nearly made her faint, not to mention the fact that he hovered over her at a height of at least 6'2" with a long, hard, lean body. Tattoos showed under the sleeves of his v-neck and slid down his muscular forearms, and his dark eyebrow, was raised. Ooh boy.
"Oh... well thank you," she stammered, looking down again, then grabbed her pizza, drink, and attempted to bolt.
"Now hold on a second there," he called after her, his hand gently taking her arm to keep her in place, "I just bought your lunch. Don't I at least get to eat with you?"
"I really don't have time.. I have to get to my next class by one, so I was planning on eating as I walked..."
"Just sit a second with me, then we'll walk together. Sound like a plan?" He winked as he gestured toward the nearest empty table.
Blushing profusely, she sat and tried to eat her pizza without attacking it like it would run away from her. She had a bad habit of eating like a slob, and pizza sauce on your chin was far from sexy.
"So, what year are you," her sexy stranger asked her, eyebrow cocked in curiosity.
In between gulps, she breathed, "I'm a junior... What about you?"
"Ah, I don't go to school here.. or anywhere. I'm a musician."
Oooof course he was.
"So... if you're not a student, then why are you here?" She winced as she realized how abrupt she sounded.
"Picking up a friend from class here in about 20 minutes... figured I'd get here early and check it out. I've never been up here before."
Trying to not sound so short, she nodded and mumbled, "Ah, I see. So you're a musician. Let me guess. Guitar?"
He smirked and rolled his eyes, "Bass."
Right. Well the pizza had disappeared in a short enough amount of time, so she got up and gathered her things, "Look I don't mean to be rude, but I really have to go. My class is across campus and it starts in ten minutes, and if you haven't noticed, this campus is pretty huge, and my car is not exactly close, so I really, really need to go..."
He got up in the middle of her speech and cut her off, "No sweat. I'll take you if you want. My ride's right outside."
For the first time in this entire, weird conversation, Alice smiled. "That would be so great. Thanks so much.. for the meal and everything. I'm sorry I haven't been exactly cordial. This hasn't been the best day for me... but thank you."
"Again, no sweat. Just follow me."
She got into his old Chevy truck, and they were soon pulling up to the building she needed to be in. She hopped out, surprised to find him getting out as well, and walking next to her.
"You don't have to walk me, it's totally fine..."
"Actually, I got out to ask you for your number. It's not every day you meet a pretty girl. I figure I'd better try to hold onto my good fortune."
She stopped in the middle of the hallway as the clock struck one, the school's bell tower ringing out. "Look.. thanks again for the lunch.. You're very sweet.. but I generally don't give my number out to people I don't know."
He grinned and stuck out his hand, "I'm Bryce Hicks, and I think you're cute. And you are...?"
Unable to help herself, she smiled and shook his hand, "I'm Alice James... and I have a boyfriend. I'd love to keep entertaining this conversation, but I'm late.. It was really nice to meet you though, Bryce."
She walked away, but stole one glance over her shoulder and saw his smile, not wavering in the least before she disappeared into her classroom. Boy. That was the first time in a long time she'd wished she didn't have a boyfriend.
But she did. And speaking of which, he was visiting her tonight. Jason had promised to take her out on the town and give her a long overdue date. She could hardly wait.
*******************
And everything Bryce was, Jason was not. Not in a bad way necessarily, but they were definitely polar opposites. Jason had short blonde locks sticking up with gel and hairspray, deep green eyes, and a slight smile. He was around six feet tall, give or take, his figure thin, though lean like that of a soccer player, which he had been in high school.
He was polite and sweet and everything a boyfriend should be, and he never pushed the limit as far as Alice's virginal status was concerned. He'd asked for sex one time, but she'd told him that when the time was right, she'd do it. It just... never felt right. She'd always figured they'd just wait until they were married. It seemed like the right thing to do.
And it wasn't as if they'd been together for a few months. They'd been together for nearly five years. She'd been half in love with him already before they'd ever even met in high school, watching him at every single soccer event they had. He was like her prince. Her knight in shining armor.
While Alice went to UT, Jason went to UNT. Still in Texas, thankfully, but they were hours away from each other, so times became hard between them, but Alice was determined to work things out. They were basically the perfect couple. How could she not do everything to work things out with him?
A knock came to her door, and she flew across the room, throwing the door open, and shot straight into Jason's arms. He hugged her close for a moment, then pulled her back to give her the flowers he was holding in one hand.
She was puzzled at that. He knew she really didn't do flowers. Yes, they were pretty, but all they did was die. Weird. But she let it go without much thought, finding a vase to place them in before they left her apartment.
In his car, he gently stroked her hand with his thumb and mumbled, "I really missed you, honey."
"I know, babe. I missed you so much. One more year, right? One more year. Then we can figure out some sort of living arrangements where we aren't hours away from each other."
He cleared his throat and nodded as they pulled into a restaurant. Wow. Valet parking. Nice.
After they'd gotten inside, they were seated at a very private table, seemingly away from everyone. Alice sighed, knowing she'd spend every single night for years to come getting to see his face across from hers at the dinner table, whether it was out or at home.
They ate, making small talk about school, classes, their jobs, their parents, when Alice tentatively brought up the subject of the future.
"I know it sounds crazy, and I always said I'd start teaching right after graduating, but I've really been thinking about grad school. I mean, I'm not gonna be picky about it. You can even help me decide... and we can find a nice place after... it could be anywhere, hon. Wouldn't that be great?"
He looked at her across the table, biting his lip and sighed, "That's actually why I wanted to see you today, Alice. I have something to tell you."
Immediately she felt panic. She looked at the table cloth, picking off the lint before her shaky voice allowed an, "Ok..."
He reached across the table and tilted her chin up, so she was looking at him, "Alice, I've met someone. Someone at school. Nothing has happened between us, and I would have never let it go that far, but I am beginning to have very strong feelings for her. I simply couldn't continue our relationship this way, knowing how I was feeling.
"I love you, Alice, but things have changed. You've changed over these years.. as have I. I still care for you, very much, and if you'll let me be your friend, I will... though I understand if you don't. I just can't continue this way.
"I think I may be falling in love with her.. Please understand that I never intended it to be this way. We were just.. in a class together. It was nothing. It is nothing, really. She doesn't even know how I feel. I could never talk to her in that way without telling you first. I... I'm so sorry, Alice, but for my own happiness, as well as yours, I'm afraid I have to end our relationship."
She sat there, unblinking, unfeeling... completely numb. Everything had just fallen apart. In two minutes, her life changed. As it registered, tears began to well up in her eyes, though she was determined not to make a scene. She dropped her head and nodded, the tears falling helplessly into her lap.
She was finally able to whisper, "Do you not... want me anymore, Jason?"
"Not... not like I used to. But I do care about you, and I want us both to be happy.. which is why I'm doing this. How could you ever be happy with me when I want to be elsewhere? It just doesn't make sense anymore, baby."
