Chapter 1: Introduction
The first day of spring semester at college was usually an ordinary drag, a wake-up call to my teenage stupor after a long, winter's hiatus. I stifled another yawn, trudging along the littered, Speckled oak-lined pathway, my brain kicking into hyper-drive to decipher a set of outrageously complicated calculus equations.
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A glimpse of students milling around the campus humanized the space a bit.
I staggered along, caught in a labyrinth of thoughts that threatened to consume me. These initial days were always woeful; the kind of melancholy that could make even the most vivacious, and well-balanced extroverts wallow in despair. As I approached the building where my first class would commence, a sprightly figure burst through the door, spilling a flood of sunlight onto the pavement.
My heart stuttered.
A man. Late twenties, I judged.
Broad shoulders, a tapering waist, and powerful thighs draped languidly beneath snug denim shorts. A faded, white tee stretched across his chest, "Aaron," emblazoned in bold, red text. His hands lingered near the buckle of his belt as if to draw further attention to his formidable figure.
Oh, the audacity! I couldn't help but admire the scene before me.
Strength like that—harnessed in one individual—was intimidating, yet oddly alluring. My lips parted, words evaporating like wisps of smoke as my brain failed to catch up with the visual banquet before me.
Aaron, seemingly amused by my bemusement, flashed a lopsided grin before tugging at his shirt, which seemed on the verge of bursting at the seams. "Like what you see, kiddo?" he asked, leaving me at a loss for a comeback.
My cheeks burned with a crimson blush.
Aaron crossed his arms, showing off his massive, veiny biceps.
That smug, infuriating look on his face filled me with equal parts dread and fascination. I couldn't seem to tear my gaze away from him, despite my heated embarrassment.
My tongue darted out to wet my lips, and Aaron's grin widened. Oh, my God, I thought, horrified, did I actually just check him out? God, kill me now!
I mumbled something incoherent and hurried passed him, making my way to class.