Chapter 1
Chapter One
Taylor
Digging through my purse, I sigh, hoping that I find my damn chapstick.
The weather decided that a cool autumn air was in store for us this week, and my lips are not enjoying this shit.
Fumbling through everything, my fingers touching literally anything that is not chapstick, my books slip out of my hand, and bounce on the tile floor.
With a huff, I drop my head and use my eyes, instead of just my fingertips, to find the stupid lip lubrication that should be right in this pocket, but isn’t.
“What the fuck,” I mumble under my breath, trying really hard to not rage dump this whole fucking purse out onto the ground, spilling all of my hidden, not-so-secret secrets.
I swear, the first time I asked my ex to dig into my purse, he completely freaked out, thinking that I was some sort of witch because I had asked him to do something forbidden.
I find the damn tube of hide-away-chapstick, go to pull it out, and watch in slow motion as a tampon flips over the side of my purse, and onto the floor, right next to my books. Maybe I should just go back home, obviously this is not my day.
My shoulders drop, and just before I bend down to get them, a dark-haired, sexier-than-sin guy drops to his knees, and smiles up at me as he picks up my books, and tampon.
When he stands up, my head tilts up just a little.
He’s not overly tall, but just tall enough.
His features are something you’d expect to see up on the movie screen, not standing before you.
Very early nineties Johnny Depp, feathered hair and all.
He looks like an angel, sent here to distract me from my very specific goal.
“Here you go.” He offers my things with a devilish grin, making his jaw line even sharper somehow.
“Thanks.” I clear my throat, taking the tampon first, and shoving it back into my bag, then the books, tucking them under my arm. I pop the cap of the chapstick off, slide the balm over my thankful lips, recap it, and drop it into the pocket it belongs in.
“I’m Johnny.”
“Shut the fuck up,” I half laugh, half gasp.
He looks at me like I’ve gone mad. Perfect, the most beautiful human in the world, sans Johnny Depp, is going to think I’m insane.
Although, I really feel like this is kismet.
I’ve been in love with Johnny Depp my entire life.
Or, well, since I saw him in Cry Baby, when my mom decided to take me down memory lane on movie nights.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to say that out loud. ”
“I prefer women who speak their mind instead of hiding behind insecurities and niceties.”
“Perfect, because I cuss like a sailor and give zero fucks about most things,” I shrug. “I’m Taylor.” I hold a hand out to him, awkward as fuck. Great job, Taylor, make it worse.
“I haven’t seen you around here before. Considering it’s the middle of the semester, I’m assuming you transferred in?” Johnny walks with me as I make my way down the hall, towards the classroom that the administrator told me to go to.
“That I am. It's really weird transferring colleges mid-semester, but luckily, my courses and credits were transferable.” I spot the numbers on the wall, and watch as they slowly count upwards.
“Most people would have just finished their semester, and then transferred.”
“Obviously, I’m not most people.” I laugh, and surprisingly, so does he.
I see the number 122 tacked up next to a door and stop walking.
“Well, this is me. Thanks for helping me.” I bow my head and nearly fucking curtsey, instantly regretting it.
I may give zero fucks about most things, but sometimes I do embarrass myself.
Like I have been doing for the last few minutes.
“Professor Cline.” Johnny nods his head, as if he’s giving me his approval, which I really don’t need. He takes my hand, bows, and kisses my knuckles. “Until next time.” Then walks away, like that was completely fucking normal.
Hey! Maybe he’s just as fucking awkward!!
Doubtful. He was probably making fun of me. Stupid Taylor. I take the three steps to the door, grab the handle, and pull it open. My toe catches on the corner of the door, and I do the one fucking thing that only makes everything worse.
“Fuck me!” I shout. As my knees hit the ground, everything I have goes scattering across the floor. My purse spills all of my not-so-secret secrets out like a map for the world to read, my books fall open, and my hair falls over my face.
Laughter erupts, echoing around me as I just stay there for a second, collecting myself mentally, hoping that there aren’t as many people in here as it sounds like there are.
Using my hands, I push up to sit ass to heels, flick my hair over my head, and look across the room to see So.
Many. Fucking. Eyes. Staring at me. Including the professor, whose mouth is hung open.
“That’s one way to introduce yourself,” the professor deadpans, stepping towards me. He’s older, around my mother’s age, so not too old. He bends over to help collect all of my things that are currently decorating his floor.
“I’m so sorry.” I shake my head, moving quickly to grab things before he can get to them.
“The hinge on my door sticks,” he states, handing me my small make-up bag.
My eyes dance across the other students, landing on a familiar green pair.
His jaw is clenched, and nostrils are flared.
Fucking perfect. After I have everything, and I’m officially standing again, I shuffle to the closest empty chair and start to take a seat.
When I hear a finger snap, I look back to him, and he points to the chair next to him, as if summoning me to come sit there.
I shake my head slightly, but the look on his face tells me that if I don’t, he’ll make a scene.
I’ve already drawn enough attention to myself.
So I sidestep the chair I was going to sit in, and make my way to the one next to him.
He leans over as I sit down, putting my books on the desk. I try to ignore him, but it’s hard when he’s the reason I had to move here.
“That’s a good girl,” he whispers, grabbing my chair and pulling me closer. I try to move my chair back, but it’s just going to make more people look back at us, sitting all alone in the last row. “I told you that you’d see me again, Kitten.” His voice is like molten lava, pouring down my spine.
“Just because our parents decided to keep you here, doesn’t mean I have to be around you,” I snap at him, quietly, so I don’t disturb the class more than I already have.
“We’ll see.”