What She Thought She Heard

Alice stepped into the hallway after taking her shower. She really did need to get to class, her philosophy teacher counted class participation. That was a joke, she was the only person who ever raised her hand in class.

But still, this was her second year at college, she couldn't afford to screw up now. Plus, she would end up hearing about it from Ryan if she didn't pass this class. He still got on her about changing her major to philosophy from psychology.

She was still thinking about the reading that she should have done last night, when she bumped into the guy in the hallway. Stopping to say excuse me, her heart sped up when she looked him in the eye.

He was tall, at least six five, wearing a button down shirt and tie, that didn't quite cover the way his muscles bunched under her shirt. But most of all when he stared at her with his grey-blue eyes, there was a smile there like he was laughing at some kind of joke that only he knew. But part of her right at that second wanted to know so badly what he was laughing about that her knees could hardly take it.

"I'm sorry." She managed.

He paused, running his eyes down her for a moment. "That's perfectly fine. I haven't seen you around here. My name is Dustin."

For a second, she swore she heard something else, and then pushed it out of her head for the childish nonsense it was. "Hi, I'm Alice. It's nice to meet you."

Part of her was screaming that she should get to class, she had grades to make and, hell, she already had a boyfriend. "Really. I'm sorry for bumping into you, Dustin. I really should get to class." Why did she have to say that?

Grinning, he said. "Of course. Say what are you doing after your class?"

The part of her that was still trying to figure out the joke in his eyes kept her feet firmly planted against the carpet. "Um... nothing." Her stomach turned a bit on that, but Ryan was a distant thought in her head.

"Good. Why don't we have dinner?"

Her mouth dried out, legs shaking a bit she managed to spit out. "Okay."