The University of the South

The Jock (2 of 3)

She was the most beautiful thing I had ever laid eyes on.

Eleonor Michaels.

Shit, I've never felt this way about a girl before.

She instantly took my breath away.

It just happened to be fate that my bestfriend, Garrett didn't turn up today. He usually sat next to me.

I didn't know where Garrett ended up, he was always skipping school anyway.

Probably out with some chick or something like that.

When she told me her name I swear I felt fireworks between us.

She was so damn hot.

I was known to be the quiet Jock I guess.

I had been playing football all my life, but I wasn't what you'd call your stereotypical jock who went to parties and hooked up with chicks.

Nah, I was more of an introvert I guess.

Eleonor looked so pure and innocent, like I wanted to protect her from all the dangers of the world.

Woah buddy, you just met the girl.

When our professor told us about being partners, I panicked.

I could barely say a word to her now, what more if we were both at my place or hers in a room with no one to interrupt us.

I didn't mind the thought though....

Eleonor was stunning, fuck my head went crazy for her.

Maybe I could ask her out when we met up for the project or something.

She had offered me her hand however and I left her there, as I walked out the room.

What the actual fuck, Holden?

. . .

"Holden, my man!" I hear and turn to see Garrett walk up to me, a new bruise on his face.

Where did he get that bruise this time?

"You weren't at class yesterday." I point out and he lets out a chuckle, slapping me on my shoulder.

He pouts and sighs.

"What are you, my girlfriend? Was little Holden worried about me? Com'ere." He says and opens his arms to me.

I cringe and walk away from him, as he chuckles behind me, catching up to me instantly.

We walk to my locker and I suddenly turn at a voice calling my name.

"Holden! Wait up." I hear and turn to see Eleonor smiling up at me.

Fuck.

She was dressed in a simply dress today that went up to her knees and her hair was tied up in a knot on her head.

She looked pretty today.

Shit, was she going to ask me why I left her hanging?

"What have we here?" Garrett murmurs next to me with a smirk and I glare at him.

Garrett was known to be a womanizer, which was why I didn't want him near her.

I was going to make a move on her, not him.

"Hey little lady, what's your name?" Garrett suddenly asks and I see Eleonor's cheeks turn red.

Shit, he's made her blush.

She sighs and crosses her arms over her chest.

"I'm not a little lady. My name's —"

"Eleonor." I complete for her and she looks up at me, smiling softly.

"Nora, actually. Nobody really calls me Eleonor, that's just my first name." She says with a soft laugh at the end.

I didn't care. Eleonor suited her more. Maybe I'd be the first to call her that.

"I like Eleonor, it suits you." I say and she looks at me wide eyed and nods slowly with a nervous laugh.

Shit, did I say that out loud?

Garrett smirks at me and I shove him away.

"Smooth." Garrett says and roll my eyes at him.

Eleonor stares at the two of us and giggles softly.

She's just so fucking cute.

"I just wanted to ask Holden where we'd be starting the project. We were assigned as partners in chemistry." She tells Garrett and he nods, his eyes widening.

"Sure sure, I'm gone. I've got stuff to do." Garrett says and walks away.

When it's just the two of us, I simply look down at her.

She stares back at me and after a while she smiles back at me.

"So...the project?" She asks and I nod.

Shit, was I staring? She probably thinks I'm a creep or something.

Garrett was wrong, I was not smooth at all.

"Umm, I'll pick you up after school? We can go to my place if that's fine?" I suggest and she nods, smiling up at me.

She takes her phone from her pocket and passes it to me.

"Here, give me your number so I can call you." She says and I nod, as I type it in.

And that's how I got to hang out with Eleonor Michaels after school for the next few weeks.

. . .

It was a silent drive to my place usually.

A peaceful silence.

I was thinking about so many things in my head.

What if she thinks I'm weird with the lack of words I use? What if she thinks I'm a creep or something?

This was a normal routine for us.

She'd go to my place after school to work on the project, we'd work on it and I'd always give her a ride home afterwards.

I however, was a wimp and could barely talk to her.

It was as if I had grown even more shy around her.

We were currently driving to my place.

I stare back at her and see that her skirt has hiked up a bit that her bare thigh was exposed.

Shit, look away.

Fuck, I was hard. What the hell was wrong with me?

"Oh my God." She gasps and quickly covers her thigh.

I shake my head at her and sigh.

"I didn't see anything." I say and focus on the road.

She lets out a nervous laugh and in a while we arrive at my place.

Shit, let the most awkward hang out begin.