Courting The Champion

5 - Arabelle

Arabelle

Mrs Lennox gives me a stern look as I plant my butt on the seat. I'm only two minutes late for her lecture on Civil Rights. She just doesn't like it when someone interrupts, distracts or disturbs her class. She's weird like that.

She's a fifty something slender woman, who always has her hair in a tight and slick pony. She's very stingy when she marks.

Not one student in all classes A to C managed to get a grade higher than fifty last paper. She says she wants the best from all students. She has no favorite and she has no least. Well, I suppose right now she did have a least.

“It's twice you come in late this week Bel,” says Sarah. I look at her and roll my eyes.

“Whatever. She should be happy I showed up. I'm her best student,” I say and it's now Sarah's turn to roll her eyes at me.

Sarah is not just my only closest friend. She is also my cousin. We both managed to get into such a prestigious University because my aunt, her mom, is very strict when it comes to grades.

We both got scholarships and I think my aunt is relieved because she wouldn't have managed to handle two college students at once. Not that she doesn't have money. She works as a bank manager and she is a financial advisor on the side. She is a single mom with three kids, I just happen to be the fourth. Sarah has a sixteen year old younger sister, Lolita, who is currently in eleventh grade and a little brother William who is in junior school.

Sarah and I actually grew up together. Before my mom and dad both lost custody of me, and before my aunt and her then husband, Sarah's dad got divorced, we all lived in the same neighborhood.

My dad started gambling and my mom, well.. She had already been struggling with alcoholism since her teen years. One time my mom forgot to pick me up from school and a teacher found me sleeping next to the gate at six am in the morning. That was just the beginning of the story.

I got lucky when I got a part time job at a big company as a secretary. They were impressed with my first year college grades and I got the position. I work with a schedule. There's another secretary, Frank, who fills in during the periods when I'm at school.

I am so thrilled when the class ends. One more stare from her and I would have burst into tears. She can be frightening.

As we walk out of the building and wait for our next class which is in an hour I see a handsome Andrew leaning against on of the large concrete pillars in front of the law school building. I immediately feel the nerves kick in. I'm not used to being around boys. All throughout high school I avoided boys, unlike my dear Sarah who has over eight exes.

The day Andrew walked into the building of Linear Impact Co. I just knew he would be a central part of my life. I just did not expect it this soon.

He is wearing dark jeans and a simple button down, blue short sleeved shirt. All his tattoos are on display and his eyes look kind of golden in the sun, it's a different color than the green that I'm accustomed to.

When I met him I thought he was kind of like a player and a flirt but my conversation with him yesterday came as a pleasant surprise. The way he looked at me when I spoke. Or the way he seemed to actually value what I had to say.

I've been single for so long because boys start conversations with me just to talk about themselves. He seems different... Opposite of that actually.

I actually hear Sarah swallow a large gulp of air next to me and she even nudges at me.

He gives a side smile when I approach him, trying to hide the look of surprise on my face.

“A-Andrew, what are you doing here?” I ask and he smirks and holds up a pink file that I instantly recognize.

“Some guy named Frankie told me you needed this for a class...” he looks at the cover of the file and reads on “...Human Rights.” he says and I nod.

He hands it to me and nods at Sarah.

“Hi. I'm Sarah.” she says, giving him a once over. I shake my head and smile knowingly, she's always keeping her options open. I wonder what her boyfriend would think of that.

He looks back at me.

“Thanks.. Andrew. You really didn't have to,” I say.

“What do you mean? Of course he did. Our lecturer is a bit of a twat,” she says directing the last part to him and I narrow my eyes at her and she laughs.

Andrew seems rather amused by the little exchange.

“His name is Frank by the way. If you call him Frankie, he will make your life absolutely miserable,” I inform him with a tinge of humor.

“Speaking from experience shorty?” he asks and I blush at how he calls me shorty.

“You can say that.” I say and he chuckles lightly.

He stands up straight.

“I'll see you later then. I got some heavy duty work to do today.” he says and I nod.  He says bye to Sarah too and walks off-campus.

Sarah looks at me wide eyed.
“WHO. WAS THAT?” she demands and I stick my tongue out at her and walk away.

“Tell me pleaseeee....” she insists and I groan.