The Cost of Love

Chapter 9: Erotic

The next day was once again a class day. I was eager to get to class to see Claire and Reese. I was most eager to get to creative writing so I could have my 15 minutes alone with Reese. The day seemed to drag building up to the part that I was most anticipating. And finally it is almost here! As I was walking to class after lunch with Claire I saw him standing outside the building again with a cigarette with that blank expression on his face. 

"You just couldn't wait to see your boyfriend, eh?" Claire said blatantly loud again while chuckling. 

"Oh my god!!!!! You just want him to overhear you don't you?!" I said blushing. 

"Haha sure why not?!" She taunts me as she nudges me. 

I couldn't help but blush. As much as I hated to admit it she was somewhat accurate. I was so incredibly fascinated with him for no apparent reason. He's someone that I could see myself writing about. He seems like that mysterious dude that girls in books always swoon over. Except this isn't fiction, he's the real deal. I can't help but be fascinated by him. I kept thinking about the advice that Adrianna and Noah had both given me. If I see something I want I should take it, right? Or at least make an effort to try to get it rather than just living in some fool’s paradise hoping it will come to me. I have to make an attempt to try to hang out with him…I just don’t know how.

As my creative writing class began I sat in my usual spot. Professor Stevenson was going on some rant about the relevance of vegans in today's society with some of the other students. I couldn't help but roll my eyes. As class time began everyone was there including Reese.

Professor Stevenson sat on his deck as he proclaimed "Good morning my creative artists...today before you begin your partner sessions I would like to announce your next assignment. Now the next step of your partnership shall include sharing your stories that are due for today!!!"

My eyes widened. I wrote such a corny romance story. I didn't necessarily want Reese to be reading it because I don't want him to read the helplessly corny things that I envision frequently. It is especially embarrassing because the inspiration behind many of my story writing for this assignment was based on Reese. Or at least what I imagined Reese would be like. My stories were an accumulation of everything I fantasized about for the two of us. Reese wouldn’t know it, but these stories were all about what I would do with him if he were my significant other. For a brief moment, I considered giving Reese some other story I had written previously in high school that I kept in my folder, but I didn’t want to be like that. If Reese was going to share his story with me then I will share mine with him, no exceptions. 

"But there is a dramatic twist my dear students! You shall exchange stories today and give them back to your partner next class. You will read it in its entirety and then properly critique it for next class. Now you may begin your bonding session."

I looked up and saw the look of dread on Reese's face. He obviously didn't want to share what he had written which made me want to read it ten times more. We exchange our stories. I couldn't wait to go home and read it. I noticed that the story was fairly long so I couldn't wait to read it in its entirety. A mind like his must be quite unique. The only thing that could match the perfection of his image was definitely the wondrous mind that must be within. In that moment, I knew I had such an obviously perfect excuse to talk to Reese. If I was going to make an impression on him I had to turn the charm on.

“The look on your face says it all” I say with a light-hearted chuckle and a smile.