Honey Whiskey

Ashlyn

This morning really shook me up, but I refuse to let that put a damper on my day. I need to be in a good headspace to start this semester off right. It's a short walk from Bean and Tea, to D building, where my first class is, so I'm there within 5 minutes. Although this morning was shitty, I can't complain about the weather. It's such a beautiful fall day. The sun is shining and there isn't a cloud in the sky. Wood Dale is a gorgeous campus, it's mostly the reason I decided to move up to North Carolina and away from my family in Utah. Don't get me wrong, Utah had plenty of sights to see that would take your breath away, but it never felt like home to me. Which sounds ridiculous because that's exactly where my home is. It's where I was born and raised. But when I picture my "home" I envision tall oak trees, soft green grass that tickle my toes, and cold creeks that I can tube down, and that's exactly what Wood Dale offers. 

I walk into D building and turn left to find the elevators. I press the "up" button and wait patiently. A group of girls come up beside me to wait for the elevator as well, but are lost in discussion about tonight's party. One girl is so excited to see a boy named Nate, while the other girl is practically squealing about how she can't wait for her chance to "finallyyyy" talk to James. I immediately think that it must be the same James I met this morning, because I remember hearing the guy he was with talk about how crazy their party will be tonight. I can't even imagine going to a party of a Tuesday night, but hey, whatever floats their boats. The elevator took us up and opens on the fourth floor and we all get off. I'm assuming the group of girls will be in my class that starts in 10 minutes. They're pretty chatty, so I make a mental note not to sit next to their group so I don't get distracted. I need to pass all of my classes with flying colors so I don't lose my scholarship. I'm praying they don't want to sit near the front. Seconds later, an older man with white hair and a briefcase hanging off of his shoulder is unlocking the door. My money is on him being the professor. While he is getting settled, I walk up to him to introduce myself. "Hello! My name is Ashlyn. I'm extremely excited to sta—" He cuts me off and says, "Don't bother sucking up to me young lady. This class is hard and the only way you're going to pass is if you PAY ATTENTION. I do not give out second chances, and I do not like when people are brownnosers. Take your seat." He says all of this while continuing to unpack his briefcase, without even glancing at me. What the fuck is going on today? Why are people in such a bad mood? And most importantly, WHY are they taking it out on me? 

I sigh and decide to sit in the third row. I was going to sit in the first row, but I don't want to chance being called a brownnoser again. The group of chatty girls are near the top, thankfully, so I'm hoping they didn't witness my SECOND embarrassment of the day. I'm a bit flustered while I unpack my own belongings and pull out my binder that holds the class syllabus. I'm in the middle of reviewing the classroom procedures when I feel somebody brush my arm while they sit down next to me. I pay them no mind while I highlight the assignments that are due this semester. This isn't my first time looking over the syllabus, but I want to keep busy so I don't make eye contact with Professor Grump. 

"Hey, Whiskey." I hear the being next to me say. I'm so focused on highlighting, that his deep voice makes me jump. I assume he isn't speaking to me, with my name being Ashlyn and not Whiskey and all, but I look up anyway. I end up making eye contact with a pair of icy blue eyes that I picture myself swimming in. "Sorry, what did you call me?" I ask while observing the rest of his features. He's clearly tall, even sitting down he towers over me. Long, full black eyelashes accompany his icy blue eyes and there isn't a blemish on his perfect face. His brown hair is buzzed on the sides, while the top is longer and brushed over to the side. His jaw could cut through glass with how sharp it is. Maybe I can convince him to cut Professor Grump if he is a jerk to me again. I recognize him from the cafe this morning and recall his name to be James. He chuckles then says, "Whiskey. Your eye color reminds me of honey whiskey, and if I called you 'honey' it wouldn't stand out as much, so Whiskey it is." 

We're still making eye contact when I shrug and say "Or you could call me Ashlyn. That's what most people call me... considering it's my name." James laughs again. "I could, but what fun would that be? You don't like nicknames?" "I don't mind them, I guess... I've never had one so I'm not too familiar with it." James is smiling at me with perfectly straight, white teeth, while Professor Grump begins to speak. My shoulder is still up against James, so I adjust myself so I'm leaning to the other side of my chair. I can see James peek at me with the corner of his eye while I do this and he smiles. I shake my head to try to focus on what is being said at the front of the classroom, but all I can think about is how warm his body was while against mine, and how cold my arm seems to be now without his touch. I notice that he is writing something down and I'm worried that I missed something important that was said. I look around but nobody else is writing and by the time I look back to the table that's attached to his chair, I see that he's pushing the paper he wrote on towards me. 

James: What are you doing tonight? 

I blush at the fact that we are in college and passing notes. 

Me: It's Tuesday, so nothing. Studying. You? 

I passed the paper back to him.

  James: Studying already? It's the first day. I'm hosting a party tonight. You should come.

When he passes the note back, our fingers touch and I almost snatch my hand back from the electricity I felt. I'm so cliche... 

Me: Who parties on a Tuesday?

I want to say no. I know I should say no, but I have a feeling in my gut that I'd regret it if I did. James chuckles next to me at my response and begins to write. Sadly, I have no idea what the professor has said this entire time. It's almost like he's one of Charlie Brown's parents who only talk like "mah mah mah." When he passes back our note, I feel my heart stop in my chest because Professor Grump speaks directly to us. "Excuse me! Ms. Anderson. Mr. Thompson. It is evident that neither of you are paying attention to me. And if my memory serves, Mr. Thompson, you passed this class last semester, why are you in my lecture hall?" Professor Grump's hands are on his hips, making his stomach stick further out than it was before. James laughs and stands tall, "Sorry Mr. Z. It must have slipped my mind that we started a new semester. I'll head out." The class erupts in laughter while James begins to walk out, I can practically see the smoke coming out of the professor's ears. "It's PROFESSOR Zdarko to you. Do not interrupt my class again, or you will not be seeing another basketball any time soon." James gives him a salute and looks over at me, winks, and walks out. My face is on fire. I begin to slump down in my seat when Professor Zdarko speaks to me again. "Ms. Anderson, I will not have any more distractions in my lecture this semester. Consider this your first and final warning. Do not mess with me, my class, or my time. Do you understand?" I nod my head and bite my bottom lip to hold back the tears that are forming in my eyes. I wait a solid 5 minutes before I look at what James wrote back on our note.

  James: I hope you decide to come and party on a Tuesday, it's at the house on the corner of Berry St. You can't miss it.

I smile silently at the note and fold it up into a square then I stick it into the front pocket of my backpack and force myself to pay attention.