Right Person Too Late

chapter 1

Present Day - 2022

Arsema

"You give me fever, like I've never, ever known."

Song: The Way You Make Me Feel by Michael Jackson

Ring, ring, ring, ring.

My phone wakes me up from this  dream that I'm having about Aaron Warner (where I was in Juliette's place and he's killing a bunch of people to save my life, how much better can life get?) while half asleep in the middle of my late afternoon psychology lecture.

I look up and to see the whole class, including the professor, staring at me. Shit. I feel my face burning from embarrassment as I scramble around trying to find my phone.

"Miss Mesfin." I look up from my fruitless search and pray that whoever is calling will give up.

"Yes, Professor?"

"I suggest that the next time you're too tired to pay attention in my lecture that you refrain from coming at all." Oh God, why do teachers have to be so ruthless? I'm dying over here and to make it worse everyone's still staring at me. Do they not have anything better to do with their time?

"Yes, of course. I'm sorry." I don't know if it's a trick of lighting or something, but I swear I see her smirk slightly before addressing the rest of the class.

"Ok, that's enough gawking class, it's not like none of you have slept in class before." Okayyyy.

My annoyance for her has disappeared already with that comment of hers. I smile before diving back into my bag to get my phone out and save us all from its annoying ringtone. I got this phone over a year ago and I still don't know how to change the ringtone, I don't know what's wrong with me. I keep meaning to ask my best friend Harper to check it out for me but keep forgetting. Back to the phone, I check my notification bar to see that I have nearly 10 missed calls from my other best friend Mia. I should've known when the phone never stopped ringing. I put it down and take out my notebook to get some notes before the lecture ends, but only because exam season is coming up and my whole future career depends on these next couple of months.

* * *

Twenty minutes later the last bell of the day goes off and everyone starts cluttering around, packing up. Luckily for me, I'd packed up before taking my nap so I walk down the never-ending steps to get outta there as quickly as I can.

It's Friday afternoon and I have the perfect evening planned out; taking a nice long bath, ordering in and reading my book into the late hours of the morning. I guess I'm daydreaming too much about my night because the next thing I know, I've tripped down the last few steps and all my stuff is scattered around me.

I swear to God, I'm the only person who this could happen to.

I just close my eyes, praying that no one saw anything, but that's a bit far fetched given that over half the class is still here. A hand stretches out in front of my face, offering help, because of course, I was right next to someone.

I swallow my pride, take the hand and come face-to-face with the owner of the mysterious hand.

Holy Mother of Mary.

He's looking down at me in concern.

God, when was the last time I stood next to a guy that made me feel this short? Not in this lifetime that is. My boyfriend is barely taller than me with his 5"7 and half frame (you can never forget the half of course) evening up my 5'7"...I have a boyfriend. Which means I probably shouldn't be gawking up at this random hot as guy with his tanned golden skin, chiselled face (oh my God, that sharp jawline could cut through gold) and, man, he's gotta be at least 6'4" with the way he's hovering over me. He's got this dark brown hair that curls and sits in on his head perfectly, giving him this I-just-rolled-out-of-bed-looking-like-this look that is...