Amelia hurriedly made her way through the bustling hallways of her new college, clutching her books tightly to her chest. It was her first day, and she couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and nervousness. As she entered the lecture hall, she scanned the room for an empty seat. To her dismay, it seemed like every seat was taken except for one, which happened to be next to a charming young man.
Amelia hesitated for a moment, unsure if she should take the seat. She had always been a shy and reserved person, and the thought of sitting next to a stranger made her feel uneasy. However, she knew she had no other choice. With a deep breath, she walked towards the empty seat, hoping she wouldn't stumble or make a fool of herself.
As she approached the seat, the young man looked up from his phone and met her gaze. His eyes were a mesmerizing shade of blue, and his smile was warm and inviting. Amelia's heart skipped a beat, and she felt her cheeks flush with a tinge of embarrassment. She quickly averted her gaze, trying to hide her reaction behind her curtain of long, chestnut hair.
"Is the seat taken?" he asked, his voice filled with genuine curiosity.
Amelia's heart raced as she mustered the courage to respond. "No," she replied softly, her voice barely audible.
The young man flashed her another smile, causing her heart to flutter even more. "Great," he said, moving his bag to make room for her. "I'm Austen, by the way."
Amelia's lips curved into a shy smile as she settled into her seat. "Amelia," she introduced herself, her voice still barely above a whisper.
Suddenly, Austen's hand brushed against Amelia's, causing her to jump in surprise. She turned to him, her cheeks turning a shade of pink. "I'm sorry," he apologized, his voice filled with genuine concern. "I didn't mean to startle you."
Amelia smiled shyly, her heart pounding in her chest. "It's okay, really."
The professor began the lecture, but Amelia found it difficult to concentrate. Her mind was preoccupied with thoughts of Austen sitting next to her. She stole glances at him when she thought he wasn't looking, admiring his tousled brown hair and the way his eyes sparkled with intelligence. She couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to get to know him better.
A few minutes into the lecture, Amelia realized she had forgotten to bring a pen. She discreetly glanced at Austen, who seemed engrossed in taking notes. Summoning up her courage, she tapped him lightly on the shoulder.
"Um, excuse me," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the professor's voice. "Do you have an extra pen?"
Austen turned to her, a warm smile on his face. "Of course, here you go," he replied, handing her a pen from his bag.
"Thank you," Amelia whispered, feeling a rush of gratitude towards him. As she took the pen, their fingers brushed against each other once again, causing a spark to ignite within her.
As the lecture came to an end, Amelia gathered her belongings, preparing to leave. However, before she could stand up, Austen turned towards her, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Are you?" he asked, his voice filled with playful curiosity.
Amelia's heart skipped a beat, and she felt her cheeks burn with a deeper shade of red. She couldn't believe he had just asked her that question. Her usual reserved nature made it difficult for her to respond, and she found herself hiding her face behind her hair, hoping to conceal her embarrassment.
Austen chuckled softly, his laughter warm and comforting. "I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable," he said sincerely. "I didn't mean to embarrass you."
Amelia peeked out from behind her hair, her eyes meeting his. She could see the genuine kindness in his gaze, and it made her feel a little more at ease. "It's okay," she finally managed to say, her voice still tinged with shyness.
Austen smiled warmly at her, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Well, Amelia, it was nice meeting you," he said, standing up from his seat. "Maybe we'll see each other again in our next class?"
Amelia's heart skipped a beat at the thought of seeing him again. She nodded, a small smile gracing her lips. "I hope so," she replied softly.
With that, Austen bid her farewell and made his way out of the lecture hall, leaving Amelia with a whirlwind of emotions. As she gathered her thoughts and prepared to leave, she couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement and anticipation for what the future held. Little did she know, this chance encounter with Austen would be the beginning of a beautiful journey, one that would shape their college days and beyond.
