In the Eye of the Storm

First Encounters

September 10, 1988

The fall air was crisp as students buzzed around Princeton University, eager to start the new semester. Sineáse adjusted her bag over her shoulder, nerves fluttering in her stomach as she navigated through the crowded quad. This was her first day in the Introduction to Business Law class, a course she'd been looking forward to all summer.

As she entered the lecture hall, her eyes darted around, searching for an open seat. Most were already filled with eager faces, chatting animatedly about their summers and schedules. She spotted an empty spot near the middle, and as she made her way there, she noticed a few curious glances. Sineáse wasn't used to this kind of attention; she preferred to keep a low profile.

Settling into her seat, she pulled out her notebook and began organizing her things, trying to ignore the slight feeling of being watched. The professor entered, immediately commanding the room's attention, and began his introduction to the course. Just as she started to jot down some notes, the door at the back of the hall swung open.

A tall, dark-haired guy strolled in, his presence drawing immediate attention. He was striking, with an air of confidence and a subtle smile that seemed to suggest he was unbothered by the disruption his late arrival caused. He scanned the room, and for a fleeting moment, his eyes met Sineáse's. There was something intense in that gaze, something that made her heartbeat quicken unexpectedly.

He made his way down the aisle and, to her surprise, took the empty seat right next to her. She felt a strange awareness of his presence, an almost magnetic pull that was hard to ignore. Trying to refocus on the lecture, she made a conscious effort not to glance his way.

"Hey," he whispered, leaning slightly towards her. "I'm Lyle."

Sineáse glanced over, her pencil hovering above her notebook. Up close, his features were even more striking. "Sineáse," she replied softly, not wanting to attract the professor's attention.

"Nice to meet you, Sineáse. Do you mind if I borrow a pen? I seem to have misplaced mine."

His voice was smooth, with a hint of amusement that made her smile despite herself. "Sure," she said, handing him a pen from her bag.

"Thanks, you're a lifesaver." He grinned, and for a moment, she found herself captivated by the way his eyes crinkled at the corners.

The rest of the class passed in a blur. She tried to concentrate on the professor's lecture, but her mind kept wandering back to Lyle. Who was he? There was something about him that seemed familiar, but she couldn't quite place it.

After the lecture ended, Sineáse packed her things, intending to head straight to the library to get a head start on the reading assignments. But as she stood up, Lyle was there, blocking her path with that easy smile.

"Thanks again for the pen. I promise I'm not usually this unprepared," he said with a playful tilt of his head.

She laughed lightly. "It's no problem. I'm just glad I could help."

"So, Sineáse," he began, her name rolling off his tongue in a way that felt oddly personal, "I was wondering if you'd like to grab a coffee sometime. You know, to make up for my poor first impression."

His eyes were warm, sincere, and for a moment, she hesitated. There was something about him that felt... complicated. But there was also a curiosity inside her, a desire to understand what lay behind those piercing eyes.

"Sure," she said finally, surprising herself. "Coffee sounds great."

"Great," he echoed, his smile widening. "How about tomorrow afternoon? After class?"

"Sounds good," she agreed, and with that, they parted ways, her heart beating a little faster than usual.

As she walked away, she couldn't help but wonder what she was getting herself into. There was something about Lyle Menendez—something enigmatic and intriguing—that made her want to know more, despite the little voice in her head warning her to be careful.

She glanced back once, seeing him walk away with an easy stride, and felt a thrill of excitement mixed with a hint of apprehension. Tomorrow couldn't come soon enough.