Saving Grace

Chapter 2: Here goes nothing

I take a deep breath. You can do it, Grace Lockwood, it's just a drive to the college. I fasten my seatbelt and, with a prayer and a pep talk, reverse out of the garage. I'm careful with the speed at first, not going above 40, but then the cars honking behind me give me incentive to increase the speed from turtle to human, much to their relief.

I reach college at 8:00, searching for a space to park, already dreading going into the class late and suffering the wrath of the professor. Not just any professor, but Professor Thompson, aka the Terminator. Not only does he teach my least favorite subject, that is Economics, but he's known for his strict rules and punishments.

Finally finding a parking spot, I park the car and race towards the building. My breath heaving as if I just ran a marathon, I stand outside the class, trying to come up with an excuse when Professor Thompson notices me standing and says, "Oh, how wonderful of you to finally deem to join us, Ms. Lockwood." The whole class turns to stare at me, their faces expectant, waiting for some drama. I cringe.

"Well?", Professor Thompson asks in a deceivingly calm voice, "Aren't you going to give me an excuse for being late, which we all know would be completely false?"

"I-I...uh...", I try to come up with something believable, alien abduction and the hulk on the loose being some of the stories my over imaginative mind conjures up. Pretty sure that wouldn't go in my favour.

"Excuse me, Professor, but I'm new here and she was just showing me around, guiding me to class", comes a deep voice from behind me.

I turn around, baffled at such an excuse, since I was pretty sure I didn't do crap for the guy and he just saved me from the bus I so eagerly threw myself under.

My eyes lock onto a pair of deep set honey colored eyes, surrounded by the thickest and longest dark lashes I've ever seen on a guy or a girl. I am instantly envious of how they rest on his cheekbones when he blinks, making the simplest act of blinking so completely mesmerizing. My gaze moves across his thick dark hair, close shaved from the sides and longer on the top, straight aristocratic nose and high cheekbones, right down to his full lips, currently upturned into a half smile. The overall effect would've been quite a feminine face, but the strong jaw covered in a trimmed beard hardens it into impossible Greek godlike rugged beauty.

Swoon.

Wait a minute, why am I staring at a stranger's mouth? My gaze darts back to his eyes, an instant blush covering my cheeks.

Yeah, I was so totally checking said stranger out. Right in front of the professor and the entire class. And judging by the amused look on the Greek god's face, he knows it too.

Way to go, Grace. You see a hot guy and your brain short-circuits. Idiot.

I whirl back facing Professor Thompson, trying to cover my guilty expression with a somewhat convincing smile.

"Well,", the professor concedes, "since your getting late was for a good cause, I'll let you off the hook this time."

"But remember," he continues at my relieved sigh,"I don't tolerate tardiness, especially from my star people."

Yep, two weeks into college and I'm already a teacher's pet. Over achiever, thy name is Grace.

I nod and hurry to my seat in the back of the class. The misconception of the bench hierarchy is so laughably inaccurate. Look at me, the professor's 'star people', a back bencher while I can see a few heads on the tables in the middle, nodding off.

I put my bag on the floor next to my seat, bending over and rifling through it to get my notebook. That is when I hear the clearing of a throat next to me. I look up, not expecting anyone to sit next to me, just the way I like. Everyone knows to stay away from me in the morning to prevent their heads getting bitten off by me.