Let's Start Here (Ch.1)

Chapter One

I took a deep breath as I looked at myself in the mirror hoping I looked cute, but not like I was trying too hard. I'd picked out a pair of faded skinny jeans, a striped shirt, and some black flats to keep things simple. “Here goes nothing,” I sighed as I grabbed my backpack and walked out the door to face my first day of college. I knew I shouldn't even be nervous, it's not like I had even left town for college, Coastal Carolina University was only twenty minutes from home anyway. Yet walking into the large brick building for my Intro to Literature class, my stomach knotted at the thought of knowing no one in my class.

I pulled up my schedule on my iPhone and scanned the halls for classroom 312, reminding myself to check out my class locations beforehand next semester. As I approached the room, which ended up being on the third floor of the old building I stopped to take one more calming breath before entering into my own socially awkward hell. I was just settling into a nice corner desk away from my fellow peers when I heard a much too energetic voice coming from the door.

“Annie! Oh my god, I am so glad we have a class together, it's going to be just like high school!” I sighed and reluctantly looked up to find my next door neighbor Raelynn Chambers skipping over to me with her strawberry blonde hair perfectly curled and her smile as bright as the sun.

“Oh, yeah, hey Raelynn”, I muttered turning every ounce of my attention to finding a pencil in my messy bag. My fear of knowing no one in my classes had suddenly turned to an urgent hope. I wanted to start over this year, and I couldn't do that with constant reminders of home and high school. Raelynn had taken the seat right beside me and was about to try and launch into a recap of summer when the door shut abruptly and in walked a tiny, stern looking, old woman. She sat down her briefcase, turned on her computer and began to call roll.

“Jamie Aunders,” she bellowed in a very strong voice that did not match her physique at all.

“here!” squeaked a mousy brunette in the front row.

She continued the roll and I zoned out trying to look around at all my classmates that I didn't hear her call my name until Raelynn nudged me with her foot.

“Annaliese Selvon? Are you here?” The woman asked in an irritated voice.

My hand shot up,“Yes, right here. Sorry.” I said sheepishly.

She let out an unimpressed “hmph” and continued on with roll. I studied my fingers embarrassed that I had zoned out so easily and hoped that my first class was no indication of how my day would continue. I looked up to see a boy with blonde hair staring at me with so much intensity that it made me uncomfortable for a minute. I furrowed my brow, confused at why he was looking at me and returned my attention to the front of the class as my professor, Mrs. Ladenbaum, began her lecture.

After fifty minutes and what seemed like an endless amount of notes, my first class was successfully over. I tried to hurry and grab my things without having to talk to Raelynn with no avail. I promised to have lunch soon in hopes of getting her off my back. I was just walking out of the building when I heard a voice coming from behind.

“ Annaliese, hey, wait up!” I stopped and turned to the unfamiliar voice only to see the blonde guy from class running down the stairs trying to catch up.

He wore a flowered short sleeve button down, khaki shorts, and a pair of holy converse, reminding me of the cute models you see in Pacsun ads. He stopped abruptly in front of me as he caught his breath. I took a step back, feeling too close for comfort.

“Uhm, hi. Who are you again?” I asked in fear of having met him before and somehow not remembering, even though I doubted that were the case. I had an excellent memory, and I don't think I would forget a boy with curls like his.

“Oh you don't know me, don't worry.” he said waving me off and flipping his curls out of his eyes. I stood there and looked at the ground unsure of what to say next without sounding rude. He must have caught on because then he began to laugh.

“you're probably wondering why some stranger is asking you to wait for them and then expects you to start a conversation, aren't you?”

I gave a halfhearted laugh and nodded.

“ Well, that is because I want to ask you on a date.” he stated, giving me a sly grin and waiting for my response. I immediately started freaking out on the inside. I mean, I've been on plenty of dates and had boyfriends, but they were all guys that I had known since elementary school. I knew nothing about this guy, he could be some Satan worshiping murderer for all I knew!

“ Well, I don't even know you, so I'm going to have to decline.” I said starting to back away from this very adorable stranger that wanted to take me out, and/or possibly sacrifice me to Satan. He clutched a hand to his chest, as though he was actually heartbroken that some random girl he had just met had turned him down.

“That's the whole point of a date! That's where you get to know someone, and I want to get to know you.” He smiled, stepping forward and minimizing the gap I had tried to create. It was getting a little hard to breathe. I hadn't been on a date in two years, since me and Aaron had broken up, and the thought of going on one now kind of made me feel like having a panic attack. I sucked in a long, deep breath and looked up. I reminded myself that I was starting over, that I was not going to be the girl from high school that couldn't get over the guy who broke her heart.

“Okay,” I sighed.

“ but first, I would at least like to know your name.” I smiled, and he broke out into a goofy grin and held out his hand for me to shake.

“I'm Knox,” he introduced himself, shaking my hand ”And I'll pick you up tonight at 6:30. Here's my number, just text me your address.” He said handing me a piece of paper with boyish scribbles on it before he nodded and walked away towards the University Center.