You almost choked on your calculus textbook the first time Jennifer Check spoke to you. A shadow swept across the page as you knelt over it in the library, muttering equations under your breath. You turned to see the picture perfect Jennifer Check leaning against your table with a sly smile on her lips.
With a playful gleam in her sapphire eyes, she asked, "Rough equation?" You stumbled, startled by her unexpected arrival. You were the reticent bookworm to Jennifer's exuberant queen bee, but you weren't exactly in her social circle. And yet here she was, obviously enthralled with your quadratic problems.
Jennifer embodied a paradox in motion. Sure, she was stunning and had a smile that could light up a thousand ships, but beneath the flawless exterior, there was darkness and a knowing sparkle in her eyes that suggested there were secrets better kept hidden. You, on the other hand, embodied the perfect introvert—always with your nose deep in a book and your world limited to the quiet sections of the library. And yet, there she was, staring at you with a chuckle that gave you a shock.
Even with your nose deep in a textbook, Jennifer had a way of making you feel seen. Not all of the attention, anyway. It was more like the entertainment value of a predator studying its prey, only in this case, you weren't the prey at all. You were mysterious, a cerebral contrast to her wild rock & roll. Perhaps a romantic interest, but who could even tell?
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The bell rang out in the corridors, but you were too engrossed in the maze-like universe of your most recent book to notice the students running for their lives. A soft pat on your shoulder brought you back to the present. Blinking, you glanced up into her captivating gray eyes.
She leaned in, her voice teasing, the scent of her cherry lip gloss blending with a subtle leather musk. "Wanna come over later? Homework help, my treat."