“I’m Brody,” he says as he slides into step next to me. “Hi, Brody, I’m Alis.” I give him a small smile and leave it at that. I really don’t have anything more to say now that I’ve thanked him for the pen, so I’m not sure why he’s walking next to me.
“New here?” he asks, apparently wanting to continue this non-conversation.
“Yep.” I am incapable of talking and walking when I’m unfamiliar with my surroundings. I need to find my way out of this building so I can meet with Dr. Matthews, and I’m not a cougar so I don’t really want to flirt with Mr. Young Buck here.
He chuckles. “My, my, you’re quite the chatty Kathy. Wanna tell me anything more about yourself?”Nope. Not really.
I stop and turn to look at him. “I’m sorry; I’m not trying to be rude. This building is confusing as hell to navigate and I’m just trying to concentrate so I can make it back to the exit without walking in circles … or into a wall.”Also, I was just called out by my professor so I feel super awkward, and I avoid meeting new people when at all possible, especially men.I leave out that last part.
“No worries. I got you. I’m heading out also.” I nod and we resume walking. Brody takes my nod as an invitation to continue conversing, so I just go with it.Not every guy that talks to you is interested in you, Alis. He’s probably just a nice guy wanting to get to know a new student.
“So, this is your first semester at Middle Peak. Are you new to the area or just to the school?”
“New to the area. I moved here a little more than a week ago for school.”
“English, right?” I want to make a snarky comment about him being a stalker, but considering our class is only offered to grad students in this specific program, I try to remember his question is moreduhthan intrusive.
I nod. “Yeah. You?” Looky looky; we can both ask stupid questions.
“Same. This is my second year. After this semester I’ll finish my thesis and will hopefully graduate in the spring.” We reach the front door and he opens it, gesturing for me to walk ahead. I nod my thanks.
“Nice. I should be graduating next December, but that’s only if Dr. Matthews will let me write my thesis and take my last seminar courses at the same time. She seemed fine with it when we worked through my transfer credits, but I know profs usually prefer students to focus solely on their thesis in their last semester, so who knows. I may end up graduating later instead.” That’s a heck of a lot more words that I thought he’d pull from me.
“Where’d you transfer from?” he asks.
“I’m not exactly a transfer student, but kind of? I took some time off and am just now able to get back into the swing of things and finish. Dr. Matthews pulled some strings to transfer in old credits so I wouldn’t have to start from scratch.”Atta girl. Way to sidestep that question.With him studying English I knew as soon as I said Grant University he would have gone all fanboy about Dr. Ryan.
He looks at me, obviously confused. “Old credits? I thought all credits transfer as long as you took the courses within the last five or six years. You shouldn’t have had any issues transferring in unless your school had accreditation issues or something.”
I laugh. “No accreditation issues. And you are correct. My transfer credits are from nine years ago.”
Brody’s eyes go wide. “Wait, what? Were you a child prodigy or something?”
“Now Brody, didn’t your mom teach you it’s never okay to ask awoman her age?” I smirk up at him and cut him off as he’s about to apologize. “I’m just kidding. Not a prodigy. I’m thirty.”
He’s shocked. “Thirty? You don’t look thirty.”
“Thanks? I guess?”
He smiles and looks me up and down. “Definitely not thirty. I would have guessed twenty-four, twenty-five tops.”
I chuckle and fold my hands under my chin, fluttering my eyes like a smitten cartoon character. “Why Brody, that’s the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to little ‘ol me.”Where the hell did that come from? Gosh, I’m so awkward.
He nudges my arm. “I doubt that. Surely all the guys tell you you’re beautiful.”
Oh no. He’s flirting. Abort! Abort!“Uh, maybe? I don’t know.” How am I supposed to respond to that? I don’t want to compliment him back because that will send the wrong message.No, sir, I am not interested in dating you.
“I’m twenty-five, in case you were wondering.” I wasn’t, but knowing he’s older than twenty-two makes this conversation a bit less unnerving.
I offer a stiff smile, but don’t say anything. We spend the next few minutes walking in silence. I wish I could say it’s comfortable, but the awkward cloud surrounding us is so thick I might choke on it. I stop as we approach the building that houses Dr. Matthews’ office and look up at Brody, trying and failing to look calm and cool.
“Well, I have to get going. It was nice meeting you, Brody. I’ll see you in class, yeah?”
He runs his hand through his tousled dirty blonde hair and nods, smiling. “Yeah, definitely. See you in class.”
I turn and latch onto the door pull, but Brody stops me as I pull it open. “Hey, Alis?”
I look over my shoulder at him. “What’s up?” Please don’t ask me out. Please oh please oh please do not ask me out.
