College Stuff Ch. 01: Meeting Maddy

Maddy walked into the classroom on time, as usual. She was still the last one there, with the whole class of 7 already present. Higher-level classes were always smaller, and everyone else was on their phone or looking through notes. She took her seat and sat down mindfully to set up her notes. The table was almost a complete circle, with one side open for the professor to teach from. The mediocre plastic chairs and oddly colored yellow walls were never ideal scenery, but at the very least, they were familiar. The professor was always a little late, so to avoid staring at her phone or the wall, she adjusted her clothes: a loose athletic t-shirt with the school's mascot. It was a shirt that just barely sat off her smaller breast and completely hid the curves of her waist and athletic body, shaped from years of volleyball. I could afford to eat a little more, she thought to herself, feeling how close her skin traced her bones and muscles. She shifted in her chair, adjusted her athletic shorts, and felt accomplished looking at the tan on her thighs, the result of a conscious effort to tan since it started to warm up.

The professor still wasn't there, and Maddy almost had a frown--not from the professor's tardiness, she just never looked happy with a resting face. She knew it, but didn't really care. She raised her hands to check her messy bun, a look she pulled off well with her cute face and button nose. She felt her hazel-brown hair and looked over to see Mack a few chairs away. He was looking at her when their eyes met. He quickly looked down at his phone, but not in a panic. --Was he looking at me?... like, Looking Looking at me?-- Before she could decide if it was just a casual glance or an intentional eyeing of her, the professor walked in and started the class.

Mack was her age, with longer blond hair, styled back with a bit of messy volume, and just a few weeks' worth of well-trimmed facial hair. He normally wore casual, well-worn clothes, clearly never trying to impress anyone. His build was nothing special, from what Maddy saw. He was, without a doubt, in shape, and often she could make out where his shirt rested against his chest, and periodically, she could see the contours of his bicep when he reached for something in the right way. Maddy's mind began to wander as the professor began lecturing about something she already understood. At first, she was aggravated by the idea of Mack looking at her. --He just seemed annoying, and just... I don't know, but something...-- she thought. The same frown was there, but this time it was because of her own distaste.

The more she thought, the more she realized she couldn't actually think of anything that really bothered her. She thought more about him, the times we had in-class projects together, --I got aggravated by him... but I'm also always exhausted and done with this class to be fair. Her look shifted to a more contemplative expression as she realized she was judging him over nothing. I mean... he's trying to be nice with the jokes... plus, he does participate in the discussions--. She began to wonder what he was actually like. She'd never really spoken to him for more than five minutes, and it was always about class topics. She looked over at him with a bit of a side-eye, and she first noticed his hand on the desk, finger tapping--either out of fidgeting or like he was playing an instrument. His fingers moved smoothly to a rhythm. She could see the tendons pull and move with them, veins forming mounds on his hands that then traveled up his forearm, like rivers running through mountain ranges. His rhythm began to slow down until eventually, they stopped. Looking up, she met his blue eyes again. She let her eyes linger for a bit before looking back at the board as if she were the one deciding how long they could look at each other.

She focused back on the lecture and ignored thinking about Mack for a while. When class ended, she lingered longer than usual, contemplating speaking to Mack. --Eh... he can talk to me if he wants--, she told herself. She packed her bag and headed out the door, feeling the sun on her skin as she took a steady stroll, finally done with the day's classes. A few good paces behind her, she could hear Mack talking to one of their classmates. Despite Mack being quiet and more soft-spoken in class, he was louder and almost giggly now. She could hear him chatting and making jokes, struggling to get them out without cracking himself up. She looked back to see him with a big guffaw and a genuine smile. She continued walking, thinking about Mack a little more.

Over the next handful of weeks, the periodic looks, glances, and eye contact slowly increased. She started staying around longer and longer. She even started walking behind Mack to hear his voice and watch him crack himself up. She still hadn't talked to him, not because she was scared, but because she was waiting for him to talk to her. --He's not allll that... I'll talk to him if it happens--, she told herself. She usually waited for Mack and his friend to leave before tailing far behind them. But this day, his friend wasn't there. Maddy didn't notice until she had already lingered around and watched Mack leave, so she headed out, not thinking much of it. She was a little closer this time--only a few strides behind him. She checked her phone as they made their way through the building. They made it to the door, and Mack opened it and walked out but kept one hand on it, holding it open. Maddy reached out to open the door, only to find it was already open and saw Mack with a large smile, holding it for her.

"Oh... thank you," she said, mostly just caught off guard.

"You're welcome," Mack responded with his warm smile, letting go of the door.

It was short, but for a bit there was a moment of awkward silence as they walked close to each other, not talking, nor did either one of them change pace, staying side by side. Maddy walked just a little ahead of him, knowingly letting him take a small look at her bubble butt, which she was proud of from all her workouts. She soon slowed down and looked a little behind her to find he wasn't even looking at her. His eyes were focused on the plants and flowers on the side of the walkway. Maddy felt aggravated with him, thinking he was some eccentric guy who didn't know how to socialize, but quickly calmed down and thought to herself, --Why am I annoyed by him over nothing?-- She still couldn't reason with herself why she was getting aggravated with him. She sighed and swallowed her baseless judgment, embracing the curiosity she had about this man. She slowed down and stayed right beside him. He was a bit taller than she had realized, being a good couple of inches above her.

"So, where are you from?" Maddy said, just barely seeming like she actually wanted to know.

Mack snapped back to looking over and answered, "Oh, I'm from Mountain Ridge... real small, down a couple of hours north of here... and you?"

"I'm from Richmond, Virginia," she gave a flat response, more so trying to think if she even had any idea about Mountain Ridge. "What brought you to this college?"

The two talked for a while, giving basic introductory information and questions. Maddy grew increasingly intrigued with this seemingly random man who had found his way out of some random small town. The more she talked, the more she was impressed with his achievements and knowledge. He seemed much more competent and well-to-do than she had given him credit for. And more importantly to her, he was unique. He clearly had passions, was kind, and had his own thoughts--not just another f-boy. They walked all the way to her dorm, and her normal frown started to turn into a smile as she flattered herself, realizing Mack must have walked with her all this way just to keep talking to her. --He walked alllll this way just to chat with me... I knew he had a thing for me--, she told herself. She soon had to hide her disappointment and shock as Mack took a step ahead, scanned the reader, and opened the door for her.

"I was wondering when you were gonna go your own way... but I guess we live in the same building," he chuckled.

Maddy lost her smile after walking through and thanking him. She got aggravated that Mack was flattering himself, thinking she would follow him to talk to him. But again, she calmed herself down and walked with Mack, continuing their conversation to the elevator.

"Hey, do you wanna come hang out in my dorm for a bit? I don't have anything to do," she almost cringed at herself, not even knowing why she offered. Truthfully she knew why, but she didn't want to admit it.

Mack looked over, a little shocked but not bothered. He looked at her, seeing her normally cold expression, which now seemed to be an equal mix of aggravation and excitement that mellowed out into a blank expression.

[ I want to write more but I'm debating whether to take it very slow and build more and more tension or to make it faster. Either way I plan on doing multiple stories with Mack and other girls and dynamics and I'd love to let the readers make some sway/decisions so let me know :) ]