A Seat Not Taken - Chapter One
Author's Note: Hello all! This is my first WayHaught fic, so please review so I know what you like/dislike. Enjoy!
Waverly Earp knew she was going to be late to her Monday morning lecture. Not late that class would've started, but late as in only five minutes early instead of her usual fifteen. Entering the building, she shook the snow off her coat and stomped her feet on the ground, knocking the snow off. Upon entering the class, the first thing she spotted was a mysterious redhead sitting in her seat. Already upset from this morning's fight with Champ, Waverly stalked over to the redheaded girl to confront her.
"Excuse me, that's my seat," Waverly stated. Chuckling slightly, the girl looked up at her, one eyebrow raised as if to say, "oh really".
"I'm sorry, I didn't realize you brought it in yourself," the redhead said. Waverly ignored her joke.
"I've been sitting there since the first day. It's now December. Why are you sitting here?" Waverly asked.
"Why weren't you sitting here? Normally when I walk in, this seat is taken. But not today. Why?" Waverly was taken aback.
"I was running late. Either way, I didn't realize I'd been claiming my seat since the first day," she said.
"Well, now you know," the redhead said, smiling. Waverly looked down expectantly.
"Are you going to move?" The redhead chuckled.
"No. As you probably know already, isle seats are the best ones and there aren't too many left."
Waverly looked up at the sound of the classroom door closing. With a exasperated sigh, she plopped down in the isle seat behind the redhead. As she took out her books, one dropped onto the stair next to the other girl. Bending down to pick it up, the redhead opened the book to the front page.
"Here you go," she said, handing the book back to Waverly.
"Thanks," she said, taking the book back from the redhead.
Throughout class, Waverly found it difficult to focus on the information her professor was giving her. She kept looking down in front of her to the back of the other girl's head. There was something about the girl that interested her. She tried to recall her name from somewhere, but couldn't.
When the lecture ended, Waverly began packing up her things, wondering if the girl would say something to her. She did.
"It was nice meeting you, Waverly. I hope for my sake that you're late again next time. You must know all the secrets because that seat was the best I've ever sat in," the redhead said, smiling. Waverly smiled back slightly.
"Nice meeting you too," Waverly answered, but the redhead was already on her way out the door. Sighing, she packed up the rest of her things and walked out of the classroom, pausing to button her coat before stepping out into the cold and snow.
Trudging back to her dorm, Waverly thought of the redheaded girl. She was so mysterious, but quite confident. And very pretty. Waverly smiled just thinking about their brief encounter. I was such a bitch, she thought. I yelled at her for being in my seat. It's not my seat. I don't own the classroom. How could she have been so nice to me after I was so rude to her? Mentally scolding herself, Waverly entered her dorm building and walked down the hall to her room.
"Babe!" Waverly turned around to see Champ getting to his feet and running down the hall towards her.
"Not now, Champ," Waverly said, unlocking her door. "I don't want to talk."
"Why not?" Champ asked, following her into her room. Waverly threw her bag down onto the bed and turned to face her boyfriend.
"You were being a complete dick this morning just because I wouldn't put out for you," she yelled at him.
"Which is completely rational! We haven't had sex in forever!" Champ yelled back.
"That's because I had the stomach flu, Champ."
"Yeah, so I was a bit blocked up and Melissa was right down the hall, what's so wrong with that?" Champ yelled angrily.
"You don't see anything wrong with that? Anything at all?" Waverly exclaimed, throwing her hands up in the air.
"No! I have needs, Waverly!" She scoffed and turned to grab his jacket that had been hanging on her chair, throwing it at him and pushing him back towards the door.
"We're done, Champ," she said, pushing him out into the hall. After slamming the door in his face, Waverly collapsed face-down into her pillow, screaming in frustration. She lay there for a few minutes, letting the few tears fall from her eyes, but get mopped up by the fabric on her pillow. Suddenly, she heard a knock on the door.
"Go away, Champ!" she yelled, throwing open the door. Only it wasn't Champ. It was the redheaded girl from her History lecture.
"Hey," the girl began uncertainly.
"Hey," Waverly said softly. "Sorry, I thought you were someone else."
"You okay? I didn't mean to pry, but I kind of overheard your argument with your boyfriend," the girl said.
"Oh, yeah. Sorry about that. I probably pissed off the entire floor."
"I wouldn't worry too much about it," the girl said smiling softly. "Most people are either in class or out at lunch at this point."
"Yeah, I guess you're right." There was an awkward silence and Waverly looked down at the floor, unsure of what to say.
"I was actually heading over to the cafeteria if you wanted to come with me. I understand if you want to be alone, but in case you needed someone to talk too…" the girl trailed off, looking at Waverly for an answer. Waverly smiled.
"I'd love to. Let me just grab my coat."
The two walked quickly to the cafeteria and grabbed their buffet lunches. They sat together at a table for two by the window looking out onto the lawn.
"So you live in Baker too?" Waverly asked. The girl nodded.
"Yeah, I transferred here in the beginning of November and all the rooms they had were singles."
"I love singles. You get so much more privacy with it. Plus you don't have to worry about stupid arguments with your roommate…only your boyfriend," Waverly said, frowning at the thought of her fight with Champ.
"D'you want to talk about it?" the girl asked, putting her hand on Waverly's. Waverly looked up and smiled.
"Not really. I'd rather talk about something else."
"Okay, like what?" the girl asked. Waverly smiled.
"For starters, what's your name?" The pair burst out laughing.
"I'm sorry, I guess I never properly introduced myself. I'm Nicole. Nicole Haught."