h3 style="margin: 6.45pt 0in; font-size: 13.5pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: center; background: #f4effc; vertical-align: baseline;" align="center"span style="font-size: 15.5pt; font-family: Georgia, serif; color: #2a2a2a; font-weight: normal;"Course Two – Amuse-Bouche/span/h3
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;"Fynn and Hannibal parted ways at the building where her next class was, he stopped in front of the doors, he took her hand off his arm and held it./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""Thank you for joining me for lunch," he said as he bent down and kissed her hand./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;"She smiled, "thank you for taking me." He smiled and sauntered away, she turned quickly and ran into the building to catch her breath. She leaned on the wall for a second to regain her composure. She needed to concentrate on school, but it was almost impossible when all her thoughts drifted back to him. The twinkle in his dark maroon eyes, his playful grin, the way he watched her every movement like a prowling panther. She shuddered and walked to class trying to shake off the high of being with him. She didn't run into him again until she was on her way to her dorm room. He was in the middle of the yard that housed most female dorms, standing next to the fountain. He looked as though he was looking for something and when he spotted her he waved and jogged lightly to her./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""Excuse me, I didn't mean to follow you home, but I realized I offered to escort you to class and I don't know where you live," he said./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;"She giggled, "it's okay, I'll show you, follow me." She led him to her building and stood in the doorway, she turned and gestured to it, "this is it."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""I'll be here in the morning then," he said and started to turn away./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""Wait," she said before she could stop herself, he turned and looked at her curiously, she thought about asking him up to her room but then decided it was too soon, "thank you again," was all she managed. He smiled at her and turned and left. She had wanted to spend more time with him but didn't want him to get the wrong idea if she asked him into her room. Her living room and bedroom were one and the same, so it was harder to know how to have company. After she had given her stalker the wrong impression she had decided to be more careful but in all honesty she wanted Hannibal. She barely knew him but part of her longed to touch him. She thought about it as she made her way up the stairs to her room. Her neighbor Kalisi was standing in her kitchenette with her door open, cooking something./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""Hey," Fynn said./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""Hey," Kalisi said, "you hungry." The thought of food made Fynn remember her lunch with Hannibal and she blushed. Kalisi stared at her, "you okay?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""Oh yea, I mean, no I had a big lunch," she stifled a giggle./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""You're acting weird, you're not hanging out with Nathan again are you?" Kalisi chastised./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;"Fynn, sick of talking through the doorway, stepped into Kalisi's dorm room, "no, no way… buut, there is a guy."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""I knew it, I see that look, that glow," Kalisi said./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""I never had a glow with Nathan," Fynn said./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""But I knew it was a guy glow, and he's the only guy you know here," Kalisi said./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""Not anymore," Fynn said. She told Kalisi all about her day and lunch and then she told her his name./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""Hannibal? Hannibal Lecter?" Kalisi shouted./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""Shhh… and yea why?" Fynn asked./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""He isn't friends with anyone here, he only talks to professors and he's like some sort of Duke or something from Lithuania… he's mysterious and sexy and no girl has ever even attempted to talk to him, he is so unapproachable."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""He's nice though," Fynn said, "and so romantic."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""Yea hence all the girls here wanting to be with him, that accent," Kalisi said fanning herself./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""I didn't know, I just happened to sit down next to him, he started talking to me so…" Fynn shrugged./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;" "Well you could be the luckiest girl in school or in for a lot of trouble, mysterious can be sexy or scary," Kalisi said./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""I'll be careful," Fynn said, hoping she could mean it. The next morning, she woke up extra early to dress better than the day before. She brushed her long auburn waves and put on some mascara and lined her green eyes with a dark green liner. It was cool out, so she wore a long-sleeved black turtleneck and a wool red and black plaid skirt with black thigh high boots. She walked slowly down the stairs to avoid sweating and when she got to the last flight she saw two people standing outside. One was Nathan and the other was Hannibal, standing on opposite sides of the front doors. Nathan seemed oblivious to who Hannibal was waiting for, so they probably hadn't spoken. She pushed the button to unlock the doors and stepped out. Nathan immediately stepped towards her and started to say something, but Hannibal stepped in between them and held up his hand. Nathan stopped in his tracks either scared or stunned or both./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""Umm who are you?" Nathan finally asked./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""I'm here to walk Fynn to class," Hannibal said./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""Are you her boyfriend or something?" Nathan spat, scoffing./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""That is none of your concern, what is your name?" Hannibal asked./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""Nathan, what's yours?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""Nathan, you are to never come back to this building, do not bother this young lady ever again," Hannibal said./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""Oh, look at you in your pretentious trench coat, who do you think you are? You look ridiculous," Nathan said. Hannibal smiled at him and didn't respond. Nathan tried to step around him towards Fynn, but Hannibal blocked him again./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""Do not come any closer," Hannibal said, then he whispered something to Nathan that Fynn couldn't hear. Nathan's eyes got wide and he blinked several times before sneering and walking away./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""I'm sorry about this," Fynn started./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;"Hannibal turned to her, "this is not your fault, but it may get worse before it gets better, shall we?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;"They got to class early and Fynn excused herself to go talk to the professor, "Excuse me Professor?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""Yes?" he looked up at her from his desk./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""I just wanted to apologize for being late yesterday, I really did have a problem but I've arranged for someone to walk me to class from now on so I'm not late due to harassment again, I just wanted you to know I take my classes seriously and I hope you don't hold it against me," she said./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""Ms. Blanchard, I don't grade students on anything besides what they turn in, I don't report absences or tardy students, I just have a lot to teach and can't repeat myself so it is in your best interest to be here to catch it the first time," he said./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""I understand, I just wanted you to know I meant no disrespect," she said./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""It's not personal Ms. Blanchard," he said and smiled at her. She thanked him and went back to the seat beside Hannibal where he was already working on another drawing. She couldn't tell what it was going to be yet./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""Is there a problem?" he asked her nodding toward their professor./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""No, I just wanted to apologize for yesterday," she said./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""Did he accept your apology?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""Yea I'm pretty sure he did, I think," she laughed./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;"Hannibal smiled, "good then."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"They continued walking to class together all week, and he insisted on walking her to all of her classes and walking her home. He also took her to lunch every day, each time at a new place. They talked and got to know each other pretty well but he said nothing about his past, his family or any friends. She didn't push it because it seemed to be a touchy subject for him. As he walked her home on Friday he paused before leaving./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" "Tomorrow is Saturday," he said./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" "It is," she replied./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" For the first time since they'd met he almost seemed nervous, "I would like to call on you tomorrow for a date."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" She smiled, "I would like that a lot."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" "I will send over details with a package later this evening," he said like it was some sort of business transaction. She wasn't used to someone talking the way he did, even after a week but it was amusing and interesting so she couldn't complain. She nodded at his instructions and let him kiss her hand before he left. She quickly went up to her room to gossip with Kalisi about all of it. Later that evening as her and Kalisi talked over Ramen, she got a call from downstairs saying she had a package. She went down for it and saw on the mail counter was a box wrapped in ribbon and sitting on top of it was a beautiful silk bag overflowing with white calla lilies. She quickly grabbed her gifts and ran up the stairs with them./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" "Leesy, you won't believe this," she said as she walked back into her room./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" "Whoo girl, what is that?" Kalisi said when she saw what Fynn was carrying./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" "Flowers, and I don't know what is in the box yet," Fynn said handing Kalisi the bag of flowers./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""Oh there's a note," Kalisi said. The note was handwritten in the most beautiful script Fynn had ever seen, it said :/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;"emFynn, a name of purity,/em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;" align="center"emIf I were to send crimson roses to compliment your hair, you'd know me to see with my eyes. If I were to send the pinkest of peony to compliment your cheeks, it would reveal my longing to touch those cheeks. I send white calla lilies to show that my care for you is deep, your soul revealed in name is the fairest of them all./em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;" align="center" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;"He didn't sign it. Fynn read it and reread it until her vision was blurry. She sat down forgetting to even open the package./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""What is it?" Kalisi asked. Fynn handed her the note and told her to read it. Kalisi read it and sat down beside Fynn on the bed and said, "whoa."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""Yea, like… wow," Fynn said, "it's not even a poem, that's just like… how he talks."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""No wonder you're smitten," Kalisi said./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""I don't even know how to act with this," Fynn said./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""Just enjoy it," Kalisi said./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""But it's like so much, I mean I'm not complaining it's just so… different than what I'm used to."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""You mean getting a booty text at one in the morning and getting fast food on dates?" Kalisi laughed./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""Exactly, I don't miss that it's just that this is all new," Fynn said, she stood up slowly and opened the box. Inside was a long elegant white gown and some nice shoes. She had to put her hands on her desk to keep from passing out./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""Hold on to that one, I mean it," Kalisi told her before she left. The box had a note in it also handwritten telling her what time to be ready and waiting the next evening./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;"She did her homework early on Saturday and tried not to eat much because she knew him well enough to know they'd be having an extravagant dinner. She got ready, putting on the sleek dress he'd picked out. It fit perfectly and made her look like a stranger to herself. She put her long hair up into an updo and wore natural makeup. She didn't have a purse to match the outfit but Kalisi had a white pearl clutch bag./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""Mr. Perfect didn't think of everything I guess," Kalisi said./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""Or he didn't want me to bring my phone," Fynn laughed, "he hates it, he hates that I have social media accounts."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""He doesn't have a cellphone?" Kalisi asked./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""He has one but only uses it for important things, calls and research," Fynn thanked her for the bag and threw in some lipgloss, breath mints, and her phone. She walked down the stairs in regular shoes and changed them at the bottom. Hannibal's choice of shoes were low heels, flattering but not super uncomfortable, he had good taste. When she saw him walk up to the door she unlocked it and let him come inside./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""Good evening," he said putting his hand on her chin and kissing her cheek./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""Hello," she said, smiling as he backed away./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""You look stunning," he said./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""Thank you," she blushed, "is my hair too… stiff? I am used to it being wild and free."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;"He looked her over and put his hand behind her head, taking her hair down in one swift motion. She laughed, then shivered as he put his hands through her hair and tousled it a little as it cascaded down her back and over her shoulders. She stared up at him and watched his lips as he looked her over, inspecting her closely. He was so close to her that she could feel his warm minty breath on her face. His breathing was a little more shallow than usual, and she could hear her own heart beating in her ears./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""Kiss me," she whispered./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;"Without a word, he cupped her chin and lightly grazed her lips with his, she felt ravenous, but let him take control. She could feel his self-restraint as he backed away after a small kiss and could see in his eyes that he wanted more just as badly as she did. She knew in that moment that he had a lot more self-control than her when he wanted to, and he would playfully torture her for his own amusement. The thought made her shiver again and she looked up at him pleadingly. He grinned and shook his head 'no'. She gave him a little pout and he chuckled lightly./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""I don't want to spoil your dinner," he said, and she wondered what exactly he meant by it./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;"Fynn and Hannibal parted ways at the building where her next class was, he stopped in front of the doors, he took her hand off his arm and held it./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""Thank you for joining me for lunch," he said as he bent down and kissed her hand./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;"She smiled, "thank you for taking me." He smiled and sauntered away, she turned quickly and ran into the building to catch her breath. She leaned on the wall for a second to regain her composure. She needed to concentrate on school, but it was almost impossible when all her thoughts drifted back to him. The twinkle in his dark maroon eyes, his playful grin, the way he watched her every movement like a prowling panther. She shuddered and walked to class trying to shake off the high of being with him. She didn't run into him again until she was on her way to her dorm room. He was in the middle of the yard that housed most female dorms, standing next to the fountain. He looked as though he was looking for something and when he spotted her he waved and jogged lightly to her./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""Excuse me, I didn't mean to follow you home, but I realized I offered to escort you to class and I don't know where you live," he said./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;"She giggled, "it's okay, I'll show you, follow me." She led him to her building and stood in the doorway, she turned and gestured to it, "this is it."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""I'll be here in the morning then," he said and started to turn away./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""Wait," she said before she could stop herself, he turned and looked at her curiously, she thought about asking him up to her room but then decided it was too soon, "thank you again," was all she managed. He smiled at her and turned and left. She had wanted to spend more time with him but didn't want him to get the wrong idea if she asked him into her room. Her living room and bedroom were one and the same, so it was harder to know how to have company. After she had given her stalker the wrong impression she had decided to be more careful but in all honesty she wanted Hannibal. She barely knew him but part of her longed to touch him. She thought about it as she made her way up the stairs to her room. Her neighbor Kalisi was standing in her kitchenette with her door open, cooking something./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""Hey," Fynn said./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""Hey," Kalisi said, "you hungry." The thought of food made Fynn remember her lunch with Hannibal and she blushed. Kalisi stared at her, "you okay?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""Oh yea, I mean, no I had a big lunch," she stifled a giggle./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""You're acting weird, you're not hanging out with Nathan again are you?" Kalisi chastised./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;"Fynn, sick of talking through the doorway, stepped into Kalisi's dorm room, "no, no way… buut, there is a guy."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""I knew it, I see that look, that glow," Kalisi said./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""I never had a glow with Nathan," Fynn said./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""But I knew it was a guy glow, and he's the only guy you know here," Kalisi said./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""Not anymore," Fynn said. She told Kalisi all about her day and lunch and then she told her his name./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""Hannibal? Hannibal Lecter?" Kalisi shouted./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""Shhh… and yea why?" Fynn asked./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""He isn't friends with anyone here, he only talks to professors and he's like some sort of Duke or something from Lithuania… he's mysterious and sexy and no girl has ever even attempted to talk to him, he is so unapproachable."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""He's nice though," Fynn said, "and so romantic."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""Yea hence all the girls here wanting to be with him, that accent," Kalisi said fanning herself./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""I didn't know, I just happened to sit down next to him, he started talking to me so…" Fynn shrugged./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;" "Well you could be the luckiest girl in school or in for a lot of trouble, mysterious can be sexy or scary," Kalisi said./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""I'll be careful," Fynn said, hoping she could mean it. The next morning, she woke up extra early to dress better than the day before. She brushed her long auburn waves and put on some mascara and lined her green eyes with a dark green liner. It was cool out, so she wore a long-sleeved black turtleneck and a wool red and black plaid skirt with black thigh high boots. She walked slowly down the stairs to avoid sweating and when she got to the last flight she saw two people standing outside. One was Nathan and the other was Hannibal, standing on opposite sides of the front doors. Nathan seemed oblivious to who Hannibal was waiting for, so they probably hadn't spoken. She pushed the button to unlock the doors and stepped out. Nathan immediately stepped towards her and started to say something, but Hannibal stepped in between them and held up his hand. Nathan stopped in his tracks either scared or stunned or both./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""Umm who are you?" Nathan finally asked./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""I'm here to walk Fynn to class," Hannibal said./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""Are you her boyfriend or something?" Nathan spat, scoffing./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""That is none of your concern, what is your name?" Hannibal asked./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""Nathan, what's yours?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""Nathan, you are to never come back to this building, do not bother this young lady ever again," Hannibal said./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""Oh, look at you in your pretentious trench coat, who do you think you are? You look ridiculous," Nathan said. Hannibal smiled at him and didn't respond. Nathan tried to step around him towards Fynn, but Hannibal blocked him again./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""Do not come any closer," Hannibal said, then he whispered something to Nathan that Fynn couldn't hear. Nathan's eyes got wide and he blinked several times before sneering and walking away./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""I'm sorry about this," Fynn started./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;"Hannibal turned to her, "this is not your fault, but it may get worse before it gets better, shall we?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;"They got to class early and Fynn excused herself to go talk to the professor, "Excuse me Professor?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""Yes?" he looked up at her from his desk./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""I just wanted to apologize for being late yesterday, I really did have a problem but I've arranged for someone to walk me to class from now on so I'm not late due to harassment again, I just wanted you to know I take my classes seriously and I hope you don't hold it against me," she said./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""Ms. Blanchard, I don't grade students on anything besides what they turn in, I don't report absences or tardy students, I just have a lot to teach and can't repeat myself so it is in your best interest to be here to catch it the first time," he said./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""I understand, I just wanted you to know I meant no disrespect," she said./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""It's not personal Ms. Blanchard," he said and smiled at her. She thanked him and went back to the seat beside Hannibal where he was already working on another drawing. She couldn't tell what it was going to be yet./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""Is there a problem?" he asked her nodding toward their professor./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""No, I just wanted to apologize for yesterday," she said./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""Did he accept your apology?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""Yea I'm pretty sure he did, I think," she laughed./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;"Hannibal smiled, "good then."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"They continued walking to class together all week, and he insisted on walking her to all of her classes and walking her home. He also took her to lunch every day, each time at a new place. They talked and got to know each other pretty well but he said nothing about his past, his family or any friends. She didn't push it because it seemed to be a touchy subject for him. As he walked her home on Friday he paused before leaving./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" "Tomorrow is Saturday," he said./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" "It is," she replied./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" For the first time since they'd met he almost seemed nervous, "I would like to call on you tomorrow for a date."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" She smiled, "I would like that a lot."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" "I will send over details with a package later this evening," he said like it was some sort of business transaction. She wasn't used to someone talking the way he did, even after a week but it was amusing and interesting so she couldn't complain. She nodded at his instructions and let him kiss her hand before he left. She quickly went up to her room to gossip with Kalisi about all of it. Later that evening as her and Kalisi talked over Ramen, she got a call from downstairs saying she had a package. She went down for it and saw on the mail counter was a box wrapped in ribbon and sitting on top of it was a beautiful silk bag overflowing with white calla lilies. She quickly grabbed her gifts and ran up the stairs with them./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" "Leesy, you won't believe this," she said as she walked back into her room./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" "Whoo girl, what is that?" Kalisi said when she saw what Fynn was carrying./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" "Flowers, and I don't know what is in the box yet," Fynn said handing Kalisi the bag of flowers./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""Oh there's a note," Kalisi said. The note was handwritten in the most beautiful script Fynn had ever seen, it said :/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;"emFynn, a name of purity,/em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;" align="center"emIf I were to send crimson roses to compliment your hair, you'd know me to see with my eyes. If I were to send the pinkest of peony to compliment your cheeks, it would reveal my longing to touch those cheeks. I send white calla lilies to show that my care for you is deep, your soul revealed in name is the fairest of them all./em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.5in;" align="center" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;"He didn't sign it. Fynn read it and reread it until her vision was blurry. She sat down forgetting to even open the package./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""What is it?" Kalisi asked. Fynn handed her the note and told her to read it. Kalisi read it and sat down beside Fynn on the bed and said, "whoa."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""Yea, like… wow," Fynn said, "it's not even a poem, that's just like… how he talks."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""No wonder you're smitten," Kalisi said./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""I don't even know how to act with this," Fynn said./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""Just enjoy it," Kalisi said./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""But it's like so much, I mean I'm not complaining it's just so… different than what I'm used to."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""You mean getting a booty text at one in the morning and getting fast food on dates?" Kalisi laughed./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""Exactly, I don't miss that it's just that this is all new," Fynn said, she stood up slowly and opened the box. Inside was a long elegant white gown and some nice shoes. She had to put her hands on her desk to keep from passing out./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""Hold on to that one, I mean it," Kalisi told her before she left. The box had a note in it also handwritten telling her what time to be ready and waiting the next evening./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;"She did her homework early on Saturday and tried not to eat much because she knew him well enough to know they'd be having an extravagant dinner. She got ready, putting on the sleek dress he'd picked out. It fit perfectly and made her look like a stranger to herself. She put her long hair up into an updo and wore natural makeup. She didn't have a purse to match the outfit but Kalisi had a white pearl clutch bag./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""Mr. Perfect didn't think of everything I guess," Kalisi said./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""Or he didn't want me to bring my phone," Fynn laughed, "he hates it, he hates that I have social media accounts."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""He doesn't have a cellphone?" Kalisi asked./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""He has one but only uses it for important things, calls and research," Fynn thanked her for the bag and threw in some lipgloss, breath mints, and her phone. She walked down the stairs in regular shoes and changed them at the bottom. Hannibal's choice of shoes were low heels, flattering but not super uncomfortable, he had good taste. When she saw him walk up to the door she unlocked it and let him come inside./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""Good evening," he said putting his hand on her chin and kissing her cheek./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""Hello," she said, smiling as he backed away./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""You look stunning," he said./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""Thank you," she blushed, "is my hair too… stiff? I am used to it being wild and free."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;"He looked her over and put his hand behind her head, taking her hair down in one swift motion. She laughed, then shivered as he put his hands through her hair and tousled it a little as it cascaded down her back and over her shoulders. She stared up at him and watched his lips as he looked her over, inspecting her closely. He was so close to her that she could feel his warm minty breath on her face. His breathing was a little more shallow than usual, and she could hear her own heart beating in her ears./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""Kiss me," she whispered./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;"Without a word, he cupped her chin and lightly grazed her lips with his, she felt ravenous, but let him take control. She could feel his self-restraint as he backed away after a small kiss and could see in his eyes that he wanted more just as badly as she did. She knew in that moment that he had a lot more self-control than her when he wanted to, and he would playfully torture her for his own amusement. The thought made her shiver again and she looked up at him pleadingly. He grinned and shook his head 'no'. She gave him a little pout and he chuckled lightly./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;""I don't want to spoil your dinner," he said, and she wondered what exactly he meant by it./p