Chapter Two

Professor Wilder walked up and down the classroom, attempting to keep his mind on the conclusion of his lecture but unable to stop noticing the way Joey kept nervously tucking her hair behind her ear. Her head kept moving slightly to either side and he knew she was practising a speech for him. He stopped pacing and jumped up onto the desk at the front of the room.

" The key to being a great writer," he started, "…is to write about something you know and love. The more you know about your subject then the less likely it is to be awful,"

" But isn't that just a huge cliché?" asked one girl sitting at the back of the room.

" It can be, it all depends. I say that the key to being a great writer is just being great. It's not something that you can find or just do; you have to be a writer in order to write. I know that came out like Yoda but I mean it. People are born writers, you can't just decide to become one. Everyone in this room is a born writer; I'm just helping you hone your natural abilities. So go, write. Get outta here. You can bug me on Monday," he smiled. The class immediately gathered their things and noisily dispersed, a few girls hanging back with some excuse to talk to him but leaving when they realised he was waiting for Joey. She remained seated at the front of the class.

He jumped down from his desk and sat next to her in the row of seats, she turned to face him. His eyes were dancing as they looked into hers and she knew that Audrey was right; "just do it".

" Can I help you with something, Miss Potter?" he asked, smiling as her hand reached out and took his.

" I hope so. I want to see you again, tonight if you can," she grinned. She had not only shocked Wilder but herself as well; her powers of confidence had sprung up from nowhere. He quickly glanced behind him, checking to ensure they were alone.

" Well, I will be at home tonight. I can't stop a student from just stopping by if she so desired," he smiled.

" I might stop by at about eight then," Joey smiled in return and grabbed her bag, Wilder moved back to let her out. She was so close to him that he could smell her hair; she could smell his aftershave and it took all of her power not to kiss him there and then, right at the front of the class. As she walked away, she trailed her arm out behind her, her hand still in his, never wanting to let go.

Jen was coming over to meet Audrey and Joey for dinner at six so Joey rushed back to the dorm to get ready. Her blood was singing in her ears as she hurried across campus, her smile seemed ready to crack her face at any second and she had never felt more alive than she did at that moment. Audrey was unsurprisingly in front of the mirror, perfecting her make-up when Joey walked into their room. She dumped her bag on her bed and opened her wardrobe doors, looking through her dresses for something to wear tonight.

" Well? Are you just gonna stand over there in silence or are you gonna tell me what happened with Wilder?" asked Audrey, deftly flicking the mascara brush through her eyelashes.

" I'm going to see him tonight. After dinner," she grinned, still rummaging for a dress. " What are you wearing tonight?"

" Haven't decided yet. So, what did he say?"

" He just said that he couldn't stop me from coming over and that he'd be in all night," Joey couldn't stop smiling, she pulled out a plain black shift dress with a diamante pattern at the hem next to a slit on the left leg. She held it up to Audrey who nodded and turned back to the mirror.

" Are you going straight from the restaurant?"

" I think so. I told him I might be there at about eight,"

" Keeping it vague; smart move. Oh, and you should wear a scarf with that," commented Audrey as she finished her make-up and began to search through her own wardrobe. Joey went to the bathroom to get changed and put on her own make-up, by the time she got out Audrey was wriggling into a tight, red skirt with her favourite black, cowl-neck vest top. A knock at the door announced Jen's arrival and Joey opened the door and invited her in.

" Thanks for the invite, guys. I really needed to get out," said Jen, sitting on Audrey's bed.

" It's cool. Can't have a girl's night out without you," said Audrey, "We should get going, it's nearly time,"

" Are we going to Pacey's little restaurant?" begged Jen. Joey smiled as Audrey's face lit up at the mention of Pacey's name.

" Table's booked, sweetie. He's gonna die when he sees us, we look amazing!" grinned Audrey, grabbing her bag as the three friends left the dorms for a good night out.

New chapters up in next few days – please r & r