.The Art Seminar and Thereafter
By: Kaffy
Chapter One: The Introduction
"Welcome to Dougan University's Summer Accelerated Art Program," the arrogant announcer boomed to the auditorium full of future freshmen. "You have all been selected for this program because we think you all have great potential. You'll be here for a little over 3 months, training with our top art professors. Now, you can find your room assignments on a list posted outside the auditorium. Get yourselves moved in and comfortable, your classes start tomorrow. Good luck."
The crowd got up and moved towards the door, everyone anxious to know where they would be living for the next 3 months. Caroline pushed her way among the thick crowd. "Excuse me," she piped up, trying to weave the through the throng of people. A tall, blonde man not much older than her rushed past her, knocking her to the ground. "Hey!"
He turned around and briefly said, "Sorry…" before hurrying ahead and checking the list for his name.
Caroline sighed, "Jerk!" She got up and dusted herself off. Eventually, she worked her way up to the sheet. "Jefferson Hall, Room 259…ok." She eventually escaped the crowd and made it outside.
As she was pulling out her handy map, the tall blonde approached her. "I'm sorry I knocked you over in there."
She looked up, getting her first real look at him. He was fairly good looking, dressed in all black, and had captivating eyes. "It's ok, it could have happened to anyone." Something about him was familiar, but she couldn't put her finger on it.
"Yeah, well, I'm sorry. I have to go, maybe I'll see you around."
"Yeah, maybe."
"Bye."
"Bye." She watched as he walked away with long, confident strides. There was something about his eyes. Most blondes had blue eyes, but his were mysterious, dark brown. She turned her head back to the map. Upon finding Jefferson Hall, she quickly gathered up her things and walked to her room.
*~*~*~*~*
"I want you to want me! I need you to need me! I love you to love me! I'm begging you to beg me!" Caroline opened the door to find a strange girl dancing and singing to the radio. "Didn't I, didn't I, didn't I hear you crying?" The girl caught sight of her and turned down the radio. "Oh, hi."
Caroline replied shyly, "Hi."
"I'm Annie."
She held her hand out, "Caroline, Caroline Duffy."
Annie took her hand and eyed her up and down. She definitely was a country girl, probably really naïve. Being from New York, she had prayed for a sucker roommate from some podunk town that she could…um, well…be friends with, yeah that was it. "So, where you from?"
"Wisconsin. Peshtigo. It's a real small town that you've probably never ever heard of. You?"
"New Jersey."
"Are you here for the art seminar too?"
"Nah, I'm here for a performing arts program. Ya' know, dancing, acting, all that stuff…"
"How long have you been here?"
"I just got in this morning…"
"Yeah, me too. Have you looked around at all?"
Annie smiled. "Not really."
"Well, I was going to take a walk and look around before I unpack. Want to come with me?"
"Sure." So, with that, they both put off unpacking and took off out the door. Caroline, wanting to know more about this girl that she would be living with for the next 3 months, started asking her questions.
"So…do you have a boyfriend at home?"
"Kind of."
"Kind of?"
"Yeah…kind of. I mean, he's my boyfriend at home, but if anything happens down here…well, what he doesn't know won't hurt him. What about you?"
"Well, I was dating this guy, Randy, but I broke up with him right before I cam here…in case I met anyone."
Annie nodded. They continued to walk around campus, learning the recognizable buildings to use as landmarks. Luckily for Caroline, the Art Building was really close to Jefferson, just across the street. But the Performing Arts Center was not only across the campus, but also up the dreaded Jefferson Hill. Annie would have a workout just to get to class.
As they walked around, the girls really got to know each other. At first, Annie saw Caroline as a small-town country girl, naïve and totally easy to take advantage of, but after she got to know her a little better, she realized just how Caroline was. They became instant friends.
It was on their walk around campus when Caroline saw him again. The tall blonde. He was sitting under a tree, drawing in a sketchbook. But, it was Annie who was the one to make the first comment.
"Ooh, Caroline, look at him…he is so hot!"
"Yeah, but he's kind of a jerk."
"You know him?"
"Not really. He's taking the art seminar too. He knocked me over earlier when he was rushing out of the auditorium."
"Did he apologize?"
"Well, yeah, but…."
Annie noticed a look in her new friend's eyes. "You have a thing for him, don't you?"
"What?!"
"Oh my god, you do!" It was so obvious.
"Well…yeah, maybe a little thing."
"So, what's his name?"
"I don't know, he didn't say."
"Well, let's go find out." She pulled on Caroline's arm in the tall blonde's direction.
"No, Annie, no." She pulled back, fighting against Annie's tugs. "If he was interested, he would have said something earlier." She finally got her arm free. "It's way too embarrassing, let's just go home." She turned to go back to Jefferson.
"Ok, fine," Annie replied, turning like she was going to follow Caroline back. Then, she suddenly turned and ran toward the blonde before Caroline could catch her.
*~*~*~*~*
Richard had seen the red head he bumped into earlier walking with the brunette across the way, but he forced himself not to stare. There was something about her that felt familiar, but he didn't trust it. He didn't like how drawn he was to her. He was a loner, nobody could possibly understand him, and he wasn't going to give anyone a chance to try.
But there was something about her; she was captivating. She had this air about her, an easy confidence added to an innocence he had never seen. She soon became the subject of his sketches. He was so busy sketching, he didn't notice the brunette approaching him as the red head disappeared behind a tree.
"Hey."
He looked up. The brunette. Where was the other one? "Hi." He replied shortly, returning to his sketchpad.
Unperturbed by his rudeness, she stuck out her hand, "Annie Spadaro."
He took her hand briefly, "Nice to meet you," then he turned back to his sketchpad again.
"And you are…."
He sighed, "Not interested."
"Fine, you jerk. I wasn't asking for me anyways…" She turned to walk.
His head shot up. Could she mean the red head? No, you don't want to think like that. You don't need anyone. But, there is something about her. "Richard."
Annie turned around to face him. "What?"
He stood and approached her, sticking his hand out to shake hers. "Richard Karinsky."
She smiled and shook his hand. It was pretty obvious that he had taken as much notice of Caroline as she had of him.
"Nice to meet you, Richard."
"So, who were you asking for?"
"Huh?"
"You said that you were asking for someone else, but you're by yourself…"
Annie looked around, just now noticing that Caroline was in hiding. "Where did she go? Ugh, hold on." She looked around and found Caroline hiding behind a tree. "Come on," she whispered. "He is so into you."
"No, he's not!"
"Yes, he is, he saw us walking together so he knew you were with me…"
"So?"
"Well, he was really rude until I told him I was asking for someone else. He had to have know that I meant you…"
"Really?"
"Yes, really. Come on, let me introduce you." She pulled a reluctant Caroline in front of Richard. "Richard, this is Caroline. Caroline, this is Richard."
Yep. There was definitely something about her. He maintained his stoic exterior, but inwardly, he was smiling. This Caroline was absolutely enthralling. She was obviously shy, she wouldn't even look him in the eye.
"Hi." He said soberly.
She looked up and met his eyes. "Hi."
Annie grinned, these two were hilarious. It was like they had never talked to a member of the opposite sex before, ever. "Ok, Caroline. I'm going to unpack, I'll see you later." She walked away quickly, not giving Caroline the chance to join her.
Caroline glanced in Richard's direction, but didn't quite meet his eyes. "So."
"So." There was an awkward silence. "I'm really sorry I knocked you over earlier."
"It was really no big deal."
"Would you like to sit with me? I was just doing some sketches…"
"Sure." The sat down under the tree, a couple of feet apart. Another awkward silence enveloped them again. Desperate to break the silence, Caroline decided to ask him a few questions. "So, where are you from?"
"Southern California, Florida, Chicago, New York…"
"Wow."
"Yeah, well my parents like to move us around….a lot."
"I'm sorry."
"It's ok, I'm used to it now. So, um, what about you? Where are you from?"
"Wisconsin, a really small town in Wisconsin."
"And you're here for the art seminar too?"
"Yeah, but I'm not very good at it."
"The wouldn't have let you into the program if you didn't have talent."
"Well, I'm kind of an experiment for them. I'm here for cartooning, not actual drawing. It just fit into the art seminar the best."
"Oh, I see…" His tone held a hint of condescension, but she ignored it. She didn't know him well enough to get defensive yet. He started collecting his things. "Well, I better get going."
"Ok, it was nice to meet you." They both started to get up and he noticed that her face saddened.
"It was nice meeting you too." She started to walk away, but something made him reach out and grasp her elbow.
She turned to face him. "What?"
"Um…I…uh," he started stuttering. What was it about her? Why couldn't he just let her go? "I was wondering if you were busy tonight?"
She smiled, "No, not really."
"Would you be any chance, well, want to, um, do something….with me?"
"What did you have in mind?"
"I don't know…I don't really know what there is to do around here."
"Well, we could walk around and see what there is to do…."
"Ok, that sounds good."
"Ok, but I have to go unpack now."
"Ok, I'll pick you up in a couple of hours. What building are you in?"
"Um…Jefferson. Room 259."
"Ok, it's 2:30 now…how about I pick you at 6:30. Is that enough time?"
"Yeah, it should be."
"I guess I'll see you then."
"Yeah."
"Ok, well I have to get going. I'll see you in a few hours."
"Ok, bye."
"Bye." He watched her leave, utterly confused. He didn't understand why he felt this way. He didn't understand why he felt like he had to see this girl, this Caroline. She didn't create real art, she drew cartoons. She was a small-town girl with a small-town naiveté, something he had always despised. What was it about her? Oh well, maybe he would find out tonight. He gathered up his supplies and walked to his room.
*~*~*~*~*
Caroline opened and shut her dorm room door, resting her head against it. Annie was busy unpacking and didn't notice when Caroline came in. Caroline sighed, alerting Annie to her presence. She looked up expectantly. "Well? How did it go?"
"I should kill you."
"What? Why?"
"You left me alone with him!"
"So, I didn't want to stay and watch you two making puppy dog eyes at each other…."
"We weren't really doing that, were we?"
Annie laughed. "Yes, you really were."
"Oh, I'm sorry."
"Oh, I don't care, but tell me what happened?"
Caroline started to unpack while she was talking. "Ok, well we sat down and started talking, just, like, small talk, but we were talking. Then I told him I was here for cartooning and not actual art and he got this…I don't know…weird look on his face and excused himself to go. So I got up to go, but he stopped me and asked me out tonight."
Annie raised her fist in triumph, "Yes!"
Caroline looked up and smiled. "I know."
"So what are you going to do?"
"Well, neither of us know anything to do around here, so we're just going to go for a walk and maybe find something…"
"Uh huh, so are you meeting him somewhere or is he picking you up."
"He's picking me up in a little while, after I unpack."
"Ooh!" she squealed, "I'm so excited for you, he is so into you."
"I don't think so…you should have seen his face when I told him about the cartooning thing, it was like…" she sighed, "….utter disgust."
"But he asked you out afterwards right?"
"Well, yeah."
"Trust me, you should have seen the way his head shot up when he thought I was asking for you," she chuckled slightly as she remembered, "He is really into you."
"Maybe…"
They continued to talk for the next 3 hours as they unpacked, until Caroline looked down at her watch…. "Oh my God! Richard is going to be here in less than an hour!"
"Ok, just relax. You go take a shower, I'll pick out something for you to wear."
Caroline quickly changed into her bathrobe and got her shower materials together while Annie started digging through her closet. Not finding anything suitable in Caroline's closet, Annie moved to her own closet to find something a bit more risqué. She finally got something picked out just when Caroline came back with a towel wrapped around her head. She saw what Annie had laid out, a tight, black mini-skirt with a bright red body suit that was really low-cut.
"Annie, I can't wear that!"
"Why not?"
"He won't go for that…"
"How could he not?"
"I don't know why not, but trust me, he won't. He isn't like most guys. I mean, did you see what he was wearing? All black. I need to wear something that's a little more me." She pulled out a pair of jeans and a plain white t-shirt. "What about this?"
"Doesn't really do much for your figure…why don't you try a tighter shirt?"
"I don't have that much to show off anyway…"
"Ok, if that's what makes you comfortable, then wear it."
"Yeah." She quickly got dressed and did her hair and makeup. When she was ready, she plopped down on the bed and waited, talking to Annie to pass the time.
*~*~*~*~*
Richard stood in front of the mirror for the fourth time. **I think this one might be it. Ugh…** He sighed. **Why am I doing this? She's just a girl! A perky country bumpkin who draws cartoons! Why am I so worried about a stupid little walk with her?** He eyed himself up and down, black jeans with a gray polo shirt. **Ok, this is the right one. What is it about her? Why am I so drawn to her?** He looked down at his watch and sighed. "Time to go." He grabbed his keys and walked out the door of his single and down the stairs to the first floor. He walked across the couple of streets towards her building, thinking. **There has to be a reason I'm so drawn to her, right? Fate? Ok, I'm just going to go with the flow on this.** He found himself right outside Jefferson. **Ok. Room 259, here we go.**
By: Kaffy
Chapter One: The Introduction
"Welcome to Dougan University's Summer Accelerated Art Program," the arrogant announcer boomed to the auditorium full of future freshmen. "You have all been selected for this program because we think you all have great potential. You'll be here for a little over 3 months, training with our top art professors. Now, you can find your room assignments on a list posted outside the auditorium. Get yourselves moved in and comfortable, your classes start tomorrow. Good luck."
The crowd got up and moved towards the door, everyone anxious to know where they would be living for the next 3 months. Caroline pushed her way among the thick crowd. "Excuse me," she piped up, trying to weave the through the throng of people. A tall, blonde man not much older than her rushed past her, knocking her to the ground. "Hey!"
He turned around and briefly said, "Sorry…" before hurrying ahead and checking the list for his name.
Caroline sighed, "Jerk!" She got up and dusted herself off. Eventually, she worked her way up to the sheet. "Jefferson Hall, Room 259…ok." She eventually escaped the crowd and made it outside.
As she was pulling out her handy map, the tall blonde approached her. "I'm sorry I knocked you over in there."
She looked up, getting her first real look at him. He was fairly good looking, dressed in all black, and had captivating eyes. "It's ok, it could have happened to anyone." Something about him was familiar, but she couldn't put her finger on it.
"Yeah, well, I'm sorry. I have to go, maybe I'll see you around."
"Yeah, maybe."
"Bye."
"Bye." She watched as he walked away with long, confident strides. There was something about his eyes. Most blondes had blue eyes, but his were mysterious, dark brown. She turned her head back to the map. Upon finding Jefferson Hall, she quickly gathered up her things and walked to her room.
*~*~*~*~*
"I want you to want me! I need you to need me! I love you to love me! I'm begging you to beg me!" Caroline opened the door to find a strange girl dancing and singing to the radio. "Didn't I, didn't I, didn't I hear you crying?" The girl caught sight of her and turned down the radio. "Oh, hi."
Caroline replied shyly, "Hi."
"I'm Annie."
She held her hand out, "Caroline, Caroline Duffy."
Annie took her hand and eyed her up and down. She definitely was a country girl, probably really naïve. Being from New York, she had prayed for a sucker roommate from some podunk town that she could…um, well…be friends with, yeah that was it. "So, where you from?"
"Wisconsin. Peshtigo. It's a real small town that you've probably never ever heard of. You?"
"New Jersey."
"Are you here for the art seminar too?"
"Nah, I'm here for a performing arts program. Ya' know, dancing, acting, all that stuff…"
"How long have you been here?"
"I just got in this morning…"
"Yeah, me too. Have you looked around at all?"
Annie smiled. "Not really."
"Well, I was going to take a walk and look around before I unpack. Want to come with me?"
"Sure." So, with that, they both put off unpacking and took off out the door. Caroline, wanting to know more about this girl that she would be living with for the next 3 months, started asking her questions.
"So…do you have a boyfriend at home?"
"Kind of."
"Kind of?"
"Yeah…kind of. I mean, he's my boyfriend at home, but if anything happens down here…well, what he doesn't know won't hurt him. What about you?"
"Well, I was dating this guy, Randy, but I broke up with him right before I cam here…in case I met anyone."
Annie nodded. They continued to walk around campus, learning the recognizable buildings to use as landmarks. Luckily for Caroline, the Art Building was really close to Jefferson, just across the street. But the Performing Arts Center was not only across the campus, but also up the dreaded Jefferson Hill. Annie would have a workout just to get to class.
As they walked around, the girls really got to know each other. At first, Annie saw Caroline as a small-town country girl, naïve and totally easy to take advantage of, but after she got to know her a little better, she realized just how Caroline was. They became instant friends.
It was on their walk around campus when Caroline saw him again. The tall blonde. He was sitting under a tree, drawing in a sketchbook. But, it was Annie who was the one to make the first comment.
"Ooh, Caroline, look at him…he is so hot!"
"Yeah, but he's kind of a jerk."
"You know him?"
"Not really. He's taking the art seminar too. He knocked me over earlier when he was rushing out of the auditorium."
"Did he apologize?"
"Well, yeah, but…."
Annie noticed a look in her new friend's eyes. "You have a thing for him, don't you?"
"What?!"
"Oh my god, you do!" It was so obvious.
"Well…yeah, maybe a little thing."
"So, what's his name?"
"I don't know, he didn't say."
"Well, let's go find out." She pulled on Caroline's arm in the tall blonde's direction.
"No, Annie, no." She pulled back, fighting against Annie's tugs. "If he was interested, he would have said something earlier." She finally got her arm free. "It's way too embarrassing, let's just go home." She turned to go back to Jefferson.
"Ok, fine," Annie replied, turning like she was going to follow Caroline back. Then, she suddenly turned and ran toward the blonde before Caroline could catch her.
*~*~*~*~*
Richard had seen the red head he bumped into earlier walking with the brunette across the way, but he forced himself not to stare. There was something about her that felt familiar, but he didn't trust it. He didn't like how drawn he was to her. He was a loner, nobody could possibly understand him, and he wasn't going to give anyone a chance to try.
But there was something about her; she was captivating. She had this air about her, an easy confidence added to an innocence he had never seen. She soon became the subject of his sketches. He was so busy sketching, he didn't notice the brunette approaching him as the red head disappeared behind a tree.
"Hey."
He looked up. The brunette. Where was the other one? "Hi." He replied shortly, returning to his sketchpad.
Unperturbed by his rudeness, she stuck out her hand, "Annie Spadaro."
He took her hand briefly, "Nice to meet you," then he turned back to his sketchpad again.
"And you are…."
He sighed, "Not interested."
"Fine, you jerk. I wasn't asking for me anyways…" She turned to walk.
His head shot up. Could she mean the red head? No, you don't want to think like that. You don't need anyone. But, there is something about her. "Richard."
Annie turned around to face him. "What?"
He stood and approached her, sticking his hand out to shake hers. "Richard Karinsky."
She smiled and shook his hand. It was pretty obvious that he had taken as much notice of Caroline as she had of him.
"Nice to meet you, Richard."
"So, who were you asking for?"
"Huh?"
"You said that you were asking for someone else, but you're by yourself…"
Annie looked around, just now noticing that Caroline was in hiding. "Where did she go? Ugh, hold on." She looked around and found Caroline hiding behind a tree. "Come on," she whispered. "He is so into you."
"No, he's not!"
"Yes, he is, he saw us walking together so he knew you were with me…"
"So?"
"Well, he was really rude until I told him I was asking for someone else. He had to have know that I meant you…"
"Really?"
"Yes, really. Come on, let me introduce you." She pulled a reluctant Caroline in front of Richard. "Richard, this is Caroline. Caroline, this is Richard."
Yep. There was definitely something about her. He maintained his stoic exterior, but inwardly, he was smiling. This Caroline was absolutely enthralling. She was obviously shy, she wouldn't even look him in the eye.
"Hi." He said soberly.
She looked up and met his eyes. "Hi."
Annie grinned, these two were hilarious. It was like they had never talked to a member of the opposite sex before, ever. "Ok, Caroline. I'm going to unpack, I'll see you later." She walked away quickly, not giving Caroline the chance to join her.
Caroline glanced in Richard's direction, but didn't quite meet his eyes. "So."
"So." There was an awkward silence. "I'm really sorry I knocked you over earlier."
"It was really no big deal."
"Would you like to sit with me? I was just doing some sketches…"
"Sure." The sat down under the tree, a couple of feet apart. Another awkward silence enveloped them again. Desperate to break the silence, Caroline decided to ask him a few questions. "So, where are you from?"
"Southern California, Florida, Chicago, New York…"
"Wow."
"Yeah, well my parents like to move us around….a lot."
"I'm sorry."
"It's ok, I'm used to it now. So, um, what about you? Where are you from?"
"Wisconsin, a really small town in Wisconsin."
"And you're here for the art seminar too?"
"Yeah, but I'm not very good at it."
"The wouldn't have let you into the program if you didn't have talent."
"Well, I'm kind of an experiment for them. I'm here for cartooning, not actual drawing. It just fit into the art seminar the best."
"Oh, I see…" His tone held a hint of condescension, but she ignored it. She didn't know him well enough to get defensive yet. He started collecting his things. "Well, I better get going."
"Ok, it was nice to meet you." They both started to get up and he noticed that her face saddened.
"It was nice meeting you too." She started to walk away, but something made him reach out and grasp her elbow.
She turned to face him. "What?"
"Um…I…uh," he started stuttering. What was it about her? Why couldn't he just let her go? "I was wondering if you were busy tonight?"
She smiled, "No, not really."
"Would you be any chance, well, want to, um, do something….with me?"
"What did you have in mind?"
"I don't know…I don't really know what there is to do around here."
"Well, we could walk around and see what there is to do…."
"Ok, that sounds good."
"Ok, but I have to go unpack now."
"Ok, I'll pick you up in a couple of hours. What building are you in?"
"Um…Jefferson. Room 259."
"Ok, it's 2:30 now…how about I pick you at 6:30. Is that enough time?"
"Yeah, it should be."
"I guess I'll see you then."
"Yeah."
"Ok, well I have to get going. I'll see you in a few hours."
"Ok, bye."
"Bye." He watched her leave, utterly confused. He didn't understand why he felt this way. He didn't understand why he felt like he had to see this girl, this Caroline. She didn't create real art, she drew cartoons. She was a small-town girl with a small-town naiveté, something he had always despised. What was it about her? Oh well, maybe he would find out tonight. He gathered up his supplies and walked to his room.
*~*~*~*~*
Caroline opened and shut her dorm room door, resting her head against it. Annie was busy unpacking and didn't notice when Caroline came in. Caroline sighed, alerting Annie to her presence. She looked up expectantly. "Well? How did it go?"
"I should kill you."
"What? Why?"
"You left me alone with him!"
"So, I didn't want to stay and watch you two making puppy dog eyes at each other…."
"We weren't really doing that, were we?"
Annie laughed. "Yes, you really were."
"Oh, I'm sorry."
"Oh, I don't care, but tell me what happened?"
Caroline started to unpack while she was talking. "Ok, well we sat down and started talking, just, like, small talk, but we were talking. Then I told him I was here for cartooning and not actual art and he got this…I don't know…weird look on his face and excused himself to go. So I got up to go, but he stopped me and asked me out tonight."
Annie raised her fist in triumph, "Yes!"
Caroline looked up and smiled. "I know."
"So what are you going to do?"
"Well, neither of us know anything to do around here, so we're just going to go for a walk and maybe find something…"
"Uh huh, so are you meeting him somewhere or is he picking you up."
"He's picking me up in a little while, after I unpack."
"Ooh!" she squealed, "I'm so excited for you, he is so into you."
"I don't think so…you should have seen his face when I told him about the cartooning thing, it was like…" she sighed, "….utter disgust."
"But he asked you out afterwards right?"
"Well, yeah."
"Trust me, you should have seen the way his head shot up when he thought I was asking for you," she chuckled slightly as she remembered, "He is really into you."
"Maybe…"
They continued to talk for the next 3 hours as they unpacked, until Caroline looked down at her watch…. "Oh my God! Richard is going to be here in less than an hour!"
"Ok, just relax. You go take a shower, I'll pick out something for you to wear."
Caroline quickly changed into her bathrobe and got her shower materials together while Annie started digging through her closet. Not finding anything suitable in Caroline's closet, Annie moved to her own closet to find something a bit more risqué. She finally got something picked out just when Caroline came back with a towel wrapped around her head. She saw what Annie had laid out, a tight, black mini-skirt with a bright red body suit that was really low-cut.
"Annie, I can't wear that!"
"Why not?"
"He won't go for that…"
"How could he not?"
"I don't know why not, but trust me, he won't. He isn't like most guys. I mean, did you see what he was wearing? All black. I need to wear something that's a little more me." She pulled out a pair of jeans and a plain white t-shirt. "What about this?"
"Doesn't really do much for your figure…why don't you try a tighter shirt?"
"I don't have that much to show off anyway…"
"Ok, if that's what makes you comfortable, then wear it."
"Yeah." She quickly got dressed and did her hair and makeup. When she was ready, she plopped down on the bed and waited, talking to Annie to pass the time.
*~*~*~*~*
Richard stood in front of the mirror for the fourth time. **I think this one might be it. Ugh…** He sighed. **Why am I doing this? She's just a girl! A perky country bumpkin who draws cartoons! Why am I so worried about a stupid little walk with her?** He eyed himself up and down, black jeans with a gray polo shirt. **Ok, this is the right one. What is it about her? Why am I so drawn to her?** He looked down at his watch and sighed. "Time to go." He grabbed his keys and walked out the door of his single and down the stairs to the first floor. He walked across the couple of streets towards her building, thinking. **There has to be a reason I'm so drawn to her, right? Fate? Ok, I'm just going to go with the flow on this.** He found himself right outside Jefferson. **Ok. Room 259, here we go.**
