Chapter 2

A/N: STUDYING AND THE LIBRARY

Thank you to those of you that reviewed the story. I hope you enjoyed it. Also I made an error in the 1st chapter, Benjamin is getting his Masters not Doctorate yet.

The winter weather was definitely setting in on the campus of UVA. Snow was falling on a cold November day as Suzanne made her way to her business class. She was still not able to get Benjamin out of her head and seeing him once a week was not helping. Since the day he had not showed up at the library he had not attempted any further conversations with her, but she caught him looking at her in class last week. She shook it off and proceeded to class. Upon arrival, she was told by the other students that Professor Thompkins had canceled class for the day. Suzanne groaned, just great I trudged over here for nothing. I could have stayed in my nice warm apartment. She turned to exit the room and ran right into Benjamin.

Benjamin was just about to turn and leave the classroom, when Suzanne collided with him. He immediately reached out to keep her from falling. His hand inadvertently came into contact with her breast. He quickly pulled his hand back and apologized. She observed the redness that started at his neck and moved up to his cheeks. That is adorable, she thought. "I am so sorry," he said. "It is okay, it was an honest mistake," she told him. They both stepped back and were looking at their shoes, unsure what to do next.

Suzanne raised her head and said, "Well I guess I will go back to my apartment and study, see you next week." Benjamin was trying to convince himself to ask her to spend time with him, but was just opening and closing his mouth with no words being formed. Finally his brain untwisted and he said, "I was going to go to the library, since all the classes for the day have been canceled, do you want to join me?" She immediately said, "Yes," before other thoughts could change her mind. He smiled and opened the door for her.

The weather outside had turned even colder and snow was falling heavier. They bundled up and made their way to the library. The welcomed warmth of the interior was perfect for them. She quickly made her way to her private study room. At the door, Benjamin looked at her and said "Where are we?" "These are private study rooms, you can rent them, I have had one since I was a freshman." she said. "I had no idea these existed, I could have really used them when I was in undergrad. Living in the dorms was really taxing trying to study with all the noise, I would have probably lived in one," he chuckled. She moved to the table and began removing her study materials. Benjamin walked up to her to help her with her coat. Such a gentleman, she thought. She replayed her encounters with him and realized he truly was a southern gentleman.

They both settled into their seats and began studying. Benjamin decided that his frustration with not being able to locate her in the library was misplaced since she was probably in this room and he let out a relieved sigh. She looked up at him quizzically. She too realized her mistake in thinking he blew her off when she surmised him not knowing about the study rooms was hopefully why he didn't show up that day. They both decided to have a do over and start fresh, though neither of them knew what the other was thinking.

Suzanne was really struggling with her business class, but not wanting to bother Benjamin before today and was too proud to ask. He observed what she was studying and it looked like she was struggling. "Do you need some help?" he quietly asked her. "Oh god please, this information is going to be the death of me. I for some reason can not comprehend it," she timidly told him. He smiled and walked over to her side of the table. Taking a seat beside her he said, "What are you struggling with the most?" "Pretty much all of it," she laughed. "Okay let's do this, we will start with our notes from day one, combine them and see if we can get you to understand it," he said looking at her. She gave him a smile that raised his heart rate.

Several hours later and with very patient instruction from Benjamin, Suzanne was finally starting to absorb the information. She raised her arms above her head and stretched her body. Sitting slumped over the desk and so close to him had her body very tense. "Would you like to take a break and maybe get something to eat?" he asked hopefully. She thought for a second and said "Yes." They packed up all their materials. Benjamin held her coat up for her to put on and she smiled at him. The weather outside had calmed and the snow had stopped. They walked over to a pizza place across from the library. Selecting a table away from the main crowds, he pulled her chair out for her. He handed her a menu and said, "I have eaten everything on the menu and it is all good. Do you want to split a pizza or do you want something else?" She looked over the menu and decided splitting a pizza would be great. "Do you want some wine to go with the meal, unsure if he drank alcohol?" she asked timidly. "Wine is perfect, red" he told her. The waitress took their order and brought their wine.

They both relaxed with liquid courage and began talking. They talked about their classes, majors and many more topics. Both discovering that the sound of the other's voice was very soothing and joyful. Once the food arrived, the conversation tailed off. They finished eating and both sat back very full and satisfied. "Why did you pick UVA?" he asked. "It is close to home for me and has an excellent architectural department, plus I received a full academic scholarship. What about you?" she said. "They have one of the top rated Business and Finance schools in the country and far away from my dad to let me do my own thing," he told her. "Do you not get along with your dad?" she asked. "We get along fine, he just likes to micromanage my life and I thought some miles between us might deter him," he said. He went on to tell her about how all the men in his family were involved in finance for many generations and the expectations placed on him to take over the family business once he graduated. She understood due to the pressures from her own family concerning her future.

Benjamin paid the bill and they walked out into the cold blistering night. "It is late, let me walk you or drive you home," he told her. Since her apartment was on the other side of campus they decided to drive. His car was parked a block away so they quickly walked to it.

They pulled up in front of her building and he turned the engine off. "Suzanne, I really had a great time with you tonight. Can I take you out on a real date?" he asked with hopefulness. She turned to him with that million dollar smile and told him, "Absolutely, when do you want to go?" He returned the smile and slyly said, "Is tomorrow too soon?" She said, "It is a date. I have class until five. Can you pick me up at six, apartment 24?" He smiled and nodded his head. She got out of the car and made her way to her apartment door and turned back and gave him a wave.

Benjamin drove home with a smile on his face that dynamite could not take off and tomorrow could not come soon enough. They both went to sleep that night deliriously happy about how the day had gone.