A/N So, this is a first story, just one that came to mind in between seasons 4 and 5. Just as a note my dream cast for James is James McAvoy, accent or not, and check out my profile for an idea for Nikki. Thanks to my beta Artemay for making sure I don't sound like a complete fool. As always, reviews are welcomed!

Sitting in her apartment, Nikki stared absentmindedly at her ceiling, not thinking, just staring. Her fourth semester of college was coming to a close, yet she felt like she accomplished nothing in all her time at school. 4.0 student, and her senior year, she had been attending college in addition to her classes at the high school, not that it impaired her grades on either venue. Nikki's life had been the same routine ever since her father's latest stunt sent him into hiding for the umpteenth time. She hadn't seen her mother since she moved in with her dad when she was 16. Having a con-man for a father probably wasn't an ideal situation for a teenager, but Nikki made do with what she had. Even with her unique situation, in the summer she kept her college classes; for as long as she could remember, Nikki had been learning, and summer vacation was just another time to get more classes in and earn more money.

Then there was that day, two weeks ago… It started as it normally did, but halfway into her English Composition class, he walked in. Taller than she was, chocolate brown hair and the most gorgeous, vibrant green eyes she had ever seen. He walked up to her professor, handed him a piece of paper, and then took a seat at the rear of the class. She noticed him in her other classes as well. She thought it was interesting that they were in all the same classes. Her class combination was so out of place, it was odd that they had multiple courses together.

In her ceiling, Nikki could pick out random things: eagles, badgers, snakes, lions, but nothing on her ceiling could take her mind away from James Morro. She could have sworn that every day she could feel his eyes on her back, as if she were some sort of target. There was just something about him, about the way his eyes could hold her gaze, and scramble her thoughts.

She had noticed guys at her high school before. The star point guard, his indie-hipster look, muscular and toned. In the early years she had crushes, but those dreams died quickly, right there with being homecoming queen and Miss Athletic. But James, he drew her to him, as if there was some gigantic magnet pulling them together.

This can't happen, Nikki thought to herself, I won't let it happen. I'm alone for a reason. I know what happens when I get too close to someone. Actually, there was only one other occasion where she got too close; her father. A tear trickled down her cheek. No, I refuse to get close again.

The next day, after their Anthropology class, he came up to her. "Hey," he said with a smile on his face, "my name is James, James Morro."

"Nikki O'Connel, Anthro major." She ran that back over in her mind, Stupid, he must know you're an Anthro major, he has all the same classes.

He just smiled and replied, "Yeah, I know." Nikki mentally kicked herself. "So, um, I was wondering if you wanted to go and get some coffee with me."

Nikki didn't know what to say.

"Sorry, I don't drink coffee." Oh, God, she thought, open mouth and insert foot.

"Oh," the smile slid off James's face.

"But, I do know this little internet café that has the best hot cocoa in the city." The little person in Nikki's head was thrashing about, Please say yes! Please, please, please, I need something else in here besides History and Calculus.

"That sounds fantastic. Shall we go?" He offered his arm out to her.

"Yes," Nikki giggled, "I just have to drop my books off at my car, and then we can go." They walked to the East parking lot together, until they got to her ragged, yellow, old, Volkswagen Bug. "This is yours?" James's face looked like it was about to burst with humor.

"This car is the perfect way for me to express my retro fascinations. And it was my sister's before she moved out." God, now I look like a dowdy hippy.

"No, I like it, it suits you." He was smiling, so naturally, Nikki figured he was being sincere. They headed on to the café she had mentioned, walking and talking all the way. So it went on for four and a half months, at least twice a week, they went to the same café. Before a movie, after a lunch, whenever they had a date, they stopped by the place that brought them together.