Okay folks. This chapter is short, transitional, and its main purpose is to introduce another new "wink" character, or two.. Whoever guesses first what one character's deal is will get a sneak peek as to the content of the next chapter that I've already brain-stormed.
What to wear, what to wear? Merlin, what the hell do I have to wear?
It was Saturday evening, and Candace had been standing in front of her closet for the better part of an hour. In fifteen minutes she had to meet Joshua at the student center so they could go out on their not-exactly-a-date.
The door burst open behind her and the lilting laughter that came with it made her sigh. Her roommate Destiny had come back from the library already.
"Hey, you still are doing that? You should have been dressed already kiddo. Need some help?"
She hated to admit it, but Candace had no clue what to wear on a date in the States.
"Yes, please?"
Destiny chuckled as she walked over to the younger girl's closet. She put one hand on Candace's shoulder and used the other arm to filter through the myriad of clothing.
"Too old looking, too conservative, too warm for this time of year... Ah, this one might do nicely."
She pulled out a dark green cotton jersey shirt with ¾ sleeves. It was light enough to fit the evening's weather, and pretty enough for a college date.
"All right girl, put this with some dressy jeans and heels, and you've got a winner!"
"Thanks again, Destiny. You're…what do they call it? A lifesaver."
The older girl nodded and walked to sit down on her bed. She started some music as she looked up at the clock.
"Candace, you'd better get a move on. You've got ten minutes to get dressed and get down to the Union. Go on…."
She sprinted to the bathroom, ripped off her clothes and changed in record time. A quick look in the mirror showed that her light makeup from earlier in the day was still there, and she swept some lip-gloss on to complete herself.
After throwing her stuff in her closet, she sprinted out the door and tried to slow down right before getting to the Union. Unfortunately, she hadn't been paying enough attention to where she was going and quickly found herself on her bum.
"Oof!"
A deep-timbered chuckle came from the man she had just run into. As she looked up and took the proffered hand before her, she noticed how dark he was. Dark hair, dark eyes, deep olive colored skin. He looked like someone off one of those cheesy romance novels. And he smells damned good!
"In a hurry, are you Miss…?"
"Malfoy. Sorry about that. Yes, I do have somewhere to be. I apologize. Thanks a lot."
"Malfoy? Ah, the name's Corrington. Charles Corrington."
She caught the accent. And the surname as well. He was most definitely from her neck of the woods.
"Nice to meet you, Mr. Corrington. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm running a bit late."
"By all means. I hope to see you around."
With a nod and a bow, accompanied by a sweeping motion of his arm, she quickly walked past him and into the Union. But she could still feel him watching her, long after she had passed through the double glass doors.