I have shut down. I was one in those movie trances that happens when someone big occurs. You know the one for sure. Everything in slow motion, there's suddenly a wind machine, a filter will be put as if it was happening in Instagram and maybe 'I Will Always Love You' by Whitney Houston will play in the background starting with 'And iiii...'. That's always dramatic.

I felt like I was in The Notebook or some other cheesy romantic movie that always incorporated rain as a catalyst for telling your feelings. I felt like we had a fight then she left, barreled through the rain and came back because she knew she made a mistake and she wants me back. I feel like she's gonna say 'I love you, Jane' and kiss the crap out of me.

Oh, right. What the hell am I talking about?

Professor Isles. On my door. Dripping wet and looking like she just stepped out of my dream sequence.

I don't usually get lucky and I don't remember doing something particularly Mother Teresa-ish to get a blessing like this. Maybe my life long streak of striking out with girls is coming to an end and sending my dream girl to my door is a consolation for all the lonely years? Probably.

'You're Jane, right?'

She's speaking. I should be speaking. Dude, use your words! I was standing there gaping at her for a good half a minute, the fantasy in my mind still playing. My brain was frizzed but I was still able to shake my head yes.

She turned away from me to sneeze and just like that, the bubble was quickly burst. The smokes and shadows disappeared. I saw her for what she was at the moment. Shivering and drenched. Then concern kicked in. She was shivering and drenched, she was rained on. The car trouble earlier might be more than just jiggling the ignition. She could've been stranded in the road and I'm the first to open the door to her. It's kind of an unspoken role to never disturb college students when it's a Friday night. Most are in parties and those that are in their dorms, are probably having sex.

'I'm sorry.' She sniffled. 'Thank god, you're not covered in a sheet. Three of those that answered slammed the door in my face when they knew I wasn't pizza. They were having sex.'

See?

I winced. That's college for you. 'Yes, I'm Jane.' I noticed that she was slightly trembling. 'You're shaking.' I immediately stepped aside and let her in. I closed the door and ran to my side of the room for a towel. The fluffy carpet that Riley insisted on putting on no matter how expensive with be ruined but I'll deal with that later. When I came back, she was shedding off her coat.

I took the coat from her and handed her the towel to at least dry her hair. 'Here you go.'

'Thank you so much.'

I quickly went back to my side to drape the coat behind the bathroom door. I stood a couple feet from her and watched her dry her hair. I didn't know where to start first, do I prepare her coffee? Offer a hot shower? Blow dry her entire body? I was clueless. Here is my Queen in front of me, she needed saving and I don't know the first of doing it. Finally, I decided to get another towel and waited for her to take it from me.

'Here's another one.'

She spared a smile for me before she did a last run of the now wet towel to her hair. 'I cannot thank you enough, Jane. Obviously, you're the first one to help me. It should've clicked that everyone will be out in parties.'

Ouch. Okay, don't dig it in. Yes, I am not getting laid and not in parties. By her definition of a college student, which mine is too, I'm a complete loser. Okay, maybe I am. Yeah, I totally am. I just nodded. 'Or having sex.'

Her cheeks pinked up a little but that might've been due to the cold. 'Or that. By the way, you know who I am, right? I just kind of barged in here.'

No you didn't, I let you in and OF COURSE I KNOW WHO YOU ARE, ARE YOU KIDDING ME? 'Yes. I know you're Professor Isles. You were my last class today. I'm surprised you know my name.'

'You're my student. Of course, I know your name. I quite enjoy your projects.' She gave me an earnest smile before she sneezed again. 'Excuse me. I've been wet for some time. This might be a lot but do you think I can borrow some clothes? These are getting somewhat uncomfortable.'

'Of course, of course.'

'Can I take off my shoes on the side of the room without the carpet?'

That's my side obviously. I glanced back and saw what Riley has been seeing for weeks now. Clothes strewn across the place, empty plates and a hurricane of books. The side of Riley looked pristine while mine did look like a dump site. Hers has white walls and that white fluffy rug and mine probably has a rat. I wanted to claim the clean side mine but with the TV opened on my side it was kinda hard. 'Sure. Sorry about the mess though.'

'I can wring my bra. I'm not in a place to judge.'

I picked up some of the clothes and some of the plates. I was red in embarrassment over my own filth. 'I'll clean up a bit so you can have some room to move around.' I dumped the clothes on the hamper and placed plates on the sink. I went back for the rest of the clothes and now you can see what was formerly was my side of the room. 'Uh.. feel free to watch Friends.' I was cringing to myself as I picked out the cleanest clothes I could find. I found a Red Sox Shirt and a pair of yoga pants. I was about to give it to her when I remembered, undergarments. Should I? That's a little awkward.

'I love this episode. The one with the black out, correct?'

The sound of Chandler relaying that she was trapped in a ATM vestibule with Jill Goodacre filled the room and we both looked at the screen. I smirked. 'You watch Friends?'

'Who doesn't? I love it.'

Could she be more perfect? She's so classy and sophisticated, I would've guessed all she watched was BBC and drank tea. I looked at her one more time and saw her shivering again. I need to get her out of that clothes. Wait, didn't Riley buy...? Oh God, please make my memory correct. It has been good so far, I don't want to blow it now. I put down the clothes on my bed and walked to Riley's closet. I opened it up and thank you Jesus! A Victoria's Secret bag. I just hope it's not super skimpy. But no, Riley isn't like that. It is a little forward thinking of me to give her undergarments, I just hope she can think of it as thoughtful. I picked out a brand new lace boy shorts and a bra. The fact that I noticed that it was a little small on the cup made me blush. Focus, Jane. I walked back to her and saw her that she's enjoying the show.

'Chandler is so funny.' She says very non chalantly. Like we have been friends forever.

I grabbed the clothes earlier and tucked the undergarments underneath. 'Here you go. You can change in the bathroom. I uh, I included undergarments. Don't worry they're new. My room mate purchased them last week. And they're not skimpy.' I tried not to seem so awkward like I was in the 20s or something but you know me. It was the best I could do. Relief washed over me when she chuckled.

She took the clothes. 'Jane, please. Don't be so nervous with me. I'm just your professor. Thank you for your hospitality. I'll pay for how much this costs.'

I could just nod to that. I'm not sure Riley would notice since she's got a ton of clothes. 'If you want to shower, I think we have hot water. There are essentials on the cabinet below the sink.'

'Again, thank you. Really. I haven't told you my story, how about we talk it over coffee?'

The sly order to make her coffee irked me a bit but it was Maura Freaking Isles, I was powerless against her feminine wiles. 'Of course.'

She turned on her heal and I almost melted to the floor. I don't even know how I feel right now, I was a hodge podge of emotions. I didn't know how to act around her and for sure when I replay this moment in my head, I would probably nit pick at everything I did but the fact that I didn't pass out or spontaneously kiss her was something. I kept my cool. I was even able to get her underwear without going, 'humana humana humana'. I fucking rock.

I went back to my closet and picked up a pair of pants and a shirt. I need to get some food since I don't think the chips I have will fly. They were the best but I've seen Professor Isles eat one time and everything that was on her tray were healthy foods. I'm not gonna risk it. Also, I needed coffee. We have coffee but it was already bad, I just never got around on throwing it although Riley has told me to a thousand times. Plus, she might want that fromo-cappo-what have you fancy kind. Personally, I just like black. I never got into the fad of coffee with milk and other things. Never mind, I'm just getting what I find that sounds fancy. I dressed quickly and picked up my back pack and dug for my wallet and keys.

There weren't much options when it was almost 10 pm. The food available was mainly for those that dorm but it was like they anticipated that everybody will be out on parties. There was one salad left and I was third from the start of the line. I was looking at the back of the girl's head, communicating to get something more greasy and fattening. I almost fist bumped the unsuspecting cafeteria attendant when she went with a pizza slice. Only one more before I can get that salad for my-

'Jane. I thought you went home?'

My eyes focused to a grinning Casey Jones. Great. 'I obviously didn't since I'm here.'

He ignored my dig. 'We should have dinner. You're here, I'm here.'

Not a fucking chance, Lance. 'I'm actually doing something in my room. I have to get back.'

'C'mon, Jane. Just have dinner with me. I'll treat you, pizza, right?' His earnest eyes pierced through my conscience but doing anything with him will only lead him on. I am in no way shape of form interested.

'No, Casey. I can't. Can you please buy your food now? I need to get back to my room.' Slight panic of him showing up in my room filled me for a moment but then I remembered we never told him where our room was. He's not the kind of friend that you want to invite when you have room parties. Reportedly, he gets sloshed because he brings his own alcohol and dry humps everything.

He looked crushed. He nodded once before he turned to the counter. 'Salad please.'

'No!' It shot out of my mouth before I can stop it. Seriously? He's gonna order the salad? He looked back confused at the outburst. 'I was gonna order that.'

'But you don't eat salad.'

'I do now. I'm trying it out. Can I please have it?'

He analyzed me first, squinting those- even I have to admit- gorgeous eyes and relented after I gave him a half smile.

'Fine. I'll have a six piece nugget.'

The order was rung, paid and handed without a word from him. He walked away when the food was safely tucked into his tray and didn't acknowledge my presence. Okay. I can't be too hurt, it was for him. I quickly paid for the salad and moved on to the Starbucks counter. I was flying blind and all the options briefly overwhelmed me so I figured to just straight up ask the barista who was looking at me amused.

'Hi! Can I take your order?'

'Hello... I... You seem like a girly girl, what do you usually drink?'

The girl was obviously startled with the question and looked a little uncomfortable. 'Is this a come on?'

'What?! No. I just, I'm buying coffee for someone and I didn't know what to buy, geez.'

The girl blushed a bit. 'Okay... why don't you just ask her?'

'I can't- I-' I huffed. 'Can you just give me a usual girly girl order here?'

'I'd say go with the classic black coffee. For two?'

Well, shit. I could have figured that on my own. I relented with a nod and slid a couple dollars on the counter. I muttered my name and waited on the other edge of the bar. When my name was called out, I quickly took the coffee and got back up to the dorm. I pushed in the key and turned the lock. I sat down the coffee on the side table since it was getting too much for me to carry all the food. I locked the door and almost dropped the salad when I saw the scene in front of me.

Professor Isles was in my bed, tucked in my Justice League blanket, laughing at the way Joey, Chandler and Ross mocked Rachel saying 'Poconos'. She was even munching on the chips that was set out, supposedly for my night alone time. I felt warm all over. Not aroused but just warm, like I was hit by sunshine after being kept in the dark for too long. It was a good feeling. It was also a stupid feeling cause I might have just fallen deeper in love. I didn't know it was possible either but I could totally see us doing this and I wanted nothing else. The two of us laughing, watching any tv show, eating, cuddling, then falling asleep. Nothing could be more perfect.

Her eyes flicked to me and she sat up a bit. 'Oh Jane, I hope you don't mind. Your bed seemed so comfortable and I just, really love this episode.'

'I don't mind, Professor.'

'I'm in your bed, Jane... wearing your clothes. I think you can call me Maura.'

That sounded dirty so I couldn't help but smirk as I sat down the coffee and salad on the little counter we eat off of. 'Okay, then, Maura...' Saying her name was weird, especially to her.

The blanket was pulled back and she stood from the bed. I glanced at her and I somewhat lost my breath when I noticed that she was busting out of my shirt. The neckline was Henley and the second button was straining to get out of the hole. And my god, that cleavage. It's not like she's trying to hide it underneath turtlenecks, she accentuates it even. You can really fault people for calling hers the rack of god. It was the closest comparison. My eyes drifted downwards and she was.. holy shit. She's not wearing a bra. It must be really cold cause I can clearly see her nipples. I was right to guess that the bra wouldn't fit her.

Maura cleared her throat and I just about died. Clearly, I was caught ogling. You know how I said that ogling was fine because I was hidden in the sea of students? I don't think I can weasel my way out of this one. I couldn't face her just yet, the blush on my cheeks will be more nails in my coffin so I turned to the coffee and pulled one of the holder. I handed it to her blindly. When her fingers closed in on mine, I couldn't help but look.

'Thank you.' Her voice was low and purred. Fuck me sideways.

'You're... uhh.. welcome.'

She looked past my shoulders and saw the salad. 'Are those for me?'

'Yes. I figured you were hungry.' I took my hand off of the coffee. Didn't even notice that we were basically holding hands for quite sometime and prepared the salad. I just ate two lasagna slices but I still bought a burger for me.

'Please, let me do that. You've done enough already. Is the burger mine?'

'I guessed you would eat the salad.'

Maura bit her lips and kind of whimpered. What the hell is going on? 'Can we split the burger?'

I grabbed a knife and cut the burger in half. I pushed it to her before I sat on the high chair. Maura smiled at me before she took the seat next to mine. 'How many times have I thanked you in a manner of an hour?'

I smirked as I bit. 'I wasn't really counting.'

'Right. I owe you an explanation for what happened to me.' She drank some of the coffee and moaned her appreciation. There is a complete chance that I'm just exaggerating this in my head, it was a dangerous road I'm trekking since I was already caught ogling once but I'm sane enough not to do anything about it. I kept my eyes down at the burger while I felt her stare at me. 'I was going home when my car died. Thank God, I was only a couple meters from the school. I was gonna check under the hood when it rained so I got angry and closed the door shut. Only then did I realize that I left the keys in the car and locked myself out.'

That made me turn to her. She had an embarrassed look on her face albeit still too adorable. 'You what?'

'Yes, I know it sounds stupid, it was not my finest hour. I was frustrated and was not thinking clearly. So, anyway, I haven't even been a minute there and I was soaked to the bone. I walked back to the campus and saw no one I knew. All the other professors were gone, I didn't know anyone else.'

I remembered the payphones. She could've easily called her husband or boyfriend to come pick her up. 'There was a payphone near the doors, why didn't you call your husband?' It's also the sneakiest way of finding out if she has one without flat out asking her. I was already leaning on the fact that she had but of course my stupid heart wished for the opposite.

She took in a breath. Of course. As if my life isn't reminiscent enough of a movie, there had to a dragged out moment where I have to be hanged before I get the information I want. Usually, this is where the chapter of the episode ends but this is my life, I could only hold out, crossing my fingers that the answer will be the one i-

'I'm single, Jane.'

FUCK YEAH!

I barely refrained myself from jumping up and down when she said those sweet, sweet words. But I still smiled as I bit into my slowly disappearing burger. I just couldn't help it. Hopefully, she saw it as glee for eating the greasy goodness.

'No husband, no boyfriend. I'm always surprised when people just assume that I'm with someone.' She lifted her hand and wiggled her fingers for show. 'You don't see a ring, right?'

'No, I don't.'

'So, I continued to the dorms and I began knocking. Like what I have said, the first three dorms opened to people in the middle of having sex. They didn't knew me and would rather not be bothered. By the way, where is your fabulous room mate?'

I chuckled at the word. Riley would've laughed had she heard her described as fabulous. She was but like I said, she doesn't want to make it a focus point of her personality. 'Riley went home. She had to attend an engagement party.'

'And why didn't you come home?'

'Well, I don't have a party to attend and I kinda wanted to be alone.' As soon as the words slipped out of my stupid mouth, her face dropped. Yes, she was a distraction and hindered my supposed to be Friends filled junk night but I wouldn't trade this for anything. This, casually talking to her beats anything.

'Oh. I'm sorry to be intruding then.'

'No, no, Maura it's fine.'

'I must be a real inconvenience now. You had to dress up and everything.'

She poised to stand up from being seated so I shot out my hand and held her wrist lightly. 'Maura, it's fine.' I looked down at her food and the burger was surprisingly gone. How in the world did she eat it that fast when she was talking the whole time? The salad was untouched and I deemed would stay untouched until she leaves. I redirected the conversation when she sat back down and smiled at her. 'Seriously, Maura, it's fine. Plus, it's still raining. The streets outside of the campus are probably flooded by now. Just spend the night on the empty bed and we'll figure out your car tomorrow.'

Maura laid her other hand atop mine and squeezed. Only then did it sunk in that we've hold hands a couple times and I was holding her hands now. Her hands are so soft and for someone who was just rained on, warm. I wondered for a moment how I can bottle this feeling I'm feeling right now so I can feel it in the future. I didn't think it could get better but then she looked at me. Her eyes looked gorgeous from afar but it was absolutely stunning this close. I didn't stop at her eyes. Subtlety, I was able to map out her face. The distinct nose, the high cheek bones, the delicious cupids bow and those lips. She had traces of make up but most of it was washed off from the shower but I didn't mind. I liked her more like this. She looked more real.

She took a deep breath before squeezing my hands one more time and turned to the TV, breaking one of the most beautiful moments I've had in my entire life. 'So, can we ugh, continue watching Friends?'

Yes. Yes, we fucking can.

Extended PWP (?) with a lot of ground work (because I initially intended this to be a long one). Inspired by Helene Runyon that's also part Maura Isles, aside from just bearing the name. Next chapter will be up in 24 hours.