"Seriously, we have to teach this class on a rotating basis. I'm not even sure I'm qualified. I promise it won't be as painful as the rumors have made it out to be, though. I tend to grade rather easily so there's no need to be nervous when you're giving speeches. But I like to jump right into things. I'm going to take attendance. When I call your name, please stand and tell me one interesting fact about yourself. Then I'll stop torturing you and you can all leave class early. Not so bad, right? Okay, Raymond Asher."
A boy in the middle of the classroom stood up from his desk. "Hi, I'm Ray. Hmmm, one interesting thing about myself? Well, I'm pretty good with the ladies."
"Yeah right, Ray," the girl beside him teased.
He tried to kiss the girl on the cheek when he sat back down, but she pulled away.
"Well I can tell we'll all be enjoying your speeches. Ellie Doyle?"
A girl stood up in the front of the room and began talking, but I tuned her out. My heart was racing fast. I barely liked saying "here" when a professor called my name. I stared at Professor Hunter as he listened to the answers his students were giving. Every now and then a smile would break over his face. He was so handsome.
"Tyler Stevens?" Professor Hunter called.
He was getting close to my name. I looked down at the blank paper in front of me and tried to focus.
"Penny Taylor?"
My throat went dry.
"Penny Taylor?" the professor repeated.
I slowly stood up. "Hi everyone, I'm Penny." I could feel my face turning red. "Unfortunately, you'll need another of me for my thoughts."
I sat back down. What did I just say?
"Weird," some girl scoffed near the front of the class. A few other people around her snickered.
A smile spread across Professor Hunter's face. "A penny for your thoughts. Well I guess I'll have to bring my piggy bank with me on Friday. Mia Thompson?"
I exhaled slowly and tuned out Mia's answer as I attempted to slow down my accelerated heart beat. A penny clanged on top of my desk. I looked over to my right at the boy sitting next to me. He had shaggy blonde hair and scruff on his face. His eyes were a bright blue.
"I'd pay for your thoughts any day," he said with a smile.
I had been too busy freaking out to have noticed what he said in his introduction. Instead of saying anything, I tucked my hair behind my ear.
"Sigma Pi is having a party Thursday night. You should come, Penny." He handed me a flyer.
"What's your name?"
"Tyler. You know, the guitarist."
I nodded at him politely, knowing that I should have already known his name and his interesting fact.
"You should pay better attention. And since there's no homework for this class, I know you aren't too busy, so I'll see you Thursday," he said with a wink. He picked up his backpack and slung it over one shoulder.
The room was clearing out. I put my notebook into my backpack. Professor Hunter looked at Tyler as he left the room, and then his eyes fell on me. I felt my face flush again. I gave Professor Hunter a small smile and then looked down as I passed by his desk. His chair squeaked and then I felt his fingers as they grazed my forearm. I shivered slightly at his touch.
"Miss Taylor, I'm sorry again about your shirt."
I folded my arms across my chest, suddenly cold. "Oh, no, I'm sorry."
He was quiet for a moment as he looked at me. "Why are you sorry? I was the one that hit you with the door."
I didn't know what I meant. I had a habit of apologizing for everything. "I just meant, about taking your sweater. I'll bring it back."
"No rush. I have quite a few," he gestured to the one he was wearing. It was identical to the one he had given me, except it was a grayish green.
A wave of his sweet scent suddenly hit me. I looked up into his eyes. My fantasies from the previous night wanted to escape. I had a strong desire to be bold, but boldness was only for my dreams. "I didn't realize you were a professor," I blurted out.
He smiled. "It's more fun when students think of me as their peer. I believe it fosters better learning."
That wasn't what I had meant. I meant that he looked really young. How old is he? I realized I was staring at him and silently cursed to myself. "Well I should probably go. I'll see you Friday, Professor Hunter."
He lowered his eyebrows slightly when I said his name, as if he was offended. He nodded to me and said, "Miss Taylor."
Thursday
"Come on, it's Thursday night!" Melissa said as she looked through my closet.
"Yeah, which means I have classes tomorrow." I had a sinking feeling in my stomach when I thought about what I'd have to do in Professor Hunter's class the next morning. I wasn't sure if I could handle standing up and talking every class. Especially in front of Professor Hunter. Why did he have to be a professor? Melissa had talked me out of going to my advisor and dropping the class. And she was right, I would regret it if I put it off. Melissa didn't know that I was having dreams about Professor Hunter though. He was just so sexy.
"You were invited to the party. Which means you need to go so that I can get in."
"Just take the flyer," I protested. "They'll let you in. It's a frat and you're a girl. That's all you need."
"Stop moping around, Penny. Yes, Austin was a jerk. Yes, mystery coffee shop man is your professor and therefore un-datable. But you're forgetting about the third guy. It sounds like Tyler is cute and funny. A funny guy is always charming."
"I don't know, frat parties are always so sleazy."