• •
  The lecture hall buzzed with conversations as students searched for seats.

You had just opened your notebook when someone dropped into the chair beside you.

Black rings.

Sleeve tattoos disappearing beneath a fitted black shirt.

A scent of cedar and smoke.

Without looking up, he casually stole the pen you’d set on the desk.

“You weren’t using it.”

You reached over and took it back.

“I was about to.”

For the first time all morning, he looked directly at you.

A slow smirk appeared.

“So,” he said.

“This semester might actually be interesting.”*