Romancing the R.A - By Ashelyn Drake Page 0,2

again, and I realize I’m staring at him. More importantly, he’s staring back. “You’ve certainly got his attention.”

I do. He won’t take his eyes off me, and not in a creepy stalker way. His eyes are full of warmth, and his lips are curved in a smile. I’m not imagining the connection between us.

“You should talk to him if the dean ever ends his droning.” She rolls her eyes in the direction of the dean, who is pointing to a pie chart, as if anyone in the room gives a shit.

“What would I say? I don’t know anything about him.” That old Van Halen song “Hot for Teacher” pops into my head, and I cringe. Please, don’t be a teacher. God, I wouldn’t be able to handle it if he were.

“Then you’ll have plenty to talk about.” Julia gives me a devilish smile.

I sit through the rest of the dean’s lecture, which takes until lunchtime. The man must like the sound of his own voice, and I’m willing to bet he’s the only one. I can’t complain too much, though, because my mystery guy and I get to continue flirting—well, with our eyes at least.

“I’m starved,” Julia says, as we get up from our seats and make our way to the door. People are shoving to get out of here. I can’t blame them. If I never see the dean again, it will be too soon.

I peer over heads, trying to see if my mystery guy is still there or if he got trampled by the crowd. My heart sinks when we reach the doors. He’s gone. He didn’t stay to find out my name or to continue our flirting in a more up close and personal way. Maybe it’s for the best. Maybe I was just kidding myself. There were a lot of people in the room. He could’ve been smiling at someone else. But I don’t believe that. I know he was looking at me, and that means that it could’ve just been a game to him—a way to pass the time during the boring lecture.

I follow Julia and the crowd to the cafeteria, worrying that college will turn out to be exactly like high school.

Chapter Two

I force his image from my mind as we enter the cafeteria, which turns out to be an enormous gray building that is easily the size of the street I live on. The ceiling is covered in flags of every country. Obviously the school wants to portray the image of uniting people around the world, though I doubt many students are really international. Timberland is a great school, but it’s not exactly Ivy League. People don’t come from overseas to go here.

Julia nudges me. “Hey, I have to go to the bathroom.”

“I’m going to get in line. I’m starving.”

“You’re not coming with me?” She looks at me like I’m leaving her to walk into a den of hungry lions.

“We’ll be in college soon. You really need to learn to use the bathroom on your own.” I playfully pat her shoulder. “Like a big girl.”

She laughs. “You’re so lucky I love you.”

“I know.” Julia doesn’t like anyone teasing her. I’m the only one who can get away with it.

“Save me a spot in line.”

“Sure.” I head straight for the main line, which is so long it’s wrapping around the room. I spy some sleepy looking college students at a table nearby. They definitely partied hard last night by the looks of their eyes. One guy is even wearing sunglasses. I can only imagine what his eyes look like. But at least it means there are parties around here. Timberland is sort of a suitcase college, so most of the students go home on the weekends. Only some stragglers are left behind—other than those of us here for orientation. I’m not sure which of the two camps I’ll fit into in the fall. I could easily drive the hour and a half home, but I’m not sure if I want to. I need to get away, be on my own and live a little.

I’m close enough to grab a tray at the end of the counter now, but I still don’t see Julia. The bathroom line must be just as bad.

“Freshman or transfer?” someone behind me asks.

I turn around and come face to face with him. “Excuse me?” I nearly choke on my tongue getting the words out. Maybe flirting with me wasn’t just a way for him to pass the time.

“Are you a