Chapter one:Collision
The halls of Emerald University were lively, with the familiar chaos of the first Monday of the semester. Students rushed between classes chattering, carrying backpacks, and catching up with their mates.
Elani Carter walked through the crowd with her books clutched tightly against her chest.
Third year.One more year.
If everything went according to plan, she'd graduate with honors and earn a place in one of the country's top research programs. She knew she deserved nothing less.
" Hey ,Elani."
Her best friend, Jenna Brooks, nudged her shoulder.
"You've been staring at the floor for five minutes. What's up?"
"I'm thinking."
"You've been thinking since freshman year."
"I like thinking."
"So much ,that you forget I'm right here,"Jenna said as she laughed..
“You know I love you ,right?”Elani uttered as she put her arm around Jenna's shoulder.
“Oh please.”
Jenna had enough confidence for both of them. Loud, fearless, and very talkative, she'd somehow gotten close to quiet, introverted Elani during orientation two years ago and had refused to let her disappear into the background ever since.
"So," Jenna said as they continued walking, "have you chosen your research supervisor yet?"
Elani groaned.
"Don't remind me. I think I'll just wait for them to assign me, the good ones have been taken anyway."
Every third-year student had to complete a year-long research project under the supervision of a faculty researcher. The right supervisor could open doors to scholarships, graduate school, and future careers.
The wrong one could make the entire year miserable.
"I heard the Psychology Department hired a new research guy," Jenna continued.
"They say he's young."
"I don't care."
"They also say he's ridiculously handsome.Like a movie character handsome.”
"I still don't care."
Jenna raised an eyebrow.
"Liar."
Elani laughed.
Just then Jenna's phone rang.
"I have to take this. Go ahead ,I'll catch up."
Elani acknowledged with a thumbs up.
She slipped her phone back into her bag after checking for new emails and headed toward the library.
That's when someone stepped out of a door .Suddenly,her forehead collided with something hard.
Pain shot through her head as her books flew from her arms and scattered across the polished floor.
"Ouch," she muttered, rubbing her forehead.
A pair of black shiny Oxfords stopped beside one of her notebooks.Slowly, she looked up.
He was tall,like 6’3.He had neatly messy black hair.Sharp jawline.His broad shoulders looked sculptured beneath a white shirt , sleeves rolled to his forearms.
Storm-gray eyes met hers without the slightest hint of concern.
He didn't help her neither did he apologize.
Instead, he calmly said,in his deep voice, "You should watch where you're going."
Elani was perplexed.
"I'm sorry... what?"
"You walked into me."
"I did not."
She folded her arms.
"I'm pretty sure you walked into me."
His expression didn't change.
"I wasn't the one who was standing in the way."
"The hallway doesn't belong to you."
He raised an eyebrow.
"If you say so.”
She knelt to gather her books, muttering under her breath.
“Way to begin my third year.”
The stranger bent down, picked one of her books , glanced at the cover which read Behavioral Research Methods and handed it back.She snatched the book away.
"Thanks," she said flatly.
He walked away without another word.
Elani watched him disappear down the hallway.
"What a rude guy."
Moments later Jenna was done with her phone call and joined her.
"I'm back,wait... what happened?"
"I just met the rudest man ever."
"You mean the handsome guy I saw talking to you some few minutes ago?"
Elani frowned.
"It was more of bickering,and he wasn't good looking at all.”
Jenna laughed.
"Oh, you noticed."
"I noticed his terrible personality."
"And good looks."
"I hope I never see him again."
“Never say never girl.The universe has a way of doing things,”Jenna told her .
