LOVE LINE

PROLOGUE

ORION

"Oh shit, are you kidding me? WHY? You've never chosen them before?" I mumbled to myself under my breath, closing my eyes as reality set in. Our music lecturer just announced the joyous news. She is pairing us up with a random classmate of her choice! For a project that counts 30% of the semester mark. Shit! She better not give me a slacker. Oh God, please, not Maddie. I love her, but the girl is seriously tone-deaf.

"Orion, how about we put you with-" I watched Miss Bevan's eyes scan the room. The sight made fear dance up my spine. Who would she saddle me with? When the lecture room door suddenly creaked open, I almost bolted from the adrenaline rush. Instead, a little hiccup escaped. The late comer's head snapped up. His eyes caught mine, and he scowled.

Oh my good God, no! Not Remington, I'm - so -out -of-your-league, Moretti.

"We'll talk about your lack of timekeeping later, Mr Moretti. You may have the pleasure of working with Orion." She pointed in my direction. "Why?" He asked, making me blush, and sniggers erupt. I sank lower in my seat, agh!

"She'll fill you in because she was on time." Miss Bevan pointed at the empty seat beside me (the one that Gina used to sit in before she dropped music. I cursed her in my head.) I watched, in stunned silence as Remi moved toward me. I couldn't believe that the one morning I chose not to bother with myself, at all, I was shoved in front of him, agh!

"So what's this about?" He bit out, dragging me and my chair closer to him, rude! He turned to face me, and I swallowed another threatening hiccup down. How is it normal to be that size? He literally blocks out the surroundings. All I see is him.

"Amare?" "Sorry yeah, um, so project. Right, um, it's for 30% of the whole mark. We have to choose a song or piece and translate it into a modern version of itself. " I rumbled out in a gush of words. He smiled when I stopped. A genuine one, wowser...

"So a remix?" He clarified. "Um yeah, exactly, a remix." I blushed for the county (and died a little on the inside). I must sound ridiculously stupid to him. My hair was down, so I dipped my head forward and let it cover my flaming cheeks. He twisted a ring around his finger and then slowly hooked my hair back behind my ear. The ring had a gold M on it. "Better. Don't hide from me." "Yes sir, sorry sir," I mumbled, thinking it was a smart reply, but the fire in his eyes burnt my words to ash. He looked like he wanted to eat me.

"Do you have a song in mind?" He asked, clearing his throat. "Not a single one, sorry." I clenched my hands so hard I swear my fingers were about to snap off. "When is this for?" He checked. "End of next week." I cringed again when he groaned. This was going to be terrible, I know he's supposed to be some production genius, but how good is he, truly? "What if we splice up pieces we've already made this year?" He offered. "Yeah, that'll work. With lyrics or without?" I ventured. "Let's listen to what we've got collectively and then decide?" "Okay." I was relieved. This sounded a lot more promising.

He stood, and all eyes swung in our direction. I saw one of Clarissa's barbettes pull out her phone and start texting. Maddie's jaw was on her desk as she watched our interaction. "What are you doing?" I whisper shouted at him. He sat back down and leaned into me, "Going to the studio to find a song to remix. Is that not what you just suggested?" He cocked an eyebrow, and I wanted to melt into the ground. "Oh yeah, oh now, okay." I gathered my stuff around me, and when I finally stood, his eyes ran down my body, "Ready?" "Um-hmm." No other words came to mind or mouth.

REMI

When she stood up, I was more than pleasantly surprised. Obviously, I've seen her around, even spoken to her once or twice, but I never really paid attention to her. She was on my radar now, though, damn! I was a good head taller than her, maybe more, but her body was long and lean. Also, and this was rare, she was naturally pretty and wore no make-up. How have I never noticed this girl? I let her lead and realised that most of her small frame was made up of legs. She wore a pair of jeans that did wonders for her delicate curves.

We listened to a few options in the university's studio, but nothing worked for both of us. Finally, after two more sessions, we had it, a remix, and it was fucking good too.

Kiki mentioned that they'd be at Corners later that week and I didn't have plans so I went to check it out. I watched Orion hang out, have a few drinks and finally take the stage with 4 of her friends. I did think it was weird that Gina Cruzeiro was with her but people started shushing each other and the menu page song blared from the karaoke machine.

Kiki opened and the others followed, they were decent. Well, maybe not Madeline but the others, especially Ori. They had the entire room singing along by the end.

Orion was the one to watch though, definitely the one I watched.

On the day of our final presentation, she was so nervous but we smashed it. Our remix was a hit and the happiness that it brought her made dragging my ass to Uni all worth it.

"Let's get pizza to celebrate? We both have a 2 hour free now." I said casually, pointing in the direction of the campus restaurant.

"Yeah, sure, but um won't Clarissa mind?" She asked. "Why would she?" "I thought you two were a thing?" She replied. "No. I don't have a thing with anyone. Do you?" I added in smoothly. "Me, um, no?" She seemed almost shocked by my question. "Why not?" "No one wants me, I guess." She shrugged at me from under her lashes. The move was natural, and that made it about a million times more sexy, like an instant boner.

She was so, so wrong about no one wanting her. I'd been home for a few hours and I still couldn't stop thinking of her. I hoodie fucking smelt like her, God, she smells good. All we did was share pizzas and chat shit but it was the most infuriatingly perfect 2 hours I have ever spent with a woman. She is unlike anyone and remains a complete mystery because she isn't permanently jabbering on about herself. Also, she doesn't give a fuck about who I am, or if she does she hasn't let on.

I walked her back into the building after lunch then got on my bike and ditched the rest of the day. My brain felt empty of everything but her. Her smile, her long soft hair, those legs and her voice oh my God her voice. She sounds like she smokes 30 a day and sings in a blues lounge all night long.

I was lying in bed much later, going through my socials when my mobile rang. The caller ID had me grinning. "Ori?" "Shit it's late. I'm sorry, I should have checked the time first." I could hear her moving around. "Orion, it's okay I'm awake, everything alright?" I asked. "Yeah yeah I'm good. I just wanted to say thank you, again." "For what?" I teased. "All of it, for not sucking at a remix, for the pizza and for making it easy. So thanks, sorry and goodnight."

"Hey, wait don't go. What are you doing?" I blurted out. "Me oh I'm um compiling a new playlist for my car." She confessed. "What made the cut?" I was genuinely curious. "Seriously?" She laughed. "Yeah." "It's embarrassing because it's mostly all sing along mopey music." I laughed out loud at that, "There's a lot to be said for soppy songs." I grinned running my eyes down the playlist I had only just finished making for myself.

♡ Past is in italics

♡ Present is in print