Chapter 1
*I have not edited this story, so I apologize for any mistakes you catch. I am trying to edit but life gets hectic.*
I parked my car in one of the campus parking decks. Taking a moment, I reflect on my upcoming semester. I have four more classes standing in between me and my business degree. All winter break I worked on creating my new line of precious gems jewelry. I have an online store with a religious following. I use white gold plated material because I am allergic to sterling silver. I pride myself on my jewelry being hypoallergenic.
Stepping out of my car, I shiver as the cold Vermont air blows past me. I retie my scarf, blocking out all wind. One thing you should know about me is, I hate being cold. I don’t know why I didn’t go to college somewhere warmer. I long for the warmth of my bed in my apartment I share with my twin brother Liam. Liam works for the Department of Fish and Wildlife as a game warden. His program was a year shorter than mine, but luckily he got a job nearby. My phone dings and I look down to see my best friend Penelope sent me a message.
Maeve hurry up to class. I saved you a seat!
I’m on my way. I shoot back and pocket my phone, then slip on my backpack. I hurried out of the parking deck and across the quad to make it on time to my eight am class. As a senior I had hoped not to be in any, but alas Professor Whittaker refuses to teach anything later than an eleven-thirty class. Hurrying into the lecture hall, I don’t notice a blond guy and bump right into.
“I’m so sorry. Are you okay?” I ask looking up into the bluest eyes I’d ever seen.
“I’m fine. Are you?” he asks me and I nod tongue-tied. He goes to leave the hall and I blurt out,
“Skipping class already?”
“Don’t go here. I was bringing my brother his laptop.” His deep voice makes me shiver and shockingly I blush. I nod like an idiot and scurry into the hall over to where Penelope snagged us seats in the back.
“You okay?” she asks me looking into my eyes.
“Peachy,” I lie and pull out my notebook to take notes. Call me old-fashioned, but I find the material sticks in my brain better when I have to write it down.
“Liar,” she whispers as the professor walks in.
“I’ll tell you later,” I promise and try to focus on what our professor has to say.
An hour and a half later...
“Maeve I can’t believe we already have a paper due in two weeks,” Penelope moans tucking her computer away. I laugh and say,
“What did you expect? We have sixteen weeks until we graduate. Did you look at the syllabus?” We walk out of the hall and I see the same man I bumped into leaning against a wall. I feel a tingle shoot down my spine when our eyes connect. He gives me a wink and pushes off the wall. I think he is coming over to me when another guy with the same white-blond hair steps in his way.
“Hey, Caleb. Why are you still here? I thought you had a meeting?” I recognize the guy as Owen. He and I have had a lot of classes together throughout our four years here.
“Maeve come on.” Penelope pulls on my arm and I follow her to the student union and get a cup of coffee with space for cream and sugar.
“What do you have next?” she asks me when we settle on two couches.
“Accounting 300. I need it to do my books for Moonlight Jewelry. It’s the only other one I have today. I have my capstone class and one other management class tomorrow. Fridays I don’t have class. I’m going to use that day to get homework done. Then the weekend I can focus on jewelry making.”
“Speaking of jewelry. My mom loves the earrings and necklace set I got her for Christmas. She was so impressed she wants to host a party for you to sell to her friends,” Penelope tells me and I gape at her.
“Seriously?”
“Yes. She wore them on New Year’s Eve at a party and all her friends wanted to know where she got them.”
“I’d love to do a party on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon. Tell her to call me and we can set it up. I do custom orders too, so I’ll bring my materials and people can see their options,” I tell her trying to contain my excitement. My parents haven’t been very supportive of my business. Maybe this party is just what I need to show I can be successful. I’ll need to double up on supplies to make multiples of each type I carry.
“I’ll let her know. How is Liam?” Penelope asks and I smile. She has had a huge crush on my brother since freshman year. We look alike with our bright red hair and emerald green eyes. He is a foot taller than my five feet two inches.
“Fine. He is gone for the week doing a stakeout. He said something about trying to catch offseason hunters,” I reply sipping my coffee. Thank goodness for coffee or I wouldn’t be able to function.
“Is it dangerous?” Her hazel eyes showing her worry.
“No. He said it was routine,” I say trying to help alleviate her worries.
“Good. Oh, I’ve got to run to my next class. I’m so jealous you only have to take four this semester. I have six,” she complains and I laugh.
“I took two eighteen credit semesters freshman year. Now I get to reap the rewards,” I gloat and Penelope glares at me.
“See you Wednesday,” she bids me goodbye and I’m left on my own. I take this time to pull out my textbook. I need to outline the first three chapters and then I can get started on my paper. I have another hour until class starts. Getting comfortable I put my earbuds in and blast my favorite country station from my phone.
Leave me your thoughts. This is the first story I have written in first person. I wanted to try something new.
