Chapter 4
Humid Hillbilly State
Monday morning I leave my apartment and begin the walk to the science building. I have fundamentals of biochemistry first up on my schedule. I’ve had this professor before and I’ve breezed through his classes, so I’m not expecting this one to be a challenge.
I choose a seat near the back, giving me the freedom to play on my cell phone if the class gets too boring. You know, scroll through Facebook and Twitter to read all the annoying crap people post. Seriously, I don’t give a shit that the girl who sat next to me in history freshman year in high school is getting married. I certainly don’t want to hear all about her wasteful planning and excessive spending, so why the hell do I check social media fifty, or more, times a day? Maybe I need a hobby… besides preparing for zombies to take over the world.
As the other students sift in, looking super perky on day one, I notice a new guy enter the class. I’m pretty sure he’s in the wrong class because I know everyone in pre-med, having spent the last three years in class with them. I would remember this overly fashionable guy.
He’s wearing white, fitted shorts, a black and white horizontally stripped shirt, and casual red blazer. Instead of carrying a backpack over one shoulder, pretty boy is sporting a black messenger bag.
I watch as he approaches the professor, confirms the class, then turns to find a seat. As he scans the room for his seat of choice, he pushes his blonde hair out of his eyes. I smile when his gaze meets mine because I can already tell I like this guy. Pretty boy smiles back and makes his way toward me.
“Is this seat taken,” he asks, gesturing next to me.
I shake my head. “Nope, it’s all yours.” I reach out my hand. “I’m Keegan.”
He gently grips my hand. “Robert,” he says, placing his messenger bag gently on the floor.
“You a transfer?” I ask, bluntly.
He sighs dramatically as he drops into his chair. “Yes, and I have to say, this humidity sucks. I’m beginning to think I made a horrible decision to leave California for this hillbilly state.” He lifts a hand to his mouth, pressing two fingers to his lips. “I’m sorry, that’s a horrible thing to say, it’s just that my hair does not do well in humidity.”
I laugh. “No offense taken, trust me, I’ve lived here all my life. It’s no secret that Ohio is home to a large portion of America’s hillbillies.”
“By the way,” I say, reaching up to touch his hair, “It looks fine.”
With cat-like reflexes, Robert smacks my hand away. “Do not touch the hair,” he scolds, emphasizing each word. “It took me twenty minutes to get this right, so I will break those pretty little fingers if you touch it.”
I’m positive I’ve found my soul mate. He hates hillbillies, loves clothes, and threatens bodily harm.
“We’re going to be good friends, Robert,” I inform him.
Robert flashes a tight smile, but before he can speak again, Professor Stack begins his introduction to the class.
An hour later I’m stuffing my syllabus into my backpack and standing to leave. I follow Robert out of the room and we talk easily as we cross campus. I learn his parents moved to Ohio from California because his mom’s family is here. She grew up in Ohio, and recently got a job at one of the Cleveland Clinic branches so she could be closer to her parents. Robert is close with his family, which is why he chose to relocate to this humid, hillbilly-ridden state.
When we are nearing the student center, I look up to see Adrian walking toward us. A smile engulfs his face as he approaches. I close my eyes and draw in a long breath.
“Hey beautiful,” he says, stopping to side hug me. “I missed you in my bed this morning.”
I slap at his hand, which is gripping my arm, pulling me tight against him. “Get your hands off me. God only knows where those things have been.”
Not getting anywhere with smacking his hand, I push on his chest. He pulls me tighter then kisses my temple. “You should stop fighting it, Keegan. You’re only wasting time we could be using to make out.” He kisses me again before turning to leave.
I wipe at my temple, trying to remove any germs his lips may have transferred.
There are not many people who can throw me off balance, so how is it one of those people now lives next to me? I think he sees how much he messes with me, now he’s going to act this way every time I see him, simply for his entertainment.
Robert’s hum of approval snaps me out of my irritated thoughts. “Who was that fine piece of man meat?” he asks.
I bark out a laugh because I love that he says exactly what he is thinking.
“That is my new neighbor… and my new arch nemesis.”