THE NEW GUY

"I'm going out for some fresh air, Tracy. Care to join me?" I asked. "Oh no, I'm good. Maybe later. I've got to catch up on some work before the next class," she replied. "Alright, text me when the next class is about to begin," I said.

I left the class and walked down the enormous corridors. I could never get used to how beautiful they were, with their intricate designs on the walls and angel sculptures. It always felt like I was in a castle, which seemed silly, but the feeling persisted. I stepped outside, descended the stairs, and noticed that, as usual, the Mirabelle Bistro Café was packed. It wasn't surprising; they made the best coffees and cappuccinos I had ever tasted. Their flavor combinations were sheer genius, at least in my opinion.

Being a regular customer, I had a favorite spot near the window where I could enjoy my drink and watch the world go by. The staff, including the manager, knew exactly what I wanted – a cappuccino and a chocolate-strawberry cake. I had the sneaking suspicion they reserved the spot just for me, knowing I would stop by.

As I was served by the waiter, a guy approached me from nowhere and asked to sit with me. His appearance was stunning, with a muscular build, chocolate-toned skin, long blonde hair reaching his shoulders, a pointed nose, and a striking jawline. His green eyes were captivating. Handsome was an understatement; he was beyond gorgeous.

I agreed, and he sat across from me. Our eyes met, and he asked my name. "Rose," I replied. "That's a lovely name, Rose. Beautiful, just like the flower," he said. I blushed, but quickly composed myself. "Thank you," I responded. "You're not bad yourself." I asked for his name, and he told me, "Collin."

Curiosity piqued, I asked, "Why do you want to sit with me?" He responded, "Because I want to get to know you. I must say you're very beautiful. I was drawn to your beauty." I was speechless. Beautiful? Me? He must have been seeing things.

"I doubt that, Collin. Perhaps you're just seeing things," I said. Before I could continue, I received a text from Tracy saying the next class was about to begin. "I need to go, Collin. It was a pleasure meeting you. Hope we meet again. Goodbye." He nodded, and I paid my bill before rushing off.

I hurried to class, feeling like I was flying. Being late was not my style. Fortunately, I arrived just a minute before the lecture began, much to my relief.

A few minutes into the lecture, I heard murmurs of excitement from the other students. Busy taking notes, I looked up to see what was causing the commotion. My gaze met a familiar pair of green eyes. "Class, this is Mr. Collin Brown. He just transferred to our school, and I would appreciate it if you all gave him a warm welcome," Mr. Stanley announced. Our eyes remained locked, as if we were the only people in the room, lost in our own world.

"The new guy is so cute," Tracy whispered. "I think I like him."

"Alright, Collin, please take your seat next to Eugene," Mr. Stanley instructed. It was a captivating sight – two near god-like figures sitting side by side. "I guess Eugene has found himself a rival," remarked Antonio, the Spanish guy. "Let's see what the new guy brings to the table." Little did we know that Collin's arrival would change everything.