8. Start of Something

Everyone thinks I ruined her. I did.

Nova

I've always hated mornings.

But there's something about the night, that's welcoming to me. The way darkness engulfs me in its warmth, doing its best to shield me from prying eyes. This is how best I can describe the night.

I could also go on and on about it. But I'm stuck in this line waiting to get my coffee. With this dumbass male specie in front of me, that keeps, not so subtly if I may add. Trying to check out my boobs.

He should be thankful I have too much weighing on my mind right now.

Human beings infuriate me. Scratch that.

Straight men infuriate me.

I woke up this morning, happy about my new life in college and a house that's free what more could I possibly want?

That's a lie.

I woke up this morning and my mind immediately went to the letter that was left for that guy. Yesterday was my first day in college, I met that guy yesterday. All these thoughts bombarded my head and all I could think of to calm myself down is coffee.

But here I am, getting harassed by yet another disgusting male. I have it in me to pour my hot coffee on his- Oh my goodness Mer!

My eyes widen as I hold my body still from jumping for happiness when the realization hits me!

How could I forget? She was with me! Yesterday could have also been her first day at college!

I release a loud sigh of relief and happiness, and the invisible weight is immediately lifted off me.

I tap the pervert on his shoulder "You know I don't blame you, to be honest."

He scoffs "What?"

"You're a man. It's in your nature to be dumb" I say with a smile

He frowns "Excuse me?"

"You're excused. But before that let me warn you, if you're going to stare at a woman's tits disgustingly. At least try to be subtle about it. But I'm guessing that's a strange thing for your gender because the highest female interaction some of y'all get is with your relatives. That's why y'all come out and act around women like hormonal teenagers." I step closer to him and whisper "If you ever pull this shit again, and trust me I'll know. Best believe I won't be letting you off with a warning you disgusting, slimy pervert" I step back and smile as I walk out of my line and stand in front of him.

It's the least he can do.

I wait for a few minutes and I'm buying my coffee. I decide to wait for it in line instead of stepping aside to sit.

I bring out my phone and I'm immediately taken aback by the time.

Great. My second class starts in three minutes.

"Hi, here's your coffee" the barista speaks up just as I'm contemplating giving up on it.

"Ugh thank goodness. Thank you too" I say and turn to leave. But not before giving that perverted fuck the stink eye.

I grab my bag and my coffee in hand and hurry into my car making sure not to spill hot coffee all over myself. That would just end my day completely.

I don't know why I just had to pick the farthest coffee place from campus.

You needed to think and clear your head.

My subconscious chirps back at me. True I did need to think. I just wasn't thinking when I picked that coffee place.

My phone starts ringing in my bag incessantly and the urge to throw the phone and the bag out is huge.

"Oh Fuck it! I exclaim and I use my other hand to rummage through my bag without taking my eyes off the road and my hand on the wheel. "Fucks sake!" I groan and turn to look in the bag for my phone. Still searching for my phone and looking at the road too.

I groan, angry at myself for stuffing this bag full of unnecessary things to the extent I can't find my phone in it. I raise my head to look at where I'm going and release a sigh of relief when it's still empty.

I found my phone, finally. With a disgruntled expression, I raise my head to focus my attention back on the road.

And then it happened.

He came out of nowhere! The slightly loud collision in the front of my car had me rocking in my seat! My breathing spikes as I bolt out of the car and run to the man laying in front of it. Unmoving. "Oh, my God! Please don't be dead, please don't be dead!" I chant loudly above him while scanning the area with my eyes

I hear a groan from beneath me "I'm not dead, you can see my eyes are open" he chuckles and gets up slowly

"I-i know I just thought... never mind. Do you need anything? I can take you to the hospital, No! Please let me take you to the hospital. I'll feel much better knowing you're okay."

He stands fully on his leg but I notice how he's putting all his weight on his left leg "I'm fine. It's my fault anyway" he points to the headset in his hand

"No. I insist. I wasn't looking at the road either and I don't know what I would have done if you had died."

He laughs lowly "That's not possible. It was a close contact. No one can die from that"

I raise my brows "Careful there, I might think you hit people with your car for a living." He smiles back and shakes his head "I'm kidding. Let me help you into the car please"

"I've got it." He replies and proceeds to limp to the passenger seat

"I insist" I follow behind him and I open the door and close it when he's settled in.

I make my way to the driver's side but not before checking that none of us dropped something.

Guess all my classes for today are cancelled then.

I exclaimed "Not to sound stupid or anything. Do you by any chance know any hospital around here" I give him a half smile to ease any upcoming tension "But if you don't that's cool and I can just google directions and get us there" I quickly add for good measure

He chuckles "Yeah. I know one. It's pretty close actually"

"Alright then. Lead the way" I pause when I realize that I don't know his name "I'm Nova Carter by the way. Or you can also just describe me as the girl that almost killed you" we both chuckle as I take the left turn he points to.

He looks at me and I'm slightly taken aback with awe by the colour of his eyes as headlights of passing cars reflect on them. Giving it a sort of yellowish colour, like one you see in blaring flames. "I think I much prefer the latter. Has an enticing ring to it, don't you think?" He stares at me and we both laugh uncontrollably I nod my head agreeing with him.

"Nice to meet you. And I'm sorry for hitting you with my car" He nods with a smile his eyes still on me. "I never got your name"

"Well only because you're insisting." He smirks "I never give my name to strangers, more or less someone that almost killed me"

I laugh "Hey! You said no one can die from that"

"True. But I could have"

"But you didn't" I countered back

"I could have, Nova"

The way my name rolled off his tongue almost distracted me from our back and forth "But you didn't"

"I could-"

I cut him off with my laughter appearing in between "Okay enough. You could have" I give up. It didn't look like any of us was ready to anyway and one of us had to, so I did.

He chuckles at my surrender and I roll my eyes and focus on driving.

"My name's Leonardo. Leonardo Ricci."