CHAPTER 1: THE LIBRARY
Vince was in his third year at university, studying anthropology with the hope of pursuing his masters. He was on the older side of a typical third year student, having taken some time off between finishing high school and starting university. After high school, he worked a couple jobs to save some money, and then took a year off to travel, following his dream to travel across the country with nothing more than a backpack and his own two legs. For Vince, it was one last chance of freedom before entering the real world to buckle down and study hard, then find the career that would take him the rest of the way through his life. Never one to settle down, he had a few girlfriends over the years, but relationships were not his forte, and typically only lasted a few months at most before he got bored and moved on to the next adventure in life.
It all started out innocent enough. It was a cool autumn day, and the leaves from the oak trees on campus littered the ground. It was one of those days where it just felt like the clouds could open up at any moment, and soak everything below. Vince had an hour break between classes, but given the looming weather, instead of taking his usual walk around campus, he decided to go to the library and do a little prep for an upcoming assignment he had in one of his courses. Finding a table near a window, he opened up his laptop, put on his headphones, and set to work.
He had only been working for about 15 minutes, when he heard a loud thump behind him. Startled, he took off his headphones and turned around to see a girl bending over to pick up some books she had dropped. She was slim, with long brown hair tied in a ponytail that fell over her shoulder as she was bending over. Vince couldn't help but notice her ample breasts, barely covered by her low-cut top, as she rummaged around on the ground, stacking her books neatly before grabbing the pile and standing back up. When she did, their eyes met, and she froze momentarily. Vince quickly averted his gaze, but couldn't resist a second glance. The girl was still looking at him with her clear blue eyes, then cracked a little smile and continued walking purposefully right past Vince. As she strode by, Vince's eyes fell to her ass. She was wearing skin tight jeans that just seemed to be painted on over her beautifully curved bum that wiggled suggestively side to side, just a little, as she walked. Just before she turned to disappear behind a bookshelf, she took one more glance over her shoulder back at Vince. Seeing him still looking her direction, she gave him a little wink before vanishing behind the books.
Vince couldn't believe it. Who was this girl? He had never seen anyone so beautiful before; she had a gorgeous face, an amazing body, and just the way she walked seemed to exude sensuality. Had she really winked at him as she turned by the bookshelf? Maybe he imagined that. But no, it was definitely real, there was no mistaking that.
Try as he might over the next few days, he couldn't get the image of this girl out of his mind. She was just so gorgeous; she must already have a boyfriend though. Girls like her get snapped up so fast, and have an endless parade of guys just waiting for their opportunity to strike as soon moment arises. But who knows. The one thing he did know was that, one way or the other, he had to see her again, and maybe strike up a conversation. He knew she wasn't in any of his classes; if she was, he would have noticed her by now. Perhaps, he thought, the only way to bump into her again would be another chance encounter in the library. Maybe, just maybe, she has a break at the same time every Tuesday he thought to himself. So Vince hatched a plan to return to the same part of the Library next Tuesday at the same time, and keep his eyes open for this mystery girl.
Tuesday came slowly. Perhaps it was the anticipation and all the thoughts racing in his head over the weekend that made the time drag. Monday came and went at what seemed to be a glacial pace, until finally, his alarm woke him up Tuesday morning for school. He had trouble concentrating at his morning classes, the professors just seemed to drone on and on, and all the time his mind was wandering, thinking of the slender brunette in the library. At last, the bell for his last class before his break rang, and he practically jumped from his seat and raced out the door. It was another cool day, and he knew a shower had just passed through because the ground was damp and the smell of rain was still on the air.
Vince made his way to the library, and picked a similar seat to where he was the previous week. It was a long shot, but this was his most likely chance. Perhaps she is still doing her research in this same area, he thought to himself. He pulled out his laptop once again, and tried to do some studying, but his eyes kept glancing around the room, then back to his watch to check the time. Half an hour came and went, and there was no sign of his girl. He was starting to have his doubts about his plan, but he convinced himself not to give up, and he continued on his computer. Fifteen minutes more and still no sign. This is hopeless, he thought. He packed up his computer, put it back in his bag, and started to walk out of the library. He was discourage, and walking quickly, just looking at the ground and thinking to himself how silly he was to have hoped to see her in the same place again. Vince turned at a shelf, and not watching where he was going, bumped into someone standing just at the entrance to the aisle.
"Oh god, sorry!" Vince blurted out. He immediately looked up, and saw the same piercing blue eyes and brown hair of the girl he saw last week. Her face was smooth without a single blemish, and now he noticed some cute freckles on her cheeks. It was her! He couldn't believe it.
"It's OK, don't worry about it" the girl replied. Her voice was quiet and dainty, with a hint of nervousness behind it.
For a moment, their eyes locked, and the girl lightly bit the corner of her lip. Vince looked down to the book she was carrying. "Introduction to Human Anatomy" it said on the front.
There was a short, awkward silence. To break the tension, Vince commented "You're a biology student?"
"Yes, I'm only in my second year, but I am hoping to be a doctor one day" she replied.
She cracked a little playful smile and squirmed a bit. Vince could tell she liked him, and he smiled back.
"Wow, brains and beauty" he said. "You don't bump into someone like that every day!"
She giggled at his lame joke.
"Listen, I have a class to get to right now" she said. "But I have another break in a couple hours. Meet me back here at 3pm?"
Vince couldn't believe his ears. "Uh, ya, sure" he stammered. "I mean, yes, absolutely, I'll be here!"
"Ok, see you then" she said, as she winked at him again, and walked away. She turned around to look at Vince one last time, and caught him staring at her ass. "My name's Anastasia" she said.
"And I'm Vince" he replied. She smiled, and turned away and walked out of the library.
