Firefighter's Virgin

“Well, Natalie, since we know this class is going to be a killer, how about we get together a study group?”

I raised my eyebrows. “Um...the thing is, I’ve always preferred to study alone, to be honest,” I said, as politely as I could.

“Seriously?” Jason asked as his eyebrows rose. Again, I noticed that something in his eyes that had turned me off from the beginning of our conversation.

“Yeah,” I nodded, as I rose from my seat. “Thanks for the suggestion, but I think I’ll manage on my own.”

“Aw, come on,” he insisted. “It could even be fun. Isn’t that the point of study groups?”

“I think that depends on whom you ask,” I said, trying to walk away from him without being rude.

“We don’t have to include anyone else,” he said as though that might change my mind. “It could just be the two of us.”

I gave him an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry, Jason,” I said. “But I’m just not interested.”

His face changed instantly. The smile faltered for a moment before dropping completely, and his eyes turned angry. I picked up my books and started walking towards the door, but I could hear him follow close behind me.

“What’s the big deal?” Jason asked emphatically, and I noticed his tone had changed, too. “It’s just a fucking study group.”

Taken back by the unexpected hostility in his tone, I hesitated at the door and turned back to him. “I’m talking about meeting once or twice a week,” he continued. “That’s all.”

I stared at him for a moment. “Listen, Jason,” I said, taking pains to be as nice as possible. There was something about the guy that was intense – and not in a good way. “It’s a nice idea, and I would like to say yes, but the thing is, I’ve been a part of study groups before. It’s never worked for me. I’d just be wasting my time and probably yours, as well. You understand that, don’t you?”

“You’re being a baby,” he said, with indignation in his tone.

“And, you’re being rude,” I said.

I tried to walk away from him again, but he stepped in front of me, and I started to get anxious. “I’m trying to be nice,” he said emphatically. “I’m a good guy, and I just thought I’d make a helpful offer.”

“It was a helpful offer,” I said. “I’m just choosing to decline. It’s not personal.”

Jason looked like he was about to say something more, but I cut him off before he could speak. “I need to get to my next class,” I said. “Excuse me.”

I had just pushed the door open when I heard him mutter a word under his breath. It sounded a lot like “cunt” and I whipped around in shock to check if I’d heard right. But Jason had already turned his back on me and was walking towards the exit in the opposite direction.

My heart was beating a little fast at the jarring confrontation, and I made a mental note to sit as far away from him as I could at the next lecture. I was able to put Jason out of my mind during the next class, and that gave me the room to think of someone more pleasant, namely Professor William. I was still daydreaming about those beautiful hazel eyes of his when I got back to my dorm that evening.

“There you are,” Missy greeted as I walked in and threw my bag onto my bed. “I’ve been waiting all day to tell you about the cute guy I sat next to during my sociology lecture this morning.”

I laughed. “Slept with him yet?”

“Trust me, I’m working on it,” she winked. “What about you? Any cute guys catch your attention today?”

It was a standard question, one that Missy asked every semester and one that I always answered with an indifferent shrug. But this time, the moment she asked the question, I blushed.

She gasped. “There was!” she said triumphantly.

“No,” I said, a little too quickly. “No, there wasn’t.”

“Liar,” she laughed. “Tell me everything. Who was he?”

“I…just…um…”

Missy laughed as I tripped over my words. “Man, you are blushing like your face is on fire.”

I threw my hands up in the air and sighed. “Geez, I am such a loser,” I lamented.

“You’re just…inexperienced,” Missy said gently. “Which is why I keep telling you, you need to get out there. Did you speak to him? Did you sit next to him?”