1 Strange Encounter

Looking around in the cold darkness that surrounds me, I wonder to myself where exactly am I? Nothing looks familiar or to be honest even feels familiar. Going to speak seems to raise a problem as I reach up to my face and notice with more shock than anything that my mouth is gone. Soon enough my mind begins to panic as I look down and notice that my once human feet are no longer quite as human as I had left them and instead I am sporting two very distinct goat legs. At this point I'm truly wishing my mouth was present as I want to scream for anyone. Hell even begging at this point is sounding like a great answer instead of the dark silence surrounding me. A silence so deep that it makes everything in me want to freeze like a deer caught in the headlights of a truck.

A rush of hot air hits me in the face making my eyes close from the light sting to my eyes and just like that my body is jolting in a cold sweat as I look around my messy bedroom. Whipping my blanket off me quickly just to be sure and thanking any gods present that my legs are definitely human and just to be sure feeling my face and breathing a deep sigh as my mouth is still firmly attached.

Finally being dragged from my thoughts of the crazy dream by an insistence knocking on my bedroom door before my mothers soft voice called through the closed door, "Sweetheart you better get up soon or you'll be late for your first day at college!"

I know her heart is in the right place. I mean it always has been and she has been nothing but a great mother to me but sometimes she truly does annoy me. I can't complain though hell I'm even beyond the point of grateful seeing as she still allows me to live with her for nothing and all she asks is I keep a job and go to college and save my money. To only be left with those three things as a nineteen year old is a hell of a lot better than the other options I could be going through like the rest of my friends who moved away after high school ended because their parents didn't want them living with them anymore.

Rolling out of bed as the last of my nightmare fueled sleep is pushed away from my eyes I throw what smells to be a clean thermal and a pair of sweatpants on thanking myself for pre-packing my bag the night before in case I slept in when I finally notice the time. Eight thirty five reads on my phone meaning I have only half an hour to drive to my college which is now making me regret choosing a school an hour away. Rushing down the stairs as I slip on my converse and grab the measly breakfast my mother prepared being a strong brewed coffee and bagel as I yell my goodbye over my shoulder and run out of the house.

Jumping into my old 2001 truck proved to be a bit harder with full hands but soon enough I'm speeding down the highway praying to any god listening that I don't get pulled over and thanking them as soon as I pull into the already overcrowded parking lot of my college with a few minutes to spare.

Seeing the large swarm of new students like myself is a tad off putting seeing as I never really have been much of a people person and if I could have had online classes believe me I would have but unfortunately for me to become a graphic designer means in person classes.

Finally getting out of my truck after downing my bagel watching the students begin to disperse into the small college leaving just a handful of groups here and there as I make my own way up the cracked pavement of the student parking lot. Apparently luck can only be on my side once in a single day seeing as now for some reason I'm on my ass with my coffee on the ground and my wrist hurting like a son of a bitch while a large shadow looms over me.

"Dammit, well there goes my coffee and all of my energy today." Cursing out loud as I look up at the offending person and stopping in my tracks of the verbal assault I was about to release while a pair of captivating cerulean blue eyes stare at me.

"Sorry 'bout that lad, didn't see ya there." a rough deep accented voice says down to me while reaching out a large hand and pulling me up as if I weighed nothing compared to the one sixity-five I actually am.

"Are ya aight? Ya didn't hurt yerself did ya?" He says gently still holding onto my arm as he goes to look me over slightly as I thank any god for the fact the man isn't looking at my face as I know from the slight burn that it's definitely a bright shade of red. As the man is distracted with looking me over for any injuries I look at his face and to be honest I'm pleasantly surprised by the scruffy beard that adorns his face nicely noticing a few braids in it that were tied off with beautifully crafted metal beads.

Finally pulling myself together I cleared my throat getting the man's attention, "I'm fine and it's not your fault I should have been watching where I was going so it's alright." I say calmly as I look back into those deep pools of blue eyes. If I could drown in those eyes I know I would have already damn well sank to the bottom never to be seen again. Pulling me out of my thoughts he spoke in his deep timber voice that is doing wonders on my already cold body in the morning crisp autumn air.

"So are ya new as well? Its me first day an ta be honest wit ya I'm already lost." he says letting out a small chuckle and I can't help wanting to hear him laugh and see what it would sound like with his deep vibrato.

"Uh yeah, this is my first day too. What class are you in? If it's close to mine I wouldn't mind showing you the way." I reply softly while I mentally smack myself in the face for offering to show a perfect stranger around. Hell he could be a serial killer posing as a student and I could be his first damn victim. I guess you can say I wasn't always that bright when it came to certain situations.

"Actually I am in architecture." He says I can see clearly in his eyes the doubt he has that I could show him to the right area.

"Well you are in luck seeing as I am in graphic design as those two subjects are in the same wing." I say as I begin to head in the direction towards class not waiting any longer to see if the man is following behind but hearing the soft thud of boots on pavement reassures that he is indeed right behind me.

"So a graphic design student. That sounds interestin' enough." the man says in what I'm beginning to think is playful banter.

"Yeah it's pretty ok I suppose. Always had a knack for art." I say letting my line drift off slowly filling the already tense air with more awkwardness.

"Bout yer drink, I am truly sorry "bout that lad." the man tries again more softly an damn if only I could turn around an see the face he was making cause with a voice like that its got to be fucking cute.

"Don't worry about it. Accidents happen. I'll just get a coffee during lunch." I say softly and soon enough we are in front of the architecture door, "Whelp here you are and I hope you have a good day." I say quickly before scurrying off to my own class which was only two doors down on the opposite side of the hall before the bell rung signaling classes have officially begun.