Hi Ashley!

After five minutes she heard an angelic voice from behind close to her right ear sending shivers down her spine, "Hi Ashley!" Two words from his lips were enough to send her to another planet. She could feel the adrenaline rush coursing through her veins. Her heart felt like it was thumping in her ears. Her mind going blank. "What is he doing to me? What kind of magic spell am I under?"

Just when she had thought she was going to force herself to move on, all her feelings came rushing back, stronger than ever.

She finally managed to turn herself around a little so she could face him as he leaned forward towards her from behind.

"Hey Sam!" she replied softly

Their eyes twinkling with the happiness of finally speaking to each other, even if it meant just hi-hellos. They both felt the same glow they had felt the first time they looked into each other's eyes. The spark of magic flared up again, but stronger and brighter.

"Uh... Hello, I'm here too!" interrupted Zoey as she gave Samuel the eye interrupting their moment of magic.

"Yeah...Hi Zoey," said Samuel as he rolled his eyes at her, jeopardizing their one on one moment.

"What are you doing here today?" he turned back to Ashley, interestedly raising his eyebrow.

"Oh I just missed Zoey, you know how the school has gotten so much tougher than the start of the semester, we don't get the time to hang out at all so I figured why not spend a day with her at her college." she smiled trying to sound as casual as she could. "What does he want me to say? That I came here today so that I could see him? Cause it has been weeks since the last I saw him and I missed him! He can try all he wants but he is not gonna get that out of me! " she thought to herself.

Sam nodded as he carefully studied her face, trying to figure out if missing Zoey was the only reason she was here or if there was a deeper reason that involved him.

"Are you gonna come study at the library anytime soon?" she asked softly trying to figure out how their upcoming days would be like.

He narrowed his eyes and then smiled sweetly as he answered, "Yeah, actually our module is going to end on Monday so hopefully Tuesday onwards I could have my old routine back. I miss studying there."

She missed having him study there too. Even if they didn't speak a lot but it was always good knowing they were together under the same roof, knowing they could speak to each other whenever they wanted to.

The professor standing at the centre of the stage strode to the front of the lecture hall as his gaze swept the room, searching for the source of the nefarious whispering until he finally called out, "Hey! You two at the back! No talking during the lecture!" scolded the professor as he continued sternly "It is the middle of the semester you guys and that means no whispering in classes, no skipping classes, no using mobile phones! High school is over people! This is serious now!" he said pointing towards the slide show of the lecture. If anyone wants to talk can leave immediately! Any questions?"

The remainder of the lecture was silent. As the clock struck 11, the professor winded up the lecture however announcing there was going to be a test the other week leaving the already exhausted students sighing as they marked their attendance and stormed out.

"I have to ask Professor Mark a question, do you wanna tag along?" asked Zoey

"Uhh yeah sure!" she said hesitantly as she glanced over at Samuel who was now busy chatting with his friends discussing how to prepare for his upcoming Biochemistry test.

"Professor Mark I had a question to ask!" said Zoey calling out to the professor.

Ashley stood there patiently waiting for Zoey, taking a good look at Samuel's college friends group. It was a mixed versatile group having both boys and girls. She watched Emma who was standing just beside Samuel and she did look like she was his favourite among the group. The two laughed as they gave each other high fives, really enjoying each other's company. "It was very admirable." Ashley thought to herself. It was nice seeing how Samuel was with his friends.

It was a minute later when Sam along with friends turned around heading towards the exit door. As he came near, Sam caught Ashley's looking at him, "It was nice seeing you again!" he said in a polite manner as he smiled at her, Ashley nodded back.

She watched him walk away with his friends and disappear in the crowd of students outside the lecture hall. The more she played the way he had walked up towards her just to sit behind her the more it made her smile but she was still unsure. It could have been just a coincidence too.

"Come, Ash, let's get something to eat. It's only eleven and I am starving!" chuckled Zoey as she interrupted Ashley's dreamland.

After spending another two hours with Zoey, going through her entire campus from the cafeteria to the garden to the university hospital affiliated with their college Ashley decided it was time to head home.

She dug out her phone from her bag and thumbed through the menu, booking the uber and texting Anna to find her under the iconic clock tower of the campus.

____________________________________________________________

After ten minutes she saw her uber black corolla pull in front of the college campus. As she got into her uber and asked the driver to wait a few minutes she saw Anna pacing her way towards their car shouting, "Hey wait up for me!"

"Yeah yeah I wasn't leaving without you!" giggled Ashley

As Anna hopped in Ashley updated her with the scene that took place inside the lecture hall.

"SEE I TOLD YOU JUST GIVE HIM SOME TIME!!!! said Anna enthusiastically

"But Anna, how can you still be so sure? I mean I know what he did was very cute but what if he really did want to take the class?" pleaded Ashley

"OH MY GOD! WHY ARE YOU SO NEGATIVE? Ash, have you seen the size of their lecture halls? They're enormous! Why would he choose a row just behind yours and then sit exactly behind you?!"

"I don't know maybe that's where he always sits!" cried Ashley

Anna smacked her palm on her forehead. "Unbelievable. Absolutely unbelievable. Ash, he is moving forward for you at his own pace, okay?"

"But"

"No buts! He is trying to put in efforts for you, okay? Sure he is not doing something very huge but he is trying okay and you need to appreciate that."

"He has had a girlfriend before, I just don't understand why he is so nervous with me, why things are going super slow."

"He is nervous with you because he must be thinking the same things you're thinking about him! He doesn't wanna come on too strong to scare you or something. I know you have given him hints but your hints are also just hints okay, it is not a confession. He won't be too sure about it too."

"I don't care how nervous he is, I'm not gonna confess to him!" snapped Ashley

"No one's asking you to confess stupid girl! All I'm saying is be patient and think positively cause the way I see it he is trying his best to make a way into your heart."

"I hope so." sighed Ashley