Project: Boyfriend (ch.1)

I've always liked winter, but Colorado has made me hate it. Every time I breathe out my breath is clearly visible in the morning light.  

As I stand in line for the campus's coffee vendor a girl taps me on the shoulder. She's breathtaking. She has light brown hair and startling blue eyes. Under a long brown coat, she wears a tight white sweater that accentuates her breasts. 

"Excuse me, sorry to bother you, but I was wondering if you had time to help me with a journalism project? I interviewed a stranger, and my professor didn't say it was due tomorrow. My name is Emma by the way." 

She trails off, embarrassed. 

"I'm Finn," you say. "Yeah, I would totally be down to help but I have a class that I'm already late to." 

Her face lights up, "Oh, that's okay, do you just want to come to my dorm later?" 

"Okay, do you want to like text me what building?" 

She gives me her number and promises to text later, then turns and walks away. 

I make my way through a normal day and stop by my dorm to shower and change before I head over. My phone buzzes, and I see a text from Emma with the building and room number. I walk through the campus to her building.  

I knock on her door, and it is opened almost immediately. She stands before me in a black miniskirt and a beige button-down that she has tied to look like a crop top.  

There's a moment of awkward silence before she breaks into a smile.  

"Hey!" We both say at the same time. 

"Umm... Come on in, my roommate is at a party, so we have the place to ourselves she says. I follow her inside and put my backpack down by the door. She leads me to a lightly decorated living room area and motions for me to sit on the sofa next to her. When she crosses her legs, her skirt shows a little more skin than would be socially appropriate. 

"Okay," she says. "Ready to get started?" 

She asks me a variety of questions about myself, where I'm from, and why I attend college. 

I notice a bit of blush creep into her cheeks as she pauses. "So, I kind of lied to you earlier. The assignment is actually on the topic of couples in college... But I'm single. You see the dilemma?" 

"So you need me to be your significant other?" I ask, a little skeptical. 

"Well if you didn't mind, I mean. You can obviously say no..." She trails off, her gaze falling to the floor. 

One of the most beautiful girls I've ever met is asking me out. I can't say no. 

"I wouldn't mind, I'll date you or whatever you need." 

"Really?" 

"Yeah, I obviously won't complain about a girlfriend as beautiful as you." I say with a hint of a smile. She blushes but doesn't look away. 

"Okay, good! So, there are a few specific assignments we have to complete." She pulls her phone out and opens her notes app. I can see a short list, but not any specifics. "Well it shouldn't be too hard to get some of these done at the same time. Here, look." She hands me the list. 

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REQUIRED 

Go on a date in campus & Out of campus 

Do some light PDA (kissing, hand holding) on and off campus and compare public reaction. 

Go on a date in your dorm and compare it to a date in public. 

Make out with your SO after each date 

Cuddle your SO while watching a movie/show. 

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I sit there looking at the phone for a moment, stunned. "Wow," I say. "Your professor is..." 

"Interesting." She finishes my sentence. "But I'm kind of failing the class right now so I really need this to go well, you know?"  

"Yeah, I get you. When is this due again?" I ask. 

"Well... I lied. This is technically our final assignment, so it's not due for two months. But I really just wanted to get a head start. I hope that doesn't change your mind. 

I shake my head, "No not at all."  

"I don't really know what else to say." she says. 

I pause for a moment before saying, "We could just start making our way through the list? What's first?" 

She glances at her phone before looking back at me. "The first one says to go on a date, but since it's so late, we probably can't do that." 

"I think tomorrow is Saturday, why don't we do something then?" I ask. 

"Okay, do you just want to meet me here again at like 6:30?" 

I nod and stand up. "I'll see you tomorrow." I say and walk to the door. I open it and look back; she has followed me and stands close enough that I can see a faint blush on her cheeks. 

"Yeah, have a good night." She says. 

We pause, just looking at each other for a moment before I turn away and start walking down the hall. I hear her door shut and look back to make sure she can't see me before I lean my head against the wall. I don't know what to think, what sort of professor assigns something like this? I'll find out tomorrow how this will go.