Happenstance

Chapter 1

I walked up the stairs, feet muffled by the thick carpet, approaching my professor's office. It was late at night on a Tuesday, and I had just finished my paper comparing a recent study done by a team of psychologists to one that had been done in the sixties, and I was exhausted. Hopefully my professor would be able to give me some advice on it, because I felt like it needed editing and I was struggling on the angle... oh well. It was what it was. At least I was done.
I loved my professor. He had been a guide to me over my past three years at uni, and had become sort of like a father to me. He gave me advice, helped me when I needed it, and I had even come to him a few times for really personal things. Even though I was only a third year, he had offered to give me extra credit if I helped him teach first years, and what with being on a full scholarship because I literally had no money, I couldn't say no.
As I walked up the stairs, I could hear voices coming from his office. Maybe he was in a meeting...? Oh well, I couldn't really stay at school much longer anyway, I was on my last legs trying to stay awake to finish the essay. I approached the door that was cracked open, and knocked.
Y/n: "hi, professor? Are you in a meeting?"
Prof. H: "oh, hi y/n, no, do come in."
I opened the door and looked into the room. There was a guy I had never seen before sitting in the chair opposite the professor's desk. At first, all I could see of him was a head full of brown curls, looking slightly crazy, but really good, even form the back. Then he turned around as I spoke, and my brain just sort of... stopped. It felt like I had short circuited, like my mind just wasn't functioning at all anymore. Had his melting chocolate eyes somehow melted all the wiring in my brain? Luckily I had a reasonably good poker face, so I decided to try and play it cool.
Y/n: "sorry to bother you professor, I just finished my paper and I needed a little advice... also I finished grading the papers from Monday's class, I can give you those if you'd like."
Prof. H: "oh, that's fine y/n, thanks, we can discuss that now, if you'd like."
Y/n: "are you sure you're not busy..?"
Prof. H: "oh, no, of course. You haven't met my godson have you? This is Tom, my godson, he's visiting me for a while from London. Tom, this is y/n, one of my best third years. She's actually working as my TA right now, too."
I looked over at Tom, trying to figure out where I'd seen him before. His face had a vague familiarity to it. Maybe we had met? Certainly not here, but I just couldn't think where. Oh well, maybe it would come to me. He wasn't getting any less cute though, the more I looked at him.
Tom: "it's nice to meet you y/n. Thanks for being such a help to my godfather here."
He smiled at me. God, it was a good smile.
Y/n: "no problem. Your godfathers been a wonderful help to me too."
I went over the paper quickly while the professor gave me notes, trying not to dwell to much on the god-like person sitting next to where I was standing. I made a conscious effort not to look at him, but I could feel his gaze on me whenever he turned towards me. "God, y/n, get a grip!!" He seemed really easygoing too, from his occasional comments, and honestly very sweet and genuine. He was not making this easy. As I finished telling the professor about the class on Monday, I filled him in on the event planned for Friday.
Y/n: "everything's set up for Friday, it's all in schedule, and I've done everything you asked except find a date, but I'm not sure that matters too much."
Prof. H: "what? What happened? Surely you can find someone."
Y/n: "well, I can't, really. No one would really want to go with me, you know that, except Mark, but you know that's not such a good idea."
Tom: "I feel like I'm missing something here...?"
Prof. H: " y/n is helping me hold an event this Friday for some of our donors to the psychology program here, but she was supposed to find a date to come with her. (To y/n) I agree, of course, no Mark, but... hey, here's an idea. (to both) Tom, you could be y/n's date to the event!"
Y/n: "oh, no, it's fine, really, I don't want to force-"
Prof. H: "Tom, you're in town until Saturday, aren't you? Would you be willing?"
Tom: "I'm willing if you are, y/n."
I looked at them both slightly helplessly.
Y/n: "well..."
Prof. H: "It's settled then! Tom will be your date to the event, and you two can figure out the details between yourselves, I'm sure. What are you doing now, y/n?"
Y/n: "well, I was planning on going home, to be honest, it's been a long day."
Prof. H: " it's late, it's not safe for you to be walking around campus by yourself! Where are you parked? Tom was leaving anyway too, he can walk you to your car."
Tom got up, and we moved towards the door. As we said goodbye to professor Higgins, I looked back after Tom, and saw the professor grin and wink at me. I refrained from rolling my eyes with extreme difficulty.
We walked out of the building and down the road, towards where my car was parked several blocks away.
Y/n: "you know, you don't have to come if you don't want to. I hate to think the professor guilted you into it."
Tom: "it's all right, don't worry about it, I'm glad to be of service. Besides, it might be fun, you never know."
Y/n: *snorts* " these things are hardly ever fun, I don't really know why I help with them anymore. Except because I need to."
Tom: "I guess... so what was that thing about someone named Mark, if you don't mind me asking? Is he your boyfriend?"
Y/n: "no, it's funny you asked that though. He's a good friend of mine, but he seems to think we could be more, and though I've tried to convince him otherwise he is really very persistent. The thing is, it wouldn't be a good idea to invite him to this, because even if I told him it was just as friends, he would definitely get his hopes up."
Tom: "right... that makes sense. (Pause) so... no boyfriend then?"
I looked over at him, and he was trying (and failing) to make this look like a casual question, with no real importance. I laughed slightly, and replied.
Y/n: "nope, no boyfriend. Right now it's just me."
Tom: "right."
He was trying (and again failing) to suppress his smile now.
Tom: "so, if we're going to go to this very important fancy party together on Friday, I think maybe we should know a little bit about each other first. Would you maybe want to meet up for coffee or something tomorrow? It's fine if you don't." He added quickly, glancing at me.
Y/n: "um, sure."
I tried not to smile too big and give myself away.
Tom: "great! Um, okay, I'll see you tomorrow then. Could I have your number?"
I gave it to him, and watched as he put it into his phone. I could tell we were both trying really hard not to have huge grins on our faces as I got to my car, and said goodbye. As a drove away, I could still feel myself starting to blush as I thought about him. Wow, he was still so cute!!!