The Learning Curve - Jim Hopper x Reader

i. Trouble

Well, shit.

The man seemed to have a similar thought process, his eyes shifting nervously between Holly's and the floor. His demeanor began to shift into something sterner, as if he were subconsciously demanding respect from a student he would be in future contact with. It was a stark contrast to the overly friendly and flirtatious swagger he exuded minutes earlier. He cleared his throat roughly, returning his gaze to you.

"You can follow me," he said awkwardly, beginning to walk in front of you. "My office is just down the hall."

As much as her brain screamed at her to not let her thoughts wander, Holly couldn't help but gaze down at the man's backside, admiring with soft eyes how supple and firm the man's ass was hidden behind a pair of very form-fitting black slacks. She closed her eyes, the intoxicating scent of his cologne trailing behind him as he walked. Everything about him exuded sex appeal, making Holly trip over the air as she tried to keep up with his gait.

He walked down the narrow hallway, dimly lit as it reflected off of the grey carpet. He finally stopped at the last wooden door on the right, a rectangle window allowing Holly to peer in with curiosity. He unlocked it using the keys he fished out of his pocket, opening it swiftly before holding the door open for her as she walked in.

Holly smiled, the scent of his cologne even stronger as it attached to the material of the chairs and carpet. As Hopper walked in and began to de-clutter the area of his desk, Holly looked around the small office, smiling as she began to see a small part of his life come to fruition. Various pictures hung on the walls, some of which contained what she assumed was family and friends. Alma mater swag littered the shelves, one of which was devoted to his brotherhood and memories of his glory days. A photo on the shelf pictured him and two other younger men, all three of them sporting fraternity letters.

A frat boy. Definitely wouldn't have guessed that.

He sat down behind his desk, his large body sinking into the cushioned black leather chair perched there. He set her files down on the surface of the desk before starting up his old Mac desktop, looking over at Holly with an awkward smile.

"So," he started, crossing his hands over one another on the desk. "I read a little bit about you, but I don't really know much outside of your entry essay and your application."

"Oh," she squeaked, sliding into one of the two chairs facing his desk. "Well, there's not really much else to say. If you read my cover letter, then you pretty much know everything."

"I know about why you started college late," he said, his eyes soft as he looked into her light brown ones. "I don't know you."

Holly blushed under his gaze, her hands fiddling in her lap, "I could say the same about you, sir."

"Touché," he grinned with a chuckle, pulling a course tracking sheet from his desk drawer before handing it to her, the tips of their fingers brushing slowly and causing Holly's breath to hitch. "I guess in time we will grow more acquainted with one another, hm?"

"Y-Yeah," Holly breathed, yanking her hand away before smiling lightly as she looked over the classes on the white paper.

"So, you're undecided," he stated plainly, reaching for a red pin before he began to mark on the sheet in her hands. "That's why I'm your advisor right now."

"You won't be my advisor later on?" she asked, her voice tinged in slight disappointment which caused the man to chuckle smugly.

"My specialty is history, but I only advise undecided majors," he said. "Don't be surprised if I try to sway you my way, though."