Taking a Chance by Eviant Page A

finally walking away. Jacob put his hands in his
pockets and finally got a glimpse of the face that went along with
the voice. The woman had her glasses in one hand and the other
pinched the bridge of her nose. "Rough morning?" he asked in an
amused voice.
    The woman put
her glasses back on and looked up. "You have no fucking idea."
    He had to laugh
at her candor. His laugh must have been contagious because now she
was grinning as well. His laugh trailed off as he looked at her
face. This woman was stunning. Or maybe adorable was a more apt
description. Fair skin with chocolate brown eyes behind funky,
purple glasses. Inky black hair with blue streaks (that was
currently sticking up in some places), a pixie-like nose and the
most luscious pink mouth with a line down the center of the bottom
lip. It didn't look like she had any make-up on.
    "You know, it's
really rude to stare. I had to walk to the bus stop in the shit
outside and I know I look drowning peacock."
    "N...no! You
look..."
    She interrupted
him, "Don't bother. I don't need a fake pick-me up from a jock." He
could see her letting the professional librarian facade slide over
her face. "What can I help you with, sir?" she asked with a wide
smile that didn't reach her eyes.
    Jacob shook his
head to clear his mind. "Um, American History."
    "Down the hall,
to the right on the last cluster of shelves on the left. Have a
nice day!"
    Wow, she was
certainly a feisty one. "I didn't catch your name."
    "I didn't tell
you my name," she replied cheekily.
    He held out his
hand to shake. "I'm Jacob Myers."
    She reluctantly
reached out and shook his hand. "Jane Bennington."
    He caressed his
thumb over her wrist, noticing that her nails were free of any
polish. She jerked her hand away, giving him a contemptuous
look.
    "It was nice to
meet you, Jane Bennington," he said, making eye contact, then
turning and walking away.

Chapter 2
    Jane stared at
the counter in front of her, wondering what just happened. She was
normally immune to the advances of either sex, few and far between
as they were. She had no interest in dating and no interest in sex.
She was perfectly happy with her books and writing her own erotic
stories.
    " Right
Jane," she thought, "you just keep telling yourself
that."
    So, what was it
that was different about Jacob? He was a jock for sure, so he
probably fucked his way through half of the city and had an
attitude more arrogant than an ass.
    "Wait a second,
don't you hate it when people assume that you're goth because of
your fair skin and black hair? You're stereotyping him, just like
people stereotype you."
    "Oh, shut up
Jane!" she grumbled to herself. But she couldn't keep herself from
keeping an eye out for him. He was at least 6'4 -- more than a foot
taller than herself -- and had the most piercing gray eyes that she
had ever seen. He had a boyish face and chestnut brown hair. And
those muscles...wow. She had literally felt goosebumps when he
touched her wrist.
    She found that
she was staring into space and ripped herself back to the work in
front of her. She couldn't afford to day-dream about something that
she could never allow herself to have. Not after...no. She wasn't
even going to think about that time in her life.
    *****
    It was several
hours later when she saw Jacob come back around the corner. She
took a deep breath and tried to force the professional facade back
around her.
    "Did you find
what you were looking for?"
    "I think so.
You definitely have a bigger selection here than the library on
campus."
    "Where are you
in school?" she asked, cursing herself for prolonging the
conversation.
    "NC State," he
replied. "I'm a history major."
    "Really?" she
asked a little too skeptically.
    He frowned.
"Yes, really. Let me guess, big muscles equate to small brain."
    "No, I'm sorry,
I..."
    He interrupted,
"And now we're even for the misunderstanding before," he said with
a mischievous grin. "Jane, can I buy you a cup of coffee?"
    She looked up
at him with