The building smelled like a science lab. It was musty and warm. This was a reading 101 class. It was truly a waste of my money. It was an entry level course that I would receive zero credit for, but here I am doing what I am told. I chose a seat in the first row, and am third in line. The first desk is empty and I wonder who will be the brown noser for the entire semester. I am reading Anna Karanina. Tolstoy got it right with this great book, I mean this line “He could not be mistaken. There were no other eyes like those in the world. There was only one creature in the world who could concentrate for him all the brightness and meaning of life. It was she." I hope I am lucky enough to have someone take an interest in me to look twice and think I am the meaning of life.
Finally someone else walks into the room. It's Molly G. She smiles pretty as she always does and sees me. "Hi Veronica! We are together in this class." It's more of a statement vs a question. She seems genuine, but I knew this party girl from high school and childhood and I know she doesn't give two shit's about me. She chooses the desk in front of mine and sits and proceeds to check out the rest of the folks seated. We still have fifteen minutes before class begins.
I am looking forward towards the front of the class when Molly shrieks with joy. "Tommy!"
I turn my body to see the reason for her excitement. I remember seeing this guy from high school. I didn't know him personally but I knew of him. This is Kingsville or as everyone refers to it as The 'Ville. Everyone knows or recognizes everyone and if you don't you will by the end of the day. Molly is still giddy with joy and patting the desk in front of her which is the first in our row. His eyes are fixed on the desk as he walks by me. He drops his backpack and sits. He turns his body to face her and thus is facing me. He is handsome. He smiles at me and I quickly get back to my book. It's just another guy, I don't believe will be of any significance to me.
I say that and mean that until I hear him speak. "Hey Molly, what other classes are you taking?" His voice was gruff, but smooth, and was a drawl that resonated in my head, and didn't appear to be leaving anytime soon. For the next few minutes he talked and laughed and would look past Molly to see if I would look his way. I couldn't make eye contact. His laughter told me he was a friendly soul, and I needed to meet my soul's counterpart.
I quickly learned who this guy was and how I knew him. As soon as class was over I called my friends. They all said the same things about him. "Oh Tommy Nichols? He is wild. He has a reputation. He is a funny guy. He parties hard." Everyone said the same thing, except for one of my friends Amber, who wasn't even a friend but a church going companion who went to school with him and knew of him. "He is all those things and Veronica, stay away because messing with him is like playing with fire. You know better."
Do I know better?

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