• I’m so late, Keegan thought as he rushed down the stairs, tucking in his blue button down shirt. His flip-flops threatened to break as he skipped the last step. He fell right on his a**.
    “Again?!” he yelled as he examined the now useless flip-flop.
    “Are you alright?” said a light voice above his head. He looked up and saw her. His jaw dropped as he gazed into her doe-like eyes.
    “Y-yes,” he stuttered.
    “Well, then get up. You’re in my way,” she stated, as though she were a queen.
    Keegan was in love with her at once. He stood up, and moved aside. She daintily drifted past him, not saying a word. Her hair swayed down her back. He watched her delicate figure climb the stairs, unable to comprehend how a lowly creature as himself could live in the same building as her. He realized his new goal in life: to win the love of his mystery girl.
    The rest of the day, Keegan was in a daze. His astronomy professor Dr. Kolaski gave him a dirty look when he arrived more than ten minutes late. The lecture went in one ear and out the other. The stars and constellations swirled around in his head as the professor droned on. After the class, Dr. Kolaski pulled him aside.
    “What was that all about, Calhoun?” Dr. Kolaski demanded, “You seem starry-eyes, and I don’t think it has anything to do with the cosmos.” Keegan grinned sheepishly.
    “I fell down some stairs this morning…and nearly got torn apart by the most gorgeous woman.”
    “Are you sure you just didn’t hit you head when you fell?” smiled the professor.
    Keegan just shrugged. He liked and respected the humble Dr. Kolaski, but he wasn’t about to tell him his life story. The professor frowned.
    “Just make sure this woman doesn’t get in the way of your passion. You’ve worked hard on your studies. A bright kid like you should know the difference between a pretty face and a potential partner.”
    Keegan felt himself withdraw from the conversation.
    “Whatever you say, sir, “ he said as he edged backward towards the door.
    “Well,” continued Dr. Kolaski, “see you tomorrow, Calhoun. And make sure you get here on time tomorrow. We are going to the observatory, and I won’t permit any late students to partake in this trip.”
    “Yes, sir.” Keegan said, as he left the frowning professor in the classroom.
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Fiona had just gotten off her bright green cell phone with her frustrating lawyer as the waitress came to her table. The diner was classy, and Fiona was glad that it was only across the street from her new home.
    “Hello, hun. My name is Mel. Can I get ya somethin’ to drink?” said the roller-skate wearing waitress. She had on a purple and aqua poodle skirt, and had the biggest beehive hairdo that Fiona had ever seen.
    “Yes, I would like some hot mint tea. Do you have that?” Fiona said, remembering the taste of her mothers’ delicious tea. The thought of her mother made her miss her home. She hated the city and its harsh smells and horrible pollution. Fiona wished she were back at home, in her mothers protecting arms. She couldn’t believe that she had had a father here! Well, of course she knew she had a father somewhere, but why this horrible, busy place. She was so used to her home in Scotland, where most of the excitement only came during harvest. What made the situation even worse were the conditions that her newfound, dead father had put on his will. Since she was his only child, she would inherit everything. Even the fancy apartment building across the street was hers! But his conditions were that, to receive all the money she would have to live here for the rest of her life, and that she must be married by the age of 21. With her twenty-first birthday only a week away, Fiona didn’t have must time. The American lawyers were so frustrating that Fiona wanted to scream! The waitress derailed her train of thought.
    “Yes ma’am. We certainly do! One of our cooks makes the best tea’s you’ve ever had the pleasure to drink. It’s practically criminal, how good his creations are.” Mel smiled.
    “I’ll be the judge of tha—”
    There was a bang as the front doors burst open. A man rushed to the kitchen, barely stopping to throw off his coat and grab a crisp, white apron. Fiona noticed that he had no shoes on, and blushed.
    “Ah, there he is!” Mel laughed, “That was one of our best cooks. He even came up with half the menu!”
    “But he looks so young,” Fiona argued. She couldn’t believe that someone that looked about her age could be such a highly acclaimed cook (according to the waitress, at least) at such a nice restaurant.