Tip: This is a slow burner loosely based on my experiences. If you want something to wank off to, skip to the chapter First Date and the options that lead off from there.

Don woke to the electronic buzz from his alarm. He rolled onto his side and reached for the snooze button. On pressing it, he heard the familiar pitter-patter of feet on the stairs. "Go away!" The steps continued to his door. "Bruce, basket... Now. I'll walk you tonight." Don then bolted upright in bed. "Shit! I mentioned the W word."

The door burst open and four stone of hairy affection sprang onto the bed. Battling his dog for supremacy of the mattress, Don was soon covered in loose dog hair and slobber. "Get off me, you smelly bastard." He pushed the Labrador on its black silky flank with both hands, sending it tumbling off the bed. However, the dog hadn't given up on its walk. Clamping its teeth on to the duvet, the dog sunk low onto his haunches and back pedalled, pulling the duvet from its master's grasp. Don let out a sigh as he lay naked in the cold. "Every bloody morning!"

The house was silent while the rest of his family slept. Washed and dressed, Don sat in front of the television about to enjoy a bowl of cereal. Raising the spoon to his mouth, he noticed the time on the screen. "Damn! I'm going to miss my train." Racing to the kitchen, he emptied his cereal into Bruce's bowl. After giving his dog a brief pat on its head, Don sprinted towards the door to catch his train.

~

Running through the station gate, Don saw the train slowing on its approach. Climbing the steps of the bridge, he vaulted several at a time. The beeps of the closing doors of the train caused him to shout, "Hold the train, guard." His legs felt like jelly as he bounded the final sweep of steps. "Please wait, it's my first day back."

The portly guard wore a wide grin as he stood in the doorway. "Come on, Don. The beeps get you running every time."

"Thanks, Ronnie... Starting to think you do it on purpose."

"We run a tight schedule."

"Only when it suits you."

"I don't know why you just don't leave the house a few minutes earlier." Ronnie noticed Don's rucksack. "Are you ever going to finish your education? I'm starting to think you're just messing me about."

"I'm just trying to make something of my life."

"I haven't had a university education... But I'm happy."

"I never said..." Don rested on a bench as the train pulled out from the station. "Never mind."

"What I can't get my head around is, you told me that the main reason you were going to uni was to find a girlfriend, rather than get a degree... But you chose earth sciences? I mean, when I said you need a dirty woman, I didn't think for one minute you'd go looking for one covered in soil and manure."

"I tried choosing a course where I was guaranteed to find a woman. I thought about nursing, but I'm scared of blood... not to mention dirty backsides." Don held his ticket in the air for Ronnie to inspect. "Wasn't going to do floristry or hairdressing, was I?"

"But earth sciences, though?"

"I suppose it was the only course that was as desperate as I was. They didn't even ask to see my college results."

"Come on, Don. No one is as desperate as you." Ronnie chuckled as he carefully walked down the gently rocking carriage. He called out at the top of voice, "Tickets and passes from Garswood, please."

~

Don ran out of Lime Street station and crossed the dual carriage way in front of the majestic St Georges Hall. He usually strolled down the cobble boulevard to soak up the Victorian grandeur of central Liverpool, but today he felt in a hurry and sprinted all the way to the campus.

Inside the empty lecture theatre, Don sat on the back row. He'd deliberately arrived early so he could take note of any potential girlfriends. His eyes watched the door, while his fingers were firmly crossed.

Sitting on the back row of the lecture theatre Don's attention was diverted from his mobile. Sitting up in his chair, he gazed lovingly as her long legs confidently strode across the carpet of the lecture theatre. Her dark hair hung in waves and bounced on her shoulders. His eyes tracked her slim figure across the room until she sat on the front row. Resting his chin on his open hand, Don sighed to himself. "What am I getting excited for? It's not as if I've got the balls to chat to a girl like her."

The theatre was filled with tales of summer, while boisterous students chattered to one another. Don choked on jealously as a baseball cap wearing male sat on the same row as the girl he'd noticed earlier. "I'll never forgive myself if I don't make the effort to talk to her." He rubbed his cheek, then felt the back of his neck. "Come on, Don, you can't be a coward all your life." Standing up from his seat, he stepped over his rucksack. "Even if the worst happens... It's not like it would be the first time I've crashed and burned."

Don's heart thumped inside his chest. His strides became less confident with every step he took down the central aisle of the lecture theatre. Sweating as he sat behind her, he unzipped his jacket and threw it on the chair beside him. He momentarily closed his eyes, while he swallowed his doubt. Noticing she had her head buried in a tabloid newspaper, he coughed in to his open hand. "Terrible story in the paper today."

She put the paper down and turned to face him. "Sorry, are you talking to me?"

"Yes, I just noticed the headline. Terrible story."

"Yeah, makes you think twice about walking the streets on your own."

"If you are worried..." Don noticed a set of car keys sitting inside the girl's open handbag. "I'll walk you to your car after the lecture."

"I don't think so."

"You could at least try and humor me for a few minutes."

"Actually, I was only going to tell you that I leave the car at home. I get the train."

Don blushed as he scratched the top of his ear. "Oh, sorry. I just thought you were blowing me off."

"I'm not blowing you off."

"Sadly. you're not the first girl to say that to me."

"Sorry..? Oh my God!"

Don chewed on his fist. "Please let me explain, I always feel the need to say something funny." He felt as though he was sitting in confession with a priest. "But more often than not I'm just mildly offensive or awkward... Like now, I mean, I'm not exactly selling myself very well, am I?"

"I'm just worried that you're trying to sell yourself."

"I'm not... well I am... but not like a prostitute." Don slapped his forehead. "You see? There I go again. I just can't help myself."

"I think it would be good for the both of us, if you take a breath, and start again."

"I'm Don."

"Jessie." She chuckled as she shook Don's clammy hand. "I do my best to ignore first impressions... It helps in times like this."

"I'm thankful."

"I thought you said your name was Don?"

Don laughed, he felt buoyed by the fact Jessie had given him a second chance. "So what career do you want after you finish earth sciences?"

"I want to be an ecologist... You?"

"Teacher."

Jessie sat sideways on her seat, so she could face Don without straining her neck. "I never really wanted to be an ecologist. I always dreamt of being an artist." She ran her fingers through her silky hair, combing her black locks behind her delicate ear. "I love painting, crafts and calligraphy, too."

"A creative mind, huh?"

"I like to think so."

Don folded his arms, and leaned forward. "Why not follow your dream, then?"

"My dad. He always tells me that I should only paint as a hobby, as I'll be resting in my pauper's grave by the time my first royalty cheque arrives."

"Bit harsh."

"He's like that."

Don stroked his chin. "Anyway, don't think for one second that all my life I wanted to be a teacher. When I was growing up, I dreamt about being an astronaut."

"Bit ambitious."

"Especially as I'm scared of heights... Not too keen on the dark either."

Laughing, Jessie covered her mouth. "Seriously, you're scared of the dark?"

"I was eleven before I could sleep without a nightlight. Luckily I've grown out of my fear of heights, too. I can lift one foot off the ground now."

"Funny, I was around that age before I slept without a nightlight."

"So I'm not alone in that, then?"

Jessie peered towards her flat shoes, then raised her eyes to meet his. "Seems not."

Time may as well have stayed still for Don. He felt that they were the only two in the lecture theatre. The stress and panic of his trip to the front row seemed an eternity ago. For once in his life, he hadn't faced instant rejection by a beautiful girl. He revelled in the excitement of being in uncharted territory, and could sense a warm glow of confidence with Jessie's every smile.

Jessie took out a box of assorted chocolates from her straw bag. "My nan relentlessly bombards me with these." She peeled back the lid. "You'll have to help me out."

"Oh great... Thanks." Don delved a hand in the box and pulled out a chocolate covered in pink foil. "I love the strawberry ones."

"Mint is my fave. So, how many times have you used the newspaper trick to hit on a girl?"

"It wasn't a trick, I was just desperate to talk to you."

"You do seem quite a confident person... even though you're a bit unorthodox in your approach."

"No. I'm far from confident. Actually, I was terrified on my way down to see you. If you think I'm some sort of social hand grenade, you're wrong." Don placed his hands on his chest. "Honestly, the first minute of this conversation is a complete and utter blur to me."

"Oh, go away. If you're not the confident type, why are you here chatting to me even before the first lecture has started?"

"I spotted you as soon as you walked through the door. You seemed so... interesting."

"Interesting?" Jessie laughed as she unwrapped a chocolate from its orange foil. "In what way am I slightly... as you put it, interesting?"

"Want the honest answer?"

"Always."

"Okay, I think you are beautiful. Really, really beautiful. What's more, you have proved me right... that it was worth the gamble to come and talk to you."

"Sorry, Don. You'll have to return to wherever it was you came from... wherever the hell that was."

"Oh... Well, it was good while it lasted."

Chuckling, Jessie shuffled over a seat. "Hold on, Don. I only want you to go and get your stuff, so you can come down here and sit with me."

"Seriously?"

"Yeah, it's lonely down here by myself. Plus, I'll only end up fat if you don't help me eat the chocolates."

Sitting next to Jessie, Don struggled to concentrate on anything Professor Borewood had to say. All he could think about was his glamorous new friend. While Borewood changed a slide, Don snuck a glimpse at Jessie, was felt caught her a smile. He felt alive.

A note from the Spoox: I’m a friendly author and strongly urge readers and fellow writers to get involved. I have a natural story arch for this sordid tale but open to ideas. Authors who can contribute can manage their own threads and take them in their preferred direction. Just drop me a messgae if you want more information. Finally, I have publish parts of this story before but pulled them as I thought they were not quite ready. But this the final draft. Enjoy.