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I walk into the room and see a few students have already taken their seats, so I find an empty chair near the back and take out the textbook from my bag, placing it on the top of the desk directly in front of me.
Flipping slowly through its pages, I am captivated by images of films, new and old.
That is until I hearhisvoice.
“Is this seat taken?” Nathan asks as he makes himself comfortable in the chair beside me. Or at least as comfortable as a person who is well over six feet tall with broad shoulders and a very muscular body can be in these tiny seats.
I swear my heart just skipped a beat. Either that or it stopped working altogether as I feel butterflies forming colonies in my stomach.
Stay calm, Natalie.
But the second I look up, I see that beautiful smile and melt faster than butter on a hot summer’s day in Georgia.
“Looks like it is now,” I respond with a smile.
“How are your classes going?” he asks.
“They’re actually going pretty well. This is my last class for the day. How about you?” I ask. He runs his hand through his hair, and I find myself wishing it was my hand.
Get a hold of yourself, Natalie!
“They’re ok. Can’t complain. I signed up pretty late for classes, so I got stuck with whatever was left.” He shrugs. “Kind of been looking forward to this class, though. I’ve always loved getting lost in movies.”
“I’ve been looking forward to this class too,” I reply.
He smiles at me, and I immediately feel my insides going crazy. What is he doing to me? I quickly bring my attention back down to my textbook, continuing to flip through the pages, pretending to read.
“By the way,” he says, “I must have missed your call the other night.”
“Oh, I umm …” I can’t think of what to say, and I can feel my cheeks begin to flush.
“I’m just teasing,” he remarks with a playful wink.
I’m relieved and show a slight smile back at him. Then the teacher walks into the classroom and addresses the class.
“Good afternoon. My name is Professor Clark.” He picks up a marker and writes his name on the board behind him. “The seat you are in today will be your seat for the rest of the semester, every Monday and Friday afternoon, and I expect to see every one of your smiling faces present in class.” He walks over to his desk and starts fiddling with his computer.
Staring at the screen, he says, “Now, the general objective of this class is to bring classic films to life before your very eyes, to evaluate the use of technology present at that current time, and to discover what made it so successful even decades later. We will watch some current films that have had a successful impact on the film industry as well, but overall, the films we will be watching are from many years prior. This class is not meant to be difficult, and as long as you put in the time and have an appreciation for film, I believe you may enjoy your time in this class.” He clicks down hard on his mouse before turning his attention back to the classroom full of students.
“Today, we will watchCasablanca, which just happens to be one of my favorite films. We won’t have time to watch the whole movie today, but I expect a three-page paper on your observations turned in at the start of our next class. Who stood out to you the most? What is happening in the world at the time? Are there any current films that show a similar theme? How does Rick represent the United States in 1941? These are just some questions I would like for you to consider. And with that, I present to youCasablanca.” Professor Clark shuts the lights off as the movie projects onto the giant white screen at the front of the class.
Casablancais one of my favorite films too, so I can already tell I am going to like this class. I close my textbook and put it in my bag, which is sitting next to my feet, when I feel someone's breath close to my neck. Instantly, I know it's Nathan.
“It would have been nice to see you, though,” he says in just a whisper, only inches from my ear, so only I can hear him.
I turn my head to look up at him, and his piercing eyes stare right back at me, not looking away. It’s intimidating. But also … a complete turn-on. There’s a feeling in the pit of my stomach that I can’t describe. My whole body seems to be going numb, and I can’t find the words to say anything because my mouth has gone completely dry.
A beeping sound from the phone of the girl in front of me brings me back to reality. I quickly compose myself, sitting straight in my seat like nothing has just fazed me. I know or used to know Nathan better than most people, which means I know his level of experience with girls, and I wasn’t about to let him turn me into a big puddle of mush with a dumb line like that.
Tossing my hair over my shoulder, I say pretty sarcastically, “Oh, I’m sure there were plenty of girls there to keep you entertained.” I turn back around and pretend to watch the film. I’m not sure, but I think I saw a look of disappointment pass across his face. I imagine he is not used to girls giving him the cold shoulder, but he will have to start getting used to it with me.
The rest of the class goes by in silence as everyone focuses on the film.
Finally, with five minutes left of class, the professor turns off the movie and turns on the light.
“Now don’t forget about the three-page paper I expect at the start of your next class. We will finishCasablancaon Friday.” And with that, he picks up his briefcase and walks out the classroom door.
I’m picking up my bag from the floor when I hear Nathan clear his throat. Looking up at him, he runs his hand through his dark hair and looks down at the ground before bringing his gaze up to me.
