"I have some good news. There will be one small assignment that you have to complete by next week but after that... You only have to hand in your final assignment which will count as your midterm." Professor Jones announced.

The class didn't erupt into cheers but there were excited murmurs.

"Well don't seem too excited!" The professor silenced the class. "However, your final assignment for this semester is to write a short story with no less than 15 chapters each consisting of approximately 5 000 words. Your novels also have to have a cover and presented as an actual book no later than the last day of the term. Your novel can be dropped off with Mr Maddox who will be helping me assess your final works."

The excited murmur changed into one of anxiety.

I turned to Cass next to me, "I'm going to need your help with this one."

"Me too." She laughed.

We'd both spoken a few times over the phone during the week getting to know each other better. She was really sweet and we discussed ideas for books that we'd never write.

"Now that we are done with that. Can anyone tell me about any work that they've written over the holiday? Perhaps a student that made quite an impression with her first essay?" He looked at me and I gulped. "Yes, Miss Anderson. I am looking at you."

I cleared my throat, "Unfortunately I didn't have any emotion that need to be put down onto paper... or could be."

I looked at Hunter when I added the last part remembering what I told him and he smiled.

"Hmm... Interesting. Did you not write anything at all?"

"Well I... Umm... I ran some ideas past Cassidy for a few books. I could share them if you'd like?"

"No, no. That's alright. I'd much rather read them."

Hunter leaned over to Professor Jones. The small exchange made the professor smile.

"Miss Anderson? Mr Maddox says you write music?"

I glared at Hunter and I could hear people asking how we knew each other and how lucky I was.

"If I must be honest sir, my writing has been slow the last few weeks and the lyrics I wrote need a lot of editing." I could play Hunter's game too, "However, I know Hun - I mean Mr Maddox wrote an entire song with a melody."

The volume of the conversations between the students increased and even Jones looked amused.

"That's truly fascinating. I knew Mr Maddox had to have had some writing experience if he was working with me. But I assumed that a young man, such as himself, wouldn't ever complete work."

I laughed at this and Hunter glared at me.

"There's a lot of things that you wouldn't assume about him." I retorted.

Hunter's stare was daring me to tell his secret but also begging not to go on.

"I'm intrigued. Perhaps you could write about it for your next assignment. Which is - you all better be listening now - writing about a person. It can be a six word story or a million word story. You have as much freedom on this assignment as possible. But I want to hear how they act, laugh, talk, smile... Perhaps even kiss." The professor added looking at me and I blushed. "Mr Maddox, I also want you to do this assignment. I haven't read any of your recent work. You'll write about Miss Anderson and you, Miss Anderson, will write about Mr Maddox. The rest of you can choose anyone else. You may all leave early."

"I need to read your work. It should be interesting. Message me when we can meet up?" Cass asked as she packed her bag.

"Of course."

"Good luck." She whispered and pointed to Hunter who was next to me in an instant.

He held my arm and whispered sarcastically to me, "Thanks for the extra work."

"Only a pleasure, babe." I kissed Hunter's cheek and walked away.

The students who hadn't left were either staring at us or talking about us and I enjoyed the moment of attention. Until it was Professor Jones' attention on me.

"Miss Anderson. I must say, I am impressed with the quality of your work at such a young age. I wasn't expecting it, but you provide a fresh, new perspective that most students are afraid to share and write about. Your results thus far have been immaculate and I'm pleased to have you as a student. That's why I'd like to offer a very unique opportunity to you. Your work at the end of the semester will decide whether I would like you to help write my latest novel with me."

I stared at him, too stunned to speak.

"Well don't loose your words now." He joked.

"That would be a great honor. Thank you." He nodded and smiled at me.

He pointed over at Hunter who was speaking to one of the guys in my class, "Your boyfriend had some input too. He showed me your works that you did in high school and some others that you didn't hand in, your more personal works."

I started speaking again but realized what he said about my 'boyfriend', "How did you know about Hunter and I?"

"I've known him long enough that we are able to discuss these things. He never uses his position in the English department to his advantage, so you must be very special. And... Ummm... That little mark on your neck suggests something else as well."

My hand moved to cover my neck where Hunter left a love bite and I instantly blushed.

"It's ok." Professor Jones laughed.

I smiled at the professor, "Well I suppose I'd have to thank him too. Thank you again."

He nodded and resumed the work at his desk.

"Hunter." I sang as I hooked my arm in his.

"Hey, sweetheart. This is Paul."

He said pointing to the guy he was talking to and I looked up at his face.

"Oh my gosh. Paul Jefferson?" I laughed.

Hunter frowned, "You know him?"

"Emilia? I thought it might be you when I heard the surname."

"How do you know him?" Hunter asked growing more confused and it sounded as if he was slightly jealous.

"Oh, sorry Hunt. Paul was my sister's boyfriend."

He pointed at me as he spoke to Hunter, "So she's the girl you were talking about?"

"Yip." He said pulling me closer to him.

"How come you're still studying?" I asked Paul.

"Well after... Umm.. your sister. I wasn't really enjoying the engineering so I did a short course on writing and when I realized how much it helped release my emotions. I thought: Why not study it properly?"

"I'm glad. I know how hard it was for you. You should come over for dinner sometime. It would be great catching up properly."

"Or getting to know you." Hunter joked.

"I'd like that a lot. It was good seeing you, Emilia. And meeting you Hunter." He shook Hunter's hand and gave me a hug.

"Now what were you saying about me?" I took Hunter's hand in mine as we left.

"We just started speaking and then I told him that you were my girlfriend."

I smiled, "I'm still not completely used to it."

Hunter kissed my forehead, "I like the sound of it."

I walked to the Biology building with Hunter.

"What did the professor want?" He asked once we outside.

"Oh! About that!" I kissed Hunter and his eyes widened but then he kissed me back.

"What was that about?" He laughed.

"Professor Jones told me that you showed him my work. I don't know how you found that - I thought I hid it pretty well. But he said I could co-write with him on his next book if my short story is up to standard."

Hunter looked at me then hugged me so tight I was lifted off the ground.

"Sweetheart, that's fantastic! You deserve it."

"Thank you so much." I kissed Hunter again.

"I didn't write the stories."

"No, but you gave them to him."

"I just told him that there was a student with great potential." He smiled at me.

"He said that you'd never done something like it before. And also, you told him about us?" I laughed.

"I told him about us after he read your works."

"You're really setting my standard high for future boyfriends." I joked.

Hunter held his hand to his chest, "Future boyfriends? I don't think so."

"Why not?"

"I'll scare them off so that you'd only have me as an option so then you'd be forced to be with me."

I laughed, "You've thought this through. But you don't need to worry about that. You just need to worry about how you can top this."

"I've got this to top everything else." He gestured towards his body.

"It's done you well so far." I hugged Hunter and he laughed before hugging me back.

"You like my body." He sang as he moved us side to side.

I laughed at the movement until a familiar stranger called my name.

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