Chapter 8: Winter semester started

~Tesla University~

Sarah reached her room on Sunday evening. She does not have roommates.

University has dorms separating male and female students, and rooms were differentiated by number of people staying in them. How many roommates will be in the room depends on their ranking at the University. Top students get single rooms, while ones ranked lower ended up having roommates.

Before going to bed, Sarah checked her class schedule to confirm time and location of her lectures tomorrow. She exchanged few messages with Vivian, and confirmed that besides Artificial Intelligence, they will be attending Data Structures II together. Sarah was content to find out that out of 6 courses for this semester, she will be with her friend in two. After all, two is better than one. Data Structures II is a new two semester course for Sarah, while Artificial Intelligence is second out of three semesters needed before she can take exams.

Tesla University is one of most prestigious Universities in the country. It offers programs focused on technology and has unique approach to education with focus on practical skills.

School calendar is divided into four semesters: winter, spring, summer, and fall semester. Each semester is 12 weeks long where first 2 weeks are mandatory lectures in classroom. Third week is focused on practical skills in the labs where students get to interact with professors and their assistants while starting their work on projects and forming teams if needed. The last nine weeks are reserved for students to complete their projects.

Sarah joined Tesla University in summer semester. This is her third semester, so she should be 1st year. However, she earned credits before joining University, and based on entrance test results, she is attending classes that are for students who are currently in 3rd year of their studies at the University.

Monday morning, December 2nd.

Sarah entered the classroom which has seating arranged as an amphitheater. It could seat more than 100 students. About third of the seats are occupied. While entering, Sarah observed students who are already in the classroom. Most of them are grouped in groups of 2-3 students and are quietly chatting. There is one noisy group of about 10 students in middle to the right, surrounding one seated student. It is very lively there. Sarah didn't pay much attention to them, since she knows that Vivian is not attending this lesson. She took her usual seat, front and center. She prefers this seat because it makes her pay attention.

Lecture passed and Sarah was packing her notes in her backpack when she noticed that the noisy group is exiting, and they are just passing in front of her desk. She looked up, and her eyes met Aiden's.

He was walking slowly, looking at her, surrounded by other students who were talking to him excitedly, several at the same time. When he was in front of her desk, he stopped for a second, looked at Sarah and nodded with a faint smile. She nodded back, and he headed out with a noisy group of students following him.

Two young women who walked behind Aiden turned their heads as they passed by and looked at Sarah with malicious looks. Sarah didn't pay attention to them and continued packing her remaining items that were scattered on the desk.

After lunch in cafeteria, it was time for afternoon class. It was Artificial Intelligence, and Sarah was looking forward to having a friendly face (Vivian) in the classroom.

As Sarah entered classroom, she saw Vivian waving at her. She joined Vivian, all the way in the back row. "Hey girl! Tell me how was your trip home", Vivian asked.

"It was OK.", Sarah responded. "Did you manage to take any break after exams?"

"Not really, my last exam was on Friday, so I only got a weekend. Not enough time to call it a break.", Vivian sulked.

"I don't see Gabriel, did he drop out of this course?", Sarah asked.

"No. He did extend his vacation. He should be back on campus in 2 days", Vivian responded.

Noise came from the front door. Sarah saw Aiden entering the classroom, surrounded by 6 girls who lively chatted around him. Vivian was also looking toward the door at the source of the noise.

Aiden noticed Sarah and as their eyes met, he waved at her, and Sarah waved back.

Seeing this scene, several other students, mostly females, who were seated through classroom were looking towards Sarah with sour expressions on their faces.

Aiden took a seat towards the middle of the classroom, and group that followed him took seats around him, as if they are shielding him so that no one can approach him.

'He seems to be quite popular…', Sarah thought with a frown. 'Why did I ever think that he does not have friends?'

"You know Aiden?" Vivian asked with a surprise in her voice.

"Yes, we met." Sarah responded. "You know him?"

"Who does not know him?" Vivian said with an exaggerated expression. "As you can see, he is very popular. How can he not be, look how handsome he is. Not to mention his standing in school, he is one of top students, top among males, and overall rank is just below you. He is the full package: looks, brains, and his family is not shabby either."

"Really? How come I didn't hear about him earlier?" Sarah asked.

Vivian was in thoughts for few seconds and then she remembered, "You enrolled this Summer semester, right? How much I heard, he was in an accident just before that, and he took some time off to recuperate. So that ads up: when he stopped coming to classes you joined."

"I see", Sarah mumbled and her eyes landed on Aiden's back.

Vivian saw where Sarah is looking and gave her a warning: "Knowing your personality, you should avoid him. He might just say 'hi' to you, but that is enough to make at least few of those girls around him jealous of you. As you can see there is always number of them competing to get his attention, and they will jump at anyone that seems to be in their way." Vivian added.

'How unpleasant', Sarah thought with a frown.

Vivian observed Sarah's expression, and she could not help but wonder if Sarah seems unhappy because she told her to avoid Aiden.

At this time professor entered classroom and lecture started.

Just as lecture ended, Sarah remembered what Vivian said about women chasing after Aiden who could easily misunderstand and cause her trouble. Sarah does not want to risk putting herself in such a situation. She quickly packed her notes while mumbling that she is in a rush and dashed out of the classroom leaving behind confused Vivian.

Aiden saw Sarah rushing out of the classroom and was conflicted. He wanted to sit next to her, but she was not alone, and he had these pesky girls following him.

He was hoping to talk to Sarah after class, but she dashed out. 'It seems that if I want to get close to her, I need to be more decisive.'

Aiden packed his stuff and walked out of the classroom. About halfway down the hallway he stopped and looked at girls who followed him seriously. "I need you to do something for me."

The girls widened their eyes, expecting to hear what he has to say.

Aiden leaned in slightly and looked each of the six girls in the eyes before speaking: "I need you to stop following me around. It's annoying."

He turned around and continued walking, leaving six girls baffled behind him.

~Tesla University, woman's dorm~

Sarah was getting ready to sleep when she got a text:

[Aiden]: "I wanted to chat about the project after afternoon class. You left quickly."

[Sarah]: "I had something to do. Is it something we need to discuss in person?"

[Aiden]: "UI design talk is better in person. Tomorrow, maybe?"

[Sarah]: "Sure, but not after class."

[Aiden]: "Why not?"

Sarah was thinking what to say but could not come up with any excuse that will hold. So, she decided to say what's on her mind.

[Sarah]: "There are people who might misunderstand."

[Aiden]: "Like who?"

[Sarah]: "Like those girls who are following you."

[Aiden]: "Are you jealous?"

[Sarah]: "No. Just want to avoid trouble."

[Aiden]: "OK. How about in common room tomorrow afternoon."

[Sarah]: "Sounds good. I'm free in the afternoon."

[Aiden]: "3 PM?"

[Sarah]: "OK. Come without those girls."

[Aiden]: "Deal."

~Tesla University, men's dorm~

Aiden looked at the text exchange with a complex look on his face.

When he heard Sarah talking trash about omega in the café, he wanted to teach her a lesson. Especially when he found out that she is that new girl who tops rankings while starting from 3rd year courses. His first impression was that she is full of herself and needs to be put in her place.

However, with every interaction he has with her, he is finding out that she is not so simple.

Aiden finds her to be pleasing to the eyes, and her smile is charming. He has a need to find out more about her. More than that, he has a mission to learn about her skills. And for some reason, he can't get her out of his head.

'When she is not nearby, I have a need to go and see her. When I see her, I need to get closer. When we are close… Why do I feel the need to touch her? Why do I feel that her lips are inviting me?' Thinking about her lips, Aiden felt his body tremble. 'Why do I find her so attractive?'

He never cared about those girls who followed him. He could just ignore them. But now when he thought that they are an obstacle for him to approach Sarah, he found them frustrating, and wanted them to go away.

Aiden looked up Sarah's student records, and decided to change his courses so that he can take them together with Sarah. Taking the same lessons will give him a chance to interact with her more, maybe even sit next to each other in class. He smiled when he thought about that.

And so, the winter semester started.

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