"So, Luna, where do you live?" he asked casually, trying to keeping his cool.
"Not too far from here," she said, her smile widening. "Just a couple of blocks down from the university.
"You're so lucky to live so close," Ethan said, his voice filled with genuine envy. "My place is a bit of a commute."
Luna nodded sympathetically. "Yeah, it's great. Just me and my mom. She works a lot though, so I've got the place to myself most of the time."
Ethan's interest piqued. "Really? What does your mom do?"
"She's a doctor," Luna replied, her voice filled with admiration. "Works nights a lot, so she's usually asleep when I leave for school."
The bus stopped, and Luna's phone buzzed in her pocket. She pulled it out, checking the screen. "It's Lucy," she murmured, a hint of excitement in her voice. "Hang on." She answered the call, her voice low and sweet. "Hey, I'm just on the bus. Yeah, it won't be much longer."
Ethan's ears perked up at the mention of Lucy. He knew her, all right. She was the bitch of the class, always throwing her weight around and making everyone else feel like shit. But she was a bombshell, and he couldn't deny that.
Luna ended the call, a smile playing on her lips. "That was my friend, Lucy," she said, tucking her phone away. "We have a class together."
"Really?" Ethan said, trying to keep his tone neutral. "What's she like?"
"Oh, she's cool," Luna said, her voice light. "A little... intense, but she's got a heart of gold once you get to know her."
Ethan couldn't hide the skepticism in his expression. "Intense?"
"Yeah," Luna said, her cheeks flushing. "But in a good way. She's super into art, like, obsessively. She's always dragging me to galleries and stuff."
"Sounds like she's got you wrapped around her finger," Ethan said, his voice a little too knowing.
"Well, she's a good friend," Luna said, her eyes flashing with a hint of defensiveness. "And she's pretty lonely, to be honest."
"I can imagine," Ethan said, his voice filled with sarcasm. "With a personality like that, she's probably got a line out the door."
Luna's smile faltered, and she looked at him sharply. "What do you mean by that?"
"I mean," Ethan said, his voice dropping to a murmur, "that she's got a reputation for being...difficult."
Luna's eyes narrowed. "Everyone has their issues," she said, her voice defensive. "You shouldn't judge her so quickly."
Ethan held up his hands in surrender. "Hey, I'm not judging," he said, his voice smooth. "Just making an observation."
"Well, maybe you should get to know her before you make up your mind," Luna said, her voice still a little sharp.
The bus pulled up to the college gate, and they both stood, the conversation forgotten as they made their way off the bus. The crisp fall air hit them like a slap in the face, snapping them out of their heated discussion.
"Look, I'm sorry," Ethan said, his voice earnest. "It's just that, you know, she can be a bit..."
"Intimidating?" Luna supplied, a small smile playing on her lips. "Yeah, she can be. But once you get past that, she's really sweet."
They walked together across the quad, the sounds of students chattering and laughing filling the air. Ethan couldn't help but feel a little off-balance around Luna. She was so different from the girls he was used to dealing with, so open and genuine. "So, what do you like to do when you're not in class?" he asked, trying to steer the conversation back to safer waters.
"Oh, I'm pretty boring," Luna said, her cheeks flushing. "Mostly just study and work on my art projects."
"Art projects?" Ethan asked, his interest piqued. "What kind of art do you do?"
"Mostly sculptures," Luna said, her eyes lighting up. "I love working with my hands, creating something out of nothing."
"That's cool," Ethan said, his eyes drifting down to her full lips. "I've always had a thing for artists."
"Is that so?" Luna said, her smile growing. "Well, maybe I'll have to show you some of my work sometime."
"I'd love that," Ethan said, his heart racing. The thought of being alone with her, in her apartment, surrounded by her art***, was intoxicating.
They reached the edge of the quad, the hustle and bustle of the college campus swirling around them. The leaves on the trees whispered secrets as they danced in the cool fall breeze. Ethan took a deep breath, feeling his heart pound in his chest. "So, Luna," he said, trying to keep his voice casual, "how about we grab lunch together later?"
Luna looked up at him, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "You mean, like, today?" she asked, a hint of surprise in her voice.
"Yeah," Ethan said, his smile a little too eager. "I'd love to get to know you better."
Her cheeks flushed a pretty shade of pink, and she bit her bottom lip, considering his offer. "Well, I do have a free period after my next class," she said slowly. "We could grab something to eat in the student lounge."
"Perfect," Ethan said, his voice filled with relief. "I'll meet you there around noon?"
"Okay," Luna said, with a bright smile on her face. "I'll meet you in the student lounge around noon."
Ethan nodded eagerly. "Great, see you then."
As she walked away, he couldn't help but stare at her heart-shaped ass swaying gently in her tight jeans. His cock stirred again, but this time, the feeling in his chest was different. It wasn't just lust; it was something deeper, something that made his heart race in a way he hadn't felt before.
He watched her until she disappeared into the sea of students, her blonde hair shimmering like a beacon in the sunlight. He felt a strange mix of emotions - excitement, anticipation, and something else. Something he couldn't quite put his finger on.
"Fuck," he murmured, shaking his head. "What the hell is wrong with me?"