Taylor's POV
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The lecture hall is vast, the seats set up high looking down at a huge projector screen. I read the welcome to psychology text on the screen and smile up at Ross. He guides me up a few of the steps, and I feel like I've got a bodyguard with me. Ross towers over me and any guys that give me the eye think better of it once they see him.
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The girls we pass gawk at Ross, and I can't blame them. Ross has a certain charm about him, effortlessly cool. Beautiful blonde hair and true blue eyes. Today he looks like a badass, little do they know he's the biggest softy.
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I spot Jay, his blue eyes flick up to myself and Ross as we head toward him. Jay Gilbert Scott has a disarming stare, at this moment his stare is aimed on me and I gulp. Lord this is going to be a long hour. He nods to the seats next to him and I sigh looking over at him, of course he saved us a space.
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"Try to focus on the lecture not the arrogant prick next to us" Ross laughs and I smirk at him. We reach the aisle, taking the seat next to Jay pulling it down and resting into it. I pull out the mini table and set up my tablet.
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Shaking off my jacket I lean down and place it on my bag whilst retrieving a pen and notebook. Once I sit back up in my chair I look up to see Jay staring at me, with an expression of fascination.
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"What?" I ask him self consciously, it's been two minutes and he's already got a rise out of me. It's a skill really. He laughs openly and I ignore him.
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"Nothing" he says smirking, I watch him intending on staring him down. He doesn't flinch, he just gazes into my eyes self righteously.
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"No please do tell" I say again with a hint of sarcasm, waiting for his retort.
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"I like your top" he says grinning, placing his tablet down and a bottle of Diet Coke.
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Ignoring him, I lean slightly into Ross who looks down and smiles at me. He's got out his laptop and he's switched on speech to text, chuckling at how it has written down our entire exchange. He shows me how to do it on my tablet and I thank him. Helpful softy that he is. Jay scoffs but we ignore him entirely.
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The lecturer appears walking up to the small podium looking every bit the psychology nerd. Short with cropped hair he introduces himself as professor Carter. His wardrobe clearly consisting of turtle necks and chinos he continues introducing the subject to us as my tablet notes down what he is saying and I smile over at Ross. I use my notebook to write down my own thoughts and any questions that come into my head.
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Ten minutes in and Carter is going off about social conformity and social norms. My mind wanders to Matthew, to be fair it's not hard for my mind to stray to him. Matthew always subverts conventions in social situations, he's unique. I'm usually fascinated by him, forever wondering what he will do or say. I look at Ross lounging in his chair, his hand placed casually on my knee, he's predictable in a safe way. He usually follows social conventions, in fact he masters them. Always making everybody feel at ease.
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Jay shuffles in his seat and it drags me out of my thoughts. Gilbert Scott is the epitome of a non-conformist in all aspects of life, I think smirking. Sweeping my eyes over him and blushing before I can stop myself as he stares back at me. I force myself to look back at carter in his turtleneck and desperately try to focus. Looking at my tablet briefly, I watch Jay's hand float over my little table and place a scrap piece of paper there. He meets my eyes and smirks. Inspecting the note I see that he has written on it in his surprisingly neat and legible handwriting.
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You're a total conformist.
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Normally I would ignore his games, but because it's about me I have to reply. He knows exactly how to get to me. I sigh scribbling down on the page feeling self conscious of my untidy handwriting in comparison to his.
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You're a total idiot
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I sling the paper back over to him, smiling, pleased with myself. I watch as he looks at it and bites his lip smiling. His grin stretching over his angelic features. Pink lips and tan skin, his blue eyes enthralled by my ballsy reply.
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Jay looks forward again clearly plotting his next silly comment. Unaware and oblivious, Ross looks down at me to see if I'm okay, he instinctively brushes his hand on my leg. I reflect on how he's so used to touching me and that we haven't really gone through boundaries as of yet. I peer over his notes over his shoulder, and see that he has come up with some really good valid points. I steal some for my own and he chuckles refocusing on the lecture.
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Halfway through we have a short five minute break, deciding to stay in our seats as it's not long enough to go out for a cigarette. Jay stretches out his legs lounging in his chair, the girl beside him looks him over, it's not the first time she's checked him out. I begin to wonder what happened between him and Rach. And decide I probably do not want to know.
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Moving my Barbour jacket I search through my bag for my phone. Messaging Matthew quickly telling him I miss him. I sip my water aiming to quietly reflect on the first half of the lecture.
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"That really is a nice top, you've got on there Taylor" Jay says under his breath as I'm leaning over my bag putting my phone away.
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"Oh just come out with it" I tell him, I know he's looking at my bare back, I wasn't born yesterday.
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"What you have a sexy back" He smiles, winking when I look at him.
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"Happy now that you've got it out of your system? and it's not a top it's a leotard I have dance after this" I tell him, slightly aggravated rubbing my temples.
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The lecture begins again, carter begins again and Ross resumes his hand on my thigh. Jay has been focusing on his piece of paper and not me thankfully. Soon, I realise we're nearly at the end, so I consolidate my thoughts in my notebook. Writing down a few questions I'm going to answer later.
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Pulling my Barbour jacket back in to cover up my back, I walk in line with the two guys. Now I have two bodyguards I think to myself smiling. Ross guides me down the lecture hall steps his hand holding only mine behind his back. And Jay follows behind me.
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"Are you going to freshers?" Ross asks once we reach the foyer which thankfully is large and consequently we all walk in a line.
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"Ugh Im not sure actually" I say non-committing looking up at him and seeing the hope in his eyes.
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"Some of it is totally stupid but there is normally a good party on Friday, lots of dancing and cheap drinks" Jay informs me looking ahead.
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"Tay you're a total social conformist I know you'll be there" he laughs making my eye contact.
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"You'll be there too right being a total idiot?" I ask jibing with him.
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"Of course" he laughs down at me.
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"Catch you guys later" he says and saunters off in the direction of another corridor.
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Ross sighs, He has English literature next but he walks with me outside to smoke telling me that an hour is too long without nicotine.
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"Want one? They're menthol" he asks me as we stand outside the building, the hazy sun seeping through a break in the clouds.
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"Thanks" I say taking one, he lights it up for me leaning into me before walking me toward the performing arts block. One thing I love about campus is that the dance studios are separate from the main building. We have to walk through a field which eventually opens out to a path lined with trees.
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"I've missed you" he says out of the blue. Looking straight ahead. Not daring to look at me at all. I glance up at him trying to work out the best course of action here. Ross was there for me upon the fallout with Matthew; and he is important to me.
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"I know I get you're with him. But I have missed you. Don't say anything back. You don't have to." He smiles looking at me finally.
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The trees open out the a large state of the art performance centre and he stops, taking my hand and pulling me into him. Ross hugs me, holding onto me just a fraction too long. His arms encompassing my waist before he breaks away and sighs.
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"I'll see you at lunch yeah" He smiles down at me before returning in the direction he came from. I watch over him as he begins walking before turning and heading into the building, excited to change into dance shoes.
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