It was a typical Monday morning on campus. Students were bustling to class, the sun barely peeking over the distant horizon. The trees swayed lazily, a few loose leaves drifting to the ground.

Jessica was hurrying to class, her backpack slung over one shoulder and her phone clutched in her hand. Her long brown hair fluttered in the gentle morning breeze, framing her heart-shaped face with its doe-eyed expression.

As she walked past a coffee shop, the door swung open and a tall figure in a leather jacket emerged, nearly colliding with her.

"Watch where you're going," she quipped, giving him a withering stare.

The man chuckled sheepishly, running a hand through his black hair. He looked to be in his early twenties, with sharp, angular features and a lopsided grin.

"Sorry," he said, his voice a smooth tenor. "I was in a hurry."

Jessica sighed and rolled her eyes, glancing at the time on her phone. "Well, just watch yourself next time."

The man chuckled again, his eyes taking in her slim figure and her long, curvy legs.

"Where are you headed in such a hurry?" he asked, falling into step beside her.

Jessica shot him a sidelong look, bristling at his casual friendliness. "Class," she replied curtly.

"Oh? What class?" he asked, seemingly undeterred by her frosty demeanor.

Jessica huffed, her irritation growing. "Does it matter? Look, I don't have time to chat. I need to get to class."

The man held up his hands in surrender, that lopsided grin flickering across his face again. "Whoa, sorry. Just trying to be friendly."

Jessica huffed again, the scowl on her face wavering. There was something about his easy smile that was beginning to disarm her.

"Can I at least get your name?" he asked as they reached the edge of the campus quad.

Jessica paused, hesitating. She didn't usually give her name to strangers, but there was something about this man's persistent friendliness that was surprisingly charming.

Reluctantly, she relented. "Jessica."

The man's grin widened, his eyes lighting up. "Jessica. That's a beautiful name."

Jessica couldn't help but feel a flutter in her chest. She told herself it was just irritation, but she couldn't deny the sincerity in his gaze.

"I'm Laven," he said, extending a hand.

Jessica hesitated for a moment before taking his hand, her slender fingers enveloped by his strong grip. The touch sent a tingle up her arm, and she quickly pulled her hand away.

"Nice to meet you," she mumbled, trying to ignore the flutter in her chest. "But I really need to go."

Laven's grin faltered slightly, but he nodded. "Right. Sorry for holding you up. See you around?"

Jessica paused, her heart inexplicably skipping a beat. "Yeah, sure. See you around."

She turned and hurried away, leaving Laven standing in the middle of the quad, watching her go.

Laven watched as Jessica disappeared into the crowd, a frown slowly creeping across his face. Something about her had sparked his interest - her fiery spirit, her defiant attitude.

He ran a hand through his hair, his thoughts swirling with the memory of her pretty face and those legs.