Space shuttle is an understatement. Lexi slipped into the passenger seat and set her purse down in front of her. "Okay but seriously, there is so much leg room. Was this car built for Hagrid?"

Tom chuckled as he pulled out of the driveway and on to the street. By now the sun had fully set. Streetlamps and car lights illuminated their surroundings. "I wouldn't have taken you for a Harry Potter fan."

"Are you kidding? I'm obsessed with Harry Potter!"

"Interesting. Which one's your favorite?"

"Favorite book is The Order of The Phoenix, but my favorite movie is the first one, The Sorcerer's Stone."

Tom cleared his throat and spoke in a British accent, "Harry, it's you that has to go on. I know it. Not me! Not Hermione! You!" His impression of Ron Weasley was near perfection and Lexi burst into a fit of laughter.

"Wait, that was actually amazing. You either have a gift or you spent a whole week practicing that in the mirror."

"I'd say after watching the series over thirty times I've picked up a thing or two."

"Ahh so I see it's the practice route and you like to do your homework." Lexi turned to face him, and their smiles seemed to mimic each other.

"Oh, come on, don't tell me you haven't watched it like a thousand times."

Lexi cleared her throat, prepping for her Hermione impression. "Stop. Stop. Stop. You're going to take someone's eye out. Besides, you're saying it wrong! It's Levi-ohh-sa, not Levio-sahh!"

Tom's deep laugh reverberated through the space. "Well, looks like someone's been doing their homework too."

The pair continued to chat about movies and shows, particularly focusing on their favorites, which turned out to be quite similar. Lexi animatedly gave her review on the latest content within the Star Wars universe. "I just don't like how they've been weaving the worlds together. Like it's way too much to keep up with sometimes. Like, how was I supposed to keep watching The Mandalorian without watching Boba Fett! It's too much," she said as they sat in bumper-to-bumper traffic.

"I completely agree, but it's still so good! And I still keep watching. And Marvel does the same exact thing, which I also keep getting sucked into. I can't not," Tom said, glancing over at her.

Lexi giggled. "Honestly, same here! As much as I complain about it, I'm still the first to queue it up."

A short silence fell over the space, and Lexi sensed a curiosity in Tom's gaze when he briefly turned to her. "So, I have to ask. Did you ever get your ice cream you were looking for last week?"

She covered her face with her hands. "You saw me throw it back in the freezer, huh?"

"I think you'd give MLB pitchers a run for their money with a throw like that. I was surprised the ice cream case didn't crack and spill everything on impact." Tom smirked as heat continued to invade Lexi's cheeks.

"I was just-um- I had an emergency to get to at home!" She knew he wouldn't believe a word she said and laughed at her own expense. "Okay, okay. I was just surprised. Also, how would it have looked to your girlfriend if you started talking to me? It was just awkward."

"My girlfriend?" Tom raised a brow.

"Oh, um, yeah that girl you were with. You guys looked pretty cozy together, I just assumed." Lexi hoped the edge in her voice wasn't evident.

"No, she's not my girlfriend." Tom shook his head. "We were technically on a date. Well, our second date, but I called it quits after that."

Lexi tried her best not to smile. Hearing that Tom was indeed single shouldn't have given her as much satisfaction as it did. "Who goes on a date to the grocery store?" she asked after a soundless moment.

"I know, right! Seriously she was a handful just after two dates. She wanted to go grocery shopping for me. I thought it was sweet at first, you know she's trying to help me out. But then it got weird when she started putting new utensils and plates in the cart when I told her about my Star Wars kitchenware set."

Lexi covered her mouth and giggled. "I don't know what's weirder. Her doing that or you having a Star Wars kitchenware set."

"Hey!" Tom dropped his jaw in mock offense. "It was a really expensive set, and it looks cool! Also, I thought you liked Star Wars! I bet you have one exactly like it at your place."

"No, you're right, I do. But I have cool things only. Tom, what you have sounds like a five-year-old play set!" Lexi laughed, despite her use of Tom's first name hanging in the air.

She had hoped he wouldn't notice, but then he pressed a hand to his forehead briefly before bringing it back down, still while keeping his playful countenance. "Alright, I know we kissed, but we have to draw a line somewhere. You can call me Tom outside of class, but please remember to call me Professor Miller when we're in class. I don't want anyone getting the wrong impression."

"Okay, Tom. As long as you never call me Ms. Likesfun again," Lexi shot back playfully.

"But seriously, how did you get that on the attendance sheet?"

"Some guy I know was playing a prank on me. I don't know how he did it exactly but let's just say I gave him an earful after class."

Tom laughed. Heat, once again, shot through Lexi. I could get used to that laugh.

"Well, he sounds like a great boyfriend." Tom glanced at Lexi, seeming as if he was trying to read her reaction.

Lexi gasped and recoiled in disgust. "Oh God, no! Absolutely, not." She pouted and shook her head. "Sorry, that was dramatic. I mean, no he's not my boyfriend."

Tom smiled and shrugged. "I just assumed. And thought maybe you had multiple boyfriends."

"Tom!" Lexi furrowed her brows. "I'm not that kind of girl." She huffed and turned to face the window seeing a guy in the car next to her picking his nose.

"Sorry! I just-" He paused and rubbed the back of his neck. Lexi glanced back at him and could see a faint blush over his cheeks. "This really isn't an appropriate conversation for us to be having. I just- y-you can't blame me for thinking you like to go around kissing people left and right."

"Oh my God! I don't! Is that what you think? I don't think that about you, and you were the one who asked for the kiss in the first place!" Lexi waved her hand in front of her before continuing. "And also, you're the second person I've ever kissed and technically the first person I've ever made out with. The first guy was literally a peck at church camp five summers ago." Lexi's eyes grew wide at her admission. She turned back to the window, hoping the man in the car next to theirs would pick his nose again so she could change the subject.

"Hold up, what? I cannot be the second guy you've kissed or first you've made out with. There is no way!"

Lexi crossed her arms. While it was the truth, she wished she hadn't said anything. It wasn't like her to talk about her personal life with anyone besides people in her close circle. When Tom saw that she wasn't going to respond, he continued. "Sorry, I just mean. It was a good kiss. I wouldn't have expected that out of someone who- I mean, yeah."

Images of the kiss re-surfaced in Lexi's mind and with Tom's stellar review, Lexi's pulse began to beat rapidly. She reached for the AC dial to turn the air in the space cooler, but it seemed that Tom had the exact thought when they accidentally brushed fingers over the control panel. His fingers were like loose electrical wires that jolted her upon touch. She quickly retreated and mumbled an apology. What the hell is this cringe Hallmark movie moment of my life?

"We should change the subject. And set some ground rules if you're not going to drop out of my class." Tom let out a breath he was presumably holding as he exited the freeway.

"Yes, let's." Lexi couldn't bring herself to meet Tom's gaze. The awareness shooting through her body was still not letting up.

"Great. Well, no more talk of kissing. Again, let's just pretend that never happened."

"You're the one who brought it up. That rule is just fine by me," Lexi said in an even tone.

"Second, you have to actually listen to what I say in class with no back talk. I'm still your educator. What kind of message are you sending the other students if I ask you to stay after class and you just run off?"

Lexi rolled her eyes just as Tom gave her another glance. "See! Like that! You can't roll your eyes at me when I say something. I demand some semblance of respect, Hannah."

Lexi's gut twisted when her fake name fell from his lips. Part of her wanted him to say that again but with her true name. She sighed before responding. "Fine. I won't roll my eyes anymore."

"Or back talk," Tom looked at her as if he wanted her to repeat after him.

"Or back talk."

"And you will respect authority and your superiors."

"And I will try to respect authority."

Tom raised his brows waiting for the ending, before speaking again. "And your-"

Lexi smiled widely, exposing her teeth. "And my superiors."

A toothy grin graced his handsome face. "Good girl," Tom said as he pulled into campus. Given it wasn't that late into the evening, students still roamed the sidewalks. Lexi tilted her head down hoping no one would recognize her.

"It probably doesn't look too great that I'm alone with you in your car."

Tom was silent for a moment before responding. "Yeah, probably not. Best to keep your head down. Which dorm are you in?"

"Thompson. Take a left here and just stop on the corner. I can walk the rest of the way."

"The spaceship has landed!" Tom chuckled as he pulled to the side of the road.

While she tried to hold back, a borderline snort came out of her. "You're such a dork. Thanks for the ride, Professor Miller." She moved to open the door, but Tom placed a hand on her arm, freezing her on the spot.

His eyes seemed bluer than ever before. "I meant what I said earlier, Hannah. I still think you should drop my class. But since you're so adamant to stay, I'm not going to give you any special treatment."

"That's fine. Just know I already have my review ready to go on RateMyProfessors dot com." A smirk fell on her lips, and she exited the car. She could hear Tom's laugh before swinging the door shut.

***

Any Harry Potter fans here? If so, what's your favorite movie / line from a movie? Also, thanks for reading, voting, and commenting! ♥️