Plot of Episode 9
After an awkward morning at home, Kaitlyn and Cole struggle to hide their growing feelings. On her first day of college, Kaitlyn befriends a classmate and is shocked to discover that her childhood crush—and now roommate—Cole is the teaching assistant for her toughest class.
Continue the Story
Chapter 9 – My Childhood Crush Is My TA
“Katie!”
Kaitlyn jolted awake, her heart pounding.
Morning sunlight streamed through the curtains, chasing away the fragments of the dream that had felt far too real.
She pressed a hand against her burning cheeks.
“Seriously?”
“I dreamed about kissing Cole… again.”
A knock sounded at her bedroom door.
“Katie?”
Cole’s voice was muffled through the wood.
“Are you okay?”
She swallowed hard.
“I-I’m fine!”
“You screamed.”
For a brief second, neither of them spoke.
Then she slowly opened the door.
Cole stood outside wearing a gray T-shirt, his hair still damp from a shower.
His brows were knitted with concern.
“I thought something happened.”
“I’m okay.”
She forced a smile.
“Just… a nightmare.”
He let out a quiet breath of relief.
“Good.”
For a moment, they simply looked at each other.
Neither one mentioned the kiss from the night before.
Neither one knew how.
“I, uh…”
Cole scratched the back of his neck awkwardly.
“The shower in your bathroom is still broken.”
“I figured.”
Kaitlyn laughed softly.
“I was wondering why there wasn’t any hot water.”
“I meant to tell you yesterday.”
He disappeared into the kitchen and returned carrying a steaming mug.
“Here.”
“Hot chocolate.”
She accepted it with both hands.
“It’s still really hot, so be careful.”
Their fingers brushed for the briefest moment.
Kaitlyn’s heart skipped.
Her mind instantly flashed back to the night before.
The way he’d held her.
The warmth of his hand around hers.
“Stop thinking about it.”
“He’s trying to forget.”
Cole wasn’t doing much better.
He watched her wrap both hands around the mug.
The morning light caught the loose strands of hair framing her face.
“Why does she have to look at me like that?”
He looked away first.
“I should…”
He cleared his throat.
“…head out.”
“Have a good first day.”
“You too.”
Only after the apartment door closed behind him did both of them finally breathe again.
The university campus buzzed with energy.
Students hurried between buildings carrying coffee, laptops, and impossible schedules.
Kaitlyn checked her phone for the classroom number.
“Professor Calloway.”
“Room 304.”
She found an empty seat near the middle of the lecture hall.
A cheerful girl dropped into the chair beside her.
“I’ve never seen you before.”
She smiled brightly.
“I’m Sammy.”
“Kaitlyn.”
“Freshman?”
Kaitlyn nodded.
“It’s my first day.”
“Same!”
Sammy leaned closer conspiratorially.
“Can you believe we actually got into Professor Calloway’s class?”
“Is it difficult?”
“Difficult?”
Sammy laughed.
“It’s practically impossible.”
“Half the students on campus try to get in every semester.”
Kaitlyn blinked.
“Really?”
“And that’s not even the exciting part.”
Sammy grinned.
“I heard we’re getting the hottest teaching assistant on campus.”
Kaitlyn smiled politely.
“I don’t really know anyone here.”
“Oh, trust me.”
“You’ll know him.”
“His name’s Cole Hart.”
Kaitlyn froze.
The name echoed through her mind.
“No…”
“It can’t be…”
Before she could ask another question, the classroom door opened.
The room immediately fell silent.
Every conversation stopped.
Every head turned.
Cole walked into the classroom carrying a stack of papers.
He looked composed.
Professional.
Completely different from the man who had made her hot chocolate less than an hour earlier.
Professor Calloway smiled.
“Everyone, this semester you’ll be working closely with our teaching assistant.”
“Mr. Cole Hart.”
Applause filled the room.
Sammy whispered excitedly,
“I told you he was gorgeous.”
Kaitlyn could only stare.
Cole’s eyes swept across the classroom…
…until they landed on her.
For one heartbeat, surprise flashed across his face.
Then it disappeared beneath his calm expression.
“You’re kidding me.”
Kaitlyn’s mind went completely blank.
“My brother’s best friend…”
“…the man I’ve been in love with since I was thirteen…”
“…is my teaching assistant?”
Suddenly, sharing an apartment with Cole no longer seemed like the biggest challenge of the semester.
Sitting in his classroom every week might be even harder.
To be continued…
