Aries Leonardo Martin rushed into the building of Steven Brooks Institute of Technology located on the sprawling campus of the University of New York (UNY). He needed to talk to the Placement Cell for the internship they had promised before they got busy with the campus interviews being held later on in the college auditorium. 

“Aries dude! What’s the rush for? You didn’t even meet us,” yelled Caleb Darwin, his best friend. He met Caleb on the first day of college and ever since they had stuck through thick and thin. 

“I’m going to meet Grantham for the internship he promised me,” said Aries, walking towards his group of friends. Henry Grantham was the Placement Cell Head and helped all the students while giving preference to Aries. 

“The way he’s hooked up with you, I doubt his orientation,” laughed Killian Bennett, another friend from their group. The others chuckled, making crude jokes about Grantham and Aries. 

“You guys are so gross!” said Aries with a laugh. “I have no idea about him but I’m totally straight,” he said. 

“Then why don’t you and Celina go for it already,” said Cameron Stewart, another friend in their group. 

“I’m not interested in Celina, you know that. Why don’t you go for her instead?” asked Aries.

“Really dude? Are you for real? Are you declining such a hot chick?” Asked Killian with disbelief. Celina Duncan was the hottest and most popular girl in their entire batch. Being relentlessly pursued by her since his first year, Aries just ignored her very existence. At twenty-one, he was a Grade A student of Computer Engineering, and topped his entire Third Year batch as always. Despite being gifted and super-intelligent, he was very down to earth and quite friendly, helping all his friends who needed it. As such he was the most popular guy in his entire batch and everyone looked up to him for help. 

“Kill, you’ve had her already. Now I’m going for her, guys!” said Cameron, with a wink. 

“She’s my number one enemy. If you go after her, Cam, I’m enemies with you for life,” said Vera Stephen, Caleb’s girlfriend and the only girl in their group. 

“Vera, that’s not fair. I can’t stay single all my life,” said Cameron, pouting at her.

“Who’s asking you to stay single? There are so many girls to choose from. Celina has slept with more or less every guy in our class. Do you really want to be included in her string of conquests?” asked Vera. 

“She has a point, bro,” said Steve Brooks, another friend in their group who was the quietest of the lot. 

“I don’t mind as long as I get some action. She knows how to please a guy!” grinned Cameron.

“Eww! You’re so gross,” said Vera, stomping away. “I’ll see you later, Cal,” she said to her boyfriend over her shoulder. 

“Wait Vera! We need to plan tonight’s dinner date,” Caleb said, rushing after her. The others just gazed at them, all looking green with jealousy.

“He’s so lucky, dude! I think I’ll start with stage 1 with Celine today,” said Cameron, making Killian chuckle. 

“What stage 1?” asked a clueless Steve, who usually joined them when all the exciting things were over and done with. 

“Don’t you know that there are three stages to getting a woman into your bed. The first stage is when you stalk your prey and then proceed to break the ice,” informed Cameron. A few more guys from their batch already crowded around to gain more knowledge from the more experienced Cameron. Aries and Killian shared a look of dismay knowing that this lecture would continue forever! They have already heard about it a million times already. The second stage was when you continue to collide into your prey all the time and try to seduce her. The third and the final stage is when you hunt for the perfect opportunity to do the deed already! At this stage either you get a slap or you get what you worked hard for! 

Killian and Aries quietly slipped out to escape the torture. “I’ll go to the lab. My second Java assignment is giving me a VirtualMachineError. I’ll try to fix it but I might need your help, dude,” said Killian. 

“I’ll meet Grantham and join you there in a few minutes,” said Aries, jogging away to the administrative department. 

As he crossed the auditorium, he saw a large number of students from the freshman year assembled there, all looking lost. He remembered that it was their first day at college. Their fresh, anxious, young faces reminded him of his own experience when he joined UNY. He could see a few of his bully classmates loitering around to harass a possible prey. Aries hated it but he was in a hurry not having any time to warn them against it. He knew they would be punished if their mean Dean, David Fleming found out about it. 

However, as he rushed down the corridor, he heard rowdy laughter and voices from a classroom nearby. Curious, he peered inside and frowned, witnessing what he hated the most, harassing the younger students. His batch mates, Roger, Stanley, Fred, Simon and Derek who always stuck together and flunked in every exam in class surrounding a group of two girls. The girls looked like they were newly admitted as Aries had never seen them in college before. 

“Dance for me, gorgeous,” leered Fred, catching hold of one of them. She shrieked with fright while the other girl paled and begged the seniors to let them go.  Aries seethed with anger and strode into the classroom. 

“Why are you overacting, bi*ch? Did I kiss you?” taunted Fred. 

“Kiss her dude, let’s see how much she screams,” said Simon while the other guys laughed maliciously. 

“Please leave us, we have to be at the auditorium right now,” begged the other girl. 

“Leave you? Are we holding you up? Give me a kiss and you can go,” said Roger, getting off his seat and walking towards her. The girl paled considerably and tears sprang into her eyes as she thought of a way to escape. 

“Stop right there, Roger. Leave her alone,” yelled Aries in the gravest tone possible. All of them turned to look at him. 

“Aries, dude, stay out of this, please. It’s not like you know them,” said Roger.

“Yes, I know them. Let them go,” said Aries, coming forward and holding his hand out to the girl whom Roger was planning to kiss. Surprisingly, she rushed over to him and instead of taking his hand, her hands went round his neck and she hugged him tightly. 

“I was looking for you for so long, Aries. Why is your phone switched off? It seems like you’ve forgotten your Andrea,” said the girl, clinging to him. Aries wrapped his arm around her as the feel of her hot and  curvy body in his arms sent a tremor of electric tingles down his spine. What was that? Why did this hug from an unknown stranger feel so good? He soon came to his senses. So her name was Andrea.

“Sorry Andrea. I was busy at the administrative department,” he said. The boys looked upset but no one had the audacity to speak up in front of Aries. Without his help, they knew that they cannot graduate at all. 

“Let her go, Fred,” said Aries, gesturing towards the other girl. Fred sighed and looked angry but he released the girl. 

“This isn’t fair, dude. You’re really a spoilsport,” he said, looking pissed off.

“There are other ways to have fun, Fred. Have fun with girls who are willing to give you what you want,” said Aries, leading Andrea away. The other girl also followed him out, glad that they had been rescued. Once outside, Aries released Andrea. 

“See you later, my Andrea,” he said with a wink, laying emphasis on the word ‘my’. Andrea blushed with embarrassment at the stunt she just pulled.

“I was just playing along to save myself.  Thanks Aries,” said Andrea.

“Whatever!” he said with a smirk, walking away towards the administrative department at last to meet Grantham. However he zoned out during his counseling with Grantham as images of a pair of baby blue eyes haunted him non-stop. He couldn’t get her or her hot embrace out of his mind. A part deep inside him wanted to know her better. 

“Martin, which world are you lost in? “ asked a displeased Grantham. Aries blinked and focused upon him. 

“I’m very much here, sir. So am I eligible to appear for the interview?” He asked Grantham. He needed a job immediately, not for financial reasons but for his portfolio. 

“Yes, see me after your classes today. I’ll fix an interview for you over the weekend,” said Grantham, dismissing him. Aries got up to his feet and thanking him profusely for his help, he left to go to the main building for his classes. As he crossed the corridor, he heard two girls whisper behind a pillar. 

“He’s so hot! Don’t you think so? Did you feel anything when you hugged him, Andrea?” asked a female voice. Aries’s eyes widened as he anxiously waited to hear her answer, his breath already stuck in his throat.