It was just a wrong number, two digits that had managed to swap places in a result of her frantically running around her apartment throwing pillows and chairs onto the floor in search for her lost keys. It was a Monday and she was almost half an hour late for her first class of the day, back in her collage days this would have been something she could have gotten away with. But as the teacher it was a little more difficult. Without her keys her other option was to walk and in the black heels that rested upon her feet it would be the end of the day before she arrived. As she went flying through the kitchen, knocking over an empty bottle of wine, which was probably the reason behind her lateness, it came to her realisation of another option that she had. Bonnie. Having your best friend work in the same school you did had to have its privileges and this was certainly one of them.

In a flash her phone, complete with sparkly pink phone case, was whipped out the back pocket of her flattering pencil skirt and rested firmly in her hand, her fingers tapping her friend's number into the box. Right now she couldn't be more thankful that it was a Monday because it meant Bonnie had her late shift giving her no excuse to not offer her good friend, and potentially her new boss, a ride.

Woke up late need a lift NOW

With the text sent all she could do now was wait and found herself falling back on the couch draping her legs over the edge, her head coming into contact with the middle seat. Almost instantly her shoes slipped off her already sore feet falling in a not so neat pile on the floor. The time would could when she would have to squeeze back into them but now her toes were enjoying their freedom. Beginning to relax again, she let her eyes drift up to the ceiling analysing the specks of dusts that clung onto the patterns made from cream paint. With papers to grade and meetings to attend she barely had time for a social life never mind giving her house a much needed clean. But she knew it was there, oh she knew , it was like she could feel every dust particle latch onto her throat as she inhaled, a control freaks worst nightmare. Finally the phone, still wrapped in her hands, began to buzz frantically.

I will be there in 5 you just have to tell me where you live first.

This confused her momentarily causing her eyebrows to furrow and creases to appear on her perfectly smooth forehead. In the midst of her fingers tapping away at the keys, anger starting to run its course through her body at her friend joking at an inappropriate time, her eyes flicked up to the number. It hit her like lightning striking through her mind, leaving her sat bolt upright, eyes wide. Across the top of her screen lay 11 digits and not the usual picture of her brunette friend posing with her pet bunny. Whoever had just replied it was definitely not Bonnie.

The couch and her back came into contact sharply after she flew herself against it in a mix of embarrassment and frustration. Now she was definitely going to be late. For a few more minutes she let her fingers swipe across the screen deciding what to respond, if responding at all. Luckily for her the stranger at the other end made the decision for her.

Sorry if that scared you I don't usually do this.

Bingo. A mischievous smirk ran across her face, if she was going to be late she might as well have some fun first. This time her reply was instant, only taking her a few seconds to think and write down her thought out response, trying to be both witty and friendly.

Oh so you don't usually stalk random girls on a Monday morning?

Aha you're a girl. Now I know something about you so I'm not creeping on someone random

This time his reply was instant almost shocking her at how fast someone could type that wasn't her. In her life time she had developed a variety of skills from teaching to acrobats, from drinking an entire wine bottle by herself to texting 50 words in under a minute. Not all of them she was proud of.

What are you then, or are you some kind of alien because that would be beyond creepy

No I'm human, just your average male human

Now I'm disappointed :(

The emoji was completely by accident; at least she thought it was. It wasn't like her to forget, especially not when it came to being in a conversation, but this time she really couldn't remember. It was put down to her only getting 5 hours of sleep and not because she was enjoying the virtual company of a complete stranger.

I'm sure I can find something that will interest you

Like what? Don't tell me you're a space man

Try again

Fireman?

A little less heat

Police man?

A little more blood

Paramedic?

Ding ding ding we have a winner

So doctor what's my prize ;)

Once again the emoji was involuntary, another one of her skills: flirting. Even when she didn't try she was excellent at it, both a blessing and a curse. This time his reply was a little slower than his previous few causing her panic that she had gone too far. Realization was a little slow but did hit her eventually, she was worrying about losing someone she had never even met. Maybe she was crazy.

What do you want it to be? ;)

There was no fighting the sigh of relief that escaped her as her eyes encountered the wink, fully aware of what he was intending. Instead of going down the route he wanted her to go down she came up with an idea, she wanting to be exciting with a slight allure.

Tell me your name

It was simple and depending on how you read it come across slightly cliché, but she was happy with her reply nonetheless.

Nice try but ladies first

Excuse me sir but I still have a prize to claim

Okay you get one question

What is your name?

Anything but that

Fine, where are you from. I don't want this to be costing me a hundred dollars if you live abroad

I live in Virginia and you're pretty funny

She hated to admit it but she was a sucker for compliments. It was for this reason that she completely washed over the first part of his reply until she was about to tell him where she was from. Crap. They could be sat a block away right now and they had no idea, it was a long shot but very possible.

I know I have been told that a lot

And modest I can see
so how about you, where is my mystery girl from

Her reply was delayed on purpose as she tried to avoid giving him this information, but since he asked she couldn't say no now. Especially after that concept he tacked on to the end, his mystery girl. She liked that.

You might laugh at this but I'm actually from Virginia as well

A small town girl I like it

Are you flirting with me doctor

The tips of her fingers delayed, only for a second, as she figured out what to call him. Not knowing someone's name was a lot more difficult then she anticipated.

Nurse?

Huh

Are you a nurse?

No I can't stand the sight of blood

It was true she couldn't. Whenever one of her pupils had fallen over with a grazed knee or came crying about a cut finger, they were shipped off to the nurse quicker than they could even say the word miss. Despite now feeling slightly stupid, she felt it was important to tell him because a relationship should not start off with a lie.

Swimmer?

A little less water

Chef?

I would probably eat all the food

Haha okay I'm stumped just tell me

Now that is something you have to win

You really like to play hard to get don't you

Says the person who won't tell me his name

Like I said ladies first

I can hear the smug tone in your voice from here

You never know "here" could be a lot closer than you think

That's why I'm not telling you my name

I promise I'm not a serial killer

So if I tell you my name you won't come and find my apartment and attack me in my sleep

You have my word

Caroline

You have such a pretty name Caroline

The name was echoed in the hall way of her apartment with her not realising it at first, until it came closer and grew louder. It was Bonnie.

"In here" she replied rushing to cover her phone like a teenager who had just been caught doing something she shouldn't. It suddenly hit her then; she completely forgot to call Bonnie.

"Hey I was driving to work and I noticed your car so I thought I would see if you were okay" There was slight concern in her voice, which faded quickly as she watched her friend fall over her own feet trying to squeeze back in to her heels.

"Yes I was going to call you actually I need a lift" Her jacket was slid over her arms and shoulders and buttoned up correctly, the blonde fixing her hair in the mirror and the girls began to walk out of her apartment. Waiting until Bonnie was a few steps ahead, she pulled her phone out from behind her back and sent her mystery guy one last text.

I'm sorry I have to go I have a class to teach

TEACHER you're a teacher

Calm down …. (fill in the blank)

Nice try Caroline

Caroline couldn't stop the wide smile from appearing on her face and in reality she didn't want to. No matter what the day threw at her all she could think about was her stranger from this morning and the challenge of finding out his name that awaited her.