⋆⋆☆⋆⋆ I’ll surely slip away, into love, hate, sex, and pain She had been taking Tom Buckley’s class on debunking supernatural phenomena for two months now, and despite her initial skepticism, she found herself deeply engrossed in the subject. The way he explained things made so much sense, and his sharp wit and dry humor only added to his charm. She couldn’t help but develop a slight crush on him.

After class, She lingered in the classroom, pretending to gather her things and waiting for the other students to leave. She needed an excuse to talk to him, to hear his voice once more. With a deep breath, she approached his desk and greeted him with a soft “Hi.”

“Hey, what can I do for you?” he looks up at her and smiles, calming her nerves a little bit.

She blushed slightly at his smile, feeling a rush of warmth spread through her chest. Clearing her throat, she tried to sound casual as she spoke, “I was just wondering if you could recommend any books on the history of paranormal investigations. I find the topic fascinating and would love to learn more about it.”

Tom leaned back in his chair, tapping his chin thoughtfully as he considered her request. “Ah, I have just the book in mind,” he said, reaching for a well-worn tome on the shelf behind him. Handing it to her, their fingers brushed briefly, sending a jolt of electricity through her. As she took the book from him, their eyes met, and she felt herself falling even deeper under his spell.