Author: Regency

Title: The Whole Thing In Reverse

Summary: What if 20 years ago, Eve was the spoiled rich kid and Julian was the struggling musician? And what if 20 years ago, they fell in love? Now, two decades later they meet again.

Author’s Notes: I’ve changed some history to write this story. The company Johnson & Johnson belongs to Eve’s parents. Other than that, read and see.

Disclaimer: The show “Passions” belongs to JER, but the idea is mine.

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Eve’s heels clicked on the linoleum floor of Harmony Community College. She’d come to see a Professor Julian Crane. He was a professor of Art History and Pre-Law. A funny combination, she thought. She tried to remember why the name sounded so familiar, but she kept drawing a blank. She almost wasn’t certain she wanted to remember.

Her son, RJ, had come to her to tell her that he was in danger of failing Professor Crane’s class and that he wanted her to intervene. She didn’t make a habit of meddling in her children’s affairs. Hell, she didn’t make a habit of speaking to her children if she could help it. She wouldn’t be winning Mother of the Year any year. That wasn’t exactly something she’d ever strived for.

Anyway, she was there to throw some of the Johnson money around this Julian Crane and maybe, just maybe her son would be Valedictorian. After all, Johnson’s never failed at anything. Her mother wouldn’t stand for it.

She finally came to the door marked Prof. Crane 203. Art history and Pre-Law. She turned the knob and stuck her head in. Years of the social life made her take note of the attire of lanky man with his back to her. Spotless and shined black dress shoes and what would’ve been an Armani suit were it intact. His jacket was slung across the back of his chair. His white silk dress shirt was tucked in with the sleeves rolled up just under the elbows, but he was still wearing his tie. Somehow, casually elegant. Maybe she wouldn’t have to sling any money. She might’ve liked to spend a little time alone with him instead.

Some of his students’ attention was left him and moved behind him. He looked over his shoulder and Eve’s heart dropped in her chest. Those eyes. Yes, they were older and wiser, but those were the eyes of the man who’s heart she’d taken with her twenty years ago.

It took her a moment to realize that she should probably have checked his class schedule, seeing as his class was so full. That probably meant that he only taught one or two classes. Tenure, she guessed. Which of course, would explain his wardrobe, the expense of it.

She couldn’t think of the man staring back at her with a deep soulful stare. She knew immediately that he recognized her, too. She slammed the door shut behind her and pressed her back to the wall. She couldn’t face him, again. Never again.

If only her heart would let her go. If only she could stop remembering…

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