[Stars in the Sand 01] • Her Perfect 10

Owen

When I enroll in an online writing course, I’m assigned a partner for the entire semester. The syllabus says we’re to remain anonymous. While I never learn her name, she breaks every other rule there is. She’s dragging my grade down with hers, even after I’ve repeatedly asked her not to.

As our conversations turn personal—another broken rule—she encourages me to push my boundaries, and I learn why she has none: she doesn’t believe in love. Instead of looking for a guy who’ll sweep her off her feet, she rates them in different categories with an equation she created to find someone that’s supposedly perfect for her.

I have no idea what she looks like, how old she is, or where she lives. But I know I can change her mind about love.

Too bad I’d never measure up.

According to her equation, there’s no way I’m her perfect ten.