Page 15 of Scarred King

“No. But I’m asking you not to come back.”

“So I’ll see you tonight.” I turn and run toward the auditorium.

I'm sitting in class. Johanna is sitting next to me, not saying a word.

“What’s wrong with you?” I ask and yawn.

“You didn’t come home last night again,” she lashes out at me. “I sent you a million messages and you didn’t even answer one.”

“But I told you that I have a new job.” I can’t understand why she’s so upset.

“What kind of job makes you not come home two nights in a row?”

“Just a waitressing job,” I try to avoid answering.

“Fine, then tonight I'll come to see where you work,” she says irritably.

“No!” I exclaim.

“Why?”

“Just because.” I tap my pencil on the squared paper pad in front of me just as the Professor takes his place.

“Why?” she whispers, and I shake my head, motioning her to be quiet. Within thirty seconds I'm deep into the lecture.

During the break between classes, I avoid her and go to the library by myself. I go over the emails I’ve received from professional magazines I subscribed to and see that I have a message from Professor Sawyer’s Teaching Assistant. Our first meeting is in an hour. All my frustration from the last two days vanishes and is replaced by excitement. Today I’ll start working with Professor Sawyer on his new research study. Today I’ll take another important step towards my dream.

I knock once on the wooden door and go inside. Two juniors are sitting on the sofa, together with the TA. Professor Sawyer smiles at me and indicates that I should join them. Everyone looks as excited as I feel.

“So, as you’ve already understood from the last article I published,” Professor Sawyer starts, “our research will focus on the subject of light pollution and how it affects the visibility of Milky Way stars to the human eye.”

“How is this research different from the last one that was published in the ‘Science Advances’ magazine?” asks one of the students, and I am shocked by his audacity.

“Don’t worry, it will be completely different.” The Professor seems amused. “Their research is very serious and comprehensive, but it concentrates on the macro aspect. We’re going to focus on the micro.”

My God… I am so lucky! I can’t wipe the smile off my face as he continues. He explains the different aspects of our research and the wheels in my mind turn continuously.

“So, to get up to speed, I suggest that you go to the library and find all the studies on this subject from the past ten years, and each of you will give me a summary at our next meeting in a few days.” He hasn’t even finished the sentence and the two students are already pushing towards the door. “The race to the library,” the professor laughs, and they nod in embarrassment and leave the room.

I yawn and stand up slowly.

“Aren’t you worried they won’t leave you any books?” he asks me kindly and I roll my eyes.

“I can recite your last article in my sleep.” I stifle another yawn. “And while they were waiting for your instructions, I had already checked out all the books that seemed relevant.”

“I knew that I made the right choice.” He looks at his TA and she nods in agreement. “Who knows, I might even advise you on your thesis.”

“Sometimes dreams do come true,” I say excitedly and my eyes lock onto his masculine, impressive face. The almost complete symmetry between the left and right sides of his face give him a perfect appearance. All the beauty and brains in one person.

“So, did you get the job?” he suddenly changes the subject and the blood drains from my face.

“Yes,” I say and avoid his eyes.

“Teaching? Research? Lab work?” he asks curiously, and I lean over to pick up my backpack and turn my back to him.

“Kind of a lab work,” I mumble, “and kind of research on the macro level,” I blurt, and run out of the room.

My next classes pass quickly, and Johanna goes back to being my close, well-mannered friend. She doesn’t ask any more annoying questions and she goes on about her new date who she just met in class, and the restaurant he’s taking her to. I try to show interest in what she is saying, sometimes I even say something myself, but my body insists on remembering the tingles that went through me this morning on my ride with my unusual boss.

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