Page 2 of Her Professor's Valentine

The hour ticked by as we went through various cases in our advanced civil procedure class. When Professor Elliot dismissed us, I packed up my pens, carefully placing them back in their respective spots inside my backpack. Order was key to me making it through law school, through life, even. My meds kept the obsessive disorder at bay for the most part, but I still found myself sticking to routines and craving order in all aspects of my world. I clicked the last pen four times, exactly, then stowed it.

Professor Elliot closed his book and lingered at the podium. He was usually the first person out the door, so I sat and watched him. Once Tucker walked out, his idiot friends on his heels, the professor followed.

I sighed and gathered my things. The rest of the day was uneventful, and I spent the evening at the library. I had a favorite study carrel where I listened to my iPod and did my reading for the next day.

My roommate Dana stopped by and tapped me on the shoulder at nine o’clock. “I’m heading home. Come on. The library closes in an hour.”

I pulled out my earbuds. “I’m almost done with my reading. I have to finish.”

She twirled a lock of blonde hair around her finger. “Finish at home.”

“I can’t. I started it here, so I have to finish it here.” I bit my lip, knowing how I sounded. My rules kept my world spinning. Fighting them only led to trouble, and I couldn’t afford any distractions with exams coming up.

She sighed. Dana was well accustomed to my particular brand of insanity. “I get it. It’s cool. I’m just beat is all.” She yawned. “I’m about to fall asleep. I already drooled on my case notes. And it’s Valentine’s Day. We should at least, I don’t know, pretend we have someone waiting for us at home with flowers and candy?”

I snort a laugh. “Fat chance. Go on home. Take the car. I’ll walk it.”

“You sure?” She hefted her backpack higher on her shoulder.

“Yeah.” I made the ten-minute walk to our apartment all the time. The campus was well-lit, and our apartment sat at the edge of the university property.

“Okay. I’ll see you at home if I’m not passed out.” She stuffed her hands into her pullover pockets. The weather had grown colder despite the faint promise of a coming spring. “And happy Galentine’s.”

“Same to you. Get some rest.” I tucked one earbud back in. “Exams will be here soon.”

“Thanks for that little reminder.” She grimaced. “Night.” She turned and headed toward the stairs.

“Night.” I settled in and color coded my notes until the library closing announcement rang through the stacks.

After packing my items—the biggest notebooks first, then the medium-sized books, then the small constitutional law notebook last—I hit the stairs and took the back exit out toward University Drive.

A few cars circled campus, their headlights bright in the dark. I shoved my hands in my jacket pockets and put my head down against the bitter wind. Too bad I hadn’t worn tights under my skirt, but it had been warmer when I’d left for class. A cold front had blown through while I was in the warm library.

I passed the humanities building, then ducked behind one of the science buildings to cut through the small patch of woods between University Drive and our apartment. A blue light in the dark reassured me that the panic phone halfway down the path was working.

A gust of wind spurred my steps across the bridge spanning a small stream. I took care to step on the individual planks, and hopped over the final cracked board.

Footsteps on the path behind me floated to my ears. I turned as a girl hurried past, her books clutched to her chest.

I pulled my hood over my head and continued my pace as she disappeared around the curve in the walk. The blue light still glowed up ahead.

More footsteps crunched along the path behind me, and I moved to the left so the person could pass me like the girl had done.

“Penny.”

A chill went through me, and not from the wind. Tucker walked to my elbow. I sped my pace.

“I saw you leave the library. Do you live over here somewhere?”

I wasn’t going to tell him where I lived. Not a chance. “Just go away, Tucker.”

He smiled down at me, and something ugly churned in my stomach. “What? I can’t walk a pretty girl home?”

I kept rushing along the path, hoping my lack of response would deter him.

“You look cold.” He slung his arm around my shoulders.

I halted and shoved him off me. “Stop.”

“I was just trying to be nice.” He shrugged and grinned.

“Just leave me alone.”

“Sure, okay.” He held his hands up.

I turned and hurried away, the gleam of the blue light drawing me.

When he grabbed my backpack and yanked, I was too startled to scream.

---