Page 70 of Distortion
More tapping, but he doesn’t look bored anymore.
‘It says here that you transferred this year from England?’
‘That’s right,’ I say.
‘Sit down, please,’ he says, gesturing to the chair in front of his desk.
I sit down brusquely in case he changes his mind. Getting him to listen to me was the hard part, I remind myself. I took a ton of online science classes so I’m hoping I have enough to be a sophomore as a chemistry major.
‘Pardon my French, but why the hell did they let you do English Lit? You barely have enough English credits to graduate high school with.’ His brow furrows. ‘Though I see you got the UK equivalent of a high school diploma.’
He looks at me again, eyebrows raised in question.
I shrug. ‘When I transferred, that’s what I was told by the admissions office,’ I lie smoothly. ‘Maybe they got me mixed up with someone else.’
He snorts as he keeps reading from the screen. ‘I have some experience with the UK marking systems from time I spent there early in my career. Your grades and test scores are impressive.’
‘Thank you,’ I murmur. ‘Good enough to be a Freshman in Chem?’
His look is sharp. ‘No, Miss Evans.’
My heart sinks and I start formulating Plan B:Daisy, the Barista in Unnamed City X.
‘You have more college credits here than most of the juniors,’ he continues.
I sit back, surprised.
‘You must have worked very hard over the past four years,’ he probes.
I’ve piqued his interest.
Good.
‘Well,’ I give him a polite smile. ‘There wasn’t much else to do in rural England where my dad was based, so I just kept taking classes.’
His eyes narrow. ‘Really.’ Then he chuckles, sitting back and watching me. He seems to decide something. ‘Ever consider a double major?’
I frown dubiously. ‘In Chemistry and English Lit?’
He lets out a loud guffaw that startles me. ‘Of course not! I’m thinking Chem and Math. Maybe Physics.’
‘I ...’ I’m taken aback. ‘No,’ I admit honestly. ‘I had no idea I had that many credits that applied here. Is that ... allowed?’
Why did John try to make me do a subject I didn’t even have the credits for?
Because he’s an asshole.
I’m suddenly very happy that so few people here know my connection with John. I have a feeling that I’d be thwarted if Dr. Applegate knew who my stepfather is.
I glance around his pretty, new-looking office.
Conflict of interest perhaps.
‘How about it?’ he asks.
‘Yes. Chemistry and Physics, please.’
‘You understand that it will be very demanding.’
