I could hardly sleep last night. I spent the entire night unpacking, and cleaning. By the time I needed to get ready for the day, I had finished unpacking my entire belongings. I took my time picking out my outfit. It was important to appear professional. Unlike Mrs. Reed, I'd never met Professor Malcolm. I was so nervous. If Professor Malcolm didn't like me, I could likely end up having the shitest year. I pulled my hair back into a tight bun, and picked a simple black dress with a blazer. With one last look in the mirror, I scurried out the door.
Mrs. Reed's office was the next closest building to mine. Trees covered the path to the building. It was nice to have some protection from the rain.
My thoughts raced in a million different directions. I couldn't focus.
"Hey," a voice came from behind me.
I jumped. I hadn't even heard the footsteps. I was so absorbed in thought. "Uhh," I stumbled. I looked over my shoulder. Behind me was a tall lanky guy. "My name is Chris," he said with a laugh.
Chris's brown hair stuck to his face. His green eyes seemed so vibrant surrounded by all the trees and greenery.
"Gr- Grace Miller," I stammered. Chris had a choppy haircut with faded purple hidden on the underside. His septum piercing was a simple hoop. He was probably a student. "So, are you part of the student work program too?" Chris asked. "I moved in last week to help the English department." I faked a smile. "It's nice to see students here. The professors are a little creepy. So, who were you assigned to?"
I could hardly speak. Chris spoke to quickly to get a word in. He took a breath. "Yes, I've been assigned to Professor Malcolm. Mrs. Reed is taking me to meet him today." Chris looked worried. He put his hands in the pockets of his jeans.
"Malcolm is a complete ass, good luck with that," Chris said. He laughed. "I'd trade you, but Mr. Newton is the shit."
I rolled my eyes, and found hope when I say the double oak doors of the staff building, at least that's what Mrs. Reed told me yesterday. "Why do you say that?" I asked Chris.
He almost skipped. "Five students flunked out of his class for calling him by his first name." I laughed. "What's his first name?" I asked. "It has to be awful. Is it like that song? Is his name Sue?"
Chris smiled. "No, it's literally just Marcus. Professor Malcolm is just hardcore about manners and rules."
"Marcus Malcolm? That's a dumb name." I said. Chris pulled open the doors to the building.
"Let me take you to Mrs. Reed. Her office can be hard to find." Chris offered. I stepped into the building. Just like the last, it was over the top grand. It smelled of old books and Cologne. The lighting was dim inside the building as if no one there. It almost felt creepy. Thankfully my companion was the cheeriest person I'd met in awhile.
"So where are you from, Grace?" he asked. We began to step up a pair of wooden stairs.
"Just- Liberal. It's south of here." I answered. I couldn't help but look around the building. The outer walls were all marble or granite with intricate carvings. Large oil paintings hung on the wall.
At the top of the first flight of stairs, Chris stopped. He pointed down a hallways painted black. "I've got to go, but Mrs. Reed's office is marked as Professor Pore."
I smiled at Chris. "It was nice to meet you. Thank you."
I scurried down the hallways toward Mrs. Reed's office. When I got to the frosted glass of her door, I stood frozen. Do I knock? She said she was going to collect me from my apartment, but I received an email this morning to come to her office. I could see her outline, and the outline of someone sitting in front of her desk. The sounds coming from behind the door didn't seem happy. Maybe they were arguing. Maybe Professor Malcolm didn't want a freshman girl as his student aide My stomach turned in knots. Anxiety filled my throat. I pulled my fist up to knock. Lightly my hands touched the glass.
From inside the office I heard Mrs. Reed ask me to enter her office. I swallowed, and pushed the door open.
The office was simple. A large wooden desk, filing cabinets filled an entire wall, books scattered on every surface, and two leather chairs in the middle. Mrs. Reed was sitting at her desk. She had glasses on, and looked adsorbed in the documents on her desk. I gulped.
"I have have all the paperwork here, Mrs. Reed." I said. She looked up at me from her glasses.
"Put them on my desk. This is Professor Malcolm, your assigned mentor for the year," she said nonchalantly.
I finally looked at the man sitting at her desk. He almost looked like an elf or something of the Fae. He hand long curly silver hair that went past the back of the chair. His eyes were bright blue. His entire face had sharp features from his nose to his teeth when he smiled at me. He looked me up, and down. My face blushed. Ash was right. I ended up with professor sexy. "Are you going to sit down?" He growled.
"Oh," I stammered. I placed the paperwork on Mrs. Reed's desk, and sat beside Mrs. Reed. My checks were still flushed from the professor's gaze.
"Have you looked over your job responsibilities Miss Miller?" He asked.
"Yes, Yes Sir," I responded nervously. God, he was so intimidating.
"Good," he answered. The professor stood up, and buttoned the front of his black suit. "Am I excused Marilyn?"
Mrs. Reed looked up from my paperwork. "I'll bring her to your classroom later today. You may leave." She answered him. With that, he got up, and without a word more, left the office.
It was going to be a long year.