I bit my lip, twirling and un-twirling a strand of hair around my finger as I thought back to my high school chemistry class. It was one of those nervous habits that my mother hated. I smiled when the answer finally came to me, and I wrote it down.
See, you can so do this. Just work on one problem at a time.
I moved on to the next problem, then the next. I was at the last problem when I had the oddest sensation hit me. It was like someone was watching me. I laughed. If someone was trying to cheat off of my paper, they were crazy, or probably just a crazy football player.
Slowly, I lifted my eyes, careful to keep my head down. From underneath my lashes, I glanced over at Travis. He was still doodling on his paper. At least this time, it was just geometric patterns.
Carefully, my eyes drifted to Professor Cooper. Soft eyes watched me as if waiting for something.
My breath hitched. Was this a trick? Maybe he felt sorry that he embarrassed me in front of the entire class. Or maybe I was a moron and he knew it and he was watching me to make sure I didn’t cheat.
He opened his wallet and took out what looked like a small photo. His eyes flicked up to me again, and he took a step forward. I froze, holding my breath. Slowly, he walked in my direction his eyes flicking back and forth between me and the photo.
What was he doing?
“Professor Cooper?”
Startled, he snapped at the student by his side. “What?”
The poor kid quivered in his shoes, his ears turning a bright pink.
“I-I-I’m d-done with the q-quiz.”
The paper shook in his hand as he held it up.
Cooper’s eyes flitted to me, and I quickly looked down at my paper gripping the top of my desk for dear life. Why did he keep staring at me?
“Fine.” He snatched the paper. “If you’re one hundred percent sure that your answers are accurate, you’re free to leave. Are you sure?”
“Uh, yes?”
“Then why are you still standing here?”
“Will you be passing out your syllabus?”
The poor kid looked like he was going to pass out when Professor Cooper’s voice boomed, “Attention class. For those of you who didn’t read the announcement posted outside of the auditorium doors and those of you who seem not to be able to follow instructions,” he glared back at the kid who was now green, “the syllabus will be emailed to the class tonight.”
He then turned to the student. “Any more questions?”
“No,” the kid squeaked and dashed out of the auditorium.
“Pencils down,” Cooper said. “If you weren’t able to complete a basic quiz that covers the rudimentary aspects of chemistry, then you more than likely won’t survive this class. For others of you who were able to complete all the questions, congratulations, you can read.”
The students filed to the front of the room to hand him their papers.
“Catch you two later.” Travis winked as he stuffed the quiz.
“Do me a favor and turn my quiz in for me.” Greg threw his paper at me, gathered his things, and ran after Travis.
“Wait, Greg!”
“Love ya forever!” He waved as he ran out the auditorium yelling after Travis.
Damn Greg and his man crush. The last thing I wanted to do was come into close contact with Professor Cooper. I just wanted this day to be over.
The moment I approached him, I felt it again, that familiar pull. I was about to toss the papers and run when a student bumped me from behind. Stumbling forward, my hand brushed against Cooper’s. He jerked back as if I’d burned him.
Expecting to see those cold eyes glare at me again, I blinked as I gazed into molten pools of blue. His lips parted as if was about to tell me something. And I waited with baited breath, fighting off the driving force that wanted me to bury myself into his chest. I didn’t even know the man, yet why could I see the hurt, hope, and bewilderment hidden deep in his eyes when they looked at me.
As if hearing my silent question, he quickly schooled his face into a hard professorial demeanor and avoided my gaze, as if protecting himself from me.
But that was crazy. Why would he be afraid of me? He was the professor.
Silently, I willed him to look at me again. The pull I had to him was driving me insane. I moved closer, inching my hand closer to his. Dark lashes fluttered closed as he appeared to fight something within himself.
Look at me.
“Oh, Professor Cooper. I’m so happy I was able to enroll in your class again. Oh here, let me get that for you.” Gianna snatched the quizzes out of my hand and tossed them with the others on the lectern.
Professor Cooper looked up. His eyes flicked to mine for a moment before turning to Gianna.
“Ms. Ferilli, it’s good to see you again. Perhaps we can do better this time around?”
“I think I might if I can get some extra help.” She batted her lashes.
“Of course, come with me. We can set an appointment to meet during my office hours.”
He swept passed me with Gianna following close behind. I stood there like an idiot with my mouth hanging open. I was pissed. And what pissed me off more was I didn’t know why I was pissed.
Chapter Six
I trudged into Rainbow’s house and landed face first into a purple beanbag.
The day had not gone well at all. Having my freaky-deaky dreams at night was more than enough. The last thing I needed was to have them during the day. Even after Cooper’s class, I kept on having weird images pop into my head as I walked across campus. I managed to survive my Composition and Introduction to Psychology classes. Barely. For some odd reason, I couldn’t get my mind off of Cooper. It was infuriating.
Flipping onto my back, I gazed at the fishnet-laced ceiling. I had an essay to write and five chapters to read for psychology. I was tired and hungry because I didn’t want to spend what little cash I had left on a ten-dollar sandwich. And I still didn’t have a job.
I thought about the bottle of pills I had in my nightstand drawer and sighed. Greg was right. I was going to have to start taking them again.
“Nicole! Is that you?”
“Yeah.” Pulling myself up, I headed to the kitchen. Rainbow’s flowing dress fluttered around her ankles as she moved from the fridge to the stove, humming.
“That’s a pretty song what is it?”
“‘Blackbird.’” She paused, brushing her frizzy red hair off her face. “I remember the day when Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young played it at Woodstock. That was my first time I’d ever been with a—oh, you don’t need to know that part. Anyway, will Greg be joining us for dinner?”
“Yeah, he texted me. He’s on his way. Can I help with dinner?”
“Sure. You can put the hot dogs on the grill there.”
“You eat hot dogs?”
“They’re Tofurky dogs. Totally meatless, but just as good.”
I picked up a pale, tube shaped substance. It was hard to imagine anything looking like that tasting good. But I was so hungry I’d eat just about anything at that point.
“So how was your first day of college life?”
“Fine.” I was such a liar and apparently a really bad one because Rainbow arched an eyebrow at my answer.
“Your aura tells me otherwise.”
“My aura?”
“Yes, it’s a bit of a muddy blue today. It’s as if you’re afraid of something.”
“It’s nothing bad, really. My chemistry professor and I got off on the wrong foot. He kind of acted like a . . . well, uh, like an arrogant asshole.” There was no other way to put it.
“They usually are.”
I laughed. “To be fair, I kind of ruined his shirt and made him late for his class. I tried to apologize to Professor Cooper, but that just made things worse.”
A bowl slipped out of her hands, shattering on the floor. Her face paled.
“Are you okay?” I bent down picking up the pieces around her bare feet.