Chapter 2
***JACKSON***
As the minutes ticked by, Jackson began to get more and more anxious listening to the rumors circulating around the room.
Finally, he turned to look over at Harry, who was scrolling through his phone, completely unconcerned.
“Aren’t you worried?” he finally asked. “The whole pre-med program could fall apart while we sit here.”
“I don’t think it’s that bad,” Harry said, not bothering to look up from his phone. “They won’t dismantle the program; if anything, this should be good for us. Smaller classes mean more attention from the professors. We’ll come out of this just fine; we have to be patient, that’s all.”
“That’s easy for you to say. You have other options, but I don’t,” he said. “If the school closes down, my scholarship is gone. I’ll never be able to finish my degree.”
“Just relax, it’s going to be fine,” Harry said, looking over at him. “You said yourself that Dean Proctor will get everything straightened out.”
Just then, there was a commotion out in the hallway, and everyone quieted down, their attention on the door.
A few seconds later, however, it wasn’t the professor they were expecting who walked through the door.
“I’m sorry we’ve kept you waiting so long, everyone,” Steven Proctor said, heading for the front of the room.
If everyone would please take a seat, we can get started. ”
There were looks of confusion around the room, especially when more students came pouring through the door.
“What’s going on?” he whispered to Harry, who just shrugged in shoulders.
“This is supposed to be senior biology, Dean Proctor can’t be thinking about teaching this class.
They must be really desperate if he is.”
Before Harry could say anything, Dean Proctor cleared his throat.
“I know there have been a lot of rumors floating around campus about the events of last spring. Some of them are true, some aren’t,” he said.
“I think right now, the most important thing is that we find a way to move past what happened so that you all can still receive the kind of education you deserve.”
He looked over at Harry and rolled his eyes. “He sounds like a Dean now,” he leaned over and whispered. “I never thought I’d see the day.”
“We’re going to need your cooperation over the next semester to make sure that happens,” Dean Proctor continued.
“We’re a bit short-staffed right now, and I’m afraid a small portion of your classmates have decided not to come back this year, so we’ve been working on reorganizing the program.
After shifting some staff around and taking into consideration the much smaller class size, we’ve decided to adjust the schedule to reflect those needs. ”
“What does that mean?” someone piped up behind him. “How many professors did we lose?”
“The pre-med program didn’t suffer that much, but we’ve had to pull a couple of your professors away to teach other classes, which leaves the program a little short,” Dean Proctor said.
“To fix the problem, we’ve made some adjustments and moved students around so that you’ll now be split into four groups.
Those groups will take the same classes together every day, so I hope you like one another. ”
There was a smattering of nervous laughter around the room. “Most of you only have the four classes left, but for the few of you who are missing other credits, we’ll talk privately after class to make arrangements so you can get them done,” Dean Proctor finished. “Does anyone have any questions?”
He was greeted with silence but waited a few seconds, looking around the room at all of them with an expectant look on his face.
“Well, that was easier than I expected,” he said, a smile finally appearing.
I just want you all to know how pleased I am that you’ve chosen to finish your education with us.
I promise you won’t be disappointed, and if you have any problems, please don’t hesitate to come see me. ”
“Now, with all that behind us, I’ll turn things over to Dr. Simmons, who has graciously volunteered to take over your senior biology class as well as the anatomy lab,” Dean Proctor said, earning a groan from most of the students.
“I know he’s tough, but he’s one of the best teachers we have, and we should all be grateful that he’s chosen to stay. ”
“Great, I’m in big trouble,” Harry said. “Dr. Simmons hates me, and he’s going to make my life a living nightmare.”
“I don’t think he hates you. He’s not really that bad, a little tough on us maybe, but he’s just trying to prepare us for medical school,” he said, shrugging his shoulders. “I’m sure everything will be fine.”
“Easy for you to say, he likes you,” Harry said. “He’s had it out for me since freshman year. I made one little mistake, but he’s never going to forget about it.”
“Harry, you blew up the science lab,” he said, shaking his head. It took two weeks to clean up the mess. You’re lucky all he did was fail you.”
Harry had the good grace to look embarrassed. “That was freshman year. I’ve matured since then,” he said. “And I didn’t mean to blow up the lab, it was an accident.”
He just shook his head. “Accident or not, you’d better keep your nose clean this semester,” he said. “I’m not going down with you.”
“Thanks a lot, and here I thought we were friends,” Harry said, but there was a smile on his face. “I won’t cause any trouble. Those days are behind me.”
Just then, Professor Simmons came rushing through the door, “Oh, good, you’re all here,” he said, looking around the room before nodding at Dean Proctor.
“We’re already way behind, so let’s get right to it.
I’ve got the new class lists, and I will read them out loud.
Come forward and get your new schedule when I call your name. ”
“Well, there goes having biology together,” Harry said. “Bet you anything they split us up.”
***Abby***
Abby was so stunned by everything Yvonne was telling her that she didn’t hear Dr. Simmons call her name the first time. “Abagail Stewart,” he called again, looking around the room. “Does anyone know if she came back?”
Yvonne elbowed her in the ribs, pulling her out of the shock and surprise coursing through her. “I’m here,” she said, jumping to her feet and rushing to the front of the room. “I just…never mind.”
“You’re going to need to pay closer attention than that in my class, Ms. Stewart,” Dr. Simmons said, a frown on his face. “I suggest you start practicing now.”
“Yes, sir,” she said, grabbing her schedule and retreating back to her seat next to Yvonne, her cheeks burning with embarrassment.
Yvonne gave her a sympathetic look but kept her mouth closed as the rest of the names were read.
She sat stewing over all the things her friend had told her, wondering if her career was over before it even started.
The school's reputation was in tatters, most of the student body had transferred to different schools, and the teaching staff was down to only a few dedicated educators.
Her chances of getting into a great medical school had suddenly plummeted.
Trying not to panic, she took several deep breaths to calm herself. This was just a little bump in the road, and she’d make it through like she always had. When Yvonne came back with her schedule, she saw the look on Abby’s face and leaned over to whisper to her when she sat down.
“I know that look, but this isn’t so bad, I promise,” Yvonne said. “Look on the bright side. We’ll get lots of personal attention from the professors.”
“Yeah, that worked out well for me a couple of minutes ago,” Abby said, but she was smiling. “Sorry, I’ve just worked so hard to get here that I guess this feels like a setback.”
“I know exactly what you’re thinking, and I think the selection committees will actually see this as a good thing. It shows that we’re dedicated and that we don’t just run away at the first sign of trouble.”
“That’s smart, I didn’t think about it that way,” Abby said, feeling better. “Maybe everything really will be okay.”
“It’s going to be great, I’ve thought about it a lot,” Yvonne said. “You know, you really should pay better attention to the world around you.”
“I knew something was going on, I just didn’t know it was…” she trailed off. “You’re probably right, but working two jobs doesn’t make it very easy.”
“Well, you won’t have to do that anymore,” Yvonne said, grinning at her. “Not after tonight.”
Before she could thank Yvonne again, Dr. Simmons interrupted them, “Now that you’ve all had a few minutes to look over your new schedules, get yourselves to class,” he said. “My students stay behind. We’re going to get started right away.”
Quickly turning over the page in front of her, she scanned it quickly, her heart sinking when she saw biology at the top. “Looks like I’m stuck here,” she said, looking over at Yvonne. “What’s yours say?”
“Uhhh, I’ve got ethics in medicine,” Yvonne moaned. “I’m going to have to drink a gallon of coffee to make it through that class first thing in the morning.”
“I’ll trade you,” she said, then noticed Dr. Simmons glowering at them from the front of the room. “You’d better go.”
Yvonne looked over at Dr. Simmons and jumped to her feet. “I think you’re right,” she said. “I’ll meet you out front after class.”
The room emptied out, leaving only ten of them sitting in the huge classroom.
After stealing a quick glance around at her fellow classmates, a wave of disappointment washed over her.
She was the only woman in the group, which meant she’d have to be constantly fighting to be treated equally.
As if that wasn’t bad enough, three of them were frat boys and wouldn’t pull their own weight.
That left her with six other classmates who could be counted on to do their share and work as a team.
“The ten of you will be working closely together for the next semester,” Dr. Simmons said.
“Let’s start things off by moving you closer together.
There is no sense in straining my neck if I don’t have to; these five tables here in the middle will be perfect.
I’ve assigned you lab partners. When I call your names, choose a table and have a seat. ”
Her name came up in the third pairing and she held her breath until Dr. Simmons uttered one of the names she’d been dreading, then let it out in a disappointed sigh.
“Take that table there, you two,” Dr. Simmons said, waving his hand at them.
“You’re lucky I paired you with Jackson, Ms. Stewart.
He’s an excellent student, and hopefully it will rub off on you. ”
Her cheeks burned with embarrassment and anger as she made her way across the room, wondering what she’d done to deserve Dr. Simmons's horrible treatment, then sank into a chair at the table he’d pointed to.
She became aware of Jackson sitting next to her only a second later but refused to look over at him, afraid that she’d end up taking her anger out on him.
Instead, she stared straight ahead, fighting for calm as the rest of the students took their seats, praying that the tears stinging her eyes stayed where they were.
“What did you do to him?” Jackson leaned over and asked. “He’s going after you like you ran over his dog.”
“I didn’t do anything to him,” she hissed. “I guess he just doesn’t like me. Of course I don’t have a big trust fund or connections to important people like some people around here do, maybe that has something to do with it.”
“Hey, don’t take it out on me,” Jackson said, instantly defensive. “And you don’t know anything about me. I don’t have a trust fund or connections, Dr. Simmons just likes me.”
“Well, isn’t that nice for you,” she said, turning to look over at him, her anger finally boiling over, then wishing she hadn’t when her eyes connected with the most beautiful pair of green eyes she’d ever seen.
Her heart did a couple of flip-flops, and what she was going to say next fled from her brain.
She found herself staring at Jackson, her pulse starting to race.
“I don’t remember seeing you before,” Jackson said. “Are you new here?”
The weird feeling that had begun to form in her middle suddenly vanished.
Her pulse raced, but for a different reason.
“I’ve been here since I was a freshman,” she said.
“We’ve had the same classes. I think we even did a group project together during sophomore year.
Are you really so self-absorbed that you don’t remember me?
Never mind, don’t answer that, just sit there and look pretty, that’s what you’re good at. ”