Chapter Ten
I step around the desk and stand next to Winnie, pointing at the spot on her screen where she was taking notes. "That right there is where you want to focus for this paper. Do you see how working an outline for that would benefit this type of company you're developing?"
"Oh, okay. Thanks, Bennett." I give her a quick head nod before walking down the rest of the aisle.
Although it was in the syllabus and they could have started this project at any time, we've officially begun work on their presentations.
They won't be due until next week. I've made it clear that, as a beginning class, I'm only looking for a basic outline, nothing too detailed for what they've chosen.
Plus, they are using businesses that already exist to make it easier.
I walk down the last row of students, checking progress and aiming to break up the whispering I can see going on in the back corner.
This is a group project, but no student smiles that much when doing work.
I pass by Nelson and Tyler. I paired the students up based on personalities, hoping that their similar styles would work out.
Tyler is quiet during class, but his quiz scores and answers when I call on him reflect that he understands the material.
Nelson is typing, slowly, on his laptop, but I see a bunch of notes scribbled on his notebook so I'm not concerned.
The two boys in the back, however, keep sharing glances and snickering.
This project is definitely not one that would cause laughter.
They're too busy staring at their screens with smirks to notice me walk around so I come up from behind them and can see their screens.
What I see makes me see red instantly. I have an immediate reaction to slap their laptops closed, turn them in to the Dean, and give them a zero for this project, but instead I take a few quick breaths and walk back up to the front.
"Everyone, eyes up here." I've not used this tone with the class before and immediately all of them stop and stare at me.
Even the two in the back are staring stone faced.
"Most of you might be fresh out of high school and still think you mean something to this world.
To a select few, that might be true. However, once you get into the real world, you'll quickly realize that you are the bottom of the totem pole.
You're interns and entry level jobs. You're the person that gets blamed for the coffee tasting like shit in the morning.
You are the one that is answering to the older generation that is already running these companies.
" I make an effort to look across the room, although I want to just stare at the boys.
"You will not get far in life by belittling others and those that could potentially help you further your career.
" This time I do look at them. "If I see that anyone is bullying or making comments toward another student, regardless of the reason, you will get an automatic ten percent cut on your final grade. Am I clear?"
There's a unanimous mumbling of 'Yes' from each of the students.
I give a pointed look to the two in the back and I get a rush of satisfaction at seeing them with their heads bowed and avoiding eye contact.
The picture flashes in my mind again. It was of Nelson's back, clearly taken from where one of them is sitting right now.
There were comments made around the picture, very juvenile Mean Girls style.
Things like he's such a slow typer, why is he here, he asks too many questions, wonder if he's divorced or going through a mid-life crisis.
I wave a hand in the air, dismissing them to go back to their projects for the last twenty minutes.
I sit down at my desk and make myself busy.
I have one student come up and ask me a question, but other than that, I don't get much else done.
I see the words they said and picture the Nelson that I shared a bed with.
I know they're fresh from high school, but I don't recall being like that at their age. It just pisses me off.
"Um, Bennett?" I blink and look up to see Nelson standing in front of my desk. I glance around, realizing everyone else has left. I look at my watch in surprise. I've been in my own head for the last ten minutes.
"I totally spaced out there," I admit. "Sorry, did you need something?"
"Uh, I was just going to ask you about your little outburst earlier. I'm assuming that was about me?"
"I don't take kindly to bullying of anyone."
"I appreciate it, but honestly it doesn't bother me. I know what I'm here for and they aren't going to deter me from achieving that."
"That's a healthy attitude to have," I say.
I stand up and move around the desk to lean against it.
I'm only a few inches away from him and the urge to reach out and lay my hand on his is tempting.
"But either way, I don't stand for bullying.
If they'd done it to one of the females or someone else, I would have said the same thing. "
"So the 'I want to murder someone' look wasn't for my benefit?
" I can hear the change in his tone and it relaxes me.
I give him a shoulder shrug and pretend to flick a piece of lint off my arm that isn't close to him.
I know my cheeks are turning red. "Either way, thank you for that.
If that's how you were in the high school, I'm sure you helped a lot of students who were secretly struggling. "
"Speaking of high school." The flash of Tuesday morning comes back to me, when he was driving me home. "I don't know if it compromises anything or makes it weird, but I was your nephew's high school teacher for a semester."
"What?"
"Yeah, I tried to hide my face the other day.
I'm not sure if he saw or recognized me, but just so you're aware.
" The nerves are creping back in, mostly because I really don't want that to change anything.
I want to keep our promise of waiting until the class is over and then deciding what we want to do. I know what I want.
"Does… That bother you?" His tone is unsure and adorable. It's the same when he wasn't sure if I was staying the night or not.
"Not really," I say. "It isn't like I'm still his teacher or anything. I just wanted you to know, though."
"I appreciate it," he says with a smile. "Anyway, I have to get going. I'm looking at another apartment in a couple of hours so I'm going to go grab some lunch."
"No luck on the last one you looked at?"
"It was okay, but it smelled like straight weed when I walked into the apartment.
Apparently it's from the upstairs neighbor.
" He sighs and I can see he's tired of this search.
"I'm all for people doing what they want, but I get headaches from the smell.
Tried it once in high school and never again for that reason. "
"Yeah, I get whiffs every so often at my apartment. Is there a reason you aren't looking at houses?"
"The lack of credit mostly," he says quickly.
I wasn't expecting the honestly, but I nod anyway.
"I planned to live and die on the farm, honestly, so things like credit cards or anything really weren't an issue I needed to face.
I know I should have planned a bit better, but it is what it is and I'm facing it now.
Plus, there aren't many houses within the city and I can't afford the land prices around this area. "
"Don't feel bad. I lived on my parents' money until I moved out a few years ago. I only learned about credit and all that goes with it when I went to college and took a class. It's tricky and can take time, but you're making the right moves to keep yourself afloat, so give yourself props for that."
"I appreciate the pep talk," he says with a nod. "I'll see you on Monday, then."
"See you then. Have a good weekend."
"As good as I can," he replies and disappears into the hallway.
I know I'm smiling at the spot where he just was and I know I shouldn't be, but I can't help it.
He's too damn cute. I want to catch up to him, invite myself for lunch, but I don't. Maybe I can think of a reason to see him this weekend. Or at least call him.
My phone rings as if on queue and I pull it out of my pocket quickly.
My smile only dims a smidge when I see it's Hayley and not Nelson.
We exchanged phone numbers, but neither of us have seen the first text.
I don't know if he even cares for texting, since I always see him taking phone calls. "Hello?"
"Hello, Professor." Her voice is sultry and I roll my eyes. "I know I've been such a bad student, but I was wondering if there was anything I could do to make up for it?"
"Oh my god, shut up. Where is your wife?"
"Right here!" I hear a yell in the background. "I told her not to do it, but she wouldn't listen."
"He loves me, no matter how weird I am or how much I make him blush. Your face is red, isn't it? Are there people around that can tell me?"
"I'm in the classroom alone," I inform her. "My last student just left."
"Damnit," she says. It makes me roll my eyes. "Anyway, I was wondering how busy you are this weekend?"
"Uh, not terribly, why?"
"Jackie wants to go on a babymoon and I want to see you, so we thought about coming there. It's been too long since I've held you in my arms."
"No wonder your wife is pregnant with all that smooth talking you do." I move back around and gather my things, balancing the phone between my shoulder and ear.
"She loves me. And so do you. So, got plans this weekend?"
"Not anymore," I say. I didn't have any to begin with but she doesn't need to know that. "Do you need help booking a hotel? I would offer my apartment, but it's one room."
"Nope, I have it all booked already. I was going to surprise you, but someone had to make sure it wasn't a wasted flight. Pregnancy hormones, man. It makes her crazy."
"Oh, I am not about to be witness to a murder." I sling my bag over my shoulder and laugh as I head to the door. "Text me flight details and I'll make sure to pick you up at the airport."
"It might just be me coming!" Jackie shouts before something that sounds like a magazine hitting my best friend's head comes through and the line goes dead.
I spend the rest of the evening cleaning the apartment and making a list for the grocery store.
I have a mild panic when the house smells too strongly of bleach and the grocery list is lacking.
I have no clue what pregnant people like to eat.
Before I know it, I have the phone to my ear, waiting for the person on the other line to pick up.
"Bennett?" Nelson's voice is deep and he sounds sleepy. It's only then that I realize the sun has long since gone down and I probably just woke him up.
"I'm so sorry. I didn't realize the time at all when I picked up my phone." I start to pull the phone away from my ear to hang up, but his voice comes fast.
"Is everything okay? And it isn't too late, I just fell asleep on the couch."
"Is your back okay?" I forget about my problem for a moment. I hear him let out a yawn, but his next words I know he says through a smile.
"I'll be okay. What did you call for?"
"Oh that, right. Uh, what do pregnant people like to eat?"
There's a few seconds of coughing on his end before he's back on the line. "I'm sorry, what? Why would you need to know that?"
"I have a friend visiting this weekend. It's her and her wife's babymoon, whatever that is, and they're coming here to visit. Her wife is pregnant and I don't know if I used too many chemicals while cleaning my apartment or what foods I should go buy."
"Slow down." I directs me to take a few deep breaths. I do as he asks, but I feel no less settled. "First off, why are you asking me this? Surely you have someone you know that is or was pregnant?"
"I have a sister," I admit. "Not going to lie though, in my panic I forgot she existed."
Nelson's laugh carries through the phone and I slump my shoulders. "Don't laugh at me. I only get to see Hayley on the rare occasion now so I want to make sure their stay is good."
"You are overthinking this," he says. "Plus, pregnancy comes with some unexplainable cravings. I'm sure your friend will be able to tell you what they like."
I sigh, knowing that he's making sense. I can feel the embarrassment creeping up my neck.
"I'm sorry for bothering you," I say. "I just panicked a bit."