Chapter 15 Elijah
Elijah
I snap a picture of my croissant, angled so my orange juice is in the frame.
“Oh, you’re one of those aesthetic types.” Katelyn jokingly rolls her eyes, peering over my shoulder.
I send the picture off to Tobias, waiting to hear the ‘swoosh’ so I know it’s delivered before I put my phone down.
“He likes to see what I’m eating.” I smile, picking up my croissant.
It wasn’t too long ago that I was barely eating at all.
Grief comes in heavy waves and sometimes I’m not all that good at staying on a regular food schedule.
But, I know that Tobias is counting on me to take care of myself so I’m working on it little by little.
Keeping him happy is enough motivation for me.
Between classes, Katelyn insisted on us eating breakfast outside today by the flowerbeds. The weather is getting cooler every single day so while the sun still shines, getting outside is a priority.
“He really takes care of you, huh?” She glances over at me before taking a bite of her granola bar.
I nod. “Yeah, I think we take care of each other.”
Katelyn barks out a laugh, making my eyebrow arch. “What?” I ask.
“Nothing, it’s just that—” she tucks a strand of her black hair behind her heavily pierced ear. “I dated you and you’re not exactly the caretaker type.”
“Um, ouch.” I throw a crumb at her and she successfully dodges it. “I think I take care of him just fine.”
“Yeah, suuuure.” She laughs, shaking her head.
“I have a completely different relationship with him than I did with you. Sorry.” I shrug, chomping off a big bite.
Katelyn’s eyes shoot up as she digests my clap back, making me smile. I mean, what does she know anyway? We only dated for a semester.
“Well, I’m excited to find my perfect someone.” She pouts, looking out at the passersby.
“The perfect person will find you. Trust me.” I sigh.
Katelyn lets out an exaggerated groan. Tossing her wrapper in the garbage can beside us. “Of course you’d say that. Only annoyingly happy lover butts can say that.”
“Lover butts?” I tease, dusting off my hands.
“Yup.” She nods matter-a-factly, shifting her sunglasses down on her face and folding her arms across her chest.
Leaning back to sunbathe, I take a moment to think about who I could see her with.
“Okay, what’s your type?”
She gives me a deadpan, making me laugh.
“Ohhh. It’s me. Got it.”
“No.” Shakes her head, nudging me with her arm. “Definitely not. I want to date someone nice. You’re an ass.”
“Sure, sure, sure.” I roll my eyes. I begin looking around the quad, seeing the various types of humans. Spotting a pretty brunette, with glasses. She’s a little taller than Katelyn which may be right up her alley. “Got one.” I tilt my chin in her direction. “What about her? Looks artsy.”
Katelyn looks over and zones in. “Oh, yeah, she’s cute.” Right until a tall man in a letterman jacket comes over and throws his arm around her shoulders. Katelyn groans. “Ugh. Figures. Jocks are always taking my love interests.”
I chuckle at her snip towards Tobias, because she’s right, he’s a total jock hottie.
“Ewie, you’re totally thinking about your boy toy right now.” She nudges me again.
“No, I’m not.” I lie. “It’s just that he has really nice arms…and legs.” My daydream continues as I trail off.
“Snap out of it.” She laughs, waving a hand in my face. “It’s only been two days since you’ve been back and you’re already drooling.”
“Hey, all I’m saying is, don’t swear off from jocks. They’ve also got nice coc—”
“Hey!” A voice enters from behind us, making us both turn our heads.
A tall, curly dark haired guy with a trimmed beard, looks at us both with kind eyes behind square glasses.
“Hello?” I ask.
He smiles warmly, glancing between us both. “You’re both in Professor Flux’s class right? I think I’ve seen you there last week.”
I look at Katelyn who’s eyebrows raise. Okay, I think she thinks he’s cute. Jackpot?
That was easy.
“Yeah. Wanna join us?”
“That’d be amazing. I’m new here and it’d be nice to know someone.” He shifts his glasses up the bridge of his nose. “I’m Jamie.” He shakes both of our hands.
***
After getting acquainted with our new friend, Jamie, we all head to Flux’s class together.
Professor Flux leaves us in a trance, slowly pacing at the floor of the room. Our eyes follow her as she wraps up today’s lesson. “Remember, answers are easy—it’s the questions that are powerful. Don’t be afraid of ambiguity.” She winks.
“Wow, she’s amazing,” Katelyn says with a smile. Jamie exhales, raising his eyebrows, clearly agreeing with her.
This class is shaping up to be everything I wanted and more. I can’t wait to call Tobias after this and tell him all about it before he heads into work.
Everyone murmurs as they pack their things up, ending the day.
“Elijah,” she calls out to me. I whip my head to see Flux leaning on her desk, arms crossed. “Can I have a moment?”
“Sheesh, again? Two weeks and she’s already calling you by your first name.” Katelyn murmurs beside me, a hint of jealousy I detect in her tone.
I nod my head to the teacher and pat Katelyn on the arm. “I’ll catch up with you guys. Grab each other’s number so we can keep in touch.” I look over at Jamie who’s face has now turned beet red.
Katelyn’s eyes go wide as I give her a wink.
She can never doubt me as a wingman after this. I’m awesome.
Okay sure, he may have fallen into our lap but still…I’ll make it happen.
I rush down the stairs, reaching Flux as fast as I can.
She finishes up flipping through some papers on her desk before she turns to me.
“Yes, Professor?”
“How’d your weekend go?” She smiles.
This shocks me. I wouldn’t expect her to call me down here for a catch up. “I uh—had a great one. Just visited my boyfriend.”
She nods her head slowly, eyes scanning my face. “Right. I’m assuming that’s who inspired your piece.”
I hold my wrists behind my back to avoid fidgeting with my fingers. “Yeah, that’s Tobias,” I say confidently.
She nods her head and rounds the desk, taking a seat in her chair.
“Elijah, you’ve impressed me again just like I knew you would.
You think out of the box. While most students brought simple collages of their family and friends, you brought me a question.
Who?” She leans forward, clasping her hands as she looks over my face.
“What is hidden in those deep dark ocean blues? So many unanswered questions, and yet still, he’s your whole world anyways.
It’s fear. Anticipation. Uncertainty. I mean… it’s what love is.”
I feel bare. Exposed and seen.
That’s exactly it.
I inhale slowly, trying to balance out my nerves. “Thank you,” I manage to answer.
She sits back. “Elijah, I want to offer you a position this semester of being my assistant.”
My eyes widen. I feel a rush of pride hit me all at once. Her TA? Students have only dreamed of this. I’ve dreamed of this.
“That’s…an incredible opportunity.”
“I can’t think of anyone better. It’ll be all the standard TA tasks, of course. Facilitating discussions, mentoring other students, helping me with prepping work…those sort of things.” She waves her hands.
My mouth drops open. She trusts me this much with all of that? Woah.
I look away from her while I process this. I feel her stand up from her desk and slowly walk over to me, careful not to scare me even further.
“Think about what this could do for you.” She stretches her neck to meet my eyes again.
“All the teaching experience you’ll get.
Not to mention what it’ll do for your resume and all the exposure you’ll gain.
” She gives me a pensive look. “Not to mention, you’ll be making enough to cover your tuition. ”
My heart stops. Okay, that’s huge.
Tobias doesn’t think I know but he’s been putting money aside for my schooling since dad’s passed. This would alleviate all of that stress for him.
I gulp.
Am I doing this?
Fuck it.
I’d be crazy not to!
“When do I start?” I rush out.
A smile cracks on her face as she drinks in my reaction. “Oh, I’m so happy to hear that you’re interested.” She claps her hands together. This is the happiest I’ve ever seen her. Which isn’t saying much because she still has that monotone vibe to her.
She starts walking back to sit at her desk. “How about you stay after class on Friday? I could use your help on an upcoming lesson for Monday.”
A cold sweat breaks out on my forehead. Okay, so I won’t be able to drive home on Friday. That should be alright. I guess I could leave Saturday morning—
“And I’ll need you Saturday around…two p.m?”
Oh shit…
I cough slightly, clearing my dry throat. “Um…sorry, the weekend?”
She stops looking at her screen and instead turns to me, lowering her glasses on the bridge of her nose.
“I’m going to need you most importantly on the weekends.
As the school year ramps up, I’m really going to need your help preparing and getting everything sorted…
is this going to be a problem?” She squints.
I shift awkwardly, trying to rack my brain of what I should do.
I’m at school full-time and now I’m stripping away my weekends too? I’ll never be able to travel home to see Tobias until the holidays.
An ache spreads through my body as I think about not seeing his beautiful face.
Fuck. I’m not sure if I can do this.
But this is such a great opportunity. Probably one that’ll never come again.
“Elijah? Should I…ask someone else?” Her eyebrows pinch, eyes fixed on my face.
My body tenses. She’d offer this to another student? No, that can’t happen.
I earned it. I was chosen. It’s mine.
I’ll figure the rest out later.
I plaster on a smile and nod my head. “Two p.m. I’ll be here.”
That same smile pulls at her lips and she nods her head. “Perfect.” She answers simply.
Turning back to her computer, she starts typing again, effectively dismissing me without another word.
Making my way out of the auditorium, I try to think about what I just signed up for…and what I just signed away.