Track 7. Getaway Car
ETHAN
One week later …
“Ladies and gentlemen!” My Econ IV professor stood at the front of the classroom. “I want to personally welcome you to a special class called Hell on Earth.”
Everyone in class laughed as he hit the lights.
“I’m not joking,” he said, his voice terse. The laughter dissolved into silence, and everyone opened their notebooks, as he wrote a few words on the whiteboard.
“Hey.” The girl on my left cleared her throat, making me look at her.
“Yeah?” I whispered.
She smiled and just stared at me. Then she snapped a picture and left the room.
I held back a laugh.
Definitely a freshman …
“My name is Professor Hughes,” my instructor continued. “For the next semester, you need to be prepared to be pushed like never before. My job is to weed out the people who won’t make it in business school, from the people who might survive a week or two in business school.”
He began passing out his syllabus as the screen behind him lit up. The words on the screen read You have until next week to drop my class without penalty. When he reached my desk, he raised his eyebrow, but he didn’t say anything.
“If you want to pass this class, you will need to eat, breathe, and sleep economics. You will have a test every other Thursday, an analysis paper due every Tuesday, and you’re responsible for presenting a fifteen-page thesis paper on a topic that I must approve by the fifth of next month. Are there any questions?”
A few people raised their hands.
“None at all?”
More hands flew into the air.
“Very well, then.” He smiled and hit the lights. “Class dismissed.”
A few students tried to approach him with questions, but he only said, “Class dismissed.” repeatedly until they walked away.
I shut my notebook and stood to my feet.
“Mr. Wyatt?” He said looking at me. “Can you join me down at the podium for a few minutes?”
“Sure.” I made my way down, and he waited until no one else was left in the classroom.
“Mr. Wyatt, why are you taking my class this semester?”
“Because I need it to graduate.”
“You took the more advanced Econ V last year, and it pained me to give you my first A in six years,” he said, smiling.
“You’ll more than likely breeze through Econ IV, and I’ll be forced to give you another one.
” He tapped his chin. “That might affect my reputation around here as the ‘C-plus it kept my skills sharp.
“Can I expect to see you at the grand opening of the Perlman offices next week?” My father asked, finally done talking about the numbers.
I doubt it … “I’ll let you know later,” I said, watching a guy approach Rachel in the store. She smiled at him, quickly gave him her phone number, and blushed once he left.
“Hey, Dad.” I watched Rachel pick up another book. “I have to go. I’ll call you later.”
“You’d better, son.”
I ended the call and crossed the street, stopping when I made it into the store. The walls were freshly coated in pink, and with the exception of the cashier and Rachel, no one else was here.
“May I interest you in some erotica today, sir?” The cashier smiled. “Each purchase comes with a set of fluffy pink handcuffs.”
“I’ll think about it.” I smiled, and her cheeks turned red.
I walked over to Rachel, and she immediately turned around.
“Why are you in this store?” she asked, making her way to the register. “The sign out front says, No Romance Haters Allowed.”
“This place is across from my senior research assignment.” I noticed light pink makeup on her eyelids. “And I’ve told you before that I don’t hate romance. Since you know flowers, I may need your help from time to time. If I can’t find someone else who I can tolerate better, that is.”
“Well, in that case, I’ll need your help giving me a ride to campus every day and not leaving me like you did this morning.”
“I’ll think about it.” I pulled out my wallet and paid for her books. “How are you adjusting to the first week of classes on land so far?” I held the door open as we stepped out of the shop.
“The classes are fine. The social life isn’t what I thought it would be.”
“Why not?”
“Because I think I’ve ruined my chances of making any life-long college friends, since I was away for so long,” she said. “Everyone already has their set group of friends and we’ll all be going our separate ways in less than nine months.”
“Well, if you can’t make life-long friends, try making life-long enemies,” I said, smiling. “You’re great at making those.”
“Thank you for that excellent advice.” She rolled her eyes. “Always good to remember why the two of us will never be friends.”
“I’m always happy to remind you of that,” I said. “Just go to some more clubs and parties this week. It’s not that hard. Hell, you should probably go to one of the bars up the street right now and meet someone new. That would also save us from this conversation.”
“Does that mean that you’re not willing to give me a ride home?”
“It means that I’ll do it, but only if you can agree not to talk the entire way there.”
“Ugh. Fine.”
As we walked, I couldn’t help but notice how every man who caught sight of Rachel did a slow and noticeable double-take, and for some strange reason, I felt some type of way about that.
When we made it to my car, I took one long look at her as she tossed her stuff onto my back seat.
“Why are you staring at me?” she asked, looking up.
“I’m not staring at you.” I rolled my eyes. “I’m waiting on you to remember how to ride in the front seat of a car and put on your damn seatbelt.”
“Would you like me to sit in the back seat, then?”
“If Greg’s stuff wasn’t back there, I’d highly suggest it.” I cranked the engine.
“Well, if you’re going to be like that—”
“You agreed not to talk,” I said. “If you don’t want a ride, feel free to get out. If you do want one, I would prefer driving in silence.”
She glared at me as she clicked her seatbelt.
She really is gorgeous as hell now …