"I try to look at this way, Vance." Jefferson Hales' smile was mild as always as he looked sideways at his Yankee friend. "As a rule we engineers have a rather bad habit of having the social skills of a groundhog. A groundhog with scrambled brains in fact. Having every one of us take an English course specifically geared toward getting our points across to the laymen is a wonderful idea."
"So says the one of us that's well spoken." For his part Eddie laughed and gave the other fellow a bump of shoulder. Whereas the budding genius was dressed in the usual blue jeans and t-shirt Jeff had him outclassed. The dark skinned man wore a blue shirt with stripes of various shades and a pair of slacks to perfectly match. As always his shoes were immaculate in their shine where as Eddie's battered sneakers had week old mud still on one side. Still neither fellow commented on the other's attire.
"I do have to admit I have some advantage in this." Jeff ran a hand over his close cropped hair. He swayed away from the American as another student going the other direction came between them -- without so much as an excuse me. As usual the halls of St. Agatha's were stuffed with folks trying to make it to mid-afternoon classes. Few college students wanted to get up early or stay late unless they had to. Jeff didn't blink an eye as he pulled back up to Eddie's side. "Then again my family had to the good sense to come back across the pond so we do not murder the Queen's E like you Americans."
Eddie's retort was good natured. "Yeah, stuff it."
With a very small chuff of amusement the civil engineer continued forward. He shifted his laptop bag lightly before sliding it off and place it on the other shoulder once he got the chance. They were making slow headway today but they should still get to the classroom with enough time.
Fortunately both men were the patient sort. Eddie adjusted his own backpack. Today was a light class day but he'd been too lazy to unpack his bag this morning. "Where was your family from the in the States, anyway?"
"My mother's family came from near Atlanta. As my grandmother tells it not so long after the Civil War our American ancestor married a British man and took her chance to get out of the brutal South." Jeff nodded slowly. His long stride was kept in check so he didn't outpace his friend. "I am quite thankful for that. Your country still has problems in that regard."
"Yes but we have plumbing that works." It was the best that the mathematician could come back with. "Does your family have any contact with those left back in America?"
Jeff's answer was quite simple and didn't even have a head shake to go with it. "No."
"Oh. Okay." Eddie couldn't help but feel there was something behind that, but he was pretty sure Jeff was not going to share the story. "Want to head down to the Metro after class?"
After taking a moment to consider the idea Jeff sighed and shrugged. "I do not think I have time to browse comics today, sorry Vance. Maybe Friday?
"Sure. Sounds good. Though then Eloise will want to come with us. I mean I don't mind but." A grin floated to the top of Eddie's expression and he winked to the taller man. His shoulders rose and fell as they made a round into the hall where the class room was.
"Why would I mind either?" Jeff snorted ever so lightly and then rolled his eyes. "Am I tad jealous that you have a ridiculously hot girlfriend that would want to come with us to a comic shop? Yes. However, she is a pleasant woman and I like spending time with her, so no worrying."
Eddie's verdant eyes widened. "Friends with benefits and I'm not worried."
"I do not know why you two keep using that term." A frown traced across the dark man's lips. "It is clear the two of you have more affection between you than that."
"It is?" A cough sputtered out of the nerd as his cheeks warmed. He shook his head emphatically. "She's the one that chose the term, not me. She doesn't want any sort of you know, ties that bind and all that."
"Then you should convince her to change her mind." With a warm motion Jeff patted Eddie's softer shoulder and squeezed.
Eddie blinked. The constant murmur of flowing crowd continued around them. "You think so?"
"If not my friend there is going to come a day where you are going to find a woman that wants to hold you tight and Miss Baker is going to regret every moment after that." Jeff clasped Eddie's shoulder again before letting go. He reached out and opened the classroom door. "Trust me."
"Yeah right." Doubt filled Eddie's heart and mind. He could hardly imagine a woman more perfect than Pi, well save being an actual woman and not a creature dredged up from Hell.
As the pair slipped into the room with minutes to spare the lady stretching atop a step stool was damn close though. The way she moved just to stroke chalk across board was like watching a figure skater gliding across ice, a very sexy skater. Eddie wasn't sure if she was wearing more or less than one of those athletes either. Jeff let out a strangled breath too. This wasn't their usual professor.
At the zenith of her arch the woman rolled her neck as breathy sigh came out with sweet undertones. Sculpted throat was exposed when straight hair as pale as any sunbeam drifted away from milky flesh. Fine muscles rippled with her next exhale before the tide of blonde hair rolled back in. She posed on tip toes for a length of time that might make the average ballerina blanch. Her feet were tiny and delicate affairs to match her petite frame and in robin blue slippers. This mysterious substitute couldn't stand more than five and a half feet at most yet there was so much energy packed into her small body, as well as just the right amount of curve. Even at rest her back remained properly bent - waiting for a man to put his large hands on her sides. She was the sort of woman that at first glance one wanted to hold but was sure at the same time she'd dissolve like a dream if touched. Coltish legs were hidden by a silky pink skirt and slim torso in tightly tucked dusky blue blouse with a few too many ruffles. On catching the blonde's profile first however Eddie and Jeff were able to gauge the size of her bust which was mote bigger than one might expect on a dancer's body. From the front the ruffles hid them quite effectively save for a tease of cleavage as the cut flowed away across graceful clavicles and left freckle speckled shoulders exposed. While Eddie 's gaze travelled to the miniature heart tattoo on the inner curve of breast Jeff had shaken off entrancement and moved to a desk.
Her pink tongue brushed against coral lips before retreating behind small teeth meant to nibble on heated flesh. Her doe brown eyes shifted to seed Eddie's fertile gaze and long black lashes bated once, then again to draw him in. Very French features lit up as she smiled and extended fragile-looking hand.
"Monsieur." Her bell-like voice matched every aspect of her appearance. It was as refreshing as cool spring rain after a day of toil. "Would you help me down? I hardly wish to topple."
"Uh. Sure." Eddie was drawn to the French woman and curled his hand around her fine fingers. Her nails grazed against his palm as she started to move.
By fate or design the she slipped and fell against his chest with her own. While her breasts were not as plush as Pi's they were still enticing as they pillowed against him. She made a small startled sound and saccharine breath brushed against Eddie's neck. Her closeness carried with it wisps of expensive perfume. Eddie, being a typical male, couldn't really but a brand to the scent or what it was besides feminine.
"Pardon." Her lips grazed at the side of his jaw as she spoke. The woman pulled away with a picture perfect fleck of red across her cheeks. "I am a clumsy beast today it seems. Merci."
"No problem." Eddie's mouth was dry and it took a moment for his tongue to actually work. His eyes remained on the fine-boned woman's own. She beat her lashes slow and steady with a gleam at the edge of such soft eyes. Then away from she drew with a chime of amusement and gathered up the step stool. He wasn't sure if she bent the way she did with the slow roll of one hip for his entertainment or not.
Either way the chosen one shook himself free of primal instincts and made his way to his seat. Plainly this woman wasn't a new student for the class but standing in for Professor... Professor... Eddie rubbed at his eyes as he folded himself in a chair. What the devil was the professor's name again? Jeff gave him a brief concerned look with a crush of brows together, but said nothing.
The Frenchwoman cleared her throat ever so light after fixing her shoulder length do. Once attention was front and center she graced the room with a cheerful smile. Around the desk she moved while Easter-blue nails scraped along her white briefcase. Once she reached the other side and leaned back with both hands against the lip of the desk she finally spoke. "Good afternoon, class. I am Dr. Fournier. As you might have guessed Professor Yew is not going to be in today. I regret to inform you that due to a medical matter he is going to be out until the end of this semester. So you are going to have to put up with me for many months. I know, so terrible."
Dr. Fournier's good humor infected the class, partially because Professor Yew was a hard-ass and the soft woman on first impressions looked like she would be much easier to deal with. Eddie curled a hand under his chin and listened. His heart slowed as she met eyes with him for a brief moment once more.
Then she looked back over the classroom. "I have gone over the class syllabus as well and I do think for the most part we shall be following it. Any changes I have to the schedule will be ready next session. Incidentally if any of you are interested in learning a finger language I have convinced the university to let me teach a basic French class as well this semester, albeit accelerated. It is great for impressing girls."
The classroom laughed, even the women.
