It had been a long, hard four years, but the day had finally come - graduation! I felt an overwhelming sense of pride as I marched into the auditorium with my fellow graduates, 'Pomp and Circumstance' playing over the speakers, and took my seat next to my fellow psychology majors, awaiting my turn to walk across the stage. Even the most boring of speakers couldn't dull my excitement, as I sat through what seemed like hours of talking, all the speeches and recognitions and honors that stood between me and my diploma. My mind began to wander as I sat, reflecting on the conversation I'd had just before the ceremony began, with my favorite professor.
"Sarah, glad to see you here today!"
I took his outstretched hand and shook it vigorously. "I couldn't have done it without you, Dr. Applegate, you know that!"
"Yes, I still remember when you visited my office as a shy freshman, worried about whether your application to the psychology department would be approved."
"And you took the time to read my essay, and told me to go ahead and submit everything, and just trust you, that I'd be fine."
"And then there were your visits to my office when you were in my classes, always concerned about whether your papers were good enough."
"Once again, you told me just to trust myself, trust the quality of my work. I really appreciate all of your support, Dr. Applegate!"
"Please, now that you're graduating, call me Jim!"
"Oh, OK, Jim. Well, if we're being less formal, let me tell you how nice your tie is - I see you've gone with school colors today, red and white!"
"Absolutely, this is my favorite graduation tie. And you," he said with a wink, "I'm sure you're wearing something very classy under that ubiquitous black gown?"
"Ah, I can't share that, it's one of the mysteries of the day. But I can tell you I also decided on school colors. The outfit matches the shoes, I assure you," I said, pointing to my feet, which were strapped into some thoroughly impractical open-toed red sandals with four-inch heels.
"Well, perhaps I'll see you after the ceremony? Are you coming to the department's party?"
"Wouldn't miss it - I'll see you there!"
As I thought back on this conversation from my seat in the auditorium, my eyes searched the rows of faculty seated on the stage until I found him and caught his eye. As a joke, I unzipped my graduation gown just enough to show him a peek of the outfit I was wearing underneath. His eyes widened, and I felt them linger on my chest, taking in the rather obvious cleavage I was showing off with my low-cut red dress. My mind quickly raced as I realized that my innocently-intended joke had gotten a little out of hand, and raced even faster as I realized I was anything but offended that my professor was staring at my chest.
The student in the seat next to me had to nudge me out of my fog to let me know that my name had been read and it was my turn to walk to the stage. I accepted my diploma, shook a few hands, before finally reaching the far end of the stage, where I once again was face-to-face with Dr. Applegate, um, Jim." See, in addition to being my favorite professor, he also happened to be the chairman of the department, so it was his job to offer me the final handshake and congratulate me on earning my degree.
"Congratulations, Sarah," he said as he refused my outstretched hand and hugged me instead, "and may I say," he whispered into my ear in the midst of our embrace, "very nice choice with the red dress."
I blushed hotly, and as I made my way back to my seat, could hardly believe what had just transpired. Had it really happened? Had Dr... I mean, Jim, just finished making clear that he thought I looked hot? Don't get me wrong - I knew I was hot, and I'd chosen an outfit on this important day which left nothing to the imagination - it was just that he had always been the model of appropriate behavior between professor and student. Even though I had to admit I'd had a crush on him all these years, I'd never dreamed of acting on it.
Once back in my seat, I could hardly wait for the ceremony to end so that I could get to the after-party and continue my conversation with Jim. Was I reading too much into this? Or had everything changed now that I would no longer be his student? All of these thoughts and many more occupied my attention as I hugged my family and friends who had come, took off my cap and gown and left them with my parents, and walked across campus to the building where the department's party was being held.
I didn't see Jim when I first walked in, but after a few moments, his voice behind me caused me to turn.
"So, Sarah, now I get to see the school-color outfit you mentioned!"
I twirled before him, showing off the red cocktail-style dress I'd chosen for the big day, my long blonde hair flying as I turned, before coming to rest just past my shoulders as I faced him once again.
"But I'm only seeing red, not white?"
"Ah, well, um..."
"Oh, I see. The white is represented somewhere that can't be shared in a room full of people?"
"Exactly."
"Well, Sarah, it's just like I used to tell you about your writing in my classes. Don't be afraid to make your statement clearly, right up front. Trust me, that advice will always serve you well."
"Oh, I do trust you, Jim. And even though the rest of the party doesn't need to see it, I'd be happy to show you the rest of my school colors."
It was a gutsy move, and my heart was pounding in my chest, but I decided it was time to call his bluff. Either he actually wanted me, in which case the sooner the better, or he'd back off, and I'd return to celebrating with my fellow graduates. Fortunately for me, it was the former.
"Really, is that so?"
"Absolutely. After all, I've been searching for a way to thank you properly. If it weren't for you, I probably wouldn't have had the confidence to apply to the department in the first place, and now here I am, graduated!"
"Well, if you think this is the best way, who am I to argue? My house isn't far from campus, shall we?"
We said our goodbyes to colleagues and friends, taking different paths as we gradually mingled our way to the door and snuck out. We walked to Jim's car in the faculty parking lot behind the building, and I studied him during the brief ride to his house. He was a strikingly handsome man of just over six feet, with chiseled features, an athletic build, and a bit of gray hair just beginning to show his age, which I guessed to be mid-40s. As we pulled up to his house, I had to pinch myself to confirm that this encounter really was happening.
We went into the house, and he promptly kicked off his shoes and made himself comfortable on the sofa, motioning for me to sit down next to him.
"So, Sarah, where were we?"
"I think I was sharing that the rest of my school colors are just a bit hidden."
"Oh, that's right," he said, pretending to have forgotten, a mischievous smile on his face. "Perhaps you'd like to show me?"
"It would be my pleasure," I said, climbing to my feet and standing before him. I turned so that my back was to him, and looked over my shoulder at him as I found the zipper on the back of my dress and pulled, slowly, slowly, until I was free enough to begin slithering out of the fabric. Before doing so, though, I turned to face him once again, and began a sultry dance, my hips moving back and forth as I watched the bulge grow in his slacks.
I reached up to my shoulders to free my arms from the straps of the dress, and then gradually, inch by inch, pulled the dress down over my hips until it finally fell to the floor, where I stepped out of it and kicked it aside. I was now standing in front of him in my matching bra and panties - white cotton with red polka dots - and my red heels.
"Like what you see?"
"Oh, yeah, Sarah."
