A special thank you to Prestige Octopus for editing
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Julia lay in bed, the sunlight peeking through the gap in her blackout curtains. She still couldn't believe her luck; her top choice for graduate school accepted her and offered a full scholarship plus a sizable living stipend. The days of dollar store noodles for dinner were a thing of the past. Life couldn't be better for her right now.
Thinking back to her undergrad struggles of classes, research, work, and social obligations, it's a wonder she could graduate, much less earn a 3.87 GPA. She glanced at the clock on her nightstand. Just past eight.
"Not too bad," she thought, "that leaves plenty of time to grab some breakfast and do one more walk off campus before lunch." She jumped out of bed and walked across her apartment to the bathroom to shower. Before hopping in, she looked at herself in the mirror.
Julia never found herself unattractive. Sure, she wasn't thin, but she wasn't fat by any means. She existed in that space beyond "thick," but still not enough to be considered a BBW. She turned around in front of the mirror, her 34D chest and full hips swaying, while her wavy brown hair bounced against her shoulder blades.
"This will be the year I finally commit to the gym. I don't have work, class, and research. I can finally focus on myself." She exhaled deeply and then opened the shower door and stepped in. While the hot water ran down, she mentally ran through her day: coffee, campus walk, and reviewing course materials one last time.
--
Jacob Gupp, a graduate student in the religious studies department, briskly walked through McCrady Hall, dressed in his usual khaki shorts and a floral button-down. He was on a mission; he had an appointment with Dr. Francine McCullugh, Dean of Religious Life and Studies. She also happened to double as his mentor. Known for her no-nonsense approach to education and institutions, she would cause most people to think twice about a meeting, but not Jacob. Ever since his Sophomore year, he and Dean McCullugh gathered at least once a month to discuss his studies and his post-graduation plans.
Upon his arrival, Mrs. Perrum, the dean's administrative assistant, greeted him, "Good afternoon, Mr. Gupp. Dean McCullugh is running a little behind schedule today. She is terribly sorry for the inconvenience and grants you permission to wait in her office." Jacob glanced at his cell phone. It's not like her to be late for their meetings, especially since the new Latin TA starts tomorrow.
Much like her demeanor, Dean McCullugh's office would be the definition of intimidating, perfectly clean without a single item not tucked away neatly somewhere. The walls were lined with books, sorted in perfect alphabetical order. On the wall behind her desk sat three large, framed displays. Two of her most prized artifacts were in the middle, flanking a portrait of herself. On the left, a set of leather bindings rumored to belong to Rahab. On the right, a metal dowel about a foot long and about two and a half inches across.
In the portrait, the Dean's jet-black hair was pulled back into a tight bun with not a single flyaway to be found. Her stern look showcased her high cheekbones and long nose. She wore a black blazer and a white blouse. Although not pictured, Jacob assumed her ensemble was completed with her typical pencil skirt, black leggings, and simple black heels.
A few minutes later, the door swung open as the click-clack of Dean McCullugh's heels announced her arrival. Jacob jumped out of his chair as she entered the room, "Good morning, Dean McCullugh."
She nodded at him and gestured for him to sit down. Sitting down, the Dean began working as if Jacob wasn't there. After what seemed like an eternity to Jacob, pulled a yellow folder from her desk drawer and looked at him. Her piercing green eyes fixated on him, sending a chill down his spine. She was known to be to the point, but how she looked at him this time was different.
"Apologies for my tardiness Jacob. Due to certain changes, I had other matters to attend to." The way she emphasized "changes" confirmed Jacob's theory. Something was off. "But how is our newest grad student and teaching assistant settling in?"
Jacob stammered a bit, trying to compose himself.
"She-she m-m-moved into her apartment yesterday, and looking at class registration, it appears that the Unbrill siblings did as they were told and enrolled in her class."
The dean relaxed a bit; a small, wry smile crept across her normally stern, unforgiving face.
"Perfect. How long do you think it will take?"
"I expect us to begin within the first week, and she should be ready by the end of the year."
"Good. Ensure she receives her first 'gift' within the week. We cannot afford any delays now that the clock has started."
"Yes, ma'am."
"Before I release you to your other duties, I must remind you of our meeting tonight. It is more crucial than ever for us to be focused and in sync for the coming days."
"Of course, ma'am. I will be there. Should we change our focus should things go well, or do we keep the course?"
"No, that is not necessary. Continue with everything as normal. We know the timeline."
He nodded, then stood up to leave, shuddering at the thought of their meeting. It felt like it had been forever since their last one, but knew this one was the most crucial.
--
Everything about The Golden Roast screamed college coffee shop. The same green and gold of the school adorned the menu. Several drinks were named for prominent buildings or departmental puns. The baby-faced freshman looked at campus maps draped across the tables and discussed what clubs to join. The line extended almost to the door. It felt like home.
The scene behind the counter could not have been a greater juxtaposition to inside Julia's head. Several baristas buzzed around in the tight space, careful not to spill any scalding contents on their co-workers or customers. The sounds of spoons clanked against ceramic mugs and added to the cacophony behind the counter. The noise and bustle would have been overwhelming for most, but for Julia, the environment of The Golden Roast put her at ease.
The service was quick despite the unending line of people with increasingly complex orders. After only a few minutes, Julia received her usual order of a caramel latte and croissant. She searched for a moment before finding a spot in the middle of the room and sat down.
Steam rising from her latte, she inhaled deeply to take in the aroma before biting her croissant. As she chewed, her mind began to race again, "What if the students are unruly? What if she and Dean McCullugh don't get along? What if she isn't teacher material?" The onslaught of questions and insecurities assaulted her mind for the moment.
She swallowed and cleared her head. That's just the anxiety talking; everything will be perfect. They wouldn't have offered a full scholarship and a full living stipend if they didn't think she could make it. This reassured her and settled all the negative thoughts. She looked around the coffee shop and remembered she was in her element. Taking in her surroundings one last time, she centered herself and finished off the breakfast.
She gathered her belongings to leave, but a fairly fit gentleman seemed to head straight for her. His face was familiar, but she couldn't place it for whatever reason. She was on the other side of the country; how could she possibly know anyone here? It's not like he wasn't attractive; his floral shirt paired well with his green eyes. His smile looked genuine like he wanted to be here, not just some errand boy. He carried a thermos in one hand and waved at Julia with the other, which held a yellow folder.
She waved back, unsure of what was happening. As she did, the man quickly increased his pace and closed the distance. As soon as he arrived at the table, he set his coffee down and held out his empty hand. "Hey! You must be Julie, the new TA. I'm Jacob, another one of the department's graduate students. I'd like to welcome you to Everspring. Dean McCullugh sent me to show you around and answer any last-minute questions you might have."
Julia smiled and shook his hand, "it's a pleasure to meet you, Jacob. Wow, that's amazing. I appreciate it. Not that there are many places to go, but how did you know where to find me?"
He chuckled and gestured to his thermos. "I was just here to get my refill and happened to see you. As for you knowing it was you specifically," he opened the yellow folder, her student ID picture paperclipped to the front of a stack of papers. Dean McCullugh gave me this and told me to find you. Oh, and we had met when you came by last fall for a visit."
She gestured to the folder, "So, is that like my big brother profile from every campus visit?" she said, jokingly.
Jacob laughed, "No, nothing like that. We keep that one hidden. It's just copies of all the paperwork you've already done. The dean wanted me to have a copy should anything arise. No personal information, just access forms and the like."
"Hurray for bureaucracy," she quipped.
"So, what's on the agenda today? As I said, consider me your guide for the day. We can start with one last campus walkthrough, we can go to your classroom and get it set up, or you can tell me to kick rocks. Your choice."
"My room? I'm not sharing it with anyone else?"
"Nope, Dean McCullugh gave strict instructions that you're to have your own dedicated classroom. Not sure what specific research you're doing, but the Dean doesn't want anyone to be in your way."
"Wow. I don't know if I should be honored or freaking out that she's putting that much faith in me.
"A little bit of both would be healthy. She's not a woman of frivolity, so if she's doing this, that means she has high hopes for you."
"No kidding. Anyway, I think I'll take you up on that campus tour."
