"Kinley, I need to see you after the lecture," Professor Gates said loudly as Kinley sat in her seat. She was first in the lecture hall, as usual since her last class was closer than the other six students in this class.
"Sure Professor, what's it about?" she asked, flipping open her book.
"We will speak after the lecture."
She looked up at him in confusion, but didn't press it. The way he was looking at her, like he was upset, made her worry though. She'd been in this class all year, made straight A's all year and never slept or messed around like some of the other students did in some classes. She was quiet, did her work, took notes and read during down time. She didn't even speak to the other students or hardly look at the Professor. She had no idea what he could possibly want to talk about.
Her Senior year at college was about to come to a close and she was preparing to graduate Summa Cum Laude, she couldn't imagine what it might be about. What she did know was that whatever it was, she needed to get it squared away quickly! She was on a strict schedule as far as her life went. She already had a promising position at one of the top forensic teams in Dayton, back near where she was from.
She stressed about it enough that she couldn't read before class, she got no studying done for her finals. She always studied before the lecture, she had a full half hour before it started once she sat down.
She looked up at the professor again, wondering why he wouldn't tell her what it was about. He was a tall man, middle aged with some silver at his temples. He looked like a man who never smiled and she knew he never made jokes like some professors did. He was super strict with turning assignments in on time and he was very no nonsense. She'd actually liked that about him, it didn't allow for distractions in his class. He always switched between the same 5 outfits, one for each day of the week. Today, Tuesday, was the burgundy sweater vest with the plaid button down shirt with the burgundy stripes mixed among the blue ones on a white background. He wore it every Tuesday without deviating. Wednesday would be the light blue button down with the tan jacket and corduroy elbow patches. Very cliche, but it looked like he had been wearing it for the past 15 years. He was orderly, neat, patterned. She had admired that.
Now he was deviating and she did NOT like that. He was about to throw her world out of sync, she just knew it.
Was it about the last assignment? Her grade on the practice test for finals? Her Thesis? She was so stressed about it, she felt sick.
By the time the other students arrived, she had worked herself into knots and was coming very close to tears.
The lecture was boring, reiterating important things they had already gone over, things that would be on the finals. She listened, but with half an ear as she made bullet notes.
When it finally ended, she stayed seated, watching him warily.
"In my office please, Miss Eberhart," he spoke as he motioned to the side door down on the speaking floor.
She went down slowly, dreading what he was about to say to her.
He held the door for her, then closed it. "Have a seat," he motioned at the chair in front of his desk.
She sat warily, watching him.
He moved in front of her, leaning back on his desk as he looked down at her.
"Kinley," he began, his voice softer than usual. "I have had you in class all year and this is the first time we have really spoken to each other. The other students have come to me asking for extensions, or with questions and sob stories. You have not. You are about to graduate, leave here forever. I wanted to speak to you before you left."
"About? Is something wrong? My test, or..."
"No. Nothing like that at all. Kinley... I have come to admire you quite a bit. Your determination, drive, passion for learning. They way you have such a solid routine and you never deviate from it. Ever."
"I... Thank you sir?"
"You can call me John. You are practically out of school now and in a few days I won't be your professor anymore. All that is left is finals. What are your plans after graduation?"
"I am going home."
"Back to Ohio?"
"Yes? How did you know that?"
"Your records, Kinley. Admittedly, I have taken a great interest in you. I have never been one for romance or dating or even trying... but I never before felt like I had a soulmate. Not until you came along. I feel safe now in telling you that I have been admiring you from afar for some time now. I wanted to ask if I might take you to dinner Friday evening."
Kinley felt poleaxed. He wanted a DATE? It wasn't about her grades or anything important at all? Just... another skeezy professor wanting to bang a college girl?
"I'm sorry Professor Gates, I don't date. If I were to date, I would still say no. I'm sorry, you are old enough to be my father. I think you are older than my father."
"Age doesn't matter, all that matters is that we are consenting adults! And I know your rule on dating, you didn't want it to interfere with school. School is practically over!"
"I said no thank you," she said, standing up and hitching her bag on her shoulder.
"Just a moment," he said quickly, standing and stepping closer, forcing her to sit down. "We can talk about this. It's just dinner, a little time to talk and get to know one another."
"I said no! I am not going to be another conquest for your wall of shame in the teachers lounge," she said angrily, scooting her chair back so she could stand.
He followed. "I have NEVER spoken to a woman like this! In class or out! I told you, I do not date! I have never dated! I have never seen anyone I thought might be a match, who met my exacting standards. You do. I think the least you could do is have dinner and give me a chance!"
"I said no! I am not going to date you! If you don't let me up and let me leave, I will call campus security!"
"Don't be ridiculous!" he said angrily, backing up a step. "I was only trying to speak to you!" he called to her back as she got up and ran out.
She shook during her walk to the dining hall. That had been... uncomfortable. And intense. He wasn't the first teacher to hit on her, but he was definitely the most odd. The others were more sly about it, dropping hints, asking plans, suggesting. When she made it clear she wasn't interested, they backed off quickly. So did most of the college boys.
She stayed stressed the rest of the day, but the next morning she was back to her routine.
Thursday, she thought about it briefly as she walked to his class, but she was sure he wouldn't mention it. It was finals, he wouldn't even be thinking about it.
She went in to her seat and he hardly glanced up, his face going red when he did. She opened her book, but kept glancing up. Every time she did, he looked away quickly, pretending he hadn't been watching her.
She almost got up to wait outside, but she decided she didn't want to be chased away. It was her last day in his lecture hall.
The others arrived and he handed out the finals. He left her to last, moving to her and holding the booklet out. She tried to take it, but he held it firmly until she looked up at him. He stared her in the eye for a moment before finally letting it go.
The test was a breeze, she had studied it enough, she flew through it. She stood when she finished and hurried down to hand it to him, then turned to leave.
"Miss Eberhart, I will speak to you in my office a moment."
"About?"
"Now."
She went in reluctantly, glancing back at the other students who had their heads down, testing. They would all hear her if she screamed.
She sat down as he came around with his hands in his pockets. "We perhaps had a miscommunication Tuesday," he said quietly.
"No. I clearly said no. I did not miscommunicate, it's a hard no."
"I explained to you that I have never once in my life asked a woman to dinner. Ever. That you were the exception and I don't think you understand the magnitude of that. You are the only woman I have ever approached this way in my life. I need you to understand the honor I am giving you in this."
"I get it, I meet your standards. You do not meet mine. I want to leave," she snapped, standing.
He put a hand on her shoulder. "Sit down until I finish!"
"If I scream, they will all come down here," she said through her teeth.
