Loving the Campus Monster

Chapter 4 (Crush?)

Laura

"Alright, everyone needs to turn in their journals by the end of the class." Professor West says as he begins the lesson for the day. I have already brought mine up, so I wait and watch as the rest of the students bring theirs up to where a growing stack of journals sits on the edge of the desk. Once everyone takes a seat again the professor sits partly on top of his desk and looks at everyone, crossing his arms. "How is everyone today?" He asks, and a lot of people just shrug or murmur "Okay's and "good". I, however, am the only one to say: "Could've been better," which gains his attention.

The professor turns to me, and I squirm a little under his stare. I'm nervous of what he might say.

Miss...." He trails off as he looks at the seating plan. "Mancini. What makes you say that?" He asks, turning back to me.

I can feel everyone's eyes on me, waiting for my response.....including Ross's.

"It- just- could've been better." I stammer out.

"Really? How so?" He asks, pushing for more.

I squirm a little in my seat. "Well, for one, it would've been better if I wasn't put on the spot like this." I say, receiving a few laughs from everyone.

But the professor's eyes stay fixed on me, waiting for me to answer.

I sigh. "It just could've been better." I finally admit.

"How would you know? You didn't experience the whole day yet." West counters.

"Because nothing exciting or new happened today to make me feel like today was going to be a great day." I answer. Professor West straightens from his desk and moves closer to me. "Repeat that."

"Uh, nothing exciting or new happened today to make me feel like today was going to be a great day." I repeat for him, not sure why he wanted me to.

He turns to the whole class then and I give a silent sigh of relief. "How many of you ever had something that took place that changed the course of what happened next, for the better?" He asks the class. Everyone raises their hands. "That's exactly what we're going to be talking about today." He moves around his desk and grabs a piece of chalk. "Whenever something good happens to you, or gives you a good feeling inside, you tend to remember it." He begins writing on the board as he talks. "There is a specific name for such things; they are called your sparks, or sparkles if you want to sound mythological. On average, a person will have at least ten major ones by the time they turn twenty. Your assignment is to make a list of yours."

"But what would count as a spark?" Someone asks.

"A memory that would be unforgettable to you. It would leave you with an extraordinary, happy, or sad feeling... even an angry feeling." West explains. "One of mine would be seeing my wife walk down the aisle on our wedding day." Some of the class "awed" and snickers. But as I look at the professor, there was happiness in his gaze, but also some sorrow, when he suddenly glanced over at Ross.

Ross' face hardens and he looks away. Mr. West blinks before looking away and clearing his throat.

What was that about?

I'm starting to get the feeling that these two do know each other.

"Okay!" He says, addressing the class again. "Would anybody like to share one of theirs? Don't worry, none of them will be a wrong answer."

A bunch of hands shoot up in the air as some begin yelling out theirs.

"Re-uniting with my dad after he finished his first tour in Iraq."