The Degradation

Two months (2)

Moments I definitely didn't expect. And the answers to the questions I've been looking for so long.

Song: Anathema - Thin Air

It's Saturday, so there's practically no one on campus. No one wants to be here at 7 pm on a weekend. But not us, we have a match coming up, so we had to double up on training. Liam and I got out of the showers and head straight to the parking lot. I frown noticed Harry's Range Rover.

"Harry's here."

"Huh?"

"It's his car."

"What's he doing here at this hour?"

"I don't know, I'll call him."

"All right. See you tomorrow?"

"Of course, at nine on the field."

We hug each other and he waves at me and heads for his room. I pull out my phone and text Harry, keeping my eyes on his SUV.

"Are you on campus?"

"Yes."

Harry's typical answer. It makes me smile.

"...and where?"

"In the audience of philosophy."

Saturday night? Oh, yes, he and the professor are best friends. They check the work together.

"Will you be done soon?"

"Join us. x"

Ha-ha-ha. It's not even up for discussion. It's not that I hate Professor Edwards, it's just that... But who am I kidding? We can't stand each other. I'm not the model student he wants to spend his day off with. I sigh heavily. So, I can just wait for him in the hallway.

I sit on the floor in front of the auditorium entrance for ten minutes. I'm twirling the phone in my hands and sending messages when the door opens abruptly and Professor Edwards appears in front of me with a pile of papers in his hands.

"Mr. Tomlinson"

"Um, good afternoon, I mean, evening."

I stand up, leaning against the wall, feeling stupid.

"I... I'm waiting for Harry."

"He's inside, you can come in."

I run my hand over the back of my head.

"No, um, thanks, I'll wait for him here."

"I don't bite, Mr. Tomlinson."

Everything happens for the first time. He winks at me and here an obviously mocking smile on his face.

"All right."

He steps aside to let me pass. I watch him walk away in the deserted corridor and finally turn the corner. I've never seen him like this before... like a human? He usually spits at me with a red face, saying that I'm totally not good at my work.

Harry is sitting in the first row, surrounded by papers and folders. He's focused on what he's doing. I tiptoe over to him and cover my eyes with my hand.

"Guess who it is?"

He jumps, and I can feel his smile under my fingers.

"Eleanor?"

"Idiot."

I lean down and kiss his lips, then sit down next to him and look at the stack of papers. These are the dissertations we passed two days ago. I grimace.