Simultaneously

Chapter 15

"Wait." I said stopping in my tracks.

Jess turned her head to face my direction.

"I forgot something." I annouced walking back towards my bed.

I could feel her prensence, Jess was watching me. Unlocking the zip, i reached into the suitcase and pulled out the jacket. Part of me felt attached to it, but what use was it to me? I paused, then turned around back to Jess.

'Ready?" She grinned.

I nodded in reply before she took my hand once more and lead me out.

As Jess held onto my hand, we wove in and out of the mass of people moving to their classes. I admit i was begginging to feel better now, was i just making all to much of the situation? Probably. Jess wouldnt have gone crying over a guy. But this guy was Darren. 

Jess let go of my hand as we drew into the classroom. Carly smiled at the both of us as i pulled out my chair and sat down opposite them. Carefully i took out my english folder and pencil case, and placed them on the table. 

The class blurred by, as i sat scribbling down a mess of notes. Wow i need to improve on that. 

*note to self*

Hauling myself out of my chair, me, Jess and Carly left English. My head was spinning slightly from how much we covered, but with time it would surely get easier.

"You've got arts right next?" Jess beamed.

"Yeah, but for two hours today." I replied sighing.

"Jesus, thats a long class!" Carly's eyebrows raised.

"Its because we're doing a part of our coursework already. So that basically means a huge, crap load of work to do!" i laughed.

"You're doing Pride and Prejudice right? A guy from your class does dance with me. Lewis right?" Carly exclaimed.

"Yep, thats it! Not exaclt the easiest of novels to do huh?" I answered slinging my rucksak over my shoulder.

"Wait who are you?" Jess winked playfully.

"No its not like that. Well it is. Theres no real perfomance of it as a class its just in partners. So Professor Gallagher paired us up to play the characters of Elizabeth and Mr Darcy."  i explained sheepishly.

"Now this sounds interesting!" Carly replied intreagued.

"So if you're Elizabeth..whos Mr.." Carly spoke.

"Darcy?" I interterupted.

They both look puzzled.

"Thats for me to know and you to find out!" I teased, before turning in the opposite direction and rushing off to class.

-----

By the time i entered the room, I hadn't realised how ridiculously out of breath i was. But luckily i wasn't late. Thanks to Jess id been able to keep my mind away from Darren, but I suddenly had a clenching feeling, tight in my chest. 

Don't worry about it.

He wasn't even paying attention anyway. I took a chair, and for once settled into the class. It had taken to my interest how controversial the book its self was. Not that I'd done too much research before we'd begun it.

"Indeed Austen's novel does come to reveal feminist attiudes throughout the novel, yet personally i dont think she was. i highly doubt she would have considered herself a femninist." Proffesor Gallagher spoke. 

Timidly, I rose my hand.

"Yes, Andy?" He spoke.

"i understand your point Professor, that there are many potentially anti-feminist messgaes in Jane Austen, including the rights for women to marry. Yet to read Austen as anti-feminism is to lose sights of purpose of feminism Professor Gallgher. Austen lived in a time when the very notion that women could hold rational opionions and manage their own affairs was highly contreversial, and while Austen is certainly not radicial in the sense that Mary Wollenstonecraft is, she repeatedley demonstrates that women who are slaves to emotion or who follow dictates of social expectations over their own intelligence cannot thrive." I announced, my confidence growing.

"Wow Andy, that was a very mature answer, and well opinionated too." He smiled.

I automatically felt my face go a deep pink.

"Class take that view into your own accounts and perhaps use that to your extent. Well done Andy." Professor Gallagher spoke proudly.

The rest of the class turned round to my attention all grinning.

"I'd take that into your own account as well Mr. Criss, sounds like your partner has an opinion of her own" Proffesor Gallagher announced in Darren's direction.

My fists clenched, and my eyes darted across to him immediatly. 

As I was staring he suddenly jerked his head to move his hair, each thread then fell perfectly, weaving together into curls that framed his tanned face. He paused for a moment, tapping his pen quietly on this book, before lifting his head up and smiling slightly towards me.