Evie couldn't believe she was going to be late for class. Again. She lived about 100 metres from the Oberon Auditorium, a tall, pyramid-shaped building with glistening windows that shone like the north star of her campus. Yet, she couldn't seem to leave her dorm room until after the lecture had already started.
Chronically tardy, as her brother Tommy would call her, she was ten minutes late to her favourite class that semester, "Psychobiology of Sex, Love and Attraction." She winced as she shoved open the heavy lecture doors with her forearms, with her laptop and notes clutched to her chest. They squealed open sharply. Biting back a groan, she let the doors swing shut behind her in a hurry to get to her seat. But she had underestimated their weight, and they slammed against the auditorium walls behind her.
"Nice of you to finally join us, Miss Song."
Evie sighed softly in dismay as laughter rumbled across the auditorium. She smiled sheepishly at her professor, and lifted her arm to give him an awkward wave, half greeting, half apology, then slouched into her seat in shame.
"Now, let me introduce the topic of the day, The Love Hormone, oxytocin, the hormone of attachment. It brings people closer, bonds them. But what triggers it in the first place?" Professor Manning scanned the room, and Evie shrunk further into her seat, trying to block her face with an old notebook. She glared down at her bright outfit. That morning, she had been rather pleased with her bold combination of colourful knit and corduroy skirt. But in the sea of black and grey hoodies, she was starting to regret her choices.
"Evie, why don't you start us off?"
She supposed she deserved it. Being late more often than on time meant that she and prof were on a first-name basis.
"Physical contact. Sir."
"That's right. And can anyone tell me what else triggers oxytocin?" Evie sighed in relief once Professor Manning moved on to his next victim. Professor Manning, despite his blatant call out, was an excellent lecturer and Evie looked forward to his classes. He was a tall, greying man, legs slightly too long for his body, with kind amber eyes that made him appear perfectly approachable. She found his class fascinating, if not sometimes embarrassing, and the class discussions were always entertaining. Any points she lost for tardiness were gained from in-class participation. Evie loved a civil argument.
Evie didn't realise the lecture was almost over until her stomach rumbled, signalling that it was time for lunch.
Just as she started packing away books, her phone rang to the tune of Barbie Girl. She grinned when Tommy's name flashed on the screen.
"Cutting it a bit close aren't we? I told you my lecture finishes at 12," she said, tucking her phone between her neck and shoulder so that she could grab her bag and gather up her notes into her arms. She pressed back against her seat as her classmates squeezed past her to get to the exit.
"What, so you actually made it to class? I'm impressed," Tommy quipped.
"Ha ha, you better watch it. I'm the one finding you a flatmate."
"Only because you ditched me in the first place. I can't believe you're flaking on the pact we made when we were kids. And for what, free meals, minimal travel time, a view of the city? Traitor," he said, disgust in his voice. Evie burst out into laughter, causing several students around her to stare questioningly. She mouthed 'sorry', before weaving her way out into the main walkway of her campus towards the cafeteria.
"Sorry, honey. It's my honours year. I'm going to be practically living in the classroom. Just one more year and the plan is a go."
Tommy sighed. "Fine, who have you got so far?"
YOU ARE READING
Growing Pains
Romance"You left me. You. left. me. You ran away. How do I know that you won't do it again the next time something goes wrong?" As kids, Evie, Tommy and Abel were best friends. Kind-hearted Evie brought Tommy and Abel under her wing. Until one horrible da...
