Finding Ourselves, Together.

Edith--2.9.22

Tuesday, 10:13

You've gotta be shitting me.

The universe is totally against me today. The power in my building went out, leading to my phone dying instead of charging, resulting in a failed alarm, making me late for the first class of the day. I'm currently on the city bus which, thank whoever is out there, didn't leave without me (though it damn near did). I'm two blocks away from campus and the traffic has no business being this slow. After what seemed like forever, the wheels finally began to roll once more.

I desperately jogged down the hall to my classroom, where my professor was marking up the whiteboard. I quietly slip in while his back is turned--would've gotten away with it too, if it wasn't for this rotten door ratting me out. With a painfully loud squeak, the door announces my arrival to all the occupants of the room. Dr. Cooper slowly turns around, his eyes narrowing at me through his thick glasses. "So nice of you to join us, Miss Archer," he says in a bored tone. "Do try not to disrupt the class when you enter, yes?" That was rhetorical of course--dude didn't even let me open my mouth before he proceeded with his lecture.

I sighed, blowing my frizzy hair out of my face from the cardio I had to endure on my way here. I scan the room and find an open seat next to a lanky blonde guy with freckles painted across his cheeks and nose. Looks friendly enough, I think. I plop down next to him and try my best to tune in to the lecture. I reach down to retrieve my earbuds from my messenger bag and the guy next to me takes it as an opportunity to peer down my shirt as best he can (not smooth at all). My head snaps up and I make eye contact with him, scrunching my nose. I really don't want to deal with anyone or anything today.

I move over a seat to the left.

I'm half paying attention to the lesson, half drowning the professor out with my tunes. I'm grooving to The Neighbourhood when this pale kid strolls in. Well, mostly pale--his face is white as a ghost with crimson hickeys trailing down his neck. An hour has passed since I arrived, and Dr. Cooper doesn't even bother turning around at the new arrival. The blonde creep to my right flags him down and the pale guy nods, making his way to the available seat between us.

He's not too bad-looking, actually. His sharp facial features are framed by pretty dark curls, and a pair of black holes are present instead of eyes. He's rocking super chunky Converse platforms and techwear pants with useless straps, complete with a black sweater with two hearts and skeletal hands on the chest. I gotta admit, the love bites are a bit out there, but the fit in its entirety is fire.

Curly hops over the seat next to me and daps up the blonde. "Damn dude," he says, staring at his friend's marks. "What did you do last night?"

The pale boy rolls his eyes and rubs his neck. "I'd rather not talk about it, Jake." He peers at what's written on the board. "The fuck? Please tell me we can pick partners."

Partners?

My gaze shoots up from my phone to the board and, sure enough, we have a semester project.

"Language, Parsons," Dr. Cooper scolds loudly. "To answer your question: no, I will be choosing your partners for this assignment." The class sighed collectively as the professor pulls a fishbowl from under his podium. Is he serious? I wonder. He begins to call students to draw names and find the classmate they are to work with. I dig my nails into my palm and wonder if I can request a solo assignment.

"Archer! Parsons! Front and center!"

I look at the guy who came in after me and head down to the teacher while he sits with his face in his hands, still grieving we have to work with someone we can't choose. "Since you and Mr. Parsons were both late, I'm assigning you two to work together." He ducks his head down and lowers his voice. "You're quite a good student, Edith," he states. "That's the other reason I want you guys together. I believe he'd do better if paired with someone like you."

I'm flattered, really, but there are a few issues here. I'm shit when it comes to talking to new people, I'm nowhere near as good a student he thinks...the list goes on. It's not like I can say no though. I take a breath and nod, going to fill in my partner. Jake looks at me and whispers something in his friend's ear, making him playfully push him. I stand in front of him, waiting for the right moment to speak.

"So, I take it we're working together?"

Damn, guess it doesn't take a genius to figure that out.

"Yeah," I exhale, relieved he spoke first.

"Cool."

"Cool."

I just stand there and he just sits there and we're staring at each other so awkwardly but it isn't so bad because I realize those aren't pits of darkness I'm looking into; it's a pair of brown eyes. They look so inky from afar I thought they were black, but if you look close enough it's a cute chocolate color.

I blink. I've been here for too long.

He chuckles nervously.

I stick out my hand and he does the same.

"Edith," I say softly.

"Archer." He cocks an eyebrow.

"Parsons," I reply.

"Arny." He smiles.