Grace Notes

Chapter 18

Lola's POV-

The next evening was my fifth class since the semester started. During the whole day, I had been stressing about how quiet Harry had been yesterday, as well as the whole student handbook situation. I thought all day long about how I could ask him why he was suddenly so distanced, and practiced out several ways on the way to even start that conversation. And by the time I parked on campus and Sarah and I went in, I felt ready and prepared.

"You go on ahead" I told Sarah when we got to the classroom.

"What?"

"I'll be in in a second" I shooed her further.

She seemed to understand that it had something to do with our professor because she cast me a knowing look before ducking in the room.

My plan was to wait for Harry to show up, stop him in the hallway, and just be blunt about it all. He would be away from everyone else, which was good, and it would be on campus to avoid walking over to his unit and him choosing not to open the door for me. Though I couldn't imagine I could have done anything to make him that mad.

As the clock ticked, my other classmates passed me to go in the room. I glanced at my phone and saw there were three minutes until class was supposed to start, so he should arrive any minute.

I heard the door down the hallway open and looked up. He had his rolling bag behind him and his glasses sitting on top of his head. This evening, he was wearing a sweater, masking away his tattoos, which I was kind of disappointed about.

When he saw me, he paused only momentarily before continuing his sway down the hall.

"Professor" I greeted when he got close enough that I wouldn't have to yell.

"Miss Sailor" he gave me a subtle nod, but didn't stop.

"Hey"

That got his attention. Again, he paused, his emerald eyes hovering in my gaze.

"Uhm, so about yesterday"

"What about yesterday?" he asked coldly.

"What was that about?"

"I don't know what you're referring to" he shook his head.

"When we were leaving you started acting all...different" nervously, I giggled a little.

I don't know why I laughed, it honestly probably made it seem really awkward.

"I have a class to teach" he shrugged, starting to walk again.

"So that's how it's going to be now?" I snapped.

He peered over his shoulder at me. "I just got out of a meeting that didn't go the way that I hoped. I'm exhausted and completely stressed out, so my request is that you give me some space. Capish?"

Then he disappeared into the classroom.

I blew some air through my lips, more than a little bit disappointed with how the conversation went, which really wasn't a conversation at all, I suppose.

Brushing it off, I joined in the class and took my spot next to Grayson. While Harry began his roll call, I got my laptop set up and pulled up Canvas. There was a little 1 next to my grades tab, which indicated that another one of my assignments had been graded. I clicked on it and was shocked to see a zero in place of the grade.

Frowning, I clicked on the assignment-a quiz that I had completely missed. How had I not seen that, and more so how did one simple failed score bring me down from an A+ to a 71?