Conundrum

Part 23

theSingingDragon

Jamie rummaged through his pantry, throwing half of the junk on the floor or the countertop. Most of it was just that - junk. Probably for the best, considering the kind of week he and Lydia went through. Pausing mid-removal of a bag of chips, Jamie tried to recall just what Lydia's week had been like. He couldn't help feeling a little bad that he didn't have the foggiest idea.

After arranging a satisfactory collection of sugar, salt, and other various carbs, Jamie stuffed them in a bag and headed over to pick up a pizza, then to the dorms. There was a long pause between knocking on Lydia's door and the sound of it unlocking. Jamie wasn't skilled enough to really read her face other than to see she seemed tired.

"I brought the trash." Holding up the bag of food and the box of pizza, Jamie offered his best grin. Lydia's was roughly the same.

"So," began Jamie as he set the goods on the counter. "Movie, board game, card game, video game, paper mache?"

"Um." Lydia drummed her fingers. "Let's just eat first, deciding all that could take a while."

"Oh. Yeah, that makes sense."

Lydia went to grab some plates as Jamie pulled out the items. There was an audible pause behind him after she had opened the cabinet door.

"Hey, um..." Lydia started, and Jamie had to force himself to wait, to not turn around and ask her what was wrong. "... Have you ever disagreed with a teacher?"

"I mean, there was my intro to engineering professor and my data analysis one, technically data structures too but he was a TA and mostly just ignorant and annoying." Jamie stopped himself. "But, uh, why do you ask?"

"I just...." She pulled the plates out from their stack and onto the countertop with a surprisingly subtle clatter. "Well, there was this professor that I, well I had thought pretty highly of, and.... I don't know, I guess I'm really just not sure right now."

A hundred trillion gut reactions came to mind. No. No, no, no, he needed to listen right now, not jump in before he fully understood the problem.

"How... what... how so?" Third time's a charm.

"Well, I mean, it's not like I ever thought he was perfect." This time when Lydia closed the cabinet door it felt rushed, given the louder than expected boomph sound. It almost made Jamie jump, it'd been so quiet. Another pause, then Lydia brought the plates over and they could more or less see each other's faces again. "Like he's definitely crazy once you get to know him, but he always knew what he was doing."

"Wait, is this Bakerson?" Jamie blurted.

Instantly Lydia's expression changed and Jamie could tell he had made the wrong move. "No, it's not him. Listen, that's not the point, I, hmm...."

Listen. Listen, Jamie. She needed him right now and no matter what it was he was ready to go to bat. But, of course, he needed to know what the problem was.

"I'm sorry, I'll try not to interrupt."

In a look he would have expected if he suggested reversing gravity, Lydia stared at him in utter bewilderment.

"What?" Did he sound insincere?

"I... I've just. Why are you being so un-opinionated right now?"

"I'm not always opinionated!"

"Are you alright? Did Andi blow up your homework again?"

"What? No!" Now Jamie couldn't stop the words if he tried. "I just want to know why my sister is crying in her second favorite laboratory, is that so wrong?"