Surrounded But Alone

Chapter 5- Instant Friendship

Mitchum's Point of View;

As I was looking on my phone to find the route to the second class I heard the same timid voice from before asking someone, "Do you know where the biomedical engineering class is?"

I looked up from my phone to see Tamar asking another girl who just shrugged and said, "I have Nuclear engineering next so I don't know. I'm not really familiar with the place yet." Then the girl walked away as Tamar nodded her head in understanding. Well, I did have that class after and also need someone to open the door for me.

So I approached her and said, "I'm on my way to that class now and I have a picture of the school maps so I know the shortest way there. We can go now." She grasped her books tightly and then looked around as if she was making sure that I was talking to her.

"Why are you offering to help me?"  she asked as she held her head down. That was a very good question. It's one that I think Presley asked me when we first met also. I can't even remember what I said to him on that question. But I did know how to respond to it.

"Well, I don't feel like walking all the way back to the dorm and you have a pass to the class I'm going." She again nodded in agreement with what I said. Even if she was some child prodigy whoever her parents were should have waited until she grew up a little. She was way too timid but Presley was also at that age and still is but he made it here. I hope someone would reach out to her here and help her also. Maybe I can make that a goal.

The next class took place in a lab and the equipment in there was the latest models that I had only read about online. From the microscopes to the different types of test tubes. It looked like a scientific research lab with the difference of it having seats for students. Tamar went to sit in the back again and I decided to sit with her. I again had to tell the Professor that I didn't have my student ID with me but he didn't seem to mind. When the class started the professors mostly spoke of what we will be expected to cover during the term.

We even got to watch a demonstration of senior students' projects in genetic engineering. I was extremely excited about it and so was Tamar. When they asked for a volunteer the class seemed a bit reluctant to but I wanted to go. But I could also tell Tamar wanted to also but she hesitated in raising her hand like the others. I remembered how Presley had that same problem but I knew how to fix it.

I waited until she had halfway raised it and said out loud, "Tamer wants to go!" She looked at me and the professor saw her as she put her hand down. So he still called on her to come up.

She was a little scared as she got off her seat but I gave her a thumbs up mouthing the words, "You'll be fine."

She went up and was able to keep up with all the instructions. She was able to engineer a small heart valve using chemical components then the class applauded at the end. The senior students were impressed with her. I think I did my job of getting her to talk and fit in a little more. She didn't even notice when I left the class. I guess I'll see her around later. During the class before lunch, I met up with Lucas and James again. The class went the same as we got to see senior students' projects and the labs we will be working in. Lunchtime couldn't have come fast enough for me. The light breakfast of only cereal with milk was wearing off.

As we walked out of the classroom to go into the cafeteria Presley came out of nowhere and joined us. I didn't mind, so I introduced him to my two new friends. But the thought crossed my mind of how come he didn't find anyone new to hang out with. But I pushed that thought aside as we got to the line to order food in the cafeteria. We all had meal plans so it was simple to show our passes and pick out what they had on the menu.