Project 1940S

Chapter 4

I jerked as the alarm went off, throwing myself out of the bed, staggering over to slam the snooze button and then flick the switch so it wouldn't continue to go off. I turned, looking back at my bed which had never looked more warm and inviting than it did now. 

I groaned, turning away from it, stumbling out of the dorm towards the bathroom, climbing into the shower. Being as tired as I was, I didn't see the temperature and let out a high pitched screech as cold water shot down on my body. I flinched away from it, ducking out from underneath the spray, turning the knob so that it became much warmer. 

"Unless you're dying, shut up." Clementine called through the door, sounding as exhausted as I did. It was the second week of college and we were both finding our work loads catching up to us, especially with our jobs. The grocery store was keeping me late, working till almost midnight before my shift was over. I was glad I only had one class Tuesday and Thursdays so I could get homework done before work. 

The cold shower had done its job though. I was wide awake as I stepped out of the bathroom, heading back to my bedroom to get dressed for school. 

I pulled on a pair of black shorts, grabbing the olive green v-neck shirt to toss on with it. I made sure my cross was hanging at the right length and then, after hesitating a little, put on a simple plastic black choker. 

I grabbed my makeup, applying it quickly and then brushing my long hair out. I'd probably leave it in curlers tonight. 

I went into the kitchen like area where I found Clementine making fruit salad out of the fruit we'd picked at the orchards over the weekend. I nearly moaned as I put the crisp apple in my mouth, the juice trickling along my taste buds as I bit into it. 

"So good." I muttered, grabbing the bowl and eating it with my fingers. "Okay I gotta go or I'm gonna be late for English." 

"See ya." Clementine called as I put the bowl in the sink and hurried, yanking my bag up and hurrying out of the dorm. 

I fast walked down the sidewalk, checking my watch. I had about fifteen minutes to get across the campus and I made it within nine minutes. I slipped through the doors with a sigh of relief, before smacking face first into someone. 

My face burned as Professor Barnes stared down at me, one arm around my waist as I had started falling backwards. 

"I am so so-" I immediately started before- as always- he interrupted. 

"I'm starting to think you like walking into me Miss Silvertongue." Professor Barnes said. He didn't growl, but his voice was dark and he sounded close to being angry. 

"N-No Si-" 

He put a single finger under my chin, lifting it up and said in something that was much more like a purr, "If you kept this chin up, you'd see where you were going. Try it. It  might prevent you from walking into a wall." And he removed his finger, walking past me and out the door. 

I felt a mixture of emotions rise up in me and I stomped my heel against the ground in frustration. I could still feel his finger, like a burning touch underneath my chin. "The nerve!" I hissed, storming down the hallway, trying to be mad instead of aroused. 

I slid into my chair in Brit Lit and pulled out Animal Farm. I had already finished it and was now sitting in class, working on homework, pretending to take notes while Professor Wilson taught. 

It wasn't that I didn't like Professor Wilson. In fact, besides Professor Rogers, he was probably the nicest one out there. Professor Potts was nice enough, but still strict. Professor Udaku was very reserved- but he was also royalty so I suppose he was brought up that way.