A gentle breeze flows through the Paris air as Scar and I walk to campus. Linked arm in arm, I smile at her when she sneakily takes a sip of my coffee and I pretend not to notice.
Students stare at us, gossiping, shit talking about us. They call us sluts, whores, under their breaths and while I don't care when Scar is with me, because she would always protect me, when I'm alone is a whole other story.
"Scar, baby, do you think maybe we should say something?" I ask.
She rolls her eyes. "Let them talk, like they have anything better to do than guess how many people on campus we've slept with."
I smile and squeeze her arm, we both laugh. Scar has always been my safe space, ever since we were young, she was the only one I had. I would do anything for her, to keep her happy and safe. Without her, I don't know where I would be.
We walk in through the campus until we have to split up and go to our separate halls.
"Lunch?" I ask her. She nods, taking out her mirror and popping her lips making sure her lipstick is good. "Lunch."
"Love you, my baby." I call out to her as we reluctantly part, sending her air kisses.
She grins, "Love you more, my s.l.u.t." Sending kisses right back.
The air suddenly feels much colder without Scar, I hold my cardigan closer to my chest. It's already our second year here at the University of Paris but rumours only seem to have gotten worse since our first year.
And I would blame Emily Greene, but I'm sure she was only partly responsible for the viscous rumours that seem to fuel everyone these days.
I look and see the other person, who I believe to be partly responsible for the rumours, Damien Ivanov, but everyone calls here him Ace. He is always surrounded by flocks of women and men alike, it makes me nauseous.
He looks up just as I'm about to look away and winks at me. I roll my eyes and continue walking. He's a flirt, he loves the attention, he lives for it.
Ace and Scar attend the same class and she never misses an opportunity to shut him down or prove him wrong. I love hearing about it after we're both at home on the couch, in our pj's, laughing and talking and staying up way later than we should but always do because we just love being with each other.
I finally walk into my the psych hall and head for my class when I see a man walking a few paces ahead of me, I don't recognise his large frame and stare as he walks to the end of the hall, I get onky a glance at his handsome side profile and glasses before he disappears down the stairs.
I linger only for a second longer when someone pushes me forward. "Sorry." Is their quick apology as students begin to fill in and I quickly follow suit as to not get trampled.
I make my way up to the back aisle and sit by myself, a few students sit near me but most avoid me like I have some sort of disease and I don't mind it. I prefer to be alone if I'm not with Scar, it gives me time to think and I don't care for having casual friends who I only have to sit by me in class because Scar isn't here.
The time passes by as normal, I write down my notes that and "say" I'm going to study them even though, let's be honest, I won't even look at them again. Or I scroll through Pinterest, my true love, if Scar didn't exist.
When class finally ends, I take my time packing my things, waiting for the students to rush out so it's easier for me to leave without talking to anyone but as I go down the aisle my psychology professor, Prof Kristensen stops me.
"Miss Babič, can I speak to you for a moment."
I turn to look at him a bit caught off guard, I don't know what he could want from me. Prof. Kristensen is a Danish man with an unkept beard and a thick accent when he speaks English that makes it hard to understand sometimes. He came to France two years ago from America where he previously taught for six years after graduating from Harvard Univeristy.
"Yes, Prof. Kristensen." I stand directly at his desk, he adjusts his glasses and gives me a dissaproving once over.
I already know what he sees, a slut, whose would spread her legs for anyone, all they need do it ask.
The skirt I'm is shorter than usual, black and tight, one I borrowed from Scar in my rushed attempt to get ready this morning after I crashed at her place and didn't have time to go over to my own flat. My top is no better, it's cut low and see-through around the stomach. I tried to make it more 'covered' with the cardigan I had wore the previous day but it still didn't seem enough to please Prof. Kristensen.
"Miss Babič, there's no need to worry. I simply wanted to ask you about your foreign language studies, have you decided which class you will take?"
I purse my lips, I'm sure I had told him this a few weeks prior but nevertheless I say it again. "I had decided on Prof. Laurent." I say to him. Mr. Laurent taught French and even though I already knew French I thought it would be an easy class that didn't require much studying but Prof. Kristensen shakes his head.
"I'm sorry to say, Miss Babič but Prof Laurent's class is full for the semester."
I almost stumble back, "But I already but in my notice?" I ask confused and he shakes his head once again rummaging through the stacks of paper on his desk.
"I don't remember seeing your notice." He says.
I don't know what to do. Prof. Laurent was the last available foreign language teachers whose class had not been filled. The foreign language exam was half my grade if I didn't get into his class, I was already bound for failure.
"Prof Kristensen, I submitted by notice. I'm sure of it please look again." I begged him, seemingly breathless but he just pursed his lips and shook his head seemingly sure on the subject.
I exhaled in aspiration. "The exam is half
of my grade, all the other classes are filled. What do you expect me to do?"
He seems to think deeply for a moment before it seems a light bulb appears in his head and he clasps his hands together.
"Not all the classes are filled. Prof. Aleksandor's class is still quite un-filled." He seems to almost laugh.
I had never heard that name. "Who is Prof. Aleksandor?"
"The new latin professor, he came just yesterday in fact his class list was added today. You seem to be in luck, Miss Babič." He smiles and I want to puke.
Latin. He wants me to take Latin on the exam?
I open my mouth to try and plead with him but he waves me away seemingly done with the situation and I watch as he signs my name under Prof Aleksandor's classroom.
I am truly fucked.
