Mittens Has Class

Chapter 9: Cats Always Present Their Butts When Warranted

"You're lucky to get a professor who is so laid back." Holly said, pulling one of her socks back up her thigh from where it had drooped. "My English 101 professor was a frickin' nightmare. Took the whole thing way too seriously and was a real control freak. This guy sounds awesome."

Mittens gave a vague shrug, trying not to be obvious noting that Holly's short skirt had shifted up to reveal lace panties. "I suppose, but I kind of wish he'd stepped up a bit more to deal with the two bullies. I mean, he obviously knew what was happening, based on things he said and the whole subject for the first essay."

Holly flapped her hand. "Actually, that's more than most college professors really get involved in that sort of thing. A lot of teachers see it as college students are effectively adults now and need to learn how to solve their own issues. Unless the bullying is actually disrupting class or being directed at them, they won't do much at all, aside from maybe referring you to the campus counseling center."

Mittens frowned, though wasn't all that unsurprised by the mentality. "Of course, it doesn't help that these goons apparently never got disciplined for it in high school either. I mean, this poor girl's whole school pretty much picked on her and nothing was done. Which really just makes no sense to me. She's so sweet and amazingly weird."

"Which is pretty much why she's getting picked on." Holly sighed. "Someone who isn't swayed by popular culture to conform to some kind of 'normality' is immediately rejected. Ironically, despite how much social media totes the whole 'be your authentic self' motto, it is usually the first to cast a stone at someone whose 'authentic self' doesn't match what everyone else thinks that is supposed to be."

Mittens gave her an amused look. "She said to the naked girl dressed up as a big cat and wearing a BDSM collar."

Holly laughed. "Well, you have the benefit of being too cute to want to be mean to."

"I think you meant to say 'I'd scratch their faces if they were mean to me'." Mittens countered, raising her paws up in a mock threatening manner. "Rawr." She added unconvincingly.

This only made Holly laugh harder, to which Mittens quickly joined in. They were still recovering from the giggles when Chloe, clad in nothing but heels, stockings, gloves, and collar, swept in with a tray of snacks. "Study food." She announced. "And, yes, I realize you two probably don't actually have anything to study yet."

Holly sighed. "Actually, I already have assignments in two of my classes."

"And I already have an essay from one class and a whole chapter I'm supposed to read by tomorrow for Botany." Mittens added. "For BOTANY!" She gave an aggrieved groan. "I thought it would just all be sniffing and planting flowers, but NOOOO..."

She'd ended up having to buy the textbooks for three of her four classes. English 101 didn't have an official textbook, but the texts for her Spanish and English literature courses were pretty much indispensable, given the subjects. She'd expected botany to be the one she could forgo the book with, but the teacher apparently had written the book herself and wanted to make sure the students bought it. So, she let them know that half their grade would come from material that would only be in the book.

Chloe grinned at her love a moment before looking over at Holly. "What do you have homework for? Maybe I can help."

"Honestly, it's all just reading." Holly sighed. "I have to do a paper on 'The Castle of Otranto' for my gothic literature course and begin doing initial research for a project in my philosophy of pop culture class."