My Professor

38. Interrogation

Unfortunately for Huey, we had a shift together that night at the bookstore.

At the beginning of the shift I was so incensed that I could barely speak to him. I kept to myself, thoughts brewing. I didn't know how to approach the topic of the investigation. Huey was the only one who knew though, and I desperately needed to know if he was behind the report.

Eventually there was a lull in customers and I had a prefect opportunity to confront Huey. We were both standing behind the counter when I finally decided to speak up.

"Huey," I said without looking at him. "Did you contact the university recently?"

"What?" he asked. He sounded genuinely confused, but I wasn't going to assume his ignorance so soon.

I turned to look at him. "Did you contact the university?" I asked again.

"No. Why?" he demanded. "Why do you look pissed?"

"Someone reported Theodore and me to the administrators," I told him.

"Oh, shit. How do you know?"

"Theodore told me," I said. "And I got an email from my guidance counselor. I have to go in for a meeting tomorrow afternoon to clear up some 'accusations'."

"That's crazy, Indy. I'm sorry."

"My problem, Huey, is that you're the only one who knows about us."

"I didn't say anything. You know I would do that."

"I don't know that. Because I don't know who else could've done it."

"I told you, Callahan looks at you funny. It was kind of obvious," he said.

"It wasn't!"

"Don't shout at me," Huey said defensively. "I had nothing to do with this. In fact, I warned you against it!"

"Who told!?" I implored.

"I don't know, but maybe you'll learn something tomorrow in your meeting."

I pursed my lips, deeply enraged.

"You need to calm down, Indy. Being pissed isn't going to help. You need to go into that meeting calm and composed."

I looked at Huey and took a deep breath.

"Good," he said.

"Better?" I asked, forcing a smile.

"It'll suffice," he said. "What are you going to say in your meeting tomorrow?"

"I have no idea. Do you think I'll have to say anything?" I asked.

"I'm assuming they're going to want you to explain your side of the story."

"There's nothing to talk about."

"I'm sure there's a lot to talk about."

"I don't want to divulge the personal details of my relationship to the school administration," I huffed. "I just want this to blow over."

"What do you think Callahan is going to say?" Huey asked.

"I don't know. I didn't ask. I saw him this afternoon and he basically kicked me out."

"What do you mean?"

"He just told me about the investigation and said we shouldn't spend time together anymore."

"Well, in his defense, he has a lot on his plate right now."

"I just worry he won't want me at all once this is over. What if he loses his job? What if he can't forgive me for it?"

"I think it's safe to say he's going to lose his job," Huey said.

"Huey!"

"What? It's the truth. You can't go around having sex with your student, no matter how pure your intentions initially were."

"Our relationship is serious!"

"Serious enough that you're worried he's going to leave you over this?"

"He asked me to move in with him," I said.

"Oh. Wow," Huey said, finally shutting his trap for a moment.

"Of course, I have no idea how that's going to go. Things are completely up in the air. I hate it."

"Well, all I can say is I had nothing to do with it. Are you sure no one else picked up on the clues?"

"Marcy the TA has been on my ass, but when she hounded me it was clear she had no idea what's been going on," I said.

"Maybe they'll tell you something in the meeting," he said again.

"I guess," I said glumly. "This sucks. It's horrible. I have no idea what's going to happen to me."

"Yeah, that's what I'm wondering, too. I can't imagine you'd be in as much trouble as him. It's not like you had the authority in the relationship."

I gave Huey a long look. I didn't want to admit that he was right. I felt so bad for Theodore, and I felt bad that I'd gotten him in this position.

"Look," Huey said. "Callahan is a grown man. He made his own decisions. I understand that you're upset that you were a part of this, but you can't place all of the blame on yourself. He knew what he was doing when he got involved with you. You need to cut yourself some slack."

"Slack? How can I cut myself some slack? This is all my fault!"

"Calm down," Huey said. "Just, calm down."

"I'm trying," I sighed. "This is such a mess. I can't cope with it."

"You're going to have to. Why don't you just focus on your meeting tomorrow. Go, feel it out. It might not be as bad as you think."

"I was fucking my professor and now he 's going to lose his job!" I exclaimed. "It'll be on his record forever!"

"Calm down!" Huey exclaimed. "Don't assume the worst. Just wait it out, see what happens. Okay?"

"Okay," I grumbled.

The whole situation was horrifically humiliating, and it was only just the beginning. It was the beginning of the end.