The Freshman

Chapter Fifteen - The Professor's Daughter

Emily's POV

James and I were talking outside the Savoy restaurant when we were interrupted by my phone. "Who is it?" James asked.

"... it's Gabriela!" I exclaimed. "Hello?"

"Hi, I got a call from this number. About my father?" Gabriela asked.

"Yes! Gabriela, I'm Emily. I'm your father's assistant at Hartfeld University, and -"

"'Assistant'? Don't tell me he asked you to contact me. Am I one of your assignments?"

"No! He hasn't asked me to do anything. Contacting you was my idea. I found a letter he'd started to write to you, and I had to find out why you weren't speaking..."

"You did, huh? I don't see how this is any of your business."

"It's not, really. But I've gotten to know him because I've been helping him gather experiences for his book -"

"What?!"

"And he's been trying to talk to you for years. It's clear he loves you a lot -"

"That man doesn't care about anyone but himself and his work. Look, you need to stay away from him."

"What are you talking about?"

"I don't feel comfortable talking about this over the phone... Let's talk in person."

"Okay. I'll meet you. Name the time and place." Gabriela gave me details on where to meet her. After I hung up, I summarized the conversation for James. "... and so she wants me to meet her at some park in Greenfield tomorrow after lunch."

"She lives all the way in Greenfield? That's over an hour away," James said.

"Yeah... I'll have to find a bus to take me there, I guess."

"I can drive you. We can head out after my morning shift with Vasquez."

"Are you sure? That's really nice of you."

"No problem. It's the least I can do after what you've done for me tonight."

"Thanks, James."

"Besides, I'm very curious about what she has to say."

"You and me both."

******

The next morning, I stood in front of my closet. "Hmm, what to wear, what to wear..." I said. A little while later, I dropped by Vasquez's office to meet up with James. "Hi, Professor!"

"There you are... you're late," Professor Vasquez said.

"I am?"

"I was expecting that report from last night on my desk this morning."

"You were serious about me writing up the dinner with James?"

"Do I look like a person who 'kids around'?"

"Definitely not, but..."

"That's not her fault, Professor," James said.

"I'm sure she can make excuses for herself. You're not her keeper, are you?" Professor Vasquez asked.

"No, but... dinner with my parents ran late, so she wouldn't have had time to write it up. I take responsibility."

"I'll try to get it to you tonight," I said.

"Fine. So how did it go? Did Emily manage to impress the Ashtons?" Professor Vasquez asked.

"Emily doesn't have to answer that..." James said.