Summer

Chapter seven

Stress was the common experience of a university student; assignment deadlines, lack of sleep, drinking, and exams were all things that one would have to be able to juggle.

Summer had thought that she was able to manage stress properly, throughout high school she always kept atop of everything and managed efficiently. However, the workload at university was definitely not the same, and she found it harder to stay a top on everything.

Summer regularly attended office hours for both advice and criticism and to get an eye full of her professor. After the night at the bar where the professor had driven Summer and Tonia home, Summer simply could not keep away.

Tristan's alluring presence was both enticing and exciting to Summer and she could not get enough.

On a sunny Tuesday afternoon, Summer had woken up and made herself a quick meal in her shared kitchen. Summer dreaded waking up and going to the kitchen as it was filthy. Despite attending a prestigious university where smart people surrounded her, those smart people apparently lacked the decency to clean up after themselves.

Upon taking her meal back to her room, she decided to work on the assignment that she had been dreading.

Hours upon hours had passed by painfully whilst Summer had sloughed through her assignment but then she finally came to the conclusion that she needed some fresh air- so she decided to go on a walk.

The sun had begun to set over the mountains and a dewy orange filled the sky.

As Summer was walking aimlessly trying to fill her head with endless historical dates that her professor and tutor said she needed to know- she felt a looming presence near her.

She would occasionally turn her head but no one would be around her.

Summer just blamed her stress-filled mind and continued walking on. Finally, she decided to sit by a bench facing a beautiful lake that she had discovered.

Summer had begun to appreciate slow moments when her mind was not in constant study, party, or work mode.

Unknown to the student, Tristran was watching Summer from afar with the intention of starting a conversation. He was scared out of his mind.

"Summer?" The professor said merely as a rhetorical question.

Summer immediately looked at the professor in question and instantly her cheeks began to grow warm.

"Yes? What are you doing out here?"

"Just walking around campus..."

"Well, would you like to sit?"

The professor agreed by taking a hesitant seat next to Summer. It took all his might not to outright stare at her but he tried to keep his clamorous feelings at bay.

An awkward silence had separated the duo until Tristran asked, "How are you finding University so far?"

Summer came up with a quick reply simply stating that she found the workload harsh but she was fairly enjoying it.

"What class do you find most challenging?"The professor asked.

"No offense Sir, but yours is certainly harder... but I like challenges."

He looked down at his lap but a thought came to mind, "I have a history book back at my apartment which could help with any challenges you're facing in my class."

Summer had looked up in excitement.

"That would be amazing, thank you."

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Although Tristan's flat was bland and tedious to Summer's secret expectations, it was fancy and managed to display the professor's wealth. It was minimalistic and he even had a huge vinyl collection of jazz music next to his TV. But despite this, the flat seemed lonely to Summer.

Upon entering he had led Summer to his couch and offered her some snacks which she had accepted.

Tristran had begun to feel overwhelmed with the student sitting in his living room eating his personal snacks, so he had forced himself to retreat into his kitchen to begin hyperventilating.

Tristan had a serious situation at hand... he had no personal history textbooks that would help the student. He had merely wanted to allure her into his house.

Summer had turned on the TV and was watching a reality show, the volume had filled his previously silent home and the action filled his heart.

He wanted to keep her here... mainly to look and talk to her. Tristan found her to be breathtaking. 

After a few seconds had passed he eventually came back to his senses and went to sit next to the student and watch the show with her.

Summer smiled at him, "Do you like it?"

"It's alright."

Summer thought that the professor was not that talkative so she tried to draw out any conversation that she could out of the introvert.

"Do you have a favorite TV show then?" Summer quizzed Tristan.

"I like watching law and order sometimes..."

"Okay! That is good... Anything else?"

"No."

Summer rolled her eyes which temporarily annoyed the professor, but he refrained from saying anything.

"So... where's this mystery book Tristian?"

The professor began to heat up. "I will go and get it."

He went to his bedroom to get a random history book on the Cold War and gave it to Summer.

"Really... Robert Service? Everyone has read this for further reading."

"I didn't assign that."

A beat has passed, "Why did you really bring me here?" Summer asked.