So, try to bear with me on this chapter, it gets a little weird and confusing, but I promise it'll make sense and Wanda will come back very soon!!
"Philosophy is defined as the study of the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality, and existence, especially when considered as an academic discipline, and while I agree with that definition, it doesn't even begin to amass the true essence of the philosophical studies..."
It was now Wednesday, some October day, and you were listening to Professor Coulson beat around the bush that while most of his class had failed the last exam, he didn't want them to lose hope in future ones.
He went on to say that knowledge shouldn't be judged on what people can recall in one instance, pressured by time and grades, so he was going to be giving out extra credit to anyone who wanted it. It was simply to write a ten-thousand-word paper on the aspects of life's greatest moments, what they mean in the grand scheme, and the impact slash direction they take on said life. He said he realized everyone was relatively young here, but it really didn't matter because in a young life (of only a couple decades or so) people experience a vast number of events. Trauma, love, heartbreak, victories, achievements – big and small. They can experience death or birth or even their own personal mental struggles – literally anything that could have significance on you, or your 'path' could be used to write this paper as long as you linked it universally in some way.
You smiled when he made a small joke, barely noticeable to most, and he chuckled to himself for only a second before moving on to passing the tests back. He always gave an encouraging smile whenever he handed them back, never giving away his disappointment or anything because he was the type of professor to never fail a student over grades.
That's why attendance is worth thirty percent.
And you love him.
After class, you met up with Carol and her friends, Val and Maria. They were all seniors (fourth year) and while Carol was studying business, Val was liberal arts, and Maria was computer science. You didn't know them that well, but they seemed pretty chill, and you liked hanging out with them whenever Carol would invite them somewhere.
Carol had her feet up on the table, her arm slung casually over the back of Val's chair, talking to Maria across the table about a bike she wanted to save up for and how she got a bartending job mainly for that – a reason she couldn't go to Tony's party with her Friday night.
And you realized these girls might be too cool for you.
But you didn't care, if anything, you felt smug about being at the cool table – something you didn't get to do in high school, now that you think about it, and you laughed quietly to yourself at the thought.
Professor Coulson passed by the table with his own lunch, giving you a nod with a smile since you caught his eye and you returned it subtly before you noticed he was going to the dean's office. A pit landed in your stomach, and you couldn't figure out where it came from, you weren't in trouble with the professor's class – you had passed the exam with a C, and you've never even met the dean, but you still felt uneasy for some reason.
"You okay, Gallagher?" Carol asked, the other two turning towards you when she spoke, and all of them immediately noticing your discomfort.
"I have to..." You trailed off, your eyebrows furrowing in confusion, because no, you didn't have to be anywhere and you were done with classes for the day since your last one cancelled, but there was this pull on you – like you were forgetting something, "I have to go."
"What?" Maria chuckled, somewhat nervously, "You just sat down, and you haven't even touched your food."
"What're you," Val teased, "Her mom?"
You stood up abruptly and left your food on the table, hastily grabbing your bag as you ignored their protests and then headed the same way professor Coulson had.
You've never even been in the building because it housed mostly conference rooms, the dean's office, and some other offices or break rooms that were off limits to students. Usually, students only came here if they were in massive trouble, probably expulsion worthy trouble, or like Natasha and Yelena, were related to one of the professors here.
Your name was called, it felt far away, but it was professor Vostokoff, who you just mentioned, blocking the way to the entrance and you blinked hard a few times before your attention focused on the woman only about ten feet in front of you.
"I'm sorry – what?" You winced like you were staring at the sun, flinching away when a migraine shot through your skull and your vision became fuzzy, but she didn't look affected.
"I asked what you wanted." She gritted it out like she was angry with you, and you thought maybe it was the email she was forced to send out after she had humiliated you in front of that classroom, but you've seen her since, and she's hardly acknowledged it before.
"I um...I'm not," You had no clue why you abandoned your friends and found yourself here, maybe you were going crazy or were getting sick, "I'm not...entirely sure, but I...I think I need help."
"Melina," You heard a deeper, more familiar voice nearby, but you had squinted your eyes so much with the headache that you couldn't see them, "I've got this."
Then you felt two pads of fingers touch your temple not a second later and a tingly feeling that erupted from that touch to flow through your veins, ending at the tips of your toes.
"What...who're you..." You trailed off, trying to stand straight as you felt your legs giving out on you.
"You said that would work instantly!" You heard Melina whisper shout, anger pouring from her tone.
"It usually does..."
Then your world went black.
