Meeting Mr Wainscott

2: Friday

"I'm a parent, I was wondering if we could set up a meeting to discuss some things?"

Friday gulped, fidgeting on the spot. How foolish was she? What was she, thirteen!? Sure, he was incredibly gorgeous, but that didn't mean she could be a fumbling mess! Had she even acted like this at thirteen? No, she hadn't, so why on earth she'd gone dumb seeing such a handsome man was beyond her,

Mr Wainscott looked at her intently, studying her face as though he was searching for something. His eyes flicked across her features as though he was analysing each individual one.

"I apologise," she began, wondering why he was hesitating. "It's just I'm concerned for my child."

"Mama's anxious," Cygnus added, wrapping his tiny arms around her leg supportively.

"Oh!" Mr Wainscott exclaimed, snapping from his intent stare. "You're Cygnus's mother?"
Friday nodded, her nerves worsening. Had something happened for him to be so scrutinising?

But Mr Wainscott beamed instead, his eyes lighting up. "No, no, don't be anxious! It's just I should've been able to tell! Oh, wow, you two look exactly alike," he said, glancing down at the child and back at her.

Cygnus nodded. "It's good that I do, Mama is very pretty."

"Cygnus," Friday whispered, wanting him to stop talking.

Mr Wainscott laughed, looking at Cygnus. "She is, isn't she? Hey, bud, how about you go inside and I'll catch up in just a second? I need to talk to your mother for just a moment."

Cygnus nodded, looking up at his mother. Friday sighed, bending down to kiss his cheek like she always did before he left for class. Cygnus waved goodbye and left, making a beeline for Eun-Woo and Ji-A who were playing with the dolls. He hovered over them for a second before sitting cross-legged and joining in.

Mr Wainscott smiled softly, a forlorn look in his eyes. He turned back to Friday.

"After school when you come to pick Cygnus up we can have a chat, but I want to assure you Mrs Barnes that there is nothing to worry about," Mr Wainscott said, leaning against the door frame which he was almost too tall for. He looked intently at her, as though he was speaking directly to her anxious thoughts. His low voice flowed right through the air and into her mind, soothing all the worries she had in an instant.

Friday felt her face heat up. "Yes, okay. That sounds good..." she said softly. "And it's just Ms," she added quietly.

Mr Wainscott's eyebrows raised slightly. He smiled.

"Wonderful, I'll see you soon," Mr Wainscott said, standing straight and holding out his hand.

Friday looked at it for a moment. She took it, noting all the grooves and scars that etched themselves onto his skin.

The man went back in, leaving Friday to wonder at the door. She stayed for a moment, watching how all the children ran to their spots on the floor and sat patiently waiting for him. She saw Cygnus sit right up the front, looking at the man with an awed expression. He turned his back to greet the class and Friday frowned, zeroing in on him. Mr Wainscott had scars running along his neck and seemingly down his back. He shifted and looked back at the door. He smiled at her.

Friday blushed, turning and walking back to her car, needing to leave for work.

***

The university lecture had gone... alright.

Not amazing, but not terrible.

Being young, a lot of them seemingly didn't take her seriously. Friday had to reason that since she was their age, it might've been slightly degrading, but the disrespect had been aggravating. Halfway through once she realised none of them were listening, she snapped at them and proceeded to go through her lecture, not bothering to explain any of the concepts and just talk about things clearly none of them understood. She'd then pick on the students who had been particularly disrespectful and asked them questions she knew they didn't know the answer to. Hell, qualified scientists probably wouldn't have known the answers. At the end, she had a small group of students go up and apologise to her, begging for her to go over her lecture. Despite being angry, she went over the key points again, taking her time to explain them.