Coffee People - Pedro Pascal by Emma Star

Chapter twelve, Changing Of Seasons

I started working as Tom's TA again in November right after our first exam week. The exams were rough but I ended up scoring pretty good on them. I even got a 100% on the exam for Peña's course which filled me with pride. Being a teacher's assistant was exhausting but fulfilling. There was no professor I'd rather work for than Tom. I spent most of my time after school either in Tom's office on campus or at his and Betty's house grading papers and answering emails. Tom was crazy busy following the exam week, which meant I was also crazy busy.

When Betty was home she'd make us apple pie and chocolate chip cookies. For dinner she'd make pumpkin soup, lasagna, curry's and more. More nights than not those weeks I ate at their house.

I watched from the windowsill each day as autumn gave way to winter. The leaves stopped falling, for there where none left to do so. The air became biting and bitter, the sun no longer strong enough to ward off the cold. Flora had taken up residence underneath the surface, leaving the ground bare.

I didn't mind the cold, it meant I could wear sweaters and crewnecks, thick wool tights and my long winter coat. Sure, I preferred fall with its cozy rainy days you spent inside reading a good book with candles lit, fiery colors just outside your window. But winter meant pink cheeks from the cold, snow, Christmas and new year's.

Three weeks after our exam week work was finally starting to die down. The workload had been more than I'd ever experienced. I barely saw my friends. I was now working two jobs. Yes I was still working at Ink & Pages Books. I was barely holding it together, it was one of the few times I was glad I didn't have many friends. Life consisted of school, work as a TA and work at the bookstore for four weeks straight. There wasn't much time for anything else. I was grateful for it, because I was making a lot of money and learning at the same time.

Not having time to think about Peña was an added bonus. Ignoring him during his classes was no easy task but one I prioritized above all others. Sometimes my eyes betrayed me by glancing up when I felt the familiar prickling of his gaze. When our eyes would meet it was disastrous. A moment of indulgence with a bitter aftertaste. As if I needed reminding of how good it had felt to kiss him and for his body to press in to me. Even as the weeks went on the need for him didn't pass. I cursed myself for the stupid loss of control that night.

I attended almost every class despite my hefty workload which I was really proud of. I was zoned in to my work all day. By the time I went to bed I was so exhausted sleep found me easily. Most nights were dreamless. I was too ashamed to admit whose face popped up when I did dream. Those beautiful brown eyes would be the death of me.

I got the invitation in my email on a Monday afternoon. All professors and their TA's are invited to join the dean for drinks in a local café to celebrate the end of the first trimester of the schoolyear. It's a way to reward us for our hard work. I liked most of my professors so it was nice to get to talk to them once every few months outside of class. The free drinks ensured that almost everyone showed up. Even with a fat paycheck it was nice not to have to pay for something once in a while. I know not everyone's motives for coming was the same.

While most of the people who showed up genuinely likes to chat with one another, I knew there were some professors and students who saw this as an opportunity to suck up to the dean in hopes of gaining his favor. The dean was an influential man who was hard to please. At least that's what they said. I'd only spoken to the man once after the rumors started spreading that insinuated there was something going on between me and Tom. He was a strict man to be sure, but I hadn't found him unpleasant.

When the day came I was a nervous wreck. I always was before events like these. I knew that once there I'd enjoy it, but the act of going had my stomach in knots. My body seemed to confuse excitement with terror on a daily basis.