Professor Purdy

What's a date?

" Janice. " I looked away from him and felt tears pricked the side of my eyes.
" Blame the world. They do this to me. They make me hate myself, God you probably hate me too. Everyone here does because of how I look and act. "
" Well, they can kiss my ass because I don't care what they said back them or now. " I looked up at him. " What do you mean ' back then '? " He let go of my wrists and showed me his wrists. Scars from cuts scattered from the beginning to the end of his forearm.

" P-professor? When did you do th- "
" When I was 16 because people couldn't accept the way that I was. I was the emo, the fag, the outcast, but guess what? I got over it. You should too. " He rolled his sleeves back down and smiled at me. I looked up and did something I hadn't done in a long time. I cried. I let all the years of giving myself scars and bloodshed out in silent, shaking sobs.

He held me close and let me cry into his shoulder. " Shhh. It's okay Janice. I'm here for you. " I lifted my head off of his shoulder and looked at him.
" Do you have anything to do this evening? " I thought for a moment, then shook my head no. " Good, cause I'm taking you on a date. " I looked at him with a confused look on my face.
" What's wrong? " He said, concern in his voice. { Don't worry, at this college in the story, it's legal to hit on your teachers } I looked down and then back up. " What's a date? "

His eyes widened. " You have never been on a date before?! What the hell, have you had no mom to tell you all this shit?! You never had your Dad wait for the lucky guy and tell him not to touch you the wrong way?! " I shook my head and he looked at me sadly. " My mom died when I was born, my dad died when I was 4, and I was sent to crappy foster homes that didn't want me. " He nodded and hugged me again. " I'm sorry. But, I'm taking you to the park, at night, 7 o'clock. Be ready. " I nodded and he excused me. A date. Sounds interesting.