13 Outer Limits Academy (Temporarily on Hold)

Chapter 02 (Revised)

"What do you want me to do with these?"

"Are you talking about the paintings you just finished with?"

"Yes. They're still kind of wet."

"Just set them on the far table on the right, by the door." Rory yelled over a dark screened, partitioning her from her fellow classmate. "I can get the rest if you want to get out of here."

Shutting off the water, she came out from behind the partitioner surprised to find Jensen standing just inside the room. Well maybe she shouldn't have been that surprised. She did manage to have a small part in his friend's humiliation at lunch.

Pulling her eyes away from him, she watched as her fellow classmate scrambled to collect her things. "Thank you so much. You don't know how much I need to be somewhere else today. See you next week." Turning around, the girl jolted to a stop when she realized who stood nearly feet away from her. Her meek demeanor instantly changed from a girl running late to a seductress bent on capturing her prey. Giving a lengthy perusal, the girl licked her lips in an obvious attempt to draw his attention to her lips. If that wasn't bad enough, the girl straighten up and literally pushed her chest further out in attempt to show off her ample bosom.

"Hi" the girl said an octave lower from her normal voice. Rory rolled her eyes. Did all women do that whenever they came across him? It seemed obvious what the girl wanted.

Rory decided to ignore them and went about cleaning up the room. Picking up the myriad of colorful construction paper that scattered along the top of one table and disposing them in the scrap box, she wondered if he was there to pick up her classmate. It was the only possible reason for him to be there.

Rory snagged the last dirty jar with the paint brush still in it and emptied the murky water into the sink basin in the back. After washing her hands again, she made her way back to the front of the room, surprised to see that Jenson was still there, looking at all the paintings lining the back wall.

"These are really good. Damn, that's some talent. Who did these." He looked up at her waiting for a reply. 

"I know you're not lost. So, what are you doing here?" She winced at her words. "Sorry. I didn't mean for that to come out that way. It's just been a very long lunar cycle. Do you need something?"

The crooked grin wasn't enough to distract from his charm. In fact, it seems to add to his overall allure. "I was hoping to see Mr. Sawyer about something. Is he here today?"

"Unfortunately not." She threw the towel that she was using to dry her hands into the pile of washables linens. "He's out on maternity leave with his wife. The baby is due any day now."

"Oh." He shifted his weight and hiked his bookbag further onto his shoulder. "Do you know when he'll be back?"

"I imagine in two weeks. But since I'm his student assistant, I've been left in charged while he's gone. Is there something I might be able to help you with?"

He took a measurable step closer. "My roommate told me that Mr. Sawyer helped him last year when he was just shy of a half a credit to graduate. I was hoping to see if I might be able to do the same. I was just informed by my guidance counselor today that I am lacking a half credit to graduate."

"Wait. Didn't you just say that your roommate told you this?" Confused she went on to ask, "Wouldn't he have already graduated then?"

"Robby is taking up a trade. So, instead of housing him elsewhere, they decided to just keep him in his current dorm room."

"I meet Robby. He seemed like a nice guy. Very likable." Jensen nodded in agreement. "As for Mr. Sawyer, I'll be honest. There's a good chance that he'll extend his leave of absence. He had said as much the last time I spoke with him. It could be up to six weeks before he returns. I'm not sure if he'll be back in time to help you with your credit."