Hard To Love (Professor / Student)

Does This Any Get Easier?

Next Week: Back to School

"Meg, wake up! It's time for class"

"What classes do you have today?"

"Uh, calculus and English, I think. What about you?"

"World history and college algebra" Meg says as she changes and we walk out the door. "Are you okay with going back to class?" Meg asks as we head down the hall.

I nod my head "Yeah, I should be fine. Besides, I am sure as hell not wasting this outfit" I say smiling as I strut my stuff wearing a brown corduroy skirt with a black t-shirt tucked in.

"We need to find you a nice man, Ness" Meg says and I look at her

"I think I am good for a while thank-you" I mutter. "I'll see you later. I'm ganna head to the library to get started on catching up after my first class."

"Good luck and see you for dinner?"

"Sounds good" I say and I walk into one of the academic buildings and head to my Calculus class. The day goes on with a bunch of weird looks from everyone. Some people actually had the nerve to stare at me like I am some kind of damsel in distress. God, the nerves of people around here. Maybe they should just take a f*cking picture, it would last longer!

"Ness? Ness!" Meg yells

"Huh? What?" I mutter and look up and everyone is staring at me from our dinner table

"Are you ok? I was trying to get your attention for like a minute."

"Oh uh, just tired that's all" I mutter and I push my plate of food away, not having touched any of the food on it.

"Are you sure that's it?" She asks.

"Yeah, Meg I'm good. I'm going for a walk. I'll be back later." I mutter and I get up and walk out of the dining hall and down to the gymnasium to play some ball. See, basketball is the one thing in my life that will not screw me over. It will always be there for me and come back after I throw it away.

I grab a ball and start shooting. My ribs healed slightly over the past week, but there is still a dull pain lingering. I stop for a minute and look up at the lit up offices above the gym floor. I wonder who's offices those are. In the one office, I can see the an older man sitting at his desk hard at work. And in the office right next door, I'm being watched. There's a few guys, probably my age, hanging out up there. That must be the Men's Basketball Coach's office. I get back to shooting around and running through old high school plays that have been burned into my mind forever.

The gymnasium door opens and closes but I don't take mind to who walks in. The ball falls through the net and I run to collect it. As I bend to pick the ball up, I quickly lose my breath and footing. Quickly, I shake it off and start back towards the top of the key.

"Give me the ball." Someone demands and I spin around to identify who said that.

"Excuse me?" I ask, confused. Who is that and why are they talking to me like that?

"You heard me. Give me the ball. You're injured, you shouldn't be playing" He says and meets me on the court. I recognize the man as my Photoshop Professor. He looks just a scary up close and personal. He notices my mind wonder and he sneakily grabs the ball.

"Can I have the ball back? I'm not done..." 

"I just saw you loose your balance picking the ball up. You shouldn't be playing" 

"What? I'm fine, just trying to get some exercise." I say. I watch as his eyes climb up my body. Is he checking me out or looking for an injury?

"Do you know who I am?" He asks and I nod my head.