Quentin's Way

Chapter 11

            From late-September to mid-October, I somehow managed to strike a balance with my football priorities and the personal shit that was going on in my life. I aced my midterms and was on track to make dean's list that semester. Something that took me completely by surprise was how close I was getting to Jacen. I thought for sure all I wanted was sex with him but I was starting to feel a certain way about him. Everything was going damn near perfect until our football game before fall break and our bye week. We played against the Calhoun University Cougars and we lost by three points. Looking back, I now realize that loss was an omen for what would be the worst week of my life.

            "Quentin," Professor Lewis called out, catching me completely off-guard. "Come on up and show the class how you can calculate the ratio of two differentiable functions by using the quotient rule to find the derivative."

            I suddenly had a mini panic moment because I didn't pay much attention in the previous class session when he lectured us on the quotient rule. I also didn't study it with Demi because I linked up with Reggie to jackoff instead. Slowly, I stood up from my desk and made my way up to the board. I picked up the dry-erase marker and as I tried to remember what the quotient rule equation looked like, my mind went completely blank. I was just standing there frozen while some students started laughing.

            "Is there a problem, Quentin?" Professor Lewis asked me.

            "Yeah, uh..."

            "Professor Lewis," Demi said while standing from his seat. "I had a situation come up last Wednesday, so I didn't get a chance to make sure Quentin understood the quotient rule. I apologize for failing to meet with him and help him that day."

            "Well, can you come up and find the derivative and figure out the two differentiable functions?"

            Demi went up to solve the problem and I sat back down. Even though no one was looking at me when I got back to my seat, it felt like they were. I don't know why Demi lied instead of letting me get embarrassed for not knowing something most of the class most likely knew. Nonetheless, I was grateful for it. When he finished the entire problem quickly, everyone in the classroom gasped.

            "Great job, Demitri," said Professor Lewis. "I see someone paid attention in class last Wednesday."

            The class session ended and we all hurried out of the classroom. While taking the stairwell down to the ground floor, I told Demi, "Thank you for what you told Professor Lewis. I don't get why you did it though."

            "He would've deducted points from your overall grade. You know how much of a hard grader he is."

            "True."

            "So; if you don't mind me asking, what was so important last Wednesday that you couldn't come study with me in the library?"

            I looked at him and lied, "Coach added an extra couple of hours to our practice and once it was over, I just went back to my dorm and crashed."

            "Oh, well that's understandable."

            "Are you and Malcolm still not talkin'?"

            "I blocked his number a while ago. I just need some space from him."

            "You forever blockin' people, D." I laughed and shook my head as I reminded him, "You blocked me one time."

            He giggled and said, "That's because you got on my nerves. I unblocked you though."

            "Are you gonna unblock Malcolm?"