A Star Wars Reylo AU: The Taming of the Professor

Twenty-Six

With Finn's well practiced advice, Rey was able to avoid Dr. Solo for the entire first full week of classes. It helped that he was a recluse, and kept to himself aside from his scheduled lectures.

The urge to open his office door and demand that he explain why he was such an ass tempted her. She couldn't be sure she'd remain calm, so she didn't confront him.

She became Dr. Haldo's teaching assistant, and also attended the woman's graduate courses. It was possible for her to write her way out of the two she was taking, but she decided against it. She liked Dr. Haldo, and wanted to learn more from her. And Dr. Haldo needed her since her leg was going to take months to heal.

She knew her situation was the talk in the Department. It didn't seem like anyone else knew why Dr. Solo had quit on her, either. At least it wasn't just her, and at least the gossip was mild. 

She saw him in the hallway on Friday while heading to Dr. Hux's office, and pretended like she didn't. She ducked inside before he could say anything. Not that he would. Dr. Hux seemed to make an effort to tamp down his snarky, sour attitude, though it still peaked out on occasion. 

Saturday night at Shots was busy, but the band had cancelled, and Maz hadn't been able to find a replacement on short notice. Rey studied the crowd during one of their rare down times. A dark figure peeled away from the wall as she glanced his way and moved through the crowd toward the bar.

Rey froze.

Rose looked her way, and then followed her line of sight. Dr. Solo moved their way.

"It's about time," Rose grumbled, taking the towel from Rey's hands.

"I'll be back," said Rey, ducking under the bar gate and slipping into the crowd before he reached her.

"Hey!" called Rose, but Rey was already gone.

She moved into the side hallway leading toward the bathrooms, but didn't make it in time.

"Rey."

She stopped, willing her breathing back under control.

"Dr. Solo." She knew her voice was cold as ice, and she wished she didn't care so much that it might hurt him. She turned.

"Stop calling me that. You are no longer my student."

She crossed her arms to keep them from shaking. "I'm aware."

"Can we talk somewhere else? I asked Maz if you could take a break."

"You didn't ask me."

He nodded, conceding. "Would you take a break so we can speak?"

"No. I don't think I will."

She moved around him and left him standing in the hallway. Rose smiled when she ducked back under the bar, but the smile fell away when she saw Rey's face.

"It went that well?"

"I'm not going to talk to him. I don't want to."

Rose pursed her lips. "Really?"

"Is he stalking me? How does he know I'm here?"

"I'm surprised it took him this long to show up after your Thanksgiving reveal. I think you're being stubborn and that you should talk to him."

"No."

Rose threw her hands up in the air. "Fine."

Rey couldn't grab on to any one of the roiling emotions churning up inside of her. There were too many, and they were too strong. It made her clumsy and slow, but she muddled through. Rose was uncharacteristically silent, and it set Rey on edge even more knowing that her friend didn't approve of how she had handled the situation. She couldn't please anyone. 

She worked hard to gain control of herself. It wasn't fair that Rose had to deal with her like this. Rose hadn't done anything wrong. On the contrary, the support and care Rose had shown her these past months had been a lifeline. 

A guy approached the bar, and leaned in, his fingers drumming on the smooth surface. A girl sidled up beside him. She didn't seem drunk, but she was on her way. He seemed fine. 

"I'd like to buy this lady a drink," said the guy. 

"Does the lady have an ID?" said Rey. 

The girl giggled and fished her ID out of her bra. Rey leaned over and looked at it, but declined to take it. Pinning a key into the top of your dress was one thing, but storing ID's and money in bras was an an entirely different matter. The girl asked for a margarita with extra tequila, and Rey made it. 

When she went to hand the drink to the girl, the guy reached for it. Rey stopped, and pulled it back.  He glared at her. She tried again, and again he intercepted. Rey raised her hand. Sometimes, she just had a bad feeling. There was nothing outwardly obvious or wrong with this guy. He looked like every other college boy in the bar. But he gave her the creeps. 

Poe strolled up and leaned in beside him. "Rey?" 

"This lady ordered a drink," said Rey, her voice even. 

"Is that so?" said Poe. He looked at the glass she held. "Looks good. Did you put an extra shot in there?"

The girl giggled. Poe had that effect on them. The guy glowered at them both. "I'd like to hand it to the lady," said Rey. "But her friend here wants to pass it along." 

"Let Rey hand your friend her drink," said Poe. 

"I paid for it," said the guy, his voice loud. 

"That's fine," said Rey, memorizing his features. "But I have a policy. I hand drinks to the person who is going to consume it, not the one who paid. You see, sometimes, and of course, I'm not saying this about you at all, you understand, but sometimes, things end up in drinks at bars that shouldn't be there. And it's best for everyone involved if that doesn't happen. Our boss doesn't take kindly to having the police poking around after a crime originated on the premises." 

The oblivious girl had stopped giggling, her eyes shifting between her date and Rey. Rey wasn't sure if she understood the risk she was in, but it didn't matter. Some girls had parents who actually taught them things like this. Some didn't, or they didn't listen, or they didn't think it would be the hot guy who paid them so much attention - "no, not him! He's hot, he would never . . ." Women didn't protect themselves very well.

The guy huffed in disgust and walked away, storming toward the front door. The girl started crying, and Rey felt sick. To not even know you were about to willingly give up your choices like that was enough to make anyone cry.