everything I didn't say

eight

Monday afternoon.

My fingers are tapping rapidly against my desk as I wait for Professor Small to hand back notebooks. 

"This assignment surprised me." He says. Oh god, that does not sound good.

"A lot of you did exceptional. Some of you, I was dissapointed in, though." Right as he finishes his sentence, he makes direct eye contact with me. Holy fucking shit.

"Leah." He finally says after what feels like an eternity of a staredown.

"Yes?" I say, my voice has failed me, it cracked up the nervousness.

"Your piece, you wrote it youself?" What? 

"Yes, of course." I defend my work. 

"I'm sorry, it's just," he shrugs, "it feels like I've read work like this before." He says, grabbing the notebooks off the desk.

He walks over to my desk and sets the notebook down. "Please, see me after class."

He says to me then walks away, going to the other students. What?

Class seems to drag on painfully, and I can't even focus on the lesson because I'm so scared. Did he hate it so much that he has to tell me after class so I don't get embarrassed? Will I get in trouble for not writing as much as we were supposed to?

Every anxious thought I could think of takes over me and soon the class is over. Once everyone has exited the room, I walk slowly to Professor Small's desk.

"Miss Thomas." He greets me and I swallow down my fears. "Yes sir." I squeak.

"Your assignment," he puts his hand on his hip and the other on his deck.

"It was exquisite." He praises and my stomach does a backflip. "Really?" My eyes widen and I know I sound way too excited.

"You got the point exactly." I think back to my word and feel so beyond proud of myself.

"And I was very pleased when you didn't drag on a topic that could be finished in three paragraphs into three pages, too." He says. My heart rate has finally slowed down.

"I might have to just bump into an advanced class or something next semester." He grins.

That would be wonderful, but could I handle that? My phone vibrates in my pocket, oh my god. It's so loud.

"I'm really sorry." I apologize. 

"No, class is over now, you're free to take it."

"Just one second." I assure him then grab my phone. 

"What?" I bark without checking who it is.

"Woah there," A voice, Niall's, says. "What do you want Niall? I'm busy."

"Well shit, sorry. It's not that important."

"Please call me back later, I'm with a professor."

"Okay, okay, whatever. Call me when you're done." He hangs up and I shove my phone back into my pocket and turn back to Mr. Small.

"I'm really sorry," I apologize again.

"No," he waves a dismissive hand. "I'm sorry, did you say Niall?" He asks, raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah, it's a weird name, I know. He's my friend." I tell him. He nods slowly. 

"Weird name, don't hear it too often around here." I nod with him.

"Well, you're free to go. I'm looking forward to reading your work for the rest of this semester." He smiles and then walks out the door. I could almost leap from the joy I'm feeling as I walk out.