Chasing Henry Marshall

Chapter One

   I opened the manila folder with my class schedule inside. I was nervous but excited for the big reveal. Freshman year had been a bummer, my classes mostly chosen for me. I was delighted when I got a chance to pick a few of my classes this time. I knew exactly what I wanted to do with my life and my classes were formed around that objective. I scanned over the piece of paper, my smiling growing. All my classes related to journalism in some way. A majority of them were English and writing courses but there was one that stuck out like a weed in a rose garden.
   Parapsychology.
   I stared at the single word, hatred in my eyes. I hated science. It had nothing to do with journalism and the world of words. I hated it all through the last 13 years of school and I would continue to hate it. But when given the list of science courses to choose from, Parapsychology seemed like the easiest. I mean really? An entire course on the paranormal? I was a skeptic so the class could prove to be worth my time. I could find out who to avoid on campus and I could write some great articles on the nonexistence of such things as ghosts and psychics.
   I tucked the paper into the back pocket of my jeans and walked into the bathroom. My roommate was already testing the waters of her graphic design class. She had seemed pretty excited and was up early rummaging through drawers. It had roused me from my beauty sleep and thus, I had been up for the last couple hours tidying our dorm room. I remade my bed, organized my desk, and even rearranged my dresser drawers. I didn't have many friends around campus, only having been here a year so far. It didn't help that I was such an introvert.
   Well... that's not entirely true. I am introvert when I am not comfortable about something. If someone challenges me on something I firmly believe in or mentions something I know alot about, I can't shut my mouth. I will admit that. But for all general purposes, I am a quiet girl who focuses on school and likes her books. I also write for the college paper when I am able to sink my teeth into a good story. I had been recruited during the second half of my Freshman year.
   I sighed and stared at myself in the mirror. I looked like I just woke up. Black strands of hair stuck up everywhere, even through my attempts to brush them into submission. I wet them down and blow-dried it, finally getting it to sit flat at shoulder length. I shook my head and fluffed it, then moved onto my overall appearance. I thought a white, spagetti-strapped, cotton blouse would be great with faded skinny jeans and my black converse. I stepped away from the mirror and looked at myself. It would do for my first day. I walked out of the bathroom and glanced at the digital clock sitting on my bedside table. Oh shit.
   I am going to be late!
   I grabbed my gray zip-up hoodie on the way out, snagging the strap of my messanger bag, and shut the door behind me. I locked it before I rushed down the hall. My converse squeaked on the steps as I decended them by twos. I grabbed the rail and spun myself into the next hall, springing through the glass front doors. I stopped at the bottom of the front steps. Which way was the science building? I groaned in frustration and ran down the western path, praying this was the right way. I'd made a lucky guess as I spotted the building. I was so glad I had played sports in highschool. I bounded up the steps, swung the door open, and navigated to lecture hall 5. I busted into the room and froze in the doorway.
   Everyones eyes were on me. The teacher's assistant was at the front of the class and he was also watching me, his glasses slipping down the bridge of his nose. I slowly let the door shut and it latched, the metallic click splitting the silence. It seemed to jar the TA from his frozen state.
   "You must be Isabella. Go have a seat. I was just about to deliver some news," was all he said before he fixed his glasses. I stared at him and then slowly made my way to a seat in the front row. It was normal for students to shy away from the front. Those in theses seats were statistically known to get called on more often. I set my bag down by my side and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear.
   "As I was saying," The TA began, "The previous professor left on short notice due to health problems and he will not be returning."
   There was a chorus of disappointed utterences from the students and I wondered what the problem was. I had never had the previous professor before but I was told he was a very laid back, gentle man. I felt a twinge of apprehension about who would be filling his position. I had this feeling the replacement wouldn't be so kind.
   "Don't worry," the TA continued with a soft chuckle, "The new professor is TV personality Henry Marshall from WWIP. Lets give him a warm Locwen welcome." The young man started to clap and the sound of the class' cheers nearly knocked me from my seat. I was actually afraid to admit to anyone that I didn't know who he was. I shifted uncomfortably and the door opened. A man entered and my attention was drawn to him. My jaw hit the floor, eardrums once again being blown to pieces as the room erupted with more cheers. The man stopped and ended his phone call. Only one coherent thought lingered in my head:
   This guy is gonna be my professor?