to the stars through difficulties • s.r.

• chapter one •

"Okay, everyone has the syllabus, yes?" The students before me nodded. "Good. I expect the first five chapters of Don Quixote to be read by next week. Be prepared to have a quiz or essay over it next class, not really sure yet. Thank you for a wonderful first day, you're all dismissed."

The students started to pack up their things, the quiet sounds of conversation ringing throughout the lecture hall as they all walked out. I started to pack up my own things, putting my binder and computer in my bag and securing the small latch at the bottom. I erased the words I had written on the board, standing on my tiptoes to reach the top.

I saw someone walk into the room in my peripheral, and I stopped erasing to look. It was a man, his tall, lanky figure dressed in a black suit and tie with a maroon button-up underneath. He had on black dress shoes, the soles clicking against the floor of the lecture hall. He walked down the steps and towards me, his height becoming apparent the closer he got.

"Hi, what can I do for you?"

He stepped onto the stage as he responded.

"My name is Dr. Spencer Reid, and I'm a new professor here. I was told that you were the professor that kept the office assignments?"

I nodded. "Yeah, they're in my office. I was just heading there now, you can come with me."

He nodded his thanks, a tiny smile forming on his lips. I returned it, grabbing my bag and slipping it onto my shoulder. I passed him and walked up the steps, leading the way to my office.

It wasn't too far from the lecture hall, just a couple hallways away. We reached the door and I pulled out my keys, inserting the one for my office into the lock and twisting it open. I pushed the door stop underneath the door to hold it open, leading him inside. I threw my bag on the dark brown couch against the right wall, switching a couple of lamps on to see.

"Alright, let's see. You said Dr. Spencer Reid, yes?" He nodded. "Okay, you're office assignment should be... here."

I pulled out a folder with the letter R on the tab, flipping through it and finding his name.

"Alright, Dr. Reid, you are in room B-207. It's actually right down the hall, two doors down I think." I held out the paper and he took it, scanning it before looking back up at me.

"Thank you. What's your name?"

"Claire. Claire d'Amore."

He smiled. "Nice to meet you, Claire. What do you teach?"

"English Lit and Comp. What about you?"

"Criminology and Human Behavior."

"Wow. Sounds pretty intense."

He laughed. "Well, it's less stressful than being in the field. I'm a member of the Behavioral Analysis Unit of the FBI."

I was speechless for a second. "Oh, wow. That's... wow." He nodded, looking at the floor. "What are you doing teaching here if you're an FBI agent?"

He cleared his throat, his body language immediately changing. His hands started to fidget and he couldn't quite meet my eyes. Odd.

"For every 100 days I work, I have to have a 30 day sabbatical. It's a new thing, just for me."

I wanted to press, but I didn't. If he got that uncomfortable at my question it wasn't worth prying for.

"Well, I know you'll make an excellent addition to our staff. Do you need anything else before you go?" He shook his head. "Well it was nice to meet you, Dr. Reid."

I held out my hand for him to shake, and he hesitantly took it. His eyes met mine again, his gaze bringing butterflies to my stomach.

"Heterochromia."