Communication Is Key
College is not fun. Christen thinks as she finally plops down into one of the few remaining seats in the lecture hall. Her professor shoots her a less-than-impressed glare as she and a few other students file in a few minutes after the class was scheduled to begin. Normally Christen is the poster-child for punctuality, but today has proven to be a bigger challenge than she ever could have imagined.
When she first left her dorm, everything was fine and going perfectly according to plan. She was walking at a comfortable pace which would still allow her to arrive to class early enough to find a decent seat. Then she saw a dog. Some lady leisurely strolling through campus had the most adorable furry companion by her side and Christen couldn’t physically stop herself from taking a few minutes to stop and pet the friendly pooch. That was obstacle number one.
Then, as Christen was about to cross the street to get to the side of campus where all of the academic buildings are located, the crossing guard stationed there decided to stop her and let traffic pass. For five minutes. 52 cars, 7 mopeds, and 2 buses drove by as she impatiently waited by the side of the road. Obstacle number two.
And just when Christen thought she was in the clear, she nearly got run over by some idiot on a bike who was tarring down the sidewalk of the main mall. Christen and her backpack went flying as she jumped out of the way at the last second before impact. Once she picked herself up off of the cement, she noticed all of her textbooks, notebooks, and folders had fanned out of her backpack and decorated the ground surrounding her. A few kind individuals asked if she was alright and helped her gather her things, but the event was still a significant set-back. That was the third, final, and most aggravating obstacle.
Now here she is, late to her first class and already wanting the day to be over.
“Alright, as I was saying” The professor at the front of the room projects, “My name is Dr. Stevenson and this is Introduction to Human Communication – Or Comm 103 if you will.” Christen exhales slightly as she reaches down for her notebook from the inside of her backpack. At least I know I’m in the right class. Christen is zipping up her backpack again when she feels someone take the empty seat to her right. When Christen looks up, she is greeted with a blinding smile.
“Hi” Tobin says as she places her bag between Christen and herself on the floor next to her chair. Tobin?! Tobin and I are in the same class? We’re in the same row, in the same section number of the same class? What are the chances of that happening? This is getting weird, I’m literally seeing this girl everywhere. Either fate is messing with me or I should buy a lottery ticket soon.
“Hey” Christen replies before returning her attention back to the front of the room. Even though she’s not looking, Christen gets the feeling that Tobin’s eyes linger on her for a few moments more.
“So to get started today I wanted to open up with video about why we communicate” Dr. Stevenson informs the class. He then walks over to his computer and starts clicking away. After about a minute of attempting to bring up the video on the projector, a look a frustration takes residence upon his face. “Well this was working a few minutes ago” he notifies, “But it seems like the projector is experiencing a few technical difficulties.” The professor straightens up from his leaned over position at his desk and looks up to the students scattered across the room. “I’m going to go get someone from the tech department to lend a hand, I’ll be back shortly. In the meantime, partner up with your neighbors and practice your communication skills” he instructs before clapping his hands together and promptly exiting the hall. Christen glances to her left and sees that the seat is empty. She has no choice but to turn to her right.
“Glad to see I was your first choice” Tobin teases. Christen instantly feels the blush in her cheeks.
“Well, you know, gotta save the best for last, right?” Christen answers, trying to recover from her embarrassing lapse of judgement. Tobin’s eyes narrow.
“Alright, sure. I’ll buy that… for now.” Christen plasters a forced smile on her face and simply nods her head. Can Dr. Stevenson please walk back in now? I need to be rescued from this already disastrous conversation. “So are you a Comm major?” Tobin continues.
“Uh, I am actually. How did you know?” Christen asks, genuinely surprised that Tobin could’ve guessed that right off the bat. I didn’t already tell her that, did I? I don’t remember mentioning it… Tobin chuckles as she watches Christen.
“Well the fact that you’re in an introductory communications class kind of gives you away.” Tobin looks amused. Shit. Now is not the time to be an airhead, Christen. She probably thinks you’re a fool by now.
“Right, yeah, sorry. I’m also a psychology major so sometimes I forget what subject I’m studying at the moment” Christen explains as she shifts under Tobin’s uninterrupted gaze.
“Double major? That’s pretty brave. Why those two subjects?” Tobin questions, seeing Christen in a different light. Christen brings her eyes back up to Tobin’s as she prepares to give the explanation she’s recited one hundred times over.
“Well psychology and communications are actually very closely related” Christen describes passionately. “Both study human behavior and why we act the way that we do. I believe that if I can understand how the mind works, I can better understand how we communicate with those around us.” Tobin leans back in her chair with a smirk.
“So I guess you could say that you’re just really ‘psyched about communications’.” Christen lets out a small laugh. Wow, she’s almost as bad as Kelley.
“I suppose I could say that” Christen draws out, “But should I?” Tobin’s eyes light up with humored delight.
“No, probably not.”
Christen takes a moment to absorb Tobin’s presence. Why do I always get so spacey around her? She’s such a friendly person! She just seems so relaxed and not bothered by a thing. If I could stop worrying for just two seconds, maybe I could actually get to know her better. Maybe we could actually become friends.
Just as Christen opens her mouth to say something more to Tobin, the door to the front of the lecture hall creaks open. Dr. Stevenson reappears with a tech guy in tow. Christen feels a bit disappointed that her moment with Tobin is now over; the bubble the two created has burst. Be careful what you wish for.
“And that’s about all we have time for today” Dr. Stevenson concludes. “Remember to read the articles I’ve posted on the class website before Friday. We will be discussing them the next time we meet.”
Students around the room begin packing their notebooks and laptops into their bags and gradually start making their way to the exit. Christen drops her pen on the table and leans back in her seat while massaging her writing hand. She’s always been a vigorous note-taker. Tobin lazily releases a yawn as she raises her arms above her head and arches her back in one long stretch.
“What an informative lecture” Tobin reminisces as she slowly exhales while lowering her arms back down to her sides.
“If a 74 slide power-point is what you consider informative, then yeah, totally.” Christen rebuttals as she sits up straight again. Tobin smirks as she too retracts herself from leaning on the back of her seat.
“And here I thought you liked communications” she slyly comments. Christen looks in Tobin’s direction.
“I do like communications” Christen confirms, matter-of-factly, “I just hate taking notes.” Especially when our professor decides to click through the slides at a world record pace.
“Well it looks like you’re pretty good at it” Tobin observes as she glances down to Christen’s densely note-filled notebook. The pages of which seem to contain more black ink than white spaces.
“Yeah well” Christen begins as she closes her notebook and deposits it into her coral-colored, Jansport backpack, “Just because I’m good at something, doesn’t mean I like it.” Tobin purses her lips in contemplation.
“Fair point” she concedes as she rises from her seat, Christen following suit.
As Christen places her backpack onto her shoulders and turns toward the direction of the aisle, her left foot catches on her seat. Before she knows it, Christen finds herself with limbs flailing and her body crashing towards the floor at an alarming rate. OH SHIIIIIIIIT – Almost instinctively, Tobin’s arms reach out and catch Christen by her waist. Christen’s body snags and rubber-bands backwards before it finally stills and her face is a mere few inches away from the table in front of her. Ho-ly shit. That. Was. Close.
Moments later, Christen feels her body being pulled to an upright position by a pair of steady hands positioned securely on her hips. She can hear her pulse reverberating through her ears as she slowly turns to face her rescuer.
“You know, you really need to be more careful where you walk” Tobin declares with an entertained grin, “I can’t always be here to save you.” That last part sets Christen’s insides on fire. That’s exactly what she did. She saved me. Again. Tobin saved me... Again.
“Thanks” Christen mutters as she looks into Tobin’s eyes once more. Tobin nods and widens her smile as she gently draws her hands away from Christen’s sides, maintaining eye contact the entire time. Christen feels slightly colder immediately after.
“No problem” Tobin replies modestly, “Us Comm majors need to look out for each other.”
“Look out for each other?” Christen asks, somewhat confused by the statement and still a little dazed from their previous altercation.
“Yeah” Tobin confirms, “Comm gets a bad rep. People from other majors are always looking down on us.” Christen lets out a skeptical laugh. Seriously? People look down on Comm. It IS kind of a crucial part of any society’s well-being, but sure, let’s look down on Comm. “I’m serious, they do!”
“You make it sound like a competition” Christen remarks as she shakes her head, still not 100% believing that Tobin is telling her the truth. Tobin grabs her bag from the floor and the two start making their way to the exit.
“Everything is a competition, Christen. Give it time, you’ll learn” Tobin states confidently as she shoves her hands into the pockets of her sweatpants.
“Everything?” Christen questions, now even more unconvinced than before. Tobin takes one side glance at Christen before she races up the aisle and pushes open the door, leaning against it as she waits for Christen to catch up.
“Yep, everything” Tobin proclaims with a cocky smirk, “See we just had a race to the door. I won.” Christen can’t help but chuckle at Tobin’s childish antics.
“That’s not fair, we never agreed to a race” Christen points out as she approaches Tobin in the doorway.
“Everything’s a competition” Tobin reiterates with a wink as Christen glides past her and out of the room. Once Christen is past, Tobin pushes off of the door and lets it close behind her. The two walk side-by-side and down the steps to the walkway of the main mall.
“So are you headed back to the dorm?” Tobin asks, breaking the comfortable silence that had fallen over them.
“Um, no. I actually have another class in the Jefferson Building in like 15 minutes” Christen regretfully answers. A look of disappointment seems to flash through Tobin’s eyes for less than a millisecond before disappearing. Christen isn’t sure if she actually saw it or just imagined the whole thing. Would it be bad if I skipped a class on my first day? ...No, Christen, stop. That’s a terrible idea, I can’t believe I even just considered that.
“Alright, well, I’m sure I’ll see you later then” Tobin coolly states as she readjusts the strap of her backpack balanced precariously on her right shoulder.
“Yeah, for sure!” Christen agrees with a sincere smile. Tobin nods and her eyes seem to fill with that familiar spark again.
“Bye neighbor.”
“Bye neighbor.”
And with that the two girls walk off in separate directions, both reluctant to leave the other.