Professor Woods

“Hey Clarke what did you take to get your Western Women credit?” Raven asked. Not bothering to say anything as she plopped into a seat and joined Clarke and Octavia who were sitting in the college coffee shop.

“I think I took a Poli Sci class about Women in Politics in Britain and Europe. Why?” Clarke responded. Somewhat still preoccupied with her brief conversation with her English professor.

“Just met with my adviser and she said I need a Western Women credit to graduate. Who the hell knew this damn school had so many damn requirements.” Raven huffed.

“Yeah, it’s not like the school gave a booklet, website, and an entire orientation about graduate requirements. It’s a miracle anyone graduates.” Octavia said nonchalantly as she opened her laptop to search for a class for Raven.

Raven flipped off Octavia while simultaneously sticking her tongue out. Octavia rolled her eyes while Clarke smirked at their interaction.

“Bad news Ray. Looks like only two classes with a Western Women Credit are still open.” Octavia said.

“What? Shit. Shit. Shit. What classes??”

“History 435: Madam Curry, Rosaline Franklin, and other women scientists and English 134: Introduction to Women Writers.” Octavia says.

“Oh hey, I’m actually in the English 124 class. Professor is super-hot but it seems pretty intense.” Clarke replied. Raven and Octavia locked eyes for a moment and smirked. Clarke didn’t usually freely divulge her thoughts like this unless she was really affected by the person.

“So you think the professor is hot?” Raven asked. Clarke flushed for a moment. She usually wasn’t so cavalier about her attractions with Raven and Octavia.

“No Ray, she thinks the professor is super-hot and intense. There’s a different. Like you are hot but I’m super-hot.” Octavia smirked. Clarke expected Raven to flick Octavia off again or do something else rather childish but Raven just grinned.

“So you think I’m hot, O? Good to know.” Raven replied with a smile Clarke recognized as her flirty smile. Octavia froze. Her eyes going a bit wide and her mouth slightly open as if trying to find words.

Octavia was saved when her phone went off.

“Hello?”

“Oh hey Lincoln…..” Octavia walked a few feet away to talk.

Clarke saw Raven wince when Octavia said Lincoln’s name. Lincoln was a guy Octavia was casually dating. He was a genuinely nice guy and Clarke genuinely liked him. But apparently Raven didn’t approve. Raven’s flirty smile turned into a frown as she stood up from the table and picked up her bag.

“I’ll see you later Clarke. I need to leave.” Raven said. Her expression downcast. Clarke frowned in confusion.

“Ray, is something wro…..”

“I’m fine Clarke. I just…..I need to go.” Raven responded. Raven turned to exit but when she turned she almost ran into Octavia.

“Hey….where are you going Ray? I thought we were having lunch?” Octavia asked with a furrowed brow. She reached out as if to touch Raven’s arm than hastily withdrew her hand.

“Yeah, ummm something’s come up. I’ll see you later. Have fun with Lincoln.” Raven mumbled as she awkwardly walked around Octavia. Octavia eyes followed Raven as she walked out of the door. Octavia sat back down across from Clarke, a confused expression still etched on her face.

“Hey Clarke….do you think Raven’s been acting weird lately. I mean she just seems kind of off. You think she’s ok right?” Octavia asked as she fiddled with pencil. Refusing to meet Clarke’s eyes.

Clarke studied her friend. Octavia’s expression was a mix between worry, disappointment, and maybe even guilt.

“I…I don’t know O. I can’t think of something that would make her act weird. You know of anything?” Clarke asked.

“I…I……..I don’t know. No. I can’t think of anything.” Octavia said. Her hands still fiddling with her pencil and her eyes refusing to meet Clarke’s.

That’s when Clarke knew her friend was lying. Clarke didn’t know how but she immediately knew Octavia was hiding something. Clarke debated pushing Octavia. Getting her to spill whatever the secret was. But decided against it, if she pushed Octavia would close up into herself.

“You know she’s probably fine. Raven’s always been a bit off. She’s fine.” Octavia said after Clarke didn’t answer.

“She might be. Maybe you should talk to her anyway. Just to make sure.” Clarke suggested.

“Maybe……”Octavia replied.

         ***

Lexa slipped her hoodie back on as she walked out of the gym. The slight wind felt brushed over her cheeks and she breathed in the crisp night air. That workout was intense and it did what it hoped it would. She felt her stress melt away with every mile she ran and every pound she lifted. She opened her car door and slipped in. On her way home her mind once again returned to the brief conversation she after class.

Maybe she was overreacting from that interaction with her student. She probably wasn’t flirting and probably didn’t think Lexa was flirting either. Just normal conversation between a professor and student.

Even though the student was only about year younger than the professor and the professor really wasn’t a professor but a grad student teaching an intro English class. 

No. No. NO. That’s line of thought is completely inappropriate and wrong. Maybe Clarke would drop her class. That would make everything easier.

Lexa unlocked her apartment, stepped into the kitchen, and was greeted by her roommate Anya.

“Hey Lex, how was your first day of classes? I know you taught today for the first time.” Anya said as she chopped up a pepper.

“Fine. Everything went fine. What about you?” Lexa asked. Anya stopped chopping and looked at Lexa directly.

“Ok, hold on Lex. You made a huge decision when you went against your parent’s wishes and decided to go grad school for English. You wanted to be English professor and do research and inspire students. You parents practically disowned you for not going into politics. Now you teach your first class and everything was just ‘fine.’ What gives?”

“No I liked it. It was just the first day you know? Boring explanation of the Syllabus followed by boring historical lecture where I just talk for 40 minutes. Next class will be the fun part. Discussing and reacting to line of prose. I want to talk to students and listen to their ideas and teach them why literature is amazing. The first day is never really conducive for that.” Lexa responded passionately.

Anya studied her carefully. She had known Lexa for years and while they were best friends Anya was a year older and sometimes felt like an older sister. She supported Lexa when she told her parents about her graduate school plans. Lexa sacrificed a lot to do Literature and Anya wanted to make sure she was happy.

“Ok well, I’m sure next time your class will have some wonderfully deep philosophical discussion about some poem and you’ll get an intellectual boner from all the big words people throw around.”

“ANYA!”

“Oh right sorry you’re gay so just whatever the lesbian equivalent of boner is, that’s what you’ll get next class.” Anya smirked and Lexa rolled her eyes.

“Ok, that’s it, I’m gonna go take a shower.” Lexa said as she picked up her bad and headed to her room. Anya caught her arm.

“Ok, but seriously Lex. You’re gonna be great. You’re a great person and you know you’re amazing when it comes to books and poetry.” Anya said sincerely.

Lexa sighed, “Thanks Anya. I hope so.”

“And your students are gonna be hot for teacher but not just because you’re hot but because of your big beautiful brain too.” Anya added with grin. Lexa laughed a bit forcefully

“If you say so. I’m gonna take a shower. See you in a bit.” Lexa said as she retreated to her room.

Anya raised an eyebrow at the reaction. It was cool and unaffected but Anya knew Lexa well and knew something was off. Lexa was usually such a guarded person. It took years for her to really open up to Anya. Now Lexa wand Anya were honest and always open with each other. The only thing Lexa wasn’t always open about was girls.

Anya wouldn’t push though. Lexa had enough trouble when she and Costia broke up but ended up at the same Graduate school. The break-up had been good for them. In Anya’s opinion those two where better off as friends. Lexa cried for a while but she recovered. Now Lexa and Costia were friends and even got the occasional coffee together. Anya had thought Lexa’s feelings for Costia genuinely gone.

But Anya also knew that past loves had a way coming back. The light could catch their smile at the right time and the full weight of past feelings could bombard the heart. Anya knew this well. She hoped Lexa wasn’t suffering through that.