CH 3: PARTNER ASSIGNED!
1057 Words
*****Anna
Of all things, the next thing that waited for me the next morning was an email, and the second thing was a deep headache. Two bad combo.
I stared straight at my laptop screen and was balancing a cup of coffee in one hand and a half-finished physiology assignment in the other hand.
The email sat on the top of my inbox.
UNIVERSITY ADMINISTRATION.
Perfect! Because I already knew what this thing is about—definitely yesterday's event—that question. With the fact that I had publicly challenged Northbrook University's favorite hockey player innit!
Well apparently, I think my talent for creating problems is gradually improving. I finally opened the message with a deep sigh after staring at it longer than necessary. My eyes skimmed the first line, then the second, and then I found myself blinking at it. .
Wait,this wasn't a warning, or a complaint, or a request for an apology. I read the message again already confused—
Dear Anna Bennett. Due to your exceptional academic performance and commitment to academic excellence, you have been selected as a candidate for Northbrook’s Academic Integrity Program.
I frowned almost immediately. Academic Integrity Program? The hell! That was new for real. That wasn't all though, the email continued—
This initiative will be paring high achieving students with individuals who require academic support and mentorship. Participation definitely comes with benefits—additional credits,strong recommendation, additional credits, and scholarship recognition.
Boom! Exactly! This was the kind of thing a scholarship student couldn't easily refuse. I leaned back finally in my chair. This is definitely getting interesting, because for once, the university actually wanted something from me apart from tuition payment and exam scores.
My phone suddenly buzzed… a message from Lily—”Coffee?”
My fingers went on the keyboard as I typed a reply with a smile on my face—”Emergency coffee.”
Lily—”Bad?”
Me—”Potentially suspicious.”
And ten seconds later, she sent a laughing emoji.
*****
The campus cafe was very crowded as usual the way students filled nearly all the table.
Lily slid into the seat across from me. “You look very concerned.”
I just simply handed her my phone and stared at her as her eyes scanned the email. Then she finally raised an eyebrow.
“Wow,” she said.
“Yeah, that's exactly what I said too.”
“No, seriously,” she looked really impressed. “This is actually a big deal.”
“I know right.”
“And you know, most students would kill for this.”
“That's reassuring,” I said to her.
Lily handed the phone back to me her eyes narrowing slightly. “So what's now the problem?”
I gently stirred my coffee. “The school never gives anything away for free.”
“Is that your issue?” She raised a brow.
“Lily, that's always my issue.”
She laughed out so hard and placed a hand on her stomach. “You actually have trust problems.”
I took a sip from my cup. “You say that like it's a bad thing Lily.”
“It is for real!”
“No, it's called survival,” I finally looked straight at her.
She rolled her eyes and suddenly grinned. “Oh really.”
That grin was the one I didn't like at all. “What?”
“I bet they'll definitely pair you with an athlete.”
Damn it! “No.”
“Defiitely Ann.”
“Definitely not Lil.”
“Absolutely,” she laughed after that.
I pointed my spoon at her. “I'll be really declining if they try such a thing for real.”
Her laughter grew harder. “Imagine! Not in Northbrook Ann, you know that.”
I groaned. “Definitely not a spoiled athlete who thinks deadlines are optional.”
Lily's laughter finally reduced. “Who knows, maybe it might even be the hockey team.”
I was so close to choking on my coffee. Damn that! “Don't even think or joke about that please!”
Lily's grin widened now. “And why?”
“Because…”
“Oh the captain hurt your feelings right?”
“Lily! My feelings are perfectly fine.”
“Sure, Ann.”
I narrowed my eyes on her and she laughed out loud again. Our conversation slowly drifted to talks about classes, then the exams and the upcoming assignments.
I had nearly forgotten about the program by evening. Almost nearly. I was just finishing a shift near the library when my phone buzzed. It was an incoming email—Academic Integrity Program, assignment confirmation.
Shit! My stomach tightened immediately. Well, here we go! I calmly opened the message—
Congratulations. You have been officially selected for the Academic Integrity Program and your assigned participant is listed below.
Then my fingers moved on the screen as I scrolled. Boom! A strange sense of dread suddenly spread all over me. It'll probably be some random student. Probably… that's when the name appeared and instantly, my soul left my body.
Partner assigned—Xavier Thorne.
That campus celebrity. The hockey captain and the same guy I had challenged less than twenty four hours ago. Damn it! The same guy who represented everything I hated about special treatment. The guy I never ever want to cross paths with again.
My phone nearly slipped out of my hand.
“No!”
A student nearby looked up all of a suddenly and I lowered my voice.
“No!” I repeated again, this time my voice lowered a bit.
This had to be a mistake for real. Maybe a clerical error. Or maybe a prank. Just something… anything if at all. I reread the email over and over again. Maybe my brain was skipping. Or maybe my eyes were failing me. But it's there, sitting still on my screen. Nothing changed at all because the assignment was official, finalized and approved.
Apparently, it was beginning next week. Damn it! My heart sank deep, because nothing seems really funny anymore. Nothing about this is funny.
I looked at my phone one more time.
Partner assigned—Xavier Thorne.
And somehow…
I had a feeling that my semester was already becoming significantly worse.
- Writer
