The Phantom Crystal

Class Is In Session

Blinking slowly, I press my back against the brick wall, slumping slightly. My fellow classmates chatter softly around me as we slowly take over most of this hallway. Other students rush around us, weaving and nudging through clusters of idles students, desperate to reach their own classes. A few more students stop near the growing clusters and the chatter starts to escalate in volume.

My lips pinch together as my already growing headache throbs right behind my eyes. While I'm not the greatest sleeper, for some reason, last night was just horrible for me. I woke up four times throughout the night, shivering and my teeth chattering. When I woke up before my alarm, my entire body ached and I had the start of a headache, which is just not going away. Although to be fair, I'm not entirely sure that the headache isn't just because I'm hungry. I forgot to grab anything for breakfast before leaving for class. Which is no one's fault but my own.

Huffing, I rub my eyes with the back of my hand.

"Still tired there, Jackie?"

Jumping, I glance up to find Olivia standing next to me, pulling her bright engine red hair back into a messy bun on the top of her head. Smiling, I shrug as she stuffs her black earmuffs into the pocket of her puffy black jacket. 

"Eh, kinda," I say, burying my chin in my jacket as I shiver again. "I didn't sleep the greatest last night, but I think that was just because I haven't had to share a room for the last month and a half. So, listening to Gavin's snores made it hard to stay asleep."

Olivia nods in understanding as she adjusts her hot pink and lime green backpack straps. "Understandable. Did they finally get the heat under control in your dorm? Or did they just not deal with it? I remember you mentioning something about that affecting your sleep as well, ya human furnace."

Chuckling, I fight back another shiver as another student breezes by us, the cold just radiating off of them.

"No, they haven't fixed it. Sometime during the night, they turned that stupid thing back on and both Gavin and I were just drowning in sweat when we got up. He had enough time to shower but I didn't, so that's what I plan to do." My nose wrinkles as I subtly try to sniff myself. All I smell right now is my deodorant. "So please, if I do stink, you gotta tell me. I might be wearing so many layers but B.O. doesn't care. And I'm afraid with all my shivering it's gonna leak out."

Olivia laughs. 

"Oh, don't worry, I'll let you know if you stink. If you want some extra protection, I could just spray you with some of my body spray that I have in my bag. It's called 'Winter Season'. I really like it and the boo does too."

"I'll think about it," I say, genuinely thinking about letting her spray me. Maybe I'll wait till after class. I think I'll get some weird looks right now if I just let Olivia spray me in the middle of the hallway. 

"I'll let you smell it when we sit down," Olivia states, leaning against the wall, glancing over at me with bright rainbow-colored contacts. "That way, if it's too strong, then we can quickly run back over to Linden and I can spray you with another one. Or even one of Boo's. She has some more "Manly" scents than I do. And I forgot to give her a 'good morning' kiss before I left today." Olivia pouts. "So I need to go back after class and make sure to right that wrong."

I roll my eyes. "I don't care about smelling a little fruity. As long as I don't smell like an old grandparent, I don't really care what you spray me with. But please, at least wait until my innocent eyes are out of the room before you start making out with your girlfriend."

"You're just jealous of our loving relationship," Olivia states with a dignified sniff and a pretend hair flip. "Or are you just homophobic?" 

Huffing, I mock glare at Olivia. 

"Must I remind you that I was the one who introduced the two of you? In the hopes of you both getting together! I even drove us to Pride!" I turn my nose up. "You kissing your girlfriend doesn't bother me. I just don't want another happy couple shoving their happy and healthy relationship down my throat. I had enough of that from my sister and her boyfriend this last week. Just let me wallow in my sad, depressed, nonexistent dating life without being reminded of what I'm missing out on."

A thoughtful look crosses Olivia's face. 

"Didn't you also introduce your sister to her boyfriend?"

My eyes narrow. 

"Yeah? So?"

Olivia bursts out laughing, shoving her hands deeper into her pockets. 

"You got both me and your sister hooked up with two of the hottest people and yet you can't find a boyfriend of your own? You have got to be one of the best wingmen ever and yet you can't even return the favor for yourself."

Heat spreads across my cheeks and up to my covered ears as a few of our classmates turn to look at Olivia and me.

"It's different when it's for yourself," I hiss under my breath which only makes Olivia laugh harder. "I don't like talking about myself. I'd much rather talk about everyone else and hype them up."

Olivia gently wipes at her eyes, trying hard to not smear her makeup. 

"Oof, good thing I got that waterproof mascara." My red-headed friend pats my arm, a mocking sad gaze on her face. "Don't worry, Jackie, the moment you turn 21, Hugh and I will take you out to one of the bars and help you find your own soulmate. Or, maybe during that summer, we can all meet up at the Gay 90s and find you the man of your dreams there."

''Man of my dreams', ba humbug. I don't that I will ever find such a guy.' Instead of sharing my thoughts, I merely level Olivia with a blank stare as she snickers at me, remaining silent. Olivia continues to snicker into her bright orange scarf as a hush falls over the students in the hallway. 

Footsteps click across the linoleum and I lean forward just as a tall man in a dark grey suit and a brown briefcase appears around the corner. His pure white hair has a single stripe of black hair down the center and is slicked back, barely moving with each step he takes. Bright grey eyes shine as the man greets each student he passes as he heads for the locked door all of us are hovering around. I quickly lean back and hide behind Olivia, biting my lip to keep my groans at bay.

Of course. Of freaking course, I would start my week out with him as my professor. How did I freaking forget that I signed up for his class? I tug my hat further down on my head, hoping to hide my white bangs further. 

Ian Winters. Bemidji State professor, famous paranormal investigator, and my parents' best friend. If he sees my hair, he WILL tell my parents about it. Shoot, shoot, shoot. Okay, so no taking my hat off on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays mornings. I completely forgot that Ian teaches 'Paranormal 101'. 

Unease swirls in my stomach as Ian props the door open and leads the way into the large classroom. My eyes watch the older man's back as he strides toward the front of the room as Olivia leads us toward the middle row. She plops down in the center seat and I quickly follow after, chewing my bottom lip as I throw glances toward the front of the room. Ian is standing at the desk in the right-hand corner of the room, unpacking his own briefcase as many of us unload our backpacks. I slide my backpack down to the floor to my left, unzipping the top and pulling out my notebook and pen. I'm tugging off my jacket when Olivia nudges me. I glance over at her.

"What?"

Olivia shrugs. 

"Nothing, you just had this really worried look on your face." A small smirk appears. "Is it because the professor is hot? I mean, even as a lesbian I can tell he's pretty good-looking, but isn't he a little old for you?"

A pained noise escapes me as I stare at Olivia with wide eyes. I lean forward. 

"Olivia! He's the same age as my parents!"

"I mean, he could be a good sugar daddy for you."

I scowl at her. 

"I hate you, you know that?"

"Of course you do," Olivia states, beaming as if proud of herself. She reaches over and pats my hand. "Don't worry. Your little crush is safe with me, Jackie."

I swiftly pull my hand back, glaring at my friend. 

"I am NOT crushing on him, Olivia. That man up there is my sister's godfather, I've known him since I was born."

Dark eyebrows shoot toward Olivia's hairline. 

"Whoa, wait, really?" Olivia glances back up front as Ian strolls over to the whiteboard and presses a button next to it, dropping down the projector screen. She looks back at me. "Seriously?"

I nod, sliding further down in my seat as I play with my pen. 

"Yes. He was actually over at our house for New Years. I had to give up my room for him."

"You had him in your room and you're still single?" Olivia blurts out before slapping a hand to cover her mouth. I choke on the breath of air I just inhaled.

"Olivia! What the f**k?" I hiss between coughs as she bursts out laughing. I pull my hat further down my head as a few of our classmates turn around to look at us. I quickly shoot Ian a look but he has returned to his desk, ignoring all of us as he glances through some papers.

"Olivia, please stop," I whine as she continues to laugh, hiding her face in her scarf. She wipes at her face, trying hard to calm her breathing.

"All right, all right, I'm done," Olivia forces out, struggling to sit up straight. "I promise I'm done. I just couldn't help it! But that'll be the last one, I swear. Girl scout's honor."

"We both know that you weren't a girl scout," I grumble, flipping open my notebook and dating the page. Olivia merely snickers next to me but faces forward as Ian stands in front of the podium.