In Sight, In Mind
854 Words
Debbie’s Pov
Saturday mornings are supposed to be peaceful.
Apparently not in my hostel.
I sat cross-legged on my bed staring at my laptop while refreshing my email for probably the fiftieth time.
Nothing.
No updates.
No teaching assistant position.
No miracle.
I groaned and threw myself backwards.
Elaina looked up from where she was painting her nails.
“You know refreshing your mail every thirty seconds will not make him answer faster.”
I rolled my eyes.
“It’s not like I’m waiting.”
She stared at me.
I stared back.
She laughed.
“You are absolutely waiting.”
I picked up my pillow and threw it at her.
She caught it.
“Okay fine, tell me something, did Professor Sullivan look impressed?”
I paused.
I hated that I was thinking about it this much.
“I don’t know.”
She narrowed her eyes.
“Tell me exactly what happened.”
I explained everything.
The office.
The resume.
The compliment.
The Monday response.
She listened like this was the most important national issue.
Then she sat up suddenly.
“Oh.”
That smile.
That smile meant danger.
“What?”
She pointed her nail polish brush at me.
“It’s Saturday.”
I stared.
“So?”
She grinned.
“Professor Sullivan goes to that gym not too far from school.”
I blinked.
“How do you know that?”
She shrugged.
“Everyone knows.”
I immediately shook my head.
“No.”
She frowned.
“What no?”
“That is weird.”
She gasped dramatically.
“We are not stalking anybody.”
“That sounds exactly like stalking.”
She ignored me.
“Listen, in sight, in mind.”
I frowned.
“Out of sight, out of mind.”
She waved her hand.
“Whatever.”
Then she continued.
“You already wanted to start exercising, right?”
I opened my mouth.
Closed it.
Okay, maybe I had said that once.
Her eyes widened.
“See.”
“This is a terrible idea.”
“It is not.”
“It is.”
“It is networking.”
I looked at her.
She looked at me.
Thirty minutes later, we were in her car.
I hate myself.
The gym was bigger than I expected.
As soon as we entered, Elaina suddenly became very interested in stretching.
Traitor.
I looked around casually.
Too casually.
And then I saw him.
Professor Sullivan.
Grey shirt.
Black joggers.
Headphones.
I suddenly remembered I had never stepped inside a gym voluntarily before.
Elaina elbowed me.
“Coincidence face.”
“What does coincidence face even mean?”
Before she could answer, Professor Sullivan noticed us.
His eyebrows raised slightly.
“Miss Greene?”
I smiled.
Too quickly.
“Oh, good morning sir.”
He looked between me and Elaina.
“You work out here?”
I laughed.
Too loudly.
“Yes.”
No.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
“How long?”
My brain stopped working.
“Long enough.”
Eliana coughed.
Professor Sullivan looked unconvinced but nodded politely.
“Well, enjoy your session.”
Then he walked off.
Elaina grabbed my arm.
“You survived.”
I whispered.
“I do not belong here.”
She shoved me forward.
“Go touch a machine.”
Big mistake.
Five minutes later, I was standing in front of something that looked dangerous.
I pressed random buttons.
Nothing happened.
Then suddenly everything happened.
I nearly lost my balance.
A hand reached out and stopped the machine.
I looked up.
Professor Sullivan.
Okay.
I wanted the floor to open.
He looked at the settings.
Then looked at me.
“First day?”
I froze.
“No.”
His expression said liar.
He smiled slightly.
“It’s okay.”
Then he adjusted the machine.
“You start slower than this.”
For the next few minutes he explained basic things.
How to stand.
How to avoid hurting myself.
What beginners usually do wrong.
He was surprisingly patient.
At one point he looked at me and asked,
“So what made you suddenly decide to start exercising?”
I almost said because I heard you come here.
Instead, I smiled.
“Healthy lifestyle.”
He nodded like he definitely did not believe me.
Eventually, he left to continue his workout.
Elaina appeared immediately.
“You looked like a lost child.”
I glared at her.
“I hate you.”
She laughed.
We stayed for another hour pretending we were gym people.
By the time we were leaving, my legs already hated me.
Professor Sullivan was walking toward his car when he suddenly stopped.
Then he turned.
“Miss Greene.”
I looked up.
“Yes sir?”
He looked at me for a second.
Then said casually,
“Come early on Monday morning.”
I blinked.
He continued.
“And come prepared for work.”
I stared.
My brain stopped.
My mouth opened.
Nothing came out.
He gave a small smile.
Then got into his car and drove away.
I turned slowly to Elaina.
She screamed.
I screamed.
People stared.
I did not care.
I GOT THE JOB.
- Writer
