Final Year Begins With A Bang
891 Words
Chapter Four: Final Year Begins With A Bang
Debbie’s Pov
“Please chill out girl, it’s just a teaching assistant position. Don’t you think you are really doing too much by going all out like this?” Elaine said with her eyes barely halfway open.
“I mean look at the time, it’s barely 7am,” she added.
One could tell from the sound of her voice that the poor girl just needed more sleep.
No apologies to her.
Today is my turn to leave the room messed up with clothes on my trail.
I am giving her a taste of her own medicine.
Although it was not intentional.
I just wanted to arrive early and show the professor that I could really keep up with the task.
I wanted to make sure I was there when he arrived and take my tasks for the day before heading to my other classes.
One look at myself in the mirror, and I was very pleased with my dress choice.
Nothing too serious.
Just a neat cream blouse, black trousers and enough confidence to convince people I knew what I was doing.
I adjusted my hair one last time.
“Goodbye Elaine, I will see you when I get back,” I called excitedly as I left the room.
She raised one hand without opening her eyes.
I practically jogged across campus.
Halfway there, I stopped by the coffee shop.
And because I am apparently a very normal person and not someone who accidentally memorized random facts about a professor...
I bought a black latte.
His favourite.
I froze halfway through paying.
Wait.
How do I know that?
Okay.
Maybe because he had mentioned it in class before.
Twice.
Not stalking.
Academic observation.
I reached the department and headed straight for the office.
Professor Sullivan had sent me where the spare key was kept.
I unlocked the door and stepped inside.
For a second, I just stood there.
This was officially my workplace.
Okay, maybe not the workplace.
But close enough.
I put my bag down and looked around.
The desk had files stacked neatly, but there were papers that needed sorting.
I arranged the chairs.
Cleared the desk.
Took out the trash.
Then the cleaner walked in.
She stopped.
Looked at me.
Looked around.
Then looked back at me.
“You must be the new TA?”
“Yes, I am,” I replied with so much enthusiasm.
She smiled.
“You really don’t have to come too early to clean up, that is my job, and now I feel bad for coming a bit late today.”
My smile disappeared instantly and embarrassment took its place.
Oh.
I had basically stolen her job.
“Oh, I did not mean to,” I said apologetically.
She laughed.
“That is totally fine. I understand the thrill of a new appointment.”
She continued cleaning while I stood there pretending I had not embarrassed myself before 8am.
Then the office door opened.
Professor Sullivan walked in.
Perfect timing.
I immediately stood up.
“Good morning sir.”
His eyes moved around the office.
Then landed on me.
Then back around the office.
His eyebrows lifted.
“You came early.”
I smiled.
Maybe too proudly.
“Yes sir.”
He nodded once and walked in.
His eyes landed on the coffee.
Then on me.
“You got coffee?”
I suddenly became aware of my existence.
“Oh, yes sir.”
He looked at the cup.
Then looked at me.
“Black latte?”
Abort mission.
Abort mission.
My brain started sweating.
“Oh, um, coincidente?”
His mouth twitched slightly.
Suspicious.
Very suspicious.
But he accepted it.
“Thank you.”
That one sentence carried me emotionally for longer than I want to admit.
He sat down.
Opened his laptop.
Then after a few minutes, he looked at me.
“Alright Miss Greene.”
I immediately straightened.
He pushed a stack of papers toward me.
“Sort these by course code, reply to pending emails using the template in the folder and schedule office appointments.”
I blinked.
Actual responsibilities.
He noticed.
“Too much?”
I immediately shook my head.
“No sir.”
He nodded.
“Good.”
That was how my first day officially began.
Turns out being a TA was less glamorous than people made it seem.
Emails.
Schedules.
Sorting.
Printing.
Answering student questions.
Trying not to look stupid.
At one point, I accidentally sent myself an email draft.
At another point, I printed twenty pages instead of two.
Professor Sullivan remained surprisingly patient.
At noon, I left for my classes.
By my final lecture of the day, my brain had officially retired.
I packed my things and walked out.
Then I turned the corner.
And froze.
There he was.
Jason.
My ex.
Leaning casually against the wall like he had every right to still exist peacefully.
His eyes found mine immediately.
Then he smiled.
Like we were old friends.
Like he had not broken my heart.
And standing beside him...
It was someone I recognized immediately.
Elaine.
My roommate.
She looked equally frozen.
My stomach dropped.
No.
No.
No.
Jason smiled again.
“Debbie.”
Something about the way he said my name made my chest tighten.
And suddenly my day did not feel so perfect anymore.
- Writer
