To Catch The Falling Stars

Car Ride

The normal ebb and flow of his week had been disrupted due to a faculty meeting for the psychology department. After enduring the endless droll of his colleagues complaining about students and deadlines, Saint concluded that Dean Cohen must simply enjoy making the lives of his staff as miserable as humanly possible. Nothing of importance was ever truly accomplished at these things. It was just another way to waste their time and pretend that the students’ money was actually going towards something useful. Max was relieved when they finally adjourned; perhaps now he could return to his normally scheduled Tuesday. Seriously, whose idea was it to call a mandatory conference in the early afternoon on his day off? It was stressful enough having to plan out the upcoming exam for his students, but to have to drive an hour round trip for a two-and-a-half-hour group therapy session too? They were beginning to sound like some bizarre, melodramatic version of a support group. He could just see it now. S.P.A.: Stressed Professors Anonymous. Max snorted. What an absurd idea… and certainly not the kind of “spa” day he’d have in mind.

He was still fuming silently as he strode across the parking lot to his car, when the frustrated sounds of some other disgruntled soul reached his ears. It would seem as though he wasn’t the only one whose day was going poorly. He pressed a button on his fob to unlock the doors, dropped his briefcase in the back seat, then locked up again before heading in the direction of what he assumed was someone dealing with engine trouble.

“Come on, baby. Please, don’t quit on me now.”

Rae turned the key again, but the car continued to sputter pathetically.

“Crap, I don’t have time for this!”

She got up and popped the hood to have a look around the engine block.

“Why is it that you always get stubborn on me and cause trouble on the worst days, huh? You think it’s a game to make me late for everything, don’t you?”

“Miss Jakksen?”

Rae jumped and hit her head on the open hood, cursing loudly before doing an abrupt about-face. Her cheeks reddened instantly at the sight of the professor, who admittedly looked somewhat amused, his brow quirked curiously as he acknowledged her.

“Professor Saint!”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you. Are you alright?”

Rae grimaced as she kneaded her scalp where there was no-doubt a sizable knot forming.

“Yeah… sorry. Just having some engine trouble. She’s playing dead today.”

Max hummed with a comprehending nod.

“Ah. I see. Mind if I have a look?”

“Be my guest.”

She moved aside, and he, in turn, stepped forward to conduct his own inspection.

“Hmm… looks like you have a flooded engine here.”

“Yeah… I was afraid of something like that. Wonderful.”

“Have you called a tow truck?”

Rae sighed.

“It won’t really be of much use at the moment. The nearest service is a good twenty minutes from here, and I have to get to work. I’d take the bus, but the next one won’t arrive for another hour. I’m already gonna be pushing the envelope if I can’t get going within the next ten minutes.”

“Would you like me to give you a ride?”

Her eyes widened at the unusual display of courtesy.

“Oh, no, professor. I couldn’t ask you to do that. I’m sure you’re very busy and I’m probably headed far out of your way.”

Max shrugged nonchalantly.

“Actually, I just got out of a meeting. It’s my day off, so I’m not in a rush. It’s no trouble at all. Especially if it’s the difference between you getting to work on time or not.”

Rae danced around her response, struggling to sound sure of herself.

“Oh… ok. I guess… that would be… fine, then… thank you.”

“Not a problem.”

Max shut the hood of the worn-down mustang as Rae quickly grabbed her bag and keys. Once she’d locked up, she followed him to his car. He stopped on the passenger’s side and opened the door for her. She blushed slightly and ducked her head, mumbling a quiet “thank you” as she slid into the leather seat. He nodded as he shut the door and briskly walked around to the driver’s side. Once they were both settled in and buckled, he turned on the ignition, took the car out of park, and began driving the well-versed route leading off campus.

“So… where are we headed?”

“The Village Diner, off of Tuanal Avenue and West Ravine Drive.”

A crease formed along Max’s forehead as he strained to recall a vague location.

“Tuanul… sounds familiar. Isn’t that out in Kelvin?”

Rae nodded.

“Yes, sir.”

He whistled lowly.

“That is pretty far out of the way.”

“Yep. We’re practically in the middle of nowhere. Not much to speak of on the outskirts of the city. But it’s a decent area. Not too busy. Affordable. Quiet… for the most part, anyways.”

He hummed thoughtfully.

“It’s almost an hour away. That’s a long commute to get to the university every day.”

Rae nodded sheepishly.

“It is, but sometimes, you’ve just gotta play the hand you’re dealt with and do what you gotta do.”

“Indeed.”

An awkward silence settled over the two as Max switched lanes, speeding up as the car approached the highway’s on-ramp. They quickly settled into the far-left lane. Rae stared out the window and absentmindedly began picking at her nails.

“I take it your car isn’t exactly the most reliable means of transportation?”

Having been lost in thought for several minutes, Rae startled at the unexpected sound of Max’s voice. She c****d her head in confusion, but quickly recovered as she processed what had been asked. A small sigh escaped her as she tiredly rubbed her temple.

“Sally’s pretty good to me, most days. But, she’s getting more and more temperamental in her old age.”

Max gave her a side-eyed glance and raised an eyebrow.

“Sally?”

Rey’s face lit up and she shifted to sit straighter in her seat as she proudly bragged.

“Yes, sir! I bought her from a guy who owns a junkyard at the edge of town. He gave me a good deal. Even let me fleece the yard for extra parts, so I could properly fix her up. I’ve managed to keep her going for almost eight years now. I figured Sally was a fitting name, seeing as she’s a mustang, you know.”

Max took note of the uncharacteristic enthusiasm and elation that seemed to radiate off of her. He mechanically turned his blinker on and traversed three lanes of traffic, preparing for the upcoming exit. Her smile was nearly imperceptible, but there was no mistaking the contentment in her eyes. His thoughts wandered as his gaze lingered. Such bright eyes for a girl with an old soul. Like rays of the sun spreading warmth.

“We’ve been through a lot together, Sally and I. Couldn’t have made it this far without her. I owe her a lot. Money’s a little tight right now, but she’s always stuck it out with me. I’ll be able to pamper and spoil her soon enough though.”

Max blinked as he snapped out of his daze and abruptly retrained his attention back on the road. He responded slowly.

“I see.”

Rae quickly nodded then slumped back into the seat. The atmosphere between them became quiet and pensive once again, but not as uncomfortable or tense this time. Max reached over to turn the radio on, then began to lightly tap the steering wheel, keeping time with the beat. It was Rae’s turn to be taken by surprise and slightly amused by how unusual it was to see her professor in a less rigid state of being. After about the third song, she spoke up again.

“So… got pulled into a meeting on your day off, huh? That sucks.”

Max shrugged.

“It’s part of the job. No use complaining about it.”

“Eh. I think everyone’s entitled to complain now and then.”

“True.”

Rae stared out the window again and bit her lip, debating what to say next.

“Um… thanks for driving me to work, by the way. I would’ve been in a pretty big bind if I couldn’t find a ride.”

“Not a problem. Truth be told, I enjoy driving places. It’s a great way to just empty your mind and get out of your head. I like watching the world pass by. It’s relaxing.”

Rae smiled briefly.

“It is pretty nice to just let go and escape for a while. I love the idea of traveling, though I’ve never really had the opportunity to. The journey is half the fun.”

“Indeed… when does your shift start?”

“Technically three-thirty, but I have to be there at three to help out with the transition for shift changes. Everyone’s on a staggered schedule to make sure there’s always at least two people at the counter, not including the cooks. It’s a small mom and pop shop. We do get a steady flow of traffic though.”

“Ah. Sounds like you have a very demanding work schedule.”

“Yeah… it can be exhausting. It is what it is. But, at the end of the day, it’s a job and it pays the bills, so… no use complaining about it, right?”

Max chuckled as his words were thrown back at him.

“Right. Of course, perhaps everyone is entitled to complain now and then after all, hmm?”

“See! Now you’re catching on!”

Rae grinned and Max caught himself staring once again. A thought popped into his head and he cleared his throat.

“Listen, Rae… about our discussion the other day…”

Rae quickly interrupted him, knowing where he was going with the conversation.

“No worries professor, it’s fine.”

Max shook his head as he looked ahead at the stretch of road passing them by.

“I just want you to know that it’s not my intention to put extra pressure on you… you’re a bright student with an amazing work ethic. I only want to encourage you to strive to reach your full potential. But I don’t want to further stre-”

Rae stopped him again.

“It’s ok professor, really. I know you’re just doing your job, and you were right to criticize my work and hold me accountable. I’m getting things worked out, and I plan on doing whatever it takes to get through this year and graduate. I won’t be late anymore. And I’ll make sure I’m fully prepared for that exam next Friday.”

Max’s eyebrows furrowed, feeling slightly guilty about how hard he’d been on her before. He could tell she was trying her best to not make a big deal out of things, but he couldn’t help it. Her situation had gotten to him and he was genuinely concerned. He faltered.

“Yes, well… I’m glad to hear that… my offer still stands. If you need any extra help, I can work with you. I want to see your grades come back up. You’re so close to the finish line. All you need to do is push a little harder, power through that last stretch, and I know you’ll make it to the end. But… I hope you don’t think I’m suggesting you burn yourself out in the process. We’re all still human, and the mind and body can only do so much.”

Rae fell silent for a moment, considering his words. When she finally responded, she made sure to sound as confident as possible.

“I understand, professor. I’ll be ok. Just need to rework my schedule a bit, that’s all.”

Max nodded. There seemed to be nothing more to say at this point, so he let it drop and they resumed their journey without another word. Rae stole a few glances in his direction, wondering why the professor seemed so concerned about her. After all, in her eyes, she was just a typical student, otherwise a nobody. She couldn’t see the potential that he apparently saw in her. She was just a hot mess of a girl, trying to survive one day at a time.

It didn’t take long before they’d reached their destination. Max parked in front of the little hole in the wall diner and, gentleman that he was, quickly made his way to the passenger side and opened the door for Rae to get out. She hesitated a moment, then grabbed her bag and got out of the car, then gingerly held her hand out to him. He shook it as she gave him an appreciative smile.

“Thanks again for the ride. See you tomorrow morning.”

“I look forward to it.”

Max dipped his head slightly, then watched as she ran into the diner, lingering for a few moments with a concerned look on his face as he tried to figure her out. He could see Rae through the window, talking to an older man behind the counter before she disappeared into the back, no doubt to put her bag away and change into her uniform. He turned and walked back to his side of the car. After he’d gotten in and began adjusting his seatbelt, he looked up and stopped suddenly. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see a figure stepping out into the back alley by the diner and start walking down the street. He turned his attention to the pedestrian and to his surprise, it was Rae. Confused but curious, Max put his car into drive and made a u-turn, slowly following Rae as discreetly as possible. She crossed a couple of blocks before disappearing from Max’s sight. Curiouser and curiouser, he thought to himself. After driving another block and not finding her, he decided to give up and head home. He passed by a small elementary school as he navigated his way back towards the main road. Once he was on the highway again, he cranked the radio up and dismissed all thoughts about the bizarre behavior of his perplexing pupil.