A few non-eventful weeks passed after finding out Juliette was really Tatiana’s mother. The first day back at school she tried hard to continue to focus on her grades but she was desperately distracted with her new set of circumstances. It became even more of a struggle when she started getting more adept with her capabilities of seeing into the future. There was also the whole turning people into figurines that were constantly derailing her thoughts too, it was all so overwhelming.
When Tatiana came out of her reverie she found herself in her favorite of all her classes with a concerned professor F glaring at her. Professor F was a much older person compared to her other teachers but he was brilliant at all things science. He was known as being a firm but fair instructor, and Tatiana’s inspiration for the field of science.
“Mmm Tatiana, I haven’t seen such a glaze in ones stare since I caught my trophy fish last week. Whatever is the matter?”
Tatiana was mortified he singled her out in front of her peers, and quietly responded, “Oh, nothing Professor F, I am good…”
Professor F noticed Tatiana’s discomfort with the attention and reverted his attention to the new student in his classroom.
“Our very own transfer student from Spain will be giving us his oral report on copper. Most of you have already met him since he has been with us for several weeks but before you start young man, please tell us a little more about yourself.”
The transfer student stood up confidently and took residence in the front of the classroom. He was odd, beautiful and strangely mellow for a student Tatiana decided. She studied him intently, his mannerisms, his accent, which was beautiful by the way, and his attire.
These superficial things truly meant nothing to Tatiana, however, they all lead to the core of a person in a way. See, generally speaking, a high maintenance person wears nothing but name brands and the like. While a humble person would not, but this new guy was not your average student, he wore better than average clothing but seemed incredibly down to earth and relaxed…
One would think with beauty like his he would constantly be showing off his muscular frame and luxurious hair by tousling it for sheer attention. But he didn’t, the entire length of time he stood in front of the class, he was confident yet humble.
The new kid’s voice was like aloe on a wound, cool, refreshing and exotic, “Hello to everyone, my name is Enrique Flores, I am from España, no I do not have a lisp, it is how we speak the language back home.” The gaggle of hens called the female populace of the class giggle unabashed.
He continued, “I am here to learn more English and become better acquainted with the culture as I hope to go to Llama U next year to study the arts. Thanks to all of those who have welcomed me to your school already I very much appreciate it and hope to spend more time with all you in the very near future. As professor F mention I will be discussing the element of copper for my oral report today…”
Tatiana never focused on petty things like exterior looks or had any normal impulses like other teens did when it came to the opposite sex or the same sex for that matter, she really loved that about herself. The dictionary would categorize Tatiana as a demisexual, though why people need to be categorized at all was always beyond her. Yet, understanding herself is what makes Tatiana that much more focused on her long term plans.
Even still, if you pressed Tatiana long enough she would have told you that Enrique was by all rights the most handsome person she had ever laid eyes on, and well every girl in school thought so too.
Maybe it was the way he rolled his tongue with every word that had an ‘r’ in it. Maybe it was the way he gained a dimple on his cheek when he searched for a word he was clearly translating before he spoke them. Whatever it was, he was simply put, damn sexy…Tatiana, for the first time ever, never paid attention to a word said in the front of the science class. Enrique finished his report, sat down and Tatiana had no idea what he said. The only thing she memorized was that damn dimple and she hated herself for it.
Professor F continued, “Very well, welcome again, where were we, ah yes ‘Ecological Succession’…”
Curiously, Mortimer was sitting next to her the entire time Enrique did his introduction and Tatiana barely even noticed! He leaned her way during Professor F’s lecture with a “Hey.” She thought to herself how she needed to be more aware of her environment.
Tatiana put her focus back to the front of the class not before quickly asking, “Hi, h-how’ve you been?”
“I’ve been better; I was hoping to talk to you after school…would you mind?”
Professor F interrupted them both, “I have a better solution, how about you talk to each other after class hmm and not during my class?”
Tatiana stammered, embarrassed, “Oh Professor F please, I…”
Professor F was deeply concerned about Tatiana’s behavior as of late. She was acting weird with what missing school for an entire week, not having kept up with her assignments, not even asking for makeup work. Now, she is distracted by the opposite sex and talking in class? No, Professor F thought quickly to himself, he was going to get to the bottom of this asap, “Or, maybe detention will help prove an environment better suited for conversations?”
Tatiana officially mortified tried to plea for forgiveness, anything but detention. She thought about the impact of a bad mark on her record it would hinder her prospects at a full ride scholarship, “No, professor F we…I…” That was not very smooth, She thought to herself.
Professor F pretended to be annoyed in order to sell his intervention, “Two days…”
Tatiana almost in tears, even Mortimer tried to chime in, “Really professor F…”.
“Three days!! Tatiana meet me after class I am worried about your recent distracted nature and your lack of respect for my time and your peers time in this classroom today.” Mortimer apologized to Tatiana as best he could non-verbally.
Tatiana with all resignation stated, “Sure, ok..”
She felt herself become unstable. She never got detention, never was called out in front of her peers, this was her favorite class her favorite professor what was going on in her life everything was different she thought. When the class was finally over and her peers shuffled themselves out of the classroom door, Tatiana was left by herself with only the professor as her audience.
He positioned himself in front of her desk and interrogated her, “I was wondering Tatiana, whatever is the matter with you? You missed school, you barley got an average grade on today’s pop quiz, you have social discussions in class.”
“No Professor F I have just been under the weather, I promise I will make up today’s grade.” She said sincerely.
“Perhaps I should make this grade permanent so you can snap out of whatever it is your doing. Not focusing on your future and this nonchalant attitude in class will make you lose out on a perfectly good full ride scholarship, young lady.”
She did not take the advice lightly. She felt overwhelmed, defeated, and lost complete control of all her emotions, just like she felt she was losing complete control of her life and plans for her future! The adrenaline started coursing through her entire body, her eyes lost their original green hue and Professor F turned into a figurine right before her…”NO! oh no oh no oh no!!” She cried in despair!
Thinking on her feet, she scooped him up in a frantic scurry and with an impulse shoved professor F in her backpack…
…Tatiana scurried down the hall. She shoved the solidified figure within the metal prison she called her locker until further notice…
To Be Continued…
Virtualee 