As the room emptied, Dex slipped out amidst the other students, while Cya fidgeted with the strap of their computer bag and tried not to pout like a child. The moment the door closed behind the last student, they said, “I wasn’t even talking, Professor. I told the Lupyn to be quiet, but he—”
“Oh, that’s not why I asked you to stay,” Professor Myls interrupted, and they swallowed their next bout of justifications.
They deflated somewhat. “Oh.”
“I wanted to discuss your current grade and maybe offer some options to get you more support,” she said kindly, and Cya’s cheeks heated in humiliation.
“I know I can do better,” they said softly. “I’m trying; I am. But I’ve picked up more hours at work, and it’s been a bigger adjustment than I expected. Not that it’s an excuse! I take my studies very seriously.”
Waving her hands to stop them, Professor Myls interrupted again. “You misunderstand. I’m not reprimanding you. I am fully aware of your effort; I see it every class period. And I took the liberty of checking your file, and you’re excelling in your other subjects.
“That’s the reason I wanted to talk to you about your grade in my class. I would hate for it to bring down your GPA when you’re doing so well. So I wanted to discuss support options…”
Cold dread turned their already cool blood to ice as the professor’s voice faded to white noise. Their GPA couldn’t dip. Their parents ignored them most of the time, but they always checked up on their studies. If their grades took a nosedive, their parents would notice, and they would start prying into Cya’s life. They’d find out about the late classes, which would lead them to the cafe. They’d make Cya quit for sure, and they’d lose whatever semblance of autonomy and freedom they’d managed to create for themself.
“Cya?” Professor Myls’s voice pulled them out of their spiral of despair, and they inhaled sharply as the lecture hall came back into focus.
“Yes?”
“Are you”—she studied them in concern—“alright?”
“Yes,” they repeated, forcing their choppy breathing to even out. “Yes, I’m perfectly fine.”
“So, we’re in agreement, then?” she asked, and Cya barely resisted the urge to bash their head on the professor’s desk.
They hadn’t been listening. They had been too busy catastrophizing! But they couldn’t admit that, so they nodded and said, for a third time, “Yes. Of course. Full agreement.”
Smiling proudly, Professor Myls stood and clasped her hands in front of her stomach. “Excellent. I’m so happy you’re open to tutoring. I really think it can help,”
“Tutoring?” they asked, then scrambled to cover the blunder. “I mean, yes, tutoring. How… wonderful,” they ground out, another wave of humiliation rolling over them.
“Now, now,” the professor chided lightly, “don’t look at me like that. There’s nothing wrong with needing a little help now and then.”
With a nod of deference, Cya attempted a smile, though they were confident it looked more like a grimace. “Of course. If you have the contact information for the tutor, I will reach out—”
“Oh, no need for that,” Professor Myls said as she leaned onto the desk and called out, “Dex? Can you come in, please?”
Wait, Dex? Horror like Cya had never known crashed through them as the Lupyn appeared and loped across the room. He propped his fists on his hips and offered the teacher an easy grin.
“What’s up, Prof?”
“It’s Professor Myls,” she corrected before she gestured to Cya. “Dex, meet your new tutoring student. Cya, meet your new tutor.”
“What!” Cya cried in dismay as Dex’s entire countenance lit up.
He grinned so wide it was practically cartoonish, tail wagging hard enough against the professor’s desk that one of her pens rolled right across it and clattered to the floor. “Alright, alright!”
“But—but—no,” Cya breathedmiserably.
Heterochromatic eyes gleaming with excitement, Dex lifted a hand, palm out, and gleefully exclaimed, “Destiny high-five!”
Chapter three
Dex Is an Optimalist
Dex
Now,Dexwasn’tthesmartest guy. He knew that—he’d always known that—and for the most part, he’d made his peace with it. As far as he was concerned, it was more important to be a good person than a smart one.
