I’m sure deep down—like really deep down—Lakelyn is a nice person…but she’s made it abundantly clear on several occasions that the only reason she’s in college is because her parents are forcing her to go, therefore, she chose the “easiest” degree. But in reality, her dream was to marry an athlete who’ll wait on her hand and foot.
I don’t know if it’s because we’re polar opposites, but I can’t seem to wrap my head around that. Doesn’t she want to do something for herself? Make herself proud of her own accomplishments? If she sat down for even a second and thought about it, she’d realize that she could do so much more for herself if she tried.
“Okay,” Professor Davenport flips the paper. “You’ll be doing an article on…” she pauses for what feels like hours, no doubt trying to build the anticipation. And I swear I hear someone near the back doing a drum roll against their desk with their fingers. “The hockey team.”
“Shit,” Finley chuckles as he leans closer to me. “You’re in for it now.”
“Not funny.” I hiss under my breath, glaring at him.
“It’s better than writing an article on the sewage system,” his shoulders rise in a shrug. “Like where the hell did she come up with that? And why would anyone want to read about the sewage around campus?”
“I’d rather that than be partnered up with Lakelyn.” I admit.
I’m not too fussed about writing an article on the hockey team, that’s going to be the easy part. It’s being around herandthe hockey team at the same time that’s going to be the struggle.
“You could always ask if you can switch partners?” He suggests.
“Finley James,” my fingers reach out to squeeze at his cheeks. “You’re a genius.”
***
After everyone exits the room, I make my way toward Professor Davenport who has her back facing me as she rifles through papers on her desk.
Clearing my throat to gain her attention, she stops what she’s doing, spins on her heels, and smiles at me as I stop before her. “Yes, Lilly?”
“Is there any chance I can switch partners?” I ask, chewing my lip. “Look, no offence or anything,” why do I always say this right before I’m about to say something offensive? “But dealing with Lakelyn on a regular basis is torture as it is, and now I’m stuck writing an article on the hockey team with her?” I take a breath. “Not to be dramatic or anything, but it’s like hell has opened up and sucked me in.”
Or pretty damn close to hell.
“Partners are final,” she says, leaning against her desk. “If I switched you, others would demand to be switched, and I can’t have that.”
“Even if I have someone who’d willingly switch with me?” I ask, hopefulness seeping out. “Finley James said he’d be more than happy to.”
Okay, that’s a total lie. And I’m sorry Finley for dropping you in this…but I’m sure he’d be more than happy to be partners with Lakelyn for a whole semester than learn about the sewage system around campus.
“Can’t do that unfortunately.” She pushes off the desk and begins placing files into her bag.
Sighing, I rake a hand through my knotted blonde hair frustratedly. I’m about to turn away and give up, but then an idea pops to mind. “I’ll work as your PA for the rest of the semester, free of charge,” I blurt out. “I’ll mop your floors, dust your blinds…please,” I beg. “I’ll do anything.”
She stops packing her bag and takes a deep breath as she turns to face me again. “Lilly, I wish I could help you,” from the sound of her voice, I know that’s a lie. “But I can’t,” she’s the Professor, she certainly can. “Unfortunately, you’ve got to suck it up and deal with it.”
“Suck it up and deal with it?” I try my hardest not to snort in her face. “So while she’s nonstop flirting with the team, I’ll just have to suck it up and deal with it?”
“I’m not saying that,” she shakes her head, a soft smile grazing her lips. Ugh, how can I be mad at her when she’s the kindest Professor I’ve ever had? “Tomorrow you’ll be sitting with your partners,” she says. “And I suggest enforcing her to stick to her part of the article, that waythere shouldn’t be a problem working together.”
“Right…” I drawl out, clenching my jaw. “Well,” I take a breath, adjusting my tote bag on my shoulder. “Thanks.” For nothing, I guess.
She smiles. “See you tomorrow, Lilly.”
“Yeah, sure thing.” I nod before turning on my heel and walking out.
Grumbling incoherent things under my breath, I make my way toward the parking lot so I can drive home and scream into my pillow from frustration, annoyance, and everything else that comes along with it.
Writing an article on the hockey team is going to be interesting, I don’t know much about the sport—or any sport in general, so I’m excited to learn the ins and outs. But with having Lakelyn around, I could already tell it was going to be a long, drawn-out semester, which is something I wasn’t looking forward to.
But I suppose if I were an actual journalist and I was assigned a topic with someone I did not like, I’d have to do exactly what Professor Davenport said. So, I’ll “suck it up” and if she annoys me, I’ll just tell her to shut up.
Chapter 2
