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I will meet with you for exactly one hour at the designated time below in the library.
Please do not respond to this email unless the time conflicts with your schedule and you need me to suggest another.
Otherwise, I will see you soon.
Thank you.
Liam Donovan
Creative English Chair
Phillips Exeter Academy
8
GENEVIEVE
Of course he’s late…
I tap my pen against my notepad, trying to ignore the giggles behind me. I’ve shown up to meet Mr. Donovan as he requested, in this bright-as-hell, everyone-will-see-our-every-move circulation room.
“Does anyone want to go to indie romance night this weekend?” A girl at the table next to me asks.
I pinch my wrist to prevent myself from answering.
Moving my things, I stake a claim at the only open circulation room table. It’s sandwiched between tables of students practicing for the annual Shakespeare competition.
After hearing too many versions of Hamlet’s “to be or not to be,” I shut my folder.
Me
Thanks for NOT showing up to help me like you promised.
“You’re welcome.” His deep voice makes me turn around.
Dressed in a black button down shirt and jeans, he has a slight stubble, and he looks like he hasn’t slept well in days.
Looking around the crowded room, he shakes his head.
“I don’t think we’ll be able to hear each other in here. Is there an open study studio?”
“Probably.” I head toward the main desk and he follows me.
I reserve a key for a private room and he makes it a point to leave the door wide open.
I roll my eyes and slide my work across the table.
The quicker we get this over with, the better.
He pushes his sleeves up to his elbows, revealing his trail of tattoos, making me miss the nights he used to answer my calls and explain what each one of those marks meant.
“I rewrote the opening a few different ways because I wasn’t sure if you wanted me to go in a persuasive or emotional direction.”
He flips a page, remaining silent.
The second hand ticks on the clock behind him, and ten minutes pass by.
“The reference to Proust seems a bit pretentious, so that’s why I highlighted it.” I try to engage with him.
