best friend, not my roommates, but Mackenzie.
Chapter 12
Mackenzie
I scribbled as quickly as I could, trying to keep up, but I had a feeling that I wasn’t the only one who felt lost. The first significant exam that would account for thirty percent of our grade was coming up at the end of next week, which meant everybody was scrambling. I had been keeping up with my homework and everything else I could with this class, even though it felt like the professor was racing to teach—in air-quotes—everything he knew would be on the test. I had a feeling we had spent so much time going over how he wanted us to learn that he’d forgotten how to teach us. But I wouldn’t complain. Because I honestly didn’t have time or energy to do it.
Pacey was at my side, writing as fast as he could, as well. This was honestly one of the only times in recent days that I could remember sitting next to him and not thinking about him in any way other than the guy I hoped took notes on anything I missed.
“Now, if you’ve done the reading, this should all make sense. If it’s not making sense to you, that’s not on me. That’s you not wanting to use your book. I realize that many of you are used to taking the easy way out when it comes to homework, but you need to learn to study. You’re adults. This is preparing you for the rest of your life. Now, I’ll see you next time we have class. And I expect you to be better. Today was a disappointment.” And with that, he turned and started erasing the board.
My eyes shot up. I risked a glance at Pacey, who blinked, and both of us went back to scribbling as many of the notes down as we could.
That this professor was erasing everything he had written and lectured on while his students were still trying to catch up was ridiculous. And if he caught us taking out a cell phone to take a photo of it, he’d fail us. It was right in the syllabus. I didn’t know if that was legal, but I couldn’t do anything about it.
I heard a snort from behind me, and I knew it was Hunter, but I ignored him.
I couldn’t focus on him, not when I needed to flesh out the last equation. Thankfully, I recorded the final set of parentheses and shook out my hand as the professor nodded, then picked up his bag and walked out.
“Was that an X or a Y? Oh, God, or was it another Greek letter that I missed?” Pacey mumbled, and I smiled.
“It was a simple X. Thank the math gods.”
“Compare notes when we get back to my place later?” he asked, a brow raised.
I let out a relieved sigh. “Yes. I’m so glad you’re taking this class with me.”
“Well, there are benefits to joining a class or two with you, although I can’t use most of those benefits when we’re in a classroom.”
I blushed, cleared my throat, and quickly started putting everything away. People talked all around us, trying to share notes and figure out exactly what the last equation was.
I hated this class, and I was glad that it wasn’t the focus for my future. Although if things didn’t look up soon, I would end up with this guy as my advisor because I was running out of time and options for who could fit me in. He had a spot open. This would be my last resort.
Not something I wanted to worry about.
Yet.
I had a couple of meetings coming up in the next week to flesh out the rest of my plan. If those didn’t work, I had a feeling I’d be studying and fleshing out my senior thesis with this guy.
I rubbed my temples and started out the door, Pacey right behind me.
“Coffee?” he asked.
I shook my head. “I’m meeting the girls for a late lunch at the house.” I smiled softly, trying not to let my trepidation show. But Pacey could read my expression. It shouldn’t surprise me that he was able to so quickly, and yet, it did.
“You’ll be fine. You were friends with them before this. You don’t need to be nervous.”
“They were roommates for so much longer, though. It’s just an odd situation.” Made odder by the fact that something was going on with Nessa, and I couldn’t figure out what it was. She wasn’t acting mean