Cammie Healy - Jennifer Foor Page 0,1

distance between the two of us.

While I sat down on the opposite side of his desk, avoiding eye contact with the man who was obviously disappointed in me, I waited for him to begin.

“Miss Healy, I’ve asked you to stop by today so we could discuss this catastrophe of a midterm. I wouldn’t normally address it so soon, but I’ve become aware of your workload, and feel obligated to give you a little leeway regarding a retest.” He slid the test over as he finished.

Red.

It was all I could see scribbled over each page as I peeked at them. “I swear I studied. I don’t know what happened. It was like my mind went blank. I can assure you it was a lapse of judgment.”

“I don’t doubt your capabilities, Miss Healy. You think I don’t pay attention to students, that each and every one of them are just fillers for my classroom. I know more than you think.“ He stood and began walking around his office with his hands tucked behind his back. His confidence left me vulnerable. He was comfortable, secure, and I think he knew he wasn’t bad to look at.

While I tried not to make eye contact, my gaze scanned him whenever his back turned to me. He had buns of steel, tight and perfectly presentable in his dark-washed trousers. With his suit jacket removed, the arms of his button down were tight, displaying muscles I didn’t want to be aware existed.

Maybe it had been too long for me. I hadn’t been involved with anyone in two years, which left me vulnerable and horny. My roommate took it upon herself to remind me what I was missing out on whenever she got the chance. This was a true revelation to those times.

His voice was low and sexy as he spoke, echoing off the walls in the classroom. “I know you’ve come a long way to attend this university, and before this semester you’ve been on the dean’s list. I don’t usually offer my assistance to many students, but you have potential. I know you want to be a doctor. I’ve seen your entrance video. You’re a natural go-getter, so the fact that you’re struggling is causing me to make an exception.”

“I’m not asking for special treatment, Professor Willis. If I have to retake the course, I certainly will. I’ve put too much on my plate I suppose. I thought I could handle the extra assignments, but I’m a bit overwhelmed.”

“Is that what you want, to retake the course? I’m sure you have better things to do than sit in my classroom for another long semester. As much as I’d like to think I’m entertaining, I can’t be that interesting, especially regarding the topics we discuss.”

I ran my shaking hands over my face, promising to do whatever necessary to get me out of this situation. I didn’t mean to start crying, though it was impossible to avoid. “I’m sorry,” I managed to say. “I’m not usually this over-emotional. I’ve never failed at something before; this being so important to me. I can’t handle it.”

I heard his chair creak as he adjusted in his seat. I assumed it was because he felt annoyed I was throwing out the tears for sympathy. In his career this probably happened more often than not, though my concern was completely genuine.

“I need you to calm down, Miss Healy. You’re not going to retake my class. Perhaps if you were one of those students abusing freedom and partying it up every night I’d feel differently, but you’re not one of those people. You’re here to learn.”

“Thank you. I appreciate it very much, but might I ask how you know what I do while I’m not in your class?” I didn’t know what else to say. Surely he had more students than he could keep track of. It would be absurd to assume he’d know each one of us. The fact that he knew about me was sort of disturbing.

His right eyebrow lifted for a moment as if he were studying me. “It’s my business to know my most promising students. I wouldn’t want you making decisions that could hurt your resume later on.”

I almost wanted to giggle. Did he think he’d be able to stop me from making an ass out of myself? Could he control anyone? Was he that almighty where he had powers to change the minds of curious young adults? I highly doubted the probability.

I didn’t dare question the statement, nor