I looked around, hoping no one heard my conversation. No matter how low I turned the volume on my phone, Jake’s voice carried. He called it his court voice. Everyone in a three-mile radius could hear my brother talk.
Sliding my phone back in my pocket, I headed inside. The door to the classroom was locked. She wasn’t here yet. I was only a little disappointed. Class would be starting soon, and I had hoped to have a few minutes alone with her. For what, I didn’t know. I just knew I wanted to be in her presence.
I smelled her before I saw her.
“Hey,” I said, not sure how to act when I saw her. Would she be normal or would she treat me like the old professor? I was nervous she would pretend yesterday never happened. That we never hung out. That was the term, right?
“Hi,” she said, with a warm smile. “You beat me!”
I laughed. “By a minute. Did you get your grocery shopping done?”
“Yep, Maria was only a little pissed. Oops, sorry,” she said, slapping a hand over her mouth.
“Don’t worry about it. It’s only us; we can be normal humans. It’s when the students come in that become—perfectly professional,” illustrating the point by changing my posture and voice dramatically as I spoke.
The sound of her laugh floated over me. “Good. Anyway, she was fine. How about you? Did you get the lesson plans finished?”
I nodded. “Yep, today we are going to delve into the topic of reef bleaching.”
She shook her head. “It’s so sad. I hate that we are losing so much when it comes to our oceans. I wish people would open their eyes and see what we’re doing to our world. I think with the ocean especially; it’s out of sight, out of mind for most people.”
“Yes!” I practically shouted. It was a hot button topic for me. Few people could relate to my passion for saving the reefs.
“I’m excited about this class. I can already tell it’s going to be a good one. Since it’s Monday and I have no papers to grade, I can eavesdrop on your lecture,” she said with enthusiasm.
A pang of anxiety twisted in my stomach, and I realized I was a little nervous to learn she would be listening in. Though she was always there in class, it was different to know she would be intentionally listening in, and it made me a little apprehensive.
Students started to filter in, bringing our conversation to a halt. We both resumed our distant and professional demeanor towards one another. She sat quietly at her desk, making notes as she flipped through the lesson plan I had given her.
Turning my attention to the class, I started the lecture. At first, the students looked like they would protest and reject the topic of warm water slowly killing off the beautiful coral that lined the reefs.
“Are you one of those guys?” a student asked.
I raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean by ‘one of those guys?’ Before I answer, you’ll have to enlighten me.”
The entire class fell silent. No one was taking notes or staring at their laptops now. All eyes were on me. I glanced back, and Tessa was looking at me as well. She gave a very slight nod of her head, encouraging me. Her support gave me the courage I needed to defend a topic that was near and dear to my heart.
The student guffawed. “Like a tree-hugger or some shit like that.”
I smiled. It wasn’t a friendly smile. It was the kind of smile one delivered seconds before a knock-out punch.
“Yes, I am. I can’t say I’ve ever actually hugged a tree, but if I could, I would hug the reefs I am so fond of. I don’t have to convince you or anyone else. The facts speak clearly for themselves,” I said, leveling my gaze at the defiant student.
The young guy shrugged his shoulders, doing his best to look cool in front of the others. “Whatever, man. My dad says all that global warming crap is a bunch of bullshit.”
I nodded, not willing to argue with the kid. “Why are you in this class?”
Another casual shrug. “It was open, and I needed to fill my schedule.”
That’s what I had suspected of about half of these students. They weren’t here to actually learn. It pissed me off. It was a waste of my time and theirs. I made my way towards the student, stopped in front of his desk and looked at him.
The kid squirmed in his chair.
“I think you still have time to drop the class. Maybe you can take up basket weaving or something more suitable to your interests. What are your interests, mister...?” I left the question open-ended, wanting to know the student’s name.
He didn’t give it.
“Uh, my interest is to play football. To do that, I have to go to class, so here I am.” He smirked.