Chapter 4 - The professor and his assistent

Joanna was disappointed when she discovered that the text was from her parents. They inquired about her day and how she felt living in her new apartment. She sent them a quick reply leaving out some of the more personal details of her day, but she spent a great time painting the picture of the university and the park. She wrote, how the lake in the park was clear and looked to be very healthy (she had noticed some ducks paddling around in it.) She described the tall buildings, not very modern, but she liked them anyway. She told them that unfortunately, she hadn't seen the library yet, she had always imagined it would look like the libraries in romanticized movies. Hopefully, she would have a chance to see it tomorrow.

She had just sent the text to her parents when her phone buzzed again.

She turned her phone on and quickly read the text. This one was from George.

"Hey! Do you need my help with your studies already? *winking emoji*"

Joanna laughed and shook her head as she wrote her reply.

"Are you sure it's not the other way around? Anyways, I haven't had any lectures yet." Click send.

The reply came not long after.

"What lectures do you have tomorrow?"

She checked her schedule to be certain that her memory was correct, "Basic Chemistry." she wrote and sent it.

"See you tomorrow then."

"See you?" She quickly wrote and sent the message.

"I will find you."

She put her phone down since she had no idea what to reply to this. She supposed she would see him tomorrow then.

The following day, after a bath, putting on a stunning outfit (white shirt with a silk ribbon around the neck, and an above the knee dark blue walking skirt.), a healthy - be it a bit late - breakfast, and a bike ride to the university, she walked into the auditorium, where she would hear her first lecture.

Joanna sat down close to the front, placed a stack of lined paper in front of her and found her favorite, sharpened pen. She was ready for class.

She looked around the room and her first impression of the auditorium was satisfactory. It was big, build similar to a Greek theatre or, she supposed, like the tribunes in a football stadium. It had the same grand aura about it. People chattering, a bit of chalk left on the boards, smell of paper, people texting and slamming the keys on their laptops.

"Hello, you're also from 'Mixed Sciences', right?" Joanna turned her head and saw a timid little girl standing beside her. She was small with middle length, wavy golden hair, black skinny jeans and a flowered blouse.

"Yes," she replied, "My name is Joanna Charleston. Were you looking for a place to sit?" Good job, Joanna thought to herself. Making friends already. Hopefully, this girl had the protentional to be a good study partner.

"Oh, yes. My name is Bailey. Bailey Brown." She sat down in a swift motion. "Nice to meet you."

Joanna smiled and nodded, "nice to meet you too..." She searched for a topic of conversation but didn't find any. Luckily the class professor walked into the auditorium and directed their attention to him.

"Students – welcome to Basic Chemistry. I will be your professor. My name is Johnson." He walked down in front of the boards and place his bag down.

Joanna observed him closely. He wasn't dressed like you would expect a professor to dress: a t-shirt with a funny cartoon on, casual jeans and tennis shoes. And he spoke oddly, in short sentences and with an odd rhythm as if it was a rhyme.

"I will now introduce your instructor. This is George Petersen." The Professor held out his hand.

Joanna's heart fluttered. This had become a habit for her, she thought annoyed. Could there be something wrong with her? Could there be a reason as to why she had fallen in love twice the day before? Perhaps there was something wrong with her brain. But she couldn't remember what could have caused this change in her. She would just have to focus on her studies and keep a close eye on her health and mind.

George walked into the auditorium and held his hand up for a greeting. "Hello everyone, a pleasure to meet you." He was smiling and looking out over the crowd. "You can ask me all the questions the professor doesn't have the time for. And I will the person you hand in your papers to. My contact information is on the university website." He made a short nod and walked off to the side.

Joanna observed his every move whilst listening to the professor introducing the course and the plan for the semester. George leaned against the wall and repositioned his legs. George's eyes looked out over the people, searching the rows. He found Joanna and stopped, and then they locked eyes. She stared into George's deep-sea blue eyes, just like she had done the day before. She supposed she now knew what he had meant by that text "See you tomorrow…"

George grinned and winked at her.

"Wait. Is he looking at you?" Bailey leaned towards Joanna and whispered. "Do you know him?"

"Aha," Joanna answered and cursed at herself and damned herself for being distracted by George in her very first lecture. Was he always going to be there to distract him?

"I think he is trying to tell you something," Bailey whispered.

Joanna observed George closely, "what?" she whispered to Bailey, as she tried to decode the words, he was forming with his mouth without making a single sound.

"Don't worry I'm fluent in lip-reading," Bailey said, narrowed her eyes and focused on his lips.

Fluent in lip reading? Joanna thought. Is that even a thing?

"He is saying: Meet me af-fair, no sorry, after class." Bailey chuckled quietly. "He isn't that good at subvocalize. But then again - most people aren't."

Meet me after class? Joanna thought and her heart took a tumble. It would be difficult to focus on the lecture now.