Complete Me

Chapter 1

                                                         ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 

                                                                                    Copyright © 2021 Cassey9

PROF. LAKEWOOD.

The last of my students trudge out of the hall leaving me all alone. I detach the connecting projector cables and close the lecture slides on my laptop before switching the device off.

My throat feels patched from the non-stop talking for two hours straight. My feet worn-out from walking around the podium during the class. I take a huge a swig of water in hopes of replenishing my body. I still had while to go before calling it a day.

It is days like this that drained me to the core. Starting from eight sharp till nine in the evening. Not that I’m complaining, no. I’m devoted to my job and it means a huge deal to me. Well, it comes second after my family. Becoming senior lecture and head of print journalism division at the school didn’t come easy.

Talking of family, I prop myself against the lecture podium and draw my phone from the portioned boxes of the stand. Double tapping the screen an image of my two adorable sons flashes on the screen. Just looking at the screen chases the tiredness from my body. I couldn’t wait to get back home to them.

Nillan and Killan Lakewood, my two bundles of joy. Not a day passes without counting them as my blessings. I gave birth to the twins a little later in life. The pregnancy came with difficulties proving difficult on the first few trials. It wasn’t an easy journey but Lawrence and I had our sons finally.

The clock on my phone reads 3:30Pm, my husband, Lawrence would have already gone and picked them up from their preschool. Sighing I slide my hand over the screen imagining my fingers running through their soft velvety hair. This frustrates me a little as I miss them even more now. I’d face time Lawrence as soon as I reach my office, to talk to the boys. Ask what they’d like I bring them.

My planned program for today was still occupied. Next on my schedule was a meeting with the Dean of the school concerning an event coming up with a local news station. Afterwards I have a consultation meet up with three master’s students concerning the topics on their dissertation papers.

“Excuse me Professor Lakewood,” a hesitant voice calls from behind me. I turn around to face one of my students. She smiles nervously while I stare at her my brows raising in question. Her presence unexpected, I didn’t hear her approach me.

“Yes. Can I help you Ms. Stourton?” I ask setting my phone besides the laptop.

“Um…Yes professor. I wanted to turn in my Communication Research paper,” Rain Stourton, one my third year student says looking everywhere but me which was understandable.

Most of the University students portray me as intimidating and harsh. Which wasn’t exactly wrong, dealing with different characters during the hours’ long lectures requires you to enforce some strictness. I could be intimidating but approachable at the same time. Without my rules no work could ever be carried out. And one of them being handing in assignments on time.

“Ms. Stourton that work, was due Monday and today’s Thursday. That’s three days later. I’m not taking it,” I clearly voice seriousness seeping into my voice, one thing I dislike is turning of assignments late. I’d already addressed that part at the beginning of the semester. Besides, I’d already finished grading the other papers and closed that marking chapter. All that remained was updating marks on the portal.

“Prof. Lakewood. It’s all my fault. I wasn’t in during the day of submission. I couldn’t turn it in since I had it. I’m sorry Prof. Lakewood,” she says in a low imploring voice that lessens the annoyance of her tardiness. Something in her voice revealed honesty and regret. “It won’t happen again please. Professor Lakewood.”

“You are aware you’re admitting to missing my class. One more fault to your list…”

“Please Prof. Lakewood, it won’t happen again,” Ms. Stourton murmurs stepping forward to grab my hand. I gasp at her boldness and stare incredibly. None of my student’s had ever been this bold before. “I promise.”

My encounters with Rain Stourton over the years have been limited to class alone. What I do know is that she always showed up for classes on time, handed in works early and was participative in all the courses I’ve had with her. Her grades were good too, constant A’s and B’s.

The missed class had to be her first one over the years. Thinking of this, I decide could make an exception, it’d definitely get to her leave, “Please Prof. Lakewood,” she says cutting me from my thought. She lets go of my hand and puts them together in plea. “I’m sorry and it won’t happen again.”

“I don’t make it a habit of accepting late submission. Just this once Ms. Stourton…” My phones rings cutting me mid-sentence. I sign to Rain to give me a minute. My intention is to ignore the call and finish up with Rain before heading to my office. I still had to prep for the meeting with the Dean.

The name flashing on the screen deters my set decision. It was my sons’ teacher which was very worrying. My stomach twists in knots, he rarely called unless it was something serious.

I turn away from her and answer the call, “Hello Mr. Moses. Is everything alright?” the worry coating my voice obvious. Mr. Moses starts with his usual greeting which draws out the tension engulfing me making it ten times worse.

Listening attentively, “What do you mean that they are still in school?” I ask in disbelief, “It’s past there pick up time!”

I couldn’t fathom the news I was receiving, Lawrence hadn’t showed up to pick our children. This was unbelievable and so unlike him. Mr. Moses asks how soon I’d get there and pick them from school.

“And my husband,” I ask, “He always picks them up. Or our nanny. Have you called Marissa?”

Mr. Moses reports that they were unreachable and he’d tried to get in touch with Lawrence and Marissa several times to no avail. I rub my forehead nursing the oncoming headache, none of this made sense. I rub my earlobe as Mr. Moses continues to explain why I had get there straightaway. The boys were growing restless being all alone at school and also pointed to the fact I was eating into his own personal time.

“Thank you Mr. Moses. I’m on my way,” I say cutting the call.  My first call is to Lawrence which is fruitless.  Just like Mr. Moses had said the phone is switched off. Marissa, our nanny, wasn’t picking up too. I curse under my breath, running my hand through my hair.  I hate feeling I couldn’t help this matter.

“Wonderful,” those two picked the most opportune time to switch of their phones. Just wonderful!

“Is everything okay?” a voice inquires behind me. The suddenness of the sound makes me jump shooting my phone high into the air and it hits the ground with a resonating smash. I had already forgotten Ms. Stourton was still around. My phone lands on the floor with a loud smash.

“s**t!” repeatedly cursing I pick up my phone. The screen was cracked but looked okay I inspect taking in a huge breath of relief. Pressing the power button, it lights up but the screen is all grainy. I couldn’t make out anything from the blurriness.

“I’m sorry Prof. Lakewood…I…I didn’t mean to startle you,” Rain’s face is apologetic as she stares at the phones in hand. “Is it broken?”

“Yes. I’ll get it fixed,” I say packing my things as fast as I could.

“I’m so sorry. God…what was I thinking startling you like that…”

“Ms. Stourton. It was an accident. Did you need something?” I ask.

“The paper…” she says hopefully stretching out her hand. My mind was too occupied to continue to reprimanding her so I just grab her assignment and walk past her and towards the exit. The only thought in mind is that, the faster I make it to school the faster I get back to the university. I don’t make a detour to the office as I had my car keys in my pant pockets.

As I reach the car park I open the back door and dump my materials there. My feet moving in a fast pace to save on time, every second mattered. I press the power button and my car comes to life.

A warning beep catches my attention as the front screen lights up. The tire-pressure sensor was beeping. One of my back tires was flattened. I couldn’t drive with that and not risk a tire burst. I slap the steering wheel in agitation and sink my head into my hands.

God! Not now. My husband had assured me in the morning the tire would hold for a few days. Lawrence had not taken my car for service. He was supposed to, yet the weekend passed by with him locked up in his office doing business.

Now I’m stranded no car, no phone.

A tap on my window draws me from my misery. Looking up I stare at Rain’s warm brown eyes. She smiles and points to the water bottle in her hand. She steps back giving me space to open the car door.

“You left this behind. I was just bringing it back,” she says handing it over, “You left in such a rush I thought you’d be gone already?”

“Thank you Ms. Stourton,” I reply curtly throwing the bottle into the open car door. I shut the door forcibly as I pace next to the car. I was out of ideas on what to do. It was like the world and all its forces were aligned against me today.

“Prof. Lakewood. You look really tensed and…. Are you okay?”

“No! God no!” I snap at Ms. Stourton who jumps back from my yelling. She was interrupting my thought process. My senses instantly come back and I realize how terrible my action is. Ms. Stourton had no hand in the awfully exhausting day I was having, “I’m sorry I’m having a bad time.”

“It’s fine. I understand. I’ve had such days too,” she replies smiling, “Is there something I could do to help you out?”

“If you could fix my flat tire, get me to Springdale kindergarten in seconds then yes help me,” I reply laughing bitterly. My leg kick the tire in frustration as if it’d make it inflate. I’d need huge lucky or superpower to make things work. None that I have in the moment. “This day just gets better and better. God damn it! I have to meet the Dean in half an hour.”

“I could give you a ride Prof. Lakewood,” Ms. Stourton says hopefully, “I could get you there in a matter of minutes. Sorry it’s not in seconds as you requested. I wouldn’t want us landing in the slammer for over speeding.”

“It’s okay. Thank you Ms. Stourton. I’ll just call for a cab,” I say smiling gratefully.

“I insist. I broke your phone,” she says taking hold of me again. Her hands grab my wrist and we whizz past the parked cars until we reach a blue shinny sports car. She turns around, closer and stares at me beaming brightly, “Giving you a ride is the least I could do Prof. Lakewood.”

“Could you refrain from touching me,” I say trying sound stern. I was still perplexed by the warmth coursing through me from the point she was holding me and from speed walking to where we stood. She was my student and such behavior was unacceptable. Her smile falters and it is then that she drops my wrist. I take a step back creating some distance between us. If people, students or staff saw us they would get the wrong idea of things. I don’t need any of that.

“I’m sorry. Boundaries. I know. Won’t happen again,” she says while busily skimming through her bag for something. She comes out with a car key, and presses it. The car doors open automatically revealing a slick leather tailored inside.

“Come on. I’ll get you there in a flash,” she says pulling her side of the door down. I hold back I could walk away and act as this never happened. On the other end, time wasn’t on my side. My hands were tied, my possibilities growing limited by the seconds. Throwing caution to the wind I round the car and slip on the passenger seat.

This was a one-time thing. Nothing to fuss over.

The car purrs to life as I put the seatbelt on. I place my elbow on the window and rest my head on it. Ms. Stourton pulls out of her spot, the car picking up pace, “Springdale here we come,” she says giddily her arm moving from the steering wheel to lightly pat my arm.

“I’m sorry. Boundaries,” she says immediately and turns to look at me apologetically. I let a short breath and nod at her. This sets off another smile from her and the nagging feeling on my stomach deepens. It was clear I was going to regret this.

Sooner rather than later.