Sycamore, Stars and the Air Between

PART VI

I reach for the pile of papers in Katherine's hands. With a sigh, she says "Thank you. Why couldn't god give me three hands or four?" She asks, looking up like she's asking the Lord himself right now. She rearranges the stack of books in her arms, a lock of thick brown hair falling between her eyes.

Steadier now, she moves to the front of the lecture hall with me. "If we're talking about wanted appendages, give me tail. I tripped twice walking through the quad this morning." I joke.

Katherine laughs, "Astute point Ashley." She drops her books onto the wide desk, running a finger over the touchscreen computer in the center. "I'm so pleased you accepted my offer. You bring such a fresh perspective to things around here."

I brush off the compliment, it's hard not to bring a new perspective around here. I was a third-year theology student stuck in depths of the engineering campus.

Katherine, an Alpha Chi alum, met me last year at a fundraising event and we immediately clicked. She was strong, smart, and open to new ways of thinking. Over the summer I worked in her lab, doling out my 'fresh' perspectives on her various projects. Really half the time, I just mumbled silly comments while an intern wrote it down. Poor kid.

This semester I'm assisting her in her Introduction to Engineering course. Do I have any idea what that entails? Hell no.

Freshmen, with nervous face and over packed backpacks file into the room, dispersing throughout the seats. I take a seat in the front row ready for the lecture.

The bell ring and Katherine doesn't wait a second.

"Welcome to Introduction to Engineering Solutions 102. I'm Professor Allen. In an attempt to be relatable, I'll let you know three things about myself. One, I am a Libra and it means nothing to me. Two, I have three degrees, only one of which is engineering. Three, I love watching, not playing, football."

I smirk at her. Total badass.

She continues, walking soundly around the desk despite her four-inch heels. "I look out today and I see what I do every year. Bright-minded young adults. Congratulations on your admittance into the school of engineering, it is the easiest thing you will do. I know what you want to hear, that you with your evolved minds are the future of the world, the solution to earth's biggest problems, overpopulation, starvation, global warming."

"I'm here to tell you that you are not the future. You alone are nothing. Engineers alone accomplish nothing. Ashley." Katherine waves a hand over to me, and I stand, feeling a hundred eyes jump to me. "This past summer GE asked me to figure out why so many of their microwaves were being returned broken. We worked for months finding nothing."

"It was Ashley, a junior studying theology, who pointed out that long nails, particularly on woman, were scratching at the keypad rendering the buttons useless. We tested her theory. She was right. Engineers must be smart, they must be focused, know their craft and excel at it. But most of all engineers must be open and willing to listen. If you learn nothing else in this course, learn this. You do not know all the answers, you know barely any. Ask if you have a question, share a problem whenever you can, and accept all the help that comes to you." She nods for me to sit down again. I half collapse in my seat still feeling eyes burning into me.

The rest of the class is spent on mundane syllabus matters, though my cheeks only stop flushing when the bell rings. It's a mix of being flattered and embarrassed. I tell Katherine as much after class. After a lovely chortle, she dismisses me. "Never be embarrassed by your mind." She insists.

I watch, astounded by the young, accomplished woman, so wise for her years. I vow to be more like her. Katherine stops just outside the door, smitten with someone. My interest peaks when she leans down and laughs then disappears.

Not many people can manage to get a full-bellied laugh out of a genius. I hurry out the doors to discover her acquaintance.

Kellan's eyes are glued to Katherine as she departs, laugh still on his lips. I feel my feathers ruffle. He's just as handsome as I remembered, possibly more in the daylight, dressed for academics. A crisp white button down and creased khaki slacks. He puts every one of his sweatpants wearing classmates to shame.

I do my best to disappear just as gracefully as Katherine. In an attempt to cut corners, literally, my bag snags on the doorway yanking me back into it. Kellan's there, a supportive hand at my back.

"Ashley," he's pleased to see me, lips curved up in a charming way that I detest. "I was hoping to catch you."

"How'd you know I would be here?"

"You're my TA." His eyes sparkle with delight. I frown and turn, stepping out of reach.

"Of course, you're an engineer," I state blandly. Of course. Handsome and smart. Because if he was an i***t I might be able to resist him.

His brow ticks up at my comment though he blows by it. " I want to explain myself."

I wave him off, giving my best poker face. "Nothing to explain Ace."

"I'm sorry I lied about who I was. I thought that . . . I thought if you knew you would blow me off, tell me to go home." He admits leaning into me, hazel eyes swirling deeper green under the fluorescent lights. Red hot heat crawls over my skin when I catch the flex in his forearm.

"Why does it matter?" I breathe, angry at my shallow voice. "You rejected me in the end regardless."

"I didn't Ash - "

I cut him off, lowering my voice so it has a razor's sharpness. "Yes, you did. And that's worse than hooking up with me under false pretenses."

His expression grows sour, losing the argument. "Well, it didn't stop you from getting laid. Caleb and then that prick from the party? You manage to get around." A scowl on his beautiful lips.

"Hypocrite. Tyler barely kissed me and Caleb's never laid a hand on me." I growl feeling the need to defend my virtue. Why does it matter? Why does a self-anointed manwhore care about who's between my legs?

"Why'd you lie?" He leans in closer, hand curving around my arm. "Ashley?"

I ignore his question, glancing down the halls. Bingo. "If you'll excuse me." I start to pull but he doesn't let go so I pull out the big guns. "I want to talk to someone I've actually fucked." I snarl and snatch my arm from him.

I half jog to Christian down the hall, transforming my face to come off friendly. "Christian!" I greet. He gives me an up- down and pulls out headphones tugging me in for a hug.

"What are you doing here, switching majors?"

"You make it look easy, I thought I'd try my hand." The warning bell rings. The crowded hall dissipates, bodies working into classrooms. Christian rewards me with one of his award-winning smiles. I nearly stumble back, happiness looks so good on him. I wet my lips, speechless.

He presses his palm to my face, thumb tracing the hollow of my cheek. "You're good at everything you do. I wouldn't be surprised if you had a degree by the end of the day." The tone he uses, lower, sultrier than what anyone would consider normal friendly conversation. I pray there's an innuendo in his words, that he remembers our night together. That he looks back on it fondly.

The final bell trills annoyingly.

His hand drops and I almost cry out at the loss of contact. I'm burning, aching. I step towards him and he smiles, "I'll see you around sweet cheeks." Then he leaves, traipsing down the hall. I want to smother myself, sure that it's the only way I can be relieved of the fire on my skin.

I need a hug, a kiss, and a solid f*****g. Satisfaction, seduction, it fogs my thoughts as I leave the building.

I think of Tyler, the number he left me, the chaste kiss he gave me after our long walk home. It doesn't compare. Not to the burning I feel, not to the want I need to satisfy. I want Tyler but I want to love him, I want to share myself with him. What I want now - need now is someone who's not going to coddle me, brush my hair and ask before he kisses me.

I want Kellan.