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Post by everett howe on Jan 18, 2024 20:04:40 GMT
It couldn’t be denied, she made him crack a smile. Between her earnest questions and her innocent humor, Everett could not complain about this extra informal office hour being dull or bothersome. The alternative would mean that he’d be sitting in a meeting somewhere else instead of learning more about one of his students, who was quite a sight to behold on her own. His students were not always full-fledged people to him, rather names and scores wavering in the gradebook, maybe a distinctive handwriting he could discern from assignments. Each semester he assisted for a class like this and never bothered to keep up with them after, as very few proceeded to seriously study chemistry. So immersed in academia, Everett perceived non-STEM students as foreign entities but the ease he felt with Ruby, while conflicting, briefly relieved him of the many pressures of his stature.
But the clock was winding down against them. Part of him wanted to keep this going, ask and answer more questions, but he knew it could not for more reason than one. His watch buzzed with reminders about upcoming time commitments, already envisioning his day go by without him. That did not require happiness or joy, just discipline. “Back to work,” he echoed in agreement, clearing his throat and pulling the notes back toward him, a pencil marking the place they last left off.
A short while later, it was time. They both started packing up and rearranging, finally putting some distance between them. He fixed a book back into place on his shelf, turning to her expectantly. “Sorry to kick you out,” he offered a light chuckle; a few more hours he would not have minded. “See you Thursday?”
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Post by ruby anderson on Jan 18, 2024 22:23:21 GMT
| It's quieter now that they've focused again. Some talking here and there, but it's mostly concentration. Everett gives Ruby direction whenever she has a question and then it's back to where they were on the notes. This half of the study session was flying by, especially since the personal conversations were halted. It's not long before the time is up. Ruby shuts her laptop and begins to organize the notes she created plus already had from the lectures with Professor Angelo. She knows he has other obligations and she's overstayed her welcome. "Thank you again," she's grateful again that he stayed over and spent any of his time helping her understand the material. And she's maybe a little disappointed she can't prod into his life any further. Her backpack is zipped up, and Ruby shrugs the coat she placed on the back of the chair onto her shoulders. Following him to the door, she nods her head at his question. "I'll be there. Oh and we will be finishing our twenty questions not about chemistry, so prepare yourself," she smirks, as she begins to walk down the hallway. Looking back at him after taking close to fifty steps, she waves and yells, "See you Thursday!"
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Post by everett howe on Jan 18, 2024 23:43:22 GMT
So it was promised and so it was done.
Everett did in fact see her on Thursday, Ruby the first to arrive to his office as others filtered in and out with occasional questions, troubleshooting their homework problems. When they were left alone, briefly—usually only for a few minutes at a time before someone else traipsed through, bumbling with confusion—he allowed her to sneak in her questions, blue eyes usually darting toward the door to make sure no one else overheard. As if no one were allowed to find out any more about him, as if that would invite the curiosity of more undergrads. He admitted to few hobbies, let on that he was an only child, talked briefly about his parents. He learned about some of her likes and interests, how she spent the holidays, what her freshman year was like (aside from this class). The gaps were being filled in and he began to look forward to her questions that didn’t demand his intellect.
During class the next morning, she claimed the seat next him—usually left empty, others recognizing that he was only there out of obligation to keep pace with the professor’s lectures—and squeaked out a greeting as lecture started. His smile was compressed into a vanishing smirk, offering the sight of his palm in wordless hello. He listened to Dr. Angelo’s lesson with one ear, the other eventually trained on the sounds of Ruby: the slice of a fresh page of paper, the scrawl of her pencil, her sighs of confusion or hums of success. Toward the end she leaned over and whispered something, eraser pointing at a table on the page, his eyes hitched on hers. He realized she’d asked if they could review after class. “Oh, sure,” he fumbled automatically, forgetting his offer to see her then in addition to office hours. He didn’t think she’d take him up on it.
“It’s hard to believe you don’t have something more fun to do on a Friday,” he said when they met back at his office, now the third time this week. "Not complaining," he amended, "just surprised." She seemed highly sociable, probably quite popular among girls and relentlessly pursued by boys. The office door unlocked and he glanced at his watch: after noon. Most other students had already run home, yearning for the weekend.
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Post by ruby anderson on Jan 19, 2024 1:06:17 GMT
| Ruby was the most punctual she'd ever been in her entire life that Thursday and Friday. After their study session, she went back to her dorm room and gushed to one of her roommates Mya about the cute TA for her second attempt at a chemistry class. Her roommate rolled her eyes, muttered how Ruby thought everyone was cute and believed everyone was hitting on her. So Thursday she's the first student in his office and even more eager when she sees a soft smile curl up on the corner of his mouth. This time they weren't alone, for some fellow classmates of hers also had issues with his beloved chemistry. To say she was slightly disappointed was an understatement but she was aware that Everett was obligated to assist others as well. Her other promise was kept as well, finishing her twenty questions she had started in their first session. He played along, as if he also wanted to know about her. It made her stomach flip a few times thinking of how he seemed genuine with each inquiry. When the study session was over, Ruby returned home and informed no one this time of how much she enjoyed talking with Everett.
Fast forward to Friday afternoon. She ignored all the looks that Professor Angelo secretly threw her. Focusing on just the material in front of her. She knows he'll make a comment to her about it later. Send her a cluster of inappropriate, yet threatening text messages regarding of her lack of attention to him. She listened to every topic, but was painfully aware of the man that she chose to sit next to. Before the lecture was over, she leaned towards Everett to ask if they could meet afterwards.
"Yeah, I know.." She follows him into the office. Her heart was pounding once he shut the door, unsure if she should be saying what she plans to next. "What if I just wanted to see you?" The words come out in a squeak. "And I do want to review, but maybe also wanted to spend some more time with you." She was never nervous, but it's all she can feel right now. The cool, confident girl was putting herself on the line with no idea how it would be taken. Why was this so hard? It had to be that they are completely different people, so it was appearing. Everett was scholarly, knew what he wanted to do with his life, maybe even had it planned for the next ten years. While Ruby was unsure of what she wanted and rebellious amongst other things.
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Post by everett howe on Jan 19, 2024 1:51:40 GMT
In his naivety, Everett thought he might be inspiring an appetite of curiosity in this student. Maybe she was beginning to enjoy chemistry, never mind just turning around her grade. What if he had sparked an intellectual interest for her? What he didn’t consider, of course, was the possibility of her flirting with him and purposefully seeking him out. That escaped him, a variable unaccounted for because it never happened. They had spent a few hours together this week and his thoughts rarely strayed to anything inappropriate, except for perhaps noting a change in her makeup or the details of her clothes. She was a student, not to mention several years younger and non-STEM: anything otherwise was out of the question! Especially according to the rules.
In his office again, he is aware of the echo of the door behind them, moving to fiddle at his computer while she set up. At her question he automatically chuckles toward his screen, laughing at the very prospect. “Right,” he remarked flippantly, certain that she was messing with him, often trying to get a rise out of him whether with her questions or observations. But when he turned around, she didn’t seem to be laughing or playing along; she was serious. “Me?” he asked, another laugh dying somewhere between confusion and suspicious disbelief. Either she was dedicated to passing this class or becoming his personal nuisance. He cleared his throat, the room seeming to stretch between them from either side of the table. “You don't have any plans this weekend?” he deflected uneasily, shuffling some papers. “I mean, you probably have a boyfriend or something.”
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Post by ruby anderson on Jan 20, 2024 0:26:06 GMT
| It's his reaction that's immediately causing her to be filled with regret. Her heart slumps down to her stomach. Maybe she was imagining things being more in her head. Perhaps Mya was right, Ruby was conceited and believed that any guy that glanced her way could be into her. She's watching the wheels turn in Everett's mind after her previous words. Student, young, failing class, not smart and now hitting on a staff member. Those of course were her assumptions of what he could thinking as he stays focused on the screen in front of him. He faces towards her now, questioning what she's said and she sees disbelief all over his features. Ruby refuses to let him see that the reaction he's given her as hurt just a tiny bit. Stone cold Ruby, her youngest out of her twin brothers once dubbed her.
She takes a deep breath as she watches him turn around and seem preoccupied again. "Yeah, you, but it's okay. We can just forget what I said," she finally answers after what feels like minutes. Her backpack is suddenly out of her hands and onto the round table they had been seated at just a few days ago. As much as she did want to see him, she was truthful in having a few questions from the lecture. She flips through the notebook that had the notes she'd just written. "I do have plans tonight, though. Just as I'm sure you do, so I can be quick." Ruby can feel his eyes on her as she studies each of the pages "If you were curious, the answer to your last question is no." This time it was her moment to make eye contact with him, holding his gaze before returning to the notebook in her hand.
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Post by everett howe on Jan 20, 2024 1:01:40 GMT
Everett was not exactly used to this type of attention from the opposite sex, even among his own peers. Everyone was too busy and preoccupied, and those who weren’t—people who managed a work-life balance, who could separate from their studies however briefly—fell in different social circles from him anyway. He belonged to the ragtag bunch who worked well past hours, spending most of their waking moments on research and studying. On a Friday, for example: he anticipated being on campus until nightfall, while most others would be off celebrating at bars and hangouts around the city. It’s what catches him off guard when Ruby flirts (?) with him, Everett assuming she is just getting under their skin, or maybe he is misinterpreting her. She’s younger, they’re so different; it’s possible they simply couldn’t understand each other.
“It’s…nice to see you,” he tried to offer, voice pitching as if it were a question; or if he questioned it himself. It was a true statement and a polite platitude he thought was expected. “You seem to be taking to the material,” he clarified, now wondering if he had compromised the time. His mind tugged every which way, unsure whether to return the interest and feed into the moment—or reject her and ruin this little rapport they’d forged. He wants to ignore the moment, hoping it goes away in all its uncertainty, but she confirms that there is no boyfriend in the picture and he is startled by the relief that passes over him. “Oh. Well, uh,” Everett starts, but then shakes his head, waving it off with a bashful chuckle. “Anyway, let’s go over this then,” he redirected, taking a seat opposite from the blonde, worried about being next to her again.
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Post by ruby anderson on Jan 20, 2024 2:02:04 GMT
| She chuckles softly at his attempt and the words he chooses, it's nice to see you. Ruby wonders if he means it or just filling the awkward moment. Of course he brings up the chemistry work after, breezing over her comments and back to the real reason she was supposed to be here. To learn. Ruby glances his way, only to nod at his compliment before finally taking a seat at the table. The school work was getting easier for her comprehend. Even if it was just a week, she was feeling more confident. Not to mention with Everett's help and determination, she found the stress of Professor Angelo's threats drifting away. He couldn't fail her if she was getting help, actually understanding the subjects and if Everett was the one grading her scores.
For a brief moment Ruby realizes this perhaps doesn't look good on her. Flirting with her TA and hooking up with her professor? Again, Everett was in the dark and knew nothing of the second scenario. While he is focused on his laptop screen and was now seated far away from her, she sneaks a peek at him. He was just across the table instead of beside her, but it felt further due to how close they'd previously sat. Was he squirming over there? Nervous after what she said? She could see it in his bashful chuckle. In this look at him, Ruby knows it's not like the situation with the professor. She wouldn't/wasn't be using him for a benefit. They continue with the work and Ruby is quieter than she's normally been in their sessions. "I made you uncomfortable, didn't I?" she trails off, as she looks at him from around the side of the laptop. "I didn't mean to, even if what I said was true." Her pencil is in her hand again and she scribbles a few nonsense things on the notepad as she continues to talk to him. "I can tell I caught you off guard. But I have enjoyed talking with you. Chemistry talk, is, in fact included in that statement." She smirks at the last bit of her sentence.
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Post by everett howe on Jan 20, 2024 2:35:11 GMT
He was starting to wonder if he’d made a mistake, giving these small allowances to Ruby. He found her very attractive, of course, and the appeal only grew as they got to know one another, but this was something new that could cloud his judgment. First it was a coincidentally free hour, now it was time he carved out of his schedule to oblige her…how would he explain this to someone, his advisor or Dr. Angelo? Not that anyone had noticed, he was not behind in his work but he felt his thoughts and expectations drifting more, wondering when he would see Ruby next, how she was faring with her homework, and now: the intentions of her impromptu visits.
They worked steadily for some time, Everett explaining the different types of atomic bonds that had been introduced in the morning’s lecture. She was quieter, no longer braving her personal questions or seeking a break from studying. He worried that he’d upset her. When she finally says something, breaking briefly from the material, he catches her eye beside the laptop. He searches the air for the right words, not sure if it was uncomfortable so much as it was surprise and disbelief, and beneath all that: a strange hope. “I guess I’m just still trying to figure you out,” Everett admitted, head cocked slightly, studying her. The more he learned about her, the less he seemed to know still. It was simultaneously frustrating and humbling, not quite the same skill transferred over from his studies. She was human, not science; there was rarely logic to this.
“Students come see me because they have to, not because they want to,” he remarked, gesturing at the office around them. This was a punishment for some students, a chore to others; never was it an excuse to simply hang out. “Especially not really pretty girls who are nice and fun to talk to...” he trailed off, realizing that her foreignness was what made him so wary. He didn't know how to trust what he didn't understand. “I'm better at chemistry than I am with people,” he tried to laugh, more comfortable with the text on the page than small talk and pleasantries.
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Post by ruby anderson on Jan 20, 2024 14:29:39 GMT
| Ruby wanted to respond something along the lines of, everyone was trying to figure her out. Including herself. The amount of people she pushed away, with no good reason at all was frightening. Colt and Mirren being the top two on that list. This new persona she donned a few years ago could be hard to handle at times. Spoiled, vain, and some other choice words were what Mel spat at her during their latest argument. If Everett knew about that side of her, no doubt he'd be uninterested. The thought of him knowing some of her deep dark secrets, terrified her. He seemed naive, good and grounded. All of which were characteristics that no one would use to describe Ruby. Instead of responding to his true statement, she laughed, throwing her head back slightly.
"I did come here because I had to, and I really still do need to be here" she reminded him. Their first encounter with a frantic Ruby begging him to extend the study hours. Her grade still needed to be repaired. If this made things awkward going forward, which she prayed it wouldn't, Everett would still have to see her most likely until the end of the semester. So he does think I'm pretty, Ruby feels her insides turn warm at the compliment thrown at her during his nervous rant. Ruby giggles when he admits he's better at chemistry than small talk, she knew this to be true even from the moment they met. So she becomes bold, dropping the pencil in her hand and leaving it on top of the page. "So you're telling me you don't flirt with girls, or date often?" Her eyebrow ticks up as questions him. "I'm finding that hard to believe, by the way. And we seem to have no problem talking to each other, just saying."
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Post by everett howe on Jan 20, 2024 15:45:17 GMT
This conversation was slipping out of the fingers of his control, becoming harder to recover as they butted up against the confines of the rules. Solo office hours, talking about flirting and dating, admitting he thought that she was pretty—how could he let this happen? Everett could hardly believe that studying had progressed to this, unable to focus on the notes in front of them. His ethics, black-and-white as they were supposed to be, were sounding off alarms. It was a struggle to maintain his composure, too, allowing little to show across his features; meanwhile his heart and thoughts raced. She reminds him of her need to be here, and he thinks this should be the end. He tugs at the collar of his sweater, swallows a drink of water to distract himself.
When she asks that question, the dark slash of her eyebrow rising, he has to look away. “Not really,” he answered easily, thinking of his last relationship ending several months ago—another grad student, a girl in the physics department. He was even careful of mixing pleasure and business in his own curricular group. “I’m too busy most of the time. The fewer distractions, the better,” he clarified. He didn’t go out partying and gallivanting, associating that with undergrads and the stereotypical college experience. Grad students were tired, depressed, lonely—and proud of it, apparently. Everett slouched back in his chair, arms crossed over his chest in challenge. “What’s the fun of flirting when it can’t go anywhere?”
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Post by ruby anderson on Jan 20, 2024 20:25:04 GMT
| Everett''s become more nervous. She senses it as he takes a sip of his water and pulls at the collar of his shirt. Ruby stares at him a little longer. As if looking at him was going to give her more insight as to what was truly going on in that smart brain of his. From the beginning, he appeared to be a rule follower. This was breaking probably all of the rules and morales he practiced. Ruby wasn't forcing him, just poking and prodding at his life. Something bothered her about his reaction more, as if she were the only one enjoying this. He participated in the questions too, she reminded herself. She stumbled into his office to get some help and couldn't contain herself from wanting attention from the gorgeous teaching assistant. If she remembered correctly, he instigated the personal questions as well. Maybe that was just him being friendly, she wasn't sure. "Because it's fun?" Ruby responds brutally and honestly. Everett was showing his motivation in life, again total opposite of her. HIs arms were crossed at his chest and she took in his attractive appearance once more. Flirting was a top ten favorite of Ruby's. She loved the way it made her seem confident and craved the feeling of a man's attention. Conceited, again. In his eyes, she was probably noted as 'the bad girl.' That thought only made her grin larger. She stands up from where she's sitting at the table and pushes her chair in. Crossing the room, she takes the chair beside him. Now he could no longer avoid her. Her heart was pounding so hard that she could feel it in her ears. "So, tell me what you do for fun then?" Would he budge and tell her more now she's cornered him? And was this even a good idea?
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Post by everett howe on Jan 21, 2024 0:10:25 GMT
Everett was a prolific student and brilliant early career scientist, but he was not well-versed in love and romance. Because his education was a priority, held in the highest regards for as long as he could remember, his intelligence did not necessarily translate over to the (lesser) emotional realm. A gifted academic made for a poor socializer. He knew chemistry in nature, not of that between people. While he would admit to liking Ruby’s presence and enjoying their conversations, he could not identify a logical outcome. He struggled to even put together that they were flirting—the eye contact, the banter, the personal questions, the smiles. It dawned on him all at once, reflecting on their hours together over the week. It’s fun, she confirms simply, challenging his narrow-minded view of it. Perhaps it’s more fun because it can’t go anywhere, only in the confines of this room.
She’s closer now, he’s suddenly aware—right next to him, enough to feel the air she displaces. To indicate any further reaction would only serve to gratify her boldness, and he was not ready to concede. Of course, either of them could stop this at any moment—he could simply stand and walk away, or paraphrase the rules to her and ask her to leave. Yet Everett found he didn’t...want to, not yet at least. There was a clear expectation of what he should do, yet the scientist in him wanted to experiment, to see what happened if the variables changed. He catches her question, blue eyes sliding to meet and match hers. "Are you having fun right now?" he decided to ask, risking a change and avoiding a question. He turned to her, leaning forward slightly until his elbows rested at his knees. He could see the fine details of her makeup, discern the shades of her irises, watch her sticky lips part. "Do you like being this close to me? What, do you want to kiss me or something?"
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Post by ruby anderson on Jan 21, 2024 0:49:14 GMT
| "Maybe," her voice was softer now, with an edge of a sultrier tone. Fun was exactly what she was having. Watching him grow more nervous, but also not completely shy away. It was bold of her to close the space between them. Everett put that space there and it seemed like a comfort to him. But Everett was right where she wanted him. So close that she could touch him or lean forward and surprise them both with a simple kiss. She'd put lip gloss on before she arrived at his office and could feel it still present as she pressed her lips together after she last taunted him. A tiny part of her was still conflicted on if she should go down this route again. Professor Angelo and Everett were different though. First off, he was just a few years older than her. Professor Angelo was too old, and she knew it when she got involved. Everett would not threaten her in the ways he did, or so she hoped. Just from their few meetings and getting to know him, that didn't seem to be his nature. She refused to give those little bit of nerves a thought anymore. It was too late and she wasn't turning back. Her light blue eyes travel down his lips as he brings up them kissing. It's what she wants, of course. It's cute that he asks. He's moved closer to her, leaning his elbows onto his knees. The actions bring a bit of shock to her. So it wasn't just me, he feels it too, the real life chemistry. "Do you want me to kiss you?" Falls off her tongue as her gaze maintains with his own. "You can be honest with me. It won't hurt my feelings." That lie comes out easily.
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Post by everett howe on Jan 21, 2024 2:06:45 GMT
Had he said no to meeting her today, Everett wasn’t sure that this wouldn’t have still happened at some point. Although from now on he would have to be cautious with their time alone—assuming this didn’t end horribly, with disciplinary action for him and a class withdrawal for her—this seemed like an inevitability given her curiosity, her nosiness, finally coming to a head. She’d poked and prodded, asked her questions and made her comments, and here they were now at this decisive juncture. There were parts of him that were smothered by his academics, the reaches of him that were bold, daring, who might see an opportunity in this moment and haul her up against him with a kiss, rules be damned. But the other parts—the rational, the reasonable, the ethical—were stronger with deeper roots, much louder than those fleeting fantasies.
She isn’t letting up, and he almost waits for his field of vision to fill with her face. If they kissed now, he wouldn’t be able to confidently say who initiated it. He opens his mouth to answer, eyes traveling the contours of her face, darting subconsciously to her lips. Of course he wanted to kiss her, but was it really as simple as that? That desire could not be separated from his position of power or his duties. Would she still be interested if they were outside of the office, if they’d somehow met organically away from here? “You have no idea…” he started, mouth tilted with an emerging smirk, “how any of this works, do you?” He pulled back, resuming the stern and unmoved façade as before. God she was tempting, but with her beauty came a foolish arrogance and the impression that she always got her way. He could not allow this at the expense of his own ethics. “If you want to take the easy way out of this class, that won’t be through me.”
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