When class is over, I stop at the professor’s desk on my way out. “Um, Dr. St. James? Can I talk to you?”
“Sure, Brynn,” she says over her shoulder as she cleans the whiteboard.
“It’s about the study group.”
She turns around, confusion and panic on her face. “What about it? You can still do it, right?”
I nod. “Yes, but about Sam...”
“What’s wrong with him?” Sam asks as he sidles up next to me. As soon as his lavender and sage scent wafts across the small space between us, a flutter runs through me.
I don’t look at him, but shift my stance to take a step away. “I thought it was just me doing the group.”
“That was my initial plan, yes.” Professor St. James puts the dry-eraser down and joins us at her desk. “But it is a lot of work for one person. So, when Sam offered his help, I thought you could lighten the load by splitting it up.”
“Oh, so like, I’ll be doing one session, then Sam does the next one? We’ll be switching off?” I’m disappointed by the waver in my voice, like I’m pleading instead of inquiring. Probably because I am.
Professor St. James shakes her head. “You’ll be working together every week. That will ensure you’re both on the same page as far as what information has been covered and can work together to field any questions the class may have.”
A frown works its way onto my face.
“Again,” she says, “this is a lot of work. I want to make this as easy on you as possible.”
By pairing me up with the most infuriating jackass in the world? How is that making it easy? “I appreciate that, but I know the information backward and forward. I think I can handle it on my own.”
Sam clears his throat, and I bristle. He’s been so quiet, I forgot he was here. “It’s not just about the info, Brynn.”
“That’s right,” Professor St. James chimes in. “Sam said he’s proficient with a wide range of computer programs and applications, which you’ve told me you struggle with.”
I clench my jaw. She’s right. I do a lot of things well, but technology isn’t one of them. “Okay, fair, but?”
“Listen, Brynn.” The professor holds up her hand. “I really do appreciate you heading up this group, but I also don’t see the point in you doing it all yourself. You’re brilliant, but you have an equally as brilliant classmate who can make your life easier, technologically speaking.”
I glance at Sam, sneering.
“Yes, Brynn. Sam is the other person who passed the exam. With a ninety-eight percent, nonetheless.”
That one percent makes me ball my fists. I bite out an acceptance of Dr. St. James’ words, and all but storm out. I don’t want to make a scene, but if I stand here any longer, I’ll scream.
I’m not more than twenty feet down the hall when Sam runs up behind me. “Hey, Brynn, wait up.”
I don’t acknowledge him as I keep walking.
“Should we talk about the study group for tomorrow? We don’t have much time to get our ducks in a row.” He laughs, but I don’t. “Brynn?”
My name rolling off his tongue echoes in the recesses of my brain, like he’s a million miles away. The hallway stretches before me. If I take one step forward, it pushes me two steps back.
“Brynn?”
I stop on a dime as his voice rips through my consciousness.
Sam halts after a few more steps, turning around to face me. “Brynn? Hey, what’s up?”
“What’s up? What’s up!?” If looks could kill, my fiery gaze would burn a hole right through him. “What’s up is you always having to eclipse me.”
A crease forms between his eyebrows as his eyes dart back and forth across my face. “Care to explain?”
“The bull, the O-Chem exam, the hike”?I hold out my fingers as I count?“and now, you’re commandeering my study group.”
