After reflecting on how handy it would be to have a light saber for keeping Aaron in check, I focus back on Gary just in time to hear him announce ourproduct.
“...and finally, group fifteen has Allure, a line of women’slingerie.”
I hear Aaron wolf whistle behind me as the class bursts into laughter and shouts of “Ohhhh!”
My hands grip the edges of my chair so tight my knuckles start to go white and I grind my molars hard enough to make a dentist cringe. This is way beyond broken light saber territory now. There is nothing I have done to deservethis.
“Alright,” I hear Gary say, through the haze that’s descending on me, “your information packages should be in your inboxes now. You can spend the rest of the class going over them and starting on somebrainstorming.”
I don’t even look at Aaron. The class starts shuffling around to sit with their partners, and in the confusion I head straight for Gary’sdesk.
“Can I have a word please?” Iask.
He looks up at my foot-tapping, hands-on-hips, sassy-Portuguese-woman-with-a-problem pose and offers to speak in thehall.
“Lingerie?” I burst out, as soon as the door is closed behind us. “WithAaronPenn?”
A smile flashes across his face, but fades when I cock my head to the side and refuse to drop my angryglare.
“Christina, I realize the situation might be challenging, but that’sthe—”
“Challenging?” I blurt out. “This could cost me my grade, Gary. He has the maturity level of a thirteen year-old boy and you give uslingerie. I mean, I’d even takepierogiesoverthis.”
“Christina.” Gary waits a moment to see if I’ll interrupt again, and then continues when I stay silent, my foot still tapping against the floor. “In the business world, you may not always be working with people you get along with. In fact, I can guarantee that you won’t. Cooperation will always be one of the biggest challenges this industry has to offer. You’re one of my top students, though, and I know you have the skills to get throughthis.”
I take in a breath, trying to get myself under control. “I know freaking out at you like this isn’t exactly professional, and normally I’d try to handle things better, but this showcase means a lot tome.”
I pause, trying to come up with a way to make himunderstand.
“It’s everything I want,” I continue. “This is who I want to be, and it’s just...I mean, level with me Gary. It’slingerie.”
I throw up my hands in exasperation, but the tension breaks a bit and I let out a small smile at how ridiculous this day has just become. Gary grins inreturn.
“If it really becomes a problem,” he tells me, “you can always come and speak to me. I expect my students to disagree with each other, but I also expect them to show respect. I’ll make sure Aaron knowsthat.”
“Thanks,” Ireply.
We turn towards the door, and Gary adds one more comment before we head back inside. “And Christina, just remember, Aaron is one of my top students, too. You’ve both got the skills to do this well. You just have to make it worktogether.”
I nod as I step into the buzzing classroom and look over at Aaron’s desk. His smirk slides back into place when he sees me and he gives a little wave, pulling out the chair beside him and making a sweeping gesture for me to sitdown.
I square my shoulders and cross the room, pulling the chair several inches away from him before taking aseat.
“So what should be our star product?” he asks. “The sassy thong or the sizzling merrywidow?”
I throw some shade that is both sassy and sizzling before opening up my computer. I have a feeling that ‘making it work together’ is going to take more patience than I’vegot.
