The New Professor

[danimal3378]

It was a Thursday night and I was tired. I had spent the day on my feet teaching back-to-back courses and still had a pile of reading and a grant application to get though. I looked at the stack of books and articles I needed to get through for my research, let out a sign and thought, best get started now.

It was my first year as a professor and I was new in town. I had used my first paycheck for a down payment on a loft in a cozy downtown neighborhood; best I could afford but still not much. The neighborhood had several bars, a few restaurants, and a cozy coffee houses that at least offered free internet to go with the sludge they tended to serve. It was a good life, I taught classes on topics that I found interesting, even if the students didn’t always put their best effort in.

At the coffee house I the night crowd was a combination of downtown hipsters, a few students semi- studying, and a few regulars who like me in lived in the growing collection of apartments sprouting up in the neighborhood. I walked in and ordered a cup of decaf from Kimberly whom had my cup half poured before I finished my order. I grabbed the coffee and headed to a quiet corner to start the nightly ritual of pounding through a few article before getting some more of the grant written.

The CD changed and some soft contemporary pop/rock came through the speakers and she walked in. A student of mine - can’t quite remember her name - but she was enrolled in my M/W/F pre-calculus class – I’m an engineer by trade, but the math department was short staffed and they were making some new engineering professor pick up the slack. We were only four weeks into the semester, but she distinctly stuck out. She was from a coal mining town and as a result and strong advocate against environmental destruction. She was also smart; at least her understanding of the material thus far seemed to come pretty easy.

[AnyOtherName]

Jessica Swenson wasn't usually the type to hang out in a coffee shop, even if it was conveniently at the doorstep of her apartment building. She'd stop in on occasion, pick-up a hot beverage and be on her way, finding little appeal in hanging around or trying to study in a public space.

Tonight, though, would be different. She didn't suspect so much as she approached the counter and ordered a chai latte; she let her eyes scan around the crowd as she waited for her order. And there he was: Dr. Dan Patterson, her pre-calculus professor. From the appearance of the stack of papers and books on his corner table, he was immersing himself in academic ventures. It was something Jess would usually avoid intruding upon, but...

She turned her attention elsewhere, suddenly aware of a need to not stare. As if he hadn't already noticed the stupidly sweet smile she gave every time they made eye contact in class. Essentially, her showing up was much less about learning (though not to her discredit, she simply knew the material and was only taking the course to fulfill her mathematics requirement) and was much more about the eye candy she found her professor to be. She felt a tinge of guilt. Dan, or Dr. Patterson, shouldn't be objectified in her mind as he was. Perhaps if she knew him better, aside from the personality he projected in class, she could appreciate more than his physical merits...

Jessica considered the prospect as she received her order from the barista. She thanked the woman and turned on her heel, her eyes immediately finding their way back to Dr. Patterson's table. Her feet began to move even as her mind tried to dissuade her.

"Dr. Patterson," she spoke brightly. "Fancy meeting you here." A smile as she eased herself into the seat across from him. "What are you reading?"

She tried to look nonchalant, taking a sip of her tea. Hoping that she wasn't imposing, even if she had seated herself without invitation with that exact ambition.

[danimal3378]

“Oh a.. hello,” I muttered, surprised she was now right in front of me. I look at her, taking in her beautiful image. She wore her hair up in a ponytail. She was dressed in black yoga pants, worn running shoes, and a white little button down shirt. Wow.

Reading, the question catching up finally to me. “Um, just some nitrogen transport information and the impact of crop rotation” watching your face, realizing how boring that must sound, I didn’t exactly give it the greatest elevator speech. “It’s for a research topic on how to minimize the impact of cropping systems on ecosystem” I clarify, “for a grant proposal.”
I decide some chit-chat might be best, “So how are you this evening Miss …, um Swanson?” I give it a try. “Semester off to a good start?”

[AnyOtherName]

The woman's brows rose just slightly as she listened to his response, an expression that could be easily taken as a failure to fully understand what he was saying. In Jessica's own case, though, it was to convey surprise at how impressed she was by the words that fell out of his mouth. She hadn't been so enamored by her professor as to look up anything about him, so the revelation of such work was quite unexpected and wonderful.

She tilted her head slightly as he nearly got her last name correct. Interesting, how she found it cute rather than insulting.

"It's Swenson," she corrected gently. "But I'd prefer if you called me Jessica." A beaming smile. "Or Jess, of course." She paused just long enough to allow her gaze to dip from his face, appreciatively scanning over his chest for a moment before looking back up at him. "...And, yeah. Semesters always start off well, don't they?" She placed an elbow on the back of her chair. "For students, at least. Workload is at it's lightest, some of us are even fortunate enough to have hot professors to oogle..." She let the indirect flattery slip away rather quickly, following up with a question. "How has it been for you, so far? First year teaching, right?"

[danimal3378]

A small chuckle at your joke, students, always trying to be funny, but it does cause me to relax just a bit, the formality driving away.
"Yeah, first year, it’s been well different. Lots of work on the front end, trying to churn out new lectures and it feels like I'm always only a half-step ahead. But its good, it’s nice to meet new students and the like, but frankly it’s a bit of work." Letting out a soft sigh, surprised by my openness to what I've saying. It must be the lack of acquaintances in my new town and suddenly these words are flowing from me.
“So what is an exciting girl like yourself doing here this evening, don’t you have something more exciting to do?” Lowering the paper I had been reading, l look at you, really seeing the beautiful young women in front of me now, but not thinking much about it; it is only friendly banter afterall.

[AnyOtherName]

“Well, before seeing you it was my awesomely exciting plan to pick up my beverage and go back to my apartment to...do homework.” She smiled, not trying in the least to cover the obvious lie. “Honestly, I’ve been none too exciting since I moved away from home. Non-traditional student, so I’m kind of missing out on the whole dorm and party aspect of college life.”

She only paused a moment before continuing. “Though I’d like to think I can be more than exciting, given the right circumstances...” Her eyes sparkled with mischief, her gaze falling on the professor directly. “But the guy I’m interested is a bit out of my league, I think.” A foot moved under the table, the edge of her shoe glancingly brushing against Dr. Patterson's. Subtly was not one of her strong suits.