Page 15 of Devilry

Impassive faces fill the auditorium.Tough crowd.

“Ok,” I start. “I’m going to call out a series of words and you will say the first thing that comes to mind when you hear it.” A student to my left narrows her eyebrows, so I clarify. “The words will be taken from things we’ve discussed today, and other words that may pop up this semester. Therefore, so will your answers.”

Blank stares.

“I’m not expecting a definition, but just words that pop into your head. There’s no wrong or right answer, and there will almost always be multiple interpretations. Got it?” I catch sight of a few students nodding. The purpose of the game is to pinpoint people who are listening and retaining information. It doesn’t change anything when it comes to their final grade, but it’s a nice little way to keep tabs on the success of my teaching methods. It also offers an abundance of affirmation to those students who do know what the fuck is going on and choose not to lurk in the shadows of the classroom.

“Ok.” I rub my hands together. “First word is anthropology.” Silence ensues. “Anyone?”

“Humans.”

Stunned, my head turns to face Eli. Composed, and much more relaxed, he waits for the next word. “Sociology.”

“Karl Marx,” he rushes.

“Dogma.”

“Catholic.”

Knowing I need to address the rest of the class, I drag my attention away from him. “Theology, anyone?”

The class fails me, and Eli jumps in, pulling me right back to him. “Religion.”

Smart and attentive, I’m caught up in a surprise round of intellectual foreplay with the only student I don’t want to pay attention to, and I never want it to end.Unfuckingbelievable.

“Deity.”

“God.” The answer comes from the far back of the room, and just like that our connection is broken.

I school my face, trying to look indifferent, and focus on the student who answered. “It’s nice for someone else to join us.”

The timer on my desk goes off, putting an immediate end to the game, and simultaneously, today’s lecture.

“Well, that’s it for today, folks. I’ll see you all next week. Same time, same place.”

The noise in the room heightens as books slam, desks retract, and students engage in nonsensical chatter. I should feel relieved the class is over, but as I sneak a look in Eli’s direction, an insane urge to be in his presence railroads my rationale.

I call out to him as he packs his bag. “Eli.”

He stiffens.

“Could you stay back, please?”

Sitting back down, he remains rigid, his body language closed off and weary.Nice going, Cole.

Against my better judgement, I take the seat beside him. “Your foot still hurting?”

Obviously not expecting my concern, he tilts his head to the side and faces me. “So, you remembered me.”

A loud laugh escapes me.Like anybody could forget a face like yours. Redirecting my thoughts and the conversation, I point to his leg. “Is that why you missed the first class?”

“It took me a while to walk back to my dorm, and in the end it was too much pain to even bother.”

“Nice to know my class is a priority.”

He shifts in his chair, nervously tapping his student card on his knee. “That’s not what I meant.”

I place my hand on his leg, stopping his fidgeting. “It’s okay, I’m just teasing.”

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