Page 3 of Teaching Cayden

“Crap, crap, crap!” I muttered as I rushed around my apartment searching for my keys. It was the first day of the spring semester and I was running late. My head swung around as my eyes scanned every table top and shelf looking for the one thing I constantly misplaced. Dr. Haywood was going to kill me. Class was starting in thirty minutes, I still needed to grab my morning coffee, and now my keys had run away. “Finally!” I grumbled again as I saw them peeking out from where I tossed my mail the day before. I quickly swiped them up, and rushed out the door, almost tripping down the stairs on the way to my car.

“Why am I doing this again? I shook my head as I tossed my messenger bag in the passenger seat and maneuvered behind the wheel, attempting to not rumple my clothes. I’d had the bright idea to dress up for the first day, and now I was already wishing I hadn’t. I hated heels with a passion, and whoever decided that ladies’ suits should be paper thin needed to come wear one in the winter.

When I reached campus, I pulled into the commuter lot, grabbed my things, and rushed toward the on-campus Starbuck’s. My foot tapped nervously as I kept checking my watch. Class was starting in minutes and I still needed to get to the other side of campus. If it wasn’t for my coffee addiction, I’d be there now, but I couldn’t function without my morning cup.

“What can I get you?” The barista smiled as she brushed a stray hair out of her eyes.

“Venti Americana, black,” I rambled off as I checked my watch again. “Please don’t fire me, Dr. Haywood,” I mumbled as I waited for my coffee.

“Three twenty.” The barista placed the coffee on the counter and waited. After paying, I thanked her and rushed toward Emery Hall. If I didn’t fall in these heels or run into anyone, I may just make it in time.

Cayden

“Beep! Beep! Beep!” I slapped at my alarm clock, attempting to snooze it for the third time.

“If you snooze that thing one more time, I’m gonna hurl something at you!” Noah barked at me from across the room.

“You’re the one who woke me up in the middle of night when your drunk ass stumbled in here. I’ve got time, asshole,” I grumbled as I punched my pillow and rolled over. It wouldn’t take me long to get to my differential equations class, and I could just slip into the back somewhere. Since changing majors, I’ve been taking more math. I started this adventure as a physics major but switched to engineering last fall. It hasn’t been bad, but the math…sometimes I feel like I’m drowning.

When my alarm went off again I rolled over and shut it off. Not that I couldn’t take him, but I didn’t want to know what Noah would really do if I woke him up again. He didn’t have class until later in the morning. That was the one way we differed. I liked to get my classes out of the way and have my afternoons free, whereas Noah liked to sleep in and take late classes. Sometimes he didn’t finish up until evening. I don’t know how he did it. I liked to have time to myself before duties at the house started up.

I quickly got dressed, slipped a hat on, brushed my teeth, and grabbed my backpack before slipping out the door. The wind was brisk, but it wasn’t super cold like usual. You could tell that winter was soon going to disappear, and spring would be here. I pulled the hood up on my hoodie as I rushed across campus to Emery Hall. I’d had Dr. Haywood for a linear algebra class the semester before, and I knew that today was going to be a lot of introduction and going over expectations. If I was a few minutes late, it wouldn’t be a big deal.

When I reached the door to the classroom, I slowly slipped inside and scooted into the first desk I came to. Most of the students had a notebook out and were jotting don’t contact information from the board.

“Nice of you to join us.” Dr. Haywood’s eyes narrowed on me.

“Thanks.” I smiled, thinking he might remember me and cut me some slack. He knew I was a hard worker, and that no matter how much I struggled I always pushed myself.

“Ah, Mr. Sutter.” He nodded before going back to what he was doing. I wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or not.

Class went much like I expected it to until the very end. Ever heard the saying “when you stopping look, you’ll find it?” Well, I finally found it.

“Before we dismiss today, I’d like to introduce you to someone who will be helping me out this semester.” Dr. Haywood smiled as a woman came striding into the room. I wasn’t really paying attention to her as I made notes in in my notebook. I knew it was a woman because I could smell her perfume, but that was about it. “This is Miss Porter, my graduate assistant. She’ll be helping out with some of the classes and leading the tutoring sessions that I’ve set up. I expect you’ll want to take advantage of these since this class is not an easy one. Addison was one of my best undergrads, and I know that she will not let me down.”

“Hi.” A voice that seemed familiar filled the air. “I’ve made a list of ways you can contact me as well as a schedule for the ‘help sessions’. You’re welcome to copy this down.” My eyes lifted at that point and as they met hers, my mouth fell open. It was the girl/ woman that I’ve spent the better part of two years looking for. Miss Baseball Cap stood at the front of the room, in a suit no less. She looked nervous as she rocked on her feet which were incased in a pair of heels that caused me to take notice. Where had this woman been all this time, and where were the jeans and t-shirts?

My mouth went dry as I stared unabashedly at her. Man, I thought she was hot that time at the library, but this was a whole new level of hot. I shook my head as I watched people around me start to leave. I guess class had been dismissed and I missed it. Addison had her back to me as she talked with Dr. Haywood, and I scribbled furiously to get all of her info written down. I could find her now.

As I left the classroom that day, I knew that I was going to be at every study session, every class, and any other time that Miss Porter would be teaching. I needed to get to know her, and I needed her to want to know me. I was so screwed.

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