Page 11 of Ward Willing
I tap my dark red nails against the Formica desk, ignoring the tiny chips on a couple of them. I make a mental note to get them done later today. Doing my nails is low on my priority list, especially since I’m apparently psychotic enough to double up on classes this semester. I’m sure I’m the only student hereaskingfor a biggerworkload. Still, they’re one of the things that makes me feel normal.
Like a regular college student.
“Okay, I think we can squeeze you into another class Tuesday and Thursday mornings,” Lena, my academic advisor, murmurs as she clicks away on her computer. “That’s really your only free period. There’s only one spot left, and I’m not sure how you feel about an English major class.”
“That’s fine,” I say quickly, perking up at the thought of taking a class that might actually be interesting. “Today’s Tuesday, so I can head there after this and let the professor know.”
Lena sighs and sits back in her chair, giving me a look I know all too well.Sympathy. Pity. Worry.She’s older. Forties, I think, and she’s one of those people who actually enjoys her job as a college advisor at Crestwood University. I can tell because her face lights up any time she sees a student on campus, and she seems to reallycareabout her students’ well-being. For me, that means a lot of good-natured advice and recommendations to rest like a normal nineteen-year-old. Which is why I know I’m about to be lectured.
“You know, it can be overwhelming to take twenty-one credits in one semester,” she murmurs, arching a perfectly sculpted brow.
“Actually,” I counter, leaning forward. “I’m on an accelerated track so it’s perfectly normal to?—”
“Are you eating? Sleeping? Having…fun?” she asks, as if the word is foreign to me.
I huff a laugh. “Trust me, I’m havingtoo muchfun,” I muse, thinking of Scotty’s gig and the all-nighter I pulled three nights ago because of it. “But my high school wasn’t normal. I learned balance a long time ago. Work hard, play harder.”
Lena laughs. “Of course. I forgot. Valedictorian of Thatcher Prep. This is probably a piece of cake compared to that.”
I grin as the printer spits out my new schedule. “Exactly.”
Lena hands the single sheet to me. “No more classes this semester,” she warns. “I think your schedule is full enough, Zoe. That English class is usually reserved for those who have the prerequisites, which you do, of course. You’ll have to get permission from the professor since you’re a sophomore and most of the students are seniors.”
“Not a problem.”
She stands and ushers me out. “You have twenty minutes. Go get something to eat, or you know, go sit around at The Cave and stare at a wall like a normal college student.”
I take the schedule from her and blow her a kiss. “Thanks, Lena. You’re the best.”
“I’ll see you in January when you inevitably decide to one up yourself.”
Laughing, I glance down at the schedule before standing up. “Looking forward to—” I stop talking, and the smile drips off my face. “Oh, no.” I hand the schedule back to her as if the paper is cursed. “I’m so sorry, but I can’t take that English class.”
Lena’s perfect brows furrow. “Oh. How come? I’ve heard wonderful things about Professor Ravage.”
I wince. “Yeah, well… he’s sort of my…”
Lena’s brows shoot up and she interrupts me before I can gather my thoughts. “Boyfriend?” she whispers.
“God, no. It’s complicated, but he was my guardian. And I still live with him.” Lena’s eyes widen, and I know she’s waiting for me to elaborate, so I do. “My parents died when I was fifteen, and he was my dad’s best friend. He became my legal guardian until I turned eighteen last year.” Lena is still stunned speechless, so I shrug casually. “Anyway, since I still live with him, it might be a conflict of interest?”
Thoughliving with himwas a major overstatement. I wasn’t home enough to interact with him that much, instead choosing to spend time with Scotty, with friends at one of the events I organized in town, shopping, or cramming for a test. Despite that, we interacted a few times a week, both on campus and at home. We aren’tfriends, per se, but over the last year we’d settled into a comfortable routine. We’recordial.Which, after what happened on his birthday trip in Catalina…
When my eyes flick back to Lena, she’s seated again and clicking away at her computer.
“Hmm… there’s a yoga class that starts at seven in the morning? You haven’t fulfilled the physical activity portion of your credits yet, so that could work?”
Yoga? At seven in the morning? I’m a night owl, so that would be like pulling teeth.
“Is there anything else?” I ask hopefully.
“You haven’t fulfilled your earth sciences prerequisite. You could take astronomy, but the class meets at nine at night to observe the night sky, and since it’s three hours…”
I groan and place my face in my hands. “Is there a class at any of the normal hours that doesn’t already conflict with my current schedule?”
Lena’s lips flatten as her eyes scan her computer. “I’m sorry, but the English class is the only one available during your free window.”
I bite the inside of my cheek as I deliberate. The problem is, I can only graduate at the end of next year ifI have my degree audit completed. I’m on an accelerated program to attend UCLA’s Law School in two years, and I’m scheduled to take my LSAT’s next month. I know exactly how many credits I need to take each semester. I’d hoped to get away with eighteen this semester, but when I sat down and crunched some numbers last night after the first day of classes, I realized the only way to stay ahead would be to add another class.
