Ash let out a frustrated groan and shoved their phone back in their pocket. In exactly one hour, Ash had made their first day of work stressful. The universe hated them—every time things were going well, something would come around to fuck it all up. Why Ash hadn’t realized that would happen today, they didn’t know.
They could do this. They could get through their class and talk to Luke. Then, Ash could go home, watch reruns ofFriends, and fall asleep on their couch. It was going to be fine.
When Ash got to their classroom, they placed their backpack on the chair and pulled out their laptop. It was a few years old and took several minutes to turn on, but it eventually blinked to life. Ash connected the laptop to the projection system, pulled up their syllabus, and waited for the students to file in.
After about five minutes, students began to fill the seats of the lecture hall. Although there were only thirty students in the class, Ash had been given a small lecture hall that could fit nearly double their class size. Surveying the room, Ash noticed three types of students: those who looked excited to be there, those who were still waking up, and those who were already stressed about the semester.
“Good morning, everyone,” Ash said as the clock struck eight. “I am Dr. Asher Pierce, my pronouns are they/them, and I will be your professor for Physical Chemistry this semester. Let’s dive into the syllabus.”
Ash went through the requirements of the class including textbooks, quizzes, and exams. They planned one quiz every week consisting of five questions, and they would drop the two lowest quiz grades. There would be two exams, a midterm and a final, as well as a final presentation on one topic in physical chemistry they didn’t study during the semester. They scheduled their office hours three times a week and mentioned they would be willing to meet outside those hours by request. Ash discussed class participation and asked if anyone had them as a professor before. Four students raised their hands, and Ash mentioned to the rest of the class what those four knew well: there was no fear of answering a question wrong.
All in all, it went well. A few students asked questions about the syllabus, including what format the exams would be in. Ash had all the answers and didn’t question a single thing they did. After a half-hour, Ash let their students leave. They were all too glad to get out of more than half the class.
Packing up their bag, Ash resigned themself to the fact they needed to meet with Luke. During class, Ash was able to put the awkwardness of their situation out of their mind. Without any further distraction, Ash had to speak to Luke. They couldn’t jeopardize their career for a guy they met in a bar and didn’t hear from for three months.
Ash looked up the relative location of Luke’s office based on the biology department website and trekked from the lecture halls to the science buildings. Five science buildings housed the laboratories and science library down the hill on the main campus. Few classes were taught in these buildings, as they were reserved mostly for offices.Ash passed students rushing toward their first classes of the year. Ash could tell which students were freshmen by the way they walked with a spring in their step, so young and excited. The upperclassmen were harder to pick out. Between their emptier backpacks and relaxed stride, Ash recognized the look of students who were tired of school and couldn’t wait to be done. Ash remembered that well—the beginning of their senior year, they had no interest in getting a PhD, but their advisor had convinced them. Ash couldn’t have been happier that they stuck out their doctoral program.
Walking into Science II, Ash passed the science library, which was empty save for one lone librarian sitting behind a large wooden desk. While Ash didn’t spend much time there in undergrad, the science library was home during their PhD. They had fallen asleep more than once on a desk, their head in a dusty old book.
Too soon, Ash approached Luke’s office door. The nameplate on the door read “Dr. Lucas Hastings, Biology”. Ash raised their fist and knocked apprehensively on the door. Within a few seconds, the door swung open, revealing Luke.
“Ash,” Luke said, stepping aside to let Ash into his office. “I wasn’t sure you would come.”
Ash stepped into the office and followed Luke to a large oak desk. Behind it sat a leather chair. Papers lay haphazardly on the surface before a large monitor. In front of the desk sat two brown upholstered chairs that had seen better days. Luke gestured to the upholstered chairs, and Ash took a seat in one. Luke, surprisingly, sat in the other.
“I couldn’t just not come,” Ash said.
“How was your first class?” Luke asked.
Ash blinked a few times. That wasn’t what they were expecting. “Uh, it was fine. I let them go early.”
Luke smiled. “The beauty of syllabus week.”
“Why didn’t you call?” Ash asked before they realized the words were leaving their mouth.
“What?” Luke asked, straightening.
“You didn’t call. I left a note telling you to call. You didn’t.” Ash didn’t know what they were saying. It was like someone had taken over their body and was running their lips.
Luke let out a long breath. “You didn’t leave your number. I wanted to call. When I woke up and realized you were gone… Why did you leave?”
Ash laughed. The stress of waiting for the phone to ring finally released itself from Ash’s body. Luke didn’t call because Ash didn’t leave their number. Of course, they fucking didn’t.
“I’m sorry, I don’t mean to laugh. I just can’t believe I didn’t leave my number,” Ash said. “I had a migraine. I can’t think straight when I have one.”
Luke seemed to relax at Ash’s explanation. “How did you get home?”
Ash nodded. “My friend picked me up. I’m so sorry I didn’t leave my number.”
“So then you don’t regret that night?” Luke asked, searching Ash’s face.
Ash straightened. “No, of course not. I had a wonderful time, Luke. I spent a week staring at my phone, waiting for it to ring.”
Luke let out a low laugh, and Ash was transported back to the night at the bar, Luke’s laugh rumbling deep in his chest. Luke leaned forward until his face was mere inches from Ash’s.
“Would it be okay if I kissed you again?” Luke whispered. This close, Ash could smell his cologne, a woodsy scent.
Ash desperately wanted to say yes, the memory of Luke’s lips on theirs still prominent in their mind, but the employee handbook blared bright red, stilling their movements.
