“See you this afternoon.” I close the door behind me, then pull out my phone while walking to the truck.
Waylynn’s name stops me dead in my tracks. “Fuck,” I bark out, then rush outside before bothering to read the full email.
Oswald is already in the cab when I get there. He rolls his wrist when he sees me, telling me to hurry up. I get in and start the truck so we can roll the windows down and turn on the air, but I don’t move out of the parking space.
“She dropped the class,” I inform him.
“She what?” he asks, even though he knows what I said.
I don’t repeat myself. I just allow the info to sink in.
“Just the class though, right?” he asks after a few seconds.
“I haven’t read the email yet,” I admit because the same thing crossed my mind.
“Well, read the goddamn email, Memphis!” he snaps.
Dear Professor Hilbrand,
This message is to inform you that I will be dropping your course for this semester. Please know that my decision to drop your class is not in any way due to you or your style of teaching. If given the opportunity, I will take your future classes.
I have personal reasons for dropping this class, and I cannot fully commit to attend and focus on this course. I would rather not waste both of our time and effort if I cannot properly devote myself to the learning process.
I am grateful for the effort you put into the learning experience. I look forward to being part of your classes in the future, when I can give my full attention to what you have to share.
Sincerely,
Waylynn Graff
I readthe entire thing out loud, then drop my hand with my phone onto my leg. I can’t believe she actually dropped the class. At least she mentioned taking a course from Hilbrand in the future. I’ll take that to mean Waylynn hasn’t dropped out altogether. I know she is upset, but dropping is a big deal. I also know how much it cost, not to mention it’s a required course, so she’ll have to retake it anyway.
“Fuck,” I whisper.
“Can you delete that email?” Oswald asks.
“No. She didn’t send it to me. Hilbrand forwarded it to me. She expects me to take her off the roster when I get back this afternoon.”
“Don’t take her off, not yet,” he says, looking out the front window. “Let’s check her house. If she’s not there, I know what her next class is.”
Waylynn
Instead of parkingin one of the visitor lots, I drive around until I find an empty meter. I feel like I’ve pushed my luck far enough without getting towed, so I’m going to break down and ask my mom if she knows how I can get a parking pass tonight.
It’s easier to traverse the campus now that I’m more familiar with the layout, but I have to force myself to keep my eyes trained on the sidewalk in front of me so I don’t look around nervously like I really want to.
Once I’m through the door to my math class, I breathe out a sigh of relief. I’m early enough that I’m able to take a seat in the back row. My hands are a little shaky as I pull my laptop out of my bag, but I don’t think the girl next to me notices.
A few of the people I met in the study group come in together, and for one long second, I wish I wouldn’t have blown them off for the Gravlin brothers. Then I see the girl who said, “Hit it and quit it,” and I get embarrassed.
Oswald pretty much put it right out there that he wasn’t looking for more than a hookup, and I chose to ignore it. I thought I felt something for them that was obviously just a figment of my imagination. I still can’t help but wonder if I was some sort of game to them and why I fell for it so easily, when I’ve never let anyone else get close to me. I just feel dumb now.
“Waylynn.” I jump when I hear him say my name. I know it’s not my imagination, because I can feel his hands curled over the back of my chair and his breath stirring my hair.
I don’t turn around. If I didn’t think he would make a scene, I wouldn’t even answer him at all. “What?” I keep my voice flat, indifferent.
Oswald sighs as if he thought I might have ignored him too. “Can I please talk to you?”
“I have class,” I inform him needlessly.
