She sighed and stopped in her tracks. “I’m sorry about what people are saying. I just need to make sure that we’re on the same page here.”
“We are. I’m going to get my grades back up. I don’t need any assistance with that. You’ll see.”
“Well, good. Prove me wrong. I hope you do. Because I have no problem failing students. And I’m not friends with Professor Hunter.” She turned and walked up the stairs toward the exit.
Chapter 30
Friday
I looked down at my paper and winced. C-. I was devastated when James had stopped talking to me. I had completely fallen apart. All my grades had seemed to slip. I probably still had a B average in the class. But I was used to getting As. I had worked hard to make sure I was always above the 3. 5 GPA that I needed for my scholarship. It didn’t matter if I let my grades slip now because I had lost my scholarship. But I didn’t want to. I liked getting good grades.
“As you all know, extra credit assignments are due next Wednesday,” my intro to marketing professor said. “If you weren’t motivated before, maybe you will be after getting these grades. Not your best work, everyone. I expect better next time.” Professor McCarty sat down at his desk.
Apparently I wasn’t the only one that had been slacking recently.
“Does anyone have any questions about the assignment?”
Professor McCarty had probably mentioned the extra credit when I had skipped class on Wednesday. I silently pleaded for someone else in the class to ask about it. I couldn’t have been the only one that was absent on Wednesday. But no one raised their hand. I’d just talk to him after class. I didn’t want everyone to look at me.
“Okay, then. I hope you all have a great weekend. I’ll see you on Monday.”
I waited for everyone to leave before going up to the front of the room. “Professor McCarty?”
He looked up at me. When he did, it was as if his eyes wandered up my whole body, observing me slowly.
My skin felt cold.
“Ah, Penny Taylor. What can I do for you?”
“Hi, Professor McCarty.” I didn’t usually talk to professors. I always sat in the back of the room and never volunteered to answer questions. “I was absent on Wednesday, so I didn’t get to hear about the extra credit assignment.”
“Of course.” He opened up a folder and went through the papers. “I’ve heard a lot about you recently.”
“Umm… yeah. I guess so.”
He pulled a paper out of his folder. “Come here so I can show you what you need to do.” He tapped the desk next to him.
“Okay.” Why was he being weird? I needed to get to my next class. I could read the assignment later. I walked around the desk next to him and leaned down slightly so I could read the paper.
“So here’s the assignment,” he said and put his hand on the small of my back.
I felt frozen in place. Why is he touching me?
“All you need to do is write about a company that you think does an excellent job marketing their products.”
“Okay.” My voice sounded small. I wanted to move, but my body was frozen. He’s just being nice. He’s just trying to show me what I need to do. I took a deep breath.
“Simple really,” he said. His hand was still on my back.
Why couldn’t I seem to move? Get off of me.
“But it’s not that much extra credit. If you’re looking for something a little more, I think we can probably think of something.” His hand slid down slightly, but it was still on my back.
“Professor McCarty.” My voice still sounded small. “This is enough extra credit. Thank you. I need to get to my next class.”
“Hold on, Penny. I think we can arrange something that will work for both of us. How about you meet me in my office during lunch today and we can discuss it?” His hand slid down onto my ass. “You want an A, don’t you?”
“Stop.” I was whispering. I could feel the sting of tears coming to my eyes. Why couldn’t I move? Why wasn’t he listening to me? “Stop,” I said again.
“I’m not going to hurt you, Penny. I’ll be gentle. I think we both know that you’re more than willing to do this.”
I finally willed my body to react and I did the first thing I could think of. I slapped him hard across the face and stepped away from him.
He grabbed my wrist hard so I couldn’t flee. “I’m just trying to help you,” he said.
“Help me? I don’t need your help.” I tried to take a step away from him, but his grip was strong. “What are you doing? You’re my professor.” I realized the irony from what I had just said.
Professor McCarty smiled. “And doesn’t that make this all a little more exciting?”
“Let go of me.” I pulled my arm as hard as I could away from him. What a pig.
He dropped my wrist. “I’ll make it worth your time. I’ve worked at this university for years. I have more of a pull with other professors than James did.”
“I’m going to report you to the dean.” I wiped under my eyes where my tears had started to escape.
Professor McCarty laughed. “And you think Joe will believe you? You’ve already slept with at least one professor. No one will believe you, Penny. Joe definitely won’t trust your word over mine. I’ll tell him you came on to me. I know you already have two strikes. You’ll be expelled.”
“Fine, get me expelled.” I ran over to the door and ran out of the classroom. I continued to run as fast as I could out of the building. It didn’t matter that people were staring at me. I didn’t care anymore.
I ran all the way back to my dorm, up the stairs, and into my room. I let my back slide down the closed door and wrapped my arms around my legs. After a few minutes the knees of my jeans were completely soaked with tears. I wasn’t sure why I had come here. Everything was better when I was with James. But I was embarrassed. I told him I could handle this. I wanted to be strong.
Besides, one phone call had made me doubt him. I wasn’t sure I deserved his love. And maybe those girls in the bathroom were right. Maybe he’d be better off without my love.
I didn’t doubt him, though. The feeling had been fleeting. I trusted him with everything, with every part of me. Maybe he would be better off without my love, but that didn’t mean he didn’t want me. And I needed him right now. I needed his arms around me. I wanted him to tell me everything was going to be okay. I pulled out my phone and texted him: “Can you come get me? I’m at my dorm.”