*******
But I can wait. After what had happened with Prof.Jane last night and then having both Tina and Stephanie in the same class. . . Well, let’s just say that if I didn’t have a final, I would be ditching it again.
The morning veritably flies by, my finals are easy, and I’m usually one of the first ones to finish. I saw Richard talking with Derena, and know I don’t need to tell him about her. He actually goes so far as to give me a smile and a nod when he sees me, though Derena only gives me a disgusted look before saying something that makes Richard laugh.
I don’t have a class after lunch, having taken that final on Tuesday, so I closet myself in the library, and try to come up with ideas on how to defeat the demons, and casually try various switches on inanimate objects around me. From experience, I know I can create multiple switches at once on a group, but it’s harder on me than making one switches at a time. And the thought of trying to affect an entire fleet of the red beasts. . . Well, that would probably kill me, and I would never even get the opportunity to move the switch, once I make it. Is there something I can do to a few that might affect the rest?
Maybe if they mate like Vage tribes do, I could put all their females in heat. The males would go wild with lust, and the females would have to mate, lest they die. Meanwhile the human race could fall upon them, and defeat them. . .
There are a few problems with that, though. While affecting only the females would reduce the strain on me, it would still be too much. I would also need to notify the government about the aliens, and I don’t feel like being locked up in a loony bin. And then, I am only going off of a guess that they MIGHT be like Vage, which isn’t a good start. Vage’s entire species are herbivores, while the demons are pure carnivores. Maybe if I were to change their diet. . . But then again, their food preference doesn’t necessarily mean anything. It’s not likely to work, but for now it’s something.
No further plan occurs to me by the time I have to get to Prof. Jane’s class, and I reluctantly turn my feet in that direction.
Stephanie greets me just outside the door, with a smile on her face, and her long lashes batting at me. Had I really thought Tina was that much prettier than her a couple weeks ago? Right now, as the pretty brunette smiles at me, I’d have to say they’re on par. Thinking of Tina, I look around for her, but don’t spy her blonde hair.
"Are you ready for this? I stayed up half the night studying, but I know there will be something I forgot to look up on this final." She seems fidgety as she speaks all in a rush.
"Relax. I have no doubt you’ll do fine," I try to reassure her, but she isn’t having it.
"Well, we can’t all be as smart as you, Nick. I’ll bet you played games all night, instead of studying."
"I studied," I tell her defensively. I had listened to Rose’s loud cries, and Dennis’ grunts more, but I HAD tried to study. . . For a few minutes, at least.
Deciding out of reflex to do something for her, I make a quick switch to increase her memory, and confidence, and budge them both a little, and I see her back stiffen slightly, and her shoulders go back.
"Hmmm," she murmurs, "I don’t know why, but suddenly I feel a lot better. Thanks!" She gets on her tip-toes and places a soft kiss on my cheek.
She sits right next to me, and I look around again for Tina, but she is nowhere to be seen.
Prof. Jane had us separated, putting at least one empty seat between each student, before handing out the tests, one by one. She informs us that there are four different test versions, but when she hands me the question booklet from the bottom of her stack, I see that the answers have already been marked, and then poorly erased. Janet barely smiles at me, before walking on, handing out other tests. I notice a few of the other men in class giving me jealous glares, but luckily Stephanie is already going over her test, and hadn’t noticed.
I still don’t see Tina.
I start answering the questions, at first verifying if the circled answer is the correct one, but after the first ten are accurate, I start copying the book. Every now and then I answer one intentionally wrong; there is no reason to make my cheating completely obvious, even if Janet had handed me this book on purpose. I also verify answers here and there, just to make sure it’s not a trap. It’s not as though I don’t trust Janet, but it’s always better to play it safe, than sorry. For all I know, she might trick me, in order to get me to fail, and then I’d have to take her class again.
About halfway through, Tina still hasn’t shown up. She had said she would see me in class, didn’t she? Was there really someone there this morning, and did they do something to her? Or am I just being paranoid?
Dammit, I don’t need this right now!
I start rushing through the test, worried about Tina. I can call her as soon as I get out of this test.
Sweat is actually beading on my brow, as I walk up and hand the test to Prof. Jane. She smiles at me again, and I think she is about to say something, but she looks at the class behind me, and just mouthed,
"Thank you."
Despite my stress, I can’t help but catch her sweet scent, and notice how nice she looks.
I try to walk calmly out of class, though I know my steps are faster than a normal walk. As soon as the door closes behind me, I pull out my phone, and call Tina.
One ring. . . Two rings. . . After the fourth ring, it goes to voicemail. Hanging up, I try again, but with the same result. I decide to leave a message this time.
"Tina. Just worried about you. Gimme a call when you get this. Bye."
That was my last class, but I would gladly skip any others as I start to walk briskly home. My heart is thudding in my chest as I almost run, and despite the cold, I’m sweating even more as I rush to get to my car.
I only have the faintest warning, before pain explodes in the back of my head, and blackness swallows the snow-white world around me.....