'Drat, still no progress…'
Cedric Goodwin held up the vial of turbid water closer to his eyes, squinting through his stylishly thick lab goggles to see if it looked any different than 30 minutes ago. He was in the grad student assigned chemistry lab on campus in the late afternoon, as usual, in order to avoid any students or other faculty. Once he made it through these doors, he rarely was disturbed by anyone. Yes, this modest private laboratory was a bit less organized then he would have liked (unmarked vials, loose papers with notes scrawled in his slanted cursive, a misaligned safety poster on the wall…). but it was his own little sanctuary. It was a rare space where he wouldn't be pestered by obnoxious needs of others-
At least... that was what he had believed before a bright voice behind him sang out.
"Oh, there you are Mr. Ceedric!"
Startled, the associate professors' grip loosened, dropping the vial of brownish liquid in a tinkling shatter against the linoleum floor.
"Tesla's teacups…" he muttered eyeing the mess. With a flick of his wrist he pushed up his lab goggles and turned slightly towards the way of the voice so his youngest student could get the full effect of his sharp glare. "Miss. Sofia, why shouldn't I be surprised..."
Sofia's hands had flown to cover her mouth, wishing that she could stuff her interruption back behind her teeth once she realized her greeting had caused him such a startle.
'She looks like a silly schoolgirl,' he thought absently 'just standing there in shock.' Part of him felt a twinge of pride over the fact he could make her speechless in fear. The exhilarating feeling of being intimidating was just as rare an occurrence as his being disturbed in his 'workshop'.
Sofia had now snapped her wide eyed gawking from the mess she had caused on the floor up to meet Cedric's demeaning gaze. Her eyes were big and shining so brightly that he feared for a moment that she would break into tears. A smattering of guilt washed over him that caused his expression to soften.
"I-I'll get that!" she blurted out and started to kneel down before the slowly spreading puddle, but Cedric raised a gloved hand that froze her in her place.
"There's no need. I can manage this myself..." he sighed, agitation crawling across his features. He felt like he was babysitting his niece, having to watch over some waif before she got into trouble.
"It's totally my fault though!" Sofia countered, pouting, and reached out again. Suddenly, his own gloved hand grasped her thin wrist before it could touch a single shard on the floor.
"If you insist on helping, at least follow proper precautions and put on some gloves. The last thing i need is a child getting injured under my supervision." he muttered, brow knitted.
Sofia blinked and her scared expression soured, knitting her eyebrows together in distaste.
"I'm 18, I'll have you know. I'm a full adult." she slipped her hands into two purple disposable gloves that a Cedric had motioned to as he looked around for a dustpan and broom. He gave an undisguised scoff that made her cheeks burn.
"You can hardly even be considered a "spring chicken"! Not even a quarter of your lifespan has passed, you barely are a hatchling." he had found the broom and began sweeping up the stray bits of glass. Sofia took an absorbent mat from a safety clean-up box on the wall and placed it over the remaining liquid. She frowned, but didn't bother to continue arguing. When she stood up, she noticed there were red circles right below her knees from where she had knelt on the cool tile. She straightened her skirt with a tug in an attempt to cover them, before looking up, and startled meet his stare again.
He was wearing a crisp white lab coat that he must have purchased himself, much higher quality than the starchy student ones she wore in high school. His legs were crossed casually as he leaned against the counter he had been working on, and Sofia noticed- his slim black slacks lifting up just enough to reveal- his forest green argyle socks. For some reason Sofia found this particular detail about him almost charming, despite the situation. He seemed too taciturn for pleasures like colored socks, but she supposed everyone had their own surprises. Cedric drummed his fingers rhythmically against the edge of the counter and cleared his throat impatiently.
"Now, are you going to tell me what is so important that you burst into my workspace without knocking?" he asked, arching an eyebrow. "Or are you going to have me guess, hm?"
Sofia looked towards the floor again. Mr. Cedric's intensity was what made his lectures so engaging for her, but was also what made it hard to find the words for what she had wanted to say to him.
"I-…I'm having trouble with the coursework. Still! After I read and reread the chapters you assign, and take notes, but between coming here from Dunwitty and cramming for SATs I don't think I can keep up with your class…"
"The work you turn in is average, yes, but a lot better than a lot of other students. And you have yet to fail a test yet, if my memory serves me right." he rested his chin on his fist thoughtfully, mentally going through the purple-penned work the girl often turned in. He had never really considered behind those loops of plum colored ink she was struggling so much.
"I'm barely keeping my head above water…" she admitted, her voice quiet.
Cedric hummed in gentle understanding. He remembered growing up, his father the head of a Science Department at a distinguished school, and the weight of high expectations that was laid on his shoulders at a young age. He had been given various texts with demeaning titles like "Chemistry for Idiots" when he failed to measure up to his father's standards, and they had gathered like a heap of heavy bricks on his desk, each addition filling him with an anxious dread. In a lot of ways, even with a Master's Degree and a Doctorate on the way, he felt he still hadn't managed to impress the old man! He couldn't even start to imagine the stress Sofia must be going through though, attending an advanced class while simultaneously jumping the hoops required for getting into a good college.
"I love your class, truly! It's the highlight of my week…" she said warmly, a bittersweet smile on her face and her eyes a bit downcast through her lashes. Cedric's ears perked up at this. No one had ever told him that they 'loved' his class, let alone that it was a highlight. Sofia sighed, and continued:
" but if I can't even get into this university then I probably don't belong in it yet. That's why... I think it's best I drop the advancement program and-"
"Nonsense." he snapped, waving away the rest of her words with a gloved hand.
Sofia blinked. She was not expecting that. "E-excuse me, sir?"
He pushed himself off from his casual lean against the lab table and stepped closer to her, hey blue eyes looking up to him not sure what to expext.
"I said that's rubbish. You are doing exceedingly well in my class, for someone who has yet to even enter university. A quarter of first year students fail to even pass the course the first time around, you know."
Sofia shook her head. She hadn't known.
"You said you enjoyed this class, so why nip the bud before it's blossomed?" he nodded his head, sure of himself. "Someone your age with your passion for science is someone that needs to be encouraged, Miss. Sofia. So your request for resignation from my course is hereby denied."
Sofia hadn't realized she had stopped breathing until she had quietly gasped at his firm denial. To say she was flustered was a bit of an understatement.
"B-but my slipping grades-" she stammered as her cheeks began to color under his stare, and she started to recount the reasons on her fingers "and the textbook-"
"You understand the course material when I present it in class, correct?" he said, cutting her off. She nodded slowly, and he smirked at her and nodded back. "In that case, forget that bloody book- my father wrote it years ago and it's dry as a bone, I don't fault you for a second for not finding it helpful. Instead of spending hours on that drab book, I'll walk you through the materials we can't cover during class time. It will be a lot quicker that way, and besides it will help with my own textbook I'm working on..."
"You're writing a book, Mr. Ceedric?" Sofia said, eyes suddenly sparkling with admiration. Cedric coughed and looked away from her, his cheeks burning a bit too now. He hadn't really told anyone else about his plans to write an introductory text for his class to replace his father's but saying it aloud to her felt… acceptable.
"For the last time, it's 'Cedric'." he replied flatly, trying to change the subject.
"Mr. Cedric." she corrected herself. She gave him a sheepish smile "And… you would really do all that, for me?"
"Like I said, it would help me with my work as well. So long as you don't mind me recording the lectures..."
"I don't mind!" Sofia said giddily. She grasped both his hands in gratitude. "I'll help even! And I can bring you coffee or something as a thank you! And I can even help you organize this messy office."
"Now, really, it's not that messy." he scoffed. She gave him a measured look and he rolled his eyes. "Alright, it's a bit disorganized."
"And I can help you with that! Not reading that book is going to save me hours of time. It's the least I can do!" she squeezed his hands, and he simultaneously became very aware of how warm her hands were, even through the thin latex, and how awkward he felt with his own hands limply in her grasp. He removed them gently and crossed his arms.
"Very well, then it's decided. After the next lecture stay after class, we'll start then." Sofia nodded along with his instructions, practically bouncing on her heels.
"It's a date!" she grinned. He tried his best to ignore her slightly inappropriate phrasing, and chalked it up to the excitement. She tugged up her sleeve and took a glance at the watch on her wrist. "Oh gosh, I didn't realize this conversation would take this much time- Sorry, Mr. Cedric I have to go get ready for riding practice now, but I'll see you then, for sure!" She turned on her heel and made for the door.
"We'll need a quiet space and my pocket recorder, so meet me up here in my office after lecture!" he called after her, as she made her way quickly towards the door and started to wave goodbye. "And Miss. Sofia?"
"Yes?" her head poked through the door of his office, as if ready to bolt once she was released by his final words.
"Knock next time, please."
All he heard was a "You got it!" along with a bubbly little giggle as her fair face dipped from his doorway and she disappeared down the hall.