Riley sat in the front of the classroom nursing a hangover. He hoped Walsh would not need him for this class. Knowing her if she saw he was in pain she would call on him anyway. He regretted drinking last night, he should have gone back to Cat's and asked her about .... about what, about everything. He was thinking about it too much for a minute there he thought he saw her in class. That was impossible no one would dare to enroll in Professor Walsh's class so late in the semester.
Realizing that only Cat would be that brazen, or was that stupid, Riley scanned the room looking for her. He found her seated right next to Buffy Summers and Willow Rosenburg, damn but didn't he have the worst luck! Before Riley could figure out what to do about Cat, Walsh entered and was starting the class.
"Well, it seems we have a new arrival, Caterina Taylor. Well Miss Taylor, please explain to us why you feel it is acceptable to show up and expect to be admitted to my class." and that was how Walsh started the day.
Riley had been expecting it, and from the look on Cat's face, so had she. She stood up and presented Ms. Walsh with some reports, "I looked up your enrollment in admissions, I saw you had a high drop-out rate and figured there would be space. Then I went to your office and one of your assistants gave me your assignments list. I have them all done, even the one due tomorrow."
Walsh barely glanced at the reports, "And this you feel entitles you to special treatment?"
Cat started to pack her bag back up, "What was it you said in one of your papers Professor, 'Fortune favors the brave'? Well it was worth a shot, I had thought you might grade the papers before making a judgment but that's OK, maybe next semester, huh?"
"Sit down, Miss Taylor. I didn't say you couldn't stay." Walsh said as she carried the papers down to her desk.
Cat made no move to stay, "You didn't say I could either!"
"You're right, I didn't! OK class on with the lesson, I hope you all did the reading" As she spoke her eyes never left Cat.
Cat gave a small smile and sat back down knowing everything she had heard about Professor Walsh was true and then some. She hoped she was up for the challenge. Cat turned to the blonde next to her and said, "Is it just me or is she tough?"
"It isn't just you! I'm Buffy by the way." Buffy introduced herself.
"I'm Cat Taylor, but I suppose you go that much from my conversation with the Professor." but by then Prof. Walsh was deep into the lesson so the two girls directed their attention to the class.
She had notice Riley was the TA but had made no move to talk to him. As the students were clearing out Cat made plans to go with Buffy and Willow, the girls had offered to show her around campus. She left the classroom humming, Hall and Oat's "Man-eater" some how it seem oddly appropriate.
TBC