XIII
That night, Luis came by the house to pick up Belle. After watching Luis drive
off, Theresa went upstairs to her and Fox's bedroom and sat at her desk. She
opened her computer and opened a blank word document. She stared at the blank
screen for a long while and sighed. The cursor blinked continuously, prompting
her to type something. Theresa became frustrated. "Reason why
I don't like Professor Hammond." She mumbled. Fox came into the room and
placed his hands on her shoulders. "Writer's block?"
He asked.
"Sort-of." Theresa said. "Are you going to bed?"
"Yeah," Fox replied. "I'm going to go by Crane Industries again. I'll bring
Little E. with me if you want."
"I can call someone to baby sit." Theresa suggested.
"It's all right. I can bring him with me. I like spending time with the little
guy. I am going to be his father anyway. Once those adoption papers are through
being processed, it'll be official."
Theresa smiled. "You already are his father. You don't need some flimsy piece
of paper stating that you are."
"Yeah, but we need that piece of paper to combat with in the custody battle."
Fox said quietly.
"And that's the only purpose it will serve." Theresa replied. "Like I said, you
are his father, and I don't need a paper telling me something I've known ever
since I married you."
Fox kissed his wife. "Don't stay up too late." He said. Theresa squeezed his
hand and watched him as he snuggled under the covers. In a few minutes, Fox had
fallen fast asleep. Theresa smiled. "Okay," She thought. "Paper
time." Theresa must have sat at her computer for an hour before she
became infuriated with the frustration she was feeling. "I can't write a ten
page paper about these ridiculous topics." She thought to herself. "Ugh. Why
did I have to insult Professor Hammond?" Theresa thought regretfully as she
recalled her conversations with her professor. "Ugh!" She thought as she sat
back and crossed her arms. Theresa then found herself wondering what Professor
Hammond's story was. "Why does he act like that?" She wondered. "Is he even
married?" She thought. "Hmph.
What woman would want to deal with his sarcasm?" Theresa picked up a pencil and
tapped it against her leg. Suddenly getting an idea, Theresa closed her computer
and pulled out a pad of paper. She rummaged through her drawers until she found
a pen.
Dear Professor Hammond, Theresa wrote. She frowned and crossed out
"dear". Professor Hammond, Theresa continued writing. She didn't stop
until she had written a nice brief portion. Theresa folded the paper carefully
and placed them in an envelope. She scrawled Hammond's name on the
envelope and placed it carefully on her desk. She then reached over and turned
off the lamp beside her desk. After dressing for bed, Theresa snuggled with her
husband and entered a peaceful realm of sleep.
~*~
Fox was the first to wake in the morning. He glanced at his sleeping wife and
kissed her on the forehead. He looked over to the desk and saw an envelope
lying on the desk. Curious, Fox walked over and picked up the envelope. He
glanced at his wife's writing with an intrigued look. "I wonder~" He mumbled.
He looked over at Theresa's sleeping figure. She stirred slightly and yawned.
When she looked over at Fox, she saw that he held the letter she had written
the night before. "Why are you holding that?" She asked.
"Uh~" Fox said. "I was just~"
"Being nosy?" Theresa said sitting up.
Fox frowned. "Well, yeah." He admitted. "What is this?" Fox asked still holding
the letter.
"What do you think it is?" Theresa asked.
Fox came over to the bed and sat down. "It better not be a love letter." He
said in mock warning.
Theresa rolled her eyes. "Would I be dumb enough to write a love letter to my
professor and leave it out in the open for my husband to see?"
Fox shrugged. "Thanks a lot!" Theresa said sarcastically.
"Seriously, Theresa, I thought you had a paper to write." Fox said.
"I did." Theresa replied. "I wrote that letter instead."
"Why?" Fox asked. "If you don't turn in the assignment, won't it affect your
grade?"
"No, not after Professor Hammond reads that letter.
Now, I've got to get ready for class."
~*~
Theresa strolled into the classroom and glanced at Professor Hammond briefly.
He was apparently grading papers. Justin looked up at her curiously and resumed
his work. Once it was time for class to start, Justin stacked the papers on his
desk. "Good morning, ladies and gentlemen," He said before beginning his
lecture. It seemed to be like any other day. Hammond talked, his students
listened. As Theresa looked about the room, she saw some students nodding off
to sleep, while others were writing down every word that left Hammond's mouth. She looked
down at her own notes and began doodling. Before she knew it, Hammond had said, "All right
folks. That's it for today. I'll see you all next week." "Already?"
Theresa said. "Time flew by fast." She mumbled. She reached into her purse and
pulled out the letter. Theresa waited until the last student exited the room.
It was just her and Justin.
"Enjoy the lecture?" Hammond asked as Theresa
approached his desk.
"Yeah." Theresa said.
"Really?" Justin asked. "Then what was the last topic
I discussed in the lecture?"
Theresa drew a blank. That was when she had tuned him out and began drawing in
her notebook. "Um," She said chewing on her bottom lip.
"I knew you weren't paying attention. You were drawing in your notebook."
Justin said as he put papers in his briefcase.
Theresa averted her gaze. "Yeah," She admitted slowly.
"May I?" Professor Hammond said as he motioned to her notebook.
Theresa looked at him warily. "What, this?" She asked.
"Sure, I guess."
Hammond took the notebook and glanced at it.
"You drew this?" He asked in surprise as he gazed at the intricate drawing of a
gown.
"Yeah." Theresa said.
"It's very good." Hammond complimented.
Theresa was surprised at Justin's sudden amiability. "You're acting different,"
She said frowning.
"How so, Mrs. Crane?" Justin asked.
"You're being nice." Theresa remarked.
"And?" Justin asked. "You didn't think I had the
capability of being nice?"
"No." Theresa said bluntly.
Justin looked a bit shocked and amused at her answer. "You know, I don't think
you have the capability of saying one nice thing to me."
"I don't think we have the capability of having a decent conversation without
the bantering and sarcasm you always so generously add." Theresa retorted.
"Are you blaming me for being the reason why we can't have a normal
conversation?" Justin asked.
"No~" Theresa said slowly.
"You do." Justin said sitting on his desk. Theresa shifted the books she was
carrying in her arms.
"Don't assume." Theresa replied. "After all, you know what they say~"
"If I assume it will just make an ass out of you and me?" Justin replied.
"Yeah, but you'd be considered more of the ass in this case." Theresa replied
smirking.
"You've got a lot of nerve Mrs. Crane." Justin Hammond said. "Didn't you learn
your lesson from before?"
Theresa merely looked at Professor Hammond. "By the way," Hammond added. "Where are
your papers? I'm looking forward to reading them."
"Why did you stop by my house?" Theresa asked while ignoring the question
Justin posed.
"Because I like you so much." Justin said
sarcastically.
"See? There you go again. Your sarcasm drives me crazy." Theresa said
irritated.
"Good." Justin replied.
"Ugh." Theresa rolled her eyes. "You are insufferable."
"Why thank you, Mrs. Crane. That must be the nicest thing you've ever said to
me." Justin said with a sneer.
"You know I am so tempted to throw my books at you right now." Theresa said in
a warning tone.
"Go right on ahead, Mrs. Crane." Justin dared.
"But then~" Theresa added. "You'll just end up doing something ridiculous like
assigning me a ten page paper on 'Reasons why I shouldn't hit my professor with
books.'"
"You know what you're doing?" Justin asked crossing his arms.
"What?" Theresa asked.
"You're" Justin cleared his throat. "Assuming.
Now look at who's being the ass." Justin smiled.
Theresa found herself rolling her eyes again. "Why do you do that? You
always manage to take the insulting comments I made and insult me back."
"It's my specialty, Mrs. Crane." Justin replied. "So, back to your papers,
where are they?"
"My dog ate them." Theresa said sardonically.
"So what's that you're holding?" Justin asked as he motioned to the envelope
with his name scrawled on the front.
"My excuse." Theresa said handing the envelope to
Justin.
"I don't like excuses, Mrs. Crane." Justin said waving the envelope.
"You'll like mine." Theresa said before she turned and walked out of the room.
Justin watched Theresa walked off. He smiled and shook his head. Highly
intrigued with what Theresa had to say, Hammond opened the letter.
Professor Hammond,
You would think that I would be able to write out in ten full pages of all the
reasons why I dislike you. You would also think that I would be able to write
an additional ten page paper on why I should not spill coffee on a person.
However, as I sat at my computer and stared at its blank screen for hours I
wondered to myself. "Would I really be able to write on the topics Professor
Hammond has assigned me?" Then I came to the conclusion that I could, but I
wouldn't. Okay, in all seriousness Professor, I can't come up with a ten page
paper because frankly, I don't dislike you that much.
"That's nice to know," Justin mumbled.
Yes, you infuriate me. Yes, you annoy me. Yes, you tend to push my buttons,
but for some strange reason (one that I still cannot seem to fathom) I put up
with you. Why do you think I haven't dropped your class? Well one legitimate
reason is because I didn't want to take "Bitchy Bertha's" class.
Hammond burst out laughing. "Bitchy
Bertha?" He said as he found himself in a hysterical fit.
And, The letter read, I admit that I find your class intriguing. (Even though I may tune out sometimes. No offense.) Anyhow,
I did not write the papers you assigned me because I felt that the topics were
ridiculous. In truth, I really would not be able to do it. Professor, you may
think that I hate your guts, but the truth is I don't (much).
Justin raised his eyebrows.
I'm kidding. I don't hate you. You see? I can't help but be sarcastic even
when I'm writing to you!
"Obviously." Justin murmured.
So, Professor, there it is- my excuse. I couldn't write the papers because I
honestly could not come up with ten pages worth of reasons.–
"Mrs. Crane"
Justin Hammond folded the letter. He was highly amused with its contents.
Justin found himself recalling his thoughts the night before when he admitted
to himself that he found Theresa to be an amusement. He found himself smiling,
gathered his stuff, and walked to the parking lot. He was surprised to find
Theresa waiting in the hall. "Theresa?" He said in surprise.
"You rarely call me that." Theresa replied. "Why do call me Mrs. Crane so
often?"
"That's your name, isn't it?" Justin asked.
Theresa rolled her eyes. "Yeah, and so is Theresa."
"Okay, Mrs. Crane." Justin replied. "Or should I say Theresa? Or perhaps I
should say, Mrs. Theresa Crane. Would you like that better?"
"Why do you always have to be so difficult?" Theresa asked.
"Because I want to." Professor Hammond answered.
"Anyhow," Theresa said already feeling irritable. "Did you enjoy my
excuse?"
"Hm, all
but the insulting parts." Justin replied.
"I didn't insult you- much." Theresa said defensively.
"But the fact is that you still found some way to insult me." Justin retorted.
"I was kidding with the mean comments."
"Even still," Justin replied. "You could've hurt my feelings." He said looking
away.
An apologetic look crossed Theresa's face. "I am so sorr~"
"But then again," Justin interrupted as he looked Theresa in the eyes. "Your
insults didn't have an effect on me. I could care less about what you dislike
about me."
Theresa glared at Justin. She opened her mouth to say something, but then
closed it.
"Let me guess," Justin said. "I infuriate you?"
Theresa continued to glare at him. Justin gave Theresa a cheesy grin and knew
it would annoy her even more. "You're right, Mrs. Theresa Crane. I did like
your excuse." He said as he walked down the hallway and disappeared through the
double doors of the exit.
~*~
