A/N: I apologize for this immensely. I meant to set it a year ahead; you'll see the reason why soon. Again I am so sorry if it confuses you, it was supposed to be a year
Chapter 2
"CHARLIE! HURRY UP OR WE'RE GOING TO BE LATE!" Amita called from the car
"I'M SORRY! I'LL BE THERE IN A MINUTE, I SWORE I PUT THESE PAPERS IN MY BAG ALREADY!"
"Ok, so why are you really still in the house?" Alan questioned. Charlie was always up early so he didn't have to look for his papers right before he left. That and the nervous look on Charlie's face gave him away
"Um…" Charlie stalled. Will dad freak that I want to give Amita a key to the house? I didn't ask him, even if it is technically my house, you don't just give someone a key to a house and not tell the other inhabitant. Not to mention, that Amita's still my student. It doesn't matter how much I love her, if word gets out…maybe this wasn't such a good idea.
"Charles" Alan spoke softly but Charlie still heard the warning in his voice "Why are you still here?"
"I uh well I was looking for Amita's anniversary present"
"Which one? What did you get her?" Alan asked all warning gone from his voice, only to be replaced by curiosity
"It was a year ago today that thunderstorm brought her here, and well she spends as much time here as at her apartment, and she's kinda of taken over half my dresser and sink…" Charlie trailed off as another honk sounded from outside letting him know Amita was getting impatient
"Charlie, what did you get her?" Alan asked calmly, hoping to draw out the answer
"A key" Charlie whispered, his eyes closed as if bracing himself for Alan's anger
"That's exactly what I think she wanted" Alan said giving his son a hug and then nudged him towards the door, where Amita was now impatiently waiting
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As Amita pulled into the student parking lot, she glanced at the clock for the fifth time during the car ride.
"Amita, the first class your going to, is to teach. You're teaching my class. Obviously the class can't start unless I'm there because I have to observe you"
"I know. It's just this is the freshman, the one that about half want to be there and the rest will wait for a very short time before declaring the teacher isn't coming and then leaving the room"
"Are you nervous?" Charlie asked suddenly. Amita slowed and waited for Charlie to catch up (because at that point she had locked the car and took a pace that would make her appear to be speed walking). Charlie eyed her when he did catch up. I wonder why she's so nervous. She's taught my classes before
"Why would you say that?" Amita said picking up her previous pace
"Because you're walking so fast I can barely keep up" Replied Charlie practically jogging to keep up. Why do I have to take EVERYTHING from school home!
"We need to there on time so the class can start while all the students ARE THERE" Amita finished yelling backwards for she had turned the corner of the math building and towards Charlie's classroom
Oh forget this "Go to the classroom, I need to drop some stuff off at my office. I'll be there in a few minutes"
"OKAY!" Amita responded turning the last corner towards the classrooms and disappearing out of sight
"She is definitely one of a kind"
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"Class dismissed" Amita called out to the classroom and all at once the room broke into a flurry of activity. After another moment the room was completely empty. Charlie smiled looking forward toward the rest period they had and then watching her teach. She was so good with them. She related to the students easily and made real world connections that made the material slightly easier to understand
"You were great today" Charlie spoke softly scooting closer to where Amita was (still sitting on the front of his desk)
"Thank you Professor Eppes" Amita responded, standing up to erase the chalkboard.
Professor Eppes? She hardly ever calls me that, and those rare times are only when we were around people who would not approve of her calling me by my nickname. And did she move away from me? "You're mad at me aren't you?"
"No" Amita answered a little to quickly
"Amita…" Charlie spoke her name, walking closer to her. He paused for a second realizing she was still ignoring him by erasing the chalkboard. He came up behind her, turned her around, took the eraser out of her hand and placed it on the shelf below the chalkboard "Amita, tell me what I did wrong"
"You forgot" Amita whispered, trying to hide the few tears that had leaked out of her eyes
"Forgot what? Our one year anniversary?"
"You didn't forget?" Amita asked looking up. Charlie smiled and wiped her tears away
"I didn't forget. I wanted to save your present for later but now will be good. Come on its in my office" He took her hand and led her to the door. Charlie stuck his head out, saw people coming and reluctantly let go of Amita's hand. It was a miracle of the grandest kind that they had been together for a year and no one in the school (except Larry and Anna, Amita's roommate) knew, and he wasn't going to screw it all up by walking down the hall holding her hand. They made their way to his office as fast as possible. When they reached his office, he made to close his door but what neither Amita or Charlie noticed was that it hadn't closed completely.
"Should I close my eyes and hold out my hands?" Amita said standing next to him as he bent down to get into his bag
"You take all the fun out of giving presents" Charlie said standing back up with his hand behind his back. At this moment one of Charlie's colleagues, Dr. Harris a fellow mathematics professor, started to approach the door but paused at Amita's laughing
"Well don't keep me waiting" Amita giggled again, her eyes closed and hands outstretched. Dr. Harris who was still waiting outside was quite intrigued but a little confused. She had known Charlie for a long time and this was the first she had heard him appearing to have a girlfriend, but she also knew that voice she thought it belonged to a student, but Charlie would never…
"Ok, here" Charlie said placing a small jewelry box in her hand
"What is it?" Amita said eyeing the box
"I can't tell you that. It would ruin the fun of opening the present"
Amita looked at him curiously and then opened the box "Charlie is this what I think it is?" Amita asked. Man I wish I could see inside Dr. Harris thought
"Well Amita" At the sound of the name Dr. Harris had to stifle a gasp. Had she just misheard him or is Charlie having a relationship with one of his students? "We've been going out for a year now, and you spend as much time with me at my house as you do with Anna at your apartment, and well I love you Amita and I want you to move in with me"
"Charlie, I'd love to you know that, but you're still my thesis advisor" Another stifled gasp from Dr. Harris "We've kept us a secret for a year and it will be a little hard to tell the school to mail all of my things to your address. Don't you think they'll notice?"
"You're right. I hadn't thought of that. Well there is only two more months till you get your PhD and then you can move in, till then you just have it as a key to the house" Charlie responded trying not to sound too disappointed
"How about I think about it?" Amita offered. She hated to see Charlie so disappointed. Charlie raised his eyebrow looking a little happier "I have an idea but I have to talk to Anna"
"Ok. Are you sure you're fine with this?" He said taking Amita into his arms
"I'm ecstatic" Amita said tilting her head up to kiss Charlie. Dr. Harris sensing this was the end of talking portion of the conversation, slowly backed away from the door, mind reeling on what to do about this new piece of information.
Still haven't completely decided what I want Dr. Harris to do, so any suggestions are welcomed.
