After her initial morning freshener of an all-too delectable sweetness to get her through her first early class, she feels that familiar huge and weight-bearing burden of a caffeine crash suddenly coming practically on schedule. Ruby has tried aimlessly to counsel her into changing her choice of 'treat yourself' into an espresso or a chai on these mornings, but Emma certainly isn't interested. If anything can convince her mind to wake up for the day and get going, it was a steaming cup of hot cocoa with a dash of cinnamon. She did however tell Ruby she compromised, with a shot or two of espresso, depending on the type of morning she thought she was going to have. She should however have planned for this crash a little better, she mulled over in her mind as she stalked to her office.
Today would prove to be a long and tiring day, no matter how she kept trying to change it otherwise in her head. After starting a new project with the university, they implored her to choose her research associates and assistants wisely. Nearly twenty resumes currently situated themselves scattered all over dark oak desk that seemed so out of place in this brand new clinical science building. Nonetheless, Emma was not about to start complaining about the décor as she was on the highest track of her colleagues towards tenure. Her fellowship supervisor may or may not have alluded to this fantastic news recently over a tumbler or two of overcompensating whiskeys, and Emma has been carefully treading ever since. Dr. Lucas, or Granny as she calls her, being Ruby's grandmother and all – hadn't mentioned anything since, although Emma pretended she never heard anything of the sort.
The funding was finally secured for the upcoming three years that the project would take if all went well, and she could initially hire three research assistants and one associate. Luckily, she already had her associate lined up for the job. The associate was ideally meant to be in their later studies, and a young woman whom Emma has co-authored her last three publications with thankfully applied.
Elsa planned on doing her PhD in the same study area as Emma had done, and the two got along splendidly. Other than trying to convince Emma that she should join their ice hockey league, Emma knew this partnership would be a great one for her project. Also, since she would most certainly have to hire younger, more juniour students to be assistants, it would be nice to have someone who already knew how to cite scientific papers properly, considering this happened to be Emma's least favourite task when it came down to the nitty gritty of publications.
Well that, and the huge expense it actually takes to pay for them to print your findings.
She also thought it would be best for Elsa to help with the interviews, and maybe even sit in on a couple of them if she was available. They were all going to be a team, and preferably would have to act like one. So while Emma waited until 12:15 for her first candidate, she messaged Tink a quick little recap and then made a massive pot of coffee. Her head pounded as the daylight poured into her office, and she took her hair out of its tight confines to shake it loose for a moment, while leaning lazily back in her chair. She could feel herself fading away even in this uncomfortable state, until she was startled out of her seat. Elsa had arrived right on schedule to Emma's office by making her presence known with a light knock. Delicate, and nearly impossible to hear in an airy sort of way, her knock resembled so much like the woman whom it belonged to. As she saw Emma's clumsly reaction, Elsa glided in and apologized repeatedly.
"Sorry Dr. Swan, didn't mean to –"
"Elsa, please, first things first," Emma said hastily. "It's Emma - that whole Dr. Swan thing sounds so weird even now."
Elsa blushed a pretty pink that was very visible against the stark parlour of her ashen hair. "Alright then, Emma it will be. Are we interviewing many candidates today or just the one you sent me earlier?"
Her voice sounded uneasy, and even a little, was it - annoyed?
"Yeah just him today Elsa." Emma began, her eyes narrowing but holding a tinge of amusement. "Did you happen to have your own vault of candidates instead?"
Elsa shook her head, staring outside in a weird fixated look. "No, I just happen to know him."
Emma's brow rose considerably. "Oh? Like, you know him know him?"
This didn't bother Emma, but it did puzzle her. She was fairly good at reading people, and this young guy didn't seem like Elsa's type – too young and too male from what she gathered.
Elsa shot her a look. "Not on my part that's for sure. My sister dated him for a bit, and let's just say it didn't end well after he hit on me at our cousin's wedding in the spring."
"Poor Anna." That was her name, right?
"She's much better off." Elsa said finally, looking to change the subject back to a professional tone after divulging some deeply personal news about this Hans guy whose application was looking less attractive than it already was. Him, being a board member's son, got him an interview sure, but that's where the nepotism died. Emma firmly believed in hard work, as her years of school taught her so much about just that. She came from none of that nonsense, and wasn't interested in students trying to buy their degree. Having worked two jobs, countless scholarships and then some to pay for her degree and rent, Emma would never be able to understand the luxury of the upper class – and for that matter, she did not want to.
"Go home Els, I'll save you the awkward run-in." Emma told her with a smirk. One look at his GPA told Emma he also was not a fit for this project anyways, and she sure as hell was not going to make her associate uncomfortable. She did, however, interview him, and he proved to be charming alright, but a lot more interested in the benefits of a publication or two on his resume than the actual work itself.
Back to the drawing board, Emma thought as she smiled politely at Hans as he left her office, feeling overly confident in his interview from what she could tell.
An idea sprung in her mind immediately reminding her of her own undergraduate degree. This one professor had taken a chance on a young, bright and eager student, who never missed a class and may have been a little bit like a fish out of water. This student did rise to the challenge of a project, and even continued it on throughout her Master's Degree.
That student was Dr. Swan, whose idea suddenly seemed to make more and more sense as she poured herself a cup of coffee and sat herself at her desktop with one purpose set in mind.
Regina couldn't be more thankful for having Kathryn as an amazing roommate than in this moment, as she twirled her spaghetti noodles with precise training of someone who clearly had etiquette classes thrust on them young.
She came home that evening to a lovely handwritten note from the blonde saying she made some spaghetti for her Gorgeous Bestie who needed better eating habits and study fuel. The smiley face that followed the note screamed Kathryn, which made Regina smile and chuckle.
I guess Frederick and her finally learned something in those Italian cooking lessons.
Surprisingly savoury and appetizingly filling, Regina sat contently at the dining table in their small space alone, breathing deeply and relaxing from her exhausting day. An unwanted and unnecessary long phone call with her mother at lunch time greatly soured her mood for the entire afternoon, and her Organic Chemistry II professor already assigned them two chapters of reading due next class.
A class that was tomorrow morning in fact, much to the dismay of Regina's sleep schedule. She pulled out her book, readying herself for a long night once more.
Before she had even the chance to forget, she reached into her bag and grabbed her phone, meaning to text her roommate a very very grateful thank you.
Her email inbox had one unread message, from none other than the woman who had become quite a fixture in her mind, and laptop's search history.
From: Dr. Emma Swan
Hi students,
As of today, I've decided to open up applications for three spots as a Research Assistant I on my team.
I think it would greatly benefit and introduce these three students (Undergrad or Master's) who may have an interest in my realm of research. I have attached the PDF files of the requirements, and background on the studies we as a team will be (hopefully!) completing.
If any of you are interested, please send me your full resume and two references along with a convincing but short cover letter telling me a bit about yourself. I'm very eager to have some fresh insight on my team, and maybe teach you a couple of cool quantitative and qualitative methods!
See you all later this week.
Regards,
Emma