Complications

Chapter One – Professor Nutcase

"Hurry up, Circe! I'm not going to be late for my first senior-level class!" Loki shouts up the staircase of Circe's modest, green apartment on Almond Road.

"You mean our first senior-level class," Circe corrects him as she descends the wooden staircase, "And you have nothing to worry about, because I just found my glasses," she states, pushing her black frames onto her face and flashing a sly smile.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, let's go!" Loki cries, grabbing Circe by the arm and dragging her out the door.

Fifteen minutes later, across campus, Vidcund is stepping into the Physics 475 lecture hall. "Wow," Vidcund awes, eyeing the five-hundred seat hall, which is surprisingly sprinkled with only a handful of students. "Huh, where is everyone?" he wonders, slipping into a seat in the empty first row.

"Hi, Vidcund!" a familiar voice rings out beside him. Vidcund turns abruptly, locking eyes with his ex-girlfriend and current crush, Circe Salamis.

"Oh, hi, Circe," Vidcund greets, trying to hide his blush as Circe takes the seat next to him. Vidcund's expression instantly falls when Loki clears his throat behind them. Vidcund watches as his main rival plops himself down on the other side of Circe. Vidcund groans.

Loki turns to Vidcund, "Dingus," he states, nodding in acknowledgement.

Vidcund sighs and turns away from the pair, who are now whispering to themselves in private. A young girl with black ponytails and thick-rimmed glasses sits down behind Vidcund and waves to him. "Hi," she says. Vidcund quickly looks around, wondering who she is talking to. The girl smiles, "I'm talking to you, silly," she jokes, "My name's Cassandra. My dad is in the science career track, so I've always had an interest in physics. What about you?"

"Oh," Vidcund squeaks taken slightly off-guarded, "I'm Vidcund, and my father is in the science career, too. I guess dorkiness runs in the family," he concludes, clearly unaware that Loki is intently watching their conversation a few feet away.

"Greetings, students!" a deep masculine voice echoes throughout the lecture hall, as a middle-aged man with faded brown hair enters the premises and stands in front of the chalkboard. "My name is Dr. Benjamin Irma, and I will be your Physics 475 professor this semester!" he announces, grabbing a piece of white chalk and scribbling his name on the board. "And these three students to the right of me will be your Grad Student Teachers!" Professor Irma continues, gesturing to the three graduate students sitting off to the right of the first row.

Pascal waves excitedly to the undergraduates from his place between the other two GSTs. "Hey everyone! It's great to meet all of you!" Pascal chimes, before staring down at the sheet of paper in his hands, "Hey Loki, look! You're in my section!" Pascal exclaims, holding out his class list and pointing to his name.

"Good God, no!" Loki cries, burying his face in his hands.

"This class is going to be particularly exciting this year, because the students with the four highest grades in the course will join Sim State's Physics Team and have a chance to compete in the Simverse Winter Physics Bowl," Professor Irma reveals, clasping his hands together. "Now, if there are no further questions, let's get started with our first unit," he begins, picking up his clipboard and scanning over his classroom list. Professor Irma's eyes widen when he sees the last name 'Beaker' listed on very top. He slowly places down the clipboard and scans the room, his eyes narrowing in on the young, angry-looking blonde in the front row. The student yawns.

"Mr. Beaker," Professor Irma calls out, stopping in front of him, "Since you already look so bored, why don't you get up and stand next to the chalkboard so you can stay awake and actually learn something?"

"You mean in front of one that's entitled 'The Impossible to Solve Physics Problem'?" Loki quips, raising an eyebrow at the chalkboard which contains a massive theoretical and sloppily-written equation. The professor nods. Loki shrugs. "Okay."

"Great," Professor Irma abrasively mutters, turning back towards the class, "As I was saying, today we're going to start with a unit on String Field Theory," Professor Irma continues, stopping in the middle of the classroom.

Nearby, Loki sighs as he listens to his new professor trail off into a tangent, more intrigued by the unsolved problem beside him than the dismal topic of discussion. Loki turns towards the chalkboard and picks up a brand-new piece of chalk. He turns towards the board.

"…and that is why many sims believe that we are stuck inside a simulation," Professor Irma completes a few minutes later. He lulls, eyeing the front row of students who are staring speechless at something behind him. Professor Irma looks up, now noticing all of the students above him staring in astonishment as well. Professor Irma slowly turns around, hearing the sound of chalk hitting the small, metal ledge beneath the chalkboard.

Loki sighs, staring dryly at his fingernails as he leans up against the wall. "I'm bored," he states, standing beside the solved, seemingly-impossible physics problem.

…

"Alright, everyone," Professor Irma's voice blares through the lecture hall at the end of the class period, "Make sure to read chapters one and two in your textbooks before next session! You didn't hear it from me, but there may be a quiz on it on Wednesday," he remarks with a wink.

"Psh, chapters one and two? I already read the whole book!" Loki rolls his eyes as he paces back over to his seat to retrieve his belongings.

Professor Irma steps forward and turns to the young man. "Oh, Mr. Beaker, could you stay back for a moment?"

"Ookay," Loki replies, flashing Circe an apprehensive stare before meeting his professor at the front of the classroom.

"It's only been a day, but I can already tell that this course is too challenging for you," Professor Irma affirms, rearranging some papers on his desk.

Loki scrunches his forehead, "You're joking, right?" he says skeptically, "I solved your so-called 'impossible' equation in three seconds flat."

"Yes, but that was merely a trap equation used to weed out unworthy students," Professor Irma asserts, crossing his arms over his torso.

"What?" Loki states, "That doesn't even make any sense!"

"Look, Mr. Beaker, I'm telling you, if you take this course, you are going to fail," Professor Irma insists, "And that's not a great way to start your first semester at Sim State."

"-Third," Loki corrects him, "I'm a sophomore."

"I see."

"Professor Irma, I have no idea why you seem to hold a grudge against me," Loki begins, "But can you at least get to know me for a few weeks and then decide that you hate me?"

Professor Irma stops rearranging the papers on his desk and turns to him. "There is no grudge here, I'm just trying to look for you."

"Well, don't," Loki demands, staring intensely into his superior's eyes, "I'm not dropping your class. I like a challenge."

"That's exactly what I thought you would say," Professor Irma responds, tilting his head a bit, "But know this, I don't hand out As to just anyone, you're going to have to earn it," he continues, casually pacing towards his desk, "which is something I'm fairly certain you're not used to. Up until now, I'm sure everything just sort of fell into your lap."

"You know, you just met me three hours ago, right?" Loki replies, clearly puzzled by his professor's motives, "It's dangerous to make assumptions."

"I'm not making any assumptions about you, Mr. Beaker, believe me," Professor Irma claims, staring at him from the corner of his eye as he faces the blackboard. He picks up an eraser and starts erasing the physics problem, "Now get out of my classroom."

Loki nods, "Alright. See you next session!" he chimes, giving the professor his signature smirk. Loki swiftly turns around, feeling Professor Irma's glares as he walks up the stairs and joins Circe, who is waiting for him by the door.

"Are you okay?" Circe asks, her face filled with worry.

"Yeah," Loki beams, more vivacious than usual, "I can't wait until Wednesday."