Attending class

After the weekend it was back to the same old routine. Going to class with Jessica, meeting up with Jamie for lunch, studying and relaxing. Thursday morning I was back in our Women's studies class again, sitting next to Jess as usual.

Listening to professor Cartwright, my mind started wandering. I wondered how she would counter Brandon's infuriating arguments, probably effortlessly unlike my own verbal bumbling. As I imagined the professor dressing down Brandon, the image of her on her knees in front of him came unbidden to my mind. I silently cursed him for putting it there.

My eyes traveled across the other students in the classroom, my uncooperative mind imagining Brandon violating each of them. I shook my head violently, drawing a startled look from Jessica, as I tried to chase the unbidden images from my head.

I had no idea what the professor had been saying the last ten minutes, hopefully Jessica's notes would be enough to enlighten me. I tried to focus on the lecture, but when it ended I had spent most of it assembling a list of arguments I wanted to use against Brandon.

As we left Jessica leaned over.

"You okay, Em? You kinda looked a little out of it today." I could see she was concerned for me. I tried to reassure her before I said goodbye and went to meet Jamie for lunch.

We had a nice meal together, chit chatting about nothing in particular. It was these small everyday interactions that really formed the bond of a relationship I mused. Our chat was again interrupted by his phone. As he read the text, he started writing a response.

"Tyler asks if we want to come to another party tomorrow. I'll just turn him down."

"No, don't!" I heard myself saying. He gave me a funny look. "I mean, I feel bad for leaving you alone last time, so why don't I make it up to you tomorrow?"

He didn't look convinced. I wasn't really convinced by own argument either, but saying I wanted to continue debating Brandon didn't seem like the best thing to tell my boyfriend.

"Okay," he said finally. "I'll tell Tyler we'll be there tomorrow."