Go to chemistry lab

After chemistry class is over, you hang around the lecture hall, waiting behind the small queue of students around Professor Styles who have questions about class. She dispatches the questions efficiently until eventually you’re left as the last person in line.

“Alex, to what do I owe the pleasure?” she asks with a smile.

“I’m heading to lab now. Are you coming?” you ask.

“You know me well enough at this point,” she smiles. “Let’s walk over together. Actually, this is great. I wanted to get your thoughts on the class. What do you think? Any feedback?”

“I like it,” you say. “It’s a ton of content, but you do a great job making it interesting. That makes it fun.”

“Oh, that’s good,” she says, sounding strangely relieved. “But… I know not all your classmates are keeping up as well as you are. Do your classmates think the same way?”

Your mind immediately jumps to Beatrice, who is having a more difficult time in this class. You’ve spoken to a few others, and even the ones who are pretty into chemistry agree.

“It’s a tough class,” you say. “I think some students… struggle a bit. But that’s kinda just the way that things are here at Stonewall, and you seem to care a lot. I notice how you’re always staying after and answering everyone’s questions, even if they’re really basic.”

{if StyleLabCount > 2} Mandy {else} Professor Styles {endif} gives you a warm smile at that last comment.

“You’re quite an attentive student, you know that, Alex?” she says. “I see how you’re always laser focused in class. You’re a very diligent note-taker.”

You laugh, surprised that she’s noticed that in such a big lecture hall. “My first lesson with you definitely taught me a lesson. I’m not going to be caught with my pants down again.”

{if JeanneStalker == 1} You suddenly get a strange feeling, and you glance behind you. But it’s just a bunch of students walking around, as usual. Is that Jeanne? Has she been following you? You frown and glance at your professor, but she seems to have not noticed anything, so you drop the matter.

“...but you don’t talk too much in class,” the prof says, finishing up a thought. “You’re not really one of the regulars whenever I ask a question.”

{else}

“But you don’t talk too much in class,” she says. “You’re not really one of the regulars whenever I ask a question.”

{endif}

“I speak up in my in other classes,” you say, thinking of writing seminar and math and psych, all of which tend to be much more… vocal environments.

“Is that right?” she asks, raising an eyebrow. “Why not in mine, then?”

“I guess it just feels different in your class,” you say. “Not to boast, but chemistry is probably my best subject, and I don’t want to be ‘that kid’ who’s always hogging the teacher’s attention. It’s kind of like… I want to give others the chance to answer the question. I mean, I know the answer, but if I keep my hand down, it gives others the chance to think.”

“That’s… strangely considerate of you,” your professor says, sounding very impressed. “I remember back when I was in college, there were always those students who would try to answer every single darn question the professor asked. I never liked those kids.”

“They tend to be up in their own asses,” you say. “Excuse my language.”

She just laughs.

Soon, the two of you arrive at the lab. To your surprise, none of the usual grad students are there. It’s just Michelle in there, working away, a steaming mug of coffee sitting next to her keyboard.

“What happened here? Did everybody suddenly go on vacation?” {if StyleLabCount > 2} Mandy {else} Professor Styles {endif} jokes.

“The grad students went for a late lunch together,” Michelle says, glancing at the two of you. “They’ll probably be back in an hour or so.”

“But you’re still here, working hard,” she replies. “They didn’t invite you to lunch?”

“I had lunch already,” Michelle replies. She points at her monitor. “This was bugging me. I wanted to finish it off.”

“So hardworking,” your chemistry professor laughs. “I’m impressed with the progress the two of you have made. Seriously, good work. Keep it up!”

“Thanks,” you say, “but all credit has to go to Michelle. She’s the real powerhouse on the team. And she’s taught me everything I know.”

“That’s the way it should be,” {if StyleLabCount > 2} Mandy {else} Professor Styles {endif} laughs. “I’m glad the two of you are getting along well. It makes the whole thing so much more fun, doesn’t it?”

You beam back at her, and you see Michelle nodding in agreement, though she doesn’t look quite as enthused as you.

“Alright. I’ll leave you two to it. Come find me if you want to talk about anything!”

With that, she heads into her office. You and Michelle confer briefly on the project status. It only takes a few minutes for you to get up to speed, and then it’s time to work. You quickly sink into a flow state, finding your groove, and before you know it, almost an hour has flown by.

You get up, taking a quick stretch, and glance at the Theta beauty sitting next to you. She’s been strangely silent. Or maybe not so strangely, given her personality. But still. Does she know about what happened earlier today, with Jack? Is she giving you the silent treatment? Or maybe you should go chat with {if StyleLabCount > 2} Mandy {else} Professor Styles {endif}. She seems to be warming up to you, and you have always found her to be oddly alluring…

Styles +10