Helping Emma grade tests?

How is this more interesting again? Fine, it’s not, but you sure rather be doing this than getting yourself in awkward and potentially dangerous situations.

You’re in Emma’s apartment one Friday evening, more specifically, in her study, as she apologizes for the third time today for having you help her out.

“I told you it’s fine! I don’t have a problem helping you, but if you keep apologizing I really will leave.” You warn her, though you don’t really mean to leave.

“Okay, okay! Still, I promise I’ll make it up to you!” She gives you a quick peck on the cheek and goes back to sit down at her side of the desk, turning her attention to the stack of papers in front of her.

Deciding to get this over with as soon as possible, you do the same. Fortunately, it’s not like the job Emma assigned you is hard at all, it’s really just mechanical. You’re in charge of all Multiple Answer questions, so it’s not like you need to know anything. You just need to check if they marked the right circle or not.

The reason she’s asking for help in the first place is because getting a compilation of poems ready for her second-year classes took more time than she thought, so now she’s almost out of time for getting the midterms graded.

Even if your work is simple, there’s still a lot to do, and while you’re at it, Emma is reading about 70 page-long essays. She seems to be getting through them rather quickly though. She’s an incredibly fast reader. You work for about four hours straight, finishing before Emma, but it seems she only has a few essays left to go.

Considering your part is done and that you can’t exactly help with anything else, even though you want to, you get up from your seat and stand behind Emma.

“Want me to make dinner? I make some mean spaghetti.” You says and kiss the top of her head.

“I’m sor-” She shakes her head then looks at you with a grateful smile. “I’d love that. Thank you.”

You go to the kitchen and get everything ready. You’ve been to Emma’s apartment enough times now that you’re sufficiently familiar with the place to use the kitchen. Still, you don’t want to get crazy, so you do as you said and prepare simple spaghetti with ground meat and tomato sauce.

After 30 or so minutes, it seems Emma’s finally done, seeing as she comes out of her study stretching her arms and with a big, relieved smile. She comes and gently hugs you from behind as you’re looking over the sauce.

“I love you so much! You’re a life saver!” She lets out a heavy, relieved sigh.

“It was about time I got to help you out with something,” You tell her with a smile. “Though I don’t think we should make a habit out of this. You’re not supposed to be this behind on your work, right?”

“Ugh, I know. Mia would be giving me a hard time if she knew.” She thinks for a while before speaking again. “Please don’t tell her.”

“I won’t.” You chuckle. “Though speaking of Mia… She hasn’t been looking very good lately. She seems really tired during class and even a bit on edge. Did something happen to her?”

“Oh, so she hasn’t told you. Well, it’s not a surprise. It’s an uncomfortable topic for her.” Emma sighs and settles her chin on your shoulder. “She’s been in meetings with her ex-husband. Apparently they’re having an argument over the house.”

Wait, what!? Ex-husband!?

“She was married!?” You ask, perplexed.

“For about two years. Her divorce was finalized around June last year, but it seems her ex is getting re-married and wants the house back, even though they’d agreed she would keep it.” Emma explains.

“Well that would explain her mood.” You sigh and focus on your cooking again. “How do you get divorced from a woman like her though?” Your words come out before you can think them through, but fortunately Emma chuckles at them and agrees.

“Right? Well, it turns out the guy was gay all along.” She explains. “That’s why they got divorced.”

Oh. Well, that’s better than an abusive husband, you suppose.

“Do you think we should do something about it? Try to cheer her up or something?”

“Yes, I think we should. She needs a little distraction. I head she yelled at one of the girls in your class for getting an answer wrong.” Emma sighs.

“In Mia’s defense, it was a really stupid answer.” You say, recalling that moment. Mia had asked what type of figurative language was the sentence “I’m so hungry I could eat a cow” and the girl had answered “a metaphor”.

“Tomorrow’s Saturday. What do you say we invite her over for some drinks?”

“Will she agree?”

“If there’s good wine, then yes.” Emma says confidently.

“Alright then. I’m down.” You agree. Hopefully you’ll be able to help.

After a call from Emma, Mia’s agreement and plans settled, you and you girlfriend sit down to have dinner, deciding to forget about everything for a while and enjoy each other’s long-awaited company.