Professor Hemlock

A serious looking woman, about 5’8”, with brown hair in a simple bob cut opens the door. Her green eyes are behind wire frame glasses. She looks young to be a professor, maybe in her early thirties. And she’s wearing a professors coat! The white lab coat that all the professors wear in Pokémon! I find myself smiling stupidly at the coincidence.

“Are you Samantha then?”

“Yes ma’am.”

“Don’t call me ma’am. It’s either Professor or Doctor Hemlock. I’ve already seen my class schedule and you are in my class. I can’t afford for there to be any appearance of favoritism, so don’t expect anything from me just because we met here. Now go get your luggage.”

“Yes ma’am. I mean Professor.” I stammer at my mistake, not wanting her to hate me. I hesitate to leave though. I wasn’t planning on bringing my luggage up… although all my pajamas are in there and I need to at least partially unpack to get my school supplies ready for tomorrow… why had I thought I wouldn’t need my luggage?

“Well, are you going?” Professor sounds a little nicer, watching me squirm in my own head.

“Yes, goodbye Professor.” I proceed to scamper down the hall way, too self conscious to run, but too nervous to just walk. Goodbye? Why did I say that! I’m going to be right back. She’s going to hate me and judge me all semester.

I grab a duffle bag of cloth, my backpack with school supplies, and then stare at the big black bags. I really want to have them out and covering my bed so they can comfort me after this stressful day. But I’m sharing a temporary room with my Professor. She needs to see me as an adult… but just one plush to cuddle myself to sleep with wouldn’t hurt, right? She doesn’t have to know it’s part of a collection.

After careful deliberation I settle on Teddiursa, since it is basically a teddy bear anyways. Confident that I have minimized how childish I look, happily begin leaving with my luggage and Teddiursa, and Piplup because it’s basically just a penguin. Yes, college students can sleep with two stuffed animals and still be adults. I have to turn back when I realize I’ve forgotten my toothbrush. But okay, for real this time I begin my walk back to the Professors room with my luggage, Teddiursa, Piplup, and Eevee. Eevee’s just a cute dog/cat/fox thing. Clearly Eevee can’t illicit any questions about my maturity.

By the time I make it back to the Professors room, Minccino and Furret have joined the bundle in my arms. They’re basically just cute rodents. It’ll be fine. Professor Hemlock opens the door and lets me in. She doesn’t say anything as I deposit my fuzzy passengers onto the bed that looks like it hasn’t been slept on and begin to organize my clothes and school supplies for tomorrow.

Professor Hemlock works on her laptop while I’m organizing my things, and making sure that my little snuggle buddies are comfortable on the bed. After a little while she speaks up. “I’m going to order some pizza. Would you like some? My treat.” I wasn’t planning on eating, but my stomach quickly reminds me that’s just because I’m terrible at planning and skipped lunch to drive to college faster.

“Um, I like pizza.”

“Everyone likes pizza. What kind.”

“Cheese is good.” I know everyone thinks pepperoni is the standard, but the standard of any food item can’t be spicy. I know not everyone thinks pepperoni is spicy, but I respect their right to be wrong. A little spicy is still spicy.

She smiles at my choice. The rest of the night is actually very pleasant. Professor doesn’t say much else to me beyond normal roommate things.

After eating I shower. I hope my future dorm room has its own shower. I then have an important decision to make while standing naked in the bathroom. Do I put on normal clothes, or do I get into my pajamas. I’m going to bed… but I’m not sure if I want my Professor to see me in a full body Eevee onesie with a tail, hood and ears. I also have a Pikachu one. I’d like more but it’s hard to find other Pokémon onesies for some reason… but Professor didn’t say anything about my little friends so it should be alright. Besides, I don’t want to wear clothes to bed.

Before I can chicken out I quickly don my pajamas. I’m nervous about going out like this and need extra protection, so I pull up the hoodie to keep me safe. This has the effect of making myself look even more childish… but what does a bathroom mirror know? I step out of the shower and hop onto my bed without looking at Professor. She probably doesn’t even care what I’m wearing. But just to ease my panicking mind, I grab Piplup and give it a big rejuvenating hug. Feeling fortified, I glance back at Professor to see if she’s judging me for my pajamas. And she quickly looks away. I caught her staring… she was judging me. My professor thinks I’m a child. I haven’t even made it to class and I’ve already made a terrible impression. She probably regrets giving me pizza.

I crawl under my blankets and hug all of my friends to me tightly. Tomorrow is school. I’ll find people interested in Pokémon and become friends, and everything will be okay. Tomorrow.