Try To Recover

"It's not what you think, sir," you say, the words sounding lame even to your ears, "It's umm... a mushroom?"

Professor Schwartz gives you a very skeptical look, the frown on his face remaining.

"It's my fault."

Both you and the Professor are caught off guard, looking over at the speaker, who is Parisa.

Still red in the face, Parisa says, "We both have lunch next period and I was talking about how they're serving stuffed mushrooms today and I guess I was distracting him and I'm... sorry."

Parisa sounds so sincere, so humble and humiliated by the "mistake", you would think she was telling the truth too if you were not a part of the incident. Even the Professor's stone face crumbles under the **** of her earnestness somewhat, though he still eyes you suspiciously.

"Very well then," he says, "Both of you pay more attention to what you are doing in the future and I'll say no more on it. Oh and please make that ice shape something else, young man."

You watch in amazement as the Professor turns away and you look over to Parisa to mouth, "Thanks."

Parisa smiles back at you shyly but then nods to your bowl before she returns to her work. You do so as well, managing to melt the ice and then reforming it into a simple cube that, while not as refined as some of the more advanced students, is a commendable effort for a first time.

After class you gather up your things and head out into the hall, waiting for Parisa to come out to thank her for her help again.

"It's okay," she replies, the two of you walking down the hall together, "It really did seem to be a mistake and I know what it's like to be the new student so it seemed the right thing to do."

You both continue walking towards the cafeteria, as it is true that lunch period is next for you. From the look of things, it is for Parisa too and you both make small talk along the way about how you are settling in (though you avoid mentioning the more lewd encounters, of course).

You open the doors to the mess hall, holding it open politely for Parisa who walks in and gives you another one of her dazzling smiles. You look around and see Liam and Keira sitting at one table, the two waving you over. Parisa meanwhile is waving over at a different table where you can see a large number of girls, who you are guessing are probably all from Pegasus House, given that you notice the same pin on them as is on Parisa.

It seems that this is the point the two of you are going to part ways for now but Parisa catches you off guard by saying, "I know your friends are calling you over but... would you like to eat with us today? Some of my friends were at your orientation too and we're all kind of curious to get to know someone who got so much attention a little. If... if that's okay with you, of course."

Again, she gives you that shy smile of hers and it certainly is tempting. Though it sounds like you might be talked to a lot all at once and you may not be in the mood for that over lunch.