Emma's Nerves

"Let me give you my number," Derek offered, extending his hand expectantly. He tried to appear casual, but the moment's weight wasn't lost on him. "We can chat over text and hash out the details later," he added, trying to keep his cool.

Emma's hands began to shake slightly as she pulled her phone from her bag and handed it to him. She could feel her palms start to sweat slightly. 'What is wrong with you? Why am I nervous all of a sudden? Keep it together, Emma,' she mentally chastised herself. 'This is no big deal, it's just for the project. He's your classmate,' she added. 'Right. Just your classmate who happens to be extremely competitive,' she mused.

Emma wasn't much for competition. She found that it tended to get in the way of learning and discovery and preferred focusing on her research rather than one-upmanship. This partnership would challenge that outlook, and Emma could sense the shift in her attitude as she grappled with the reality of being on an academic playing field.

She took a deep breath as Derek returned her phone, his number entered into her contacts. "Well, thanks," she said with a polite smile. I'll be in touch."

"Yep, no problem. Looking forward to it," Derek responded as Emma made her exit. 'Well, that was easier than I thought,' he mused to himself, a hint of satisfaction coloring his thoughts. His heart beating a bit faster, Derek's eyes lingered on Emma as she left. Derek headed back to his apartment to plan for their upcoming project.

Emma glanced down at her phone as she walked to the library; she sheepishly approached the librarian and asked for help finding any books on Pavlov's theory. The librarian pointed her in the right direction, and she quickly found a few relevant texts. She settled into a corner table and began poring over the pages, lost in thought.

"While Pavlov's experiments demonstrated the potential for controlled behavior modification, they also revealed a darker truth about the ease with which one's actions can be influenced. The power of conditioning, when wielded with intent, can reshape not only habits but the very essence of an individual's will. The subject, once unaware, may find themselves trapped in a cycle of response, their autonomy eroded by the manipulations of an external ****. This raises ethical questions about the boundaries of scientific experimentation and the moral responsibility of those who seek to understand and control human behavior."

Emma paused, her heart beating a little faster. The words seemed to leap off the page, their implications unsettling. She slammed the book shut and fanned herself with her hand, suddenly feeling warm. Emma couldn't shake the sense of foreboding, and she suddenly felt the urge to get as far away from this place as possible.

Her mind racing, she headed to the front desk to return the books. 'I'm probably just nervous about getting a good grade on this project,' she thought, trying to reassure herself. As she exited the library, she took a deep breath of fresh air, feeling her anxiety subside. She began walking back to her apartment, lost in thought. There was still a churn in her stomach, but it subsided when she returned home.

"Hey," Aiko greeted Emma as she entered their small apartment. "How was class?"

"It was... fine," Emma replied, distracted. She sank into the used dining room chair they had bought at a garage sale and opened her laptop, still feeling a bit uneasy.

"Anything you want to talk about? You seem like something is bothering you," Aiko prodded gently, sensing Emma's unease.

"I don't know," Emma responded with a sigh. "It's just this project. It's worth so much, and the professor is super judgemental, my partner is competitive. And I just- I don't know, I'm just not used to this type of pressure, and I guess I'm a bit nervous."

Aiko offered a reassuring smile. "Hey, you got this! I know you can do it," she said. "You're one of the smartest people I know. And you're probably overthinking the partner thing. Remember that guy you brought over and thought was a serial killer just because he listened to True Crime podcasts?"

"That was a hookup," Emma clarified. "And it didn't go that well, he was really pushy."

Aiko chuckled. "Okay, fine, but my point is you tend to be too cautious, and sometimes you need to take a risk. Just give him a chance, and you might find he's not so bad."

Emma sunk deeper into her seat. "Yeah... you're right, Ai." She smiled at her roommate before her expression changed to a contemplative look. "I'll just try to enjoy the project and not stress out about it. It's actually a cool concept to work on; I just don't want to mess up the execution."

Aiko nodded and glanced over at the clock on the wall. "Oh shoot, it's almost six. I told my mom I'd call her," she exclaimed. Aiko grabbed her stuff and ran into her room, leaving Emma alone with her thoughts.

Her hands shook as usual, and she brought up her phone, looking at the contact information Derek had entered earlier. 'Just send him a message, you're just going to talk about the project, get over yourself,' Emma thought. Her fingers danced nervously across the keyboard.

Emma: Hey, It's Emma. Can we meet at your place to get an early start on the project? I went to the library and got some reference material.

Emma placed her phone on the table and stared at it, anxiously awaiting a response. She leaned back into her chair, hoping Derek didn't take too long to respond. After what seemed like an eternity, Emma's phone vibrated.

Derek: Sure, can you come over in an hour? My place work for you?

Emma: Yeah! That works send the address.

Derek: Here, see you soon. Happy to order us some dinner if you get hungry.

Emma let out a deep sigh. Derek had given her no reason to be concerned. He seemed polite to her. 'Maybe I'm just being paranoid,' she thought. 'I mean, he is a nice guy, after all. His voice was really gentle when we first met.'

Emma hurriedly got ready. She tossed off the blouse and jeans and opted for something more comfortable. She threw her hair in a bun and grabbed a matching pair of grey sweatpants and a baggy sweatshirt. As always, she wore a beige generic brand set of bra and panties underneath her clothes. 'Why am I stressing out? It's just for the project,' she mumbled to herself.

Emma quickly texted Aiko, saying she would be back in a few hours, and grabbed her backpack. She took a deep breath and headed out the door. Derek's apartment was within walking distance, something she was grateful for. Money was relatively tight being a graduate student with no income, and every cent saved counted.

Emma began to feel a little nervous as she approached the apartment complex. Her stomach churned, and she fidgeted with a frayed string on her sleeve. The complex was gray and nondescript, and Emma felt increasingly anxious. 'This is ridiculous,' she thought. 'It's just a project. You're overthinking this.' With that thought, she took a deep breath and walked inside towards the elevator.

As soon as she got in, she gently pressed the 7th floor button and then the door close button. The doors finally opened with a quiet creek, and she stepped out into the dimly lit hallway. There were a few stains on the dated carpet, but ultimately, it was a fitting complex for students who lived off campus.

Emma followed the arrows that pointed to apartment 709, noting how her footsteps echoed in the empty hall. She tried to shake off the anxiety, knowing she was probably just being paranoid, but Emma couldn't help feeling like she was being watched. Then, she gently knocked on the door.

"Hey Derek, it's Emma," she called out, her voice barely above a whisper.