Chapter 19
Ellie's POV
Jackson walked me to my dorm after our lunch, which had been surprisingly comfortable despite the whole fake-dating announcement drama.
I glanced at my watch as I hurried into room 304—ten minutes before Professor Paulson's class. The room was empty; Lily and Megan had obviously already left for the afternoon session. I grabbed my computer science textbook and notebook from my desk, quickly checking that I had everything I needed.
Professor Paulson's Introduction to Data Structures was Lily's absolute favorite class. She treated the textbook like it was the latest bestselling novel, staying up late reading chapters we hadn't even covered yet. There was no way she'd risk being late—she was probably already in her usual front-row seat, eager and ready.
I was more balanced across my subjects, finding each interesting in its own way, but Lily? She was a true computer science fanatic.
I made it to the lecture hall with a few minutes to spare. The room was already half full, and I immediately spotted Megan sitting in her usual spot—middle section, a few rows back where she could see clearly but didn't feel pressured to participate. Lily was, predictably, front and center in the first row.
Megan caught my eye and gave me a knowing smile with a subtle eyebrow raise that clearly said we need to talk later. I returned a small wave and made my way down to sit beside Lily.
"Cutting it close," Lily whispered as I settled into my seat.
"I had to grab my books," I whispered back. "Lost track of time."
Lily gave me a curious look but didn't press further. Professor Paulson entered the classroom at that moment, his salt-and-pepper hair slightly disheveled as usual, carrying a stack of papers and his ever-present travel mug of coffee.
"Good afternoon, class!" he announced cheerfully. His eyes swept the room and landed on Lily and me with visible approval. "Ah, Miss Parker, Miss Green, right where I'd expect to find you. Excellent."
Professor Paulson had a soft spot for students who showed genuine enthusiasm for the subject. Lily's constant questions and thoughtful insights had quickly made her one of his favorites, and I benefited from sitting next to her.
The lecture flew by as Professor Paulson dove into binary search trees, his enthusiasm infectious as he drew diagrams on the board with dramatic flourishes. Lily was completely absorbed, her pen flying across her notebook as she took meticulous notes.
When class ended, Megan immediately appeared at our row, slinging her bag over her shoulder.
"So," she said as the three of us filed out into the hallway, heading toward our next classroom. "How was lunch?"
I shrugged, trying to seem casual. "It was fine. Just a normal lunch."
"Oh really?" Megan's eyes sparkled with mischief. "A 'normal' lunch that lasted so long I thought you'd miss first period?"
"It wasn't that long," I protested, feeling heat rise to my cheeks.
"Megan, leave her alone," Lily interjected, though she was grinning too.
We turned a corner, and the conversation shifted as Lily pulled out her phone. "Have you guys seen the Halloween costume poll on Campus Whispers? People are voting on what popular students should dress up as for the Halloween bash."
"Oh god, not another one of those polls," I groaned.
"No, this one's actually funny," Lily insisted, scrolling through her phone. "Someone nominated Coach Thompson to dress as a Teletubby. And there's one suggesting Jackson should do a runway walk as an underwear model."
I nearly stumbled. "They what?"
"It's got over two hundred votes," Megan added with a laugh. "Can you imagine Jackson Wilson strutting down a runway in boxers?"
I could, actually, and the mental image was both ridiculous and... not entirely unpleasant. I quickly pushed the thought away.
"What about other people?" I asked, trying to redirect the conversation.
"Lucas as a puppy dog, because apparently he follows Samantha around like one," Lily read off, giggling. "Oh, and someone wants to see Professor Paulson as Batman."
The suggestions continued, getting more absurd with each one, but my mind drifted to past Halloweens. Last year, during the full moon that coincided with Halloween, I'd actually embraced my wolf form for once. With everyone in costumes, no one had looked twice at the "incredibly realistic wolf costume" roaming the edges of campus. It had been liberating to be myself in the open, even if just for one night.
We arrived at our next classroom—a general education elective on modern American literature. I actually enjoyed the class, but Lily and Megan had both chosen it purely because it was known to be an easy A.
"As long as we pass, right?" Megan said as we found seats together in the middle of the room. "It's not like literature is going to be relevant to our majors."
Lily nodded in agreement. "Exactly. Save the brain power for classes that matter."
The lecture was less engaging than Professor Paulson's—the professor had a monotone voice that made even the most exciting books sound boring. I found myself analyzing the structure and themes more than listening to his actual words, making my own connections.
When class ended, Lily and Megan immediately packed up their things, but I stayed in my seat, reviewing my notes and organizing the key concepts we'd covered.
"Ellie, it's just an elective," Megan said, pausing by my seat. "You don't need to study that hard."
"I know," I replied, still writing. "That's exactly why I'm consolidating now. If I spend a few minutes organizing my thoughts after each class, I won't need to do any special review before the exam."
"You're literally the most disciplined person I know," Lily said, shaking her head in admiration. "Efficient and smart."
"Hey, can I borrow your phone for a sec?" Lily asked suddenly. "Mine's being weird, and I want to vote on that Halloween poll."
"Sure," I said absently, pulling my phone from my bag and unlocking it before handing it over. I was too focused on finishing my notes to pay attention to what she was doing.
A moment later, she handed my phone back, giggling. "Done! I voted for Jackson as 'Sexy Firefighter' because, well, obviously."
"You what?" I snatched my phone back, suddenly alert. Sure enough, "Ellie Green" now appeared prominently next to a vote for "Jackson Wilson should strip down as a sexy firefighter for Halloween, complete with suspenders and hose demonstration."
"Lily!" I groaned. "I have to work with this guy!"