Paroxysm-2

There is a smattering of clapping from the crowd. The line of fraternity brothers to the side all hoot and clap the boy on the back. Dean Thomas wiped at a tear and took the spot behind the microphone. "Thank you, James, for that beautiful tribute. I'm going to keep this brief but thank you all for coming out to this ceremony. My son… My son was a perfect boy. Perfect grades, always on his best behavior. He had such a bright future ahead of him. He didn't deserve…" He breaks off, his face cherry red as he chokes back tears. Enid's insides are twisting. "Anyways, thank you all. This tree will stand in his memory, forever reminding us of him and of the light he brought to this world. It will grow big and tall just as he did." Dean Thomas blows his nose. The boys, each wearing a jacket with the Kappa Sigma logo on it, step forward with shovels. They begin to unearth the dirt, James at the center. Dean Thomas bends down, planting a tree sapling into the ground. Enid turns away, pressing a fist against her mouth as her eyes and throat burn. They're planting a tree for him. Just like the tree he pressed her against. She staggers at the memory, the rough bark digging into her back. His hands everywhere. Her vision blurs and she catches herself against a lamppost as she begins to sway. "It's such bullshit, isn't it?" A familiar voice comes from beside her and Enid looks over in confusion. It's the girl from Dante's class, Sophie, the one who always flirted with him. "What?" The question falls from her lips. The girl turns to her, her usual sneer or coy smirk absent from her face. Instead, she is frowning. "Boys can be awful their entire lives, but in death they're regarded as perfect angels. No matter what he did, Patrick is viewed as a damn patron saint." Sophie rolls her eyes. Enid chokes on a surprised laugh. "You knew him?" She asks, eyes wide. Sophie lets out a bitter chuckle. "Dated him my freshman year here. He cheated on me twenty times before I found out." She quips, pulling a pair of sunglasses from her bag and placing them on her slim nose. Enid stares at her, trying to imagine the two together. Strangely, it isn't too hard to visualize. "I'm sorry." Enid says, too shocked to say much else. Shocked by her words. Shocked by her sudden realness. This bitter, sad girl was a stark contrast to the sultry, rude girl she had sat near in Creative Writing all semester. Enid feels a pang of guilt for judging her before. It's a good reminder that no one really knows anyone from just a few short interactions. Sophie waves away her apology. "I'm over it. Just pisses me off having to watch them parade around like he was some golden boy. But hey, at least we know the truth, right?" She shrugs. Enid wonders for a moment if she should tell her about the bonfire. But she isn't ready for that yet. She reaches out a hesitant hand and squeezes the other girl's arm comfortingly. "You know the truth. And that's enough." Her words are just as much for herself as they are for Sophie. Sophie smiles softly and Enid is struck by how pretty she really is. It's incredible how much emotions can change how someone looks. "You're cool, Enid. I'm sorry for being a bit of a bitch to you all semester. Guess I just got jealous with all the attention you got from Dr. Romano. And I'm just kind of a bitch in general…" She laughs, her bright white teeth shinning. Enid grins at her, feeling lighter than she has in days. "Anyways, I'll see you later today in Romano's class to turn in our articles. So dumb that he won't just let us turn them in online." Sophie rolls her eyes and waves goodbye as she begins to walk away from the ceremony. The planting of the tree is over now, and people are waiting to shake the dean's hand. Enid doesn't look back as she walks away. She has just enough time to get a hot chocolate and sit in her seat before Theodore enters the classroom. He is the embodiment of power as he walks to the desk, setting down his briefcase. His ocean eyes find her own and she is struck with a feeling of nostalgia. It feels like years have passed since the moment she met eyes with him on the first day of class. Her heart swells, thrumming with love for him. Her mind fights against it. She thoughts and emotions at war with each other. "I'm so going to fail." Comes the voice of one of the girls who sit behind her. "Hey- intern girl!" Another calls and she feels a poke against her back. She is too tired for this. Turning in her seat, Enid cannot find it in herself to smile. "Hi! Since you're his intern, can you just change my grade to a B when you grade them? I'll pay you." The darker haired one whispers loudly. She pulls her designer bag up onto the table and begins to dig around for her wallet. Enid laughs, a genuine giggle slipping from between her lips. These girls have been so terrible all semester long. Badgering her about her job with the immortals, being blatantly rude nearly all the time. The Enid from the beginning of the semester would have felt bad, wanted to help. But she had learned that she can't be a doormat all the time. "No." Enid says, no hesitancy in her answer. She grins as the girls begin to sputter and twists back around in her chair. Theodore is watching her, a small smile glowing just for her. Enid looks down, her cheeks burning in embarrassment of what likely the whole class had just observed. Noticing the students staring at her, Theodore clears his throat and draws their attention to the front of the classroom. She flies through the exam, knowing every answer immediately. Between his classes and debating with him at home, she has mastered the material entirely. Living with your professor certainly has some perks. When she turns it in, she does not meet his eyes. "Miss McCarthy." He stops her and she glances up at him. His expression impossible to fathom. "It's truly been a pleasure having you in my class." ✥ ✥ ✥