The Assistant
I stepped out into the cool autumn air, maple leaves crunching beneath my feet. Boston in the fall was my favorite — hot coffee in the morning by the Charles, running down cobblestone streets, cozying up on the couch with a good book.
I wished there was more time to enjoy my surroundings but I had, unfortunately, snoozed my alarm a little bit too much and had to rush to class. Armed with a thermos and gigantic tote bag, I began my march down Commonwealth Avenue.
Hundreds of unfamiliar faces rushed by me as they poured out of classrooms and labs. I'd just started as a grad student in September and had been too busy with my huge load of coursework to meet anybody but my roommate, although she was great.
I flung open the huge wooden doors of the College of Arts and Sciences and ran up the stairs to the third floor. Being late for class wasn't a penalty, but I'd been trying not to piss off my writing professor, and failing so far.
I opened the door to the classroom and snuck in as quietly as I could, but Dr. Ryan's eyes caught mine, and a blush crept over my cheeks — I was caught.
"Late again, Ms. Kerrigan? What is that, the third time this month?" he murmured.
"I'm sorry, Dr. Ryan. There's no excuse."
I couldn't help myself from eyeing the way his button-down stretched over his shoulders. He'd be hot if he weren't so grumpy all the time.
"Take a seat and try not to disturb my class any further."
Dr. Ryan turned back to the chalkboard.
I crept up the stairs of the lecture hall and shuffled my way over to the only available seat, conveniently located in the dead center of the middle row. The other students glared at me as I tried to squeeze by them, apologizing as I went.
I pulled out my laptop, notebook, and pen, and tried my best to focus, although my mind was reeling from the embarrassment. Why did he have to be such a jerk? He didn't have to humiliate me like that.
The rest of the class continued as normal, going over some of our recent assignments.
"I do have some exciting news for you all. As some of you know, I am working on a new novel coming out next year," Dr. Ryan caught my eye from the front of the classroom.
"I'll be looking for an assistant to help me with research and development. Any student interested can send me a writing sample, 3,000 words, by the end of the week." He put down the chalk he'd been holding.
"That's it for today. Don't forget your assignment for next class, and Ms. Kerrigan, come see me after class."
My head spun as I collected my things like a zombie. What could he possibly want? More humiliation? I waited until most of the class was out of the room before descending the stairs, hoping to receive my punishment in private, if possible.
I crossed the room to him as the last student walked out the door.
"Dr. Ryan, you needed to talk with me?" I picked at my cuticles.
He towered over me. I'd never been this close to him and hadn't quite noticed how big a person he really was. I blushed again, hoping it wasn't noticeable.
"I was impressed by your latest assignment. If you think you could refrain from being tardy to every class, I think you would make a good assistant. I wanted to encourage you to apply for the role," he said, unsmiling.
"Are you serious?"
"Why would I not be?" I thought I almost saw a grin cross his face.
"Oh, I just thought there would be other students more... fit for the role."
"Are you trying to talk yourself out of a job, Ms. Kerrigan?"
"No, not at all! I will send something to you before the end of the week." I paused for a second, "And I won't be late to class again, I promise."
"Don't make promises you can't keep." There was a glimmer of something in his eye for a second, and then his stone cold stare returned.
"Um, okay. Thank you for the opportunity."
"I look forward to seeing what you think of." He started to gather his things.
I rushed out the door, eager to get away from him as quickly as possible. What was that? I thought Dr. Ryan hated me, and now he's encouraging me to work as his assistant? I needed go somewhere to clear my head. The library usually did the trick.
I found a quiet spot on the top floor between the stacks to catch my breath. Something about that encounter was odd, like a magnetism that pulled my toward him. I'd never felt anything like it before, especially not in the company of a professor.
Maybe it was that Dr. Ryan looked more like something out of a romance novel than the other, graying, pot-bellied professors. He looked like the type of person to wake up at 5am and put himself through a full, Patrick Bateman-esque morning routine.
I tried to put him out of my mind and begin my writing sample, but nothing was coming to me. What did he even want us to write about? I knew his work — he was a popular author — but did he want us to match his style or come up with something original?
Rather than continue torturing myself with the blank screen in front of me, I opened up my passion project.
Since undergrad, I'd been working on a novel of my own, but I didn't like to tell many people about it since it was a little... steamy for proper conversation. I'd only let my roommate, Amy, read it so far, and even then she'd practically had to pry my laptop out of my hands to get to it.
It was a little embarrassing to work on in the library, but one of the few perks of being a woman was that nobody could tell that I was getting myself hot and bothered in public. I hoped that, once it was finished, I could get it published, and this assistant role with Dr. Ryan might just be my ticket to meeting the people who could make that happen.
I could feel the heat pooling between my legs as I detailed how my main character, Charlotte was getting pounded from behind in the backroom of a bar by the love interest, a mafia king named Luca, when I heard a rustle behind me.
I whipped around, finding Dr. Ryan breathing down my back, and slammed my laptop closed. How long had he been there?
"Working on that sample for me, Ms. Kerrigan?" he rumbled.
"Yep! Excited to send it to you!" I replied, hoping he hadn't be able to see what was really on my screen.
"Good. I look forward to reading it."
He walked away, footsteps muffled by the carpeted library floors.
Once I was sure he was gone, I sank my head into my hands and moaned. Why did this guy always show up at the exact wrong time? And how did I not notice he was right behind me?
My arousal now replaced with a skittering heartbeat, I decided to pack it up and see if Amy was free for coffee. I needed a distraction, and she loved to gossip.
Fifteen minutes and a cappuccino later, we were tucked in the corner of our favorite bookstore/coffee shop on campus. It was packed with other students working on assignments or searching for their next great read. I hoped that, someday, my book could be on one of the shelves they were skimming.
"... he said what?" Amy asked, incredulously. Her copper hair hung in curls around her face. An outgoing and beautiful redhead, she switched boyfriends every couple of months, but any boy drama, even professor drama, coming from me was almost unheard of.
"He wants me to apply to be his assistant. And then he totally caught me working on my book in the library, right in the middle of a sex scene."
"Oh my gosh, that is so crazy! Do you think he knew what you were working on?"
"I have no idea, but he didn't say anything."
"Lucky girl! Dr. Ryan's not my type, but he's definitely objectively hot," Amy's eyes glazed over a bit.
"Amy, no way. He was not hitting on me at all — I've just embarrassed myself multiple times in the same day."
"I dunno, kinda sounds like he was."
I blushed. "I can't even think about him anymore. I'm exhausted. Let's talk about you — how are things going with Jake?"
Jake was her newest boy toy, a law student from California with permanently tousled blonde hair and blue eyes. He looked more like a surfer than a lawyer most of the time.
"He's okay, I guess. He spends a ton of time studying, but I guess I should have expected that. He's good in bed though, which is what really matters. And he always opens doors for me, like a proper gentleman."
Her eyes lit up.
"He actually invited me to a party this Saturday, and all of his hot friends are going to be there — you should come! Put yourself out there and all that."
"I'm not sure, Amy, it sounds kind of awkward. I won't know anyone."
"Come on! You said it yourself that this was your year to take risks. It doesn't have to be serious, just find some guy to distract yourself with."
A distraction did sound pretty nice, especially if it helped my stop thinking about Dr. Ryan. He'd been tumbling around in my head all day, keeping me from thinking about the 80 million other things I had to get done.
"Okay, yeah, that sounds like it could be fun. Is there a theme?"
"Get this - mafia! It'll be perfect inspiration for your book! Aaand we can go faux-fur shopping together. I'll even do your makeup," Amy looked at me expectantly.
I chewed on my lip. It does sound like the perfect party for me. Maybe I'll even be able to find a Luca of my own.
"Okay, let's do it."
Amy grinned from ear-to-ear. "Perfect! I'm so excited, we've never gone to a party together before!"
She checked her watch. "Crap, I have a meeting with my advisor in fifteen minutes. Mind if I bail?"
"Yes, of course, go, go!"
"Okay, I'll see you at home. Love you! Mean it!"
"Love you! Mean it!" I waved as she hurried out the door.
I was excited for this party, if a bit apprehensive. I wasn't one for social events, but it will be good to get out of my shell for a bit and try something new. Maybe I'd meet someone, although probably not.
I dug my laptop out of my bag and opened a blank document for the second time today, determined to write something, anything at all, to apply for Dr. Ryan's assistant position.
