I walked into the classroom fifteen minutes early and took a seat in the front row. We were in the lab that first day, so I took the lab table closest to the window, which would also put me closest to the professor. Slacking off wouldn’t be an option.
As the minutes ticked by, no one walked through the door. I sat alone in the classroom for a full ten minutes before the door finally opened.
A small girl with short brown hair walked inside. She let the door slam behind her while she scanned the room. Her eyes fell on mine and she looked at the lab table where I was sitting. I could tell she wanted to sit there, too, but she felt awkward with us being the only two people in the room.
I lifted my arm and waved her over with a smile. She was cute, she could definitely sit with me. She hesitated for a second before she shrugged and walked over to join me. She smiled shyly and set her bag down on the table before she climbed onto the empty stool.
“Thanks,” she said softly. “I like to be close to the teachers. Or, professors.”
“I had the same idea,” I said with a nod. “Back in high school, I didn’t care because I could basically get A’s without lifting a finger, but I have a feeling college will be different.”
“Is this your first class?” she asked.
“Yeah,” I said. “I’m pre-med. You?”
“I had an English class this morning,” she said. “But this is my first class for my major.”
“What’s your major?” I asked, hoping she would say pre-med.
“Biology,” she said simply.
“Well,” I laughed. “I guess Bio 101 is a pretty good choice then.”
“Yeah,” she laughed back. “Kind of didn’t have a choice.”
I nodded and tried to think of something witty to say.
She was cute in a shy, nerdy kind of way. Her glasses were thick with black rims and every time she looked down at the table her hair fell into her face. When she looked at me, I saw that her eyes were grey with a hint of blue. She was pretty, but not in an obvious sort of way. She looked smarter than any girl I had ever dated.
Back in high school, I was good at everything. I had girlfriends. I played sports. I got straight A’s. Everyone loved me.
It wasn’t cocky to say so, because it was true. I tried not to let it go to my head. I didn’t want to be arrogant, but I also couldn’t deny what was right in front of me. I was good looking, smart, and athletic. Girls were attracted me. It was just a fact.
“I’m Wyatt,” I said, realizing I hadn’t yet introduced myself. “Wyatt Murphy.”
“I know,” Hailey chuckled. “We went to high school together.”
“We did?” I asked. My cheeks felt a little warm, but I covered quickly. I laughed and said, “Are you sure? I feel like I would remember you if we had.”
“Probably not,” she shook her head. “I wasn’t popular. I sat in the back of the class and only had a couple friends. My name’s Hailey. Hailey Clarke.”
“Clarke?” I asked with a frown. The name didn’t ring any bells. I could tell Hailey was amused by me, but she was kind enough to not say so.
I was failing. I never failed with girls. This was new and I didn’t like it.
“It’s fine,” she said. “I don’t expect you to remember me. You were on the football team, I was in the stands on a Friday night. We didn’t exactly run with the same crowd.”
“Yeah, but this is Bradberry,” I laughed. “Everyone knows everyone.”
“Apparently not,” Hailey shrugged.
I watched while she got out her notebook and popped the top off a pen. She wrote the date in the top right-hand corner of the paper and titled the page “Bio 101 Notes – Day 1.”
I smiled to myself while I watched her meticulous writing. She was careful to keep her handwriting neat. Her “y” was curled slightly in a girly way and I couldn’t help but think it was adorable.
“You really are a nerd, huh?” I teased. She looked at me with wide eyes and I gestured toward her notebook.
“I guess,” she said. “I just want to do well.”
I felt slightly chagrined at my teasing when her earnest and completely innocent gaze met mine. My attempt at flirting had obviously fallen flat. Hailey had only just sat down and already, she was throwing me off my game. She seemed completely oblivious to my efforts. A rarity for me.
I wasn’t usually so awkward with the opposite sex. I was that guy who always knew what to say to get them eating out of my hand. And to get them in my bed.
Hailey looked back down and her hair fell over her face again.
I wondered at the strange urge to push it behind her ear. Her hand, tipped with delicate looking fingers, smoothed the wayward strands back into place. It was an absentminded action, I could tell.
She began drawing in the corner of one page of her notebook. She seemed to forget I was in the room with her.
Another rarity for me. I never had to work this hard to keep a girl’s attention on me before.
I didn’t think too hard on why I wanted her attention on me.
“So,” I said, trying something different. I leaned a little closer to her and let the teasing tone fall out of my voice in favor of a more straightforward one. “Why Biology?”
“Huh?” Hailey asked, looking up at me, confirming my suspicion that my presence wasn’t affecting her in the least.
Her grey eyes shone from behind her glasses and I couldn’t believe I had never noticed her before.
“Why did you choose Biology for your major?” I tried again.
Hailey shrugged and looked back down at her notebook.
She clearly wasn’t interested in having a conversation with me. I watched her for a few seconds, waiting for her to speak, but she didn’t. She doodled in her notebook, completely unaware that I was still sitting beside her.
“I’m glad we got here early,” I said as more students starting filing in. I waved and high-fived a few of the guys I knew from high school. “We wouldn’t have this lab table if we were late.”
“True,” Hailey nodded. “I would hate to sit in the back.”
“Didn’t you say you always sat in the back in high school?” I asked
“I did,” Hailey said. “But this is college. It’s different, so I have to be different.”
That was all the explanation she gave. She put down her pen when the professor walked in, her full attention focused on him instantly.
I admired her focus, but I was daunted by her lack of interest in me. Hailey sat down beside me immediately, but after fifteen minutes of flirting – if my fumbling attempt could be called that - she barely glanced in my direction. I guess I wasn’t her type. Damn.
The professor launched into the syllabus quickly. His teaching assistant handed them around while he explained each section briefly.
“I’m a stickler for punctuality,” he warned. “So, if you’re late to class, don’t bother showing up at all. I won’t let you in. And remember, all assignments are due on the date the syllabus states. If you’re worried, then have them completed a few days ahead of time. That way, if an emergency arises, you already have the work done.”
I listened with raised eyebrows. Was he serious? He wouldn’t allow late assignments?
I exhaled slowly and glanced at Hailey to see what she thought. She stared at the professor with wide eyes and scribbled down notes while he spoke. She meant what she said, she was going to take this class seriously.
I knew if I was going to be successful in my pre-med classes I had to get my act together. Shameless flirting and letting myself get distracted during class wouldn’t get me into med school. This professor meant business, but so did I. I wasn’t going to let my perfect academic record slip through my fingers just when it was finally beginning to mean something.
Being a doctor was my dream. There was no other option for me. I would ace my premed classes and get into a great medical school.
As I listened to the professor finish explaining the syllabus, I made
a vow to myself that I would really try. I would put aside my attraction for Hailey and focus during every single class.
With a determined nod that only I noticed, I pulled out my own notebook and grabbed a pen from my backpack. The professor was about to start the real lesson of the day and I didn’t want to miss a single word.
By the end of the hour, I had two pieces of paper completely filled with notes. He spoke fast and my hand ached, but in a good way.
When we were dismissed, I packed up my stuff slowly and glanced over at Hailey. She tossed her notebook into her bag and put the top back on her pen. She still hadn’t looked at me since before class.
Despite my internal promise to remain focused, I couldn’t help but think about Hailey throughout the lesson. I did my best to put her out of my mind but when the air conditioning kicked on and blew the scent of Hailey’s perfume my way I knew I was a goner. She smelled amazing and the way the cool air rustled her shoulder length hair made my whole body tense.
She was beautiful.
I really couldn’t believe I hadn’t noticed her before.
“That was a good first class,” I said lamely.
I smiled at Hailey when she looked at me.
She just nodded and smiled back politely.
“Yeah,” she said. “I thought it was interesting.”
Hailey stood up and made her way toward the door. I hurried after her, falling in step beside her when we reached the hallway.
“So,” I said. “I was thinking that since we’re already sitting together, we could be study partners. I have a feeling this class is going to be a killer so we’ll both need the extra help.”
Hailey looked at me for a second before she looked away again. It seemed like she was thinking about my offer.
I couldn’t tell if I had insulted her by implying she might need help, but it was the truth. That professor wasn’t fucking around. It would be easier on both of us if we had someone around to help us study.
Plus, I just wanted an excuse to see her outside of class. I knew I wasn’t going to get anywhere in the confines of that lab.
“Sure,” Hailey said with a shrug. “Whatever.”
With that, she hurried off to her next class. I watched her disappear with a smile.
She wasn’t interested in me yet, but by the end of the semester, she would be.
***
I sat on my mom’s porch holding my acceptance letter and remembering that day.
The first time I saw Hailey seemed so insignificant at the time. She was just a cute girl in my biology class. I was attracted to her and determined to get to know her better.
At that point, I had never met a girl who didn’t want to date me. Hailey threw me completely off my game and I liked her more for it.
That entire semester flew by in a blur. Hailey and I studied together almost every day and we both ended up acing that stupid Bio 101 class. We set the curve on almost every test. We slowly became friends and when the final grades came out, I suggested we go out to celebrate. That was the night things shifted between us.
I had always wanted more with Hailey, but that was the night she finally saw something worthwhile in me.
I smiled to myself as the memory washed over me. It had been years since I had last seen Hailey, but I could still picture her face clearly in my mind. I was sure she was just as beautiful as ever.
Sitting there, holding my future in my hands, I wondered what she was doing. I imagined what her life was like now. Did she look the same? Where had her life taken her? Was she still in Bradberry? Had she moved somewhere far away? Was her life everything she always wished it would be?
Did she still think of me like I still thought of her?
THREE
Hailey
“Noah!” I yelled. “Hurry up, sweetie! Mommy’s going to be late!”
I ran around my apartment, grabbing my things and quickly throwing Noah’s backpack together.
He was moving slower than ever that morning and I knew I was going to be late for class. It was my first day of medical school and I couldn’t afford to miss a thing.
When Noah’s backpack was packed, I grabbed his lunch from the fridge and threw it inside. I zipped up the backpack and ran to Noah’s room.
Noah was sitting on his bed with his shoes on his feet. He had one foot tucked underneath him and the other poised on the ground. He held the shoelaces in his hands, trying desperately to tie them properly. I smiled and sunk to my knees.
“Here,” I said. “Let me help you.”
“No!” Noah said, jerking his foot away from me. “I can do it!”
His face was set in the stubborn lines I was encountering more and more frequently lately.
I swallowed a sigh.
“Honey,” I said patiently. “Mommy can’t be late for class today, okay? We have to go. You can tie your shoes tomorrow.”
“But…” he began, but I cut him off with a look. That look was more powerful than any of the protests he could throw my way. He knew that look meant I wasn’t having any of it.
He settled down with a pout.
I grabbed his foot and gently pulled it to me. I tied his shoe and then grabbed the other foot. When he was finally ready to go, he jumped to his feet and I wrapped his backpack around his shoulders.
“Come on,” I said. We hurried into the living room and I picked up my bag. With Noah’s hand in mine, we ran outside to the parking lot.
I buckled Noah in his car seat and jumped inside. Firing up the engine, I threw the car in reverse and sped out of my parking spot.
When I finally reached the highway, I checked the clock and groaned. I only had twenty minutes to get to class and I still had to drop Noah off at the campus daycare.
It was only my first day and I was already off to a horrible start.
We reached campus and I pulled up to the daycare. I jumped out and grabbed Noah from the backseat. I grunted as I picked him up but didn’t stop.
He protested while I carried him inside, but I only had five minutes to get to class and I didn’t have time for him to walk.
“Have a great day,” I said, a little breathless from the walk-run action I just did.
I kissed Noah’s forehead and pushed him toward the classroom. He waved at me and disappeared inside.
I didn’t waste another minute. I flew back outside and hurried toward my car.
Speeding across campus, I pulled up to the science building right as class began. I hated being late, but I couldn’t miss class. When I reached the classroom, I peered through the window and saw that the professor had already started the lesson. I groaned and closed my eyes. Interrupting class wasn’t the way to make a good first impression.
With a deep breath, I pushed open the door slowly. I tried to make as little noise as possible. I stepped inside and pulled the door softly closed behind me. The click was still loud, but only a few people turned around.
I hurried to the first empty seat I could find. It was in the back row, but I didn’t care. I was just glad I made it before class ended.
Someone in my row handed me a syllabus and I mouthed a silent “thank you.” She nodded and turned her attention back to the front of the room. I read through the syllabus at lightning speed. It all seemed pretty standard, nothing out of the ordinary. Once I was sure I understood, I tucked it in my bag and pulled out my notebook. With my pen in hand, I focused on the professor.
In reality, I probably didn’t miss anything important. By the time I started taking notes, the professor had only just begun the lesson. Still, I felt like a failure already.
Here I was on my first day of medical school at UConn and I was already behind. I shook my head to myself and scribbled furiously.
The students on either side of me took notes quickly as well. I looked around and smiled.
Everyone in the room was intensely focused on the professor’s words. This was the kind of classroom I wanted to be a part of. There were only about twenty students, but we w
ere all there for the same reason: to become doctors. Our goal wasn’t just to get a degree and then forget everything we learned. We wanted to help people, to save lives. Everything we learned now would help us for the rest of our careers.
Now that I had arrived and class was underway, I let myself relax and enjoy the moment.
While I continued to take notes, I grinned widely. I couldn’t believe I was here. I made it to medical school. It took me years, but I did it.
I felt a wave of pride wash over me and my smile grew. If anyone looked at me, they would have thought I was crazy, but they didn’t know everything I went through to get to that moment.
After spending four years raising a son, I never imagined I would have the chance to study medicine. I put my dreams on hold and focused solely on Noah for so long that I almost forgot I was a real person.
My name was “Mom” and my job description was everything that went along with that name. Who cared that I once had dreams of my own? It didn’t matter anymore, not when my son needed new clothes or food to eat.
For four years, I worked nonstop to support Noah. I did the best I could, but I let myself go in the process. It had been years since I so much as cracked open a book. When my brother suggested I go back to school, I thought he was insane.
“I don’t have time,” I had told him.
There were too many things for me to juggle as it was being a single mom.
What would I do with Noah? How could I be both a full-time mom and a med student?
To me, the answer was simple: I couldn’t.
My brother didn’t let up though. When Joe got an idea in his mind, he ran with it. For months, he pressured me into applying. When I finally did, I never thought I would be accepted. I only sent in the application to shut Joe up.
Getting my acceptance letter felt like a dream. It felt like I was living someone else’s life. Even with the piece of paper in my hands, I couldn’t believe it was happening. I still wasn’t sure I could go.
5+Us Makes Seven_A Nanny Single Dad Romance Page 48